Karen Whiddon - Wyoming Undercover

Automatically, Sophia held out her hand. “I’m Sophia Hannah,” she began.

“We’re not formal here,” Deirdre said, ignoring the outstretched fingers and going in for a hug instead. She wrapped her surprisingly sturdy arms around Sophia and held on. Sophia tried to hug back, but Deirdre had pinned her arms at her sides. Her perfume—some floral mishmash with heavy musky undertones—had been liberally applied. Sophia couldn’t help herself, though she ducked her head and tried to be as quiet as possible. She sneezed.

Immediately, Deirdre released Sophia and stepped back. “You’re not sick, are you?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“No, ma’am. Just allergies.”

“Don’t call me ma’am,” Deirdre snapped. Then, as Sophia tensed, her expression softened. “Sorry. That’s just one of my pet peeves.”

Sophia nodded as if she understood and waited to hear why Deirdre wanted to see her.

“Follow me,” the older woman abruptly declared, turning on her heel and marching off. Her long gown trailed behind her like a frothy cape.

Reluctantly, Sophia followed. To her surprise, Deirdre led her into a sunny and bright kitchen. Shiny stainless-steel appliances reflected the light. The counters were made of some sort of natural rock and the oak cabinets appeared sturdy and well made. The entire effect was modern and pleasing. And surprising, when Sophia considered what her kitchen looked like.

“Sit.” Deirdre indicated a chair at the round table.

She waited until Sophia had taken a seat before speaking. “You’re about to become a member of my household, and as such there are a few things we need to discuss.”

Sophia nodded. She figured she had a pretty good idea of what was coming. Rules and regulations, and words to make sure she understood how lowly her place would be in this home. Sadly, she couldn’t really blame Deirdre. She could only imagine how much it would hurt to be the first wife forced to watch while your husband took younger and younger women and made them somewhat equal.

Watching her, Deirdre’s hard expression softened. “You have no idea what you’re in for, do you?”

“No.” Sophia decided to be blunt. “I’ve never even met your husband. I have no idea why he chose me.”

Deidre gave a snort. “Child, have you looked at yourself? Ezekiel has never been able to resist a pretty face.”

Sophia wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she said nothing.

After a moment Deidre continued, “Things here are going to be a lot different from what you’re used to. How many people are in your family group?”

“Thirty-three total,” Sophia answered proudly, feeling a rush of love when she thought of them. “Twenty-four adults besides me, and eight children, though most of them live at the school now.”

Deidre raised her brows. “All paired adults, except for you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s about to change,” Deirdre said, her tone brisk. “Here, you will be one of many, but that can be a good thing. At first, Ezekiel is always obsessed with his latest woman, but eventually he’ll get distracted by someone else and will leave you alone.”

The words and their meaning made an involuntary shudder snake up Sophia’s spine. While objectively she knew she’d have to let her husband touch her, the actual thought made her want to gag.

Deirdre’s sharp gaze missed nothing. “It won’t be so bad,” she said. “We can give you a pill or drinks beforehand to blunt the experience. Are you untouched?”

“If I say no, will he call off the wedding?” Sophia couldn’t keep the hope from her voice.

“I doubt you’ll get out of this that easily.” Deidre chuckled. “Do you know how many new wives-to-be I’ve had to have this discussion with?” Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “Too many to count. In the early days, when Ezekiel was young, they were eager. Bent on becoming his favorite, thinking they could wrest my power from me.”

Her laugh relayed how impossible she believed such a thing to be. “Over the years, despite his penchant for taking more and more wives, things have changed. The women have gone from eager and calculating to resigned and terrified.”

Terrified? Sophia struggled to process that.

“Lately,” Deirdre continued, “the last few have been like you. Frightened, maybe even repulsed.”

Aware that Deirdre might be testing her, Sophia hurriedly shook her head. “Oh, not repulsed,” she said. “Never that. How could one be, when such a great honor has been bestowed?”

A hint of wickedness flashed in Deidre’s gray eyes. “Honor, eh? Maybe so, since he is the Anointed One who will lead us into eternity. But as far as the earthier things, well... We’ll talk again on the morning after your wedding night.”

Oh, no. Again, Sophia shuddered.

“At least you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant,” Deirdre continued thoughtfully. “His seed are too old now to be fertile. Though if you could manage to get with child somehow, your status would instantly be elevated.”

Then, while Sophia pondered a statement that on the surface made no sense, Deirdre winked. “I tell you this just in case you’re one of those women who’ve always wanted children. The time to do that is before you marry.”

Embarrassment warred with horror as Sophia realized what Deirdre meant. She mumbled some sort of response, hoping it didn’t sound too much like agreement. Was this some sort of test? It had to be, because there was no way Deirdre could be serious.

Something of her thoughts must have showed on her face. Deirdre chuckled again before patting her on the head the way one would a wayward child. “Go on back home now,” Deirdre said. “We’ll talk again closer to the ceremony.”

Sophia felt another flash of panic. “About that...” she began.

“You don’t need to even worry about that,” Deirdre said. “It will all be handled by our staff, including our dress. All you have to do is show up.”

One more dream dashed. Of course everything about this marriage-to-be was the opposite of her hopes and expectations.

Somehow she managed to respond with a thank-you before turning and heading back the way she’d come.

Chapter 4

Jack couldn’t stop thinking about the beautiful nurse. He knew he needed to focus. A feminine distraction could only be potentially catastrophic. So he went to work with his roommate Phillip, who seemed hopeful he could teach Jack how to become a skilled carpenter. While Jack had his doubts, he was game. Anything to help him blend in with the group. At least being new, he could ask a lot of questions. And despite his resolve, he lasted three days before he found himself casually asking about the nurse he’d briefly met in the medical clinic.

“Sophia Hannah?” Phillip’s incredulous expression was comical. “You don’t want a woman like her.”

“‘A woman like her’?” Repeating the words, Jack waited for the other man to elaborate. “What do you mean?”

“Clearly you’ve seen her.”

Jack nodded. “Yes. She’s gorgeous.”

“Oh, stunning. And that’s the problem. Everyone knows women who look like her are nothing but trouble.”

Unsure how to respond to that, Jack simply shrugged. Maybe it was a cult thing.

“Anyway,” Phillip continued, “it doesn’t matter. Sophia is claimed already. And by none other than our illustrious leader. A man as powerful as him is the only one who could handle a woman like that.”

“Ezekiel?” Jack had done his research. The cult leader was at least eighty. “Isn’t he a little...old for her?”

“He’s Chosen,” Phillip said, as if that explained everything. “He has more wives than I can count. And some of them are younger than his own children—heck, his own grandchildren.” And then he laughed, as if that was the greatest thing he’d ever heard.