First Episode

The Cost of Power is set in an alternative universe from the main Martiniere Legacy series. In this book, I take a closer look at the mind control technology and…the relationship between Gabe and his father Philip ends up being different.

Additionally, Gabe tells Ruby who he really is much, much earlier than in the main Martiniere Legacy series.

Most of all, I’m freeforming this story. I somewhat know where it’s going to go, but how it unfolds depend on what happens with Gabe, Philip, Ruby, and Justine once they get on a roll in this particular setting.

Enjoy! This is part three of Chapter Four. There will be five parts to this chapter.

July, 2033

RUBY

She followed Gabe, noticing that he replaced the long guns in the kitchen where they had been staged. Then he pulled out his pistol, carrying it in his right hand.

“You’re going out there armed?”

He raised his brows. “One of the first rules of Martiniere life. Always be armed. Do you have your pistol on you?”

“Yes.” Martiniere life wasn’t that different from Thunder County life in that aspect, then.

“No need to bring it out. This is—well, you’ll see, if it goes right. Which it should.” But his voice wavered slightly, as if he were trying to convince himself.

Gabe stared out the back door. Then, shivering slightly, he seemed to straighten even more, shoulders back, head high. Only now did Ruby realize that during the four years she had known him, Gabe tended to slump a little, shoulders sagged, acting diffident except when he got into a fistfight. Playing to the stereotype of a Hispanic ranch hand.

This looked even more like the Gabriel Martiniere who had walked into that courtroom. Proud. Puissant. Almost royal. He didn’t turn on the back porch light as they stepped outside. The sound of the screen closing behind them halted the people unloading the three trucks.

“Atten-SHUN!” barked the voice she identified as Serg, from the earlier phone call.

Several lines formed behind Serg and another man.

Gabe glided forward. When she would have followed him down the porch steps, he shook his head. “Not yet, Rubes.”

He walked halfway down the sidewalk, then stood even more at attention. Gabe raised his left hand to shoulder height and turned it so that the signet on his index finger showed to the others as Serg focused a light on him. The ring glowed in that light.

“Who goes there?” he called.

The power rolling from his voice made Ruby shiver. Was this Martiniere mind control in action?

“Martinieres!” the crowd answered.

More chills radiating through her body.

“Who are the Martinieres?” Definitely something different in Gabe’s voice.

“We are the fighters!” Yelled, pride in the voices.

“What do the Martinieres do?”

“We stand and fight!” Shouted even louder, sending prickles down Ruby’s spine.

What is this?

It had the feel of a ritual.

Gabe lowered his hand. Holstered his pistol as Serg switched off the light. Paused for a moment.

Then he waved Ruby forward, waiting for her to join him before walking to Serg and the other man.

Serg stepped forward. “Damn it, Gabe, it’s so good to see you as yourself.” Serg clasped Gabe’s arm and patted his back. Ruby realized she had seen Serg before, at a couple of rodeos. Gabe had money after those appearances that he had attributed to gambling wins.

Ah. Cover for getting his funds. Not gambling for real.

That made her feel better.

Gabe turned to her. “Serg. My fiancée Ruby Barkley. Ruby, my cousin Serg Vygotsky. Second-in-command of Vygotsky Security.”

She and Serg bowed to each other.

Gabe grinned as he strode to the other man, repeating the arm clasp and back thumping he had done with Serg. “Damn, Lance, I’m happy as hell to see you here!”

Lance’s grin was as big as Gabe’s. “Serg asked if I wanted to be head of your personal security again. Really happy to see you.”

Gabe waved her over. “Ruby Barkley. Lance Helgessen. Ruby, Lance has been the head of my personal security ever since I went off to college, up until I testified. And Ruby—”

“Is your fiancée. Congratulations.” Helgessen was a stocky man, blond with big shoulders and a muscular build. He bowed to her. “I understand there’s another principal on site that I need to be concerned about.”

“My grandfather Ron. He’s in bed right now.”

Gabe chuckled. “Lance, you’ll like Ron. Tough old guy, getting up there in years so he’s physically frail, but like most of Thunder County, good with weapons and not afraid to use them.” His voice became more solemn. “There’s history.”

“I looked up Sheriff Jesse Rivers and his record. And your friend Monty had quite a briefing for us about the County political situation on our way here,” Helgessen said, eyes narrowing. “Rivers won’t be a problem.”

Something about the way Helgessen spoke reminded Ruby of Gramps when he said that someone wouldn’t be a problem.

Jesse Rivers isn’t gonna know what hit him if he messes with Gabe now.

#

Tired as she was, Ruby stayed at Gabe’s side as they met the rest of the Vygotsky security forces, both male and female, then escorted Serg and Helgessen through the bunkhouse and cottage on an inspection tour.

“This should work for now,” Serg said finally. “Justine said they were coming tomorrow around ten. We’ll be able to meet them.”

“I’m going with you,” Gabe said.

“We’re going with you,” Ruby corrected.

Gabe raised his brows at her but didn’t say anything.

“You sure about that?” Serg frowned.

“Serg, it’s basically a big landing strip that’s jet-capable. A few hangars but no main building other than a double-wide that serves as the office. Mainly used for private planes and for firefighting tankers during wildfire season. Not a huge security issue. Right, Ruby?”

“Right.”

“Okay, then,” Serg conceded.

A few more things, then they headed back to the house. Gabe put his arm around Ruby and she leaned hard into him.

“Doing all right, Rubes?”

“Just tired. It’s been—a day.”

“I’ll say so.” His voice softened. “Lots of changes happening so damn fast.”

“Yeah.”

They secured the AR-15s and took the shotguns upstairs. After her shower, Ruby collapsed on her vanity stool, not wanting to look into the mirror and see the fatigue on her face. She should go through her evening beauty regime, but damn, she was so tired.

Gabe massaged her shoulders. Ruby leaned back into his hands, closing her eyes and savoring the pressure. Then he stopped and gathered her into his arms.

“You’re about to fall asleep,” he murmured. “Let’s get you to bed. Gonna be another long day tomorrow.”

Ruby was too tired to resist as he tucked her in. She curled into Gabe when he joined her.

That night she didn’t remember any dreams, nor did Gabe wake her with a nightmare.

#

Nausea woke Ruby early in the morning. Gabe padded into the restroom after she finished puking, and handed her the pregnancy test sitting on the counter, without a word. She peed on the stick. They watched together as it slowly turned positive.

“Well, that’s settled,” he said firmly. “It’s awfully early. Why don’t you see if you can get a little more sleep? I’ll do morning chores and breakfast, then come up to shower and change. Wake you up then.”

“You sure you don’t need help?”

“Time to train the security crew to our routines. No need to get you involved in this part of it. Besides, it’s summer. Just need to throw hay to Sunshine and Ranger. No hay to cut today; pivot lines working just fine.”

She let Gabe coax her back to bed before he did his morning exercises. It wasn’t long before she was asleep.

He roused her later. “Here’s some breakfast. I noticed you’ve been wanting toast and bland stuff, so here’s toast and baked potatoes with a little butter, just the way you like it.” He set the plate on the nightstand.

“Gabe, you didn’t have to—” Ruby glanced at the clock. “It’s eight-thirty? Already? Damn it, you shouldn’t have let me sleep so late.”

He sat on the side of the bed and kissed her forehead. “You’re pregnant, and there was a lot going on yesterday. Today’s gonna be more of the same. Let me spoil you without a fuss when I can, okay?” His expression became more solemn. “The last few moments before it all turns crazy and our lives aren’t our own anymore. I’m going to do my best to keep things normal—like doing the Rodeo, unless your doctor says no.”

She set her jaw firmly. “Gabe. Pregnancy isn’t going to keep me off horses.”

“You might not want to barrel race Sunshine. I’m worried about her blowing up with you and going down in that arena. She’s done it before. You don’t need a horse falling on you. She’ll be fine for breakaway roping and our team roping, but barrels—I’m not sure about that.”

“We’ll see what the doctor says.” Ruby sat up and reached for her plate. “What’s the dress code for today?”

Did she have appropriate business wear to make the right impression on the Martinieres? Oh heavens, she needed to think about clothing—and maternity clothing, no less.

“Pressed jeans and my nicest go-to-town shirt.” A half-smile. “I don’t have any suits, not that my old ones would fit me anymore, even if I knew where they were. Muscled up and lost weight from those days. We can fix this pretty easily, though, once I have access to my funds. I’ll iron your nice jeans.”

“Better make sure they fit.” Ruby sighed. She had attributed the slight tightness in her everyday jeans to bloating from endometriosis, but since it was pregnancy—well, there was that one pair of dressy jeans that was larger than the rest, for that time of the month. “I’m already having issues.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Gabe said firmly. “Clothing will be easy. We have the money for bespoke items. It’s just a matter of making the time to get them.”

And that was yet something else to think about.

Previous Episode |

Share Martiniere Stories

Leave a comment