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.

UPDATE, April 21, 2023 : Given where I am in this story drafting-wise (approximately 60,000 words), THERE WILL BE A SECOND BOOK. No way can I wrap up what I’m doing here in 40,000 more words. Things are gonna happen with Philip, Gabe, Ruby, and the Martiniere Multiverse, and I don’t want to cut the Multiverse elements that start coming into the story. This may be the series that resolves the entire Multiverse element of the Martiniere stories.

Now whether that book gets serialized here or not…we shall see.

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

July, 2033

RUBY

After about half-an-hour, the three of them had come up with a list of seventy-five attendees. Ruby admired the terrifying efficiency of the two Martiniere women—it was as if they carried an internal checklist of just how each Family member ranked in comparison to everyone else.

Something I need to learn, I suppose.

“I don’t think we can make it any smaller,” Justine said finally, frowning. “At least not on the Family side, and it’s not fair to you and Gabie to cut back on the invitations to your friends. What facilities do you have locally that could handle that many people, while still being—well, nice? Worst case, we could have the ceremony at our place, Mist Knoll. Donald and I set the wine tasting room up to handle occasions like this, and it’d be easier to find places for overseas visitors with children to stay around Corvallis and Eugene. But would your friends be able to come to Corvallis?”

“Corvallis would be difficult. Gramps doesn’t like to travel. It’d be hard on him, even flying. Plus I don’t know how many of our friends could come if we had the ceremony there.”

“Then Mist Knoll won’t work unless we have absolutely no choice,” Justine said firmly. “What other options do we have?”

Ruby pursed her lips thoughtfully. “It’s still tourist season, that’s the problem with most local venues. Lakeside Lodge will be crammed. We would have to deal with other guests and day users.”

Justine rolled her eyes. “Security will veto that one right away. We need something reasonably private, with controllable accesses.”

“Well, we could do an outdoor wedding in one of the fields here at the ranch, except none will have been harvested by then. I’m reluctant to trample hay or grain, though, even though I guess we’re rich enough that it doesn’t matter. Still don’t like it. I don’t have a church connection. Maybe the Fair and Rodeo grounds? That’s private, but access is…well, it’s on the edge of town. And dusty.”

Gabe ambled into the kitchen, carrying the silver coffee pitcher. “How are things going on your end, Ruby? Mostly done with getting the financials set up. I just have a couple more hoops to jump through. We’re running low on coffee, though, so I’m brewing some more.”

Ruby scowled. Another round of coffee meant that Gabe would be jangling and jittery late into the evening, probably drinking heavily to counter the caffeine. On the other hand—could she blame him? If she wasn’t pregnant, she’d probably join him in drinking more coffee now, then alcohol tonight.

He gave her that disarming smile of his, and she smiled back. So what if he was up late? It wasn’t a new thing. Probably would continue to be a pattern in their future life. “Left messages with Andy and Craig. Remy wants us to pick her up before we see Bonham.”

“Might not be a bad idea to have a lawyer with us.”

“And we have an invitation list for the wedding. Seventy-five people. I just can’t think of an appropriate place to have it that we can afford on such short notice, that won’t be booked solid until September or October—”

“Darling.” Now it was Gabe’s turn to frown at her. “Money is not the issue anymore. We can consider something like the Thunder Mountain Ranch. I bet that’s available, considering the price tag. It’s not gonna be overbooked.”

“But that costs….” Oh, she would love to be married at the Thunder Mountain Ranch, a private guest ranch located at the edge of the Thunder Mountain Wilderness Area. It could handle that many visitors but oh dear God, the price tag for even one cabin there, much less renting the entire facility—it had a classic National Park-style log lodge with twenty rooms and ten more cabins, a dining room capable of seating up to two hundred people, and a large, grand ballroom.

The lodge overlooked a small, swimmable man-made lake with planted fish and a lovely lawn that gracefully sloped down to a sandy beach, with stunning views of the highest peaks of the Thunders from every south-facing window. It had been built by a timber baron in the early twentieth century, and boasted a history of regularly hosting movie stars, politicians, and a Supreme Court justice. It wasn’t a place one casually booked because the price tag was so steep, and most events there were exclusive, rarely open to locals. Ruby had worked at the Ranch in her teen years after her cousin Cari Ryder had become the manager and needed extra help for special occasions. She and Gabe had guided a couple of pack trips out of the Ranch when Cari came up short-handed. To even think she could be married there—

“Ruby. We can afford it. Look.” Gabe tore a strip off of the refrigerator notepad and wrote something on it. “This is my—soon to be our—net worth.” He handed her the strip of paper.

Ruby stared at the numbers, shocked. “Gabe. I—” She couldn’t find any more words.

That much money. And he walked away from it for five years, to do what he believed was right.

This was the man she loved. That she was going to marry. Oh God. Those figures, more than anything else, slammed it home. Money wasn’t Gabe’s priority—doing the right thing was. And it fit everything she already knew about the man she loved.

He crossed the kitchen and kissed her. “We can afford it,” he repeated. “Call Cari. Find out what it takes to rent the whole damn place. Security will want it that way, and there’s no problem with scheduling midweek, if that’s only what’s available.” He smiled at her. “Besides, we’ve been wanting to camp at Twin Lakes Basin. Now we have the time, when the weather is best, and there haven’t been any wildfires yet. We can ride from the Ranch for our honeymoon.”

She blinked, feeling tears wanting to come again. What was with this damn wanting to cry for the stupidest reasons? Pregnancy hormones? Probably.

“Gabe, I’m just—” Why was it so hard to put words together?

I’m marrying a very rich man. I had no freaking idea. My God. I—

“I’ve heard that wistful tone in your voice when you talk about the place. It’s rustic and stunning. I think it’s a perfect location for our wedding. Especially since you’ve always loved it.” His voice softened. “Why not?”

Why not, indeed?

Ruby coughed and swallowed hard. “I’ll call Cari, then.”

That big smile she loved spread across his face. “Good. Once we’re done, I’m ready to head to town, after lunch.”

“And if Cari wants a deposit right away? I don’t have—”

“I’ll cover it,” Justine said.

“Nah.” Gabe pulled his wallet out. He handed Ruby a credit card. “Use this. If there’s a problem with Cari accepting it, holler. Don or I can straighten it out, but there shouldn’t be an issue. We ran some test transactions.”

She stared at the solid black card, then flipped it over.

GABRIEL MARTINIERE was the name on the card, expiration date 9/34.

This was real.

Ruby gulped, then called her cousin.

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