“Justin is mad as a hornet about something.” Caleb slapped his work gloves together to rid them of the perpetual dust. He laid his hat aside and took off his jacket as he stomped inside the big kitchen, greeting his wife with a smacking kiss.

Jane put her coat on and picked up a wire basket. “I have to get the eggs anyway, maybe I’ll try to see what’s up with him.”

Caleb stayed her with a hand on her arm. “He’s in a foul temper, Janie. Don’t let him upset you.”

She patted his hand and reached for the doorknob. “I won’t. But, Caleb, he needs a friend.”

Caleb muttered as he watched her traipse down the path toward the chicken coop and the barn nearby where Justin kept his Harley.

“What he needs is a woman,” Caleb growled, knowing Jane couldn’t hear him, trying hard not to let guilt flood his mind. Jane would be back like a shot then, and he would have to explain why he felt guilty about being the only brother with a wife.

He’d tried desperately to hide the fact that the larger part of the guilt came from the feeling he’d stolen Jane out from under Mick’s nose, or that he suspected Justin would have courted her too, had he been home at the time her daddy died. Caleb felt like a heel. He was supposed to protect his younger brothers, not cheat them out of the best woman in the world.

At the time though, he’d figured they would find other great women and settle down. Now though, with the shortage of women, the prospects were grim, and Caleb felt worse each day and each night he spent in Jane’s loving arms.

Caleb watched her through the kitchen window, but staggered as he was hit by a vision that clouded his senses like he hadn’t felt in years. At least not this strongly. Not since the dire vision of the alien invasion had he been gripped so tightly by his gift. He slumped into one of the hard wooden chairs, letting the vision take him where it would. Surrendering to it, he feared what he might see, but resolved to use his gift to protect his family-the most important thing in his life.

Jane collected eggsand set the basket down on a shelf where it would be safe while she went to find Justin. He was really touchy lately, and refused her offers of a friendly ear, but if she got close enough to him, she could read his emotions and at least give Caleb some clue as to what might be wrong. Caleb was the problem solver of the family, but he needed something to go on before he could put his quick mind to work to find a solution. Jane’s empathic powers had provided those much needed clues in the past and she didn’t mind helping him in this small way if it meant she could help the other men as well. She loved them all and wanted them to be happy.

Justin was the rebel son. Two years younger than Caleb, he’d been a hell raiser back in the old days. He had tattoos and a sleek black Harley Davidson motorcycle he worked on in his spare time. That beauty purred like a mountain cat and seemed to be the love of his life. Justin was quiet now, quieter than he’d been before the cataclysm. His dark eyes watched everything, and he seldom smiled. Jane could feel the turmoil he kept hidden from everyone but her, but lately he rejected every overture of friendship she made, preferring to deal with his dark feelings on his own.

Justin was a telekinetic of amazing strength. He had once used his power to save his brother’s life when a piece of farm equipment threatened to crush him. From across the field they were working back in Montana, Justin saw the axel break and tons of metal list, collapsing on Caleb. Justin’s hand shot out to direct his power as he ran across the field, keeping the heavy object from descending fully while Mick and some of the workers pulled Caleb to safety. It had been a magnificent rescue, but it had let the cat out of the bag as far as Justin’s gift was concerned. He’d taken his bike and hit the road a week later, not to be seen for the next five years.

He’d kept in touch, calling his brothers each week to check in, and when Caleb told him to come home, he’d done so without question. He’d come home only to help pack up and move to the Waste. If he’d been taciturn before, now he was downright solemn. He never talked about his five years away, but he had picked up a huge two-headed dragon tattoo across his chest as a memento.

Jane saw it once in a while when the temperature grew warm enough for the men to strip off their shirts as they worked. Or that time she’d practically crashed into Justin as he walked out of the bathroom after a shower. She couldn’t help but stare at the masterful image etched into his skin and the odd desire to touch his chest and trace the powerful lines.

But Justin was somewhat telepathic as well as telekinetic. All the brothers had some telepathic ability, and he’d picked up on her half-formed desires. Since that day, he’d been careful to be fully clothed whenever he had a chance of running into her.

Jane knew Justin usually hid in the big stall he’d arranged to house his Harley and the various tools he needed to keep it in prime condition. It was about the size of one of the large birthing stalls in the barn, but unlike the rest of the building, it was spotless, with nary a piece of hay in sight. The concrete was oil-stained, but there were good lights in there so Justin could easily see into the engine of his beloved machine. There was also a huge stack of spare parts and fluids he’d managed to stockpile that would ensure the machine functioned well for the next twenty years at least. Caleb’s precognition had allowed them to stock up on all sorts of things that were unavailable or hard to get now.

Jane approached slowly, seeing light through the partially opened door. Justin had made this small room his personal retreat. There was a space heater, a comfy chair, and a small cooler with the bottled beer she’d learned how to brew for her men. They’d loved that little surprise, and a smile dawned as she thought of their reaction when she’d served up the first batch a few months ago.

The door was ajar just a few inches and she approached cautiously. Justin’s temper was unpredictable, though she knew he would never hurt her. Still, she didn’t want to alienate him. She hated when he turned away from her. Only Caleb could console her when Justin shut her out and of course, then Caleb would have words with Justin for hurting her tender feelings and only make the situation worse. If at all possible, she wanted to come out of this encounter with nothing more than the information Caleb needed, and no overwhelming emotions that would cause further strife between the brothers.

She edged forward into the small patch of light that was spilling into the dark barn. “Justin?” she asked tentatively, not wanting to startle him. His reactions were lightning quick and she’d learned not to sneak up on him unless she wanted to risk bodily injury.

“Go away, Jane.”

The words held anger and she heard a frantic sort of rustling as she pushed the door wider to peer inside. It was obvious what she had interrupted and she felt her cheeks flame. Justin’s magnificent tattooed chest was bare, his fly was open, and his hand was barely covering his thick erection.

She was caught, like a deer in headlights, her mouth forming a perfect “O” of surprise that only made things worse.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, feeling waves of his anger, desire and turmoil that literally took her knees out from under her.

Justin saw her begin to crumple and moved to catch her.

“Dammit, Jane,” he growled, catching her in his arms. He brought her into the room and placed her on the overstuffed chair. He left her there while he tucked himself in and forced the zipper up. It hurt like hell and when she gasped, he looked up to see her wide eyes watching him. He nearly came right then and there.

“Fuck!”

“Justin.” She sounded almost afraid of him. “I’m sorry. I just…got overwhelmed by your anger.” Her sympathetic eyes made him squirm. “I’m so sorry.”

He knew he had to get himself under control or risk hurting her more. Her damned empathic senses were too closely attuned to the O’Hara boys. She’d always been able to read him like a book and he knew his anger and turmoil could hurt her.

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.” He turned his back while putting on his shirt, hoping the tails would hide his hard-on, though there was no way to ease it while she was there. He was gathering calm, trying to smooth out the jagged emotions riding him while she recovered from the shock, but the deep breaths just brought home her warm, feminine scent and it was hardJB. And he remained hardJBBDA. “Jane, are you okay to go back to the house yet? I need a few minutes here.”

He heard her stand. He thought he felt a disturbance in the air, as if she reached out to touch his back, but stopped before she made contact. He was relieved she didn’t. If she touched him, she would feel everything he was feeling multiplied ten-fold and he didn’t want to subject her to that.

“We need to talk about this, Jus. I want to help you.” Her soft voice almost unmanned him.

“Janie, for God’s sake, please just go.”

“No.”

He was so startled, he turned to face her, the muscles in his jaw jumping with tension.

“But I’m going to wait outside while you... do what you have to do. After, we will talk. I care too much about you to let you continue as you’ve been. Something’s eating you and I’m half afraid it’s me. I don’t want to cause you pain, Justin. I’ll leave if I have to. I want you to be happy. I don’t want you to hate me.”

“Sweetheart, I don’t hate you. Far from it.” The sight of tears in her beautiful eyes brought him under control and he was able to offer compassion. Now that was an emotion only she had ever been able to spark in his warrior’s soul.

“But I’m making you unhappy. I can feel it.”

He reached out tentatively, hesitating before he made contact. He knew the only way to convince her was to let her feel what he was feeling at this moment. He couldn’t let her leave. Not only would Caleb kill him, he would kill himself if any harm befell her. She needed his reassurance now, not his anger or his lust, though God knew he wanted her and had for most of his adult life. He squashed that thought as he prepared to touch her, concentrating on his care, his compassion and his love. Pure thoughts and emotions that would comfort her, if he could just keep them under control.

She pressed her cheek into his palm, her eyes flooding again as she absorbed the waves of pure emotion he sent. The tears helped him like nothing else to keep his libido under control.

“I care about you, Janie. I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here, continue to make Caleb the happiest of men, and drive me and Mick crazy, okay?” As a joke, it wasn’t much, but she smiled anyway. “Besides, who would brew my beer? Mick’s too busy being Doctor Doolittle and I don’t know one end of that contraption you use from another.”

She smiled at him and broke the contact, reassured. “I know you’re unhappy, Justin. If it’s not me, then what? Caleb and I want to help you in whatever way we can.”

He stalked to the other side of the Harley, watching as she perched on the arm of his overstuffed easy chair. “So Caleb sent you down here to see what I was feeling, only you got more than you bargained for, eh?” He could almost laugh at the situation, if he wasn’t feeling so raw at the moment.

“We love you, Justin. We want to help you. Come on, tell me what’s really wrong. I don’t like to see you men fighting with each other.”

He let the silence stretch until she shocked him with her next bold question.

“Is it sex?”

“Jane, you don’t want to talk to me about that. Believe me.” His tone was hard, unrelenting, and he hoped she’d get the message and drop the subject.

“Come on, Jus. I’ve been married to your big brother for a few years now. I know all about sex. And I know you weren’t a priest in the old days. You had your share of women swooning at your feet, beguiled by your mysterious eyes and bad boy rep. And now there are no women for miles around.”

“Except you,” he whispered low, challenge in his gaze.

“Except me.” She nodded slowly, swallowing hard.

He cursed and shook his head with renewed anger. “You can’t possibly mean to take me on, Janie. You’re Caleb’s wife and that’s that. It’s best for all concerned if I just stay away from you for a while.”

Jane didn’t know what she’d meant by her challenge, but she hated seeing Justin so full of turmoil. She loved him, as much as she loved Caleb and Mick. They were her family, her saviors, her life, and she would do anything for them. She stood quietly and turned to go, shocked to find Caleb there in the doorway, a look of concern and compassion on his face.

Justin spun around when she gasped, his eyes hardening as he saw his brother standing there. “Perfect,” he swore. “Just perfect.” He shook his head. “I suppose you heard.”

Caleb faced his brother with a frown. “Not all of it, but enough. Justin, I-—”

“Save it.” He grabbed his helmet off a peg and rolled the Harley out of the barn. He had a duffle already attached to the back. Jane realized he’d planned to leave long before she’d come out to the barn.

“Justin, please don’t go.” Jane pleaded with him. She was afraid if he left now, he’d never return. Those five years he’d been away had hurt her terribly. She didn’t want to live through that again. She needed all the brothers, together, with her. “Please.”

Justin turned to her, his eyes pained but resigned. “Just for a little while, Jane. I need to think some things through. I promise you, I won’t go for good without saying goodbye.”

She sobbed, turning to Caleb. His arms came around her while his eyes flashed fire at his brother.

“Go. But you damned well better be back in three days. That’s the limit of my patience.” Caleb guided Jane aside while Justin rolled the bike out the door. He led her to the chair, settling her there before he left to join Justin on the dirt driveway that led from the barn.

Copyright (c) 2007 by Bianca D'Arc. All Rights Reserved.