Free Leena's Men by Tessie Bradford

to meet you, Megan.”
    “Where is Leena?” she asked.
    “Making a delivery to the house of, well crap, I don’t recall the name,” Craig answered.
    “Doesn’t matter, in time you’ll know the names of the twenty-one houses on Mesta.
    Leena transports between all of them on a regular basis,” she added. “Would you like to wield a shovel or help herd those algers over there to a new paddock?”
    Craig surveyed the slow-burning field and the corral. Algers were huge, six-legged animals with spiked horns. “I choose shoveling. What about you, Ad?”
    “You have to ask?” he said, eying the formidable beasts.
    “They look scarier than normal right now due to recently being sheered. Alger hair is used in the fabrication of many of our textiles. They’re actually sluggish, docile creatures,”
    Megan said as they walked toward the burning pasture. “We’re all very excited about yours and Leena’s good fortune in finding each other, and I can’t wait until we can talk in depth, but now obviously isn’t the time. My mates are directing the watering in the north section. They’ll be extremely pleased that you’ve joined our efforts here.”
    Megan quickly introduced them to the six men working the line then mounted a xander and rode off. Craig and Adam grabbed shovels and began digging.
    “This fire was deliberately set?” Craig asked.
    “Yes, this method is used to cleanse pastures after five seasons of planting. We closely monitor weather conditions when choosing the time to burn, but sometimes the Gods decide to add a bit of excitement to an otherwise mundane task,” Jarsa replied. “The risk of the fire getting out of control is slim however we always err on the side of caution.”
    “You must be extremely unique individuals.”
    The random statement made by the man standing on his left caught Craig off guard.
    “Why do you say that?” he asked, looking at Therr, who was resting his arm on the handle of his shovel while giving him and Adam the once-over.
    “Leena is one of a kind. The Gods would only bond her to men who can handle her distinctive ideas and behaviors.”
    “I can’t tell if that’s meant as a compliment or not,” Adam said, warily.
    “My apologies; I most certainly meant it to be one.” Therr bowed at the waist. “She is a high-spirited, confident woman. Life as her mates will, I’m sure, never be dull.” He and the others nodded in agreement.
    “It is surprising that you are here without her,” Asha commented. “I assumed she would keep close to you during your first venture out.”
    “She’s on a seven hour delivery run.”
    “Leena is unaware that you’re here?”
    “If we’re supposed to get her permission to go about our business that’s gonna be a major point of contention.”
    The men erupted into laughter, and more than a few issued humorous well wishes. Asha clapped Craig on the shoulder. “The Gods are indeed wise.”

    Leena kept the dome down, punched up the volume of one of her favorite musical groups and took off for home. She and her crew had completed the delivery ahead of schedule, and she was anxious to be with her mates. She’d done a lot of soul searching during the flights and was feeling much more like her normal, confident self.
    Cowardice was not a fault she thought she was capable of. She was furious at herself for not being forthright with Adam and Craig from the start, and for feeling relief when she’d been called away. It was selfish and grossly unfair to deliberately keep something so important from them.
    She was the only female born in the last three generations of her extended family unit.
    Fighting for what she believed in, making her voice heard and holding her own among alpha males was a regular event, one she’d never shied away from in the past.
    The three of them were soul mates. Challenges were inevitable but the bond was unbreakable. If her men questioned the path their lives were taking, it would be one more thing they