Free Renner Morgan by Anitra Lynn McLeod

here.”
    “All of you were very brave.” McBride had never been so proud of them.
    “Especially Caleb.” Bailey grinned at his brother.
    McBride bristled as Ferris’s comment in the shed came back to taunt him a second time. He’d seen it as all of them standing behind Caleb, and perhaps there was some truth to that, but McBride saw it more that they had stood together.
    “I was just doing my part to protect our land.”
    It was on the tip of his tongue to correct our land , but McBride nodded instead. Having them see this farm as collectively belonging to all of them would inspire every man to do anything they could to keep it safe.
    “I’m sorry that I led them here.” Quintus shook his head. “I thought I had a chance to get away unseen, but I guess I was wrong.”
    “You’re lucky you weren’t killed.” Renner seemed to suddenly realize he had spoken. He dropped his attention to his plate but didn’t eat.
    “I am extremely lucky,” Quintus agreed. “I don’t think I would have survived much longer in town.”
    “So you don’t think there are any thralls left?” McBride worried for Renner and Caleb. How would he get them mates if all the mates were gone?
    “I don’t think so. There were so many of them dead in the streets.” Quintus blanched at his own words. “Can’t we discuss something else?”
    “Of course. Forgive me.” McBride had forgotten where he was and the point of the meal. “This is about praising us, not worrying about the rest of the world. All of you have worked so hard to put in the garden and get the farm as self-sufficient as we can make it. You’ve done excellent work. All of you.”
    Glasses were raised, congratulations were offered, and the ugliness outside their little spot of brightness was forgotten, at least for a while. Ollie brought in the dessert course personally, and everyone marveled when he turned off the lights and set it on fire. Something about the flames flickering made McBride think that almost every time he went to drink from Caleb at night, there would be something in his bedroom flickering. He’d never gone back to see what it was, as he’d always given his slammers privacy, but he’d been curious.
    When the flames died down, Ollie covered the dessert with a domed lid, extinguishing the fire entirely. The butler turned the lights back on, and then they ate Cherries Jubilee. It was rich and so tartly sweet everyone was puckering and joking about kissing. Almost against his will, McBride’s attention darted to Caleb. That kiss in the yard kept coming back to him. He’d wiped his mouth with the back of his hand but only to send a message. In truth, he’d wanted to toss Caleb down in the dirt and put an end to their sexual frustrations.
    Except for Caleb’s foot business and the truncated discussion about the goings-on in town, McBride couldn’t remember a more pleasant evening. He ate until he was certain he was going to burst and then he ate a bit more. When the meal was finished, they retired to the parlor. Dozens of couches and big chairs were scattered around the room, allowing couples the chance to sit close and cuddle. As much as McBride wanted to settle in next to Quintus, he didn’t want to put too much pressure on him. Caleb’s outburst during the scuffle might have put him off. Besides, McBride would approach him when the time was right, and tonight did not feel like the night.
    Instead, McBride played bartender. He mixed drinks and poured shots, which gave him a chance to check on everyone and give his future mate some space. He was pleased when Quintus took a small couch and settled his injured leg across the seat. From his posture, it was clear he’d rather sit alone than sit beside a man he didn’t want. Not that there were a lot of free men to choose from.
    That thought gave McBride pause. It hardly seemed a fair choice to Quintus when he either had to accept McBride or go mateless. McBride would have to tread lightly. He