To Love a Stray Ch. 17

"Enough! Stop! I'm sorry! Please stop," Lotty screams and sobs but Rosy only releases her to grab another grip on her hair and jerk roughly.

"Rosy! Enough! Rosy! Stop it," Sam is yelling at his sister but doesn't seem game to get close to her as she snarls and I pushes her face close to Lotty's tear and blood stained one.

"You get the hell out of my building and keep away from my toms! If I so much as think you might have been near any of them I will gladly finish what I started and just for your own good ... do not ever try to do anything to my unborn child again," Rosy almost screeches in anger.

"Micah! Get Rosy away from Lotty now," Doc yells.

At last I am close enough to grab Rosy around the lower ribs and lift her feet from the ground as I head inside the quarters.

"Let me at her," Rosy yells as the wooden door is closed behind us.

"Calm down sweetheart," I tell her as I carry her into the lounge room despite her wild struggles to get free.

"Where the hell is Doc? Why isn't he in here with Rosy? Lotty slammed her elbow back into Rosy's belly," I recognise Edwin's voice and wonder what the hell he is doing on Williamson land as Rosy screeches with rage and struggles wildly in my arms.

"Shit! Someone go tell Doc," I roar and Rosy tenses in my arms.

I nuzzle against her neck as I sit down and I feel her take several deep breaths as I tighten my arms around her. My anger continues to bubble just beneath the surface and I lift my head to look around the room. Dwayne, Mitchell, Sam, Justin, Chris, Malcolm, Donovan, Edwin and his new partner Jacob are crowded around where I sit holding Rosy.

"You okay Rosy? Where did Lotty get you?" Edwin asks worried as he moves to squat down in front of her. I frown at him for a moment before shaking my head and pushing Rosy's hair back off her face. Sweat has dampened her skin and I can smell blood though it doesn't seem to be hers.

"What are you doing in here Edwin?" Rosy demands, her tone barely more than a growl. He manages a slight smile then looks nervously towards me before meeting my eyes.

"Making sure my soon-to-be sister-in-law and the baby are okay. Where did Lotty ram her elbow into you? I heard you give a yell of pain," Edwin's voice is coarse with worry.

Rosy immediately begins to pull at one side of her t-shirt trying to expose side but one of my arms are in the way pinning one of her arms to her side.

"She got me on the hip, I managed to turn but it hurts like hell now." Rosy mutters and flinches when Edwin reaches out to touch her.

"Shit! You're going to have one hell of a bruise there," Edwin says even as I growl possessively. Rosy is my fiancé, how dare he touch her! Edwin lifts his hands shoulder high and moves well back from us, and a part of me notices he moves stiffly as if to avoid pain.

"Now might be a good time for you and Jacob to go outside. You can send Doc in when you do," Sam tells them in a hard voice beating me to it.

"Yeah we should be making sure our she-kitt is alright," Jacob mutters and I can tell by the tone of his voice that he does not like Lotty.

"Dwayne go get my mattress, Rosy is going to lie down in a moment." I say firmly and I glance at him to find him watching Edwin with narrowed eyes. Clearly all of my clan warriors are on edge with Edwin being inside the quarters.

"Get the hell out of here," I order tightly, "and I will be out shortly so you can explain to me what you are doing on Clan territory uninvited. You know you aren't welcome here,"

"Come on Ed, looks like we'd better go." Jacob says as he places a hand on Edwin's biceps. There is silence as the two leave the room and I don't look away from the doorway until I hear the doors close behind them.

"Rosy was provoked Micah," Malcolm says stepping forward.

"I know, Lotty was snipping at her before they'd left the house. I meant to get away as quickly as possible but it looks like it wasn't quick enough." I say cuddling Rosy as I watch her closely.

"Chris, Malcolm if either of you have something to say about what happened here say it now in front of everyone." Dwayne warns on a low dangerous note.

"Lotty deserved it," Chris says with a shrug.

"Rosy should have used her fists from the start, not bitch slapped her," Malcolm says with a grin. "And that was a neat touch going for her face. Lance isn't going to have to worry about other toms for a good while now,"

"No Malcolm," I say sternly before softening my voice as I look down in Rosy's wary eyes. "That was very naughty of you Rosy, you don't fight."

"The way Lotty was trying to get to Sam she's lucky Rosy didn't go straight for her throat," Justin growls.

"It's a good thing Rosy didn't walk in when she was all over you Mitchell," Donovan says and Rosy growls low in her throat as she tenses in my arms once more.

"Calm down Rosy," I say soothingly and she starts at the sound of the front doors opening and hurried footsteps come into the quarters.

"It's okay Rosy, shhh, it's okay. You're safe," I murmur to her but she is growling in a low savage tone.

"Micah! Edwin says Rosy took a hit to her stomach," Doc calls and appears around the door. Doc hurries to come around to the front of the lounge and Rosy twists in my arms as she turns to keep an eye on Mal, Lotty's father as he walks into the room behind Doc. Clearly she doesn't want anyone she doesn't know in the quarters or near her.

"I'm sorry about this Micah. If I had known Lotty was going to start trouble I would not have stopped here." Mal says as he glances at me. "Doc?"

I watch Doc lifting Rosy's t-shirt to examine her stomach and sides but I am busy keeping a firm hold on Rosy as she moves uncomfortably and flinches at Doc's probing.

"Dwayne, get my mattress," I order and I glance towards Dwayne as he hurries from the room.

"Any pain? Tightness?" Doc asks.

"No," Rosy growls as she continues to watch Mal.

"You should think about locking Lotty up until she's safely married Mal. She came in here trying to lure Sam off so they were by themselves," Malcolm tells his father tightly.

"I'm as aware of what my daughter is like as you," Mal tells him and I glance between the two of them noticing Malcolm looks away from his father's stare. "You can be sure Lotty is not going to get away with disgracing her family in such a manner. I am only glad Rosy decided not to go for Lotty's belly, from the look of Lotty's face Rosy wouldn't have missed."

"There much damage?" I force myself to ask out of curtesy.

"With just a quick examination there appears to be only superficial scratches and bruising. Though the scratches will undoubtedly leave visible scars for several years if Lotty doesn't shift several times to heal them," Doc says soberly.

There is silence for several minutes as Doc takes his time checking Rosy for injuries. Rosy watches Dwayne put the mattress on the lounge room floor and when I finally release her at Doc's ok, she sits in the middle of it to at Mal silently.

"I'll go and let Wade know Rosy is alright at present. Doc, I'd appreciate it if you could see your way clear to come finish tending to Lotty." Mal says before heading back outside.

"You are to take it easy for the rest of the day and no more fighting with Lotty while either of you are pregnant." Doc orders Rosy.

"I was not about to let her play her twisted little games with Sam, or any of the toms here." Rosy spits angrily.

"A natural instinctive drive to protect the toms of your clan plus Lotty is an intruder on your clan territory," Doc explains to her softly.

"You think I'm going to reject my baby," Rosy states without breaking eye contact with him.

Her remark catches us all off guard pulling sharply drawn breaths from the toms around us and I lean forward in my seat on the lounge as I watch her worriedly.

"Some young she-kitts will reject their first baby especially if the pregnancy has been trying or the delivery hard. Some just don't like their off spring near them until they are older." Doc says gently. "And you've already talked about killing your baby,"

"So someone will watch me closely and be with me all the time when I'm close to giving birth?" Rosy asks without looking away from him.

"And afterwards until we know the baby is safe," Doc says cautiously. Rosy purses her lips with a slight frown as she considers his words before giving a slight nod.

"Sounds reasonable," Rosy says after some thought. "But I got one condition..."

"There are no negotiations on this Rosy," I tell her firmly and reach out to rest my hand on her shoulder. Idly I begin rubbing my thumb back and forth on the back of her shoulder.

"You have to start letting me share the baby with you all more. Before I was taken by the strays you always wanted to touch my belly and now no one even wants to feel the baby move." Rosy says quietly.

"But you started crying when Jazzy merely asked if I would have to uncover your belly to check on the baby's health. She hadn't even mentioned wanting to touch your stomach." Doc explains.

"I was always so scared the strays were going to do something, or hurt the baby in some way. Then here I was and I knew no one wanted to hurt me or the baby and I was so relieved," Rosy stops talking to take a deep breath and I notice the vulnerability in her eyes. "I could stop being brave and strong and cry because I had been so terrified."

I take a deep breath and realise I have tightened my hold on her shoulder. I slip down off the lounge and kneel behind her as she turns her head away from me with uncertainty.

"Okay, more touching when I'm with you," I murmur softly as I slip my arms around her waist from behind to hold her.

"Exactly what did you mean when you told Lotty not to worry about Jazzy that you're bigger than Jazzy and a hell of a lot tougher and meaner than her?" Justin asks tightly. I switch my gaze to him and watch him as worried thoughts race through my mind. Was Rosy starting to feel some kind of aggression towards my sister?

"If Lotty wants to come around causing trouble she can start with me," Rosy says tightly. "Lotty is not going to hurt my friend Jazzy,"

I glance towards Chris and Malcolm half expecting them to side with their sister.

"Somehow I don't think Lotty will be doing that," Malcolm says with a grin.

"Dad's likely to take her home and lock her in the secure room until her wedding day after this." Chris adds.

"So what was this she was saying about Jazzy never being? ..." Rosy begins to ask a question.

"She's trying to stir up muck and trouble," Malcolm growls as he cuts Rosy off in mid sentence.

Rosy eyes Malcolm for a few moments before lifting her chin and continuing to glare at him, he continues to hold her gaze. Rosy shift slightly before giving a huff and moving so her back is to him.

"When are we going hunting for lunch?" Rosy asks.

"Doc said you're to rest for the rest of the day," I tell her gently.

"So what? You going to starve me?" Rosy asks coolly.

"No, we can cook something or make sandwiches." I tell Rosy calmly.

"Apparently we're working on a need to know basis here. Obviously I don't need to know the answer to the question about Jazzy I tried to ask. Well you only need to know I only intend to eat what I've hunted!" Rosy says abruptly as she moves away from me, stretches out on her side and picks up the remote control to the tv.

"Rosy," I growl in warning. I am not in the mood to put up with her temper.

"You know you might not really want to growl at me at the moment. I am really pissed off and I don't play nice with others when I am pissed off." Rosy says dryly as she changes channels on the TV. I snatch the remote from her hand and she turns to glare at me through narrowed eyes.

"Temper tantrums will get you nowhere," I warn her tightly.

"Temper tantrum? You think I am throwing a temper tantrum? Ha! You wouldn't mistake it if I did throw a tantrum!" Rosy snaps angrily before getting to her feet and heading for the bedrooms stomping angrily as she leaves the room.

* * * * *

Rosy

I find myself in the bedroom Micah and Steven share where I have been sleeping since being rescued from the Darnels. I feel edgy and unsettled, unable to sit or lay down to relax. Finally I open my side of the wardrobe I share with Micah and look at the jumbled mess that is usually neatly folded and stacked. On top of it all is my little treasure box containing my most valued pieces and I lift it into my arms to cradle it gently as if to erase the foreign touch from yesterday.

I open the lid and look down at its contents thankful to see my photo and wedding certificate tucked neatly inside. As I look further beneath them, I find more photos. Harry's face looks back at me and I swallow the loneliness and loss I always feel when I see his picture. The straight black hair and deep liquid black-brown eyes with a sprinkle of russet around the irises, his smooth caramel skin over high cheekbones above a crooked smile that shows white teeth.

Underneath are more photos and I study the picture of me that Harry had snapped on one of our camping trips. I am in the act of climbing onto a thick limb. I am stretched out along the branch in the act of pulling my second foot onto the branch, long hair tumbling around my shoulders and face but not quite hiding the predatory gleam in my eyes. Another shot shows me laughing around an orange, juice dribbling down my chin and arm as I look towards the photographer.

Next is a photo of several women sitting in rocking chairs on a front porch, one is blonde with short hair cut in a pixie style framing a delicate face. The other has rich auburn hair so dark it is nearly black and I realise that in her face I can see both Mitchell and more strongly Sam. In her arms, she is cradling a small blanket wrapped form, cradling it against her chest and looking down at it enthralled.

The next photo is of me on Donald Caruther's knee holding a gaily-wrapped present and wearing a party hat, I was clearly only four or five with long hair blowing wildly in my face. There are more pictures of me with the odd ones of Harry and Jeddah mixed in but right at the bottom is a picture I had long forgotten about, creased as if it had been folded into a wallet and yellowed with age I smooth it open and look at the two childish faces it contains. The older child sits behind the baby holding it upright. Both are dressed in blue and I recognise my brothers even in the childish faces.

As I sit studying the picture, I have to wonder about the woman who had left behind these little boys and their father yet clearly carried the picture of her sons with her. And if the state of the photo was anything to go by, she looked at it often. I turn the picture over and see on the bottom right hand corner a date only five months before my birth date then below that Mitchell and Sam's names and ages. I frown as I realise Mitchell is under twelve months older than I am and I have to smile wryly, he had seemed so much older and more mature than me when I first met him.

I look at the rest of my belongings in the wardrobe and set about returning them to the neat and orderly manner I prefer. I come across my books and study material from my university course and leaf through it idly before putting it aside and picking up a box of odds and ends sorting through it curiously. I smile as I come across several old phones and I plug a recharger in and put my uni phone on to charge. It soon begins to emit the beeping signal that tells me I have received a text message and I laugh but ignore the phone as I continue sorting through my belongings.

"Rosy?" Donovan calls from the doorway

"What Donovan?" I ask and glance back over my shoulder at him.

"We got lunch ready, are you coming out to eat?" Donovan asks quietly.

"No Donovan I'm not," I tell him levelly before turning back to my belongings.

"You're going to make Micah mad," Donovan warns in a worried tone.

"Yeah, let's not make Micah mad. Doesn't matter who else gets upset or pissed off just as long as it's not Micah." I mutter angrily. I hear Donovan walk away and turn my full attention back to my belongings, it's not long before I hear Micah's familiar tread coming up the long room and I reach for another small box of loose papers.

"Lunch is ready," Micah tells me and I can hear the thread of annoyance running through his voice.

"Well go and eat it," I return flatly.

"You need to eat as well," He says evenly.

"I'm not hungry," I tell him.

"You have to eat whether you're hungry or not, for the baby. He needs nourishment," Micah says tightly.

"I had some sandwiches your mother made when I visited Jazzy." I tell him.

"That was a couple of hours ago," Micah says evenly.

"It was? I didn't realise so much time had passed," I admit with a start.

"I get that you're mad at us, just come out with me, okay?" Micah asks and I can hear the strain in his voice. "Don't refuse to eat just to punish us."

I glance at him and see the tension in his face but I shake my head before turning back to my belonging.

"I'm not hungry," I tell him again.

* * * * *

Rosy

I open my eyes and blink sleepily as I try to work out were I am then it comes back to me. I am on Steven's bed in the bedroom but I have no recollection of covering myself with the blanket off Micah's bed, I frown for a moment as I remember dreaming Micah had spoken softly to me and stroked my arm and I know he must have came in to cover me up while I slept accidentally disturbing me slightly. I yawn and stretch before tossing back the blanket and sitting up slowly, I look around and get my bearings before swinging my legs off the side of the bed to stand up.

I use the toilet before heading out to the lounge room and pause to look around, Malcolm and Chris are playing the x-box and Donovan has stretched out in a chair asleep but there is no sign of anyone else.

"Where is everyone?" I ask and rub at my eyes.

"Hey Rosy, you woke up. Micah and Mitchell are talking to Wade. Dwayne, Sam and Justin are off on some errand." Malcolm says with a grin as he moves so there is a space for me between them but I shake my head as I glance around.

"What time is it?" I ask.

"It's after four," Chris says.

"Hey Rosy," Donovan's sleepy voice comes from the chair and I glance his way with a smile.

"I'm going to get myself something to eat since Micah isn't here and there's no chance of going hunting." I say as I head for the kitchen.

"We left you some flavoured milk if you want it," Donovan calls as I open the fridge. I study the contents for a few moments before taking out a container of salad mixed with pieces of chicken, take the cling wrap off the top and drizzle creamy dressing over it. I am sitting between Malcolm and Chris before I realise I forgot to get myself a drink and grimace before concentrating on my food. The salad is still fresh and contains my preferred mix of ingredients. I spear a wedge of tomato with my fork and lift it to my lips and catch a faint whiff of Micah's scent, I refuse to smile as I pop it into my mouth.

"Good?" Donovan asks as he squeezes in between Chris and me making Chris move over.

"It's food," I allow and I hear the tiny groan of frustration from Donovan.

"You're not cranky with us anymore?" Donovan asks.

"I was not cranky with you Donovan, I just wasn't hungry." I tell him but I can tell by the look that he gives he doesn't believe me. I spear a piece of cucumber and nibble at it before grinning at Donovan and allowing myself to fall sideways against him.

"You all right Rosy?" Donovan demands startled.

"No, my pillow has started talking to me," I say and laugh. Both Malcolm and Chris laugh as well and Donovan growls softly.

"Funny," Donovan frowns at me. I smile back at him and move so I am reclining against him as I eat, I keep glancing up at him but he is clearly exuberant to have me using him as a pillow and makes no complaints.