To Love a Stray Ch. 19

"Just one of you won't stop Micah!"

"Micah is over with Wade and Marissa, Baxter Barnes is there as well. Baxter believes in doing things correctly and that means Micah has to wait, Micah won't get past Baxter." I say firmly. "We'll be back soon, Mitchell shall we go?"

I open the bedroom door and step out of the room with the strong hope Mitchell will follow. I hear Rosy's crying retreat to the far side of the room and then it is muffled as the door is closed.

"Outside?" Sam asks quietly and I glance at him in surprise.

"Rosy will settle better for Mitchell," Sam says firmly but there is no way he can hide the worry on his face. "Besides his word carries more weight than mine if any of the others try to go into the room."

I follow his glance to the end of the room where three toms stand just inside the room at the lounge room doorway.

It only takes me a few moments to recognise Dwayne Williamson and one of his brothers. All of them look very similar, six foot plus in height with the thick chest and well muscled shoulders they inherited from their father.

Dwayne has the soft sun bleached, almost strawberry blonde hair of Marissa. His brother is very similar in colouring to Micah, only younger, fairer. If memory serves me correctly he is ... Donald? No, Donovan, both are handsome toms that no doubt get a lot of attention from human females and our she-kitts alike.

The third tom I recognise instantly. Easily mistaken for one of the many farmers whose photos can be seen in country papers and magazines. He is lean and rangy standing over six-foot two. The t-shirt over his chest and upper arms fits snugly, clearly showing the muscular body beneath. Shaggy brown hair that has a slight curl to it hangs over his forehead as if to hide his eyes. Eyes that are the same startling clear, intense blue, as his father's - Mal Inness. Definitely the oldest Inness son, he is a younger version of his father.

"What's wrong with Rosy?"

Surprisingly it is the youngest Williamson tom that asks the question in a demanding tone that makes it clear he expects an answer.

"The way Micah has been demanding to go into the room has upset Rosy," Sam says firmly.

"You and Mitchell need to butt out and let Micah and Rosy settle this between them!" Donovan hisses angrily. "As soon as Micah can talk to Rosy he will sort everything out and they will both be happy again."

"Donny," Dwayne's voice is firm as he cautions his brother.

"Everyone is to stay away from the room," Sam orders evenly. "Rosy needs to calm down,"

I lead the way outside, I don't want Rosy to be able to overhear the conversation and become more upset. I am a little surprised when Dwayne Williamson and Malcolm Inness follow behind Sam and myself.

"I want to talk to my nephew in private," I say as I turn to face the two who follow us. I am aware of Dave and Blake heading over to join us as I scowl.

"Micah is my brother and I know you won't get any reasonable conversation from him until this mess is sorted out," Dwayne says in a calm manner even as he glances towards the warriors that came with me today.

"Micah is my boss, a work mate, but The Stray... pardon me, Rosy, is my friend." Malcolm says sounding troubled. "This isn't going to end well,"

"What did you call my niece?" I demand tightly even as I realise the term fits her behaviour almost exactly.

"It's a nickname I started calling her before we found out she is a clan cat not a stray. Rosy likes it, identifies with it," Malcolm says sounding apologetic.

"Rosy needs to talk to Micah," Dwayne says as I am storing what Malcolm just said in my memory along with what I know of Rosy's history.

"If she is serious about breaking up with him, SHE needs to tell him." Dwayne's tone is forceful, as he holds my gaze, not bothering to look at Sam. "It's only common decency. Plus Micah is not going to take anyone else's word she wants out of the engagement."

"Yeah, that's about the long and short of it," Baxter Barnes says as he comes up behind my sons. I glance his way startled, I had not heard or seen his approach.

"Kurt," Baxter says respectfully with a nod as he steps forward with his hand extended.

I hesitate a moment before I shake his hand and give an answering nod.

"For some reason she is scared of him. No, scared is too mild of a word." I say with a frown. "Rosy is terrified of Micah for some reason. She claims he hurt her, yet last night she was unable to say when or how." I say to Baxter.

I hear the sound of a vehicle slowing on the highway and recognise the sound of the car Ray MacIntosh hired as it starts along the driveway.

"You think it's some kind of ploy for sympathy?" Baxter asks.

"Rosy's not like that!" Sam snaps angrily.

"I agree with Sam," Malcolm puts in. "Rosy seems to see things differently to us, maybe in a more simplistic way. She might have found Micah isn't how she imagined him to be, or though he was. The hurt she's talking about might be some kind of embarrassment or bruised feelings caused by something like that."

"Maybe she's worried he will want visiting rights to his kitt?" Blake offers.

I study Malcolm for a few moments, what he said is interesting. In the last five or so years I have came across him I have often thought he would do well in a profession like my own. He is very sensitive to the emotions and behaviour of others.

"I don't think that will be an issue between Micah and Rosy," Sam says quietly and an angry hiss comes from Dwayne.

"That kitt has Williamson blood remember! He will have every right to know his father's clan!" Dwayne snaps quickly.

"I'm not disputing that," Sam says tightly. "And you know as well as I do Micah didn't go into the cage with my sister, HE'S not the one that..."

"Calm down both of you!" Baxter snaps. "Now is not the time or the place to rehash old mistakes."

The sound of car doors being slammed drowns out the hissed conversation as Ray exits the car with an angry scowl on his face. He strides over towards us ignoring all but Sam and I who he glares at angrily.

"Where is my daughter and why aren't you with her?" Ray demands.

The new information I have learnt is swirling around in my head as I try to make sense of it. Is Micah or isn't he the father of Rosy's unborn kitt? What mistakes does Baxter mean?

"We are out here trying to work out a calm solution to this," Sam says with a quick glance my way.

I feel like I am missing some important piece of a puzzle and want to ask questions but the way Ray pushes past Dwayne and Baxter makes me follow to try to avert trouble.

"Ray! There is no need for rudeness," I tell Ray sternly even as I am slowed by Baxter's hand on my shoulder and I turn my head to look at him.

"She needs to speak to Micah," Baxter says quietly but firmly. "Just the two of them."

"I agree, but I doubt Rosy will do it. She seems scared of him," I answer with a slight shake of my head.

"Micah needs to see her face to face," Dwayne cuts in earnestly. "Rosy keeps hiding behind one of her brothers or a closed door. Micah would never hurt her, he loves her and the kitt she's carrying too much."

"They don't have to be alone," Malcolm cuts in with little more than a whisper. "Just a few moments for Rosy to look Micah in the face and her tell him what she wants or doesn't want."

"I'm here to support Rosy," I say firmly. "Not to force her to do something she isn't comfortable with."

I walk quickly after Sam and Ray, I notice the superficial likeness between them from behind but it is only skin tone and hair colour. There is little else to hint they are related. My inner questions about Micah and Rosy's unborn kitt slip away unnoticed as I take care to absorb as much visual information as possible as well as what is said. Body language often tells me much more than words in these tense and emotional situations.

* * * * *

It is getting close to midmorning when Mitchell and Sam have Rosy calm enough to agree to go out into the kitchen. Rosy has made it clear she wishes to remain with her brothers but she still refuses to talk to Micah without anyone else present. Mitchell has finally got her to agree to be there when he and Sam talk to Micah.

Ray has been no help, he is more intent on getting Rosy to leave so he can introduce her to some werecats he considers suitable possible matches for her. After an hour or more of Ray making Rosy's distress worse Mitchell had ordered him from the quarters. Mitchell had made his point clear - leave the room and wait outside or be escorted from the property.

When Sam finally opens the bedroom door and leads the way out towards the kitchen Rosy trails behind, only keeping moving with encouragement from Mitchell. Rosy hesitates as she reaches the lounge room but Mitchell puts a hand in the small of her back to urge her forward and they follow Sam towards the kitchen.

I take in where everyone is as I walk past the entry to the lounge room and the kitchen beyond. It is easier to identify everyone by sight rather than smell with so many bodies in close quarters with emotions running high.

There's a darkly tanned tall tom by the window of the lounge room, the light from the window picking up a blue-black sheen in his curly hair. Broad shoulders taper down to a lean waist and narrow hips and though it is difficult to clearly see his face I recognise the youngest Willoughby tom, Mikkarl.

In the room with him is a tall lanky dirty blonde tom, he lacks the solid build of a clan cat but smells full-blooded even though he has the build of a stray. He would be Chris Inness, sired by a stray that works as a master builder for Mal Inness. I can see Dwayne and Malcolm in the kitchen and I guess Micah has yet to be allowed to return to the quarters.

"I'll only be a minute," I say over my shoulder to Sam and Mitchell before heading for the front door.

Outside Dave heads towards me from where he waits with Blake, Ray and the rest of our warriors by our vehicles.

"We're just about to sit down in the kitchen and have a cup of coffee while this mess gets sorted out," I tell him, "Someone go let Baxter know we are ready..."

My words are cut off by a frightened feminine scream and I swing around to face the building startled.

"They're already inside!" Dave says and I hear the sounds of those behind me running as I rush inside.

I round the corner into the lounge room to find Baxter and several others including Dwayne blocking the entrance way into the kitchen effectively keeping Sam and Mitchell in the lounge room.

"What's going on?" I demand as I come to a halt just behind Sam and Mitchell who are both trying to push their way into the kitchen but are facing five toms. Baxter, Dwayne and Malcolm, along with Mikkarl and Chris, who are now in the kitchen.

"Micah managed to get between us and Rosy when we went to go into the kitchen!" Mitchell growls. "Get out of my damned way!" He snaps as Baxter wedges himself in front of Mitchell effectively barring him from the kitchen.

"If Micah hurts my sister in any way at all I am holding you lot personally responsible!" Sam roars with a touch of desperation.

I look past the tangle in the doorway and manage to get a glimpse into the kitchen. Marissa and Jasmine are standing back against the wall to the left with Aaron Farlow, the clan medic. Marissa is starting to show her age since I last saw her. There are grey hairs showing in her once bright strawberry blonde hair and fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Her eyes are still the same pretty brown colour as autumn leaves, her skin softly tanned but she lacks the glow of good health. She still looks as delicate as a child's porcelain doll despite the warm, thick jumper around her thin shoulders.

There is no mistake that the young woman standing beside Marissa is her daughter Jasmine. They share the same slender build but where Marissa is skinny her daughter Jazzy is lithe, the same nicely curved feminine body with full breasts and small waist. Jazzy is a bit taller than her mother having inherited some of Wade's height without the bulk that is commonly seen in our American cousins.

Aaron Farlow is tall and lanky. While he has a typical clan cat build he lacks the well-developed muscles of a warrior but is slickly muscled. He looks slightly nerdy with shaggy brown hair that curls over his ears and against the back of his neck. There are faint lines at the corners of his eyes as if he is constantly squinting while he reads his latest medical book. His hands look soft and well cared for and a quiet intelligence fills his grey eyes.

Wade is standing at the corner of the kitchen table between where his wife and daughter stand and where Micah is trying to talk to Rosy. By his side are two of his sons. Edwin, eldest of the Williamson sons is closest to him. At close to six foot, maybe six-one, he isn't as tall as Dwayne, Donovan or Micah. But he does have the thick, heavy upper body like his father, making him look like a rugby league player. Light auburn hair with sun bleached top layers and the pale skin of a redhead but without the freckles make him stand out from his more tanned brothers.

I recognise the last Williamson brother standing beside Edwin. Same stocky build and brown-hazel eyes but the younger tom lacks the almost pasty paleness of Edwin. It takes me a moment to remember his name, Justin, yes Justin. Alex was the son who had died of injuries from fighting strays.

Wade stands near his two sons, I'm sure he is three or four inches taller than my own six-foot one. He carries his age well, maybe a slight softening in his body but no sign of grey in his light honey-brown hair. He catches me looking at him and stiffens as he rolls his shoulders. I feel a slight smile tug the corners of my mouth upwards, clearly he is unsettled by the presence of my warriors and I.

I am aware of the soft murmur coming from Micah and the faint whimpers from Rosy but I have kept them pushed to back of my mind as I look around the room. Lastly I give Baxter a quick once over. The tall six-eight height with well-muscled large shoulders and brown hair with a little bit of grey just above his ears make him hard to miss.

"I'm not going to hurt you, I'd never hurt you. I love you. I know I messed up but I can fix it, I promise, I'll do whatever necessary to fix it. I love you Rosy, please sit down and talk to me. We can work this out," Micah is nearly begging Rosy.

He has her by her uninjured wrist and seems to be holding it loosely but firmly as she attempts to twist it free as she backs away from him and those at the doorway. Rosy is darting frantic looks around the room clearly searching for an escape route and I wonder how Micah could possibly miss seeing her distress or ignore it.

"Please Rosy, I am not going to hurt you. I'll do whatever it takes to fix things. You tell me how you want things to be between us, I'll do whatever you say just don't leave me. I love you, I need you to be a part of my life," Micah keeps talking quietly, desperately.

Rosy continues to back away and try to twist her wrist free as she whimpers. She looks around Micah, clearly searching for her brothers behind him. She stops backing away and jerks at her wrist but Micah keeps his grasp on it.

"Sam! Mitchell!" Rosy sobs as she stops fighting Micah's hold.

"Just give them a minute to talk!" Baxter implores hopefully. "Let them work it out. She needs to talk to him,"

"Rosy please, I'll do whatever you want, whatever you say," Micah murmurs quietly, a touch of fear in his voice. "I know I messed up big time but please give us a chance! I love you. I'll do whatever you want to make this work between us. Please Rosy, please,"

"Let me go!" Rosy cries and her voice rises as she repeats herself. "Let me go! Let me go!"

"Sit down so we can talk," Micah begs as he turns her towards the chairs at the table before releasing her wrist.

Rosy immediately tries to dodge away from him but Micah lifts his arm as if to turn her and Rosy stops in her tracks flinching away from him.

"Please Rosy, let me fix this. I love you. Don't walk out on me. Give me a chance to make this right! I love you so much! I love you Rosy, I love you," Micah says frantically. His voice breaks slightly and I can tell by the sound he is very close to tears if not crying.

"No," Rosy's voice is very faint, almost inaudible as all other spoken noise ceases.

"Rosy?" Micah's voice trembles and I watch the shirt tighten across the back of his shoulders as he raises one hand and runs it through his hair pushing it back off his face. "Just tell me what to do and I'll make it right,"

"I ... no, I ... I ... no I can't, I can't. I don't ... I can't ..." Rosy's voice is very faint and trails off as Micah leans forward slightly as he turns his head as if to hear her better. I see her lips move but I am not sure if she is saying anything as she glances around as if avoiding looking at any one person.

"I'll love you enough for both of us," Micah whispers hoarsely.

Rosy shakes her head and takes a cautious step backwards. She has both arms folded across her lower ribs over the swell of her stomach in a way that is often in self-protection.

"I can't," Rosy repeats in a shaky voice.

" Why? Just tell me one good reason why," Micah says thickly.

Rosy fixes her gaze on one spot and I glance that way to see who she is looking at but there is no one there and I glance back at her to see her open her mouth soundlessly only to close it again. She glances at Micah and I see the sheen of tears in her eyes before she turns her head and looks away.

Micah stiffens and turns his head slowly. I look also and find Edwin shaking his head as he looks at her before glancing between the two of them uneasily.

"Hell no!" Sam snarls just in front of me and I turn my attention back to Rosy and Micah hurriedly as I hear a low savage snarl rumbling deeply from Micah.

"Do not say it! Don't fucking well say ..." Micah yells and his words turn into a roar as he turns away. He glances towards where Wade, Edwin and Justine stand and his lips curl up exposing his teeth in a vicious snarl.

"I am out of here! I'm gone! Make sure neither of them are where I could see them when I come back to collect my belongings!" Micah yells furiously.

Micah looks back at Rosy. She has both hands up over the lower part of her face as tears trickle down her cheeks. She flinches and stumbles backwards as Micah takes a step towards one side.

"I would never ... oh what the hell! I don't fucking matter to you anyway!" Micah roars in a voice thick with pain.

The mass of toms in front of me begins moving forward as Micah storms out of the small door at the end of the kitchen. Rosy is backed up against the wall by now, both hands still to her face as pain filled whines come from her.

"You keep away from my sister Edwin!" Mitchell snarls as he manages to push past Baxter. He advances towards Edwin and I watch shocked as Sam moves to his side.

"I don't want any trouble," Edwin says raising both hands and taking several steps backwards. "I don't even know what that is all about,"

"And you ain't about to find out!" Sam snarls aggressively.

"I'm going after Micah to make sure he is okay," Baxter says as he hurries in the direction Micah went.

"Micah is leaving?" Jazzy demands in the din as everyone talks over top of each other.

"She should have told him that in private," Dwayne snaps angrily.

"That's it I am taking my daughter away from here!" Ray says tightly somewhere behind me. "There are much more suitable clans than this one for her to marry into."

"Micah is the one who forced Rosy into speaking to him!" Sam snaps whirling to face Dwayne. "He should have known he wouldn't like what she had to say!"