Chapter 35

Kayla and Jeff were standing in his quarters. He had told her what the General said, minus a few of the General's expletives, of course. Jeff sighed. "I guess it would be appropriate to visit the girls and tell them what's going on."

"Oh, they know what's going on," Kayla laughed. "As soon as the psychologist finished briefing me, I called them. To say they're ecstatic is a definite understatement. So be prepared."

"But why would they..."

"Major, they were raised in an orphanage, and I'm beginning to wonder if their not being adopted was a planned thing. Surely this slavery ring, or whatever it's called, hasn't been going on that long, though?" Shrugging, she continued, "Anyway, the most they had to look forward to was being placed in a foster home. But I think most of the people who run foster homes do it just for the money they get for each kid. I've never met anyone who lived in a foster home that thought they had been treated well, or loved by their foster parents, or whatever they call the people who keep the kids. I'm sure that not all foster homes are that way, but the couple of people I've talked to who were raised in one, had a lot of bad things to say about them.

"I told the girls I had been to your home, and I gave them a vague description of a beautiful place where they wouldn't be crammed together with a bunch of kids, or young people. I didn't go into detail because I didn't want to spoil the surprise when they see the retreat, as you call it. But they're dying to see you so they can thank you."

"Kayla, I don't want this to get out of hand ... I mean ... They seemed to overreact on the plane..."

"Overreact my ass," Kayla snapped. "You rescued them from that pig. And they know he's dead. I told them before we left when they were worrying he would follow them and get them back. I didn't tell them you killed him, but they know you were the boss of the mission. That means you were the one who was ultimately responsible for his death. No way are they going to believe that Ingles just up and coincidentally died. Trust me, these young ladies are not stupid, and they are going to thank you for giving them a place to live. And they're not nearly through telling you thank you for saving them, either. So, Major, just suck it up and take it like a man," she giggled.

Grabbing her hand, Jeff said, "Let's get this over with before you get my ass in more trouble. Are they out of the hospital yet?" he asked as he opened the door into the hallway.

"Yeah, they're all in a room together," she responded as they started walking down the hall. "They flatly refused to be separated, and from what I hear, that's an understatement. Doc says they're fine, though. Apparently a little internal tearing, but nothing you wouldn't expect from rough treatment when that asshole raped their virginity from them."

Jeff touched her shoulder, stopping Kayla and turning her to face him. Checking to make sure no one could hear him, he intently said, "I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to spit it out. I know those girls have been through a traumatic experience — to understate — and in addition to that, they've lost their innocence to that piece of shit. We need, somehow, to let them know that rape doesn't count toward whether they're virgins or not — not to me or any of my family. That little piece of flesh that Ingles' destroyed means nothing. Nor could they stop him from entering their bodies. When they willingly accept a man into their vaginas, that will be when they become women, as far as I'm concerned. That will be when they lose their virginity — when they willingly give that virginity to someone. Can you make them understand how I feel?"

Kayla felt her eyes mist, and she grabbed him into a fierce hug.

"Baby, people will see us," he hissed, looking over his shoulder.

"So let them; I don't care." Standing back, she took a breath. "Let's go; they're waiting for you."

A few minutes later, Kayla stopped. "They're in here, and if you don't mind, I want to go in first. I'll call you when they're ready, okay?" At Jeff's nod, she knocked and entered.

Jeff had to force himself to stop pacing. He leaned back against the wall, bringing a foot up behind him. He hadn't been this nervous while waiting and wondering if the fire department would get to Ingles' house too early. What the crap will Diana say — not to mention my other wives? Hell, how about Dave and Evie? I can just hear Evie laughing now.

Oh, shit. The General has broken it off in my ass for real, and I can't do a darn thing about it. Speaking of laughing, I'll bet he's laughing his ass off right now. Shit.

That was a nice touch in sending Kayla on a "mission" to settle the girls in, though. That way, she doesn't burn her R & R time. If this keeps up, I might even start thinking Whitworth is a nice guy. I don't know whether he's mellowed out, or I'm just seeing him differently. Of course, I doubt if Diana will forgive him for sending me on impossible missions, no matter how nice he's treating Kayla.

The door opened. "Won't you come in, Major?" Lieutenant Fisher said as she smiled at him.

As Jeff stepped inside the room, the three girls rose to stand side by side. Jeff had deliberately not looked at them any more than he absolutely had to while they had crouched naked inside of the cage, wanting to spare them as much as he could. Once they were dressed in BDUs, they had been hustled away from the action, and Kayla had stayed with them for a little while. Jeff had briefly spoken to them to give them encouragement and to reassure them that they would be leaving Ingles' house soon, but had not had time to make any effort to get to know them. On the plane, they had hugged and thanked him, but he had tried to stay away from them as much as he could, afraid of the bond that might be formed if he allowed his feelings to show. Staying away wasn't an option any longer, whether he liked it or not. Now, he was responsible for them. He stood looking at them, suddenly realizing that he had almost twenty-four hours of beard on his face, and hadn't showered since he had gotten back.

Crap, I must smell. I look like shit. They're going to be terrified of me. They seem hesitant, and no damn wonder, he thought as the young women suddenly seemed bashful, refusing to meet his eyes.

One blond, one brunette, and one dark redhead, bordering on auburn. Pretty faces, nice figures, but maybe they're all a little thin. Plenty of good food will take care of that. Looks like someone took them to the PX, or went for them. They're all dressed in new jeans and tops. Crap, they're really pretty. Stop that you idiot, they don't need another lecher staring at them.

Fisher gave a little hand gesture, "Major Jeff Matthews, I would like to officially present to you, your new charges."

"Hello, Sir," they said in unison, sounding as if it had been rehearsed. The girls looked as if they were suddenly scared to death of him. Kayla put a hand on the first girl's shoulder, "This is Natalie, and she likes to be called Nat. She's fifteen." Nat was about 5' 4", with small breasts that went well with her slender frame. Her dark red, almost auburn hair was cut short, but seemed to go with her small turned-up nose and pouting lips.

After a greeting exchange, Kayla touched the next girl, "And this is Nat's fraternal twin, Nicki."

Ah, I thought they were sisters, Jeff thought. She's about the same size as her sister, but the difference in hairstyle and color sets them apart. She's a brunette, and her hair is shoulder length. Looks like they're trying to play down their similarities.

"Hi, Nicki."

Touching the last girl, "This is Whitney, and she has just turned sixteen."

"Hi, Whitney." Natural dirty blond, unless I miss my guess, Jeff thought. I doubt if the orphanage or the foster parents would spend money on hair color. Crap, their hair looks like they cut it themselves. Diana will take care of that, no doubt. Whitney can't be over five feet tall, but her breasts are larger than the twins' — almost too large for her small body. Doubtless they were picked for slaves because of their beauty. Damn that asshole; too bad he didn't suffer more when he died. No telling how many people have died because of him, not to mention all the other things he has done. These girls will never be raped again, though. Thinking of that bastard raping them is tearing my heart out.

Jeff couldn't stand it any longer. With two big steps, he was there and gathered them into his arms. "I'm sorry, Babies. I'm so sorry this happened to you. No one will ever force you to have sex again. Not as long as you're with me. I'll kill the first one who tries to force you."

Kayla felt Jeff's intense emotions wash over her as Whitney circled her arms around him from the front, while Nat and Nicki grabbed him at his sides, all hugging him, the girls sobbing and burying their faces against him, Kayla now shedding silent tears, and Jeff trying not to. After a while, Kayla dried her eyes and left to get soft drinks, returning a few minutes later. By then Jeff was seated on the king-sized bed with the girls sitting as close to him as they could get.

Kayla stopped just inside the door as the irony of the situation struck her. Three girls, recently raped, were sitting on a bed with a man that should have been almost a stranger to them — sitting there giggling and having a ball as they vied with each other to be nearest him, and devised reasons to touch him.

My gosh, he's good looking. Oh, not pretty-boy good-looking, but ruggedly handsome enough to make me wet just watching him. It's obvious the girls think he's their hero, which he certainly is. But I need to back off with my emotions. Diana said he wouldn't take me in a hurry, no matter how much I wanted it. I might just have to push that a little bit, though. I've been without long enough. Unless he runs me off, I'm going to be this man's wife — one of many — but his wife, nonetheless.

Kayla watched as Jeff told the girls about his wives. Oh, now that's the way to put a damper on their reactions, Kayla mused, but then the redhead kissed him on his cheek, and all of them launched into a questioning session about his wives' names, and everything about them. Apparently someone had already clued them in that Jeff had multiple wives. When Jeff got to the ages of his younger wives, Kayla could see the look pass between the girls. She suddenly felt a momentary flair of jealousy. I can't compete with you, she found herself thinking. You're too young and pretty. Then, No, I'm not going to be like that. I'm number ten. I saw absolutely no jealousy displayed with my major's women. If I start with these girls, I'll be out before I can even make love to that hunk sitting there.

Kayla brought the drinks over, then pulled a chair close. Sitting back, she joined in the conversation as the girls fired questions at Jeff. She watched the two fraternal twins. Hmmm, the anthropologist in her corrected herself, better described, they're non-identical twins. But still there's a striking resemblance. If their hair color was the same, instead of one brunette and the other a redhead, and their hairstyles and hair lengths were the same, they would be hard to tell apart.

Jeff finally stood and again pulled the girls into a hug. "Kayla and I should go so the three of you can get some sleep. We need to leave early in the morning, and I have to call Diana and let her know you're coming..."

"But, Sir," Nat said, "won't she be upset that you're bringing three of us home? I mean..."

Jeff inwardly flinched as he thought about Diana's reaction, suspecting that she would be viewing the girls as future wives, instead of charges. Well, we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it. But if I have my way, I'm going to treat them as my daughters, just as Kayla introduced us. "The only thing I'm worried about," he said aloud, "is getting you home in time to go shopping, for I'm sure that will be the first thing on Diana's agenda."

"We don't need much, Sir," Nicki started. "We've..."

Jeff stopped her before she could belittle herself with how little they had at the orphanage. "God has been good to me, girls. I lucked up and sold an invention that reaped me all the money I will ever need. You will soon share in that, and Diana will see that it starts tomorrow. You will have a ride on another helicopter in the morning, then a ride on a small jet, then another ride on yet another helicopter. You'll wind up on what we call Matthews' Mountain.

"We leave at six in the morning, and there will be a lot of travel, so you need to get to sleep as soon as you can. Someone will be by about five to wake you, then Kayla and I will be here to take you to breakfast."

As Jeff turned to leave, the blond, Whitney, grabbed him around the neck, pulled his face down to hers and briefly kissed him on the mouth. As soon as she released him, the other two followed suit. Kayla got to see Jeff's face turn red as she realized that the little redhead had probably slipped him some tongue.

Barely suppressing a laugh, Kayla hugged the girls again and pulled the stunned major out the door.

Yep, you might be a badass in the eyes of your team, but those "little girls" have already figured out your soft spot, Kayla thought as she walked beside a quiet Major Matthews when they headed toward his quarters.

Fred had wolfed down two Whoppers, eaten the restaurant's biggest order of fries, finished his large drink and most of a pitcher of water before he relented and lay back on the bed.

"Uh, think that will hold you until breakfast?" Carla asked, not completely joking since she was accustomed to how much he normally ate.

Fred looked over at his mate. "I can't remember ever being that thirsty, not to say anything about the hunger. Damn, the thirst is coming back, again."

"Let me refill this," Audrey said as she grabbed his water pitcher.

"There's enough ice left in it. You don't have to bother with that. Just fill it with water."

As Audrey was filling the pitcher in the sink, "I like this room," Jessica said. "It's bigger than any that Dad was in. It was nice of them to bring these big seats that fold down flat so we can sleep on them. They even brought pillows and sheets."

"Ladies, you don't have to stay here tonight. You need to go back to the RV and sleep in a real bed..."

"Right after Hell freezes over, or you go back to the camp with us; whichever comes first," Carla said.

Fred started to say something when Jessica, who was standing by the bed, leaned over and kissed him. Quickly rising back up she made a sound, "Phew. What did they do to you in that operating room? Wait, I saw some mouthwash in that little bag of stuff the nurse brought in." Then a minute later holding up the bottle, "Yeah, here it is. Rinse and spit in this little pan they left in case you needed to throw up."