Kris Longknife 13 - Unrelenting (51 page)

Read Kris Longknife 13 - Unrelenting Online

Authors: Mike Shepherd

Tags: #Fiction, #Science Fiction, #Military, #Action & Adventure

“Immediately,” Kris said, sweeping a hand over her rather large bump.

“Ah, right, I did hear something from Captain O’dell that
there had been an epidemic of pregnancies. I didn’t think you’d be one of them.”

Kris pointed at Jack. “May I introduce my husband, Lieutenant General Jack Montoya.”

“How many Marines are out here?”

“I command a division afloat and a corp of Alwa National Guard ashore,” Jack said.

“The Alwans are under arms?”

“I think your brief may be a bit out-of-date,” Kris said, and began to update her replacement. She ended, an hour later, by laying down her own specifics.

“I am not traveling this pregnant. Not at the accelerations we have to use to go leaping across the galaxy. I will stay right here. I will have my baby right here. I will not travel until the doctor says my baby can travel.”

Grand Admiral Sandy Santiago nodded agreement. Even a grand admiral knew when she’d been trumped by a Longknife.

“Here
you go, General, your latest little recruit,” said Doc Meade as she laid the cutest tiny bundle in Jack Montoya’s arms.

He held that miniature miracle with awe and the utmost of care. He couldn’t help but stare at the fingers. Just like his, right down to the fingernails, but so much tinier.

Deep blue eyes stared up at him, under a shock of black hair. Then the perfect mouth formed an oh-so-large yawn for such a little face. The eyelids blinked, then closed for the moment.

“It’s normal for a newborn to fall asleep after it’s made a study of its new world,” Doc Meade whispered to Jack.

He smiled a thank-you.

“Well, don’t I get to see what my labors have wrought?” Kris asked from where they had made her comfortable, at last. Jack still shivered at the last couple of hours. No question the human race would have died out long ago if men had to do what his loving wife had just done.

The tiny bundle in his arms made it all worthwhile.

“Mrs. Longknife, may I introduce you to Ruth Maria Brenda Anne. Your latest adoring fan.”

“Whom you have put to sleep,” Kris said, but she was reaching for her daughter. Gently, Jack made the transfer. Now Ruthie lay on her mother’s breast. Jack joined Kris in fondly caressing their daughter with his eyes.

“We’ve come a long way, little one,” Kris said. “And you will go a long way soon enough, but for now, baby, you belong to Mommy and Daddy and we belong to you.”

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About the Author

Mike Shepherd
grew up Navy. It taught him early about change and the chain of command. He’s worked as a bartender and cabdriver, personnel advisor and labor negotiator. Now retired from building databases about the endangered critters of the Pacific Northwest, he’s enjoying some fun writing.

Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife, Ellen, and close to his daughter and grandchildren. He enjoys reading, writing, dreaming, watching grandchildren for story ideas, and upgrading his computer—all are never-ending.

He’s hard at work on Kris’s next story and on
Vicky Peterwald: Rebel
.

You can learn more about Mike and all his books at his website mikeshepherd.org, e-mail him at [email protected], or follow Kris Longknife or Mike Moscoe on Facebook.