Hitchhiker
By Princess Alexandria
Brooke sighed heavily as she looked at the clock and saw only ten minutes had passed. It felt like an hour. She swiveled in her chair and looked around again, but this time her eyes caught someone staring at her a bit differently. Brooke stared back at the man, her memory nagging her as she looked at him. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t really place him.
His eyes stared into her and Brooke took a chance, she ordered another beer and then picked up hers and the new one while standing up. She moved toward him and felt a little apprehensive as she hoped she was right. If not she’d look foolish. “Do I know you?” She asked as she got to his table. A few men nearby laughed at something, but she didn’t look over at them.
“Perhaps.” His voice was slightly weary and Brooke slowly moved to slide into the other side of his booth and set her beer down, and then pushed the other one across the table. He took it, but didn’t take a sip. He stared at her. “Why?”
Brooke looked into his eyes again and was finally able to relax a little as they flashed yellow for just a second, confirming her guess. “I wanted a baby.” Brooke sighed and stared down at her drink. “I was on my way to get artificially inseminated. It wasn’t a procedure I was looking forward to, but I didn’t know any other way. I knew a few men that would have loved to give it to me for free, but either their genes were nothing special or I thought they’d expect the marriage route and I’m not interested in men. I just wanted a baby.” Brooke’s fingers played with her glass nervously as she went quieter. “When I found out you could be a man, well, I thought maybe that was a better way to go. You were just enough man to make it possible. I don’t feel anything for men, but you stayed woman enough that I could do it. I even enjoyed it.” Brooke blushed a little and went quiet.
Brooke looked up slowly and watched as Mystique in a male form stared at her. “Why me? You had to know what she’d inherit.”
Brooke glanced around and realized that Mystique didn’t feel free to talk about that here. Brooke rarely said the word, it just didn’t come up, but she leaned forward and spoke quieter. “My little girl is beautiful just the way she is. I wouldn’t change a thing about her. Yeah she’s a mutant, and some day she’ll realize what that is. I’ll just help her as best I can.” Brooke stared into Mystique’s eyes and spoke slower. “I saw so much in you that I wanted for my little girl, a little blue skin was hardly a deal breaker for me. You have good genes, I didn’t know how good, but I did know they were good.” Brooke stopped herself just shy of talking about good breeding and remembered what Jimmy said.
Mystique looked rather thoughtful as she stared at the table and Brooke just watched her. “I’m sorry if you feel it was wrong of me.” Brooke spoke softly. “And I’m sure this was a shock. I’m sorry you found out like this.” Brooke went quieter and stared into Mystique’s eyes. “But I’m not sorry for picking you, and I’m not sorry for having her. I was right in picking you, because she came out so beautifully. She’s everything I wanted, everything.”
Mystique just shook her head and smiled a little, just a little, at Brooke. Brooke noticed the slight amusement. “I always thought if I was involved in a conversation like this I’d be on the other side of the table.” The amusement faded. “I’ve been there before Brooke. Kurt was the result of numerous one night stands in an attempt to get pregnant.” Mystique sighed. “It didn’t end happily ever after. I didn’t raise him. I adopted Rogue later and I raised her, but I didn’t raise him. It would have been hard to raise a blue child.”
“I’m okay with hard.” Brooke said slowly, but she felt strange thinking that the woman wouldn’t have raised her boy. She couldn’t imagine walking away from Mercy.
“Did you really expect her to be blue?” Mystique asked.
“Of course. Something like that has to be the dominant genes.” Brooke spoke, thinking of her horses and how she picked studs or mares for her own horses. “Also thought she might change forms like you, but she hasn’t done anything like that yet.”
“She might not.” Mystique glanced around the bar. “I got a room, we could talk there.”
Brooke had been starting to relax, and the idea of a change of scenery had her tensing up again. It felt awkward, just as it was starting to feel comfortable. “Okay.” She spoke as she grabbed her beer and took another deep drink before setting the glass down. A bit more to drink would have been nice.
When they got up Brooke noticed that Mystique hadn’t had anything to drink, and there was no glass on her table. She stared at the untouched bottle and then up at the form Mystique was wearing.
“I thought it would be a good idea to stay sober. I don’t need to father any more children.” Mystique told her and there was a hint of steel under the kind sounding voice, a hint of anger, but it wasn’t nearly what Brooke expected.
Brooke smiled weakly as they started to walk out together. “Well that’s a shame, Mercy would have liked a sister.” She semi-joked, as if she hadn’t considered it.
“I think you’ll find raising her enough trouble once she’s old enough to go to school.” Mystique said and then opened the door for them to leave. “If you’d asked me I would have told you raising an obvious mutant will be hard.” Brooke sighed as she stepped out into the slightly warmer night. The door closed behind them as Brooke waited to see which direction Mystique went, toward the motel a few blocks away or toward a car to get to the one across town.
Mystique just started walking, so Brooke moved to walk with her, noticing they walked passed all the cars in the parking lot. That answered that question, she thought, but she still felt a bit nervous. “I think I’ve been doing okay so far.” Brooke spoke quietly as they walked over the rock covered parking lot toward the road.
“Well at least you got this far without a lynch mob chasing you.” Mystique muttered. “I was still giving birth when I had to grab Kurt and run.” Brooke’s eyes widened a little at that idea. Giving birth had been rather hard on her, she couldn’t imagine doing much of anything right afterward. She’d never even considered that people seeing Mercy would put them in danger, she’d been more worried about a safe delivery.
“My Doctor was a little stunned, but she covered it up and treated us well.” Brooke spoke quietly of the day she’d given birth. “I know that not every mother got to keep their baby in their room, and it was probably to keep other people from seeing her, but I was happier with her nearby anyhow.”
Mystique glanced over at her, before looking along the deserted road and shifting to her true form. “Lucky you, your doctor was probably a closet mutant.”
“I don’t think so.” Brooke considered the words quietly. “Maybe, but I hardly think it matters. She was nice enough.” Mystique’s expression said it all, the woman didn’t believe Brooke’s words. Brooke just sighed and stared at the ground to make sure she didn’t twist her ankle on a rock kicked into the street from the parking lot. There were a few as drunk men liked to spin their wheels.
They were silent for a while, and Brooke debated about the wisdom of saying what she was thinking, but she just felt she had to. “I thought you’d be a bit madder. My brother said if it were him a woman did this to he’d be pissed.”
Mystique’s sigh was loud enough to hear and Brooke glanced at the woman’s face. “I was pretty mad. I wasn’t sure you hadn’t done it to have a shape shifting daughter, that it wasn’t about my powers. I’ve had to stop scientists from cloning me.” Brooke stopped walking as she just turned to stare.
“They can clone people now?” Her voice rose in her shock.
“They aren’t supposed to, but they don’t really consider mutants people.” Mystique’s jaw was clenched and Brooke felt a wave of empathy as she felt she was finally starting to get some idea why Mystique had been apprehensive years ago when Brooke stopped to help her.
“Damn.” Brooke whispered and when Mystique was still in motion Brooke had to continue to walk. “I can see why they’d pick you, but that’s just wrong.”
“My powers are my own.” Mystique sounded passionate about that.
Brooke spoke more slowly. “I was thinking about your genes actually.” Her mind on horses again she forgot her brother’s advice. “You’ve got nice lines, you’re strong and fast, I’d say you were a prime racehorse if you were a horse, probably make a killing breeding and racing you. You’re no barnyard horse.”
Mystique laughed. “Oh I forgot how uniquely you saw the world.” The woman shook her head and Brooke blushed. “I can’t believe you see all that and ignore the obvious mutation.”
“My horses don’t really care about each other’s color.” Brooke muttered and waited for Mystique to start walking again. “I figure that’s the way everyone aught to be.”
The blue woman stared at Brooke a little too long, a small look of sympathy in her eyes. “You’ll find people aren’t like horses Brooke, so will Mercy.”
“I know they aren’t.” Brooke’s voice snapped a little. Her brother was always saying that to her. “It’s why I prefer horses.”
“So why didn’t you have a little centaur?” Mystique asked in a lewd way and Brooke blushed hotly while glaring at the woman.
“So here we are.” Mystique turned to the parking lot they were standing in front of. “Yet another dive in my long line of dives I’ve stayed at.” Brooke looked at the building and had to agree the place wasn’t pleasant looking. There were probably more truck drivers here than anything else, and in a place like this the desperate had no choices.
Brooke looked at the place and then at the woman next to her. “You inviting me here for any special reason? You don’t seem mad, so what do we have to talk about?” Brooke’s eyes lingered on that form that inspired her plan to breed this woman years ago.
“You interested without the secret plot to steal my sperm?” Mystique smirked at her and Brooke nibbled on her lip a bit. “I know you aren’t much for romance, so I figure this dive isn’t going to drive you off.”
Brooke grinned just a little. Part of her had hoped for a repeat performance. “Jimmy said he’d watch Mercy all night.” Brooke said with a small smile.
Mystique just looked at her a moment after she’d said that and it dawned on Brooke that it sounded like she’d planned to stay. She had hoped, but hopefully it wasn’t a deal breaker.
“You’re family okay with Mercy?” Mystique asked quietly as they just stood in front of the parking lot.
“They love her, but she doesn’t see anyone but Jimmy and
Grandma often. Jimmy stays for the
summers and Grandma lives in a small house on the corner of the property. My parents don’t live in
“That’s a good idea. From what I’ve seen of your town they are unusually accepting of mutants, but strangely they don’t like Kurt too much.” Mystique smirked just a little.
“They think he’s the daddy.” Brooke admitted as they started to walk towards the buildings.
“Yeah, I gathered that when he got a lecture about treating a woman right from one of the locals.” Mystique grinned a little.
“It is none of their damned business.” Brooke shook her head in disgust.
Mystique started to pull a key out of her pocket as they moved towards the rows of doors. “It felt a bit strange to watch him take the blame when I know the child’s mine.” Mystique spoke quietly. The word mine in that line worried Brooke a little. She wasn’t sure how to deal with it, because as far as she was concerned Mercy was Brooke’s and Brooke’s alone, but then there was how happy Mercy was to see other blue people. This was getting messy and Brooke had gotten pregnant this way to avoid the mess. It didn’t work.
The door opened and Brooke looked in at slightly broken furniture and a lamp that barely did its job. “Welcome to the Love Shack.” Mystique teased as she waved her arm out to encourage Brooke to go in first. Brooke looked down to make sure there were no visible rats before she did. It was that nice.
……………
Brooke was panting and sweat lightly covered her skin as she rolled fully onto her back. “Okay, I don’t think we really broke the bed. I suspect it was broken already.” She grinned a little as the blue woman leaned over her, red hair tickling Brooke’s chest a little before Mystique was staring down into her eyes. “Okay, we broke the bed.” Brooke laughed as Mystique grinned at her. They’d almost slipped off when a leg of the bed gave way.
“Well what do you expect cowgirl? You were riding me like I was a bronco.” Mystique leaned down and kissed her lips gently. Brooke kind of liked that, it was new. Last time there was passionate kissing, but this gentle kiss was also a little confusing.
“You mean you aren’t?” Brooke’s eyes widened in pretend shock.
Mystique rolled over and stood up. “Just give me a minute to break the other three legs and we can get back to work.”
Brooke laughed, and then squealed in shock a little as Mystique lifted the bed a little and tried to kick another leg off of the frame. “Damn, I knew you were strong.” Brooke watched blue arms and liked the play of muscles. “But I think we could just drag this thing onto the floor if you want.” Brooke patted the mattress. It was clear neither of them considered the night done.
Brooke was delighted when that was followed by a quick tug to the mattress. Brooke managed to roll off of it before it was pulled onto the ground. “Gee, don’t worry about me. I’m just the woman you’re screwing tonight.” Brooke teased. “I’m fine.”
Mystique let go of the mattress with a bit of flair after it was completely on the floor. “There.” Mystique looked up at her with a playful expression and Brooke found herself smiling a little more gently, a bit more shyly, back. “So if the lady would like to join me I think this should be stable enough.”
“Ever do it in a stable?” Brooke asked as she walked around the stained and naked looking box spring and broken frame towards the mattress. She’d made out in a stable or two when she was younger. “It isn’t all that great. Hay in bad places.”
Mystique didn’t respond, she just moved closer and leaned in, kissing her. Brooke’s teasing and playful feelings faded as she felt hands caress her back and move down the pull her closer. “Jesus, you’re amazing.” Brooke groaned out as they slowly started to lower themselves onto the bed.
A loud knock on the door startled them both and Brooke stared with wide eyes at Mystique. “Come on Darkholme, you better answer this.” A male voice called out and Mystique sighed heavily.
“That’s
“I got something for ya.”
Mystique turned to give Brooke a slightly puzzled look after closing and locking the door, but it turned to a bit of a blush as the woman pulled out a box with the words Trojan all over it.
“He brought you condoms?” Brooke asked, wondering at how close these people were. She felt a small bit of guilt, but she also was amused at Mystique’s expression.
The blue woman looked up and sighed. “I bet this is just the beginning of the jokes.”
“I’m sorry.” Brooke apologized softly.
Mystique looked at the box a moment. “Large, at least he thinks a lot of me.” Mystique smirked and Brooke felt some relief seeing it. Mystique looked at her. “Do you want me to use them?”
Brooke went quiet as she considered what Mystique could be asking. Either the woman wanted to know if they could have unprotected sex that might give Mercy a sister or brother, or she was asking if they could play kinky again. “I can’t afford another baby right now.” Brooke spoke quietly. “I’m short handed on the ranch.”
“So you want me to grow one and put a rubber on it or do you want to not play that way?” Mystique asked, crawling onto the mattress with the box in one hand and a curious expression. “I kind of liked it last time.” Mystique whispered. “But I’m not sure how I got you pregnant or if it could happen again.”
Brooke glanced at the box and then reached for it with a shy smile. “Let’s see if I can figure out how to operate one of these.” She opened the box. “Oh look, a manual.” She joked, but the blue woman took the condom instructions out of her hand.
“I think I can do this.” Mystique smirked and opened the wrapper.
After the condom was in place Brooke just stared at it for a bit longer, until Mystique gave a fake cough to get her attention. “Let’s see if I can ride bronco.” Mystique teased and then leaned in to kiss Brooke again.
“You know that thing looks ridiculous right?” Brooke spoke as she was gently encouraged onto her back.
“Rubbers aren’t supposed to be art.” Mystique told her before kissing her neck.
“I meant your cock.” Brooke smirked as she got gently bit for that comment.
……………..
Hours later Brooke opened her eyes slowly to stare at the stained ceiling, noticing the sun shining in through small tears in the curtain. A quick glance to the side showed no one else on the mattress. “Great.” Brooke muttered, not liking the sneaking out this time.
“What’s great?” The voice startled her and Brooke rolled over to see Mystique combing out damp hair.
“Oh,” Brooke stared a moment, not sure what to say. “I guess we’ll do the morning after this time?” She finally said and it got her a searching look from the blue woman.
“I was thinking I can’t really sneak out of my own hotel room.” Mystique told her and put the brush down. “Not to mention I think I ripped your shirt and I need to get you a new one.”
“Oh.” Brooke glanced around and noticed the remains of her shirt in the corner. She’d forgotten about that.
“How are you feeling?” Mystique asked gently and Brooke found herself staring at the woman. It was a little tender the way Mystique asked that.
“I’m feeling pretty good.” Brooke smiled a little as she shifted. She left out the part where she was a little sore from the evening. She wouldn’t be riding any of her horses today.
After they got dressed they left for breakfast. Brooke felt a little strange about the way Mystique rested her hand on the small of Brooke’s back as they walked out the door. It didn’t really bother her, but she didn’t know what to think of it.
The rough looking man was standing near a van smoking a cigar. “Hey.” He nodded at them, and Brooke could tell he was smirking a little, before he looked away.
“Ignore him.” Mystique said as she fell in line next to Brooke. They walked for a little while and Mystique started to talk. “We were on a mission in the area, but it’s pretty much done now.” Brooke glanced at Mystique, wondering about the word mission. It wasn’t a normal word to use. “We’ll probably be heading out.”
“Oh.” Brooke felt a little disappointed, but she shoved that feeling away. “Well if you ever want to visit feel free.” Brooke thought of her little girl. “I think Mercy needs to see other blue people. She is always looking for pictures. I find her watching any show on TV with blue people. I had to stop her from watching some Gargoyles cartoon, because the only really blue character was the evil one. I didn’t want her thinking, well…” Brooke’s words trailed off, wondering if she’d overreacted to that cartoon.
“You know, I’ve been called a mutant and a freak, but I’ve never been lumped together as a member of the blue race before.” Mystique teased quietly. Brooke blushed, wondering if she was being very un-PC and didn’t know it. “Maybe I can manage to swing by. I know some other people she’d like to meet if she’s interested in meeting ‘blue people.’”
“That would be nice.” Brooke nodded, wondering if she’d really see this woman again after today.
They ate and then Mystique walked Brooke back to her truck. It felt a bit awkward, but Brooke got into the truck and drove away.
…………………
Mystique stared out the window of the jet, watching field after field under them. Her chin rested on her palm as she sat quietly. The others weren’t talking all that much so she didn’t pay attention to them.
A child, it was a bit stunning still. Mystique stared down at the land her child would grow up on, taking in the remoteness and the wildness of it all. A bunch of horses were running on a stretch under them as they started to climb and Mystique wondered if that was Brooke’s ranch or another.
“Momma?” Rogue’s voice was soft and gentle. The girl rarely talked to her like that anymore, their history too hard to keep these softer emotions. Mystique turned to look into Rogue’s face as the girl moved to sit beside her. “I heard.”
Of course she’d heard, Rogue was the only one not there when they all met Mercy. “And?” Mystique spoke wearily, her body was tired from the lack of sleep, but also leaving before she’d decided she wanted to was unpleasant. She still had business here, but the mission was cancelled. It better damned well be cancelled, she thought a little more angrily.
“Did ya tell her about the school?” Rogue asked gently.
“It wasn’t a clone, that’s all we need to worry about.” Mystique turned back to stare out the window. “I’m not taking her child away from her, and Mercy’s too young anyhow.”
Emma Frost had sent them on this mission and Mystique had
jumped on it as soon as she heard it was her own genetic signature they’d
picked up in
Mercedes was no clone, she was her daughter, Mystique sighed heavily. Yet another child she didn’t have the time or ability to raise. This had been a reminder of her early and brief time with Kurt as a baby, and the horrible decision she’d made to save herself at his expense.
She couldn’t see Brooke making that same decision. Mystique turned to look at Rogue. “I may work with you all, but if anyone scares Brooke by showing up at her ranch and talking about taking Mercy away to school, well…” Mystique shook her head and stopped talking, leaving the threat unsaid. It wasn’t Rogue that would do that, it was Emma.
They sat quietly as the jet kept going up, making seeing any details on the ground impossible. “How did you meet Brooke?” Rogue asked and Mystique smiled just a little.
“The car I was driving broke down and she stopped to pick me
up.” Mystique leaned her chin on her
hand and stared out the window again.
Her pose finally got through to Rogue, who stopped talking with her, but
the girl didn’t move. She stayed in the
seat next to Mystique for the ride back to
………………
“This is most fascinating.” Hank muttered as he stared at her and Mystique rolled her eyes and glanced over at Kurt, who had let it slip that Mystique was fathering children now. A few people had stopped the process of eating and stared at her as well. They had arrived back just before dinner and were going to report back after eating, but Kurt couldn’t avoid saying this. “Considering the implications, it is no surprise that your offspring is female, but the fact that your mutation allows you to reproduce both as a female and a male is most intriguing.”
“I wonder how many other little blue kids she’s left in her wake.” Kitty muttered, but it wasn’t quiet enough and everyone heard. Mystique glared at the girl for a moment.
“I really don’t see this as dinner conversation, but if you’d all like details of what I did to get that woman pregnant, I’m game.” She smirked at the blush over the young woman’s face as Kitty looked away. “One thing I can tell you is it was definitely something only I could do, and I don’t do often, so there are probably not a lot of kids out there with my genes.”
“Please don’t give us details.” Kitty spoke a little coldly.
“Why should I when I can see your little mind it already filling them in.” Mystique teased back, and caught the small smirk on Emma’s face that told her she was right about what Kitty was thinking.
It was an awkward moment, but someone brought up some other topic and Mystique was left alone. She still got some searching looks, but talk about Mercy didn’t fill the room, just their thoughts.
Hank asked her to visit his lab after dinner, a deviation from the norm after a mission, but Mystique just nodded. She’d like to understand how she’d gotten a woman pregnant too, because she only had a vague idea that only included the mechanics, but the way she created sperm was completely beyond her. Mystique didn’t want any accidental pregnancies now that her powers seemed to have gone up a notch. She just wasn’t looking forward to the embarrassing tests.
………..
“The doc hasn’t cleared me yet.” Jake’s voice spoke from over the phone and Brooke grimaced at the words. She’d been really counting on him healing faster. “He said in a month I may be able to do light work, but not the stuff I normally do. Not for another two months.”
Brooke sighed. “Well we can’t have you hurting yourself more.” She spoke gently, knowing the older man would feel bad about this. “I can find some smaller things for you to do around here when you can come. There are a lot of small jobs that just don’t ever get done.” She wasn’t about to reward loyalty with a kick in the ass on the way out the door, but dammit she was screwed now. She couldn’t in good conscience pay him less, and now she needed a temporary ranch hand for two, maybe three months. She couldn’t just toss Jake back into it all without help or he could end up laid up again.
As she hung up she turned to see Jimmy watching her. “You need me to stay?” He asked softly.
“No, you go back to school. I’ll figure something out.” Brooke gave him a small smile. Her brother was her saving grace. He came and helped every summer, and in the past week since Mystique left he’d politely asked no questions. “I’ll see if Mr. Bradshaw has any connections. I’m sure I can find someone for a couple months while you study.”
“You and the blueberry gonna be okay?” He asked and Brooke’s eyes fell to his packed bags near the door.
Her smile was a little weak and she knew it. She always missed him after he left. “We’ll be fine. You need a lift?”
“Just to Bradshaw’s. Tommy said he’d take me to town. Him and the boys are probably planning to give me a hard time.” Jimmy told her and Brooke nodded.
With Mercy in the back of the truck they drove to Mr. Bradshaw’s, and Brooke could see Tommy’s truck waiting in the parking lot, along with a few other vehicles. She dropped her brother off with a brief hug and then took Mercy inside the store.
She knew there would be a crying fit once Mercy realized Uncle Jimmy was gone again, she’d done that last time. Brooke was hoping that Jimmy and the boys got out of the parking lot so they didn’t have the screaming and begging as well.
Brooke could hardly blame her little girl for it, if she weren’t an adult she might consider trying that as well. Sadly she was so she had to smile like it was okay that the only adult she had to talk to left. Jake wasn’t as talkative and now he wasn’t even there.
“Hey Mr. Bradshaw.” Brooke said with a small smile as she noticed the old man sitting at a table. With her hand firmly holding Mercy’s she walked further in and took the seat he was pointing to. “Jake’s doc didn’t release him for work yet.”
“Oh.” Mr. Bradshaw went quiet, fully understanding the dilemma.
“I need some temporary hands. I was hoping you’d heard of someone.” Brooke hadn’t had to hire before. Jake came with her granddaddy’s place. So did a few other people, some gone now, and some still around during the busier times, but they couldn’t do this with fewer people.
“I don’t know how safe it is for you to be hiring some man you don’t know. It’s just you girls out there.” Mr. Bradshaw said slowly.
“Well how many women you think do this job?” Brooke sighed. “Not like I have a whole lot of choice do I?”
“I’ll start checking around for you.” He told her, looking serious.
“Thanks.” Looking around meant he hadn’t heard of anyone, and it meant Brooke was going to have a tough time of it for a while until they could hunt down some stranger to help out.
When they left they were just getting Mercy strapped in when it happened, the little girl noticed someone was missing. Brooke winced at the level her little voice got to as she explained that Jimmy went to school and he’d be back for Christmas.
………………….
“You know I love you right.” Brooke smiled at her grandma as she dropped Mercy off again. The older woman normally babysat some, but lately Mercy spent more time at her place than at home.
Grandma nodded just a little and once Mercy walked into the house, heading for the toys in the corner she spoke quietly. “Your Granddaddy at least had someone else, me.”
“Well that was when the west was young and love was real.” Brooke muttered, surprised by the old conversation.
“I could just spank your mother for what she did to you. It had to be her because I know my boy at least knows better than to teach his little girl to not waste time on love.” Grandma muttered a little angrily. Brooke felt defensive and a little bitter at the insinuation. “Love is not an illusion. You love Jimmy and you love Mercy. Why is it so hard to imagine loving some else?”
“Kind of a moot point now grandma. I’m working at least eighty hours a week and barely have time for Mercy. Not really ready to find myself a woman.” Brooke sighed heavily. She wouldn’t even know where to start with that.
“I just hate seeing you give up before you even start.” Grandma shook her head. “You’re so young, too young for this.”
“I gotta go. The horses don’t like it when I’m late with breakfast.” Brooke turned to leave. Older people could take the time to believe in romantic love, but she knew it was a passing phase, one that left before her generation.
Brooke had Mercy and it was enough, she thought as she tossed her hat into the cab of the truck and slipped inside.
The sun was much less scalding in mid October. Brooke still wore her hat to prevent sunburns, but working through the day was now possible. She wasn’t sure that was a good thing, because now she only was able to take a small lunch break to see her little girl. She worked early and stayed at work late and Mercy was tired or sleeping when Brooke was home with her.
The hunt for ranch hands wasn’t going well, but Brooke wasn’t sure how long she could keep up this pace. Her back ached all the time and she was always tired. She didn’t complain, she never was a complainer, but it was hard work. No man would be able to keep up her pace, she thought, even knowing that a single admission that she was having trouble in town would result in the men claiming it was because she was a woman.
Brooke finished her work on the fence before she took her truck to Mr. Bradshaw’s for more hay. She stopped her truck at his place and just sat there for a moment, taking a breath, before she knew she’d have to load hay. Maybe she’d go in and see about some nice pain killers first, Brooke thought as she got out of the truck and started for the store instead of the barn with the hay.
As she picked up the pills she also grabbed some caffeine pills. She didn’t want to sleep through all her time with her daughter, so she wasn’t sleeping enough.
“I thought I had someone, but he didn’t work out.” Mr. Bradshaw said quietly as he started to ring her up. The bell on the door went off, but Brooke was busy pulling her wallet out. “I’m sorry it’s taking so long.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad you’re helping me. I just don’t even have time to look for help.” Brooke said as she pulled out a twenty dollar bill and looked up.
“If they don’t have trouble working for a woman, well, I just don’t trust them around Mercy.” Mr. Bradshaw spoke quietly. “Traveling hired hands are a rough bunch.”
“You mean you can’t be sure they aren’t bigots.” Brooke sighed as the real world finally started to hit her in the face. “that they wouldn’t look at my little girl and say horrible things.” Brooke shook her head as he took the money. “I’d rather work my hands down to the bone than risk hiring someone that would hurt her. Don’t feel bad about being selective Mr. Bradshaw, because if I have to do this another two months while Jake heals up I’ll do it. I’ll need a hell of a lot stronger pills than you carry, but I’ll do it.”
“You’ve been going through pain pills mighty fast Brooke.” He said as he bagged up her purchase.
“I’ve been hurting.” She muttered, hating to admit it. “Some of the stuff I do I didn’t even let Jake do alone.”
“Oh Girl.” He shook his head, but then he looked up over her shoulder. “I’ll just take care of this customer and close up shop to help you load. Maybe I can call Tommy down to help so you can rest up. I’m not as young as I used to be, but he’s mighty strong.”
Brooke didn’t bother to complain, her pride wasn’t so strong that she’d turn down help. She moved off to the side and pulled out the pain pills he’d bagged up to take a couple while he started to talk with the stranger that came in.
“What are you two needing to load?” The man spoke softly, and Brooke looked over at him. He looked sympathetic. “Maybe I can help.” He offered. Brooke looked at him, taking in strong looking arms.
“I need a bunch of hay for my horses.” She told him.
“I have time.” He spoke and Brooke noticed the way he studied her. It made her feel a little awkward, but it wasn’t creepy. “And it sounds like you really should take it easy.”
Brooke gave a small smile. “Sure sounds nice, but that’s not in my cards.” She took a drink of the water she purchased to push the pain pills further down her throat. “Look, if you want to help I’d appreciate it.” She finally said it. Maybe she could feel him out about working for a woman with a blue child. She was desperate, but not so desperate to not check on people first.
It felt strange to just sit on a bale of hay as the two men loaded her truck for her, but she did notice the stranger was keeping up fine. “My regular ranch hand had an accident and I’m short handed.” She spoke as she watched him hand another bale to Mr. Bradshaw.
“I overheard that.” He looked at her and Brooke once again felt like he was debating about saying or doing something. “I can’t say I’m reliable, I tend to get called off to do things, but I could help you out for a while.”
“You don’t even know me.” She wasn’t sure about how easy this was.
“You’re a pretty lady who is apparently popping pills to keep in motion because you don’t have help. That isn’t right.” He told her, sounding rather gentlemanly. “I was just planning to visit someone around here, but maybe I could stick around until you have better help.” He said and Brooke stared at him silently, debating about this.
“My little girl is a mutant.” She had to say that, because it was important, and she watched him carefully for any hateful signs. “Blink at her and you’re out the door.”
“I think I can manage to not blink.” He smirked. Mr. Bradshaw was looking at the man critically, evaluating him.
“I run the place, not a husband or a father, me.” She spoke firmly. “You can work for a woman?”
“No better boss than a woman.” He smiled at her, seeming slightly amused.
Her voice was steel. “I don’t date my ranch hands.” She didn’t bother with the gay comment, because it was unlikely to be apparent. She’d need a lover to be obvious, and she didn’t have one. Her mind drifted to Mystique, but that woman left town and it was a good chance she might not return. There was even better chance that if Mystique did come back it wouldn’t be soon.
“Just business, I got it.” He nodded, and Brooke nibbled on her lower lip a moment.
“I’ll take you on, jobs maybe two months.” She felt a little nervous doing this. “But I don’t have room for a man to live on site.” No way was she stupid enough to house a stranger.
“Well, I don’t really have anywhere else to stay.” He paused and Brooke stared into his face. Her eyes widened as his eyes flashed yellow for a moment. “Maybe you could take on my sister?” He smirked at her.
Brooke reluctantly tore her eyes away from Mystique, because it had to be her, to look at the old man. Mr. Bradshaw looked doubtful. “Tell your sister she has a job.” Brooke knew this looked odd and she could see Mr. Bradshaw’s expression. “I can give her a room at the house.”
“That’s good.” Mystique smirked at her and Brooke just sighed as she sat back down. The ‘men’ continued to load her truck. The few looks Mr. Bradshaw sent her made it clear the man would be asking questions later.
………….
As Brooke drove she noticed the truck following her and she smiled just a little at the unexpected perfect help. If Mystique didn’t know what she was doing, that was fine, she’d still be strong enough to do what Brooke told her to.
Brooke shook her head as she remembered the talk with Mr. Bradshaw. He thought it was strange of her to hire someone sight unseen, but Brooke said she was just gonna give the sister a chance and send her packing if it didn’t work. She said another woman would be the best choice.
He saw it as giving up strength for safety, but he eventually thought it was worth trying too. Brooke didn’t even have to admit that it was Mercy’s daddy that was moving in to help out. She also didn’t say that she knew that woman was strong enough for the job.
Mercy was going to be happy, Brooke thought with a small smile, but it faded when she thought of her grandma meeting Mystique and putting it together. Well, with Mystique being a woman maybe grandma wouldn’t figure it out.
Brooke opened the gate and then left it opened as she drove her truck onto her property. As she backed her truck up to the barn she watched as a redheaded blue woman got out of the other truck and closed the gate.
The barn door was slid opened as the second truck came to a stop besides Brooke’s. “I really appreciate you helping.” Brooke stood beside the bed of her truck and spoke as soon as Mystique’s door opened and the woman stepped out. “I wasn’t even sure you were going to come back.”
Mystique closed her door and took a few steps closer. “I wanted to talk to you about that night, and I have people that would like to meet Mercy. One is blue.” She grinned at Brooke. “He’s a doctor. I’m trying to figure out how I managed something like Mercy.”
Brooke was behind with her work, but then she was consistently behind now. She lowered the gate on her truck and sat on it. “I guess that might be something you’d want to know.” Brooke sighed softly. “In all honesty I thought you could do it, you said you were fully functioning.”
“I didn’t mean that fully.” Mystique glanced toward the house. “I think maybe the power of suggestion did the trick, because my tests aren’t showing sperm.” Brooke grimaced a little at the idea of testing that.
“Suggestion?” Brooke asked.
“Sure, you were rather vocal that first time, wanting to be filled up. Hell you even said I should plant my seed. I thought it was role playing.” Mystique shook her head. “I still don’t get how I did it.”
“Drunk, I made sure you were drunk first.” Brooke offered with a painful blush on her face. “I wanted you to relax and go with it.”
“Well, maybe we’ll make you take a sample.” Mystique teased. “You clearly know how.” Brooke coughed a little and looked away, embarrassed.
After a little silence Brooke changed the topic. “Mercy’s at her grandma’s.” Brooke spoke softly. “She’ll want you to be in your true form, but grandma is going to be curious.”
“So how are we playing this?” Mystique asked while leaning against the truck, looking at Brooke.
“I think having other blue women around would be good for Mercy. I’ll deal with the fall out with Grandma if I have to.” Brooke decided.
“How much pain are you in?” Mystique asked gently, and Brooke blushed.
“I keep messing up my back.” She admitted.
Mystique looked at her a little longer and a small wicked smile crossed her lips. “Maybe I can give you a massage later.” Brooke stared into Mystique’s eyes and wondered about doing that in her own home, but she didn’t say no.
………………….