"Sir," one of the soldiers came up to Beck. "we've found two people on horseback, brought them in. One of them had Constantino's head in her scope from a thousand yards and on horseback. Only reason she didn't take the shot is because we threatened her companion." Jake's head shot up and Constantino's went down.
"Oh, don't be a fool," Jake spat at the man. "if Artia Price wanted you dead, you'd be dead now. Most vicious woman I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."
"Artia?" Constantino's eyes opened. "Artia Russell." He remembered her. Remembered wanting to marry her, remembered talking her into his car with pretty words than fucking her. "Great piece of ass." He stated, and Jake lunged across the table, only the soldiers grabbing him keeping him from strangling Constantino.
"Say that about Miss Artie again," Jake stated. "and I will be the least of your worries."
"Bring them in." Beck ordered.
Artia Price had lost weight since the bombs fell. Jake hadn't noticed that when she'd volunteered here, hours before. A split black trench fell to the floor, and fell oddly in some areas, leading Jake to wonder what was in it. Her boots were the boots he remembered from helping resurface her floors, so many years ago.
"Miss Artie," Jake nodded. "Cory."
"Commander Green." Her eyes were the ice blue that echoed her brother's, and Jake realized that her hand rested on a knife hilt somewhere. "I am quite happy to see that you escaped the violence unharmed."
"What Artia, no kisses for an old lover?" Kronos' eyebrow shot up, and Jake growled low in his throat.
"Was that supposed to be enticing, Phil?" Artie stated. "I was jailbait and you were a sheriff's deputy. Years later I realize that you weren't that good in bed, either." She sniffed. Her eyes swept around the room, zeroing in on Beck. She walked forward, the duster swaying, disturbing the air. "I won't offer you my hand to shake. Introduce yourself, then I will introduce myself."
"Major Edward Beck, Allied States of America Army, 10th Mountain Division." He paused, eyes scraping over the middle aged woman, taking in the well-used boots, jeans, and trench coat, what looked to be a homemade sweater. "You?"
"Artia Price, 4 time all state marksman in rifles, handguns, and bow." Her eyes were dark. "I own the wool farm." She stated. Gestured to the man behind her. "Cory."
"That would have been a very pretty shot," Beck began. "why not take it?" Jake raised an eyebrow as well. Cory had been wondering the same question.
"It would have been rude to shoot a bullet through Stanley's window," She stated. "I'd hate for him to have to feel as violated as I did this morning when a mortar fell through my roof!" Her eyes were firing. "I would have taken that shot if I hadn't already evacuated the animals, Phil, remember that. Your little mortar, want to know where it landed?" Kronos hid his snickers at her glare, gahds, she reminded him of Methos with her head cocked and her eyes flinty.
"In your bed?" Phil Constantino shrunk into his chair.
"In the bunny hutch, which is where I was planning on putting a baby cradle, Phil." Her eyes were shadowy. "If I ever see you again, I'll take your head." She whispered, turning and going towards the door. Major Beck waved the soldiers to let her go through.
"She always like that?" He asked the two men at the table, and the man who'd come in with her.
"Miss Artie?" Jake finally answered. "She got married at 17, widowed years later, the same night he put her in the hospital, had a child stillborn, and owns the Price Farmstead free and clear." His eyes were sharp. "She ran the daycare center that Stanley and I went to, and when Stanley inherited Bonnie, he sent her there as well. She defends well, will always carry through on a threat, and that 4 year championship boast she made?" He paused, remembering. "If there'd been nationals in high school, she would have won them. She made some of the snipers that I saw in Iraq seem sloppy."
"Taught you how to shoot," Beck realized. "and holds a grudge."
"One of the best women I know." Jake stated. "Independent, bitchy, and one of the best daycare professionals in town." He paused. "And well protected." Cory nodded.
"Mr. Prowse said that he'd drop her cattle, sheep, and bunnies off after the fighting cooled down." Cory explained. "I'll be here for the foreseeable future, she's kin."
"Is she single?" Edward asked, randomly curious. Two sets of eyes met.
"Define single." Jake stated.
"Single, as in dating someone?" Edward clarified. "Married. Engaged."
"Miss Artie is sleeping with Jonah Prowse," Cory explained. "but I think that they sleep together as old friends, comfortable lovers, not beloveds. He loved his wife, for all she divorced him, and she, well, I don't think that she's ever been in love." Jake nodded.