Mama and the Alien Warrior (Treasured By The Alien #1) - Honey Phillips Page 0,30

shook her head. “That girl’s got it bad. She’s tried to slip away twice, but I’m watching her.”

“Thanks, TeShawna. I really appreciate that.”

The girl just shook her head. “Don’t reckon it’ll do much good in the end. When they’re that determined, they find a way. Least she can’t get pregnant.”

The rest of the day passed remarkably pleasantly. Lunch had been somewhat awkward, with the young crew members staring at the girls—and the babies—in silent awe. Not one of them had even so much as picked up a utensil until Hrebec growled at them. The girls were all flustered by the attention, but it was so obviously respectful that they eventually relaxed. TeShawna, with her usual bravado, even managed to wring a few words of conversation from one or two of the braver ones. Abby suspected it was just as well that Mekoi had not joined the lunch party.

Ensign Ribel had not joined them either, and after a despondent look around, Molly picked at her food. One of the other crewmen stuttered a few words to her, but she just shook her head and refused to look at him. Abby’s concern for the girl continued to grow. Molly had been moody on Earth, but not this extent.

After lunch, Hrebec escorted them to his ready room. He had provided more of the sealing wands, along with some cutting devices. The large conference table had been piled with garments, mainly white uniforms, but with an assortment of other colors sprinkled amongst them.

“Take your pick,” he said to the girls, and then he handed Abby a large clear plastic box also packed with clothing. “These are for the three of you.”

Aware that all of the girls were watching, she took the overflowing container and smiled up at him.

“I don’t think we need this much.”

“You deserve much more, but since this is all I can provide, I want you to take it all.” He didn’t kiss her, but his gaze felt like a caress as it traveled across her face before he bowed and left.

“Someone’s got a crush on you,” TeShawna teased.

“Oh, hush,” she said, trying to hide her smile. “Now, who knows how to sew?”

As it turned out, Cassie had an extraordinary eye for fabric and cut. The high-tech tools delighted her and she immediately went to work. The rest of them simply followed her instructions.

“This is remarkable, Cassie,” Abby said, holding up a tiny onesie made out of one of Hrebec’s uniform shirts.

The girl shrugged. “When you’ve been dressed in hand-me-downs all your life, you learn how to adapt them. That wand thing makes it easy.”

“This is more than adapting.” Abby’s eyes went to Lucie, who was happily skipping around the room in a cute little dress made from the rest of Hrebec’s shirt. “You have a real talent for design.”

Cassie scowled, uncomfortable with the praise, and for a moment, Abby thought she’d dismiss it entirely, but then her face softened. “I’ve always liked to sew. Even if it started out as a way to make an old piece of clothing my own.” With a faint smile, she changed the subject. “No more cages and we get new clothes. This whole ‘getting abducted by aliens’ thing is looking up.”

Abby surveyed the rest of the girls. Their laughter and conversation filled the room as they worked or juggled babies. Even Molly had roused from her usual moodiness to work diligently on a new outfit. If it weren’t for the stars flowing past outside the window, they could have been back on Earth, gathered together in the big living room as they did most evenings.

“We’re lucky the Cires found us,” she agreed.

“Now what about you?” Cassie asked. “What are you going to make?”

“I don’t really need anything. I want to make sure Lucie and Tiana are taken care of first.”

“They will be, but you can’t keep wearing that ratty old sweater forever. Besides, I think that big captain would love nothing more than to see you in something made from his clothes.” She pulled a garment that looked like a gold bathrobe out of the container. “Oh, this would be perfect with your complexion.”

“Make it something sexy,” TeShawna said, wandering over with her Vanessa in one arm and Cassie’s Angel in the other.

Abby rolled her eyes, but the girls were right. A change of outfits probably wouldn’t hurt.

Hrebec hurried back to his cabin, disappointed but not surprised that Abigail wasn’t present. He was going to be unforgivably late for the evening meal. He took a