They sat on some rocks a little way down from the waterfall so they could continue talking.
"So I guess you don't celebrate Christmas?" She asked curiously.
"No, Christmas was never a good time for me. Joe didn't start celebrating it until he met Beth." Asher shook his head. She was lying with her head in his lap, and he smiled as the wind blew her hair across her face and brushed it back.
"It must be hard for him."
"He told you about his situation?" Asher raised his eyebrow, wondering when they would have had a chance to discuss it.
"I've heard bits and pieces from him and the others. Enough to piece things together."
"It's hard for all of them. The guys used to rotate taking him to visit at Christmas, But he put a stop to it last year because he hated having the feelings he was having. The chemical castration seems to be working though, and he's been in several situations where he hasn't had any urges. The big test will be with his wife and daughter. We'll take him to see them after we're done this job to test it out with them since they're who he reacts to the worst."
"I fully admit to being curious about what will happen." Asher said a little hesitantly. "He told me when I asked what the hell he was thinking after I picked him up from the police station, and he said he couldn't help himself. He needed to make her his in every way possible. She told me it was a turn-on at first, and she wasn't even necessarily objecting to what he was doing; she was asking him to slow down, take his time, and not be quite so rough. He kept telling her how much he loved her and wanted her. He knew he was crossing the line by not listening to her, but he had to do it."
"I don't want him to hurt her or for him to make her or their daughter feel unsafe, but I'm curious about how much of it was about how much he loves her because he does, despite what he did, he fucking worships that woman, and how much of it was raw sexual attraction. According to Beth, he was almost feral, and he couldn't get enough. She was absolutely spent, and he kept going until he passed out from exhaustion."
"So if the lust side is shut down, how will the love side manifest?"
"Yeah. He's normally very sweet, loving with them, gentle, and touchy. When they were together, he just beamed love. He does online therapy and is on a couple of medications besides the chemical castration, so we're hopeful they'll be able to be together again."
Mina tilted her head at him. "You are a romantic deep down."
Asher took a deep breath. "Everything is deep down, Mina. My mother was a narcissistic woman, and she was the only one allowed to have emotions in our household. If I was sad, she would immediately tell me how she was sadder and burst into tears, forcing Joe and me to comfort her. If I was angry, she would blow her top and go crazy. Happy? Nope, no one was happier than she was. She inserted herself into every aspect of our lives and lived through us. We were allowed to have parties with drugs and alcohol so she could hang out with teenagers. There is a large number of men in my hometown who lost their virginity to my mom."
"Our friends were her friends; our girlfriends were her best friends. So we started to shut that down by just not having friends or dating. We stopped showing them to protect ourselves and not have to deal with her emotions. After a while, we just stopped having them."
"Neither Joe nor I knew who our dads were. They aren't the same man; we look nothing alike. Joe still doesn't know who he is. Mine came looking for me when he heard rumors that there was a sixteen-year-old floating around who looked just like him. And I do; I'm his clone. He's a good guy. He took Joe and me in when we ran away a year later. His wife accepted us immediately and helped us get through the last years of school and into university. Dad gave me his business when he wanted to retire. We'll probably stop in and say hello when we pass through Montana."
"Mom is still in Nebraska. We haven't had anything to do with her since I was seventeen and Joe was sixteen." It was quiet when he finished. Mina was digesting what he said, and then she sat up and put her arms around his neck.
"I'm so sorry you were subjected to her." She said quietly.
Asher held her tightly, burying his head in her neck. "I think if we had known each other growing up, we would have improved each other's lives."
"Would have been nice to have someone in my corner." She smiled as she pulled back. "Come on; I'm getting cold." The sin had gone down behind the trees; without it, the late March air was chilling quickly.
"Your wish is my command, Princess." Asher grinned as he stood up and helped her to her feet.
They were halfway down the trail when she stopped and tugged his hand. "I'm happy to have you in my corner now, just so you know."
Asher put his hands around her waist and kissed her. "I'm happy you're in mine too."
When they got back to the campsite, the others were all there, grilling some fish they had spent the afternoon catching. Asher and Mina joined them for supper and discussed their meeting with the FBI Agent.
"Well, that's not too bad." Eric nodded. "So we're heading to Belcourt tomorrow?"
"That's the plan." Asher nodded. "We'll be there three nights, I think. Mina? Want to tell us about Derrick's sister?"
Mina nodded. "Her name is Jackalyn Steffen, and her husband is Matthew. She is gorgeous and only twenty-three, and Matthew thinks Derrick is full of shit and barely tolerates him. That doesn't mean he doesn't believe everything; he does. He just thinks Derrick is an ass. I think the best way to deal with them is to go in and be honest with them. Despite their beliefs, they're smart and will see through everything. Plus, the last time I saw Jackie, we got a little drunk and while Derrick and Matt were doing the inspection, she asked to try on the scarf I had on and I forgot why I was wearing it and gave it to her. She freaked when she saw the bruises and encouraged me to leave."
"So Derrick definitely would see her as a threat and as someone who betrayed him." Joe nodded. "Sounds like the perfect mark for him."
"Exactly."