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 Dorian’s Reward:
Kodiak Dating Agency I

By: Haley Weir

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 Table of Contents
Dorian’s Reward
Where to Read More From Haley Weir & Get Free Books
About the Author
 Dorian’s Reward

CHAPTER ONE

Haden Springs, Wyoming

The bell above the bookstore chimed as Jenny Owens pushed

her way through the throng of customers. She held her chin high
and sauntered over to the counter to greet her friend, Destiny
Collier, who was the owner of Books & Baubles. Destiny squealed
happily and lunged over the counter to pull her friend into a big hug.
“Jenny! I’m so happy you’re finally here.”
“I couldn’t be the only one of us girls not living in Haden
Springs, could I?” she said in her usual aloof manner. Jenny and
Destiny were like night and day, but they were the best of friends.
Where Jenny was tall with fiery red hair, full lips, and big green eyes,
Destiny was short with dark hair and brilliant hazel eyes. Swathed
from head to toe in the very best handcrafted, vintage inspired
pinup clothing, Jenny was an intimidating woman.
“I’m sorry to hear about the breakup,” Destiny said
sympathetically. “You were so in love and he’s a monster for the way
he treated you.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, I don’t believe in love,
you know that.” Jenny left Destiny to tend to customers and strolled
toward the back room where the book club meetings were hosted,
her heels clicking against the tile as she went. Voices exploded from
the room the instant the door opened. Jenny tried her best not to
roll her eyes at her eccentric friends.
Sapphire White was the clumsy rebel of the group. Her hair
color regularly changed and she fancied herself something of an
activist. She was constantly between jobs, but always wrote poetry
and sold hand-made crafts to make ends meet. Jenny’s nose
scrunched up in distaste at the sight of the garishly patterned
flowing skirt and endless strings of beaded jewelry that her friend
wore. On top of the terrible sense of fashion, Sapphire had a
ridiculous love for cats and causing trouble.
“You look spiffy, Jen! Did you have trouble finding the place?”
Sapphire asked with a glint of mischief in her eyes.
“No, I didn’t and you know that. This town isn’t on any of the
maps you sent me and I couldn’t find it on the ones online, either.
The only reason I found it was because Tilly called me and told me
how to get here.”
“Well, it isn’t on any map you could find. I was the first one to
move here, after all, and I think I did pretty well.”
“The only reason you found Haden Springs was because you’re
friends with Brock Wasting and he invited you here,” Jenny retorted
dryly, not wanting to humor Sapphire anymore than what was
necessary. She turned her attention to Tilly Riker.
“Hey, doll,” Tilly said. “I know it was a long drive, but I’m glad
you’re here. Have you had time to see the house?”
“No, I stopped by the lounge to meet my new boss and then
came right over here. I’ll see it later, but right now the movers are
doing their thing.” Jenny looked around the small space and thought
it looked cozy. There were two settees at an angle, facing a cream-
colored wingback chair, a gorgeous eighteenth century rug covered
most of the floor, and a table sat at the center filled with tea and
little nibbles for the meeting.
The Ladies In Waiting Book Club was the one thing that
brought them all together, no matter where they were in their lives.
Whether the meetings were held on a live chat or in person, they
never missed one. The ladies still called one another and emailed
frequently, but it was nice to gather somewhere and have a long
chat about their favorite books.
They all met during their freshman year in college when
Destiny handed out flyers to join the book club. Jenny decided to go
out of pure boredom, but Sapphire and Tilly had always loved books.
It took her a few months to warm up to the other ladies, but
eventually, Jenny found herself opening up to them in ways she had
otherwise avoided throughout her life. She was always on the
defense, never wanting to give anyone information that could be
used to hurt her.
For a long time, Jenny dreamed of a life in politics. But her
passion was music. Jenny was a phenomenal singer and performed
in bars to make money throughout college until she earned her
Political Science degree. But when it was all said and done, she gave
it up to pursue her singing. She had even signed with a record label
at one point.
It didn’t take long, however, to realize her true calling Jenny
became a blues singer at private lounges and entertained gentlemen
who preferred the music of a bygone era. She loved every second of
her job. When she heard that all of her friends were moving to
Haden Springs, Jenny searched for work nearby and came up with
nothing. Haden Springs, Wyoming was not even on the map. It was
Destiny who found Jenny work at the Blue Velvet Room, a local
blues and jazz lounge that was perfect for Jenny’s style.
“So, what have you been up to, Saph?” Jenny asked, taking a
seat on one of the settees. “Anything new going on?”
“Well, yesterday I tripped in the grocery store and got a
concussion. I woke up in the clinic, but I was all right. They all know
me there by now. It was quite fun after a while when the meds
kicked in. I was a bit loopy and the nurses thought I was a riot.”
Sapphire was the sort of person who could trip on flat ground
without even a harsh wind to push her over. She never fell
gracefully, either. It was always an explosion of bad luck.
“You should try to be more careful,” Tilly lectured. “I can’t
imagine what that doctor thinks of you. He probably suspects that
you do it on purpose just to see him. Not to mention, the medical
bills must be through the roof.”
“I’ve actually fallen through a roof once, but it was no biggie.
Are you talking about Dr. McKinney? Nah, he refuses to see me
because he’s friends with the King of Jerk Mountain.”
“You’re going on about Michael Adair again?” Jenny asked with
a quick roll of the eyes. “Seriously, Saph, you’re best friends with his
brother. Can he really be that bad?”
Sapphire grabbed a handful of tea cookies and sat beside
Jenny. “You’re the Ice Queen, so maybe you could get along with
him, but not me. I’m comfortable hating him for all of eternity.”
Destiny came in during the end of Sapphire’s rant and huffed.
She collapsed onto the wingback chair. “I’m closed for the rest of the
day. I can’t seem to concentrate. Let’s just get to the book and we
can ⁠—”
“No, I want to talk about Jenny finally getting rid of Señor
Handlebar Mustache. The hair quiff and three-piece suits were so
obnoxious,” Sapphire complained.
“His taste in fashion isn’t what broke us up, Saph.”
“Then what was it?” Sapphire looked genuinely confused.
“What do they know that I don’t?”
“I didn’t want you to worry. I know you never liked Zach and
you probably would have killed him if you knew before I moved
here,” Jenny hedged. “It isn’t that big of a deal, really. I suspected
he was cheating on me, but I never expected to actually walk in on
it.”
“Not a big deal!” Sapphire shouted, jumping to her feet. “Who
was it?”
“Sandra.”
“His secretary?! That skinny little—” the rest of the verbal
barrage was cut off by Tilly’s hand. She kept it in place until
Sapphire calmed down once more. “What did he say when you
confronted him?”
“There was nothing he could say. I just calmly packed my
things and stayed at a hotel until it was time to move here.”
“But it was your house. He should have been the one to
leave.”
“The house wasn’t worth it. After what he said at the airport, I
couldn’t stand the sight of him anymore.” Jenny bit her lip and
looked away guiltily. She hadn’t told any of her friends about her
altercation with Zach before she left. Their eyes stared at her
expectantly until she relented. “He said he was never attracted to
‘plus-sized women’ and that I shouldn’t expect him to be. That
allowing him to sleep with Sandra was my duty as a good girlfriend.”
“He did not!”
“Yes, he did. He said he loved me, but he didn’t love my body.”
Jenny had never been ashamed of her fuller figure and neither had
her friends. They were all curvy with thick thighs, wide hips, and soft
tummies. “I didn’t love him, not in the way I should have, so leaving
him wasn’t that difficult.”
“You’re right, I would have killed him.”
“I’m ready to move on with my life,” she announced simply.
“I’m starting a new job in a new town and I’m surrounded by my
friends who support me. Things could be worse.”
“Does that mean you’re ready to start dating again?” Tilly
asked.
“No, that’s not what I meant. Let’s just carry on with our lives
and not look backward. So, what did you ladies think about the
vampires?”
The conversation switched to book club matters and everyone
chimed in with their opinions. Jenny particularly enjoyed books with
headstrong heroines. In the middle of the discussion, a piece of
paper slipped out from between the pages of Destiny’s book. She
bent forward to pick it up and gasped. “This is perfect!” she said
happily. “It’s an advertisement for the Kodiak Dating Agency. We
should all sign up together!”
“I don’t think so,” Jenny responded. “I’m not interested.”
“I think it's a great idea. It matches people locally, so whose to
say that we’ll even get responses. Most of the men here in town are
already married. Come on, it’ll be fun just to try it and see what
happens,” Sapphire added.
Tilly cocked her head and thought about it for a while, but she
agreed in the end. With everyone else excited, it was hard for Jenny
to put up a fight. “Fine. I’ll sign up with you guys, but that doesn’t
mean I’ll actually use the service.”
Sapphire jumped up and down, causing her beaded jewelry to
sound like wind chimes. Jenny sighed heavily and put the entire
thing out of her mind for the rest of the day. She drove home and
barely paid any attention to her new house. Instead, Jenny
unpacked her things and strapped herself into a corset that
accentuated her curves rather than hiding them. Next, she slipped
into a red dress that matched her hair and lipstick.
Once the ensemble was complete, Jenny went down to the
Blue Velvet Room. The air in the lounge was thick with aftershave
and cigar smoke, just the way she liked it. Gentlemen graced the
seats near the stage or sat at the bar, dressed to the nines. Playboys
in fedoras whistled as she strutted between the tables. When Jenny
Owens hit the stage, a sultry seductress took her place.
Drums, piano, saxophone, and guitar laid down a lazy groove
for her to sing to. The room quieted down and Jenny was filled with
the power of knowing that every man in the room was staring at her
red-pained mouth or the curves of her body as lyrics dripped from
her lips. With a wink and a slow brush of her gloved hand up her
arm, she weaved her spell around them like a siren luring sailors into
a watery grave at sea.

CHAPTER TWO
 The doors to the clinic burst open as Dorian Chandler pushed
the stretcher into the emergency room. “There was a fire up in the
hills. First responders reported severe smoke inhalation, but his lung
collapsed before the fire even started.” Dorian rattled off as much
information as he could to the doctor before the stretcher was taken
from him and the nurses took over. He was covered in black soot
and his chest burned from running as he carried the patient down
from the hills at the base of the mountain.
There were times when he hated his job. At first, being an
EMT for Station 9 was the most excitement Dorian had experienced
since moving to Haden Springs. But each day he saw things that
made it hard to sleep at night. Now, the only thing he liked about
the job was being able to use his abilities without having to explain
himself. Haden Springs had its fair share of outlandish tales about
mythical beasts, but those tales became a reality when Dorian and
his friends moved to town.
He remembered the day that his group of friends discovered
that they were different. Michael, Brock, Dorian, and Anders were
chasing each other through the woods after a juvenile prank got out
of control. Michael and Brock had always had animosity between
them, but that was the first time Brock had ever punched Michael.
As soon as the hit connected, Michael shifted into a bear and nearly
killed his brother. Dorian had been so scared that he couldn’t move.
But one by one they discovered that they all could shift into
bears. None of them knew what caused it, but Anders always made
Spider-Man jokes whenever they went to the zoo. Movies and comic
books made them too afraid to tell anyone for fear of becoming
freaky government experiments, so they grew up and ultimately
grew apart. Hiding who they really were was always a struggle, but
it got worse when Anders began shifting unwillingly whenever
someone needed saving.
Tragedy triggered the change more than anything else, so they
reunited in an effort to stay hidden. Haden Springs was the perfect
place: no outsiders had ever heard of it. The friends stumbled upon
the little town during a hike through Wind River Range and never
left. The locals were protective of them and spoke of Native
American spirit animal protectors, but none of the friends paid too
much attention to the gossip. All they knew for sure was that they
were unique and they had to survive with their secrets.
Dorian caught sight of himself in the reflection on the
automatic doors of the emergency room and grimaced. He exited
the building the same way he came in and hopped in the back of the
ambulance. The ride was quiet. No one ever felt like talking after
being faced with the possibility of death. Dorian always took it hard
when he thought he might lose someone on his shift. When they
arrived at the fire station, he waved to the other guys and made his
way to the bunkhouse. Brock Wasting sat on his bunk waiting for
him to return.
“I heard it was a rough night,” grumbled one of his best
friends. Looking at Brock always required some adjustment. His
appearance was jarring at first glance with his light silver-grey eyes
and dark hair. The contrast was exotic and captivating. “We all go
through it, man. I’m just glad the guy survived.”
“Yeah, but it was another fire in the wilds. That’s three in the
past month and it isn’t even the season for it. I’m telling you, we
need to have the fire marshall look into things. It has to be arson.”
“The folks of this town won’t allow some state fire marshal to
come poking around their mountain. They trust us with their safety,
so whatever happens it’s got to be done by us. The other guys at
this station are good, but…we have an advantage,” Brock said
suggestively. Out of the group, he was the one who was the most
comfortable with his abilities.
“We can’t do anything yet,” he argued. “If Michael were to find
out that we shifted on purpose and potentially put the town in
danger, he’d have us publicly executed. There’s a reason we put him
in charge of our group. He’s the most reasonable when it comes to
this stuff.”
“Don’t you think sometimes he’s...too reasonable? If shifting at
will to investigate these fires is what it takes to keep the town safe,
then that’s a chance we’ll have to take.” Brock began to pace,
becoming visibly agitated, which was not safe in a crowded town. He
caught himself, took a few deep breaths and sat back down on the
bed. “Look, all I’m saying is maybe we go out in pairs. One of us can
shift and the other can be there as a defense.”
“Anders and I don’t have as much control as you and Michael.
If you shift and endanger us, we risk triggering the change in
ourselves. It’s...complicated.”
“We aren’t mindless beasts, we can still function in our other
forms.”
“I know,” Dorian said. “But it’s hard to stop and change back.
For some of us, that power is addictive, Brock. And there might
come a time when we don’t want to shift back. The strength, the
motion sensory, the hunting…it’s all so freeing. I’ve waited a long
time to be free.”
“So, you’re telling me that Mr. Movie Star, Mr. Prince Charming
with the blond hair and blue eyes that ladies fall all over themselves
just to get a good look at wants to be free of his humanity?”
“I didn’t say that. I said that it’s hard. That’s all.” Dorian put
his things into his locker and stripped down to hit the showers.
When he came back to the bunkroom, Brock wasn’t there to lecture
him anymore, so he lay back on his mattress with the intent of
falling asleep. However, sleep hadn’t come easily to him. Since he
first shifted, Dorian started having nightmares that included a
woman with red hair burning in a fire.
Those images haunted him: a beautiful face pulled into an
expression of agony as flames consumed it, but then he would wake
up before the rest of the nightmare unfolded. Dorian never told
anyone about the dreams and often made excuses about his
insomnia. He closed his eyes reluctantly and let the sound of the
ticking clock lull him to sleep.
But that night, the beautiful woman with red hair didn’t perish
in a fire. Dorian had been there to save her at the last minute and
finally got a better look at her face. Lovely full lips were painted a
raspberry color that made her green eyes pop against a sun-kissed
complexion. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen,
even if she only existed in his mind. But something in his heart told
Dorian that the woman was real.
His heartbeat increased and sweat began to bead on his
forehead. It wasn’t the heat from the fire that made his body react,
but the heat he saw in her eyes. Dorian could practically feel the
lush curves of her body beneath his calloused palms. Hips that a
man could grab ahold of, a body built for redemption and sin. His
mouth felt dry and he thrusted against the blankets, but he ached to
feel the softness of her thighs wrap around his hips.
Muscles bulged as Dorian gripped the edges of his bunk and
fought against the feeling that swept through him. Then she began
to sing. Her voice was perfect, flowing, and husky. The sounds took
him back in time and urged him to reach out to touch her. But
Dorian’s eyes opened to peer at a water-stained grey ceiling, hands
grasping at air.
Instead of ignoring it as he normally would, Dorian picked up
his phone and decided to do something about his loneliness.
Michael’s sleep-roughened voice came through the other line within
seconds. “What the hell do you want?”
“Is that any way to talk to your best friend?” he snorted.
“Yes, if he calls me at three in the morning knowing I have to
be up in less than two hours,” Michael snapped. Dorian heard a bed
creak and took it as a sign to go on with his foolish plan.
“You know how we all signed up to use your stupid dating
agency?”
“Glad to know you support me and appreciate the work that I
do.”
“I need you to actually put it to some good use. This whole
being alone for eternity thing might work for you and Anders, but
I’m going crazy. Hell, I’m dreaming about a woman I’ve never met
before who might not even exist.”
“You’re right. You do sound desperate.”
“Come on, Mikey. Take this seriously.”
 “I am taking it seriously, that’s my job,” his friend replied dryly.
“And don’t call me that. We aren’t children anymore. And no more
referring to me as “Cupid” in our group chats. It’s humiliating.”
“So, are you going to help me or not?”
“Of course I’m going to help you. Just because Anders and I
have sort of sworn off romance for ourselves doesn’t mean we don’t
want it for you and Brock,” Michael explained. “So, what’s your type?
Has it changed since our first meeting?”
Dorian didn’t even have to think about his preferences. “Full
figured, musician or artist, classy, sophisticated, and…red hair.”
“Red hair? That’s new.”
“I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“I’ll make notes and contact you as soon as something lands
on my desk,” Michael promised. “But, until then, don’t you dare think
of shifting on purpose. Not even in the mountains or the forest.”
“It’s creepy when you do that. Sometimes I think you can read
minds.”
“I can’t read minds, but I have eyes and ears all over this
town.”
“Again, that’s creepy,” Dorian chuckled. “You really need to get
out more.”
“Coming from the man who spends every waking hour at the
fire station or fantasizing about mystical redheads? Yeah, I’ll be sure
to take your advice.” Michael’s sarcasm was something he had grown
used to over the years. Most people found it tiring or rude, but
Dorian always enjoyed their talks. He chatted with Michael for a few
more minutes and then responded to emergency calls for the rest of
the morning.
 Brock came back around noon and Sapphire White walked in
behind him carrying a large container. “Hello, gents! I brought
brownies and ice cream to beat the heat,” she announced. The
firefighters swarmed around her and dug into the food. Dorian even
heard a few marriage proposals flying through the air, but as always,
they flew right over Sapphire’s head. The woman was gorgeous and
had the fuller figure that Dorian and his friends preferred, but she
had a type and she wasn’t afraid to let men know.
That didn’t stop them from moaning obscenely whenever they
took a bite out of her amazing food. No one in Haden Springs could
resist Sapphire White’s kitchen adventures. Dorian often found
himself knocking on her door to grab leftovers when he didn’t have
the time to cook after a long shift. Not to mention, he bubbly
personality never failed to brighten the mood at the station even
after a rough day. Sapphire was that person everyone went to for a
good time and good advice.

CHAPTER THREE

Her cell phone began to blare from her nightstand. It was far
too early for Jenny to be up. She rarely got out of bed before two
o’clock in the afternoon, but her hand fumbled around to find her
phone. “Hello?” she mumbled tiredly. She didn’t recognize the
number.
“Miss Owens, this is Lori Stevens with the Kodiak Dating
Agency. We would like to set up an appointment for you to come in
so that we can do a proper orientation,” said a cheery voice replied.
Jenny was a diva at heart and she loved her sleep, so the voice
grated against her nerves like sandpaper. “When do you think you
will be available?”
“I actually only signed up to please my friends. I had no
intentions of ever using the agency.”
“We ask that all signups at least attend orientation before they
make a decision. If our services are not to your liking, then we can
remove your name from the list and sever all communication. But
there is a chance that you might be pleasantly surprised.”
Honestly, Jenny Owens wasn’t pleasantly anything. She was
confident for the most part and was so self-assured that the moment
people looked at Jenny, they could tell that she would either be their
loyal friend or their worst enemy.
She agreed to go in for the orientation that day to get it over
and done with, so she hurried to get dressed up and drove to the
largest building in Haden Springs. It was more like a skyscraper than
a regular building, but somehow it didn’t stand out in a way that was
alarming. KDA was displayed on the front of the building in big black
letters while the entire exterior was covered in a warm tone of
brown brick to balance the more modern features.
Jenny prided herself on being observant and snorted a little
when she noticed the name on the building. Was Sapphire aware
that her mortal enemy was the CEO of Kodiak Dating Agency? She
thought to herself. The same woman she spoke to on the phone
came to greet her.
“Miss Owens, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Lori Stevens was tall
and blond with an athletic body wrapped in a female Armani suit.
“Shall we go on a tour, or would you like to get on with the
process?”
 “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have very low expectations
coming into this,” Jenny admitted. “So, if we could just get it over
with, I would be grateful.”
After a brief overview of what the service included, which were
text message alerts letting the signups know when a match had
been created and a date was available, romantic spa days or
personal pampering, etiquette classes, hobby exploration, and a
course on self-improvement. The entire agency specialized in making
each individual the ideal match whether they possessed the qualities
naturally or not. Michael Adair’s motto was, “Love can be learned if
one is willing to put in the effort.”
“I can honestly say that I’m intrigued. I expected a real-life
version of a dating app or something, but it’s much more
sophisticated than I thought initially,” Jenny confessed. “I like the
fact that the company focuses on self-love before romantic
relationships. It speaks volumes of the man in charge.”
“Mr. Adair and I are partners in the company, actually. He
thought that having a female perspective on love would help better
the goals of the company and reinforce our mission statement
without any biases,” said Lori Stevens. “So, what do you say? Would
you like to take your name off the list or move forward with what we
have to offer?”
“You know what? I think I’ll test the waters a bit. What comes
next, then?”
“There is a survey. The more detailed you are, the better the
matches will be and the sooner we can pair you with someone
compatible.”
“Sounds simple enough.”
 Lori’s cheeky bit of laughter at that should have warned Jenny
that she was in over her head. The survey, in fact, turned out to be
one of the most difficult things she had done in her life. Compared
to her Political Science exams, she felt three-times the amount of
pressure. It made Jenny realize that she had impossible standards
for herself and her perfect match. She didn’t like to think of herself
as being high-maintenance, but what was the point in settling for
less when she knew she wouldn’t be happy?
After her relationship with Zach, Jenny’s happiness was her
main priority. Anything else that came along with it was just a
bonus, but it wouldn’t cloud her vision on what she wanted. And
Jenny Owens wanted a good life here in Haden Springs. She finished
up her orientation and phoned Destiny.
“You won’t believe where I’ve just come from.”
“Where?”
“The KDA building. I had my orientation and took the survey.”
After a long moment of exhaustingly overenthusiastic noises,
Destiny managed to compose herself. “I am so happy you decided to
go through with it. I thought you would totally just blow the entire
thing off.”
“We don’t even know if anything will come of it. No need to
get excited just yet, but I think it might actually work. There seems
to be something…unusual about the place. It’s different than I
expected.”
“If they called you in for orientation already, they probably
have someone in mind.”
“I doubt it. But I found something out that Saph would be
furious to know.”
 “Don’t keep me in suspense!”
Jenny hesitated briefly. “Michael Adair is the CEO of KDA.”
“She’s going to freak out. How about we don’t tell her and let
her figure it out on her own so that she doesn’t just give up before
getting started?”
“I don’t know how comfortable I would be about lying to one
of our friends, Destiny. We don’t do that to each other,” Jenny
argued.
“But imagine the damage she would cause. You know how she
gets.”

***

The screen of Dorian’s cell phone lit up that very night. He

rolled over in his bunk and cracked open an eyelid to peer down at
the phone. It took a moment for his vision to adjust, but when it did,
he nearly threw his phone across the room. It was a text message
from Kodiak Dating Agency.
DORIAN, after careful deliberation, we think that
JENNY is the perfect match for you. If she agrees to the
date, the two of you will enjoy a wonderful evening at the
BLUE VELVET ROOM tomorrow night. Reply ‘YES’ to this
message if you would like to go on a date with the match
we’ve chosen for you.
His fingers hovered over the touchscreen keypad. Just that
morning he had expressed his interest in looking for love and
Michael and his team of cupids already found him a match? It
seemed too good to be true. But curiosity got the better of him and
Dorian replied to the text.
YES.
Perfect! Head to the BLUE VELVET ROOM tomorrow
night at 8PM dressed in your best 1920s attire. If she
agrees, your date will be waiting for you in a red dress.
Dorian jumped out of bed and threw on his running gear. He
needed to clear his head and running always seemed to help. His
heart felt like it was on fire even though nothing was sure yet. The
idea of just connecting with someone was breathtaking, but he
wanted the real thing. He trusted Michael’s judgment and hoped that
the woman he chose for Dorian’s match was enough to banished the
red-haired beauty from his dreams. The movement in the bunkroom
awakened Brock, who chucked a pillow at Dorian’s head.
“What are you doing up?”
“I’ve got a match,” he stated plainly.
“A match?”
“The agency contacted me and set up a date. If she accepts,
then we’re meeting up tomorrow. I honestly don’t know how to feel
right now.”
“Why? Is the dream girl setting high standards?” Brock
laughed.
“Laugh all you want, but it's true. I feel like if I believed in
soulmates, she would be it. There’s nothing I have to go off of
besides the feeling in my heart every night when I go to sleep and
the aching in my chest when I wake up and realize she isn’t there.”
“And what if she isn’t real? Is every other woman who has her
heart set on you going to fall short to a woman you aren’t even sure
exists?” Brock hopped down from his bunk and stared Dorian in the
eyes. “I’m not saying these things to bring you down, man. I just
want you to keep an open mind.”
“I am. I promise that I am.”
“Good. Now, stop pacing and go for your run.”
Dorian took the forest path and ended up running into
Sapphire White. She wasn’t out jogging or running like most people
who were found on the trails. In fact, Dorian could not tell if she was
even fully awake. “Are you alright?” he asked, reaching out a hand
to shake her a bit. Sapphire startled and screamed until she realized
who had grabbed her.
“Holy crap! You scared me,” she hissed. “What are you doing
out here?”
“Running to clear my head. What are you doing out here?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like things are
changing around here. Part of me wanted to walk through the forest
one last time.”
Sapphire White was often cryptic, but something about her
words made Dorian’s stomach drop. “Why would you say that?”
“It’s all going to go away, isn’t it?”
“Seriously, what’s with you tonight?” he asked. “You have to
admit that this is weird even for you.”
“I know you think I’m being weird, but I keep thinking about
what you and Brock have been saying about the fires. Do you really
suspect that someone is setting them on purpose?”
“Unless there’s a camper out there as clumsy as you, then it’s
the only explanation. They aren’t like regular forest fires, but I can’t
prove it until…”
 “Until what?”
“Never mind. Come on,” Dorian said. “Let me walk you back
home. I know the town is safe for the most part, but I don’t like the
thought of you wandering off in one of your dazes.”
“I don’t do that! Destiny is the scatterbrain, but who can
blame her. The woman has a perfect memory and it’s filled with
thousands of books. It’s a wonder how she even functions half the
time.”
He listened to Sapphire’s rambling all the way to her house
and then waited until the door was securely locked behind her. It
wasn’t that he didn’t trust the citizens of Haden Springs, but Dorian
knew that they didn’t take too kindly to newcomers. And Sapphire
had made more than a single splash when she came to town. Then
her friends arrived one after the other and it put people on edge.
Not necessarily for the sake of the town itself, but because the
people of Haden Springs wanted Dorian and his friends to be safe
from prying eyes.

CHAPTER FOUR

Steady hands painted liquid black upon Jenny’s upper eyelids.

She brushed on a bit of blush and applied her favorite red lipstick in
preparation for her date. Jenny didn’t know anything about Dorian.
All she could rely on was the word of an agency she had only agreed
to use the day before. It was all moving rather quickly, in her
opinion, and Jenny wasn’t sure she was ready to start actively
dating. People often said that these sorts of things took a few
months to get lined up, but apparently not here.
 Jenny used a makeup remover wipe to cleanse her hands and
then pulled on black satin opera gloves that reached high above her
elbows. Though she preferred more of the rockabilly style in her
wardrobe, she was happy to dress in the roaring 20s garb for the
evening. Jenny chose a red flapper dress with elegant black fringe
and a lace overlay. She styled it with tight curls in her hair and an
authentic French ostrich feather boa.
After one final glance at herself in the mirror, she was off. The
nerves didn’t kick in until she was in the club setting up for her
performance. A gentleman at the bar bought her a glass of
champagne and for a moment, she thought it was a pity he wasn’t
her type. The room darkened and the candles were lit one by one,
filling the room with an intimate glow. Jazz began to flow through
the space as a man partially shielded by the shadow sat in the chair
intended for her date. Jenny caught a flash of his eyes and held his
gaze, letting the notes slip from between her lips naturally.
If she hadn’t been required to sing, Jenny would have been
tempted to hold her breath, for just the glimmer of the man’s eyes in
the candlelight was enough to cause a shiver to run down her spine.
He leaned closer to the candle at the center of the table and flashed
a gorgeous smile that made her think of old Hollywood movies,
bubble baths, and back massages. Jenny had never reacted to
someone so intensely before, so she closed her eyes and allowed
her breathless rendition of the current song enchant the room.
She could feel his eyes on her, trailing over her figure and it
empowered her rather than making her want to dress like a nun.
Jenny knew her curves were on full display in the tighter dress and
the ever-present corset made them even more pronounced. When
her eyes fluttered open, she caught sight of him biting his lower lip
and loosening the buttons at the neck of his dress shirt.
Dorian removed his jacket and she quirked a finely arched
eyebrow at the quality vest beneath it. He draped the jacket with
care over the back of his chair and rolled up his sleeves, giving him a
more disheveled appearance. Glacier blue eyes and a bone structure
that would make the heavens weep held her captive. His lips were
pouty and sensual that softened his chiseled features.
Jenny couldn’t tear her gaze away even as one song melted
into another. Her hands reached up to clasp the microphone and felt
the temperature rise in the room. Dorian’s body shifted in his chair,
giving her the impression that he was all muscle; all power. It was
the body of a man capable of handling her supple curves if he was
daring enough to take her for a ride. Her cheeks had managed to
flush brighter than the blush on her cheeks.
His gaze dropped to her mouth as she brought her
performance to an end. The music slowed to a stop and Jenny was
forced with the reality that she was about to begin her date with the
glorious man sitting at the front table. Dorian climbed to his feet and
offered a hand as she descended the stairs, the actions of a true
gentleman. He led her to a table near the back of the lounge and
pulled the chair out for her. Jenny settled into her seat.
Her eyes widened when he slid the chair back in place
effortlessly. She was a big girl, not model material at all, so she
knew it would have been difficult for anyone else to handle her with
such grace. Dorian definitely held her attention as he took his seat
across from her. He reached down and pulled out a black box and a
single rose.
 Jenny felt herself smile before she could stop it. “You didn’t
have to.”
“A woman as lovely as you deserves lovely things.”
“Smooth,” she retorted. “But you don’t know me.”
“Yet,” Dorian countered. “And after a performance like that…I
can’t stop looking at you. Actually, I couldn’t stop looking at you
from the moment I stepped into the lounge. My name is Dorian
Chandler, by the way.”
“Jenny Owens. What do you do for a living, Dorian?”
“I am a paramedic at the local fire station.”
Jenny nodded her head with interest. She always admired
practical professions. “As you can see, I am a singer.”
“Oh, I think you’re far more than a singer.”
“How so?” she asked.
“Your voice is like something from another world, like the
wavelengths are...otherworldly, almost. It’s beguiling.”
“And what if I were to tell you that I have no intentions of
starting a relationship at the moment? That this was just an
experiment I agreed to in order to shut my friends up?” Jenny
questioned. “Would you think less of me?”
“I would be disappointed, but not discouraged. Whether you’re
interested in a relationship or not at the moment, I think there is
something…organic between us. It’s something that made me feel
like I was opening my eyes for the first time in my life. And I fully
intend to court you, Miss Owens.”

***
 Dorian could tell his response shocked Jenny, but it was only
fair seeing as her face had been tormenting his dreams. He knew it
from the instant he saw her hair...and then those eyes. Her
performance had started with her back to the audience, giving him a
nice glimpse of her figure, before she turned around and stole his
heart. It was as if she reached inside and snatched it out of his chest
without warning. Her green eyes and the exposed column of her
neck made him want to jump on stage and ravish her.
But he kept his composure and treated her like a gentleman.
“I’m sorry if I come off as arrogant or too forward, but I’ve been
called worse in my life, so I guess I’m alright with that.”
Jenny seemed to find his quip somewhat charming, because
the corner of her mouth twitched in a small smile that he took as a
victory. “To be honest, I’m glad your not interested in small talk.”
“But, really, what is your favorite color?”
She gave a little laugh and shook her head. “Guess.”
“Red?”
“Yes, but what shade?”
“Blue.” The answer was offbeat, but he suspected that she
liked that. Dorian beamed his brilliant grin at her as she began to
laugh at his silly jokes. “What? Was that wrong? Fine. How about
animals?”
“What about them?”
“Do you like animals?” Dorian asked.
“I do, but not in the way my friend likes cats. I’m not sure that
much love is healthy for any living creature.”
“Do you have a favorite?”
“Bears.”
 Dorian coughed and sputtered as he struggled to swallow the
sip of bourbon he attempted to drink. He dabbed his mouth with a
napkin and readied himself for what came next. “Can I ask why?”
“Why I like bears? I just find them powerful, protective…and
bears are prideful. I think they’re beautiful in an almost regal way.”
He blushed profusely and ducked his head to hide the burning
on his cheeks as he slid the black box across the table. Jenny
pushed it back toward him and he glared at her, which seemed to
make her laugh harder. “Please, accept the gift. It took a long time
to find something I deemed appropriate. Now that I know just a
little bit more about you, I think you’ll love it.”
She gave him a skeptical expression before straightening in
her chair and lifting the lid. Jenny looked at him from beneath her
long eyelashes. “How did you know I liked bears before I told you?”
“I didn’t. I chose it because I identify with bears and I wanted
you to have something to remember me, by even if the date didn’t
go well,” he admitted. “Is it going well so far?”
“It is.” Jenny removed the velvet lace bracelet with a bear paw
charm at its center. She clasped it around her wrist and stared down
at it for a moment, looking sincerely pleased with his gift. “So, let’s
address the elephant in the room. I’m aware that my appearance
isn’t usually ideal for men like you.”
“Men like me?”
“Pretty boys with movie star looks,” she clarified.
“I’m tired of being called a pretty boy. I’m so much more than
my appearance. I’ve got a mind of my own and a heart as well. I
would appreciate if you didn’t make assumptions about me on our
first date,” he stated firmly in response. “I actually prefer women I
can hold on to without feeling like I might break them. As you can
see, I’m a large man. And women like you–no, you specifically, set
my blood on fire.”
“Maybe we have more in common than I thought. I’m often
called the ‘Ice Queen’ in my circle of friends and I just tolerate it
because there are more important things in life than my aversion to
shallow nicknames. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Why don’t you make it up to me by agreeing to a
second date?”
“So early in the night and you’re already thinking about the
future?” Jenny quipped in return. “That is very forward of you.”
“I’ve been thinking about my future with you since the
moment I saw you. I must admit that I wasn’t expecting anything
out of my own experience with the agency, but I…had to try one last
time before I gave up on love completely.”
“Love is something I stopped believing in a long time ago.”
“If not love, then what do you believe in?” Dorian asked.
“Well, I believe in partnership and companionship. I believe in
friendship and strong relationships. But I don’t believe in the sort of
love they try to sell us on Valentines Day. Romance is one thing, a
connection is one thing, and chemistry is one thing, but I’ve never
experienced the great whirlwind love affair that swept me off my
feet.” Jenny shrugged softly.
“Maybe you haven’t found the right man to help you
experience all that.”
“There have been a lot of men claiming to be the ‘right man’
for me, but none of them last. I want something permanent whether
it involves romance or not. What about you?”
 “All I see is you at the moment. I know it’s strange to say on a
first date, but I feel like my future and the possibility of happiness in
that future all depend on you,” Dorian answered honestly, hoping
Jenny would appreciate his authenticity. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to
come on so strong. My intentions were to take my time and keep
things slow between us, but I’ve gotten caught up in…well, you.”
Dorian watched her look around the lounge for a few seconds.
Jenny stroked the velvet of her bracelet as they talked. By the time
the date ended, the entire lounge had cleared out without either of
them noticing. He stood up and offered his hand, helping her to her
feet. “Would you like to go for a walk with me?” he asked. “It’s a
beautiful night, and I’d really like to see what your eyes look like
beneath all those stars.”

CHAPTER FIVE

That delicious flush returned and he silently wished she hadn’t

worn any makeup. Fantasies of Jenny wrapped in sheets with her
hair fanning all over the pillows and her face clear of makeup flashed
in his mind. Dorian licked his lips again and she followed the
movement with her eyes. Jenny tilted her head up and smiled. “I
think I would like a walk.”
Even the sound of her high heels against the concrete made
him shiver. His mind drifted into thoughts of wanting to tie her up,
blindfold her with silk ties, and watch her squirm. Dorian stopped for
a moment. He didn’t know where his thoughts had come from.
Brock was the dominant one of their group, but there was something
about Jenny that made him want to possess her in a way she would
never forget.
She reached up and unpinned the curls in her hair, letting
them fall loosely around her face. It took all of his strength not to
moan out loud, but he did run his fingers through the silken strands
of her hair. It smelled fruity and felt like heaven slipping past his
knuckles. He moved to stand closer. Instead of pushing him away as
he suspected, Jenny tilted her head back and closed her eyes with
the most blissful expression on her face.
“I love having my hair played with,” she sighed.
Dorian was grateful that after a few hours of talking, she was
already comfortable enough to let him come so near. “I like playing
with your hair.” His hands moved to massage the nape of her neck
and were rewarded by another of those breathy groans. The sound
of it shot right through him like a bolt of lightning bolt of lust. But
then he realized she rocked on her heels, trying to lean against him
in support. “What’s the matter, Jenny?”
“My feet hurt. I’ve been in heels all day, but…I don’t want you
to stop.”
Dorian smiled as she opened her eyes. “May I?” He could tell
she was confused, but she nodded anyway out of curiosity. She let
out an indignant squeak when he crouched down and then lifted her
up into a bridal hold. Her eyes glared at him, but he continued to
walk down the street.
“Put me down. I’m too heavy.”
“You’re perfect. Look,” he ordered. “I’m not even sweating.
And I’ve been looking for an excuse all night to get my arms around
you somehow.”
 “Seriously, put me down. I don’t want people to stare.”
“For a woman who must turn heads just by walking through
the door, you don’t seem very confident. You’re a beautiful woman,
Jenny.” Dorian held her until she insisted that her feet felt better.
There was something distant in her eyes now that hadn’t been there
before. He tilted her head back and searched her gaze. “What is it? I
might not have known you for very long, but I can sense something
is bothering you.”
“You keep saying these amazing things and I know you’re just
caught up in the moment,” she insisted. “I just want you to know
that I don’t trust pretty words. I trust actions. And if you truly wish
to pursue something with me, then—”
“I do want to pursue something with you. And I completely
respect that you don’t trust flattery, but I’m just speaking my mind.
I’ll let my actions show for themselves, but I am not going to stop
complimenting you.” Dorian kissed her forehead and stepped away.
He walked Jenny to her car and watched her drive down the street.
Once she was out of sight, Dorian retrieved his cell phone.
A text message popped up in his notifications.
DORIAN, if you would like to invite JENNY on a second
date, please reply ‘YES’ to this message. If not, we will
match you with a new partner based on your compatibility
results.
There was no hesitation: he wanted another date with Jenny,
he wanted the chance to prove to her that he believed every word
he said when he complimented her. It was surprising to hear that a
woman as stunning as she was so insecure. Dorian wasn’t ignorant,
he knew a scorned woman when he saw one, but he hoped the
mistakes of the last man didn’t ruin his chances with an amazing
woman.
DORIAN, your match has agreed to a second date. This
one is yours to plan. Reply to this message with the required
details. Congratulations! You unlocked the ability to see
your match’s survey answers.
He dropped his phone in excitement and did a little celebratory
dance in the parking lot at the Blue Velvet Room. Dorian picked his
phone up and called Michael. It was late, but he knew his friend
would never allow his cell phone to ring unanswered. Michael was
the sort to have a Bluetooth in even while he slept, which was
confirmed by the gruff, “What?” that came through the phone.
“You wouldn’t believe who I just met.”
“Umm…your date?”
“Yes, but guess who my date is,” Dorian teased.
“This is already tedious. Fine, who was it?”
“My dream girl.”
“That’s sort of the point of the service, Dorian,” Michael huffed.
“No, I mean my actual dream girl. Jenny Owens is the girl I’ve
been seeing in my dreams. I’m excited, but at the same
time...courting her won’t be easy, man. She’s been hurt. She hasn’t
said anything, but I can tell.”
Michael was so quiet that Dorian feared he had fallen asleep,
but then he broke the silence. “Be careful. There’s more fear in your
voice than what I’ve heard in a long time, Dorian. For both of your
sakes, be careful.”
“You think I’ll get hurt?”
 “I think there’s more to the story than what you’re telling me,
but if you haven’t, then clearly it isn’t my business. But I’m happy
you met your dream girl.” Michael said supportively, but passive
aggressively.
“I want to tell you, actually. I want to tell all of you.”
“If that’s what you want, then I’ll host a meeting at my loft.”

***

Jenny hurried into the bookshop to avoid the rain. Destiny

leaned against the counter staring off into space and hadn’t even
noticed the doorbell. Jenny waved her hand in front of her friend’s
face, startling her out of a daydream. “Are you alright, sweetie?”
Jenny asked.
“There’s a new book that I want to read for the group. I found
it online.”
“Nothing else?” Jenny was always skeptical on what could
possibly be going on in Destiny’s book-cluttered mind, but she let it
go for now.
“Nope. How was the date?”
She felt herself blush before Destiny announced it to the entire
shop. “Oh, my gosh! You’re blushing. I’ve never seen you blush
before. Tell me everything!” The volume of Destiny’s voice carried to
the back and Sapphire’s head popped out of one of the doors.
“Did you just say that Jenny Owens is blushing?” she yelled.
Sapphire and Destiny hurried the customers out of the shop and
locked the door while Jenny hid her face in the palms of her hands.
Sapphire hopped up on the counter and pulled one of the cake pops
from the display and started munching on it, eager to hear about the
date. Destiny began brewing some tea and Jenny tried to calm the
flush on her face in the midst of their gawking.
“Alright, settle down,” she pleaded. “My date went well. I was
performing when he came in, which was what I wanted. I wanted to
show him my best and let him see if it was worth dealing with the
rest.”
“Did he like it?”
“Honestly, I was so into him that I didn’t really care,” Jenny
admitted, sending her friends into a fit of giggles. “He was
absolutely gorgeous and not just in terms of looks.”
“His energies!” Sapphire shrieked. “You were attracted to his
energies.”
“That…actually makes sense. Yes. I was completely spellbound
by him before I even saw his face completely and that’s new for me.
I hear Saph go on and on about souls and energies, but I never
really believed any of it before.” Jenny looked down at her hands
and saw that they were shaking. “It was magnetic. He said all the
right things that’s what freaked me out a bit.”
“Oh, no!” Destiny gasped. “What happened?”
“I let him know that pretty words don’t mean as much to me
as actions. He respected that and we’re going on a second date. But
there was a moment when things got intimate. Like, my heart
fluttered more than once.”
“The Ice Queen has a heart?”
Destiny smacked Sapphire on the arm and gestured for Jenny
to continue.
 “It’s alright, I didn’t think I had one left either. But he made
me feel things that I didn’t feel even after so many years with Zach.”
“What’s his name?”
“Dorian.”
“Dorian Chandler?” Sapphire asked. “You can’t have him.”
Destiny jabbed Sapphire with her elbow. “Why can’t she?”
“Dorian works with Brock and the rest of the guys I know at
the fire station. He doesn’t date…like, ever. Brock told me that he’s
been head over heels for some redhead long before we ever came to
town.”
Jenny looked down at her hands that were clenched in her lap.
She felt like a fool. It wasn’t as if she had believed any of his pretty
words, but it would have been nice to know that he was interested
in someone else. “So, I guess he has a type then. God, I feel like
such an idiot.”
“Don’t be like that,” Destiny said. “You know how Sapphire is.
It could all be a misunderstanding. Go on the second date and ask
him about it. Don’t let rumors ruin something that could be really
special.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re a romantic.”
“And you’re only saying that because you’re cynical,” Destiny
retorted. “Give him a chance to explain himself. Please.”
Sapphire looked at the cakepop in her hands and pouted. “I
didn’t mean to make you feel so bad about it, Jen. He really is a
great guy. I’m sure if he really liked that girl, they would be together.
Dorian wouldn’t hurt anyone like that.”
Jenny told herself that it was nothing more than first date
excitement that made her so attracted to Dorian Chandler. She didn’t
think he would have the same pull toward her on the second date.
Jenny tapped the screen on her phone with a manicured nail and
turned it to face her friends.
JENNY, your match has chosen to go on a second date!
Prepare for a night of dancing and a dinner by candlelight.
Congratulations! You have unlocked the ability to see your
match’s survey questions.
“Cool,” Destiny said. “I can’t wait to start my process.”
“Ew, what if I end up on a date with Brock?” Sapphire
groused. Her face looked a bit green at the prospect. “He’s like my
brother.”
“I’m sure you both would just have a laugh.”
“Yeah, you’re right. We’re actually going to egg his brother’s
car today.”
“And you wonder why people of this town don’t like us?”
Destiny muttered.
“What?” Jenny asked. “People here don’t like you?”
“You haven’t noticed?”
Jenny sipped her tea and shook her head. Destiny and
Sapphire shared a strange look, but didn’t elaborate. They changed
the subject to the new book Destiny suggested for the book club.

CHAPTER SIX

A week later, Dorian stepped out of the elevator at Michael’s

loft apartment, excited about his upcoming date with Jenny. He
couldn’t stop thinking about her, even though the dreams had
stopped. Brock and Michael were bickering as usual when he came
into the kitchen. Dorian grabbed a tumbler of scotch and plopped
down on the long sectional at the center of the open floor plan.
It never failed to surprise him that Michael had chosen to be
celibate. He was the first of them to shift and after it happened, he
never dated. Michael didn’t want to get another person involved in
his curse. Dorian didn’t see it as a curse, but he didn’t see it as a
blessing, either. It was…a complication.
“So, what’s this all about?” Michael asked.
“I’ll talk about it when Anders gets here.”
As if on cue, Anders McKinney sauntered through the door still
wearing his scrubs. “I was forced to operate on Sapphire White
today,” he hissed. “Apparently, walking in a straight line and not
stepping into a massive hole is too complicated for her to
accomplish. There was even eggshells in her hair. Luckily she was
already sedated by the time I stepped into the room.”
“I knew it!” Michael shouted. “I knew she did that to my car.”
Brock snorted happily a few feet away and didn’t even try to
muffle his laughter. Dorian noticed him picking bits of eggshell out
from under his fingernails and couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “What’s
the whole feud between you about anyway?” Dorian asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I’m furious right now. Just talk to
us about this issue you’ve been having and we’ll discuss it later.”
Michael paced while the others sat on the sofa, waiting for
Dorian to come clean about his problems. “Since the day of my first
shift, I’ve been having these…horrific dreams. It’s always the same
one, the same images over and over. And it’s always the same
woman, screaming out as she’s burned alive. The redhead from my
dreams is the same woman from my nightmares. It’s Jenny.”
 “Wait,” Anders demanded. “You started having recurring
dreams since and you didn’t think to tell us? Did you not wonder if it
has anything to do with our…our uniqueness?”
“Of course I did, but I thought the dreams would eventually go
away.”
“They haven’t?” Anders asked.
“Not exactly. Instead of me seeing her die in a fire, I’ve been
able to rescue her and,” Dorian paused to clear his throat. “Then she
burns in a different way. A way that leaves me aching when I open
my eyes.”
“Dude, gross,” Brock laughed. “Don’t want to hear all of that.”
“What does she look like?” Anders questioned, ignoring Brock
as usual.
“She’s…succulent.”
Dorian laughed as the three other men in the room began to
sweat. Brock’s eyes bulged out of his head and Anders, the other
celibate member of their group, stood up to pace with Michael.
Dorian had used that word on purpose, for “succulent” was their
code word for everything they desired about a woman. Men their
size, averaging a near seven-feet-tall with a good two hundred
pounds of muscle on their broad frames, required more plush to
their women. Soft, lush curves appealed to them more than swimsuit
models ever could.
“So, you can now see why I’ve been a little out of sorts lately.”
“You went from seeing this Jenny person burn in a fire to
seeing her in a more intimate way. I’m surprised you’re still sane,”
Anders said. “Years of this must have been torture. What do you
think changed?”
 “Well, she’s here in Haden Springs obviously. Maybe her
proximity had something to do with it, but I’m just in shock that she
even exists.”
Brock scratched at his neatly trimmed beard and asked, “Why
would you have these dreams and not us? I’ve been waiting longer
than all of you to fall in love. Dorian wasn’t even looking until his
dreams changed and the two of you are practically nuns. I’ve had
dates, I’ve put in the work, but I don’t get the girl?”
“Just because you don’t get his girl, doesn’t mean you don’t
get a girl,” Anders replied diplomatically. “Maybe this is a sign that
we should be paying more attention to the things that make us
unique, even in the group, instead of just what makes us similar. We
all could have some sort of sign that came with the first change, but
we chose to ignore it—”
“What about the fire that killed her in the other dreams?”
Michael interrupted. “Instead of focusing on the woman, we should
look at the danger his dreams imply. The fires in the mountains and
in the forest are getting more frequent. What…uh, this might sound
strange coming from me, but then again…maybe not. But, what do
you guys know about soulmates?”
No one answered, but Dorian felt his own face twist into one
of disbelief. “You mean...you believe in all of that? Like two souls
coming together as one sort of thing?”
“I do, in a way. My work has made self-love and romantic love
into a science. With algorithms, we’re able to calculate compatibility
and make the entire experience run more smoothly with the services
we provide,” Michael explained to the group. “But if I’m able to
determine variables and percentages on something as complex as
the concept of love, then I can’t be certain that nature doesn’t have
its own algorithm for such things.”
Dorian considered Michael’s words and turned to Anders.
“When we all moved here to Haden Springs, your theory on why this
happened to us was that evolution had chosen it’s new ape. You said
that nature works in patterns and that science still struggles to
understand things that simply cannot be explained. What if both of
you are right?”
Anders furrowed his brow, but nodded. “We are one of the
unexplainable patterns in nature, a new branch of evolution. And
what? The next step in that pattern is triggered by a soulmate? Is
that what we’re contemplating here?”
“If all of that is true, why is Dorian experiencing it in a way
that might be different than the rest of us?” Brock asked Anders.
The doctor shrugged. “Who knows for certain? Perhaps it’s
genetic, perhaps it’s driven by individual needs to mate, sort of like a
biological clock for women. But we can’t be certain and I think that’s
the point. Some mysteries aren’t meant to be solved, gentlemen.”
“So, just roll with the punches?” Dorian asked.
“If he gets a soulmate, then I want one,” Brock grumbled.
Michael rolled his eyes. “That’s sort of the point of a soulmate.
Everyone is said to have one. Eventually, the universe will make sure
that you find one another. Or, I can speed up the process and
narrow down the odds.”
“How are you going to do that? Aside from Jenny, the only
women in town are ones we already know,” Brock complained, but
Michael shook his head.
 “That’s not true. I had three other new applicants this week.”
He made a show of counting heads, pointing out that the number of
women who moved to Haden Springs was perfect for the number of
guys in their friend circle. “The odds are already in our favor.”
Brock winced. Dorian caught it, but no one else did. Anders
and Michael stepped off to the side to look at Michael’s new
architectural plans for KDA, so he moved over a seat and jabbed
Brock with his elbow. “What is it?”
“One of the new applicants is Sapphire.”
“And?”
“And she’s friends with the new singer down at the Blue Velvet
Room. Jenny and Sapphire are two of the four women, which
means, if we’re right, one of us might be her mate,” Brock muttered.
“She and I are just friends, there’s never been anything else
between us. But her other two options can barely stand to be
around her.”
“Michael, I can understand, but Anders doesn’t even know
Sapphire. Not properly anyway. The only reason he doesn’t like her
is because of her feud with Michael. Maybe…”
“They could get to know one another?” Brock chuckled. “Right.
I could just imagine an unemployed, purple-haired hippy and a
nerdy doctor walking down the aisle to get married. Beautiful.”
“You’re sarcasm might come back to haunt you when that
happens. Besides, her hair color isn’t always purple. Yesterday it was
orange. If there are two other women, that means one of Jenny and
Sapphire’s friends might be your soulmate,” Dorian pointed out. “You
might be closer to finding love than you think, man.”
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 as we count sleep, but it is awake at last and its every
member is tingling with Chinese feeling—'China for the
Chinese and out with the foreigners!'

"The Boxer movement is doubtless the product of official

inspiration, but it has taken hold of the popular imagination
and will spread like wildfire all over the length and breadth
of the country: it is, in short, a purely patriotic volunteer
movement, and its object is to strengthen China—and for a
Chinese programme. Its first experience has not been
altogether a success as regards the attainment through
strength of proposed ends,—the rooting up of foreign cults and
the ejection of foreigners, but it is not a failure in respect of
the feeler it put out—will volunteering work?—or as an
experiment that would test ways and means and guide future
choice: it has proved how to a man the people will respond to
the call, and it has further demonstrated that the swords and
spears to which the prudent official mind confined the
initiated will not suffice, but must be supplemented or
replaced by Mauser rifles and Krupp guns: the Boxer patriot of
the future will possess the best weapons money can buy, and
then the 'Yellow Peril' will be beyond ignoring."

Robert Hart,
The Peking Legations
(Fortnightly Review, November, 1900).

{109}

CHINA: A. D. 1900 (March-April).

Proposed joint naval demonstration of the Powers
in Chinese waters.

On receipt of the telegram from Peking (March 10) recommending

a joint naval demonstration in North Chinese waters, the
British Ambassador at Paris was directed to consult the
Government of France on the subject, and did so. On the 13th,
he reported M. Delcassé, the French Minister for Foreign
Affairs, as saying that "he could not, of course, without
reflection and without consulting his colleagues, say what the
decision of the French Government would be as to taking part
in a naval demonstration, but at first sight it seemed to him
that it would be difficult to avoid acting upon a suggestion
which the Representatives of Five Powers, who ought to be good
judges, considered advisable." On the 16th, he wrote to Lord
Salisbury: "M. Delcassé informed me the day before yesterday
that he had telegraphed to Peking for more precise
information. I told him that I was glad to hear that no
precipitate action was going to be taken by France, and that I
believed that he would find that the United States' Government
would be disinclined to associate themselves with any joint
naval demonstration. I added that, although I had no
instructions to say so, I expected that Her Majesty's
Government would also adhere to their usual policy of
proceeding with great caution, and would be in no hurry to
take a step which only urgent necessity would render
advisable."

On the 23d of March, Sir Claude MacDonald telegraphed to Lord

Salisbury: "I learn that the Government of the United States
have ordered one ship-of-war to go to Taku for the purpose of
protecting American interests, that the Italian Minister has
been given the disposal of two ships, and the German Minister
has the use of the squadron at Kiao-chau for the same purpose.
With a view to protect British missionary as well as other
interests, which are far in excess of those of other Powers, I
would respectfully request that two of Her Majesty's ships be
sent to Taku."

On the 3d of April, the Tsung-li Yamên communicated to the

British Ambassador the following information, as to the
punishment of the murderers of Mr. Brooks, and of the
officials responsible for neglect to protect him: "Of several
arrests that had been made of persons accused of having been
 the perpetrators of the crime or otherwise concerned in its
committal, two have been brought to justice and, at a trial at
which a British Consul was present, found guilty and sentenced
to be decapitated—a sentence which has already been carried
into effect. Besides this, the Magistrate of Feichen, and some
of the police authorities of the district, accounted to have
been guilty of culpable negligence in the protection of Mr.
Brooks, have been cashiered, or had other punishments awarded
them of different degrees of severity."

For some weeks after this the Boxer movement appears to have
been under constraint. Further outrages were not reported and
no expressions of anxiety appear in the despatches from
Peking. The proposal of a joint naval demonstration in the
waters of Northern China was not pressed.

Great Britain, Papers by Command:

China, Number 3, 1900, pages 6-17.

CHINA: A. D. 1900 (May-June).

Renewed activity of the "Boxers" and increasing gravity of
the situation at Peking.
Return of Legation guards.
Call upon the fleets at Taku for reinforcement and rescue.

About the middle of May the activity of the "Boxers" was

renewed, and a state of disorder far more threatening than
before was speedily made known. The rapid succession of
startling events during the next few weeks may be traced in
the following series of telegrams from the British Minister at
Peking to his chief:

"May 17.
The French Minister called to-day to inform me that the Boxers
have destroyed three villages and killed 61 Roman Catholic
Christian converts at a place 90 miles from Peking, near
Paoting-fu. The French Bishop informs me that in that
district, and around Tien-tsin and Peking generally, much
disorder prevails."

"May 18.
There was a report yesterday, which has been confirmed to-day,
that the Boxers have destroyed the London Mission chapel at
Kung-tsun, and killed the Chinese preacher. Kung-tsun is about
40 miles south-west of Peking."

"May 19.
At the Yamên, yesterday, I reminded the Ministers how I had
unceasingly warned them during the last six months how
dangerous it was not to take adequate measures in suppression
of the Boxer Societies. I said that the result of the apathy
of the Chinese Government was that now a Mission chapel, a few
miles distant from the capital, had been destroyed. The
Ministers admitted that the danger of the Boxer movement had
not previously appeared to them so urgent, but that now they
fully saw how serious it was. On the previous day an Imperial
Decree had been issued, whereby specified metropolitan and
provincial authorities were directed to adopt stringent
measures to suppress the Boxers. This, they believed, would
not fail to have the desired effect."

"May 21.
All eleven foreign Representatives attended a meeting of the
Diplomatic Body held yesterday afternoon, at the instance of
the French Minister. The doyen was empowered to write, in the
name of all the foreign Representatives, a note to the Yamên
to the effect that the Diplomatic Body, basing their demands
on the Decrees already issued by the Palace denunciatory of
the Boxers, requested that all persons who should print,
publish, or disseminate placards which menaced foreigners, all
individuals aiding and abetting, all owners of houses or
temples now used as meeting places for Boxers, should be
arrested. They also demanded that those guilty of arson,
murder, outrages, &c., together with those affording support
 or direction to Boxers while committing such outrages, should
be executed. Finally, the publication of a Decree in Peking
and the Northern Provinces setting forth the above. The
foreign Representatives decided at their meeting to take
further measures if the disturbances still continued, or if a
favorable answer was not received to their note within five
days. The meeting did not decide what measures should be
taken, but the Representatives were generally averse to
bringing guards to Peking, and, what found most favour, was as
follows:—

With the exception of Holland, which has no ships in Chinese

waters, it was proposed that all the Maritime Powers
represented should make a naval demonstration either at
Shanhaikuan, or at the new port, Ching-wangtao, while, in case
of necessity, guards were to be held ready on board ship. My
colleagues will, I think, send these proposals as they stand
to their governments. As the Chinese Government themselves
seem to be sufficiently alarmed, I do not think that the above
measure will be necessary, but, should the occasion arise, I
trust that Her Majesty's Government will see fit to support
it. … I had a private interview with my Russian colleague, who
came to see me before the matter reached its acute stages. M. de
Giers said that there were only two countries with serious
interests in China: England and Russia. He thought that both
landing guards and naval demonstrations were to be
discouraged, as they give rise to unknown eventualities.
However, since the 18th instant, he admits that matters are
grave, and agreed at once to the joint note."

{110}

"May 24.
Her Majesty's Consul at Tien-tsin reported by telegraph
yesterday that a Colonel in charge of a party of the Viceroy's
cavalry was caught, on the 22nd instant, in an ambuscade near
Lai-shui, which is about 50 miles south-west of Peking. The
party were destroyed."

"May 25.
Tsung-li Yamên have replied to the note sent by the doyen of
the Corps Diplomatique, reported in my telegram of the 21st
May. They state that the main lines of the measures already in
force agree with those required by the foreign
Representatives, and add that a further Decree, which will
direct efficacious action, is being asked for. The above does
not even promise efficacious action, and, in my personal
opinion, is unsatisfactory."

"May 27.
At the meeting of the Corps Diplomatique, which took place
yesterday evening, we were informed by the French Minister
that all his information led him to believe that a serious
outbreak, which would endanger the lives of all European
residents in Peking, was on the point of breaking out. The
Italian Minister confirmed the information received by M.
Pichon. The Russian Minister agreed with his Italian and
French colleagues in considering the latest reply of the Yamên
to be unsatisfactory, adding that, in his opinion, the Chinese
Government was now about to adopt effective measures. That the
danger was imminent he doubted, but said that it was not
possible to disregard the evidence adduced by the French
Minister. We all agreed with this last remark. M. Pichon then
urged that if the Chinese Government did not at once take
action guards should at once be brought up by the foreign
Representatives. Some discussion then ensued, after which it
was determined that a precise statement should be demanded
from the Yamên as to the measures they had taken, also that
the terms of the Edict mentioned by them should be
communicated to the foreign Representatives. Failing a reply
from the Yamên of a satisfactory nature by this afternoon, it
was resolved that guards should be sent for. Baron von
Ketteler, the German Minister, declared that he considered the
Chinese Government was crumbling to pieces, and that he did
not believe that any action based on the assumption of their
stability could be efficacious. The French Minister is, I am
certain, genuinely convinced that the danger is real, and
owing to his means of information he is well qualified to
judge. … I had an interview with Prince Ch'ing and the Yamên
Ministers this afternoon. Energetic measures are now being
taken against the Boxers by the Government, whom the progress
of the Boxer movement has, at last, thoroughly alarmed. The
Corps Diplomatique, who met in the course of the day, have
decided to wait another twenty-four hours for further
developments."

"May 29.
Some stations on the line, among others Yengtai, 6 miles from
Peking, together with machine sheds and European houses, were
burnt yesterday by the Boxers. The line has also been torn up
in places. Trains between this and Tien-tsin have stopped
running, and traffic has not been resumed yet. The situation
here is serious, and so far the Imperial troops have done
nothing. It was unanimously decided, at a meeting of foreign
Representatives yesterday, to send for guards for the
Legations, in view of the apathy of the Chinese Government and
the gravity of the situation. Before the meeting assembled,
the French Minister had already sent for his."

"May 30.
Permission for the guards to come to Peking has been refused
by the Yamên. I think, however, that they may not persist in
their refusal. The situation in the meantime is one of extreme
gravity. The people are very excited, and the soldiers
mutinous. Without doubt it is now a question of European life
and property being in danger here. The French and Russians are
landing 100 men each. French, Russian, and United States'
Ministers, and myself, were deputed to-day at a meeting of the
foreign Representatives to declare to the Tsung-li Yamên that
the foreign Representatives must immediately bring up guards
for the protection of the lives of Europeans in Peking in view
of the serious situation and untrustworthiness of the Chinese
troops. That the number would be small if facilities were
granted, but it must be augmented should they be refused, and
serious consequences might result for the Chinese Government
in the latter event. In reply, the Yamên stated that no
definite reply could be given until to-morrow afternoon, as
the Prince was at the Summer Palace. As the Summer Palace is
within an hour's ride we refused to admit the impossibility of
prompt communication and decision, and repeated the warning
already given of the serious consequences which would result
if the Viceroy at Tien-tsin did not receive instructions this
evening in order that the guards might be enabled to arrive
here to-morrow. The danger will be greatest on Friday, which
is a Chinese festival."

"May 31.
Provided that the number does not exceed that of thirty for
each Legation, as on the last occasion, the Yamên have given
their consent to the guards coming to Peking. … It was decided
this morning, at a meeting of the foreign Representatives, to
at once bring up the guards that are ready. These probably
include the British, American, Italian, and Japanese."

"June 1.
British, American, Italian, Russian, French and Japanese
guards arrived yesterday. Facilities were given, and there
were no disturbances. Our detachment consists of three
officers and seventy-five men, and a machine gun."

"June 2.
The city is comparatively quiet, but murders of Christian
converts and the destruction of missionary property in
outlying districts occur every day, and the situation still
remains serious. The situation at the Palace is, I learn from
a reliable authority, very strained. The Empress-Dowager does
not dare to put down the Boxers, although wishing to do so, on
account of the support given them by Prince Tuan, father of
 the hereditary Prince, and other conservative Manchus, and
also because of their numbers. Thirty Europeans, most of whom
were Belgians, fled from Paoting-fu via the river to
Tien-tsin. About 20 miles from Tien-tsin they were attacked by
Boxers.
{111}
A party of Europeans having gone to their rescue from
Tien-tsin severe fighting ensued, in which a large number of
Boxers were killed. Nine of the party are still missing,
including one lady. The rest have been brought into Tien-tsin.
The Russian Minister, who came to see me to-day, said he
thought it most imperative that the foreign Representatives
should be prepared for all eventualities, though he had no
news confirming the above report. He said he had been
authorized by his Government to support any Chinese authority
at Peking which was able and willing to maintain order in case
the Government collapsed."

"June 4.
I am informed by a Chinese courier who arrived to-day from
Yung-Ching, 40 miles south of Peking, that on the 1st June the
Church of England Mission at that place was attacked by the
Boxers. He states that one missionary, Mr. Robinson, was
murdered, and that he saw his body, and that another, Mr.
Norman, was carried off by the Boxers. I am insisting on the
Chinese authorities taking immediate measures to effect his
rescue. Present situation at Peking is such that we may at any
time be besieged here with the railway and telegraph lines
cut. In the event of this occurring, I beg your Lordship will
cause urgent instructions to be sent to Admiral Seymour to
consult with the officers commanding the other foreign
squadrons now at Taku to take concerted measures for our
relief. The above was agreed to at a meeting held to-day by
the foreign Representatives, and a similar telegram was sent
to their respective Governments by the Ministers of Austria,
Italy, Germany, France, Japan, Russia, and the United States,
all of whom have ships at Taku and guards here. The telegram
was proposed by the French Minister and carried unanimously.
It is difficult to say whether the situation is as grave as
the latter supposes, but the apathy of the Chinese Government
makes it very serious."

"June 5.
I went this afternoon to the Yamên to inquire of the Ministers
personally what steps the Chinese Government proposed to take
to effect the punishment of Mr. Robinson's murderers and the
release of Mr. Norman. I was informed by the Ministers that
the Viceroy was the responsible person, that they had
telegraphed to him to send troops to the spot, and that that
was all they were able to do in the matter. They did not
express regret or show the least anxiety to effect the relief
of the imprisoned man, and they displayed the greatest
indifference during the interview. I informed them that the
Chinese Government would be held responsible by Her Majesty's
Government for the criminal apathy which had brought about
this disgraceful state of affairs. I then demanded an
interview with Prince Ching, which is fixed for to-morrow, as
I found it useless to discuss the matter with the Yamên. This
afternoon I had an interview with the Prince and Ministers of
the Yamên. They expressed much regret at the murder of Messrs.
Robinson and Norman, and their tone was fully satisfactory in
this respect. … No attempt was made by the Prince to defend
the Chinese Government, nor to deny what I had said. He could
say nothing to reassure me as to the safety of the city, and
admitted that the Government was reluctant to deal harshly
with the movement, which, owing to its anti-foreign character,
was popular. He stated that they were bringing 6,000 soldiers
from near Tien-tsin for the protection of the railway, but it
was evident that he doubted whether they would be allowed to
fire on the Boxers except in the defence of Government
property, or if authorized whether they would obey. He gave me
to understand, without saying so directly, that he has
entirely failed to induce the Court to accept his own views as
to the danger of inaction. It was clear, in fact, that the Yamên
wished me to understand that the situation was most serious,
and that, owing to the influence of ignorant advisers with the
Empress-Dowager, they were powerless to remedy it."

"June 6.
Since the interview with the Yamên reported in my preceding
telegram I have seen several of my colleagues. I find they all
agree that, owing to the now evident sympathy of the
Empress-Dowager and the more conservative of her advisers with
the anti-foreign movement, the situation is rapidly growing
more serious. Should there be no change in the attitude of the
Empress, a rising in the city, ending in anarchy, which may
produce rebellion in the provinces, will be the result,
'failing an armed occupation of Peking by one or more of the
Powers.' Our ordinary means of pressure on the Chinese
Government fail, as the Yamên is, by general consent, and
their own admission, powerless to persuade the Court to take
serious measures of repression. Direct representations to the
Emperor and Dowager-Empress from the Corps Diplomatique at a
special audience seems to be the only remaining chance of
impressing the Court."

"June 7.
There is a long Decree in the 'Gazette' which ascribes the
recent trouble to the favour shown to converts in law suits
and the admission to their ranks of bad characters. It states
that the Boxers, who are the objects of the Throne's sympathy
equally with the converts, have made use of the anti-Christian
feeling aroused by these causes, and that bad characters among
them have destroyed chapels and railways which are the
property of the State. Unless the ringleaders among such bad
characters are now surrendered by the Boxers they will be
dealt with as disloyal subjects, and will be exterminated.
Authorization will be given to the Generals to effect arrests,
exercising discrimination between leaders and their followers.
It is probable that the above Decree represents a compromise
between the conflicting opinions which exist at Court. The
 general tone is most unsatisfactory, though the effect may be
good if severe measures are actually taken. The general
lenient tone, the absence of reference to the murder of
missionaries, and the justification of the proceedings of the
Boxers by the misconduct of Christian converts are all
dangerous factors in the case."

"June 8.
A very bad effect has been produced by the Decree reported in
my immediately preceding telegram. There is no prohibition of
the Boxers drilling, which they now openly do in the houses of
the Manchu nobility and in the temples. This Legation is full
of British refugees, mostly women and children, and the London
and Church of England Missions have been abandoned. I trust
that the instructions requested in my telegrams of the 4th and
5th instant have been sent to the Admiral. I have received the
following telegram, dated noon to-day, from Her Majesty's Consul
at Tien-tsin:

{112}

'By now the Boxers must be near Yang-tsun. Last night the
bridge, which is outside that station, was seen to be on fire.
General Nieh's forces are being withdrawn to Lutai, and 1,500
of them have already passed through by railway. There are now
at Yang-tsun an engine and trucks ready to take 2,000 more
men.' Lutai lies on the other side of Tien-tsin, and at some
distance. Should this information be correct, it means that an
attempt to protect Peking has been abandoned by the only force
on which the Yamên profess to place any reliance. The 6,000
men mentioned in my telegram
of the 5th instant were commanded by General Nieh."

"Tong-ku, June 10.

Vice-Admiral Sir E. Seymour to Admiralty.
Following telegram received from Minister at Peking:
'Situation extremely grave. Unless arrangements are made for
immediate advance to Peking it will be too late.'

"In consequence of above, I am landing at once with all

available men, and have asked foreign officers' co-operation."
Great Britain, Papers by Command:
China, Number 3, 1900, pages 26-45.

CHINA: A. D. 1900 (June 10-26).

Bombardment and capture of Taku forts by the allied fleets.
Failure of first relief expedition started for Peking.

The following is from an official report by Rear-Admiral

Bruce of the British Navy, dated at Taku June 17, 1900:

"On my arrival here on the 11th inst. I found a large fleet,

consisting of Russian, German, French, Austrian, Italian,
Japanese, and British ships. In consequence of an urgent
telegram from Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, Vice-Admiral
Sir Edward H. Seymour, K. C. B., Commander-in-Chief, had
started at 3 o'clock the previous morning (10th June), taking
with him a force of 1,375 of all ranks, being reinforced by
men from the allied ships as they arrived, until he commanded
not less than 2,000 men. At a distance of some 20 to 30 miles
from Tientsin—but it is very difficult to locate the place, as
no authentic record has come in—he found the railway destroyed
and sleepers burned, &c., and every impediment made by
supposed Boxers to his advance. Then his difficulties began,
and it is supposed that the Boxers, probably assisted by
Chinese troops, closed in on his rear, destroyed
railway-lines, bridges, &c., and nothing since the 13th inst.
has passed from Commander-in-Chief and his relief force and
Tientsin, nor vice versa up to this date. …

"During the night of the 14th inst. news was received that all
railway-carriages and other rolling stock had been ordered to
be sent up the line for the purpose of bringing down a Chinese
army to Tong-ku. On receipt of this serious information a
council of Admirals was summoned by Vice-Admiral Hiltebrandt,
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Squadron, and the German,
French, United States Admirals, myself, and the Senior
Officers of Italy, Austria, and Japan attended; and it was
decided to send immediate orders to the captains of the allied
vessels in the Peiho River (three Russian, two German, one
United States, one Japanese, one British—'Algerine') to
prevent any railway plant being taken away from Tong-ku, or
the Chinese army reaching that place, which would cut off our
communication with Tientsin; and in the event of either being
attempted they were to use force to prevent it, and to destroy
the Taku Forts. By the evening, and during the night of 15th
inst., information arrived that the mouth of the Peiho River
was being protected by electric mines. On receipt of this,
another council composed of the same naval officers was held
in the forenoon of 16th June on board the 'Rossia,' and in
consequence of the gravity of the situation, and information
having also arrived that the forts were being provisioned and
reinforced, immediate notice was sent to the Viceroy of Chili
at Tientsin and the commandant of the forts that, in
consequence of the danger to our forces up the river, at
Tientsin, and on the march to Peking by the action of the
Chinese authorities, we proposed to temporarily occupy the
Taku Forts, with or without their good will, at 2 a.m. on the
17th inst." Early on Sunday, 17th June, "the Taku Forts opened
fire on the allied ships in the Peiho River, which continued
almost without intermission until 6.30 a.m., when all firing
had practically ceased and the Taku Forts were stormed and in
the hands of the Allied Powers, allowing of free communication
with Tientsin by water, and rail when the latter is repaired."

The American Admiral took no part in this attack on the forts

at Taku, "on the ground that we were not at war with China and
that a hostile demonstration might consolidate the
anti-foreign elements and strengthen the Boxers to oppose the
relieving column."

From the point to which the allied expedition led by Admiral

Seymour fought its way, and at which it was stopped by the
increasing numbers that opposed it, it fell back to a position
 near Hsiku, on the right bank of the Peiho. There the allies
drove the Chinese forces from an imperial armory and took
possession of the buildings, which gave them a strong
defensive position, with a large store of rice for food, and
enabled them to hold their ground until help came to them from
Tientsin, on the 25th. They were encumbered with no less than 230
wounded men, which made it impossible for them, in the
circumstances, to fight their way back without aid; though the
distance was so short that the return march was accomplished, on
the 26th, between 3 o'clock and 9 of the same morning. In his
report made the following day Admiral Seymour says: "The
number of enemy engaged against us in the march from Yungtsin
to the Armoury near Hsiku cannot be even estimated; the
country alongside the river banks is quite flat, and consisted
of a succession of villages of mud huts, those on the
out-skirts having enclosures made of dried reeds; outside,
high reeds were generally growing in patches near the village,
and although trees are very scarce away from the River,
alongside it they are very numerous; these with the graves,
embankments for irrigation and against flood, afforded cover
to the enemy from which they seldom exposed themselves,
withdrawing on our near approach. Had their fire not been
generally high it would have been much more destructive than
it was. The number of the enemy certainly increased gradually
until the Armoury near Hsiku was reached, when General Nieh's
troops and the Boxers both joined in the attack. In the early
part of the expedition the Boxers were mostly armed with
swords and spears, and not with many firearms; at the
engagement at Langfang on 18th, and afterwards, they were
armed with rifles of late pattern; this together with banners
captured and uniform worn, shows that they had either the
active or covert support of the Chinese Government, or some of
its high officials."

{113}

CHINA: A. D. 1900 (June 11-29).

Chinese Imperial Edicts.

"On June 11 Mr. Sugiyama, the Chancellor of the Japanese

Legation, was brutally murdered [in Peking] by the soldiers of
General Tung-fuh-siang. Two days later the following Imperial
edict was published in the 'Peking Gazette': 'On June 11 the
Japanese Chancellor was murdered by brigands outside the
Yung-ting Mên. On hearing this intelligence we were
exceedingly grieved. Officials of neighbouring nations
stationed in Peking ought to be protected in every possible
way, and now, especially, extra diligence ought to be
displayed to prevent such occurrences when banditti are as
numerous as bees. We have repeatedly commanded the local
officials to ensure the most efficient protection in their
districts, yet, in spite of our frequent orders, we have this
case of the murder of the Japanese Chancellor occurring in the
very capital of the Empire. The civil and military officials
have assuredly been remiss in not clearing their districts of
bad characters, or immediately arresting such persons, and we
hereby order every Yamên concerned to set a limit of time for
the arrest of the criminals, that they may suffer the extreme
penalty. Should the time expire without any arrest being
effected, the severest punishment will assuredly be inflicted
upon the responsible persons.' It is needless to add that the
'criminals' were never arrested and the 'responsible persons'
were never punished. In the same 'Gazette' another decree
condemns the 'Boxer brigands' who have recently been causing
trouble in the neighbourhood of the capital, who have been
committing arson and murder and revenging themselves upon the
native converts. Soldiers and 'Boxers,' it says, have leagued
together to commit acts of murder and arson, and have vied
with one another in disgraceful acts of looting and robbery.
The 'Boxers' are to disband, desperadoes are to be arrested,
ringleaders are to be seized, but the followers may be allowed
to disband.

"Similar decrees on the 14th and 15th show alarm at the result
of the 'Boxer' agitation and lawlessness within the city.
Nothing so strong against the 'Boxers' had previously been
published. Fires were approaching too Closely to the Imperial
Palace. No steps had been taken by the Court to prevent the
massacre and burning of Christians and their property in the
country, but on the 16th the great Chien Mên gate fronting the
Palace had been burned and the smoke had swept over the
Imperial Courts. Yet even in these decrees leniency is shown
to the 'Boxers,' for they are not to be fired upon, but are,
if guilty, to be arrested and executed. On June 17th the edict
expresses the belief of the Throne that:—'All foreign
Ministers ought to be really protected. If the Ministers and
their families wish to go for a time to Tien-tsin, they must
be protected on the way. But the railroad is not now in
working order. If they go by the cart road it will be
difficult, and there is fear that perfect protection cannot be
offered. They would do better, therefore, to abide here in
peace as heretofore and wait till the railroad is repaired,
and then act as circumstances render expedient.'

"Two days later an ultimatum was sent to the Ministers

ordering them to leave Peking within 24 hours. On the 20th
Baron von Ketteler was murdered and on June 21 China
published, having entered upon war against the whole world,
her Apologia:—

'Ever since the foundation of the Dynasty, foreigners coming

to China have been kindly treated. In the reigns Tao Kuang,
and Hsien Feng, they were allowed to trade and they also asked
leave to propagate their religion, a request that the Throne
reluctantly granted. At first they were amenable to Chinese
control, but for the past 30 years they have taken advantage
of China's forbearance to encroach on China's territory and
trample on Chinese people and to demand China's wealth. Every
concession made by China increased their reliance on violence.
They oppressed peaceful citizens and insulted the gods and
holy men, exciting the most burning indignation among the
people. Hence the burning of chapels and slaughter of converts
by the patriotic braves. The Throne was anxious to avoid war, and
issued edicts enjoining the protection of Legations and pity
to the converts. The decrees declaring 'Boxers' and converts
to be equally the children of the State were issued in the
hope of removing the old feud between people and converts.
Extreme kindness was shown to the strangers from afar. But
these people knew no gratitude and increased their pressure. A
despatch was yesterday sent by Du Chaylard, calling us to
deliver up the Ta-ku Forts into their keeping, otherwise they
would be taken by force. These threats showed their aggressive
intention. In all matters relating to international
intercourse, we have never been wanting in courtesies to them,
but they, while styling themselves civilized States, have acted
without regard for right, relying solely on their military
force. We have now reigned nearly 30 years, and have treated
the people as our children, the people honouring us as their
deity, and in the midst of our reign we have been the
recipients of the gracious favour of the Empress-Dowager.
Furthermore, our ancestors have come to our aid, and the gods
have answered our call, and never has there been so universal
a manifestation of loyalty and patriotism. With tears have we
announced war in the ancestral shrines. Better to enter on the
struggle and do our utmost than seek some measures of
self-preservation involving eternal disgrace. All our
officials, high and low, are of one mind, and there have
assembled without official summons several hundred thousand
patriotic soldiers (I Ping "Boxers"). Even children carrying
spears in the service of the State. Those others relying on
crafty schemes, our trust is in Heaven's justice. They depend
on violence, we on humanity. Not to speak of the righteousness
of our cause, our provinces number more than 20, our people over
400,000,000, and it will not be difficult to vindicate the
dignity of our country.' The decree concludes by promising
heavy rewards to those who distinguish themselves in battle or
subscribe funds, and threatening punishment to those who show
cowardice or act treacherously.
 "In the same 'Gazette' Yü Lu reports acts of war on the part
of the foreigners, when, after some days' fighting, he was
victorious. 'Perusal of his memorial has given us great
comfort,' says the Throne. Warm praise is given to the
'Boxers,' 'who have done great service without any assistance
either of men or money from the State. Marked favour will be
shown them later on, and they must continue to show their
devotion.' On the 24th presents of rice are sent to the
'Boxers.' Leaders of the 'Boxers' are appointed by the
Throne—namely, Prince Chuang, and the Assistant Grand
Secretary Kang-Yi to be in chief command, and Ying Nien and
Duke Lan (the brother of Prince Tuan, the father of the Crown
Prince) to act in cooperation with them, while another high
post is given to Wen Jui."

London Times, October 16, 1900

(Peking Correspondence).

{114}

Very different in tone to the imperial decree of June 21,

quoted above, was one issued a week later (June 29), and sent
to the diplomatic representatives of the Chinese government in
Europe and America. As published by Minister Wu Ting-fang, at
Washington, on the 11th of July, it was in the following
words:

"The circumstances which led to the commencement of fighting

between Chinese and foreigners were of such a complex,
confusing and unfortunate character as to be entirely
unexpected. Our diplomatic representatives abroad, owing to
their distance from the scene of action, have had no means of
knowing the true state of things, and accordingly cannot lay
the views of the government before the ministers for foreign
affairs of the respective Powers to which they are accredited.
Now we take this opportunity of going fully into the matter