“Is it your dog?” Jess was impressed by how quickly she’d gotten down the tree. He kept the gun in his hand but did not fire.
She gave him a look that said “you’re an idiot”. “No, it’s not my dog. If it were, it wouldn’t be starving to death in the snow.”
The dog seemed to sense her annoyance and growled menacingly at Jess.
Rain stepped forward and the wagging tail returned. The same dog that had reminded him of Cujo an instant before lowered its front legs so that its chest was scraping the ground before it pushed its way forward toward her. She spoke in sweet tones, and the wagging tail swept snow in all directions.
“You have a way with dogs.”
“Most animals.” She knelt in the snow and let the dog sniff her hand. A moment later he might have been a puppy with a child. The predator had turned into a pet in an instant. “You are a good boy. Why don’t we get you some food? What do you say?”
She stood up and smiled. “I’ve been hearing him howl since I came to the park. He knows people, but he’s afraid. I’m guessing that someone brought him here in the summer and left him behind. Maybe they’d hoped someone would take him home. Maybe they didn’t care. People suck.”
He should have told her they were training and they didn’t have time to take care of a dog, but even Jess was helpless against the joy clearly created by the happy dog.
Evidently Rain’s approval was transferable to Jess as well, the dog licked his fingers as they walked toward their ATV. He jumped into the back of the Ranger as if he was the family dog.
“What are you going to do with that animal?”
She smiled and looked back at the happy beast. “Feed him and see if he has any use. If not I’ll find a family for him.”
“I can’t imagine how he could be, but what if you think he’s useful?”
“Then I’ll keep him.”
He shook his head, imagining the menagerie she must keep at her home in Nevada.
The dog was going to slow them down. Jess pushed the gas, expecting that he would have to go slow to keep the animal in the ATV. However, when he glanced back, the dog had spread himself out and stayed low.
He returned his attention to the snowy terrain in front of him, but not before he noted the smug expression on Rain’s face.
* * * * *
She had to have been exhausted. He’d run her ragged all day long. He’d tested her physically over mountains and through streams. Knowing she hated the cold only made her accomplishments more impressive. She’d pushed herself. Yet when they returned to the cabin she quietly fixed dinner and fed the dog.
Once he was fed, she coaxed the beast into the tub and gave him a bath. The animal probably thought he’d won the lottery as he stretched out in front of the fire to dry off.
She’d showered and left her hair loose. As soon as she entered the living room the scent of springtime came with her. He had to command his body to ignore how wonderful she smelled and looked. Finally she sat down on the couch, and he could see the dark rings under her eyes and she lowered herself more gingerly than was typical. She didn’t complain or even grunt. In fact, he thought she might not speak a word if he allowed the silence.
“What will you call your new friend?”
The dog’s ears perked up as if he knew they were talking about him and the information might be important.
“Yas.” She watched the dog, and when she said the name, he picked his head up off the rug and turned to give her his full attention. His tail thumped against the hardwood floor.
“What does it mean?”
“Snow.”
He examined Yas’ dark speckled coat. Black and brown swirled together to form brindle fur. “Because that’s where you found him?”
“You found him.” She smiled and turned toward him.
His stomach jumped and his chest tightened. What was it about her? “I suppose I did.”
Yas stood and walked over to where Jess was sitting. His hand was resting on the arm of the couch. Yas tucked his nose under Jess’ palm. He patted the dog’s head and gave his ear a good scratch. “Now go lie down.”
Even though he’d said the words in a low, tired voice, Yas gave his fingers one lick before returning to the warmth of the space in front of the fireplace and lying back down.
“Did you make him do that?” He looked over at the other side of the couch. Her eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell slowly and evenly. He’d been so entranced by the dog, he hadn’t noticed her falling asleep.
Getting up, he stood over her. “Rain, you should go to bed.”
She didn’t stir.
All day her hair had been pulled up and stuffed under a white cap. Now it fanned out across her cheek. He brushed it aside and took in how beautiful she really was. He had no right, but she was asleep and he indulged in looking at her for a long time. Everything about her was too much. Her lashes a bit too long, her skin a bit too smooth and now he knew it was also as soft as it looked. He wanted to explore her, but he wanted her awake, alert and willing. That was never going to happen.
With a sigh, Jess shook himself back to reality. He slid one arm under her knees, the other behind her back and lifted her. Yas followed at his heels as he took her to the bedroom.
He lowered her to the bed and her sleepy eyes opened. “What are you doing?”
“Just putting you to bed, cher.”
Her eyes closed, her lips were so close, so kissable. “Why do you sometimes slip into that Cajun accent?”
“Mmm.”
She was asleep again before he’d completely rested her on the bed. Immediately she rolled over and away from him. A shock of color poked out from the arm hole of her tank top where it stretched from her twisting. On closer inspection, he saw the edge of a red and black tattoo. What he could see looked as if it was the edge of a wing or maybe a horn. Everything about her made him want to know more.
He turned toward the door. Yas sat in the doorway watching him. “I’m going, pal. No need to look disappointed.”
The dog panted and followed him out of the room. Jess closed the door and Yas lay down in front of it.
A cold shower would be his best medicine, so he headed for the bathroom.
Chapter Three
While Jess ordered her to run across a tundra of thigh-deep snow wearing a fifty-pound backpack and carrying an automatic weapon, Rain was trying to decide if she was attracted to him or just fucking hated him. She was leaning toward the latter. But in his defense, he trudged along beside her every step of the way and equally laden with a backpack. Yas followed in the snow trenches they made. The dog was the only one having any fun. He looked thrilled with the exercise, biting snow and occasionally stopping for a roll.
“Tell me again why I have to do this?”
“Endurance.”
Could he actually believe that was an acceptable answer? She wanted to drop him on his ass, wondered if she could do it. Maybe if she caught him by surprise, she could get the better of him for a few moments. It might be worth trying it just for the satisfaction. These kinds of thoughts distracted her from the pain shooting through her legs and arms. They stopped every mile or so and drank water, but there was something very different about Jess McMean. She couldn’t put her finger on it. Today he was driving her as if he was a demon on her heels, but a few nights ago he’d carried her worn-out body to bed. There had been tenderness in his eyes. Maybe it was her imagination or maybe she was so tired she’d dreamed the entire thing. Either way, he had changed and she wanted to know why.
He gave a series of two long whistles. He was testing her. They’d gone over the different signals used by agents to communicate when radio silence was necessary. She rolled her eyes. He’d berated her with information for days.
“Danger to the north,” she said loud enough for him to hear her over the wind.
A few minutes later he whistled long and low.
“It’s you, don’t shoot.”
Three quick w
histles followed.
“Danger, unknown direction.”
He continued to test her for the next few miles before they stopped near a wide clearing. He tipped a bottle of water back and took a long pull. “Head for those trees, we’ll make camp.”
She froze in place and looked at the mile trek to the forest. “Camp? Are we staying out here tonight?”
“Yes.”
She found it hard to breathe and it had nothing to do with the run. “We’ll die out here at night.”
“Not if you listen to me and learn how to survive.”
“You are actually out of your mind.” She gasped for breath, but her lungs wouldn’t fill. She grabbed her knees and tried harder to get air.
“Rain?” His voice was sharp and closer than when she’d looked away.
“I…can’t…breathe.” Her body shook and her knees went out from under her. My lungs have collapsed. The thought brought her panic even higher. Gasping, she realized she was going to die in the snow in some park where Jess could just leave her and no one would ever know. Would he bother to drag her body back to Nevada? Did it even matter?”
Yas’ wet nose pressed to her cheek and then it was gone, replaced by strong arms wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her tight against a wall of muscle. His deep, Cajun voice vibrated close to her ear. “Listen to me, Rain. You’re just scared. You are not dying. You have to calm yourself. Hear the sound of my voice and slow your breathing.”
Deep in her chest was an explosion of pain. My heart is exploding. I’m going to die.
“You’re not listening, cher. You’ve got to slow down. I won’t let anything happen to you. You saved me, I’m bound to you. I know all of this is foreign. I know you’re not sure you can do it, but I’m telling you, you can. I’ve never seen anyone without military or paramilitary training hold up to as much physical strain as you have the last few days. I’ve seen marines fall under these conditions. You are extraordinary. Adianca saw that in you and that’s why she talked you into this. You’ll never be satisfied with an ordinary life. Once you believe that, everything will fall into place.”
The calm, rounded tones of his voice lulled her into slowing her breath. The more he spoke the calmer she became. The pain in her chest subsided to a dull ache and her body stopped trembling.
Jess didn’t let her go. “Any better?”
“Yes. I don’t know what happened. You said we were going to stay out in this, and I lost the ability to breathe.”
He released her and sat back on his heels. Immediately, Yas was in her lap pawing her and trying to lick her face. Rain hugged him and scratched his ears until he settled down. She knew she’d scared him.
Jess said, “I understand. From where you grew up in LA and then Nevada’s heat, this must be very frightening.”
A short burst of laughter escaped. “This is what I would call Hell.”
“Do you think you can walk? It would be a shame to give up now.”
Rain looked across the snowy hills toward the trees. Could she do this? Could she actually become an agent, or was this all a waste of time? “Did you mean what you said about me being able to succeed or was all of that just bullshit meant to calm me down?”
A slow smile tugged at his full mouth. “When you know me better, you’ll learn that it’s never bullshit.”
“But I have no offensive skills.”
He pointed to the weapon she’d dropped on the ground. “You just have no attacking psychic skills, at least none that are obvious at this point. Besides, it’s more important to defend yourself and your team.”
“I don’t think I’d be much good as an assassin.” The idea turned her stomach, but he didn’t need to know that.
All expression drained from his face. It was as if the lively man she’d spent the past week with did not exist and a robot had been left in his place. “Is that what you think we do?”
“I know it’s part of what you do.”
“A very small part and those types of assignments are generally handled by specialists.”
“But you have killed people.”
There was a long hesitation. “Yes, I have killed people.”
She wanted to ask him more questions, but the set of his jaw warned her, the question would not be appreciated. She didn’t need to be telepathic to figure that out. “I’m freezing. We should go find a place to make camp.”
She got no argument, but his demeanor didn’t improve. There was no resemblance to the man who had just held her and talked her out of her panic attack. This Jess McMean was a Psi Agent and nothing more. Rain blamed the cold for the goose flesh prickling her skin, but his attitude was the more likely cause.
“Come on, Yas. It’s going to be a long afternoon.” Giving the dog one more scratch behind his ears, she got up and followed Jess toward the forest.
There was a mile-wide stretch of flat land between them and the cover of the woods. The wind had picked up and snow blew across the wide plane. The pack on her back weighed her down after an entire day of the torturous training. All she really wanted was a hot bath and a place to lie down. Not that she would get that anytime soon. No. It was going to be a long time before creature comforts were coming her way.
Jess bounded ahead. He wasn’t running, but his long legs pulled farther away from her. The comfortable rapport they had built was destroyed with one unwanted comment from her. Rain reminded herself that they were not friends. It had started to seem as if they were, but she could see now she was just an assignment for him.
She pushed away the sweet memory of his voice cooing to her and being in the cradle of his arms.
Rifle fire rang through the air.
Jess turned toward her. “I guess that was a hunter’s camp you saw.”
Yas barked and jumped up and down as if he might bite. His jaw snapped and he growled, but never gripping anything.
“What is it, boy?”
“What the hell is wrong with him?”
The ground shook and a rumble followed. For half a second she thought she was shaking. Earthquakes were rare in Yellowstone and this didn’t quite feel like that anyway.
“What the…” Jess didn’t finish his thought. His arms were stretched out on either side of him and as the sound grew louder he turned to the right.
“Stampede.” Rain had heard the sound before. She hoped she was wrong, but soon enough the dark mass came over the crest of the field and an enormous herd of buffalo headed straight for them.
“Run!” Jess started in the opposite direction.
“No. Stop. You can’t outrun them.” She ran toward him, used her mind to command Yas to stay close at her side.
Jess did as she said but his eyes were wide.
“Just stay close to me and don’t move.”
“We’ll be trampled, Rain. We have to run.”
She held her ground. The noise of a thousand hooves on the ground filled the air. Nothing else sounded like tons of animal flesh charging. Their breath and the smell of them invaded her senses. She had to yell to be heard above the noise. “We won’t be fast enough. Just trust me.”
Rain stood in between Jess and the onslaught of American bison. Yas didn’t move from between her legs.
She conjured up energy she’d have thought gone a moment before, begged the Great Spirit to give her strength and spoke to the wild beasts. She told them to move away from their position. Standing her ground, she kept her eyes wide and watchful. Each animal that drew close she commanded to move away from their position. In spite of the freezing air, sweat beaded on her brow and rolled down her temple to her jaw where it grew cold. Ignoring her discomfort, she continued until the last frantic buffalo charged past.
Then they turned and watched the herd move off over the next hill and out of sight. The ground continued to shake for several moments.
Jess sat down in the snow. Yas piled on his lap, licking his face. “I was raised by an Irishman and a Cajun woman in the heart of the most superstitious region i
n the United States. So if I didn’t take the last few minutes as a sign, I’d be a fool.”
Rain watched him. He looked almost as exhausted as she felt. She’d never spoken to that many animals at one time before. She’d never been in the mind of such frantic beasts. Unnerving as that experience had proven, she liked seeing Jess’ expression going back to human and not the automaton he had tried to be when she’d upset him.
She asked, “And what does this sign tell you we should do?”
“Get out of the cold and go back to the cabin.”
Her heart settled back into her chest as a wave of relief washed over her.
He pulled himself up out of the snow and put his hands on his hips. “I don’t know how you did it but that had to have been exhausting. I’m ready to drop and I just stood there hoping a two-ton bison wasn’t about to crush us. Hell, I was even worried about that damn dog.”
Yas barked once and licked Jess’ fingers.
“To be honest, I’m not even sure I can make it back to the cabin. I’ve never done anything like that before. I only knew that running would have been futile. When they stampede, they are fast and of one mind. Those hunters must have startled them with the gunfire.” Rain’s legs were wobbly and her head thrummed painfully.
Jess surprised her by taking her hand. “You’ll make it. Come on.”
They were both in gloves, but she looked down at the connection of her hand with his. She would have sworn she could feel the warmth of his skin seeping into her hand and spreading out through her body. “I guess I’ll make it then.”
* * * * *
The cabin was not much warmer than the outside, but at least there was no wind. The walk back to the ATV had been one of the most difficult treks of her life. Even after Jess had taken her pack, she struggled to take each and every step. Her entire body had tensed as the buffalo raced past. Her mind had also been pushed to its limits. Tears pushed from the corners of her eyes and froze on her cheeks, but she kept walking and said nothing.
Training Rain Page 4
