by Angela White
6
Jennifer spent the next six hours at Kyle’s side, medicating and comforting him. The drugs had a positive effect right away and by the time evening came, she felt confident enough of his recovery to leave him alone. She exited the barn as the woman came from her house.
The two females stared at each other–one in dislike, the other in gratitude. The moment was broken by Dog whining.
Sally glanced down and realized the cast had broken off. “Poor baby. Let me get you a painkiller and we’ll get a new one on.”
Jennifer watched the woman tend to the wolf. She seemed to have forgotten her human company and Jennifer moved closer. She’d planned to leave Sally alone, but the need to say thank you was too strong.
“Stay back!”
Jennifer stopped at the near panic in the woman’s voice. “Sorry. I wanted to thank you for helping them.”
Sally didn’t answer. The sense of evil was all over the teenager.
“I’m also sorry you feel that way about us,” Jennifer stated, going to the barn. “We’ll leave as soon as he’s able.”
“Good.” Sally wasn’t going to demand they leave yet. She wanted to, but after viewing the girl, feeling her, she’d chosen to keep her mouth shut and do what she could to get them to go. “There’s food in the freezer. Use what you need.”
“We will,” Jennifer answered. “We’ll also feed your animals so you don’t have to come in here.”
“They all get the same bags,” Sally said.
“I’ll see what I can chop up,” Jennifer tossed over her shoulder.
Sally blanched, but didn’t rise to the bait. She knew what she was, but she also knew pure evil when she was faced with it. The sooner these killers were off her property, the better.
Jennifer was careful not be bitten or scratched as she fed the variety of animals in the barn. Each one had an injury that had been lovingly tended and the teenager tried not to resent their care. So the woman didn’t like people. Many of them sucked. It was understandable.
After she finished with the feeding, Jennifer watered them from the barrel in the corner, but that was it. The animals didn’t like her, snapping and hissing, and she left the cage cleaning for their sullen host.
Jennifer spent a few minutes removing the signs of humans being in the barn, including a finger that had rolled off the chopping area. She quickly tossed it into the garbage can, unable to deliver it to any of the angry animals. She’d bathed in the blood of the soldiers and enjoyed it, but that had been in the heat of war. This felt like a personal vendetta and Jennifer wanted no part of it.
Jennifer gazed out the window and noticed a garden along the barn’s rear wall. It was surrounded by chicken wire and appeared well tended. Curious, she went outside and did a slow walk of the property. What else did the woman have? Was there some way to help her? It was obvious that the woman wouldn’t be going to Safe Haven with them, and the need to repay the debt before they left was one that Jennifer wanted to satisfy.
As she studied the property, Jennifer quickly became convinced that the best thing she could do was leave the woman alone. From the generator and well, to the multiple garden patches, the woman was covered indefinitely.
She was also insane.
7
Jennifer ducked into the small rear area where both men were sleeping. Whitney was comfortable, breathing evenly, but Kyle was still tossing, and occasionally gasping at some mental pain. If not for Angela’s words, Jennifer knew she would be panicking.
“Time for your meds, baby,” Jennifer crooned, kneeling next to Kyle. “And maybe a little more morphine so you can rest.”
“He should be able take it. He’s a large man.”
Jennifer spun around to find their host in the narrow doorway.
Sally was staring at Kyle as if he were about to lunge and Jennifer let out a sound of annoyance that drew her attention.
“You’re making a judgment without knowing him,” Jennifer pointed out, injecting Kyle’s thigh. “It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair,” Sally responded.
“No argument from me on that one,” Jennifer said. “I spent the first half of the war in a Mexican camp. Kyle saved me.”
Jennifer ran a tender hand over his hot brow and Sally frowned. “You two are a couple?”
Already tired of the woman, Jennifer rested her head on Kyle’s uninjured arm. “He loves me. He would do anything for me. And I feel the same.”
“Stockholm,” Sally muttered.
“Love,” Jennifer insisted. “Kyle isn’t my captor. He’s my hero.”
Sally frowned, leaving the barn. So far, she didn’t like anything about the man she had saved.
“She’s been hurt or something,” Whitney stated from his pallet. “I tried a little, but she’s twitchy.”
“She’s dangerous.” Jennifer carefully lay down next to Kyle and wrapped her arm around him. “I’m surprised she helped you guys.”
“Me too,” Whitney agreed. “We need to get out of here before she flips on us.”
Jennifer stretched out gently, lending Kyle her warmth. “I’m already listening for it. If she attacks, kill her. That comes from the boss. Angela doesn’t like the idea of leaving the woman out here alone to decide life and death. She wants those people gone or in her army.”
8
Kyle didn’t want to wake up. He knew he hadn’t died, but the horrible guilt was waiting for him to surface and he tried hard to stay below the murkiness. He didn’t want to face what he’d done.
Kyle.
He turned away from the gentle voice, refusing her comfort.
Kyle.
No, he groaned. No.
Reece!
Kyle’s lids shot open and he found Jennifer’s face inches from his.
“Coward.”
Pain hit him in thick slaps and he shut his lids. “Yes.”
Jennifer’s heart broke for him as she read his thoughts of the accident. He’d gotten distracted and lost three men. His pain was hers and she allowed her tears to flow over his arm. “I’m sorry.”
Kyle didn’t want her comfort or to enjoy her embrace, but it was Jennifer against him and he slowly raised his good arm to tangle it in her long braid.
“Get out of here!” he snarled pathetically.
“Okay,” Jennifer answered, sitting up. “Bet Whitney needs my heat.”
Kyle growled, hand tightening in her hair, and Jennifer let him pull her down.
“That’s better. Keep fighting, Kyle. I can’t handle you being sorry for yourself.”
Kyle winced. “I’m resigning. No Eagle would ever–”
Jennifer pushed her lips against his, unable to listen to him. Later this probably wouldn’t succeed, but for now, the man under her froze, as he always did. Jennifer lingered, making sure she had his attention. Angela had also hinted about how to handle this.
“Kyle?”
“What?” he ground out against her sweet lips. Even in his misery, he wouldn’t pull away.
“Do you love me?”
Kyle groaned. “You know I do!”
“Then don’t do this to me,” Jennifer stated, moving enough to meet his tortured gaze. “I need you.”
Whitney listened with tears burning. Will someone ever love me that way?
Kyle swallowed his thoughts, trying to rise through the guilt, and he nodded stiffly. Jennifer hadn’t asked him for anything. Keeping himself together was the least he could do.
Jennifer kissed him again. This wouldn’t be the end of it, but she had to get him home, where Angela could work on him. People made mistakes and Kyle would have to accept that he was no different from anyone else who’d screwed up on the job.
Kyle knew what she was thinking and he would try because she’d asked him to, but he didn’t expect to forgive himself. He wasn’t even certain he wanted to survive anymore. Their host was right. He was a killer.
9
Dog held still for the woman to strengthen th
e cast on his leg, but he refused the painkiller by pulling away from her gentle hands each time she tried to stick him with the needle. Having Safe Haven people around had reminded him of the female he was chasing. The coyotes were still in the vicinity and Dog was contemplating leaving with them when Sally released their healing female. He would have to be careful with his paw, but it was time to go.
Dog thought about talking to Jennifer and asking how Marc was. He wanted to let his former master know he was alive, but he also didn’t want to rekindle his affection for humans. He was supposed to be living like an animal.
Sally put an extra layer on the cast, smoothing it down distractedly. She didn’t want those people here. They shouldn’t be here!
Dog caught the thought and agreed. If they didn’t go soon, he would.
Sally entered the house and Dog curled up under the rocker, golden gaze staying on the barn. At some point, one of them would try to talk to him and he had no idea how to tell them he wasn’t coming. They wouldn’t understand the call he was receiving.
As if his thought had conjured it, a pale blue light appeared in the weeds by the shed. It spread over the grass as it came toward him, covering the land in a vivid carpet of color. As it reached the porch, it vanished, unable to coat the fabricated object.
Dog got up and moved to the dirt at the foot of the stairs, eager to feel that refreshing power swarming over him. It was a pulse of life from the earth. Addicting and wild, the energy was sent to replenish lifeforms. Dog had never felt it before, even when he’d been living with the wolves. Nature was trying to heal things and the feel of it was amazing.
“Have to leave. They have to!” Pacing in front of the door, Sally continued to mutter and her gun stayed in her hand.
10
“Here she comes!” Whitney whispered frantically from behind the door.
“I’ve got it,” Jennifer answered, ready. Dusk had come with the feel of death and they’d gathered their weapons and ammo to make a stand.
“Come out of there!” Sally shouted. “I want you gone!”
“He can’t move yet!” Jennifer answered loudly. “One more day.”
“No!” Sally shrieked. “Get out!”
“Okay!” Jennifer thundered over the shriek. “Get out of the way so we can!”
“Get out right now!”
Sally was screaming every word and Jennifer approached the door reluctantly. “I don’t want to do this, lady.”
“My place! Get out!”
“I’m going,” Jennifer replied, at the door now. “Get back.”
Sally had frozen, her anger and mental condition not allowing a rapid thought process and Jennifer kicked the door open.
The door hit Sally in the face and knocked her to the ground, bleeding and nearly unconscious.
Jennifer raised her gun. She’d made her choice and it was Kyle’s life, no matter what she owed this crazy stranger.
A heavy, furry body slammed into Jennifer, stopping her from firing, and she hit the ground hard enough to gasp.
Dog took up a place in front of Sally, growling. Get out!
Stunned by Dog’s action, Jennifer raised her gun again. “He. Is. Not. Moving!”
Jennifer screamed the last word and Dog shrank back. For a brief instant, rage was there and he could have leapt at the girl. But she was still the one who’d rubbed his belly and Dog slowly lowered his head.
Jennifer cautiously retreated toward the barn, kicking the woman’s gun inside. “In one day, we will be gone. If either of you come in the barn, I will kill you.”
Whitney helped her fasten the doors and they each took up a place near a window.
“I can’t believe he did that,” Whitney stated. He’d expected Dog to be on their side.
“He’s gone wild, like her,” Jennifer stated. “We won’t tell Marc that part.”
Whitney agreed. Marc would be happy to know that Dog was alive. They didn’t need to tell him the rest.
“I don’t know what happened,” Whitney said suddenly. “I should have stayed awake. It’s my fault too.”
“You know he doesn’t feel that way,” Jennifer answered, wiping Dog’s saliva from her arm. “And neither do I. Accidents happen. You both have to understand that. No one can be perfect all the time.”
“You descendants seem to be,” he grumbled good-naturedly.
“Not even close,” Jennifer snorted. “Angela loves Kyle too. They have a special bond from the rest stop battle with Cesar. If she had known this was coming, she would have interfered. She missed it.”
“Do you blame her for that?”
“Not at all,” Jennifer answered truthfully. “The power comes in handy, but it’s unpredictable, uncontrollable sometimes. It has a will of its own and we never get to witness everything. It’s actually rather annoying.”
Whitney smiled, thinking Kyle was lucky to have her. “Thank you.”
“My honor,” she said tiredly. “Now, I need to take my own advice.”
Jennifer filled him in on Beth’s suicide and was able to forgive herself for not catching it. They weren’t meant to prevent every death. In time, Kyle would accept that, as well. She would help him.
11
“She got up and went inside,” Whitney called a few minutes later.
“Still talking to herself?” Jennifer asked, busy changing Kyle’s bandage.
“Didn’t look like it. Dog’s in there with her.”
“Hopefully they’ll stay in there. I almost like her, you know?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Whitney understood, as much as he could. Their host wasn’t all there mentally, but she was strong enough to survive on her own, which gave her an advantage over most of the people they’d met.
“How’s he doing?”
“Better than I hoped for. No infection. We might be able to go in the morning if we can give him a gentle ride.”
“I’ll do some scouting in a bit.”
Jennifer finished and then rejoined Whitney near the front doors. The medicine was keeping Kyle asleep and she was glad.
“He’s lucky to have you,” he repeated.
Jennifer discovered Whitney smiling at her and rolled her eyes. “You sure your head’s okay?”
Whitney chuckled. He hadn’t been along for any of Jennifer’s battles, but he’d heard the stories of her being dependable and scoffed. Clearly, it was true. He’d expected a crying teenager to console.
Jennifer snickered at the image. “Thanks.”
“He’s scared of you.”
Jennifer’s amusement faded to concern. “I know. I’m working on it, but I’m scared of him, too.”
“We know. It’s why we wouldn’t let him push you.”
“There’s no need for that anymore,” she stated.
“Yeah, things will change,” Whitney agreed. This accident would bring the couple closer.
“Sooner than that, actually,” Jennifer told him. “We’re not going home yet. I passed a beautiful cabin on the way here and the boss gave permission. We’re taking a few days off.”
“Dropping me off on the way?” he clarified.
“Not unless you want it. Angela said you can be our chaperone.”
“To appease the camp,” Whitney guessed, certain he wouldn’t spend any of his time monitoring their behavior even after Kyle was up on his feet.
“I assume so, yes,” she replied. “But you don’t have to if you’d rather not. We may only be able to get one of the hot tubs going and its mine.”
Whitney enjoyed the teasing, suddenly feeling better than he had in a while. “I’ll take the night patrol so I can view the sun coming up, while in the tub with a cigar and a scotch.”
Jennifer laughed. “Deal.”
Kyle listened to their easy banter with gratitude. Whitney was getting to fathom what Kyle had realized from the beginning–Jennifer was special.
Pain lanced through his side and Kyle swallowed the groan, not wanting to interrupt their moment. Whitney had been on
Kevin’s team and done well. He was respected and Kyle hoped he continued to earn it. The man was easy to like.
“Temperature keeps dropping.”
“We’ll bundle up.”
Kyle listened to them cover the basics, wrist throbbing. If they were taking time off, he needed to make a stop along the way. Kyle worked on a mental list as the shadows grew longer and the pain stretched into his guts.
“Will we have trouble leaving?” Whitney asked.
“I hope not,” Jennifer answered, still studying the house where faint lights had come on a short time ago. “I’m getting too tired to be nice.”
12
Whitney eased out of the barn a few hours later to take care of their fallen men and locate new wheels. He returned driving an old station wagon.
It had enough room to slide Kyle inside once they put the seat down. Jennifer rode next to him, fastening belts and covering him, while Whitney tossed their kits in the front and then got them rolling. There was no movement from inside the house, but they could feel attention on them. It wasn’t safe here.
As they pulled out of the yard, Sally and Dog came from the house. When the sound of the engine faded, Sally strode into the barn.
Dog expected her to put her property back the way it had been, but she surprised him by opening the cages of the upset animals that she had been helping. Even those not ready to be on their own yet were opened, freed, and Dog stayed clear as the raccoon and the coyote ran from the barn first.
“Free to be with my boys!” the coyote howled happily. “Farewell, strange wolf.”
Dog waited for the snakes to clear out and then joined the woman in the barn, curious.
Sally was in the corner, pulling tarps away from a vehicle that Dog recognized. It was an ATV and when Sally straddled it and brought the engine to life, Dog understood she was leaving.
Sally drove the Gator outside and got busy filling the fluids. When she finished, she began bringing bags from the house and loading them onto the back and sides. The vehicle also had a small trailer, but Dog wasn’t positive about staying with her. However, his leg was still too injured for traveling on it and he needed to get north.
