Prey (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (7 page)

Obviously surprised at her declaration he asked, “What the hell makes you say that?”

In a very matter of fact voice she explained. “I don’t think it’s for me.” His reaction to her words made her laugh. “Oh, don’t worry, Sam, you aren’t the only guy I’ve kissed. In fact, I’ve even had sex a couple of times.”

Muttering a soft gasp, Sam shifted Basil as the cat dug his claws in his thighs. “And you didn’t like it?”

She thought for a moment then answered as honestly as she could, “It was okay. I just don’t see the big deal. It’s awkward at best.

He laughed. “Maybe you just weren’t with the right guy?”

She was skeptical. “Ha! Are you offering?”

He was obviously at a loss for words. She put him out of his misery. “I’m joking, Sam. Don’t worry.” He snapped out of it and smiled at her.

She laughed. “You should have seen the expression on your face. Reggie would say you looked like a rodent in the headlights.”

His laughter joined hers, complementing it. “What would
you
say I looked like?”

“I’d never say you look like a rodent. You’re much too outgoing for that. I’ve always found rodents painfully shy.” She looked absolutely serious.

He laughed. “This is so surreal. I’m amazed at what you can do. When did you know?”

“I’ve always loved animals. You know that, but I didn’t realize what I could do until after I’d left New Crescent. There was a donkey at the stables where we lived. My dad was hired as a trainer. This donkey was the sweetest thing, always happy. He loved people and acted more like a dog than any donkey I’d ever seen. He was a companion to a very successful Standard Bred race horse name Tammara. One day when I arrived at the barn he wasn’t there to greet me as usual. He was hiding in the stall trembling and shying away from everything and everyone.” Her eyes teared up as she remembered. “I spent weeks trying to get him to come near me again. One day when I was soothing and coaxing him with a treat, he just came out with it so loudly that it almost knocked me off my feet. I understood immediately.” She shook her head sadly. “My father was a cruel man given to fits of rage. He’d hit the poor little fellow over the head with a pail.”

Anger filled Sam’s eyes. “What a monster. Why?”

Jade shrugged. “Because the little donkey got in his way I guess. He gave him quite a wallop too. I took a look at the wound when he let me get near enough. But after that, we became the best of friends. You see, I knew what it was like being different from all the rest; in the way all the time, unwanted. I tell you that donkey opened a whole new world for me. I touched a part of my mind I didn’t know existed. I started to communicate with all the animals and was able to keep my father from hurting them usually.”

“What happened to the donkey? And Tammara?” Sam asked, his eyes filled with sympathy.

“I named him Erick. My father got fired for drinking as usual, and we had to leave.” Her tender heart had broken that day. Every day since she’d wondered about the donkey and Tammara. To Sam she said, “If I knew where they were, I’d move heaven and earth to have them with me. All I know is that Tammara isn’t on the circuit anymore. I hope she’s happily retired somewhere and Erick is with her.”

Sam smiled at her with understanding. “I don’t blame you, Jinx. So do I. Race horses aren’t always treated well. Former race horses, well I just don’t want to go there, and donkeys, well some people don’t see much use for them other than as beasts of burden. Not such a good life.”

Jade wiped the tears from her eyes and attempted a brave smile. She feared it just turned out a twisted grimace, pathetic and self conscious. “You must think I’m a terrible cry baby. All I’ve done today is bawl.”

He shook his head, admiration in his voice. “I think you’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”

She was touched by what he said and in a low voice replied, “That just might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

He laughed and stood up. “Well you’ve been away from home too long then for sure. It’s getting late. I should let you get to bed.”

She nodded. “Thanks for taking such good care of me.”

He walked to the door. “Get used to it. I’ll pick you up tomorrow, and we’ll go to the Simpson farm together. Now get some sleep. You’ve had a big day.”

After he left, Jade thought about how great it was to be back home with her brothers. Travis was as good as a brother to her and so was Sam. She froze. No, wait! That thought didn’t sit well with her. She couldn’t think of Sam as a brother, that was wrong. She just couldn’t. Nothing about Sam had ever given her the creeps, just the opposite in fact, but when she thought of him as a brother, she shuddered with revulsion. It felt creepy indeed. Jade knew she’d never think of Sam as a brother again and without bothering to examine why, went off to bed.

When Sam appeared at her door the next morning, she was ready. When he put his hand on her back to escort her out the door he froze. “What the hell is this?” He touched the long thick braid she’d hurriedly crafted earlier. “Your hair is still wet.”

Jade looked puzzled, “So?”

“It’s cold outside. You can’t step out with wet hair. We’re going to be spending a good chunk of time outside today. You’ll freeze. Come on.” Gently, he grabbed her by the braid and led her into the bathroom. It wasn’t easy, walking backwards, trusting that he knew where he was going, but Jade had no choice. He showed no inclination to let her go. He positioned her in front of the mirror and stood behind her.

Jade looked at their reflection in the mirror. She wore an exasperated expression. Sam looked bemused as he unbraided her hair. When he was finished, he ran his hands through the thick strands and made a satisfied sound.

“Now, Jinx, don’t even try to pretend you don’t have a blow dryer. Reggie’s hair is about an inch long but she has two. It’s like every female has a reservation when they’re born and once they come of age they are gifted with the ceremonial dryer and they’re never without one again until the day they die.” He proceeded to look around Jade’s bathroom. She didn’t say a word. He searched the room with such efficiency she knew he’d find it sooner of later.

“Ah ha! Pay dirt!” He plugged the dryer in and went to work on her hair.

Above the noise it made, she hollered, “Not every woman has one you know. You’re just being sexist.”

He shrugged. “I can live with that.”

Irritated now, she tried to take the dryer from his hands, but it was a waste of time. He didn’t budge.

“I can dry my own hair, Fabio.” But she couldn’t help shivering with pleasure as he gently tended to her hair.

Ignoring her claim, he rolled his eyes and said loudly, “You’ve been hanging around Reggie too much. She’s a bad influence.”

Jade stood in front of the mirror rehearsing mutinous looks, as Sam dried her heavy hair. He was by no means an expert, but he got the job done. For once around her he showed no signs of clumsiness.

When he was finished he handed her a brush. “Okay, now you can braid it. I don’t know how.”

She looked at him with a frown. “What, no head massage?”

He looked positively carnivorous when he replied, “Honey, I think massages should start at the toes, take untold, but delicious detours along the way, and finish at the tip of a woman’s head. We’d be here all day.”

Braid forgotten, Jade met his dark eyes in the mirror. Did she imagine that fleeting glimmer of desire? It was gone so quickly, Jade figured she’d dreamt it. Wishful thinking? She pushed the thought aside.

“Hey, I’m your employee now. That might just qualify as sexual harassment.” Fingers flying, she efficiently fastened the end of her hair with an elastic band.

Sam grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her towards the door. “Travis is going to kill us if we don’t hurry up. He’s the law around here, remember? We’re supposed to fear him.”

Inside the cab of his truck, Sam said, “Oh and by the way. Don’t make jokes about sexual harassment. I have opinions on that.”

She turned her knees towards his and tried to look at his face while he drove. He didn’t take his eyes off the road. “We’ve got some time before we get to the Simpson farm. Come on, lay some opinions on me.” Jade was up for a challenge.

“If you insist.” He didn’t take his eyes off the road. He took a deep breath and started. “I think sexual harassment is rife in our society on almost every level. Somewhere along the line, we got it wrong. The stats are staggering, but I think it’s even worse than that. I believe there isn’t a woman in the world who hasn’t been subjected to and/or been forced to handle some sort of sexual harassment. It just depends on how you define the term.”

Jade looked surprised. “This coming from an infamous womanizer.”

He turned his head quickly, nailing her with his eyes, and Jade wanted to apologize for what she’d said and the flippant way she’d said it.

“Yes. I’ve been called a womanizer, but I’ve never taken a woman to my bed without making absolutely certain that she truly wanted to be there and she enjoyed her time spent there. I’ve tried very hard to avoid hurting anyone. The women in my life know exactly where they stand.”

For a second Jade wanted to tell him that she didn’t know where
she
stood, but she dismissed the impulse. Silently, she admitted that she was the one confused, not Sam. And if she was going to work with him every day, then she’d better get a hold of herself.

She was saved a response, as they pulled up to the Simpson Farm.

There was police tape around a large section near the barn, and Travis stood in the middle of the area looking at the ground. His face was set and grim.

Sam helped Jade out of the truck, and they walked towards Travis.

He greeted them grimly. “Morning, guys.”

Jade gave him a hug, and she could tell he resisted the urge to pick her up. Now wasn’t the time. Impressed by his self control, she patted him on the chest.

“Thanks for doing this, Jade.” Travis nodded to the barn. “There are three cats, cattle, some chickens in the barn. The dog’s up at the house with Iris. You can see him after you’re done here. Do your stuff.” He put out an arm.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Sam asked.

Jade shook her head. “No. They’ll communicate better if I’m the only one.

* * * *

As usual, Jade had no idea how long she’d spent with the animals. Travis and Sam were still standing just outside the barn when she reappeared. They looked up, concern on their faces as she approached them.

Sam put an arm around her. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just a little headache. All that fear, I guess I was gritting my teeth a little too hard. It gave me a headache.” She leaned against him for a moment.

Travis asked gently, “Do you want to see the dog now?”

Jade shook her head, “No. I’d rather tell you what I know and then chat with the dog.”

“Well, you’re not going to do this out here. It’s too cold. Come on, you can sit in my truck.” Sam didn’t take his arm away as he helped her back to the truck. Jade marveled at how much she enjoyed his support. She’d been doing this alone for so long it felt good to have someone strong to lean on a little. She said another prayer of thanks for this town and the people in it.

She sat sideways on the passenger seat, her feet dangling, flexing and relaxing. She felt cherished and looked after. Jade was home. Sam stood in front of the open door, leaning a hand on the roof of the cab. Travis ran a hand through his hair in his signature manner. His hair stood up at all angles, and it made Jade smile.

“Take your time.” Sam said.

She shook her head, the weight of her responsibility too heavy to ignore for long. “No. I can’t. There isn’t time. They’re terrified. The thing that killed Allan Simpson was unlike anything these animals have ever seen. It hunted humans exclusively. It waited in the barn until Allan showed up as if knowing he’d be coming.”

Travis swore under his breath. “It’s intelligent.”

Jade nodded. “Yeah, but not in the way I’ve known animals to be. They didn’t recognize that thing as anything Mother Nature created.”

“How the hell is that possible?” Travis sighed. “I feel so stupid asking this question, but bear with me. I’m still getting used to what you can do. Did they give you a description?”

Despite it all, Jade smiled. It felt good. “Animals put a lot of stock in eye contact. They were all too frightened to look straight at the thing, even the cats.” She raised an eyebrow with wonder. “You know, they tried to warn Allan. The cats wrapped around his feet slowing his progress trying to communicate with him. The cattle were restless. They were all petrified, but still they tried to save him.”

Sam nodded, understanding immediately. “I guess they’d all bonded to him and wanted to keep him safe. Allan Simpson has always been good with his animals.”

“He shouldn’t have died this way. I’d like to see the dog now if possible.” Jade was determined.

Travis nodded. “Sure. Ernestine’s up at the house. Chase brought her here early this morning.”

Sam helped Jade down from her perch on the passenger seat. She was glad Aunt Ernestine was there. Maybe she could help fill in some of the missing pieces.