The Color of Jade (Jade Series Book 1) (16 page)

“She gave it to us when we were sick.  I know you miss her,” he said. My mind instantly reflected to that night I came home late. The night he tried to comfort me and I pushed him away.

“Kane, I’m sorry about what I said to you that night.”

“Don’t worry about it, I know… I miss her too. I know I’m not her, but you can talk to me, if you ever need to.”

“Thanks… I’m over it now.”

I sat slowly and leaned against him as I sipped the hot tea. After I finished, I slipped the blanket off one shoulder to show Kane my back.

“Ouch, that will take a while to heal, too.”

He shook his head. I could tell he wanted to say something but held back. Too tired to probe him, I left him to his thoughts. I imagined something along the lines of disgust in Damian hitting me and throwing me to the ground. All of it, really, the assault, the attempted abduction, I knew in Kane's mind, there was no excuse for hitting a girl. That's just how he was.

He walked over to the stove. Steam billowed in the cool air as he stirred the soup in the pot and sent the savory aroma to drift through the tiny cabin. My taste buds prickled in anticipation as my stomach growled. He put some soup in a bowl and walked back over to the bed.

“He won’t get away with this, Jade.  I won’t let this slide, I can’t.”

“Don’t get yourself in trouble with Morrison over this. You know that’s the reaction he’s looking for.”

“I know, but it’s too late for that,” he paused, as he handed me a bowl of soup. “He went too far… Are you okay staying up here with Gage?”

“Yeah.”

My mouth watered with the first bite of deliciousness, and then I proceeded to satisfy my angry stomach as I ate slowly to enjoy the meal.

“Morrison has Damian out looking for both of you now... Not just you.”

“What’s going to happen?”

“I don’t know. We’ll just have to play it how it comes.”

“I feel bad that Damian is after Gage too. This wasn’t his problem before now.”

“He chose to make it his problem. He knew what he would be up against, all of us do. I’m just glad he showed up when he did.”

I handed him the empty bowl, grateful for Marge who sent the delectable homemade chicken soup. The meal seemed to pour a renewed strength in me along with the emotional comfort it offered.

“Try to get some more sleep,” he said. “Trey will be glad to hear you’re doing better. I’m going now. He wasn’t so sure you were going to be okay and to tell you the truth he had me worried too... I needed to make sure you were going to be all right.”

Kane and I did butt heads quite a bit. We were both very stubborn but that didn’t change the fact that I loved him and knew he loved me.

“It could have been a lot worse.”

“I know.”

“From now on, you leave the fighting to me, okay? No more black eyes and concussions, got it?”

“Hey… I didn’t start it.”

Fighting, the one thing I never got much practice at as a kid. My brothers were rough, but they weren’t mean. They never bullied me growing up. It seemed like they were always doing the opposite. Kane and Trey watched out for me, and I saw, nothing changed.

Kane stood, his work boots echoed against the old wooden floor as he walked to the door. He glanced down at the backpack on the chair and picked it up.

“Get some rest... And put on a shirt,” he scowled, as he pulled a shirt from the pack.

“Well, I meant to.”

“Don’t make it any harder on Gage than it is. I threatened him with his life you know! Just because he’s a friend of mine doesn’t mean I won’t kick his ass if he tries something.”

“What? Kane! Why?”

“I’m a guy... I know a little about how guys think. And because you’re my little sister, that’s why.”

The sounds of his words rolled off his tongue unintentionally offensive, but reminded me exactly what I was to Gage, Kane’s little sister. “You make it sound like I’m ten.” I felt my cheeks burn.

“Sorry…” He chuckled a little at the embarrassing redness in my cheeks and threw the balled up shirt, hitting me softly in the face before it dropped in my lap. He set the backpack at the edge of the bed then placed a hand on the doorknob.

“Doesn’t matter… you have it wrong. Gage doesn’t… It’s not like that.”

He gave me a perplexed, questioning glance with a raised eyebrow and nodded slightly. “Uh, huh,” he replied, with deep doubtful undertones that rumbled in his chest as if he didn’t believe me, then let out a laugh. “Who do you think you’re trying to fool, Jade?”

“What?”

“Do you need it spelled out for you?” A smirk surfaced across his lips as he opened the door and stepped out. He peered back through the doorway to say his last remarks. “If you like Gage, let him know…”

CHAPTER 14

I peered intently out the window and watched Kane walk over to him. They talked as they moved out of sight. Cautiously, I put the shirt over my head. Curiosity got the better of me as I wondered what they said and how Gage felt about being the one to stay up here with me, to have to watch out for his friends
little sister.

I glanced at the backpack, and then pulled it into my lap. The zipper caught slightly as I opened it and fumbled through the bag to see what Trey brought. Everything you would need to survive for a few days during an emergency. Then, I remembered as my mom suddenly came to mind. The backpack had looked familiar. Emergency kits, one for each of us, constructed a few years ago by me and my mom.

The front of each one, our names stitched across the top. I brushed my fingers over the raised embroidery,
Jade
, on the front of the backpack. I pulled out the contents and set them on the bed.  I found a pair of pants and was about to change until I held them up in front of me. They looked like they would fit Emery. I knew they would be excessively short and there was no way I could wear them.

Among the other items, there was a gallon-size Ziploc bag with personal hygiene stuff. There was soap inside its own smaller bag, a comb, a small travel bottle of shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, and two toothbrushes. I smiled to myself as I remembered what my mom said when I asked her why we each needed two toothbrushes.

You never know whom you are going to end up next to in an emergency and you can’t share a toothbrush! You can share just about anything else, but not a toothbrush.
That brought a smile and I laughed to myself.

My mom thought of everything, and there she was, cheering me up with her comment from two years ago. My smile grew, then softened. I hoped she knew how much I loved her.

I looked around the old cabin, nothing left untouched by a layer of dust, not much bigger than my bedroom at home. A small square table and two chairs were nestled under a window. The twin size bed across from the table, underneath another window. I lifted a corner of the bedding, an uncovered grey mattress. I shuddered as I wondered how old it was. Only an old duvet, stuffed with goose-down and a worn patchwork quilt spread over the top for the bedding. The quilt with old stitches, shredded at the seams from years of use and you could see the batting through the thin material.

A wood-burning stove with a large pot that sat on top, tucked in the far corner of the cabin. Above it on the wall, two shelves. An old tin army canteen and antique brass kerosene lantern, which still had a wick and kerosene inside sat on the top shelf. The bottom shelf held an old cast iron frying pan, a tin kettle with a tin cup, and an old smaller pot. Under the shelves, an empty wooden box for storing chopped wood.

The one room cabin seemed smaller than I remembered. I thought back to the time when my dad, my brothers and I took shelter in it once, my first time really hunting. Trey and I were ten at the time and Kane, fifteen. A snowstorm caught us in its wrath when it arrived earlier than expected. We stayed a whole day and a night as we waited for the storm to pass. We sat by the fire and placed bets on when the snow would stop. I remembered I saw a faint inkling of worry pass briefly on my dad's face, replaced by assurance when I glanced up at him, snuggled in his arms. I smiled at the memory. To become snowed in worried my dad, as storms could dump at least three feet in the mountains, nothing more to me than a thrilling adventure.

I absently glanced at the floor, lost in my reverie. Dirt streaked across the wooden planks, blown in under the door through the cracks. It flurried through the air as the door opened and fresh mountain air filled the room. Gage walked in. The dust settled slowly as the door shut and pulled me from my thoughts.

“You’re awake.”

“Yeah, I feel a little better, not so dizzy.”

“Good. I never knew this cabin was here,” he said, as he glanced around the small room. “It’s really cool. You can see the whole valley from up here.”

My eyes followed him as he walked towards me. “I think I want to go outside.”

“Can you stand without getting dizzy?”

He took my free hand to help me up as my other held the blanket around me. I felt a little dizzy but I walked the few steps to the table without blacking out.

“I feel okay.” As I tried to determine how I felt, I sat on the chair. “Maybe I’ll sit here for a while.” He seemed satisfied with that as he pulled out the chair.

“Yeah, don’t overdo it. I’ll open the door so you can see out.”

The heavy pounding in my head slowly resumed. I could do without the dizziness so I rested my head on the dusty table then closed my eyes as I tried to tune out the ringing in my ears.

He opened the cabin door and the sun flooded inside. A gentle wind blew my hair softly into my face and covered my eyes. I didn’t want to move so I left it where it lay as I breathed in fresh air. The scent of rain and pine needles lingered, like after a good cleansing rain.

Hinges on the old wood burning stove squeaked as he opened the soot-covered glass door and set a few logs on the fire to take off the chill. The earthen smell of burnt cedar trees dampened by last night's rain smoldered heavy in the stove as he closed the door.

His boots echoed between the walls of the cabin as he walked over to me. Still resting on the table, he gently touched my head and pushed my hair back from my face.

“Are you okay?” I looked up at him. He looked concerned.

“I have a headache.”

I sat up slowly, irritated by my weakened state over something as simple as sitting at the table and waited for what little strength I had to return.

Evening crept upon us as the shadows of the trees stretched longer. They moved slowly and engulfed the small cabin. The setting sun showed its amazing shades of orange and purple as it mingled with the clouds and I felt glad I was awake to see it. The sounds of the day dispersed into the quietness of night and the vibrations of the crickets replaced the songs of the birds. Chill hit the air as the sun disappeared under the horizon and I felt cold. Gage brought me another cup. I followed him with my eyes as he shut the door and threw a few more logs on the fire.

My headache left, I think due to the tea. I always felt better after drinking it even though it made me sleepy and I started to feel tired so I walked slowly to the bed.

“Have you slept at all since we got here?” I asked, as I climbed between the duvet cover and quilt and eased my head onto the pillow.

“No, I couldn’t have slept last night even if I wanted to...”

I just realized there was only one bed and by the look on his face, he must have seen my concern. “I'll sleep on the floor,” he said.

“I can share the bed… It’s pretty big,” I offered, as I scooted over closer to the wall. With as old and unclean as the mattress was, it was still soft and I felt guilty I had the bed while he would have to take the hard wooden floor, full of dust and all the spidery creatures that crept through the crevices .

“I’ll be okay on the floor,” he said. I winced at the thought.

“There’s only one quilt.”

“I know. I’ll use this jacket… I’ll be fine.”

He used my jacket for a pillow and covered himself with his.

I lay there awake and stared at the ceiling. Darkness encompassed the cabin and the illumination from the fire danced, distorted on the curved logs of the walls. Even with the fire, the cold chilled me to the bone. I pulled the quilt up further around my neck as my muscles tensed and I started to shiver.

Sleep eluded me and I dozed, restless for hours. The night moved slowly and I wondered if morning would ever come. Every time I finally started to fall asleep, I woke from the cold. My muscles ached and my body wouldn’t relax.

I sighed and looked through the window out into the darkness from where I lay. The stars, amazingly bright, glowed against the clear dark night and the three dimensional sky looked as if I could reach out and touch it. It was beautiful, but its beauty also explained why it seemed so much colder tonight. Without the insulation of cloud cover containing the days warmth, it froze me to the bone.

I slowly rolled over to the edge of the bed. A wisp of my hair hung down over the side as I peered down at Gage. Through the dim firelight, I saw sleep failed him too.  Turned to his side, he stared intently at the fire. I wondered what he mulled through his mind that kept him awake. His eyes looked tired but he refused to let his long thick eyelashes close over his beautiful blue eyes. I wondered briefly, how long I could get away with watching him before he caught me. I wanted to soak in every inch of him. My breath caught in my chest and my stomach flipped inside out when he looked up at me.

“Hi,” I said, beside myself with apprehension, yet, at the same time, wanted to solicit his attention.

“Hi… Can’t you sleep?”

“No… Are you comfortable yet?”

He looked at me strangely. “Yep, I’m fine.”

I rolled my eyes at him and smiled. No way could he possibly be comfortable using the hard wooden floorboards for a bed.

“Sure you are,” I paused, a hint of sarcasm present in my tone. “Are you warm enough?”

“Jade, I’m fine,” he grinned briefly, then rolled onto his back and clasped his hands under his head as he looked at me.

“We will be warmer if we sleep together.”

His brows peaked and a faint smile emerged from his lips. I felt a little weird by the awkward wording of my suggestion, but we
would
stay warmer that way. “Or... I mean, next to each other.”

Gage sat up, his face close to mine. I tried to read his eyes but they remained unreadable. His smile faded. The flames from the fire flickered in his eyes.

“I’m asking… will you sleep next to me? I’m freezing.”

“Okay,” he hesitated, “but, if you feel uncomfortable tell me… I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”

Even as he kept a safe distance, I still felt warmer. He shifted a bit as he tried to get comfortable, then by the sounds of his steady breaths he relaxed and sleep finally claimed him.

I adjusted the quilt and curled up to him. Heat emitted off his body, no less warm than if I sat inches from a radiant electric heater, so I snuggled as close as I dared and dozed off.

I woke slowly to a pale blue sky as birds chirped in a tree just out the window. Gage faced my direction with his arm draped over me. My head rested on his shoulder, his broadened torso directly in front of me, tempting me to place a hand on his chest.

“Oh, sorry,” he said, when he realized he had a hold of me. However, he didn’t make much of an effort to move away as he brushed my hair out of my eyes.  “How did you sleep?”

“Good. How about you? Was it better than the floor?”

“Nah, I love sleeping on the floor. You can still push me off if you need to,” he said, with a playful grin. I smiled at his chivalrous, yet teasing nature, still willing to relinquish the bed.

“And give up the man-made electric blanket? I don't think so.”

He chuckled lightly under his breath as his eyes met mine with flesh-melting warmth. “I didn’t give you an elbow or a fist, did I?”

“No. See, no new black eyes,” I laughed lightly through a fleeting grin. His smile faded, he looked closer then touched me softly as he inspected my cheek.

“How does it look?”

“The swelling is down… But your cheek is pretty bruised,” he said. His brow furrowed inadvertently as his jaw tightened over a measured breath.

“Are you cold?”

“A little.”

“Do you want me to start a fire?”

“If you want to.”

“You’re not helping.”

“Sorry… I think you’ll do.”

He grinned as I curled up again under the quilt, next to him. The truth was, I didn’t want him to get up and he didn’t. I liked the calming effect he had on me. I must have fallen asleep because I woke to him gently pulling his arm out from under my head. I glanced at him with lazy eyes.

“I’m going outside for water… I’ll be back,” he said as he sat at the edge of the bed and slipped on his boots.

“Okay,” I laughed a little at his tousled hair and humble smile. With his boots laced he stood and walked out the door.

My head adjusted slowly as I sat at the side of the bed. I stood carefully. Determined to stay upright without the undesirable dizziness, I walked slow to the door. The hinges creaked as I opened the heavy wooden door. The sun had come out and burned away the clouds and the morning dew. With the chill still present in the air, I was glad I brought the blanket. The fresh air smelled good and I felt rejuvenated by the sun on my face. The sun wasn’t high yet and I guessed it was mid-morning.

I found Gage not far from the cabin where he stood looking over the valley. Next to him, a perfect seat carved right out of the rock, big enough for the both of us to sit on. A twig snapped under foot. He turned to look at me. “I haven’t made it to the stream yet,” He said, sounding a little guilty.

I walked up to him, then said, “that’s okay.”

“How do you feel?” He asked as he offered me his hand and I gave him mine, then steadied me as I stepped up onto the boulder.