Waking Up Dead (The Western Werewolf Legend #1) (19 page)

Briann brought them all back from
their individual musings with a groan.

Jeb was checking on her before either
Sonja or Ty could rise.

From what she could tell, Briann
wasn’t feeling well. They should leave.

Chapter 9

The Dead Live

“
Where’s the doctor?” Sonja
appeared in the doorway to a room they’d taken at the hotel. Lucky
to find one after so many people ascended on the town, she’d stayed
with Briann while Jeb and Ty went for a physician.

“
There isn’t one,” Ty
growled as he stalked past her.

The hallway was small and several
people loitered in the area. Sonja sent a couple a withering looks
before closing the door soundly.

“
What do you mean, there
isn’t one? In a town this size? That can’t be possible.” She heard
the sharp edge of hysteria lined her voice.

Jeb went straight to the bed,
gathering Briann’s hand in his. “How is she?”

Real pain showed in his eyes.
Apparently, being undead hadn’t altered his ability to care and
deeply. Laying a hand on his forearm, she tried her best to comfort
him. “It’ll be okay. We’ll find someone who knows what to do!” She
glanced hopefully at Ty.

Jeb spoke up at that point. “Ty didn’t
tell you everything.” His face tightened over the words. A pale set
to his mouth made Sonja more uneasy. “The town doctor won’t have
anything to do with someone from the train. They’ve decided it’s a
fever.” His voice, filled with reproach, sounded lost. “Nobody will
even answer a question.” A mask of solemnness shrouded his true
feelings.

Sonja ground down on her teeth. Such
backwoods assumptions based in gossip and innuendo couldn’t be
helped – Briann’s health had to come first. Seeking Ty’s council,
Sonja spoke low, “The townspeople must have one hell of a gossip
vine for Briann’s condition to have already been diagnosed by the
street doctors.”

“
Fear moves like a
wildfire.” Ty brought her close in such a tender embrace, Sonja
searched out the heat of his neck to rest her head for a brief
moment. “I’ll go for Hortence. Maybe she can help and contact the
Guardian as well. At least we won’t have to worry about explaining
his presence or the old witch’s for that matter to any butcher
pretending to be a man of medicine.”

Agitated, Briann called out. Her
glazed eyes stared blankly.

Turning, Sonja stepped back to the
bed. Checking her temple, she glanced at Ty. “She’s running a
fever.” Tenderly brushing a damp curl from her sister’s forehead,
she whispered, “I’m right here Briann. Don’t worry, dear, the
doctor’s on the way.” She turned back to Ty. Her features hardened
to stone. Through clinched teeth, she whispered. “Go get Hortence
now!”

“
I’ll be back as soon as I
can,” he stated through his own clinched teeth and shoved the
Stetson lower on his head.

Ty disappeared out the door. The war
had made him what he was. That was the truth, but conflict also
gave him a strength few could say they possessed. She could depend
on her mate.

Not wanting to allow doubt to rear its
head in the situation, Sonja reached out and gripped her sister’s
hand giving her a great big smile meant to encourage
her.

Lowering to kneel beside the bed, Jeb
spoke softly. “We’ve got the best there is, honey. I won’t leave
you either.” When Jeb searched Briann’s face, Sonja’s chest
tightened over the love visible in his features. His used his big,
weathered hand to brush the perspiration from Briann’s temple.
While he faced the woman he obviously loved, he showed no signs of
doubt. His face remained solid and strong. The dark blue of his
eyes remained calm. Comforted by his strength of courage, Sonja
released a sigh. She was glad to have him there. Briann was lucky
to have him in her life. Sonja discovered his presence alone proved
enough for her, so if he helped Briann, she would be grateful to
him forever.

Her concerns ebbed with his stalwart
presence. His determination bolstered her confidence. Glancing at
the general, she reached out and took his cool hand in hers. They’d
do what had to be done, she mused.

***

Briann’s pain progressed steadily as
the fever increased. Jeb never left her side, tending her as any
family would. His words of support and comfort brought an ease to
Sonja. His presence seemed to calm her sister as well and for that,
Sonja said a silent prayer. Briann’s strength began to wane though,
as the time continued to slip away. Watching the clock became a
secret task for Sonja.

Jeb’s quiet eyes didn’t miss the
passage of time either. The room grew overheated and without
knowledge of what the fever harbored, Sonja was afraid to open the
windows. She noted the general continued his steadfast demeanor for
Briann’s sake. Yet, Sonja could see the tension tighten the muscles
of his face as the time wore on. Neither dared voice an opinion as
if to mention their concerns would make them all the more dangerous
to Briann. Sonja recognized Jeb’s worry that without a change in
the situation soon, Briann could die.

The solid knock on the door had both
of them rising. Jeb pulled his revolver and pointed the barrel
squarely at the portal as Sonja gingerly unlocked and opened the
door.

Hortence bustled in dragging Ty in
tow. “Your sister is going to be all right. Never doubt her ability
to survive,” the old witch told Sonja matter of factly.

Sonja helped the old woman with her
potion in order to remain focused on the moment. Realizing
Hortence’s arrival brought a new kind of tension to the room, Sonja
engaged the men in gathering linens and hot water. Still, the
question remained on everyone’s mind. Would Hortence be able to
heal Briann with magic?

“
There is a powerful force
at work here, Sonja. You of all people should understand the evil
that can invade a body and the havoc such a thing can render.” The
old woman’s face turned up and through beady eyes, she peered about
the room as if in search of the evil. In the blink of an eye, her
gnarled hand thrust toward Jeb. “Your defiance of the evil is
admirable. Good for you and your woman. Hold fast to your faith.
Hold fast to the truth of your love for her.”

Sonja’s nerves stretched to a breaking
point. She’d listened to the old woman babble on for over an hour
without any change in her sister’s condition. The brew which
Hortence instructed her to keep warm hadn’t shown any signs of
helping as of yet. “Hortence can you save her?” Praying the old
witch wouldn’t see how badly she was shaking, Sonja knelt on the
opposite side of the bed.

Hortence’s brow furrowed and she
clucked her tongue at Sonja’s question. “You of all people would
ask me that, my dear?” Her bottom lip protruded in disgust at her
student’s obvious doubt. Her voice rose to a shout as she slammed
her fist on the side table, sending bottles and spoons clattering.
“Of course, I can save her. The demon’s power is in the air.” She
swept her hands wide and her beady eyes bulged. “She will survive.
The question is, will you?”

“
Hortence, now’s not the
time for your riddles,” Sonja chided heatedly. “Briann needs your
help.” With her temper rising, Sonja stalked to the window. Taking
a deep breath, she could feel the first prickle of wolf hairs along
her neck start to rise. If she remained with the ever obstinate,
elusive, totally irritating Hortence, she would be hard pressed not
to lash out at the old woman.

Her mood brought about a sudden urge
to feed. With the sensation, coiling in her Sonja struggled to
focus. Blinking she tried to clear her vision. Leaning over the
rail, she watched attendants light the gaslights.

The street took on a warm glow. Sonja
noted in the middle of the street stood a man dressed in a black
broadcloth suit. Tall and dark haired, he reminded her of someone.
The realization struck her with the force of a lightning bolt.
Sonja stumbled back. Ty caught her as she fell.

The flash of light, which followed
threatened to blind them both. Sonja gripped Ty’s vest front.
Unable to see briefly, both clung to each other for
support.

“
What was that?” The grip
he held her in tightened as she slumped against him. “Sonja, say
something!”

She couldn’t. The sound of
her own voice had left her. Searching Ty’s face, she trembled
uncontrollably. Alarm rippled through her as she struggled to
regain her bearings.
She’d imagined the
man below in the street! There was no way he was truly
there.
Shoving from Ty’s arms, she made her
way back to the window. There was nothing there except the moon’s
glow starting to shimmer as night fell.

“
What is it, Sonja. You
look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” Ty gripped her arm and shook.
“Talk to me, damn it.” Tension rippled along his arm and circled
her in his grip.

What did she say to him? How did she
explain what she’d seen without sounding completely crazy? After
all the things they’d been through and his solid belief in their
truth, he’d most probably think her mad. She shoved at
him.

“
I…I thought…”

There came a loud knock at the door.
The men both turned. Jeb motioned to Ty as he drew his
weapon.

Ty flicked a glance at Sonja before
stepping to the entryway. “Who is it?”

“
It’s Mrs. St. John and
Reverend Jones. May we come in?”

Ty’s eyes narrowed as he glanced from
Jeb, who stood near the bed to Sonja and back to Jeb. Waiting for
confirmation, he should let them in, Ty motioned for Jeb to flank
the other side of the door. Since he wasn’t certain what lay on the
opposite side of the portal, Ty drew his gun before calling out,
“Come in.”

The widow St. John bustled in arms out
stretched to gather Sonja into an embrace of sympathy. “Hello, Mrs.
Brooks, how is your sister?” The widow totally ignored the guarded
portal, instead focusing all her attention on Sonja and the patient
abed. “Dear, when we heard that poor Briann was feeling poorly, we
had to come and check on you both.” Turning to Ty, she smiled
demurely, “Oh, put that old thing away, won’t Tyler. We’re friends
here.”

The seductive perusal she gave him
didn’t escape Sonja’s wolf senses. More hairs sprang up to tingle
along her neck.

Reverend Jones stepped up and drew
Sonja’s hand into his. “My dear Sonja, how’s your
sister?”

Sonja stood like a statue
still reeling from what she’d seen below in the street. The words
came out stilted and vague, “She’s resting.” Trying to take back
her hand, she found the reverend’s cold fingers dug into hers.
There was a stench coming from the preacher as well. Of course,
with the accumulation of trail wear on a body, one could expect an
odor, still this was somehow different. She glanced up and into his
pale face. There was a glint, which made her tug on her hand even
more. With a wicked grin on his face, he finally released her.
Sonja was sure she’d just peered into the eyes of a vampire. How
could she warn Ty? Wolf blood surged in her veins with the
burgeoning knowledge they’d unwittingly invited the bloodsuckers
into their only safe haven.
Now
what?

Frantically, Sonja surveyed the room.
The widow St. John had moved to stand near Jeb. Sonja had to do
something. Jeb was in deep trouble, she was sure.

“
Ty, get our guests some
refreshments won’t you? I’ll see to making sure everyone is
comfortable. We have a long wait, I’m afraid.” Her hostess skills,
though rusty kicked in and she managed to indicate the reverend
should sit while she stepped closer to Ty. With her telepathic
skills still in their infancy, she prayed he could understand.
Giving him a good long look into her face, she blinked and glanced
in the direction of Jeb’s place beside Briann. “We’ve got company,
Ty.” She reached out and latched on to his arm. The sensation
sizzled up the length of her arm and she hoped the feeling did the
same to his.

Ty glanced up startled at the feeling
and flinched but Sonja wouldn’t let go. The vampires couldn’t see
their communication or everything would be over in a few seconds.
“Would you get our guests those refreshments, please? I fear we are
unprepared for visitors.” Smiling sweetly, she gazed into his eyes
steadily. The flicker of recognition stirred a breath from Sonja
before she telepathically told Ty what she intended to
do.

With another blink of her eyes, Sonja
wheeled around. Course hairs on her neck sprang to attention. She
cocked her head to the left and then the right. Jeb glanced up from
his vigil and fire leapt in his undead eyes.

“
You’ll excuse us as we
weren’t expecting anyone, Mrs. St. John. I do hope the hotel has
something left from dinner. We haven’t had a chance to think about
eating.” Sonja stepped closer to the bed.

Briann’s hand reached out to Jeb. The
moan, filled with pain and alarm, brought Jeb back to her side. The
Widow seized the opportunity. The blade in her hand thrust forward.
With A flash of movement, which no one would see except another
creature of the night, she staked the General. The stake pierced
his side so quietly, anyone watching would think he’d merely bent
to Briann’s attentions.

Sonja dove forward at the same time
Reverend Jones aimed a wooden tomahawk at Jeb. Ty shot first, the
sound of the gun’s discharge making Sonja jerk. The widow St.
Johnbucked once before looking down at her left side where a
crimson stream appeared in her taffeta jacket.