Training Rain (15 page)

“She says I’m a Neanderthal.”

Kane let out a sharp, short laugh. “Yeah, I can see that. As
I said, you get used to it. But you’re never going to like it.”

“Does your wife put herself in danger much? I know she’s
powerful, but does she go out in the field much?”

“No. I’m lucky. She reads the future and advises. When we
had the kids, we were both going to embrace a less dangerous lifestyle.” He
shrugged.

“I guess that plan didn’t work out.”

“We believe in what Joshua and Tessa are doing. I don’t know
where this Alliance will lead, but Lena and I both want to give our support.
The government needs to be kept in check where psi abilities are concerned.
It’s been too easy for them to exploit us in the past.”

Jess gave it some thought. He’d been about twelve when his
parents had been convinced that he needed special training. After that, his
childhood had been no picnic. What if things could be different for others?
“Maybe saving the Breckenridge kid is the beginning of something. I’m all for
keeping America safe, but I wouldn’t mind doing something about the way psi
recruiting is done. From what I’ve heard your childhood wasn’t great either.
And neither of our stories can compare with what this kid has gone through.”

Kane was already nodding before Jess finished talking. Of
course he’d probably read most of the thought before it had been spoken. Jess
was used to being around psychics. Most gifted telepaths couldn’t help hearing
a few sentences before the words actually made it out of the speaker’s mouth.
It didn’t faze Jess. “Something to talk about for sure.”

* * * * *

The private jet touched down in Nevada. The dirt road made
for a bumpy landing but it wasn’t the first time they’d used the road to get to
Adianca’s house. The ancient shaman and healer stepped out of a black Hummer.
The man with her was familiar. They had met Jon in the summer. He had helped
them defend against Banta. As soon as they stepped down from the plane, Rain
hugged Jon.

It seemed to Jess the hug lasted a bit longer than was
necessary. He bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from being an
idiot. He and Kane dragged Troy along and put him in the car. Whatever they
gave the kid must have been pretty powerful. He hadn’t said a word or even
acknowledged that they were there.

Adianca’s dark Native American skin was wrinkled and
weathered from more than eighty years of sunlight. She climbed into the back of
the Hummer with Jon’s help. The large vehicle accommodated them all and Jon
drove them to the log cabin where Adianca lived and guided the spiritual lives
of those who were in need.

The old woman took Troy’s hand. For the first time, Troy
looked as if he noticed a change in his environment. He stared down at his hand
and the smaller, darker one within.

A knot formed in Jess’ stomach. They knew almost nothing
about Troy Breckenridge, and what they did know was not good. He could crush
the old woman and from what his father said, he wouldn’t have to touch her to
do it.

“Do not worry, Jess McMean. He is not a danger. You have
done the right thing bringing him here. He needs rest and comfort. This boy has
had neither one in his life. He will not harm me.”

Jess acknowledged the shaman with a nod, but he didn’t lower
his guard and he noticed that Rain continued to keep her block in place.

It only took ten minutes to arrive at the log cabin where
Adianca lived apart from the other residents of the reservation. She had food
on the stove and the entire cabin was scented with onions and sage. The simple
great room with the kitchen in the back corner, long farm table and living area
set with soft couches and chairs made for a comfortable home. The smell of food
immediately had Jess thinking of his own family and how his mother always had a
pot on the stove.

They put Troy in a bedroom on the ground floor and they each
took turns guarding him. Jess took the first shift, allowing his colleagues to
eat. The boy never stirred. It seemed as if he hadn’t slept in years. His feet
hung off the bottom of the full-size bed, but in spite of his size, he appeared
young and innocent at least in sleep.

He came awake only when Rain brought food and forced him to
take some soup or herbal tea. She had a knack for getting him to eat even in
his drugged exhaustion.

On the second day in Adianca’s home, Jess woke from a few
hours of sleep and made his way toward the kitchen. Joshua and Rain were
sitting at the table. Jess had to make an effort not to use his psi senses to
find out what they were talking about.

Joshua’s voice carried throughout the room. “I think that’s
an excellent idea, Rain. I’ll make arrangements as soon as possible.”

Rain noticed Jess’ approach, turned and beamed at him. His
heartbeat sped up.
Pull yourself together, McMean.

Returning the smile, he made his way into the kitchen and
poured a cup of coffee. “What are you two planning?”

It was Joshua who spoke. “Evidently you pointed out that
most Alliance agents have had military or paramilitary training. Rain asked if
something could be arranged for her.”

Jess turned and stared at her. She shrugged. “I thought I
might be able to go through a police academy.”

He wanted to say that he would train her. He wanted to keep
her with him all the time. Yet he couldn’t help the bubble of pride her request
started inside him. “I agree with Josh. It’s a great idea.”

“It will take me out of action for six months, but I think
it will be worth it.”

“I have a friend in New Jersey who can help. You’ll have to
take the exam, but I don’t think you’ll have much trouble. You can probably get
into the July class and be done in December.” Joshua stood up. “In the
meantime, we have work to do. Tessa and I are heading home to sort out a few
things. We’ll be back tonight. Do either of you need anything?”

They both said they were fine and Joshua left the cabin.

“You’re upset with me.” She looked down into her teacup.

Jess sat down, cradled his coffee mug between both hands and
let the aroma wake him. “No,
cher
. I really do think it’s a great idea.
You’ll feel more confident after you’ve gone through the academy.”

“But?”

He smiled at how perceptive she was. “But I’m going to miss
you. You’ll be in New Jersey for six months and I’ll have to work. It will be
difficult to see each other and I’m a selfish bastard.”

A musical bubble of laughter tumbled from her lips and hit
him square in the heart. He leaned across the corner of the table and captured
her lips in a long kiss.

Rain sighed softly. “I’m going to miss you too.”

Kane stepped out of Troy’s bedroom. “Rain, he’s stirring.”

She got up from the table and headed for the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Jess had that tightness in his gut
again. It was the same feeling he had every time she put herself in danger.

She was halfway across the room by the time she spoke. “I’m
going to try to heal his mind.”

The knot tightened and he rushed across the room to cut her
off. He took hold of her arm. “Wait a damn minute. You are not going poking
around in a damaged kid whom we know nothing about.”

The sadness that filled her expression was completely
unfair. He was trying to protect her. Couldn’t she see that? The way she looked
at him made him feel like an asshole for doing what he was meant to do.

“He’s in pain and I can help. I won’t put myself in danger,
Jess. I’m a healer. It’s what I do.”

“What if the cause of his pain is too much for you?”

She touched his cheek. “Then I’ll back away.”

He had to take three deep breaths before he was able to
force himself to say the right thing. “Fine, but I’m coming in there with you.”

“It would be better if you stayed out here.”

“This is not negotiable, Rain. I’m coming in or you’re not
going in.”

“All right, but no mind bending. He’s been manipulated
enough.”

“I will only use force of any kind as a last resort.”

Kane stayed in the room too. Both men watched helplessly
while Rain’s face twisted and the color drained from her cheeks.

It was unfair. She’d made him promise not to probe inside
her mind and now he’d sworn not to manipulate this kid. She’d taken all his
weapons away and left him helpless.

He looked over at Kane. A small smile lit his face. Kane was
a talented telepath and a healer in his own right.

Without speaking a word an agreement was struck and Kane’s
focus turned toward the healing. Jess was able to relax if only slightly. He
knew if things went bad, Kane would sever her connection.

An hour later, she stood up on rickety legs. “I think he’s
going to be okay. I need to sleep for a while.”

She stopped between the two men standing sentinel at the
door. “I know you were there on the fringes and I know it was your doing.”

Rain didn’t really sound angry. Maybe annoyed, but not
angry. That was a good sign. “I didn’t break my word and we only want to keep
you safe. We are a team and you are going to have to get used to that. You
don’t work alone anymore, Rain.”

After a few hours of sleep, she felt more herself. She
wanted to be angry with Jess for stretching the terms of his promise, but how
could she when he only wanted to protect her? It was dangerous to heal a person
when you didn’t know the cause of their injury. She had taken a risk.

Troy Breckenridge’s injuries would take time to heal. She
had mended what she could, but the things his father had inflicted upon him
were monstrous. It would take a lifetime to heal all the damage that had been
done. She prayed to the Great Spirit that Troy was strong enough to overcome
his past.

She had done all she could do and now, sitting by his bed
she was helpless. All she could do was wait.

His eyes popped open as if he’d been awake for a while. The
light blue was ringed with midnight and even with his pupils dilated from
sleep, the contrast was startling.

“Where am I?”

“Nevada.”

“Bullshit.”

She laughed. “No. You’re in Nevada, not far from Las Vegas.”

“You don’t look like a doctor. Who are you?”

“Rain Silver, I’m not a doctor. I’m a medicine woman and I’m
the same as you.”

“No one is like me.”

“Do you remember the hospital, Troy?”

He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. “Where’s my
father?”

The door opened. Rain didn’t need to turn around to know
that Jess had come in. She could feel his presence as if he was an extension of
herself. Strange how their connection had grown.

Troy’s eyes widened. He stood up and crouched as if to
defend himself.

“No one is going to hurt you here, Troy.”

His eyes narrowed. “If that were true, you wouldn’t have
called in the muscle. Who is he, an orderly with a needle behind his back? I
know the drill. Where’s my father? What does he want to know?”

In spite of Troy towering over her, Rain stayed in the chair
and looked up at him. He’d been through so much it was no wonder he was filled
with fear and doubt. “Your father is not here. If you want to be returned to
him, I will arrange it. All I ask is that you give me a chance to explain who
we are and why we pulled you out of the hospital. After that, if you want to go
back to Virginia, we can have you back there this afternoon. I understand
you’re a dowser. I’m sure you can tell that my friend and I are psychic.”

Troy looked from Rain to Jess and kept his gaze fixed on the
other man. Jess moved his hands from behind his back and opened the palms
toward the younger man, showing that they were free of hypodermic needles or
anything else. Troy sat on the edge of the bed. “If I want to walk out that
door, you won’t stop me?”

“You’re not a prisoner. I would prefer it if you stayed and
talked to me, but if you feel you must leave…” Rain stood up and moved to one
side. Jess opened the door, revealing the living area of Adianca’s log cabin.
Dark wood and homey furnishings painted a picture of comfort. It must not have
been what Troy expected, his face registered the shock.

Adianca’s heavily wrinkled face peeked around the doorway.
The rest of her followed and she grinned. “You look much better, son.” She held
out her hand. “Come. I have food for you. You must want something to eat. I
don’t know what they fed you back east, but I have steak and potatoes cooking
in the kitchen.”

Rain had wanted to talk to Troy. They needed information and
they had been waiting days for him to wake up. Yet she saw the wisdom of
Adianca’s approach. Her mentor’s methods were gentler where needed. This boy
had been abused. He deserved a bit of coddling.

With only a slight hesitation, Troy wrapped his enormous
hand around the healer’s frail one and walked into the main part of the cabin.
The warm smells of home cooking filled the air and even Rain’s stomach was not
immune. She smiled at Jess and they followed the pair out of the bedroom.

Kane stood by the front door with his arms crossed over his
chest, looking annoyed. “Shaman, we don’t have time for this.”

Adianca’s expression remained impassive. “When you are
imprisoned for the better part of your life, we shall see if you want to talk
before you’ve had a good meal, little Lakeland.”

He grumbled something about wishing she wouldn’t call him
that and leaned against the wall silently.

The amount of food consumed by Troy Breckenridge had to be
some kind of record. Rain and Jess ate with him but then sat and watched while
he continued to devour every morsel of food for the next hour and a half.

Finally, he leaned back in the chair and looked up from the
table. He looked down at his clothes. The hospital attire was basically
pajamas, green-and-white-striped bottoms and a light-green tee-shirt. “Do you
have any clothes that would fit me?”