“Jessé,” his mother cried and pulled him down to hug him around the neck while his father patted his back and waited his turn.
The elder McMean hugged his son and then they all started talking at once and Rain had no idea what was being said. Between the thick Irish accent of his father and the Cajun of his mother, it was a muddle of words that Rain interpreted as gibberish.
Then suddenly they all turned toward her. Her cheeks heated, but she managed a smile.
“Momma, Dad, this is Rain Silver my…friend.”
Is that what they were, friends? She didn’t know.
She shook hands with his mother. “I’m Amalee and this is Sean. We are both just so happy to meet you. You must be hungry. I made some food.”
Rain said, “How did you know we were coming?”
Sean answered. “The woman knows everything. I learned long ago not to ask too many questions.” With that, he took Rain’s hand and pulled it through the crook of his elbow before leading her toward the front door.
Rain locked eyes with Jess for a moment and saw him nod at her unspoken question about his mother’s psychic abilities.
Amalee was dark and petite with blue eyes. Her short hair was streaked gray. She wore a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved tee-shirt with the American flag beaded on the front.
Sean was the opposite of his wife, tall, blond though also graying, and his eyes were more gray than blue. Both had an easy manner and they welcomed Rain as if she were a relative. Rain had a feeling the older couple treated everyone with their brand of warm Southern hospitality.
The kitchen and den were just to the left of the front door with a living room on the right. The entire house smelled of spice. There had been no breakfast and Rain’s stomach growled loudly at the scent.
“Oh good you’re hungry. I made a big pot of etoufee.” Amalee had set a table for four.
It amazed Rain that she had known how many were coming. She even had a plate of meat cut up and ready for Yas. The dog lapped up the steak and drank some water. Jess let him out the back door before they all sat and Sean placed the large pot in the middle of the table while Amalee filled bowls that already contained rice with the sumptuous stew.
Sean took several bites before he spoke. “So, you’re in some kind of trouble, Jess?”
“Nothing we can’t handle.” The two men stared at each other for a long time.
Amalee broke the silence. “How did you two meet?”
“We work together, Momma.”
“Yes, of course. I know.”
Rain was trapped in his mother’s gaze. It was as if she were an open book and this woman could read it at will. She had her walls in place, but whatever skills Amalee McMean possessed they were unaffected by blockers or shielding techniques.
“Forgive me. You saved my son and I am being rude.”
“No,” Rain said.
Jess kept his head down.
“You did save him, from a fate much worse than death and for that we are forever in your debt.”
Rain looked at Jess.
“No, he didn’t tell me. I know these things. I knew the moment when my boy was about to die. My heart broke into a million pieces and then I saw your face, so beautiful and kind. I knew he was in the best of hands.”
“How could you see all of that?” Rain asked.
Amalee shrugged. “It’s what I do. Relax. Eat. You are safe here.”
She again tried to gain Jess’ attention, but he would not look at her. Soon his parents started telling him all about what was happening with them and dozens of cousins. The conversation was lively and Rain found herself smiling at the exuberance. She longed for a family that fought and laughed. She hadn’t realized she craved it. The people on the reservation cared about her, but they didn’t love her. Jess said he loved her, but he couldn’t be trusted. He’d proved that.
After an hour, Rain excused herself and went out the back door. The McMeans had a wood deck that overlooked a pond. It was picturesque with all the pretty houses surrounding the water. Yas ran to meet her, his tail wagging happily. She leaned on the railing and the dog sat by her side.
She expected it to be Jess when the back door opened and closed, but Sean stepped out and walked up beside her. They watched the light breeze on the water. “They don’t mean any harm, you know?”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Whatever he did, he only wanted to protect you.”
Rain turned to look at the older McMean. It was amazing how much Jess resembled his father. “How do you know he did anything?”
A low rumbling laugh pushed up and out of him. “I know women and I know them.”
“I’m one of them.”
“Aye, you may have psychic skills, but you don’t seem that comfortable with them.”
How could he know that? Her heart started pounding. “Are you psychic, Sean?”
“No. I’m Irish. I have a knack for knowing people. My wife told me you were a healer, but when I met you I could tell it was more than that and you didn’t quite know where you fit in.”
“That is an understatement.”
He chuckled and put his arm around her shoulder. It was a fatherly embrace and Rain nearly burst into tears.
“The thing is, being psychic or psi is normal to them. The same way having skin is normal to everyone else. They do what they think is right even if they overstep their bounds.”
“Did Amalee overstep hers?”
“At the beginning she did it all the time. It nearly sent me running back to Ireland. Then I asked her to stop and… she tries. She still sometimes goes too far, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. She means well.” Sean gave her a squeeze.
“I’m not sure I’m as forgiving.”
Sean turned toward her and held her shoulders. His eyes, so similar to his son’s, captivated her. “If you love him, you’ll forgive him. You can either torture the both of you for days and weeks or let it go now and savor your time together.”
“How do you even know I’m any good for him?”
“Amalee told me so.”
They both laughed.
The door opened and Jess walked over. “What are you two up to?”
Sean winked at her and walked back toward the house, slapping Jess on the back on his way.
Rain returned her attention toward the lake. “Your mother is immune to my blocking.”
“She’s precognitive and retrocognitive as well as being clairvoyant. Those skills can rarely be blocked since she saw them long before you walked in the house or even knew she existed. She sees the future, has visions and sometimes sees the past. She also has the natural ability to remain unseen.”
“What does that mean? She’s perfectly visible.”
He was watching her. “My mother naturally creates a bubble around herself and those in her presence. No one will find us here.”
She was so stunned, she turned to face him. “Why did you ever leave home? You would have been safe with her.”
“Safety is not what I crave. I don’t think it’s what you crave either, cher.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
She couldn’t help it, her eyes closed of their own accord as the warmth of his lips spread through her. “Is that why you convinced me to remain in Yellowstone?”
“Partially. But try to understand, I only stopped you from acting on an impulse. If you had still been determined to leave, you would have packed your things the next morning and gone.”
She watched his expression. He looked over her shoulder at the lake, anywhere but at her. “Okay, but you said ‘partially’. What was the other reason?”
“I was selfish and I didn’t want to lose you so soon. I knew eventually you would realize I’ve seen and done too much to be loved. The things I’ve done have left their mark. I know it, but I wanted to be near something as pure as you, if only for a while.”
Her gut twisted. “I’m not pure. I told you about my past.”
He touched her cheek,
sliding his finger along her jaw. “You think I care about a past that was hardly even you? You did what you thought was necessary. You were just a girl. You are still pure. Your aura is unclouded.”
She didn’t know how he could not care about the things she’d done, but the idea was heady. The sun was getting low on the horizon. “We’d better go to the airfield. It’s getting late.”
He nodded. “I’m surprised we didn’t hear from Will yet. I guess we’d better say goodbye and go.”
As they were leaving Amalee scratched Yas’ head. “Maybe it would be best if this one stayed here with us for a time. You can meet us in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and take him back.”
Part of her didn’t want to leave Yas behind, but it was the safe thing for the dog. Rain agreed and knelt down to hug him. He licked her cheek and wagged once.
Chapter Nine
“Does your mother know what is going to happen to us? Can she see if we’re going to win or lose?”
Why did she always have to ask exactly the question he didn’t want to answer? His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “Probably.”
“But she didn’t tell you.”
“No.”
Her light touch on his arm surprised and relaxed him. It was the first time she had initiated a touch in the hours since their argument. “Why not? We could use some help.”
“She won’t mess with the fate of others. She believes that if she told us what would happen, it would alter our course and lead to disaster.”
“You disagree?”
“I have asked her on many occasions what will happen and she never tells me anything. She’ll fix supper for four when she’s had no call saying I’m coming with a guest, but that’s as far as she’ll go.”
“It seems a waste of her gift.”
“Yes. I have had that discussion with her more than once. My mother keeps her own counsel and lives very much apart from the psi world. She will occasionally give her friends advice on career or romance, but nothing more serious.”
“But she sent you off as a child to be trained.”
“Yes. It was my destiny.” That word again. Why did it always come down to destiny?
“Do you believe that?”
He turned the car down the long road to the airfield. “I don’t know, but she has her own ideas and there is no changing her mind. I’ve had a good life, my parents love me. I have no complaints.”
Will’s plane sat on the tarmac with the steps down but the big man was not in sight. It was a small private airport with one large hangar and several small planes parked to the right.
Once he parked the car, he grabbed their bags and called out for Will. No response.
Rain said, “It’s too quiet.”
He agreed and drew his weapon. She did the same. He pointed toward the plane and she nodded understanding that he wanted her to check on Will while he made sure the hangar was clear. The barn-style doors were open about three feet. The sun had gone down hours ago. The spotlights from the building and the runway lights allowed him to see, but inside it was completely dark.
He was inches from the door. His stomach clutched, warning him to be alert. Almost there.
Rain screamed and something clattered to the ground.
Jess turned, weapon ready. She was at the top of the steps. A man in full black BDUs and body armor held her around the throat with a handgun pressed to her temple. Shit.
The hard barrel of a gun pressed to his skull from behind. “Don’t do anything stupid. Plans have changed and you are wanted alive, McMean, but I’m told that if I have to kill you to bring her in, I have authorization to do so.”
“Where is our pilot?”
The man behind him laughed. “Safe. You should start to worry about yourself and your partner. Now lift your hands and give me the gun.”
Jess did as he was told. Rain’s eyes were filled with fear and also anger. He kept his gaze locked with hers until her apprehender pulled her backward into the plane.
“What do you want?”
“For now just get in the airplane and don’t give me any problems. If you can’t do that, I’ll kill you and make sure that pretty partner of yours remembers this flight for the rest of her life, however long that might be. I’m considering killing you just to get my hands on that fine ass.”
He knew losing his temper would only get him killed. Rain wouldn’t benefit if he was shot and left dead here in Louisiana. Ignoring the taunt, he walked forward, hands in the air, and climbed the steps into the plane.
The second soldier held a gun to Rain. She sat quietly in one of the bucket seats with her hands in her lap.
Jess was pushed from behind and fell into the seat on the opposite side of the plane. He didn’t resist. It was too soon and there was too much to find out. The guy who had been holding Rain made his way to the cockpit and the other sat in the forward-most seat with his gun aimed at her. It was smart. They knew Jess wouldn’t make a move as long as Rain was in danger.
He leaned back in the bucket seat and made himself comfortable. “I’m curious as to why you are taking us in rather than killing us. It seemed as though your boss’s plan has been to rid the world of our kind. He’s made several attempts on our lives. Why the change of plan?”
His captor pulled a plastic restraint out of the pocket of his vest. It was a single loop and he circled it around Jess’ right wrist and secured it around the steel support under the arm rest. “The plan has always been to take her in alive. I don’t know why you have suddenly become valuable.”
Jess studied him while he pulled the restraint tight. Not quite as tall as him, but very fit. They had been smart, quick and efficient in apprehending Rain. They had known she was his weakness. Damn. These soldiers were of a higher quality than the men who had attacked them in Yellowstone or the six from New Orleans. Breckenridge was stepping up his game. Mercenaries of this caliber came with a very high price tag.
They were speeding down the runway. His stomach dropped with the change in cabin pressure as they took off. Rain’s hands ball into fists. They banked to the right, heading east. How far east?
The mercenary took the seat across from Rain. A small table separated them and he leveled the gun at her head. He looked toward Jess. “Don’t try any of that psi stuff. You move so much as a magnet with your mind and I’ll wound you and her. Then you can watch while I take advantage of all her attributes.”
Jess suspected he’d make good on his threats.
“Where are we going?” Rain asked.
Had she read his mind? No. That wasn’t her skill. Still, if she’d open her mind and he could get a message to her…
The soldier didn’t bother to answer, only stared back as the plane climbed to cruising altitude and continued east.
Firing a weapon in flight was dangerous. Would this mercenary risk it? Probably. Jess had other options, but he needed to wait. He needed to know where they were headed.
He pushed his thoughts toward Rain. Is your mind open, cher?
Very slowly, she leaned her head forward. The move could have been mistaken for her stretching her neck.
There’s a Taser in the console between the seats on your side. I’ll tell you when.
Her hand slid along the compartment. It too was a casual move.
Be patient. We have to wait for our moment.
She had obviously heard him. She didn’t respond, but he knew projecting thoughts was not her skill. However, because she was ultra-sensitive, she was the perfect receptacle for receiving information even from his substandard telepathic skills.
An hour slipped by and they banked to the left slightly. Northeast. Outside the window, there was a light cloud cover and the country below was shadowed in darkness. They were not flying very high, but they were still above ten thousand feet. It would be better if they could wait until just before the descent. But how long would that be?
The cockpit door opened. The pilot stepped out and narrowed his eyes at Jess.
“Trouble?” The one with the gun turned to talk to the pilot.
“No. Just need to use the head.” With that he walked down the aisle and back into the bathroom.
Jess’ heart sped up. That had been the perfect distraction. Had Rain used it to retrieve the Taser? He couldn’t watch her. It would have drawn their attention. He just had to trust. If he was wrong, he was about to put her in even more danger.
The pilot headed back to his station. They had to be getting close to the east coast. He assumed based on the direction and time of travel, their destination was the Washington D.C. area. As soon as the cockpit door was secured Jess sent the message he was going to regret. He hated the entire idea, but it was their only hope. You have to get him close to you. You’re going to have to put on a show.
He could only see her out of the corner of his eyes but he saw her eyes close briefly. Rain slid slowly out of her jacket. She arched her back, pushing her firm breasts forward to where they nearly touched the table and a breathy sigh pushed from between her lips.
Jess sent a wave of lust in the mercenary’s direction and didn’t bother to hide his own admiration for the woman in the cabin. She was stunning as she stretched her arms over her head and let out a low moan of satisfaction. Her gaze came to rest on the man across the table from her.
The guy didn’t have a chance, but Jess bent his mind a touch further for insurance. As if he were the moth and Rain the flame, the soldier eased out of his seat and rounded the table.
Jess tugged on his restraint and attempted to stand. “Hey, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
The merc turned around and pointed his gun at Jess. “Shut the fuck up and don’t move. I only have to bring you in alive. I have no problem shooting out both your kneecaps right now.”
Easing back into his seat, Jess had to hold back his rage at what he was putting Rain through.
She looked up at the other man as if he were a cherry lollipop she couldn’t wait to get her mouth on. Licking her lips and running her hand down the side of her breast. That same hand disappeared beneath the folds of the jacket she had disregarded at her side.
Training Rain Page 13