The Healer (9 page)

By the time Luce got to Bridie’s house, she was out of breath and grimacing from a serious pain in her side. But when she saw the old woman on the ground and Jonah kneeling at her side, her fear increased.

Moments later, she dropped beside them. Her heart was hammering against her eardrums as she fell to her knees, but this time she knew not to touch. And this time, she wasn’t so much shocked by the aura surrounding Jonah and Bridie as she was amazed.

It glowed a white so bright it hurt her eyes, and like before, the pull of the power within the light was so compelling that all she wanted to do was lie down within it. With no way of helping, she lowered her head and began to pray. It seemed a fitting accompaniment to what she was witnessing.

Franklin blew Bridie a kiss and disappeared.

Bridie cried out, “Wait, Franklin, wait!” Then she opened her eyes, somewhat surprised to find herself lying on the ground.

She thought it was silly of her to have chosen to rest outside. She blinked a couple of times to clear her vision, only to realize there was a man hovering over her.

“Franklin?”

Jonah brushed at the mud on her forehead, then shook his head. He’d seen what she’d seen just before she woke up. He’d felt the love that she had shared with the man and knew a sense of regret. His father’s murder was all the proof he needed that that kind of love was something he would never be able to have and keep his woman safe.

“I’m not Franklin,” he said softly. “Franklin is gone.”

Before she could ask him what business he had on her place, he picked her up. She found herself staring into his eyes, then forgot what she’d been going to say. When he carried her into the house, she didn’t argue. It seemed like the sensible thing to do. Then she saw Luce following them in and felt easier seeing a familiar face.

“Well, hello, little girl. I didn’t know I was going to have company.”

Luce was too close to tears to manage more than a smile. When Jonah paused, Luce pointed down the hall.

“Her bedroom is the first door on the left. I’ll help her clean up.”

Bridie’s clothes were wet and muddy, as were her hands. She could only imagine what the rest of her looked like, and she swiped shakily at her face, muttering to herself when her fingers came away muddy, too.

“Well, for goodness sake. What have I gone and done to myself?”

“You fell off the porch,” Jonah said, as Luce led the way to Bridie’s bedroom. “I’m going to sit you down on the side of your bed. Lucia will help you get cleaned up, okay?”

Bridie stared at the stranger long and hard as he put her down. When Jonah would have backed away, she suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Jonah felt the questions surging through her mind, read her confusion as well as her curiosity, and smiled.

“Yes, ma’am, I am a strange one at that,” he said.

Bridie’s eyes widened. “I didn’t say that.” Her grip tightened. “I was thinking it, but I hadn’t said it.”

Jonah knelt so that he wasn’t towering over her. “You’re shivering. You need to get out of those wet clothes.”

Still, she wouldn’t turn him loose. “What am I thinking now?” she asked.

Jonah hesitated; then his expression grew shuttered.

“Knowing where I come from won’t tell you anything about who I am.”

Bridie’s eyes narrowed as her gaze slid to Luce. “What happened to me, girl? And don’t lie. I don’t like being babied.”

Luce didn’t know what to say. “You’ll have to ask Jonah.”

Bridie’s focus shifted from Luce to the tall, dark-haired man beside her.

“Well? I’m waiting, mister.”

Jonah touched her head.

“Do you remember having a pain in your head?”

Bridie ran her fingers along her forehead. She’d completely forgotten that.

“I woke up with a headache this morning. Did my chores, then I think…I believe I…uh, went outside and…” She frowned. “I can’t remember after that.”

“The red-tailed hawk that flies over your barn saw you fall. He came and told me you needed help. So I came…and I fixed you.”

No one spoke.

No one moved.

Bridie sat, watching the man’s steady gaze. Franklin had always said that you could tell a lot about a man by the look in his eyes. This man didn’t flinch or look away.

“You fixed me?”

He nodded.

“How?”

He held out his hands.

Bridie stared at them, then back up at him.

“Exactly what about me was broke?”

“Does it matter?” Jonah asked.

“It does to me, mister.”

“Something burst inside your head. You were dying.”

Bridie started to shake. She’d lived all the way to eighty years old and was now being asked to believe something she’d only heard about in old wives’ tales.

“You’re claiming you laid hands on me and I was healed?”

Luce sighed. “It’s true, Bridie. I saw him do it.”

“I just fainted, that’s all,” Bridie said.

Jonah shrugged, then stood up and stepped back.

“It doesn’t matter what you believe. You are well now.” He glanced at Luce. “I’ll wait in the other room while you help her change.”

He walked out before anyone could argue.

Bridie glared as Luce began undoing her clothes.

“I can do that myself,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Luce said.

Bridie undressed, then went into the bathroom and washed the mud from her face and hands.

“My hair’s a mess,” she muttered, as she swiped at the muddy streaks with a wet washcloth.

Luce followed her into the bathroom. “Let me help,” she said, then took the washcloth and began cleaning the bits of mud and grass from the side of Bridie’s head.

Bridie sat, letting Luce work, while her mind ran wild.

“Where did you come by this man?” she asked.

“I met him down in town.”

An expression of disgust spread across Bridie’s face. “And you just brought him up to your home for a little fun? I thought better of you, girl.”

Anger slid through Luce hard and fast.

“And I thought you knew me better than that,” she snapped, and handed Bridie the washcloth. “You’re clean. Do the rest yourself.”

Bridie sighed. She suspected she needed to apologize as Luce strode toward the door.

“Wait now. Talk to me, Luce.”

Luce paused, then turned around.

“I can’t say that I actually saw the red-tailed hawk come tell him anything, because I was in the house making breakfast. But I know he went outside for a bit, and when he came back, he was running. He went straight up the road to your house like he’d lived here all his life. I didn’t show him the way. When I got to your house, he was beside you, and you were on the ground.”

“I remember having a real bad headache,” Bridie said, then added, more to herself than to Luce, “I remember seeing Franklin, too.”

Luce snorted. “Now you’re asking me to believe that you saw a man who’s been dead for ten years, but you aren’t willing to believe what you already know in your heart to be true?”

Bridie ducked her head and began putting on clean clothes. The silence lengthened between them. Finally Bridie tried another tack.

“So, you brought him home with you last night?”

“Not exactly,” Luce said. “Someone set a trap down by the creek near your old house. Yesterday afternoon, Hobo got his leg caught in it, and I couldn’t get it off. I ran down to the station to get help. Jonah was there. He came back with me.”

Then Luce shivered and suddenly sat down in a chair beside the door. “Oh, Bridie…I’ve never seen anything like it. Hobo’s foot was almost separated from his leg. Blood was everywhere. Jonah tore up his own hands getting the trap off, and I thought—” A sob tore up her throat. “I thought Hobo was going to die and the stranger had wounded himself something awful just helping me.”

Bridie frowned. “I saw his hands. There wasn’t anything wrong with them.”

“Exactly,” Luce said. “One minute they were shredded and bloody, and then they weren’t. And when he put his hands on Hobo, a light enveloped them that was so bright I couldn’t see. When it was over, Hobo was sound and walking around as if nothing had happened. I asked him if he was an angel. I’m still leaning toward that theory, because if he’s not, then I have to believe what I’ve seen, and I find that almost impossible.”

Bridie’s eyes widened. “If what you’ve said is true, then I reckon you’ve gone and found yourself a healer.”

“A what?”

“A healer. My granny used to talk about such people, but I always thought she was just telling stories.”

“Bridie…”

“What, honey?”

“How do they get that way?”

“Who, the healers?”

Luce nodded.

“Well, I’m not sure, but Granny said that they were people who’d been touched by God.”

“So…then, are you saying he’s like…like a real angel, after all?”

Bridie shrugged. “Can’t say I’d go that far…but I reckon he’s as close to one as you’ll ever find on God’s earth.”

Luce sighed. “I saw a bird fly down and land on his shoulder as if he was a big tree. He talked to it like I’m talking to you.”

“Animals know more about people than people do. So…I don’t exactly know who you’ve gone and brought home with you, girl…but if all you say is true, I’m guessing he won’t do you any harm. Now come on into the living room and introduce me proper to your angel. I’ve got a little apologizing to do.”

“He’s looking for work,” Luce said.

Bridie smirked. “Are you trying to make me feel guilty now?”

Luce shrugged. “Just telling you what he said.”

Bride sighed. “Well, then, let’s just see what happens.”

J
onah was on his knees by Bridie’s dining table when they walked into the room. He looked up, a little startled at being caught. Without saying anything, he opened his hand. Moments later, a tiny wood mouse scampered off his palm and ran back beneath the sideboard.

“Oh, Lordy…there’s that mouse! I’ve been trying to catch it for a solid week. Why on earth did you let it go?” Bridie shrieked.

Jonah stood, looking a little shamefaced, but willing to stand his ground.

“He’s sorry you’re bothered, but he only came to the house after the snake moved in beneath the hay in the barn where he’d been living.”

Bridie’s mouth dropped open. She sputtered through a couple of breaths, then plopped down on one of the dining-room chairs.

“Well, I never,” she muttered, then looked up at Jonah. “There’s a snake under the hay?”

Jonah shrugged. “It’s what he said.”

Bridie glared at Jonah, then down toward her sideboard, picturing the little gray varmint hiding below.

“So…what’ll it take to get him out?”

Jonah smiled, thinking how funny it was that this old woman was willing to believe he could bargain with a mouse, but not that he was able to heal her.

“I think maybe if you promised to sprinkle some extra chicken feed through the cracks in the floor of the chicken house, Brother Mouse would consider making a move.”

Bridie snorted. “Brother Mouse, indeed. Well, then, if that’s what it takes, tell him it’s a deal. But…the first time I see a mouse back in this house, the deal is off.”

Jonah walked past the dining room to the front door.

“Hey! I thought you were going to tell…Mr. Mouse…or Brother Mouse or whatever that rodent’s name is, to move to the chicken house.”

“He heard you,” Jonah said softly, and opened the door.

To Luce’s delight and Bridie’s disbelief, the tiny gray mouse poked its head out from under the sideboard. It paused a moment, its whiskers twitching as it seemed to judge the distance from the sideboard to the open door.

“Oh, Lordy!” Bridie shrieked, unable to maintain her composure.

At the shriek, the little mouse made a break for the door, scampering across the floor so fast that they could hear his nails scratching against the old wooden floor.

As the mouse neared the door, Jonah squatted briefly and held out his hand. The mouse ran right into Jonah’s palm.

Jonah knew the courage it took for the mouse to come out from hiding. For such a small animal, it had a very brave heart. The least he could do was give the little fellow a ride to the chicken house.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said, and walked out with the mouse in his hand.

Bridie glanced up at Luce. “Where do you reckon he’s going with that varmint?”

Luce walked to the door, then out on the porch, watching this strange man as he walked toward Bridie’s chicken house.

“It appears that he’s taking the mouse to the chicken house himself.”

“And this is the man you want me to hire?” Bridie muttered.

Luce turned to her, then smiled and shrugged. “At least you know you’ll have the best cared for critters on the mountain.” A twinkle came and went in Bridie’s eyes, but Luce knew her old friend was sold.

“We’ll see,” Bridie said, waiting for Jonah to come back.

A few minutes later, Jonah returned. He got as far as the front door and stopped. “Am I still welcome here?”

“Luce said you’re looking for work,” Bridie said.

Jonah glanced at Luce, saw the flush on her cheeks, then shifted his focus back to Bridie.

“Yes, ma’am. I need a job. It’s getting too late in the year to stay on the road.”

Bridie frowned. “Don’t you have any family?”

“No.”

“Not anywhere?”

“No.”

“Are you on the run from the law?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Are you lying to me?”

“I don’t lie.”

Bridie crossed her arms over her chest. “Can you milk a cow?”

Jonah resisted the urge to grin. “Yes.”

“I can’t pay you much, but you can board here for the winter if you don’t get in my way.”

“There’s also the extra room where I’m staying,” Luce said, and then sighed. Why didn’t she just come right out and ask him to stay? She didn’t want to be alone.

Jonah stared from one woman to the other. Obviously the decision was his to make. He knew that it would be easier to stay with Bridie, since the job would be here.

But then there was Luce. She was afraid. He didn’t know why, but he knew she felt hunted, and he could certainly empathize with that.

“I’ll take the job and gladly,” Jonah told Bridie.

“But if you don’t mind, I think I’ll stay with Lucia.”

Bridie nodded. It wasn’t a surprise. If she’d been Jonah, she would have chosen the younger woman, too.

“Fine with me. I reckon I can manage a hundred dollars a week. If that’s not enough, you’ll have to look elsewhere.”

“It’s fine,” Jonah said.

Bridie stifled a grin. She would have paid fifty dollars more if he’d negotiated.

“Molly needs to be milked no later than eight in the morning. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said.

“Do you have a driver’s license?” she asked.

Jonah nodded.

“Franklin’s old pickup truck is in the shed. If you’ll take Luce to work every morning before you come up here, I’ll let you use it.”

“I can get myself to work just fine,” Luce said.

Bridie rolled her eyes. “If you’d had a driver’s license, I would already have given it to you to use, and you know it.”

Luce stood her ground, but there was no way to argue with the truth. She’d never learned to drive because she’d run away from home before she’d had a chance to get her license.

Jonah stood quietly, watching the two women fuss and feeling the love that was between them. It felt good, even though it was a vicarious experience. His father had loved him like this once. He shoved a shaky hand through his hair, then looked away, gazing out into the yard and the forest beyond.

The sky was gray. The clouds were few and stringy as the wind pushed them along. If he squinted his eyes as he looked into the tree-lined hills and the mountains around them, he could almost believe he was back in Alaska. But if he had been, they would already be in the season of darkness, and everything would be covered in snow.

“Jonah?”

When he turned around, his face was expressionless.

“Yes?”

Something was wrong, but right now, Luce didn’t have time to figure it out.

“I need to get back to the cabin and get dressed for work. Here are the keys to Bridie’s truck.”

She laid the keys in his hand, then turned around and hugged the old woman.

“You are a dear, and I’m very, very glad you’re all right now.”

Bridie returned the hug with a smile. “All things considered, I guess I’m up to giving this old world another try.” She gave Jonah a stern look. “Since you supposedly saved my life this morning, don’t mess up the good deed by being late to work tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll be back later,” he said.

“Oh…there’s no need. You can start fresh tomorrow.”

But Jonah wouldn’t budge. “There are some things that need to be done before it snows tonight.”

Bridie snorted beneath her breath. “It’s not gonna snow tonight.”

“It will snow,” Jonah said.

Bridie frowned. “What makes you think it’s gonna snow?”

“I just know,” Jonah said, ignoring the looks of disbelief both women were giving him. “You need chicken feed, and the sack of sweet feed that you give your cow when you milk her is almost empty.”

“Well, I’ll say,” Bridie sputtered. “You sure saw a lot for the short time you’ve been here.”

“I didn’t see it. The owl who roosts in your barn—”

“Stop right there!” Bridie said. “I don’t want to know another blasted thing about how you get your information. Someone has to have some measure of sanity around here, and it looks like it’s gonna be left up to me. When you take Luce to work, stop in at Middleton’s Feed Store. Tell them you’re working for me and to load up my regular order in the truck. They’ll mail me the bill at the end of the month.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“One more thing, Jonah.”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“What’s your full name?”

Jonah hesitated. The less that was known about him, the harder it was for Bourdain to find him. Still, it wasn’t in him to lie.

“My name is Jonah Gray Wolf.”

Bridie held out her hand.

“My Franklin always said that when you make a deal with a man, you should shake on it.”

Jonah extended his hand, and when they shook on it, Bridie nodded in satisfaction.

“I look forward to knowing you,” she said.

Jonah blinked; then a slow smile spread across his face.

“And I, you,” he said softly. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“I’m making custard pie today.”

“I only like two kinds of pie,” Jonah said.

Bridie’s heart skipped a beat. She was almost afraid to ask.

“What kinds of pie might that be?” she said.

“Hot pies and cold pies,” Jonah said. Then, just before he turned and walked away, he winked at her.

Bridie was still shaking as her unexpected visitors took their leave. Her heart was hammering so hard against her eardrums that she thought it would burst. This was the most remarkable morning she’d ever had, and the day was just getting started.

She lifted her hands and smoothed down the hair on her head, then looked up at the sky.

“Okay, Franklin…if that was your way of telling me I did the right thing, you could have warned me. Hearing your words come out of his mouth was a low blow.”

She stood on the porch, watching until the tail-lights of Franklin’s old truck had disappeared, and then she went inside. There were pie crusts to be made.

Jonah was just finishing the fried egg sandwich Luce had made for him when they passed the city-limit sign for Little Top. Bridie’s old truck pulled a little to the left, and Jonah guessed the tires needed to be rotated, but other than that, it ran smoothly.

“The sandwich was good,” he said, as he gave Luce a quick glance. “Thank you.”

Luce nodded. “No sense wasting good food,” she said, referring to the skillet of eggs she’d set aside when they’d gone up to Bridie’s house.

Jonah ventured another look. Luce was fussing with her clothes as he pulled up to the curb in front of Harold’s Eats.

Jonah checked the time. It was only a little after seven-thirty in the morning, but it felt like they’d been up for hours.

“What time do you get off work?” he asked.

“The diner only serves breakfast and lunch. I usually get off around three.”

“I’ll be back,” he said.

Luce nodded and started to get out of the truck, then stopped and made herself look at him.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” Jonah asked.

Luce sighed. “For staying with me instead of Bridie.”

“Why do you think I did that?” he asked.

She hesitated to answer; then her shoulders slumped. “You know…don’t you?” she said.

“I know you’re afraid of something…or someone.”

“Yes.”

“Why won’t you talk about it?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know who’s doing it.”

“Besides the trap, what else has he done?”

“Notes…lots of notes with ugly and threatening messages.”

“Did you tell the police?”

She rolled her eyes. “For all the good it did. Since I haven’t been attacked, there’s nothing they can do.”

“And you don’t have any suspicions at all?”

Luce shook her head. “None.”

“You realize that my presence could escalate what’s happening, rather than deter it?”

“Maybe that will be for the good. I just want it to be over.”

“Since we’re being honest with each other, there’s something you need to know about me, too,” Jonah said.

Luce rolled her eyes. “Besides being an angel who converses with animals, what else could there possibly be?”

“There’s a million-dollar bounty on me.”

Luce gasped. “By the law?”

“No. Just a man…a man who’s been after me for years.”

“A million dollars! Why?”

“I saved his life once. Now I guess he wants to live forever and thinks I can make that happen.”

“That’s some thanks for your trouble,” Luce said.

“It’s only fair that you know, and if it makes you uncomfortable, I can still go stay with Bridie.”

Luce felt the blood rush from her face. “No. Stay with me…please,” she said, hating the panic in her voice.