“That makes two of us.” Stiff, still achy, he turned so he could run his hand up and down her back. “I appreciate it.”
She managed what passed for a nod. “Tell me the rest.“
“You just cleaned and bandaged the rest. Whatever he did felt just the way this looks. Actually, it felt considerably worse.”
“You screamed.”
“Do you have to keep saying that? Its embarrassing.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I screamed, too. I woke up and you were—it looked like you were having a convulsion. You were dead white, bleeding, shaking. I didnt know what the hell to do. I guess I panicked. I grabbed you, started shouting. You went limp. Almost as soon as I touched you, you went limp. I thought—for a minute I thought you were dead.”
“I heard you.”
She stayed where she was another moment, fighting back tears again. “When?”
“After I hit the dirt the second time. I heard you calling for me, and it was like getting sucked back into the old transporter. I heard him, too, right as I was fading out. I heard him, but more inside my head: „Im not finished, he said. „I am not finished. And he was royally pissed. He couldnt keep me there. He wasnt done with me, but he couldnt keep me there.”
“Why?”
“You woke up.” Reaching out, Jordan ran his fingers over her cheek. “You called me. You touched me, and that brought me out.”
“Human contact?”
“Maybe as simple as that,” he agreed. “Maybe just that simple—when the humans are connected.”
“But why you?” She picked up the cloth and dabbed at the cut on his lip. “Why did he take you behind the Curtain?”
“Thats something we have to figure out. When we do—ouch, Dana.”
“Sorry.”
“When we do,” he repeated as he nudged her hand away, “well have more of the pieces for this particular puzzle.”
* * *
SIMPLE or complex, Dana needed answers. With Moe hanging his head blissfully out the passenger window, she drove to Warriors Peak to get them. Research and speculation were one thing, but her lovers blood had been shed. Now she wanted cold, hard facts.
The trees were still bright, and their color splashed across a dull gray sky layered with sulky clouds. But more leaves littered the road and the floor of the forest.
Already past their peak, she thought. Time was moving forward, and her four weeks were down to two.
What did she think? What did she know? She ran through everything that came to mind as she drove the last miles and then through the gates.
Rowena was in the front garden, gathering some of the last of the fall blooms. She wore a thick sweater of deep blue speckled with dull gold, and to Danas surprise, well-worn jeans and scuffed boots.
Her hair was tied back and rained in a sleek tail between her shoulder blades.
The country goddess in her garden, Dana thought, and imagined Malory would see it as a painting.
Rowena lifted a hand in a wave, then a smile lit up her face as she spotted Moe.
“Welcome.” She ran to the car as Dana parked, opened the door for the exuberant Moe. “Theres my handsome boy!” Her laugh rang out as Moe leaped up to kiss her face. “I was hoping youd pay me a visit.”
“Me or Moe?”
“Both are a delightful surprise. Why, whats this?” She put her hand behind her back, then brought it out again. She held out a huge Milk Bone that caused Moe to moan with pleasure. “Yes, it certainly is for you. Now if youll sit and shake hands like a gentleman…”
The words were barely out of her mouth when Moe plopped his butt on the ground, lifted his paw. They exchanged a shake, a long look of mutual admiration. He nipped the treat delicately out of her fingers, then sprawled at her feet to chomp it to bits.