The Healer's Touch (20 page)

“You got one! Jerk!”

She yanked and hauled back. A perch flew up, swung back, and slapped Joseph in the face.

He batted the catch free of his eyes. “You jerked too hard.”

“You said
jerk
.”

“I stand corrected.” He calmly removed the flopping fish from the hook. “Tug firmly.”

“Men.” She sighed and glanced at him through lowered lids, grinning. “Never satisfied.” She threw out again.

Backing up to his rock, he said quietly, “You know a lot about men, do you?”

“Nothing. You're the first man I've ever been around.”

“What about your father?”

She shook her head. “Don't know a thing about him. He was never around and I learned not to ask questions.”

“You don't recall a man in your life?”

She slowly shook her head. “I don't recall much of my youth until I was around seven or eight years old. That's when Mother started taking ill and the household and raising of Lark fell to me.”

“Can't imagine one so young with so much responsibility. Did you resent the intrusion in your life?”

“Truthfully…” She jerked and missed the catch. Bringing in her line she checked for bait, and then threw out again. “I don't recall ever having a childhood. Often Lark feels like my child. And Mother too.”

“You have no other relatives?”

“None that Mother's ever spoken about.”

“Has she always been this secretive?”

“Always. She's a bitter woman, I know that, but I care for her, and I try my best to love her. Sometimes she makes it hard.”

The sounds of nature filled the air. A bullfrog croaked to its mate. It was too early for lightning bugs but they'd be around by the end of May, flittering about, flashing their tails.

“What're you thinking about?”

Joseph's voice brought her back. “I was just thinking about what a lovely evening it is.”

Catching back a laugh, he baited his hook. “I suppose it is.” A piece of bait dropped and they simultaneously reached to get it. Heads bumped. Lyric met his eyes in the moonlight and her heart hammered so hard she thought her chest might explode.

He leaned in closer and she shut her eyes in anticipation. When his lips touched hers she heard a soft sigh and realized it came from her. Not a friendly peck, but a man's kiss. He tasted warm and faintly sweet. Their lips fit together as though God had made the mold. No awkward fumbling, only sweet, simple togetherness.

He wasn't in any hurry to break the contact. She wanted the moment to last forever.

If what she was beginning to suspect was true—that Joseph wasn't a bad man after all—then she knew God didn't drop men like him in a woman's path, not in Bolton Holler and not to a Bolton directly. This past moment was a gift. God had undoubtedly made her and Joseph for a purpose, but in her heart she feared this man wasn't intended for her. She couldn't saddle him and his future with the daughter of a madwoman.

Wherever his past or future lay she wasn't a part of it, though at this moment, every fiber of her being wished it could be so.

Life at the Bolton house settled to a more normal pattern. Joseph's wounds continued to heal and for the following week the sheriff didn't test Lyric's sincerity. She knew his suspicions ran high; the injured stranger was still alive and improving every day, but the sheriff would have to find him before she'd willingly hand him over. She had no doubt that Joseph had been right when he said it was only a matter of time before the man and his posse would be back, but for now all she could do was take one day at a time.

Ice patches melted and tiny fragrant irises poked their way through the newly awakened land. Lyric picked a huge bouquet of wild violets on her way back from milking, breathing deeply of the blue, sweet, intoxicating scent. The sun shone and the earth was coming alive. Spring was her favorite time of the year.

When she topped the rise she spotted Katherine hurrying toward the house. Elated to see her friend, she quickened her steps, smiling. The two women hurried toward each other, Katherine swinging the familiar wicker basket. Lark hoped it contained something special from Katherine's new kitchen.

When they met up breathlessly they embraced. Only then did Lyric spot the tears rolling from the corner of Katherine's eyes. “My goodness—is something wrong?”

Mutely nodding, Katherine reached into her light jacket and took out a crisp handkerchief. Lyric took special note of the intricate hand-stitched embroidered hem, most likely a gift from a doting grandmother. The tears came more swiftly now and Lyric took her friend's hand as they walked to the back porch steps. When they were about to enter the house, Katherine drew back. “Do you mind if we sit here in the fresh air?”

“Not at all.” Had the town gossip begun to concern the Jennings? Lyric's heart sank. Did Katherine now fear that her friend was someone less than…normal?

But her opening words allayed the troubling thought. “Oh, Lyric. I'm going to miss you so much!”

“Miss me?” She flashed a consoling smile. “I'm not going anywhere soon.”

“Day before yesterday?”

“Yes?”

“The light—it came back.” She took deep gulps of breath. “I—we can't take it anymore! The thing literally scares us speechless—even Levi, who isn't afraid of anything.”

Lyric sat up straighter. “Did it—threaten you?”

“Threaten us? It didn't rush us but it—it tormented us, Lyric. Bouncing here and there and peering into the windows.”

“I've told you before it's playful.”

“It's torment!” Katherine wailed. “It didn't come in the room this time; it just sat on the windowsill and shimmered. Then it left. But it returned last night and I couldn't take it anymore. I begged Levi to leave.” She broke down in heaving sobs.

Slipping an arm around her friend's waist, Lyric let her cry it out. There wasn't much anyone could do if a body couldn't take any more. If only that maddening light would go away. Who knew where it came from or why? There had to be a logical explanation buried somewhere in these hollers. If it meant harm, it would have acted long ago. The fact was, some things in life simply could not be explained.

“Where will you go? You've just built your lovely home.”

“Back to Joplin. We'll have to live with Levi's parents until we can rebuild.”

The words speared Lyric's heart like an ice pick. Her one and only friend gone, and it was only a matter of time before Joseph left too. She blinked back hot tears.

“And you know what else?”

“What?”

Katherine wiped her eyes with the end of the hanky. “I think I'm going to have a baby.”

“A baby!” Lyric exclaimed. The news made Katherine's leaving
even more painful to accept. Lyric would never have babies, but if Katherine stayed she could have helped care for the infant—pretend the child was hers…

“Oh, Katherine, I'm so happy for you.” She leaned over to her friend and gave her a brief hug. “I've never been to Joplin and I know it's a far distance—but perhaps once the baby comes Levi could bring you here—permit me to see it?”

Nodding through glistening tears, Katherine nodded. “Levi and I are thrilled about the baby. I'll make him promise to bring me here, Lyric. I don't want to leave, and yet I can't live under these conditions. The light doesn't hurt us, but it keeps my nerves frayed until I can't sleep at night for fear the light will intrude. And now I'm afraid it will upset me so much it will affect my child.”

“I know.” Lyric patted Katherine's arm. “I guess I accept and ignore it because I've lived with strange circumstances for so long the light is barely noticeable.”

“You know what?”

“What?”

“If it's a girl, I'm going to name it after you. Lyric. It's a beautiful name and your friendship has meant so much to me for the brief time I've been here.”

“Yours has been the bright spot in my life,” Lyric confessed. The two leaned together and hugged tightly for a long time. Before Katherine or Joseph had come into her life, Lyric had been content with her lot; now she wasn't sure the loneliness wouldn't eat her alive.

“I'll leave the address where we'll be staying. You'd be welcome any time.”

Lyric smiled, knowing that if Katherine mentioned the supernatural gossip surrounding Lyric and Lark they would be anything but welcome in the elder Jennings' home.

“Katherine, I haven't mentioned this but I have something of a secret that I've been keeping from you. The wounded man I've been caring for is most likely an outlaw.” Lyric briefly explained why
a suspected criminal now regularly ate at her table. “If he doesn't regain his memory he is doomed to be hanged once the sheriff has the gumption to take him by force.”

Katherine's eyes widened. “Oh…how dreadful! You know for certain that he's an outlaw?”

“I thought I did, but now I have my doubts. I can't make myself turn him over to the authorities until he knows who he is.”

“But he may never tell you even if he does regain his memory. My father knew a man once who lost his memory and it never came back. Lucky for him he was married with four children. His wife said the accident allowed her to fall in love with him all over again.”

“That is a lovely thought and I've considered the prospect, but I believe he will be honest with me.” If he never regained his memory it would be fine with her. Then maybe, just maybe, they could seek a life together with no jaded pasts to consider. His earlier kiss led her to believe that he had growing feelings for her—she couldn't mistake the way he looked at her or allowed his hand to brush hers at the most unexpected moments.

No. She shouldn't think that way. It wasn't fair to Joseph—or to her.

“Lyric.” Katherine rested her hand on Lyric's arm. “Be careful. You never know—this man might be dangerous once his memory returns.”

“I know.” She'd thought of little else since he burst into her life.

“Do you want Levi to take him to the authorities?”

“No!” She met Katherine's stunned gaze. “No. I don't want him moved anywhere. Yet. And you're not to mention a word of this to anyone—even Levi, if you can bear to keep my secret.”

“Yet?”

Katherine heard correctly. The hour was fast approaching when she had to decide to follow the law or follow her heart, but that hour had not arrived. Not yet.

“Not yet,” she repeated aloud. “I have to know who he is for certain before I turn him over to the sheriff.”

“You're a romantic, aren't you?” Katherine turned to study her. “You've fallen in love with this man.”

“Guilty,” Lyric confessed, and then felt her features crack. “Oh, Katherine, why do women do such foolish things when it comes to men?”

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