Page 55 of Joshua's Mistake
Her eyes were full of sympathy.
Joshua placed his lips near Tessa’s ear. “Tessa, open your mouth. You have to eat something.”
There was no response.
No one in the room said a word. He could feel them all looking at him, thinking he was a sad, pathetic man who’d lost his woman. He refused to believe she was gone. Her heart still beat and so some part of her mind still worked, it was her essence that had retreated.
With his arm wrapped just under her breasts he pulled her in tighter. “You have to eat, beautiful. For me, open your mouth.”
On a breath of air her lips parted. Not much but it would be enough to get the tip of a spoon through.
He took the spoon again and dipped it in the bowl before slowly moving it to Tessa’s lips. Part of it dripped down her chin. The woman wiped it up with a napkin. Joshua had expected her to choke back the rest of the soup but to his surprise Tessa swallowed. They repeated the process until half the soup was gone from the bowl, and Tessa’s lips sealed tight.
“You’re wonderful, Tessa. Thank you.” The words were barely audible. It was only for her to hear.
He looked up at the woman with the bowl. She was Native American. Her dark eyes held kindness and sorrow. She had cut her hair to her shoulders and it was streaked with a few strands of gray. She put the bowl aside and pulled a blanket from the back of the couch. Carefully she covered Tessa, tucking the warm wool around her.
Realizing he’d not even asked her name, he was at a loss for what to say. She had been kind and he had been preoccupied. His entire focus had been on Tessa and he’d ignored the women who had come to their aid.
Even though he’d been to Adianca’s home many times he’d never met the people from the reservation. His focus in the past had been a selfish quest for peace and other minds were a distraction from that goal.
Now that he was paying attention he detected psi energy coming from the woman. It wasn’t terribly strong but it was there and as he scanned he notice a surge of energy from the other woman. She didn’t stop him aggressively but in a subtle way she pushed his exploration back.
He attempted to smile in apology for his gentle probe.
She nodded.
The woman who had helped with feeding Tessa said, “I am Lucy, Jon’s wife and that is Rain Silver.”
Lucy pointed to the woman with the strong aura. Rain was younger, perhaps twenty-five, with long black hair and searching eyes. Under normal circumstances Joshua would have made some attempt to find out exactly what her psi talents were but it was not a normal day.
“Thank you both.”
With a nod, Lucy got up and went to the kitchen.
Rain moved the table back into its place next to the couch.
Adianca made her way to the front door. “You rest for a few hours and then we will begin. The lodge must be heated.”
The two women cleaned the table and worked in the kitchen.
Kane approached the couch. “I’m going to keep watch with Will. You should lie down and close your eyes, Josh. It’s going to be a long few days.”
He looked up at his little brother. “I can’t lose her, Kane.”
Kane stuck his hands in his pockets. He looked uncomfortable. Maybe he was thinking about his wife Lena and how he’d nearly lost her. “I know.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Joshua hated the fear in his voice.
“You brought her here. You did the right thing. She would die in a hospital. They wouldn’t know how to treat her. Adianca will get you to her. She’ll need you to bring her back. Just rest for now.”
His brother turned and walked toward the door.
“Kane.”
He turned back.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Joshua’s throat was tight with emotion. He and his brother had spent most of their lives apart. When Joshua had first found Kane, Kane had not remembered having a brother though those memories had returned in time. Still, they had formed a bond only brothers could understand and he would rather go through hell with Kane than with anyone else on the Earth. And that was exactly where he was and he would go deeper before this was over.
