Page 15 of Training Rain
Chapter 3
While Jess orderedher to run across a tundra of thigh-deep snow wearing a fifty pound backpack and carrying an automatic weapon, Rain was trying to decide if she was attracted to him or just fucking hated him. She was leaning toward the latter. But in his defense, he trudged along beside her every step of the way and equally laden with a backpack. Yas followed in the snow trenches they made. The dog was the only one having any fun. He looked thrilled with the exercise, biting snow and occasionally stopping for a roll.
“Tell me again why I have to do this?”
“Endurance.”
Could he actually believe that was an acceptable answer? She wanted to drop him on his ass, wondered if she could do it. Maybe if she caught him by surprise, she could get the better of him for a few moments. It might be worth trying it just for the satisfaction. These kinds of thoughts distracted her from the pain shooting through her legs and arms. They stopped every mile or so and drank water, but there was something very different about Jess McMean. She couldn’t put her finger on it. Today he was driving her as if he was a demon on her heels, but a few nights ago he’d carried her worn-out body to bed. There had been tenderness in his eyes. Maybe it was her imagination or maybe she was so tired she’d dreamed the entire thing. Either way, he had changed and she wanted to know why.
He gave a series of two long whistles. He was testing her. They’d gone over the different signals used by agents to communicate when radio silence was necessary. She rolled her eyes. He’d berated her with information for days.
“Danger to the north,” she said loud enough for him to hear her over the wind.
A few minutes later he whistled long and low.
“It’s you, don’t shoot.”
Three quick whistles followed.
“Danger, unknown direction.”
He continued to test her for the next few miles before they stopped near a wide clearing. He tipped a bottle of water back and took a long pull. “Head for those trees, we’ll make camp.”
She froze in place and looked at the mile trek to the forest. “Camp? Are we staying out here tonight?”
“Yes.”
She found it hard to breathe and it had nothing to do with the run. “We’ll die out here at night.”
“Not if you listen to me and learn how to survive.”
“You are actually out of your mind.” She gasped for breath, but her lungs wouldn’t fill. She grabbed her knees and tried harder to get air.
“Rain?” His voice was sharp and closer than when she’d looked away.
“I…can’t…breathe.” Her body shook and her knees went out from under her.My lungs have collapsed.The thought brought her panic even higher. Gasping, she realized she was going to die in the snow in some park where Jess could just leave her and no one would ever know. Would he bother to drag her body back to Nevada? Did it even matter?”
Yas’ wet nose pressed to her cheek and then it was gone, replaced by strong arms wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her tight against a wall of muscle. His deep, Cajun voice vibrated close to her ear. “Listen to me, Rain. You’re just scared. You are not dying. You have to calm yourself. Hear the sound of my voice and slow your breathing.”
Deep in her chest was an explosion of pain.My heart is exploding. I’m going to die.
“You’re not listening,cher. You’ve got to slow down. I won’t let anything happen to you. You saved me, I’m bound to you. I know all of this is foreign. I know you’re not sure you can do it, but I’m telling you, you can. I’ve never seen anyone without military or paramilitary training hold up to as much physical strain as you have the last few days. I’ve seen marines fall under these conditions. You are extraordinary. Adianca saw that in you and that’s why she talked you into this. You’ll never be satisfied with an ordinary life. Once you believe that, everything will fall into place.”
The calm, rounded tones of his voice lulled her into slowing her breath. The more he spoke the calmer she became. The pain in her chest subsided to a dull ache and her body stopped trembling.
Jess didn’t let her go. “Any better?”
“Yes. I don’t know what happened. You said we were going to stay out in this, and I lost the ability to breathe.”
He released her and sat back on his heels. Immediately, Yas was in her lap pawing her and trying to lick her face. Rain hugged him and scratched his ears until he settled down. She knew she’d scared him.
Jess said, “I understand. From where you grew up in LA and then Nevada’s heat, this must be very frightening.”
A short burst of laughter escaped. “This is what I would call Hell.”
“Do you think you can walk? It would be a shame to give up now.”
Rain looked across the snowy hills toward the trees. Could she do this? Could she actually become an agent, or was this all a waste of time? “Did you mean what you said about me being able to succeed or was all of that just bullshit meant to calm me down?”
