Page 50 of Training Rain
The elder McMean hugged his son and then they all started talking at once and Rain had no idea what was being said. Between the thick Irish accent of his father and the Cajun of his mother, it was a muddle of words that Rain interpreted as gibberish.
Then suddenly they all turned toward her. Her cheeks heated, but she managed a smile.
“Momma, Dad, this is Rain Silver my…friend.”
Is that what they were, friends? She didn’t know.
She shook hands with his mother. “I’m Amalee and this is Sean. We are both just so happy to meet you. You must be hungry. I made some food.”
Rain said, “How did you know we were coming?”
Sean answered. “The woman knows everything. I learned long ago not to ask too many questions.” With that, he took Rain’s hand and pulled it through the crook of his elbow before leading her toward the front door.
Rain locked eyes with Jess for a moment and saw him nod at her unspoken question about his mother’s psychic abilities.
Amalee was dark and petite with blue eyes. Her short hair was streaked gray. She wore a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved tee-shirt with the American flag beaded on the front.
Sean was the opposite of his wife, tall, blond though also graying, and his eyes were more gray than blue. Both had an easy manner and they welcomed Rain as if she were a relative. Rain had a feeling the older couple treated everyone with their brand of warm Southern hospitality.
The kitchen and den were just to the left of the front door with a living room on the right. The entire house smelled of spice. There had been no breakfast and Rain’s stomach growled loudly at the scent.
“Oh good you’re hungry. I made a big pot of etoufee.” Amalee had set a table for four.
It amazed Rain that she had known how many were coming. She even had a plate of meat cut up and ready for Yas. The dog lapped up the steak and drank some water. Jess let him out the back door before they all sat and Sean placed the large pot in the middle of the table while Amalee filled bowls that already contained rice with the sumptuous stew.
Sean took several bites before he spoke. “So, you’re in some kind of trouble, Jess?”
“Nothing we can’t handle.” The two men stared at each other for a long time.
Amalee broke the silence. “How did you two meet?”
“We work together, Momma.”
“Yes, of course. I know.”
Rain was trapped in his mother’s gaze. It was as if she were an open book and this woman could read it at will. She had her walls in place, but whatever skills Amalee McMean possessed they were unaffected by blockers or shielding techniques. “Forgive me. You saved my son and I am being rude.”
“No,” Rain said.
Jess kept his head down.
“You did save him, from a fate much worse than death and for that we are forever in your debt.”
Rain looked at Jess.
“No, he didn’t tell me. I know these things. I knew the moment when my boy was about to die. My heart broke into a million pieces and then I saw your face, so beautiful and kind. I knew he was in the best of hands.”
“How could you see all of that?” Rain asked.
Amalee shrugged. “It’s what I do. Relax. Eat. You are safe here.”
She again tried to gain Jess’s attention, but he would not look at her. Soon his parents started telling him all about what was happening with them and dozens of cousins. The conversation was lively and Rain found herself smiling at the exuberance. She longed for a family that fought and laughed. She hadn’t realized she craved it. The people on the reservation cared about her, but they didn’t love her. Jess said he loved her, but he couldn’t be trusted. He’d proved that.
After an hour, Rain excused herself and went out the back door. The McMeans had a wood deck that overlooked a pond. It was picturesque with all the pretty houses surrounding the water. Yas ran to meet her, his tail wagging happily. She leaned on the railing and the dog sat by her side.
She expected it to be Jess when the back door opened and closed, but Sean stepped out and walked up beside her. They watched the light breeze on the water. “They don’t mean any harm, you know?”
“I’m not so sure.”
