Ellyssa’s cheeks warming, she pulled away.
“It’s time for us to go, anyway,” Rein muttered in her ear. His breath caressed her skin. “We have council business to attend to.”
Their fingers interlaced, Ellyssa led the way to Summer. The teen showed Ellyssa all the wild carrots she’d found. “I checked every one of them,” she exclaimed, her voice excited.
Ellyssa looked them over. “Very good.” Summer beamed. “Tomorrow, if we have time, I will show anyone interested how to prepare these different plants for consumption.”
“I’d like to go,” Summer said. “Can we, Dad?”
A tall, lanky male, with light green eyes, smiled down at his daughter. “If everything’s done, sure.”
Ellyssa walked to the mouth of the cave with her students behind. She checked the plants as they filed in, while Rein stayed at her side. He seemed unable to keep his hands off her, touching her hand, brushing his fingers along her cheek, pushing strands of stray hair behind her ear. She relished every bit of contact.
The sun dipped behind the trees, and yellows and reds burst through the waning clouds. Ellyssa reveled in happiness and drowned in fear, both emotions in a constant struggle for dominance. How could she leave now? How much pain would that inflict?
As Ellyssa worried about the future, Rein leaned over and kissed her. “It’ll be okay. Everything will work out,” he said, as if reading her thoughts.
Was this a special power people shared when they had connected in a loving relationship? The ability to read each other without invading?
Ellyssa let Rein lead her into the old mine.
31
Woody entered the hospital, carrying a box of supplies. His usually smooth hair hung limp in his face, and dirt smeared his cheeks and nose. He set the box down and dropped on his haunches, eye level with Ellyssa.
Ellyssa ignored him, just as the council had ignored her protests. No matter what she’d said, she couldn’t get the members to see things her way. She’d be staying behind, while Rein and Woody risked their lives.
Frustrated, Ellyssa shoved a package of bandages into the metal trunk and slammed the lid. She pushed the container to the doorway, where it would be taken to the evacuation cavern.
“Candy is doing much better today,” Woody said, apparently not wanting to talk about the meeting either. “She’s helping with kitchen chores.”
“I am glad,” said Ellyssa, shoving a six-pack of ointment into the last container.
“She wants to talk to you, but…it’s hard on her.”
“I understand.”
Woody nodded. “Jason’s trial will be tomorrow.”
At the mention of his name, fury blazed. Ellyssa glanced over her shoulder at the bloodstained ground, a constant reminder of what he had almost cost her. She shoved down an urge to finish him off, a lingering instinct from an old life. She wasn’t that person anymore.
Her eyes moved to the cot that Jason had occupied. A couple of days ago, before he had been relocated down the hall to a smaller room with a low ceiling, Jason had developed a low-grade fever. So far with the aid of cool baths and lots of liquids, Mathew had been able to control it, but the wound was not healing, and remained red and irritated.
Shaking her head, Ellyssa faced Woody. “Why hold the trial now? You and Rein will be gone,” she said, her tone harsh.
Woody’s grey eyes locked with hers, swirling clouds before the storm. He lifted his hand as if to touch her, but at the last second, he shifted and picked up a tube of ointment that had fallen to the ground.
“I know you’re angry, but I promise, he will be fine.” He handed her the medicine.
“I just do not understand why I cannot go. I am much better trained for such encounters.”
“There aren’t going to be any encounters. We’re going to grab the truck and fetch the supplies. We won’t make it without provisions.”
“I still should go.” Ellyssa slammed the lid of the remaining chest and flipped the latch.
“They need you here.”
She stood, dusting off her hands. “That is not true. You got along fine until I came.”
Woody followed suit. “No, we didn’t. We’ve already learned so much from you.”
“If not for me, you would all still be safe.”
“You don’t know that. With the resistance, our supply trips, every day is a risk. We had to evacuate once before, not long after I had come here.”
Ellyssa stared at him pointedly. Was that supposed to make her feel better? If she had known being part of the community meant she would have to do what the council decided, she would’ve thought better of it.
They’d all voted against her, despite her concerns. Majority rules.
“Listen.” Woody closed in on her, taking her wrist in his hand. “We can’t risk you being caught.”
“I could help.”
“You know that’s not the point.” He paused. “I promise to bring him back safe.”
“I want you safe, too,” Ellyssa remarked, realizing as she made the statement, how true it was. Woody had helped her through a very difficult time after Jordan had passed.
Woody let go of her wrist and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. His touch was light and caring; and much to her surprise, she found it pleasant. He offered her a small smile before looking away, red flushing his face.
Confused by his actions, Ellyssa searched his expression. Unsure what he was thinking, she wanted to reach inside his head and pull out the answers. She didn’t. If she was going to live with these people, flourish in the community, she’d have to refrain from such behavior. She’d have to learn to read reactions on the surface. To trust. Still, she didn’t understand his blush or his touch.
Was it friendship? Did he want more? And most of all, why did she like it? Maybe it was just the closeness. After all, his touch didn’t send the sparks down her spine or accelerate the beat of her usual steady heart.
After a moment, when his face returned to its natural color, Woody looked back at her, his eyes still burning. “The other day, after Jordan…” His throat moved up and down as if a rock was lodged there. “You helped me realize.”
When he didn’t elaborate, Ellyssa said, “Realize what?”
Woody’s mouth opened but no words followed, and his face displayed an unreadable collage. Finally, he just placed his hand on her arm. “Rein’s lucky to have found you.”
“I am lucky to have found him.” She smiled, but Woody didn’t return the gesture.
Was he angry? He didn’t exhibit the usual signs of anger.
Sighing, Woody picked up a box and started for the door.
“Woody,” she said, stopping him. “I appreciate you being there that day. I was overwhelmed, and if not for you, I am not sure it would have gone as smoothly as it did. You helped with my…transformation, I guess you might say. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
Woody left Ellyssa standing alone, slightly bewildered. The simple sensations she’d masked for years were nothing compared to the complexity of living with normal people. Emotions were ever-more complex than she’d first thought. Her lessons about the Renegades being nothing more than simple animals, controlled by their feelings, kept breaking down and reshaping. They were complicated entities. Shaking her head, she resumed packing the supplies.
A set of footsteps she recognized caused her heart to slam against her chest. Still angry, she pushed down her initial reaction to run into Rein’s arms. After all, he had voted against her, too. Probably some male thing, thinking he was protecting her. They needed the protection she could offer.