Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

Just the way he thought made her feel as if she might be. She took a deep breath, unconsciously fol owing his breathing pattern and did as he suggested, twisting the mass of hair into an ornate rol and sticking a pencil through to hold it in place.
    â€œInez is going to have a cup of—er—something with us this morning before work. You can catch up on al the happenings in Sea Haven.â€
    El e caught his sleeve. “Am I covered up?â€
    â€œAl the way, baby.†He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across her trembling mouth. “A little too much if you ask me, but then I’m rather fond of looking at you.â€
    Jackson went back into the kitchen and poured two cups of coffee from his automatic coffeemaker, which he loved. New technology was wonderful sometimes and to have coffee ready when he woke up was one of his joys in life.
    â€œI know what you’re doing,†El e cal ed out from the other room.
    The tea kettle began singing, although Jackson had not yet turned on the burner. “Damn it, El e. You’re not supposed to use psychic powers at al . Do you not comprehend what at all means? Because I can help you understand it.â€
    â€œDon’t threaten me, Jackson,†El e warned.
    He heard the water running and knew she’d bled again around her nose and mouth. Her brain was far from healed. “It wasn’t a threat, baby. It was more like a promise. Knock it off.†He made a smal pot of tea and put a tea towel over it to steep while he carried the coffee out to Inez.
    â€œSorry it took so long.â€
    Inez glanced toward the house with a smal smile. “I think you’ve got your hands ful with that one, Jackson. It’s going to take a strong man.â€
    He flashed another grin at Inez, actual y feeling amusement, something rare for him. He sprawled his legs out in front of him, taking a long, careful look around. “I like her being a spitfire. She looks so deceptive you know, a little thing, young-looking, people never take her seriously, but she’s got that brain, she’s smart as hel , and when she gets going, it’s a thing of beauty.â€
    Inez laughed. “She’s been that way since she was two.†She turned her head and looked straight at him. “She’l get through this and be al the stronger for it. She doesn’t think so now, but El e’s a fighter. And we’l help. You see anything at al we can do, you let us know.â€
    He raised his coffee cup to her. “You’re doing it, Inez. She needs to know she’s surrounded by people who love her.â€
    Inez looked away but not before he caught the sheen of tears. “The Drake girls have been a bright light in our vil age from the moment they were born. They’ve helped most of us in one way or another. This is a tight-knit community and we’re close. I know you’re worried about her.†Her faded eyes turned shrewd. “You think she’s stil in danger, don’t you?â€
    Jackson kept al expression from his face. Inez had no way of knowing where El e had been or what had happened to her, and he wasn’t about to clue her in. El e would hate that.
    â€œOh, don’t worry, you don’t have to tel me,†Inez said, as if reading his thoughts. “But if she’s in danger, we’l al protect her.
    She’s ours as much as yours.â€
    â€œThank you, Inez,†Jackson said.
    â€œWhen did you put in al these new plants?†Inez changed the subject, indicating his yard with her chin. “The last time I was here delivering groceries, none of those plants were there.â€
    Jackson frowned as he regarded his yard. Dark green vines twisted up his fence. Several green shoots were nearly knee high and thick with buds al up and down the walkway, lining the stepping stones. He looked closer at the stones. Inez had commented on the symbols etched into the stone. They hadn’t been there before. Neither had the plants. It wasn’t spring, yet plants were shooting up al over and he saw more birds flitting through his backyard then he’d ever seen before.
    He was staring thoughtful y out to sea when El e stepped onto the deck. Two dolphins leapt into the air, somersaulted and returned to the water. He leaned forward and took another slow look around his yard. Birds flitted from branches, stripped of leaves for the