Page 6 of Special Agent Raven
“No. Not so. Cane Masters and I were able to get the kids to safety. But Josh did tell us that his mother jumped in the water to save her dog, and his daddy went in after her. They haven’t seen them since.”
Just then, Cane approached with the two crying children. “They wanted you, Raven.”
Crouching to pick up Ami and putting her arm around Josh, she made introductions. “Deputy Palmer Dickens meet Cane Masters, the man I told you about. He’s a hero… jumped into the water and saved these two. I just helped him pull them out of the river.”
“Good to meet you.” Cane shook hands with the other man and then stepped behind her as if to say this is your show. So, what’s next?
Taking the hint, she asked Palmer the vital question. “What happens now? Is there a place set up for the victims?”
“Yeah, yeah. At the sc-sc-hool. They have c-coffee, hot s-soup, and s-sandwiches, and they’re setting up c-cots for those who don’t have b-beds.”
Raven looked around at the anxiety on every distressed face. She couldn’t help overhearing the gist of their conversations and decided the kids would be even more traumatized if they stayed with the others. “Know what? I’m taking them home to Winona’s with me. If you get any word on their parents, call me. I’ll get them settled with Nana, grab a bite, and be back to lend a hand.”
“Go-o-d-d, we can s-sure use you.”
When she turned away from Palmer, she basically bumped into Cane. The big man appeared exhausted. “You should come with us. Winona has some treatments like ointments and poultices she makes herself that will soothe those bruises. I swear the woman should have a medical degree for her home remedies. Folks from all around come to her for cures.”
“I was hoping you’d let me join you. My car’s floating downriver somewhere, and I doubt there’s a room to be had in town. I could use a meal and a bath.”
“And something for those wounds.”
“Yeah.” As they turned to go back to the jeep, she watched as Josh slipped his hand into Cane’s and saw the hesitation on the big man’s face before he relaxed and accepted the gesture.
For a man willing to give up his life to save the kids, he sure seemed prickly now. What the hell was that all about?
Chapter Five
Ten minutes later, they were pulling into Winona’s big yard, only to have Raven’s golden retriever dash from her sleeping post on the porch to greet them with a barking frenzy of delight.
“Koda.” Raven leapt from the vehicle and ran to hug her favorite pet.
Nana had presented Koda’s mother to Raven on her eleventh birthday. That gift had lifted the final steel bar encasing her scarred heart. No one had ever given her such a wonderful gift, and she’d cried from happiness for days. The golden puppy she’d called Takoda, thinking it was a game, had licked away the tears and became her shadow from then on.
Years later, before Takoda passed, she’d given them her last litter, and Nana had determined they needed to keep one to replace their beloved pet when her time came. And so playful, lovable Koda had been their choice.
In seconds, Josh and Amelia had left the jeep to join in the reunion and Koda loved the attention. It wasn’t until Canestepped forward that the dog changed from being welcoming to remembering her guard duties. A stiffening of her previously wiggling body and a low growl gave warning she didn’t like this man.
“Koda. Stop. Cane is a friend. Behave.”
Cane leaned over to try petting the dog and though she allowed this, the dog’s body didn’t relax. Instead, she watched his every move and only gave him a second of attention before returning to exuberantly welcoming the kids.
“I’m sorry. She’s not usually so distant to someone I bring home.”
“It’s okay. I’ve never had a dog, and she probably senses that.”
Raven still felt sad. Her dog had taken the few seconds to stare into Cane’s eyes, and she must have perceived the same thing Raven had seen… an ice shield so thick it seemed impenetrable.
Before they could speak more, the door opened, and Winona appeared in one of her long, multi-colored, caftan-styled dresses that gave her an appearance of royalty. With her braids wrapped around her head neatly and the huge pieces of silver jewelry on her wrists and around her neck she seldom took off, her appearance had love brimming over in Raven’s heart. “Nana. You look wonderful.”
They hugged with enthusiasm, and if only Raven hadn’t sensed the weakness in her grandmother’s body, all would have been fine. “Do you feel okay, Nana? Should you be home?”
“Yes. Don’t fuss. I’m fine, child. Especially now that you’ve arrived safe and sound. I was trying to rest but I couldn’t seem to relax. Strangely, yesterday and today I’ve had terrible premonitions of sadness and danger. It’s making it difficult for me to settle.”
Suddenly, she looked up and saw Cane and the two children standing just within the area lit by the porch light. “Hello. Who do we have here?”
Winona stepped away from Raven’s greeting to smile a welcome at the strangers. “I’m Winona Wire. This is my home. Welcome. Please. Come inside out of the rain.”
Cane helped the children forward, encouraging them not to be afraid. “Come on kids. This is Koda’s owner and Raven’s grandmother. Let’s go over and say hello.”