Page 8 of Special Agent Raven
Just then, an exhausted Josh sidled up to Cane and leaned on him. Raven could see a flash of pain on Cane’s face before he controlled it. He didn’t push the boy aside, but he did turn his chair, making Josh have to stand back. “Hey big guy, are you feeling tired now that your belly’s full? Need to sleep? It’s getting late.”
Josh’s eyes were at half mast, and he nodded. “Can me and Ami sleep with you and Raven? I think she’s scared you’ll leave us, and she’s crying for Mama.” The telling silence that followed his remark wasn’t missed by any of the adults sitting there.
Before Cane could answer, Winona spoke up. “Honey, Cane and Raven have to go back to town and help more people. But I have a huge bed. And sometimes, I can talk Koda into joining me. There’s lots of room for two more small people to sleep with us. Would that be okay?”
Josh’s face lit up at the thought of sleeping with the dog. “Can we, Cane?”
Raven saw Cane’s uncertainty and answered for him. “Sure you can. Nana loves telling stories, so no doubt, she’ll entertain you until you’re fast asleep. But watch out for Koda cause she hogs the pillows.”
Laughing at the picture Raven purposely painted, Josh ran to tell the little girl the good news. “Ami, we get to sleep with Nana and Koda.”
Ami lifted her head off the dog’s tummy, swiped at her tears, and grinned tiredly. “We do? Goody.”
Raven smiled her thanks toward Nana and realized that the older woman had begun to study Cane who’d stood awkwardly to carry his dishes to the sink. “Cane, I have some medicine that can help you with that stiffness.” Instantly, she got to her feet. “Come with me.”
Cane hesitated. He looked toward Raven who smiled encouragingly. “I don’t want to be any trouble, Winona. You’ve already welcomed me to your home and fed me.”
“Nonsense, son. Follow me.” Winona stood and led the way out of the kitchen.
Chapter Six
Winona turned on the lights in smaller room that looked magical when illuminated. There were rows of different sized jars hanging upside down along an overhead wooden beam. All contained different species of herbs, some looked fresh, and others were obviously chopped and dried. The shades of colors caught one’s eye, but the divine smells took one to heaven.
Vases of flowers in all sorts of conditions were placed on the bay window facing the southwest. The numbers available made one think of a flower shop that stored different species of every color, shape, and size of both plants and blossoms.
On the wall, she’d hung stalks from dried flowering plants and herbs tied with pieces of colored wool to bunches of dill and other spices, so the choices were endless. There was a long table where she had various tools used to work with these medicines and also a small refrigerator for keeping some of her traditionally based remedies cool.
Jars of specialized teas, such as ginger, mint, chamomile and dandelion were lined up also and proved she sorted much of her garden’s produce for boiling and drinking as well as for their fragrances. It might have been a workroom, but any sensitive person coming over the threshold would feel that instant sense of wellbeing.
“Come in and stand over here by the light.” Winona took Cane’s hand as encouragement and gently guided him to where she could see his injuries better.
Cane responded hesitantly but finally gave in to her forceful tugs. “It’s fine, Winona.”
Without releasing his hand, she spoke gently, “But, you see, Cane, it isn’t fine, is it? You’re not only bruised on the outside of your body, my lad, but you’re broken. You’ve taken some terrible punishment to the inside as well. I can sense when a man’s fighting, clinging to his control to keep out the rest of the world.”
Cane swiftly faced her. Christ only knew that for the last three years he’d been trying to kill himself with Scotch to lessen the pain of living with his memories. Throughout every long, hateful day, he’d gotten so well at hiding this inner torment that he’d become cold, relentless in his attitude to keep everyone at arm’s length. Nothing came between him and his pain. And nobody had seemed to notice the extent of his withdrawal, or care.
Then this old lady sees him… really sees him. That flustered him more than he thought possible. It must be the day’s events that weakened his resolve. Seriously, he couldn’t have that, now could he? He stiffened. Best offense is defense. “Exactly what are you saying?”
Winona stared back without flinching. “I’m saying your soul is suffering terribly. Your empty eyes are so sad it breaks my heart. No, don’t pull away. I’ll stop talking, but you must let me look at these wounds. I can help. Take off your shirt.”
Cane finally removed his shirt and stood quietly in front of Winona. “I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You aren’t though. I’ve lived many years and saw my share of broken hearts. Yours is young and can be repaired.”
“I meant my physical injuries.” Voice harsh and filled with self-hate, he growled, “I don’t want or deserve to repair my - my black heart.” He looked down at the soft braids wrapped around the older lady’s head as she applied a paste-like substance to his bruises. “I deserve to live with the pain. Trust me, even God has no time for the likes of me.”
“From what Raven just shared, I believe your God’s pretty busy right now.”
“Yeah, well… I’m talking about three years ago. He ignored me then when I could have used his help. Now, I’m too messed up for him to think about. Like you say, he’s got better things to do with his time.”
Winona stopped what she was doing to look at Cane. “No. Don’t turn away, Cane. Quit hiding your pain. Deal with it so it’ll stop eating you alive. If you can’t share with a person, there’s a big forest out there willing to listen to your troubles. The birds, insects, and trees are all filled with cleansing abilities to soothe you if you’re willing to inhale their healing powers.”
“I don’t deserve to heal. Are you finished? I’m sure Raven is getting antsy to get back to town.”
Winona placed her warm hand on Cane’s naked skin right over his heart. “Your God helped you save Josh and Amelia from dying in a terrifying, horrible way, didn’t he? He’s with you. Believe it.”
Cane stopped and looked at her, letting her see the vast emptiness that was his reality. Then he sighed. “Raven helped me save them…not my God or any gods.” He picked up the jar of cream she held out, picked up his shirt and yanked it on as he headed to the door.