First Thirst (Craving 1)

“I found you unconscious out on the main road not far from MacLeod,” I answered. “Do you remember how you got there?”

“I…I was in my car…” she offered, frowning as she put a hand to her forehead.

“Yes, I noticed it on the side of the road,” I told her. “You got out of your car. Why?”

“Someone was lying in the middle of the road and I remember now…it frightened me…I was sure I should stay in my car and call for help, but something…something made me get out.”

I looked at Jeremy. “Are they capable of compulsion at a distance?”

“No,” Jeremy said firmly. “They must look one in the eye, but they are capable of influencing those who are susceptible to suggestion.”

“What?” she asked us. “What are you saying?”

“You were telling us you stopped to help someone, my dear,” Jeremy hurriedly stuck in. “That you got out of the car…”

“Yes, yes…I was afraid, but I couldn’t allow the man…I remember now, it was a man…to die, could I? I am a nurse, you see,” she said.

“And then?” I prompted.

“And then…I must have fainted…I don’t remember anything after that,” she said.

I was relieved. She didn’t need to remember this and suffer nightmares all her life. “Well…you are okay now,” I told her.

“What about the man in the road?” she asked. “Did he get help?”

“Oh, yes. It turned out that he had a bit too much to drink and his family was called and off he went.”

“Oh good,” she said, and tried to stand.

Jeremy detained her. “Take a moment…tell me, what is your name?”

“Betsy Scarbough,” she said with a half-smile and then added, “I must get home. I am late and my husband has to get to work and won’t leave until I get there. We have a son…and work shifts so we can look after him ourselves.”

“I will take you home. Do you have your cell? You can call him while I drive you home,” Jeremy said.

“Yes…yes…but my car?”

“If you need help retrieving it, you can call us in the morning and one of us will get you to your car, deal?” I said, and smiled encouragingly at her.

She took both my hands in hers and said, “Thank you. I can’t say why…but I feel as though you saved my life tonight.”

“That is silly. You probably were so busy working today you forgot to eat. Why, look at you, thin as a rail,” I offered as Jeremy supported her and walked her towards the hall.

I was thankful both Davis and Mrs. Tunny had already gone home, or I would have had to do a whole lot of explaining and I wasn’t ready for that.

Jeremy and I exchanged glances as he said, “I will return as soon as I may.”

I turned then as I heard Devin, who had arrived in time to witness the last of our adventure. He released a string of curses while I waited for Jeremy and Betsy to be out the door. With their dep

arture, I wagged a finger and said, “Stop! Calm down, Devin.”

“Calm down? Evidently she was a ruse to get to ye!” Devin snapped. “That means Allora knows ye are here.”

“She doesn’t know that I am Lisa’s granddaughter, does she? If she knows, if this was because of her, I’ll bet she simply doesn’t want a woman installed at MacLeod. That is my guess,” I told him, because all this had already occurred to me.

I threw off my denim blazer and moved to pour myself some wine.

He said nothing while I threw down a glass.