Page 74 of Brandt's Rule

Chapter 16

Brandt got in the truck and got them headed down the road and off Kaid’s property, as Tempest faded more and more.

“Here, give me that mug,” he said, reaching over for it.

Tempest handed it to him gratefully.

“What’s going on, Tempest? Tell me what’s happening,” he said worriedly. “Something’s not right.”

“I just need to rest. A few hours to sleep and I’ll be fine,” she answered groggily. “It happens every time.”

“Every time what?” he asked.

“Every time I heal someone.”

“Every time you… you healed Sadie!” he said, almost angrily.

“Mmhmm. Had to. She wouldn’t have completely healed on her own. Might not have lasted much longer.”

“Tempest, not at your own expense. You don’t heal someone when it puts you at risk.”

Tempest smiled, though her eyes were closed now. “I’ll be fine. I take the symptoms, or the illness into me and my body dissipates them. But until then, I really need to sleep.”

As they headed down the highway, Brandt put his blinker on, and turned left onto his own land. They drove for a good while down a darkened dirt road, until he pulled up in front of a well lighted house. “We’re home,” he said.

Tempest opened her eyes and looked around. “Where are we?”

“My house. I’m not leaving you alone when you’re like this. You can sleep here, tonight. I’ll take you home in the morning once you’re feeling yourself again.”

“I don’t want to impose,” she said, starting to object. “I can just…” she swirled her fingers and slight mist escaped them, “zap myself home.”

“No, please. Stay with me. I promise, no funny business. Just don’t want you to be alone right now.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m fine.”

“Tempest?”

“Hmm?” she asked, opening her eyes again.

“Will you stay here?”

She looked out through the windshield and smiled. “My Papa’s house is raised off the ground like this. I really love this.”

Brandt turned off the engine, put the coffee mug on the floorboard, and opened his door. He turned to face her. “No zapping! I’m coming around to get you out.”

“Okay,” she said, not even opening her eyes.

Brandt hurried around to her side, opened the door and scooped her into his arms, grabbed her purse from the seat where she’d been sitting and started toward the house.

“I can walk,” she objected.

“Why? When I can just as easily carry you.”

“Okay,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder as he carried her up the stairs to his home.

He unlocked the door and flipped on the lights. He walked in and she didn’t even pick up her head to look around. Brandt took her straight to his bedroom and laid her on the bed. “I’ll be right back.”

He went back out to his porch and pressed his key fob to lock his truck up, then went back inside the house. Locking his door, he went back to his bedroom and looked down at Tempest lying across his bed, sound asleep. He took a seat beside her. “Tempest, honey? Can you wake for a minute?” he asked.

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