Page 98 of Spiritwarrior

Hurt, he shuttered his eyes. This was what he had been afraid of being accused of. Raising his eyelids, he stared at her honestly. “I’ve never used my gift to force you to doanything. I learnt that lesson when I convinced my dad to let us take turns on the ATV without helmets.”

Jody felt her arms go around him.

“I can’t even talk to them to tell them how sorry I am. They both have been rebirthed. I haven’t used that ability since they died. I won’t. I thought because I was on the mountain, I wouldn’t have any repercussions. I didn’t; they did. Silas keeps telling me Dad wouldn’t have given in to me, because he had the same gift. He gave in because he wanted to.”

“I agree with Silas,” she said softly. “You can’t blame yourself. You were only a child.”

“I always will. That’s why I would never use my gift to force you to do anything. I love you.”

“I believe you.”

She gave him a misty smile, which made him feel like Hercules.

“You may be a conceited, extremely attractive doofus, but you’re mine, too. I guess I can deal with you talking to dead people as long as you don’t talk to them around me or bring them home.”

Jody gave her a pained expression.

“I promise… there’s just a big favor I need first.”

Sophie separated herself from him.

“What’s the favor?” She glared at him suspiciously.

“You don’t need to be here when I talk to him,” Jody assured her.

“What do you need?”

“I need the letter you said Marty left you.”

Sophie frowned at him.

“Why do you need the letter?”

“The letter will allow me to talk to him without being near his body. I could look for his spirit in the afterlife, but I prefer not going that route.”

“Why...” Sophie broke off. “Never mind, I don’t have to guess where that son of bitch is. The letter is in the drawer of the dresser. Do I need to get it for you?”

“No.”

“Can I go let the delivery drivers in?”

“Go ahead. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

“Okay.” Sophie started to leave then hesitated. “If you talk to Marty here, can he come back here whenever he wants? I really don’t want him haunting me.”

“No, he can only come when I call him.”

“I need a drink.”

Jody heard her mutter under her breath.

“I’ll chill a bottle of wine for us to drink tonight when we get home.”

“Chill a case. I’m going to need several bottles.” She swung back as if another thought occurred to her. “By the way, I don’t need to worry about you cheating me on me with dead women, do I? ‘Cause as much as I love you, that would be a deal breaker. I’m not fighting a corpse over you.”

“Of course not. Don’t be silly.”

Deciding it was prudent, he rushed up the steps of the trailer to lock himself inside as Sophie came at him with deadly intent. Damn, he was going to have to do something about her jealously streak. The way she just looked at him, he wouldn’t need the letter to get to talk to Marty; he would be his roommate in the other life.

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