Page 163 of Immortal Bastard

“Get in the carriage.” His tone turned threatening. “Now. My mother will take you home. Do not speak to anyone about this. Do you understand?”

“I just—”

“Do you understand?” he snapped and she jumped back, quickly nodding.

CHAPTER 23

When they arrived at the house the yard was flooded with animals. Cows had come from the field, and kittens and barn cats lolled in puddles of sunshine on the porch. A goat ate at the shrubs. Squirrels raced over the gutters and two fat gophers sat up like prairie dog gargoyles guarding the gardens.

“What in the world…?” Adriel whispered.

Baby geese waddled after their mother and Delilah gaped, certain this wasn’t normal.

It had something to do with her. She just knew it.

A cow eyed her with big brown eyes as she walked past. It stunk, and its tail swatted at flies as its mouth chewed a hefty swallow of grass. She ran her hand over its back and recognized the flower-like splotch of brown on her back.

“Hey, Cher, what are you doing all the way over here?”

Cher batted her long lashes and continued to chew. Something told Delilah to look under the cow’s belly.

“Delilah, we have to go inside and wait for Christian.”

“Hold on.” She ducked low and sucked in a breath at the sight of the cow’s udder. It was red and irritated, maybe even infected.

“He won’t be happy if you disobey him again.”

She frowned. “I have to do something first.” She turned her attention back to Cher and spoke softly. “Does your booby hurt?”

Delilah knew absolutely nothing about livestock and had never touched a cow before, but she saw the issue and thought there would be no harm in trying something. Squatting down, she gently cupped the teat in her hand.

The cow bleated and shifted her weight.

Shutting her eyes, Delilah focused on the pain. Cher stilled as she poured her energy into the sore utter, imagining it coming out of her in a white, healing light.

As the burning sense of irritation faded, Delilah swayed. She released the swollen udder and dropped to her knees, lowering her head to the cool grass.

“Delilah?” Adriel approached cautiously.

“Mmhm,” she moaned, dizzy and weak with fatigue.

Christian’s mother examined the cow. “You healed her.”

She caught her breath and looked up at the woman, smiling weakly. “I don’t know how this stuff works.”

She smiled. “You have a gift.”

The idea that she might possess a unique skill pleased her very much. “I have to help the others.”

“But Christian—”

“They’re in pain.”

Adriel glanced in the direction of the accident. They were too far to see the damage, but the scent of smoke tinged the air, and Delilah sensed Christian was preoccupied. The blaring horn had stopped but the sirens still wailed.

Adriel looked back at Delilah and gave her apron a tug. “How can I help?”

They started with the geese. The goslings were fine, but the mother goose was terribly dehydrated and suffering from a stomach disease. As soon as Delilah put her hands on its body, she felt the issue and was able to pull the infection out.

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