Tales Of The Sazi 05 - Moon's Fury by C.t. Adams . Cathy Clamp Page B

explain things. Afterward, you can start to work out the details of this move. Now, we all have work to do, so let's get moving. Adam, you're with me.”
    He picked up his container and walked out the door without another word, leaving her to stand there, looking shell-shocked. An equally uncomfortable Adam stood and followed Lucas out the door with a shrug and an apologetic smile. But although his scent mostly matched his uncomfortable look, a light citrus scent of happiness followed him out the door.
    6
    Softly beeping instruments blended with the low lights and antiseptic scent in the hospital room. Cara stepped closer to the bed, being careful not to make any noise that might wake up the occupant. Livid bruises on the woman's pale skin reminded Cara vividly of the previous night, but the fact that the patient was in a regular room, rather than intensive care made it all worth it. All she'd wanted was to see the slowly raising chest and peaceful expression for herself. She'd just turned to leave when she heard an accented voice that was sleep-filled and hoarse.
    "Yo're her, aint'cha?”
    Cara turned around and smiled gently at the lightly frowning face. "How're you feeling, Mrs. Foster?”
    A pause, combined with an uncomfortable scent. "I'm not married. Yo kin call me Missy." The accent spoke of bayou country, somewhere deep in Louisiana. "Yo're that sheriff ma girl was telling me about, ain't ya? Yo're Miss Cara —the one what called the ambolance?”
    "Yep. I'm Sheriff Salinas …Cara. I'm so glad y'all are doing better, Missy. Brittany's a terrific little girl. It would have been a shame if she wound up without a mom…or worse." She didn't want to excuse the other woman's actions. The girl could have been killed, and these hospital bills were going to follow Missy Foster for years to come. One minute is all it would have taken to buckle up. Missy nodded, barely perceptible amongst the white sheets that seemed to envelop her small form. The machines attached to her continued to beep softly. "I've thought 'bout that… a lot. Pretty stupid o' me not to strap her in. Mama's been reminding me just how lucky we was." She stopped and then stared up strongly at Cara, her gaze intense and filled with… something. "But it wasn't all luck, was it, Miss Cara? I remember things—not all of it, mind yo, but enough. It ain't natural, me being alive, is it?”
    Cara forced herself not to show any surprise, but it was an effort. ¡Madre de Dios! Could she have remembered her lifting off the truck? She didn't dare talk about it, but she would have to check up on Missy for a few days, see just what memories she had. Pasting a smile on her face, she replied lightly,
    "Heaven was watching over y'all, that's for sure.”
    Again Missy nodded, but her eyes kept that same intensity. "Yes'm. God works in mysterious ways. And yo don't gotta worry, Miss Cara. I won't tell no one. Not never." She reached out a hand, lifting up the tubes attached to her skin with white tape that nearly matched the color of her skin. Her eyes filled with tears. "I can't tell yo how grateful I am to have a 'nothah chance to watch ma baby grow up. I won't mess it up—I promise.”
    Cara took the woman's hand in hers and blinked back tears as she squeezed lightly. Missy's scent made it clear that she wasn't kidding. Citrus and hot metal, tinged with wetness said the woman was both grateful and determined to straighten out.
    They remained that way for a moment, just holding hands, until Cara heard a man clear his throat in the doorway. Will's voice was flat, but his scent said he was a little choked up, too. "We really need to get to it, Cara.”
    She nodded, released Missy's hand and turned toward the door, leaving the woman she had saved to go attend to those she didn't get to in time.
    "This is not good." Will's hushed voice spoke the understatement of the year as she stared with horror at the mangled body only partly covered by a white sheet. The scent of the