Alexander Ranch

Chapter 21

Daisy was driving my car today. I'd noticed when we'd exited my house that her car was gone. Jordan must have left in a grumpy huff. I shrugged it off as we set off for the ranch. When we got to the ranch, Daisy assembled everyone in a big meeting room I had not been in before. She left me sitting in a butter soft, plush chair around an oblong table and ran to get everyone else. Jordan was the first to arrive followed by Grace and Logan. Once we were all together Daisy launched into a speech about how I was a telepath and could resist drainers, just as they could, and they needed to know how this was done. I sat there growing more and more uncomfortable as Daisy talked and everyone else listened intently while looking at her and then me. Everyone had been politely staying away from me, I assumed to let me assimilate all the new information I'd gotten about them in the last twenty-four hours. I still hadn't decided how I felt about it. I had started feeling better until Daisy put me in the center of attention again. But, this time it was me whose secrets were being exposed to them.

"While this is very fascinating, Daisy," Logan said during a pause, "I can't say I understand where this is going."

"Don't you see? She can help us," Daisy exclaimed enthusiastically. Jordan stiffened. Logan put a hand up to stop him from speaking and looked at me doubtfully.

"I'm guessing you didn't ask her if she wanted to help us?" Logan patiently asked Daisy.

"Of course she does," Daisy looked at Logan as if he were dull witted. Logan sighed and sent a sidelong glance at his wife.

"Help you how?" I asked feeling like I had better jump in and do damage control. I wasn't sure exactly what Daisy was thinking, but I had a feeling I might not like it.

"Help us with the case. You can read the minds, or feelings, or whatever, of the people we are investigating."

"Daisy, I told you it doesn't quite work that way. I can't always get exact thoughts."

"Then what do you get?"

"I don't know, feelings I guess. Sometimes words."

"Well, read me now. Let's see what you get," She began looking at me as if she were willing her thoughts to me.

What am I thinking? The words popped into my head and my mouth and eyes popped wide in surprise.

"Well?" she asked.

I looked around the room and everyone was now staring at me.

"You asked me what you were thinking."

"What is Grace thinking now?"

I paused for a moment, opening my senses. I hadn't had to open my senses to Daisy. That was curious. Maybe that was why I'd been so plagued by the thoughts of others before I'd learned to lock them out. Maybe people had been inadvertently sending me their thoughts.

I reached out to Grace and I got no words, but I felt her curiosity.

"I don't hear any words, but she feels curious."

"I'm not sure I was thinking anything coherent enough for words," she laughed, "but, I am definitely curious."

"What about Logan?" Daisy went on excitedly.

Again, I opened my senses and reached out to Logan. "I don't get any words from him either. But he feels curious as well, and skeptical."

Logan's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't say anything.

"Logan, think some actual thoughts to her. That's what I did."

"What do you want me to say, uh, think?"