Unlikely Angel

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Susan sat next to Johnny as he slept. She went back and forth between comfort and panic as she watched his chest steadily rise and fall. It felt good to know that she wasn’t the only person who felt fear. Sometimes it seemed everyone else was so calm while she worried herself to near madness.

To know that even Johnny, her rescuer, her guardian, her protector, even he felt fear, was comforting in its way. But there was a panic bubbling as well. He was always so certain of things, so calm and collected. If he felt fear, then there was credibility to her own fears. She had always reasoned that if she was the only one afraid then maybe there was no basis for her fear. It didn’t entirely stop her from being afraid but she at least felt a security that she was surrounded by leveler heads. Now she wasn’t sure.

She thought of the story Hound Dog had told her and couldn’t help reaching out and placing her small hand on his neck. It terrified her that there had once been a noose right there, a bit of rope that would have ceased that reassuring rise and fall forever.

She would have eventually died in that barn…scared, hurt and alone. There would have been no Johnny to save her. If she was lucky, she would have been left to die in solitude. There was no way to know that anyone who would have come along wouldn’t have been worse than the bad men. She had been lucky that the man who had, in fact, come to see about the gunshots was a man she could trust.

Gently she peeled the blankets back, hoping the cooler air in the room wouldn’t wake the sleeping man. He was bare to the waist as she had just replaced his bandages before convincing him to lie down. She placed her hand over the wound. It was now the same temperature as the rest of his body and she was grateful for that.

She would have to thank Tusk for the medicine he gave her. It was some tree bark. She wasn’t sure exactly what and what it was mattered less to her than the fact that it worked. She brought the blankets up to cover him again but paused halfway up to place her hand over his breastbone to feel that constant beating within. Sometimes feeling that rhythm was all that could bring her comfort. Today was one of those times.

She didn’t know how he would manage the things he promised. She was starting to gain an awareness that he didn’t always know that either but he hadn’t ever let her down. Susan was starting to develop a faith that he never would. As long as that heart beat within that chest, she knew his promises would not be broken and she would be safe.

Her hand lingered a while longer allowing the steady pulse to soothe her worried mind. She did not notice when Johnny’s eyes opened and he surveyed his surroundings but she felt it when his hand settled on hers.

“Hey there Princess, I hate admitting when someone else is right but it seems I did need that rest. Maybe I should listen to you more often.”