the population grew because people weren’t dying.
This had only happened one time, in one city, centuries ago. Until that
particular day, Healers hadn’t been even a thought in people’s minds or in
local legend. Afterwards, however, the stories began and the legends developed
and spread from generation to generation, losing momentum after the first
couple.
**************************************************
AJ had planned on sleeping in since it was a
Saturday and Bob had given him the day off work, seeing as the newbie had
already fixed every vehicle in a 20 mile radius in the previous two days. Since
his dinner with Addie and Gram, his conversation with the latter, and a
somewhat nerve-wracking visit with Max, he had delved into work and nothing
else. He’d caught Addie’s glance when
he’d returned to the B&B the night before. He’d looked away and darted
inside before she could speak. He needed space to sort out all the new
information he’d input into his brain in the previous week.
He really didn’t even need to sleep in,
seeing as he hadn’t healed anyone in about a week. He was feeling at maximum
strength. His conscience, on the other hand, was starting to weigh on him for
not creating some good in the world as of late. He hadn’t felt anything
sinister since his night at Max’s home so he hoped the Grim had passed by
without making an appearance anywhere near Lee.
Sleeping in was not meant to be as around sunrise
a knock came at his door.
“I’m not decent Helen, I’ll be out in a
minute,” he said, sitting up. The voice that responded back was not that of an
older woman.
“Get outta bed,
stranger. It’s time for that tour I promised you.”
Addie.
What he wanted to do was tell her to go away,
he didn’t want the tour today. He didn’t want to be rude either, though. Maybe
she had forgotten all about Gram’s house, and they could make a go as friends.
“Not likely,” he whispered to himself.
“Just a minute, Addie,” he said, standing up
and stretching. He pulled on some shorts - appropriate since he only slept in
underwear. He rubbed his eyes to wake up a bit and with a sigh walked over and
turned the aged door knob.
“Addie, I think I’m gonna pass on the tour today,” he said in a low voice, keeping his eyes to the ground
until the last word had exited his mouth.
“This isn’t for you, you know. It’s to pay a
debt. You fixed my truck, I owe you. I settle my debts.”
“Then rain check?” Perhaps more time would
give him a chance to figure out how to keep his distance.
“You’re not getting out of it. What is it? My breath? My hair? Not that I give
a damn about what you think. I only know you have nothing else to do today.
Plenty of girls have been askin ’ Bob when you’re
working - and the word around town is you have today off. It’s not often we get
a handsome stranger in town. Don’t give me that look either. I said it –
handsome stranger. That’s what they’re callin ’ you.
Not sure I agree.”
She wondered if the lie slipped past her
tongue with sincerity. If he wanted to act like nothing had happened, she would
definitely do the same.
He gave a slight laugh and kept her back by
leaning against the door and keeping it as closed as possible.
“Addie, not now. Today, I just want to sit around, do nothing.”
“Then at least come to a party today. You’ll
get to meet lots of people. They’re all askin ’ about
you, and they won’t leave you alone until they are satisfied they’ve met you
and don’t think you’re a threat to the town.”
He sighed with resignation. He knew she
wasn’t going to give up and maybe if he got it over with, he’d have the space
he so desperately wanted.
“Fine,” he replied. “What time?”
“I’ll come back at noon. You know, so you can
get your beauty sleep. You really need it or you’re
This had only happened one time, in one city, centuries ago. Until that
particular day, Healers hadn’t been even a thought in people’s minds or in
local legend. Afterwards, however, the stories began and the legends developed
and spread from generation to generation, losing momentum after the first
couple.
**************************************************
AJ had planned on sleeping in since it was a
Saturday and Bob had given him the day off work, seeing as the newbie had
already fixed every vehicle in a 20 mile radius in the previous two days. Since
his dinner with Addie and Gram, his conversation with the latter, and a
somewhat nerve-wracking visit with Max, he had delved into work and nothing
else. He’d caught Addie’s glance when
he’d returned to the B&B the night before. He’d looked away and darted
inside before she could speak. He needed space to sort out all the new
information he’d input into his brain in the previous week.
He really didn’t even need to sleep in,
seeing as he hadn’t healed anyone in about a week. He was feeling at maximum
strength. His conscience, on the other hand, was starting to weigh on him for
not creating some good in the world as of late. He hadn’t felt anything
sinister since his night at Max’s home so he hoped the Grim had passed by
without making an appearance anywhere near Lee.
Sleeping in was not meant to be as around sunrise
a knock came at his door.
“I’m not decent Helen, I’ll be out in a
minute,” he said, sitting up. The voice that responded back was not that of an
older woman.
“Get outta bed,
stranger. It’s time for that tour I promised you.”
Addie.
What he wanted to do was tell her to go away,
he didn’t want the tour today. He didn’t want to be rude either, though. Maybe
she had forgotten all about Gram’s house, and they could make a go as friends.
“Not likely,” he whispered to himself.
“Just a minute, Addie,” he said, standing up
and stretching. He pulled on some shorts - appropriate since he only slept in
underwear. He rubbed his eyes to wake up a bit and with a sigh walked over and
turned the aged door knob.
“Addie, I think I’m gonna pass on the tour today,” he said in a low voice, keeping his eyes to the ground
until the last word had exited his mouth.
“This isn’t for you, you know. It’s to pay a
debt. You fixed my truck, I owe you. I settle my debts.”
“Then rain check?” Perhaps more time would
give him a chance to figure out how to keep his distance.
“You’re not getting out of it. What is it? My breath? My hair? Not that I give
a damn about what you think. I only know you have nothing else to do today.
Plenty of girls have been askin ’ Bob when you’re
working - and the word around town is you have today off. It’s not often we get
a handsome stranger in town. Don’t give me that look either. I said it –
handsome stranger. That’s what they’re callin ’ you.
Not sure I agree.”
She wondered if the lie slipped past her
tongue with sincerity. If he wanted to act like nothing had happened, she would
definitely do the same.
He gave a slight laugh and kept her back by
leaning against the door and keeping it as closed as possible.
“Addie, not now. Today, I just want to sit around, do nothing.”
“Then at least come to a party today. You’ll
get to meet lots of people. They’re all askin ’ about
you, and they won’t leave you alone until they are satisfied they’ve met you
and don’t think you’re a threat to the town.”
He sighed with resignation. He knew she
wasn’t going to give up and maybe if he got it over with, he’d have the space
he so desperately wanted.
“Fine,” he replied. “What time?”
“I’ll come back at noon. You know, so you can
get your beauty sleep. You really need it or you’re
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