The Wicked and the Wondrous by Christine Feehan Page B

horror film.” Jackson shook his head. “I’m not going into an institution.”
    “You’re the only one who ever thinks that way,” Jonas said quietly. “So do your sisters have any ideas, Kate? This is more your field than ours.” He nodded toward the other two Rangers. “We can be your soldiers, but you’re going to have to give us a direction.”
    Kate leaned back in the chair, fatigue in every line of her body. “We’re working on it. Abbey and Sarah and Damon were going through the diaries this morning. We’ll find the reference and at least have a starting point.”
    “I notice you didn’t mention Hannah,” Jonas observed. There was a challenge in his voice. “Is she ill? Is that what’s wrong with her?” When Kate didn’t answer, Jonas swore. “Dammit, Kate, if she’s ill, you owe it to me to tell me. Something’s wrong with her.”
    “Something’s always been wrong with her, Jonas, you just never noticed before.” Kate folded her arms. “I’m not going to be bullied into telling you something that is Hannah’s private business. Ask her.”
    Jonas swore again and stormed out. Kate rolled her eyes. “His temper hasn’t improved much with age.”
    “Come on, Kate, I’m taking you to dinner at my house. I’m a great cook.” Matt reached down and drew her up from the chair. “I think it’s the only sanctuary left to us.”
    “I should go home and help the others.”
    Jackson stood up too. “You made me feel better. How did you do it?”
    Kate smiled at him and offered her hand. “It was a pleasure finally to meet you, Mr. Deveau. Jonas and Matthew speak so highly of you.”
    He hesitated but took her hand. “Please call me Jackson.”
    Kate felt the jolt of his heavy burden go up her arm. It was difficult to maintain her smile when she felt the brooding darkness in the man. She wasn’t Libby. She couldn’t heal the sick, and in any case, she didn’t sense that Jackson Deveau was physically ill so much as spiritually so. “I wish you peace, Jackson,” she murmured softly, and allowed Matthew to draw her from the house out into the cool air.
    “He didn’t have a Christmas tree up, or any decorations at all,” she said sadly. “If anyone needs Christmas, it’s that man.”
    “He’ll work it out, Kate,” Matthew assured her. “He has his demons, but the bottom line is, honor and integrity rule his life. He would never do any of the things he’s afraid he will, and, just like Jonas, he would protect this town and the people in it with his last breath.”
    “I’m glad you brought him to Sea Haven. You were right about this place. There’s just something about the way the people are here—they’re welcoming to outsiders.” The interior of his car was warm after the chilling wind blowing in off the ocean.
    “Did your sisters really call me a Neanderthal?”
    She burst out laughing. “Well, yes, but in a good way. I think they could easily picture you beating your chest and tossing your woman over your shoulder to carry her off to somewhere private.”
    He nodded. “I can understand that. I do have those urges. Often.” He looked at her, his hand still around the key. “I really want to take you back to my house, Kate.” He waited a heartbeat before starting the engine.
    “Are your brothers going to be there? Because, honestly, I think I’m too tired to have them all laughing at me today. I’d probably burst into tears.”
    He pressed a hand to his heart. “Don’t even say that. I think I’d rather take a bullet than see you cry. And my brothers don’t laugh at you.” He glanced at her to see if she was serious.
    “They always laugh at me,” she said. “I’m always doing these idiotic things whenever I’m around you. Like the other day when you had that accident and you tried to get out of the truck and I was standing too close.” She looked down at her hands. “Danny just about fell out of the truck laughing.”
    “At me, Katie, never at you. My