They exchanged a glance. “She can’t take us both on,” the first fool declared. “And you all busted up.”
“Are you really going to make me use this?” Jade inquired politely. “Just leave before you piss me off.”
The second dude sneered, his upper lip curling. “You ain’t got nuthin.”
Shaking her head in regret, Jade tapped her baton against her thigh. “I’ll ask you again. Leave. Please. I really don’t want to hurt you.”
In reply, the pair bunched their fists and ran at her.
I also started forward, concerned that she could easily handle one opponent, but not two.
Like a dancer, Jade moved with lithe grace, swinging her baton. I hesitated, not wanting to get in her way, and stood ready to help her should she require it. Her weapon cracked against the sneering dude’s head, making him screech, and bring bothhands to his injury. Obviously, she pulled the blow, not hitting him nearly as hard as she could have.
The other guy swung his fist. Jade ducked low and hit him across his skinny thigh. Faltering, he, too, yelled in pain, then limped his way out of her reach.
“You hit me,” he howled.
Jade ambled toward him and tapped the baton on his collar bone. A tap with that steel rod likely left a very nasty bruise, and obviously hurt like hell. The junkie screeched and backed away. Poking the tip into the first dude’s diaphragm had him bending over while gasping.
“Okay, that’s enough,” she said firmly, turning them around and using the baton to usher them through the door they’d entered. “Go on. Grab your stuff, get out. Squat someplace else. That’s it. Scoot.”
In fascination, grinning, I watched as she herded them out the busted window, the cold air washing into our warm front room. They complained bitterly as they retreated, their sacks in their hands. Jade stood at the window for a long moment, making sure they departed, then stepped in the front room and shut the door behind her.
“You could have busted them up,” I commented.
“No reason to,” she replied, pushing the baton’s rod back into the compact shell. “They’ve learned their lesson. And I’ll get locks for those doors.”
I rubbed my fiercely aching shoulder. “Think it’s a good idea to leave here? Even to run an errand?”
Jade nibbled her lip. “We can’t have any homeless yo-yo wandering in here to challenge us. Those doors won’t hold a determined assailant, but I think they’ll stop junkies.”
I returned to my sleeping bag, suspecting I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. The cats had taken the invasion and the yelling with equanimity, busily washed their faces and ears withtheir tails curled around their paws. I lay back down, watching the fire as Jade went into the kitchen. She came out a few moments later.
“I’ll fix us some soup,” she said, standing over me. “Then I’m going to get locks and a cell. I’m really worried about Alix.”
“You’re really beautiful with the firelight dancing on your face.”
Flushing, Jade offered a self-conscious half-smile. “Thanks. Um, I’ll get the soup on.”
I grinned to myself. For all her toughness and her abilities to fight like Bruce Lee, she had no idea how to take a compliment. And that was a real shame, as she wasn’t just extraordinarily good looking, she was extraordinary in herself. I forced myself to admit I’d never met anyone quite like Jade.
I learned I liked Jade very much.
She returned with bowls of steaming soup, crackers, utensils, and plastic glasses of water on a tray. I sat up, leaning against the armchair for support as she doled out the goodies.
“Smells great,” I said, accepting my share. “Thanks.”
“No prob.”
She sat gracefully on her sleeping bag, endearing her to the cats. They sat nearby, watching every spoonful of soup reach her mouth. At length, she set her bowl in front of them, permitting them to drink from it. When I finished mine, of course leaving soup in my bowl, I placed it beside hers. The cats contentedly lapped what was left, then returned to the serious business of washing their faces.
“I want to adopt them,” Jade mused, stroking each head in turn. “Give them a better life than this.”
“I dunno,” I drawled. “Maybe I want one. They like me as much as they like you.”
Jade stood as gracefully as she sat. “We may have to fight each other for custody. I’d better go before the stores close.”
“Okay. Buy cat food.”
