Free Jenny Plague-Bringer: (Jenny Pox #4) by J. Bryan Page B

climbed
     off.  Juliana smiled as she let him help her down.  The rain had slowed to a misty
     drizzle, and the horse soon found his way to a copse of trees, which protected him
     from the raindrops while he nibbled flowers.
    The boy stood by the stream in his muddy boots and looked at the dark water glinting
     in the moonlight. 
    “Are we safe now?” she whispered.
    “Maybe.  The horse needs a break.”
    “I don’t hear anyone.” Juliana could hear the gurgling of the stream, the pounding
     of her heart, and a cheeping chorus of night bugs, but no horse hooves.  She looked
     at him, studying his handsome face,  though it was shadowy under the moonlight.  He
     had a familiar look to him, though she was sure she’d never seen him before today. 
     “Why did you do that?”
    “Horse was tired, like I said.”
    “I wasn’t asking why you stopped. I was asking why you started.”
    “Why I grabbed you and ran out?  What else was I supposed to do?” he asked with half
     a smile. “Those people were ready to kill you, after hearing about the devil all day.”
    “But you weren’t.”
    “I think I might understand you better than most people.”
    “You’re the one with the healing power, not the preacher,” Juliana said. “Why do you
     let everyone think it’s him?”
    “I’m just the assistant.  I don’t need everyone staring at me.” He winked, then held
     out his hand. “Let’s see it.”
    “See what?”
    “You know.”
    Juliana cautiously let her take his hand, still not used to the idea of anyone touching
     her without suffering.  He held it in his own, watching as she summoned the demon
     plague, letting dark blisters burst through her fingers and palm.  He didn’t seem
     scared.  Instead, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each one of her fingertips,
     making the blisters disappear.  The feeling of his lips on her fingers was almost
     too much to bear.  She wanted to scream, or run away, or fling herself at him, so
     she just stood where she was, gaping at him like a fool while her whole body trembled.
    “All better,” he said.  He released her hand, but she didn’t lower it from his face.
    “Will you ever tell me your name?” she whispered.
    “Sebastian.  And what do I call you?” He looked down along the front of her ripped
     dress, then quickly looked away. 
    “Juliana.”
    “Where do we go now, Juliana?”  He smirked a little. “I don’t think the good reverend
     will want me back after I helped you.  I’m tired of making him look holy, anyway.”
    “Why did you do it in the first place?”
    “I don’t know, it’s not a bad job.  Lots of travel, helping people who need it.  You
     meet lots of interesting people, too, like mysterious pretty girls with a lethal touch.”
    “Have you met many of them?” she asked, and he laughed.  He looked her over, and his
     gaze warmed her body.
    “Have you had this your entire life?” He touched the palm of her hand.
    “Yes.”
    “Me, too.  But yours must have been a little more...difficult.”
    “I’ve survived.”
    “You live here in Missouri?”
    “No, I’m with a carnival.” She smiled. “I’m the freak show special attraction.  The
     World’s Most Diseased Woman.”
    “I’ve heard about your carnival.  I’ve been meaning to go, but the boss won’t give
     me a break...”
    “We can go now!  If we circle back south.” She looked up at the dark sky. “I have
     to perform tonight, anyway.  Can you take me?”
    “I’ve got no job and a stolen horse,” he said. “A man can’t be more free than that. 
     We can go wherever you want.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Are you sure that’s what you want?  Staying with the carnival?”
    “Why not?”
    “It just seems like you’d get tired of people staring at you, like you’re some kind
     of...”
    “I’m a freak whether I’m in the show or not.  I might as well get paid for it.  It’s
     better than stealing for a living.”
    “Sure,