Rain (Stranger in the Woods Book 1) Read online

  “Do you think I’ll ever get to do that mind-reading thing?”

  “Reflecting?” I ask. “We believe so, in time.”

  “Damn! We’re already here?” Gunner smiles. “That is way faster without Pregger’s stubbornness.”

  It has only been hours since we were here, but without Rose, it simply feels different. I climb up the tree I watched Rose from so many times. Gunner follows me up as Blaze takes another tree deeper in the woods. We quietly sit and wait as the sun sets.

  Gunner readjusts uncomfortably. “I can’t believe you sat here for so long. You spied on us.”

  “Yeah, you are quite a nose picker when Rose isn’t looking.”

  Gunner punches my arm. “You’re a liar.”

  “I am, but I seem to have hit a nerve?”

  Ryder, got company.

  “Damn, that was quick. Look alive, Gunner. We’re on.” Gunner stares at the house as if he wants inside in the worst way. “Hang tight, brother. She is not in there. She is safe.”

  Gunner’s hands tighten on the branch. We stay in silence for a while before the woods go quiet. Gunner is shockingly aware as he looks around, observing the new silence. Our blood runs strong in his veins.

  Sure enough, five Clones glide under us. They look around, most likely expecting to see Guardians at any moment. Watching them slowly proceed to Rose’s window is like watching someone skin her alive. It’s against all I have done for months. But it is the only way they will believe Rose is gone: to see it for themselves without me guarding.

  All Rose’s stuff has been relocated to Gunner’s home. The Clones are in and out of her window in no time with fists tight and shoulders tense. We wait for them to pass under us again. The Tied part of me wants to pounce on top of them and destroy. The part of me with a little more control knows I have to let them carry word back to their leader.

  Blaze, now on the ground, studies Gunner and me still in the tree. Our anger vibrates thickly. “Going in?” Gunner and I jump out of the tree. Blaze inspects our expressions. “Damn, you two look scary as hell.” I close my eyes and try to compose myself as we head to inside.

  Gunner grabs his chest. “Ugh, it’s like she vanished.”

  I gaze around the empty room that has no sign of Rose other than furniture and a bare mattress. “Yes. That is what we wanted them to think.”

  Without any more words, we go to Gunner’s father’s home. Mr. Hayes has a loaded rifle aimed at us when we reach the bottom of the porch stairs. This action, this porch somehow seem so familiar to me. As soon as Mr. Hayes sees Gunner, the gun lowers. “Are they gone?”

  Gunner is pale. “Yeah, it seemed to work.”

  Mr. Hayes inhales deeply until I say, “They will come for us next.”

  And there she is, sleeping peacefully, unaware I ever left her. I crawl into our bed and pull her body to mine. Rose in my arms, in my home as I listen to the song around the fire in celebration to her presence, is heaven. I have truly found heaven on earth. I give my thanks, close my eyes, and drift off.

  A finger playing with my bottom lip wakes me. Beautiful hazel eyes are what I see.

  “I want to be with you in my new home,” is what I hear…

  I kiss her.

  My body demands her.

  She welcomes me into hers.

  Yes, heaven on earth.

  Holding Rose’s hand, I introduce her to all the elves dying to officially meet her. Again, they have gathered in the center of our village.

  “The Prophecy is in her belly,” a female tells her young.

  The young peers up at Rose, dying to reach her hand out.

  Rose kindly says, “You want to touch my belly?” The young eagerly nods. Rose takes the little hand and places it firmly upon her flat stomach. “I don’t feel her move yet, but when I do, I will tell you, okay?”

  The little female nods again with a huge smile. Her lips struggle to form English words. “Th-ank you, Klemor da mama.” They depart with a bow.

  Rose’s brows crunch together. “Klay-what?”

  “Klemor da mama. It is old language mixed with yours, meaning, the Prophecy’s mother.”

  Rose is graceful with every greeting. Only her hand gripping mine is any inclination that she’s nervous or overwhelmed. Nora walks to us and speaks loud enough for all to hear—and get the hint. “Rose, I thought maybe you could take a break, even though I know you don’t want to. But I made you a salad… Oh my.”

  “Uh, she really loves our dressing.” I try to explain Rose’s actions as she shovels salad into her mouth at an alarming rate. Poor Rose appears mortified but cannot seem to cease. Laughter surrounds us. “Klemor da mama!” adds to her embarrassment. But what Rose does not realize is my elves think she is as adorable as I do.

  Nora glances around, very pleased that everyone is enjoying Rose’s eating habits. They love her, Ryder.

  I know.

  “I think the baby loves our dressing.”

  Still chewing, Rose nods and points to Storm, a female, unaware that she too is expecting and totally understands what Rose is going through. Storm also knows why she is pregnant, but Rose does not need to worry about that now.

  More laughter echoes as Rose licks the bowl. Once she’s done, I hand it back to Nora. “That seemed to hit the spot. I am grateful for you offering.”

  Rose licks her fingers. “Yes! Thank you so much.”

  Hunter approaches. “Did she enjoy—” He looks into the empty bowl. “Where’s the salad?” That gets all of us laughing again. Rose shrugs her shoulders and bats her eyes.

  When Gunner practically crawls out of his home, rubbing his eyes, Rose becomes elated at the sight of him. “Bubba!” She runs over to him, throwing her arms around his waist at record speed.

  “Hey, girl.” He sounds groggy as he tiredly hugs her back.

  Rose laughs, still holding him. “What’s wrong with you?”

  He massages his scalp. “Don’t listen to elves when you’re sitting around a fire being handed an old clay bottle full of something yummy, when they tell you it ain’t strong. I think Blaze carried me to bed. Key word, think.”

  Rose’s laugh makes my whole body vibrate.

  Blaze approaches, eyeing Gunner. “I was a little concerned with how much you enjoyed being in my arms.”

  “I’d punch you, but I think my hands are numb.” He tries to open and close them.

  A female walks by, bashfully smiling at Gunner. Rose grins and smacks his stomach. “What was that?”

  Gunner admires the female. “Apparently, Blaze here has made me out to be a rock star, and who am I to refuse the love and affection?”

  Chase runs up to Gunner. “Drunk lover boy!”

  Gunner rolls his eyes. “I’m moving back home.”

  Rose squeezes his waist tighter. “Suck it up, rock star. You’re staying.”

  Blaze asks, “And if you leave, Gunner, who would hold you when you pass out?”

  “Learn to handle your homemade wine, boy.” Hunter’s smirk, as he walks by, holds no pity. “And we think he’s part elf.”

  Isolde, Crystal and Morning Star have Rose in the medical tent for another checkup. Rose perches happily in a hanging cot that she thinks is “too cool.”

  Morning Star is very excited about the terminology she’s learning. “Chase did research at your li-bra-ry, Rose. They have those information TVs.”

  Rose giggles. “You mean computers?”

  I lean down to Rose. “Morning Star is our next spiritual leader. A very important role. Therefore, she does not get to leave the protection of our village.”

  Morning Star becomes bashful. “Yes, I believe that is what Blaze calls them. Comm-poo-ter. He says they have much information. We are searching for another of your kin
d.”

  “My kind?”

  “Yes, another human impregnated by an elf.”

  “Uh, that information will only be there if the data has been entered.”

  Morning Star tilts her head.

  “See, if the elf did not come clean—”

  “Oh, our males bathe, Rose.”

  Rose laughs wholeheartedly. Trying to catch her breath, she says, “No, I mean, if the elf didn’t mention who or what he is, the computer wouldn’t have the information you need. And if he did tell someone, he would have been on Ellen by now.”

  Morning Star’s face lights up. “Oh, Ellen! Wonderful energy. She is so close to finding her inner peace.”

  “Even elves know who Ellen is?” Rose is astounded.

  “Oh, I’ve never met her, but her work sends out an abundance of positive energy.”

  That night, Rose is beautiful as she stands next to the fire, learning what Gunner, Blaze and I did while she slept. Her eyes burn into me with worry for her family. I want to smile, letting her know everything is fine, but that would be a lie, and she knows it. Her arms wrap around my waist. “Thank you,” she whispers. Her life is in danger, but she is happy to have her family out of the war zone.

  The next afternoon, when I wake, Rose is gone. Even during the day, this is enough to make me panic. I rush out to the landing in front of our home, scouring with my eyes and ears across the village for any sign of her. Rose.

  “Hmm?”

  Looking down over the railing, I see Rose sitting on the ground with an abundance of items sprawled around her. I jump down and find my love with a bowl of salad in her lap and a full mouth as she drapes elf-made jewelry on her arms and neck. She smiles up at me with salad stuck between her teeth. “Ther wa mor saalid an dressen the knoo wha ooo doo wit.”

  All around Rose, wooden bowls, bottles of dressing, and gifts circle our tree.

  “So you decided to just start eating it all?” I sit in front of her, delighted by how happy she looks. “I love you, Rose.” Her posture shrinks, and her eyes begin to water. “What did I say? Oh, no—”

  Her shoulders shake. “Dat wuz so sfeet.”

  I grasp her teary face. “I can’t understand you. Try swallowing.”

  Rose gulps down her food. “That was so sweet. I love you, too.”

  “Then why are you crying?”

  Her mood only worsens. My Rose begins to unravel. “I don’t know.”

  As I lay a crying Rose on Isolde’s examining table, I tell them, “She’s broken.”

  Morning Star looks her over. “I have paperwork on this.”

  “Oh no, what is it?”

  “Something called Hor-mones.” Morning Star sounds very worried.

  My heart sinks. “Horror-mones? That sounds awful!”

  Morning Star studies paperwork Chase printed out from the library. “I read it is.”

  Gunner rushes into Isolde’s home. “What’s wrong?”

  Rose is inconsolable. “I have Horror-mones!”

  He rushes to her side, grabbing her hand. “What? Oh God—wait—what does she have?”

  Morning Star points at the paper. “It’s right here. Horror-mones.”

  Gunner’s laughter eases my anxiety. “That just means she’s being a moody female.”

  I grab his shoulders. “So she will live?”

  “She will but you, my friend, may not.” Gunner leaves the tent.

  I run to the doorway, yelling to his back. “Where are you going?”

  He keeps walking. “This half-breed knows when to haul ass.”

  Nora approaches Isolde’s home. “What does haul ass mean?”

  I’m still eyeing Gunner. “I don’t know, but my instincts say to follow that male.”

  From behind me Rose bellows, “I need salad!”

  Nora takes a weary step back. “Oh, my.”

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Rose

  They don’t have electricity. It’s like waking up in the Stone Age. Fires, candles, and lanterns are their only sources of light at night. What I would do for a switch on the wall instead of constantly burning my fingers with homemade matches.

  Water comes from springs and lakes with simple cloth bags as a filtration system. I’m positive we are drinking fish poo by the loads. Baths consist of buckets and washcloths—basically a whore bath—or a dip in the lake. I never knew I was probably swimming in elf funk every time I went for a swim with Gunner. I have never missed hot showers so much.

  Ryder’s home is no bigger than a ten-by-ten room made out of wood, which appears to have been lying on the forest floor. It shows no fresh cuts, which doesn’t shock me completely. Elves seem to be quite the conservationists, not into cutting down trees. They even build around existing branches, as if respecting that this tree was here first. Environmentalists would love this bunch. Each piece of wood is placed together perfectly with weathered vines and some sort of homemade bonding agent. It sounds barbaric but is clearly made with love for the ones occupying it and the forest it came from.

  I sit on my bed made of straw, covered by blankets. Old country women who make quilts in town would admire this craftsmanship. The stitching shows centuries of experience. I glance all around my new home once again, trying to take it all in because every time, I see something new. “Do you like it?” Ryder sounds a little insecure as he watches me.

  There are glassless windows on each wall with vines hanging over them as curtains. One window at the back of this home gives a view of Isolde’s fairy home on the ground. Facing the back of the home, the window to my left shows the view of the village fire pit. Another window faces the side of the village where Gunner sleeps, and the fourth at the front of our little house overlooks our adorable two-foot by five-foot patio. One little end table sits next to our bed to hold our lantern, and that’s about it.

  “No.” I can almost hear Ryder’s hurt feelings. I stare up at him. “Ryder, I have never loved a home as I do… ours.” His shoulders visibly relax as his eyes gleam with pride. “Thank you, Ryder. This is beyond words.”

  He kisses me.

  The other homes in the trees and on the ground are just as simple, yet equally as beautiful. If you pay attention to the natural details, you have no choice but to appreciate the carpentry skills. In the corner of our home is a hand-woven basket with two simple tools and rope. Ryder watches me eye it. “For a quick breakdown. I can have our home in pieces and us ready to travel in fifteen minutes, leaving nothing behind but what belongs in nature.”

  I blow out air, thinking of how my presence may cause such an evacuation but appreciate their ideas of needs. These people don’t hold on to belongings. They find no value in material things, only nature and family.

  I remember flipping through a magazine once, admiring a section about what it would be like to truly live in a forest. Since I love photographing nature, I easily imagined the smells of tree bark, the gentle crackles of fallen leaves as you walk over them, and fresh air flowing into my nostrils, not knowing that a time would come where I would get to enjoy these simple pleasures every day.

  Nowhere in the magazine did I see photos of elves welcoming the morning sun. Waking from normal human hours of sleep, I stare out the side window facing the fire. Only lingering smoke tells of the flames now gone with the night. The elves face the rising sun, and with no words, inhale and exhale while slowly stretching in unison. It looks as if the rays of light are blessing these magical creatures as they appreciate all nature has to offer them. A sight I will never forget. Simply beautiful.

  Walking in the temporarily warmth, Ryder and I walk deeper into the woods, leaving the village behind for a while. “Ryder, what were you guys doing this morning? That relaxing-looking exercising?”

  “It is a certain series of ananas calle
d Surya Namaskar Salutations. Sun Salutations for short.”

  Huh? “Oh.”

  “Would you like to try it sometime?”

  “Can I do it while pregnant?”

  “The baby would love it, Rose.”

  I giggle. “How would you know that?”

  “I’ve been that baby, Rose.”

  I stop walking. “Are you trying to tell me you remember being in your mother’s womb?”

  “Not all but, yes, at times. You will see. She will do things to remind you of something she’s learned.”

  I touch my stomach with wonderment, starting to grasp there is an amazing being inside me. Part of me is bewildered and completely intrigued. The other part of me is… scared of the complete unknown. My daughter is truly one of a kind. “I vow to see you through whatever the fates decide for us.” I nervously nod, trying to breathe.

  Not wanting to slip into unneeded thoughts, I shake my head to clear my mind. “So, the Vikes are coming from Scandinavia?”

  He takes my hand to help me up a hill. “No, they’re from Scandinavia, but they’ve lived in Scotland for centuries.”

  Overwhelmed, I still manage to trip on a rock. “Okay, Scandinavian Vikes from Scotland will be here tonight?”

  Ryder smiles at my astonishment. “Yes and yes. We travel efficiently.”

  I stop to catch my breath. “That’s not efficient, Ryder. That’s time warping.” We start walking again. “Where are you from, Ryder?”

  “My blood line originates in Rome, where Glycon first appeared. He was worshipped for fertility and plague. Now I hear he is believed to have only been a hand puppet. Humans. Oh—sorry. No offense.”

  “I have a feeling I will be saying this a lot, but none taken. So you’re from Rome?”

  “The elves I belong with are considered the Travelers because of the Guardian Warriors. We go where we’re needed all over the world. I, personally, was born in Italy, but I was very young when we moved here. I have been all over but was mostly raised here in the USA.”