Rain (Stranger in the Woods Book 1) Read online

  I nod to the curious ones around the fire as I stay my course. Entering Isolde’s dwelling, I smell sage and other herbs. The open fire in the center of her home entrances me, just like she wants. “Isolde, why did you pull me from Rose?”

  Her lineage echoes in her voice. “My niece says you would like to speak with me.”

  Blaze must have gotten a hold of Morning Star in a hurry. My head bows to Isolde out of duty, honor, and the unlimited amount of respect I have for the woman who sits before me. “Yes, but—”

  With a gentle gesture, she motions for me to sit across from her, putting the fire between us. I can’t understand why she wants Rose getting closer to Gunner when it is me she is supposed to—

  When I sit, it is painful to finally meet Isolde’s gold eyes, and know Rose will never be mine. A voice I don’t recognize as my own begs for answers with one word. “Why?”

  Isolde feels my anguish. She feels all. “Ah, the infamous question. Why?” Her eyes close as her hands reach toward the smoke from her burning herbs. Isolde wafts the white swirls to her aged face then over her silver hair. She is asking for guidance. We are where the many tribes learned their ways. Wonderful beings they are. Instinctively, I do the same with the smoke and watch it rise to the smoke flap. Her voice rings with the wisdom she is blessed with. “Warrior, do you know what your name means?”

  “Ryder: Knight. One who serves his supreme leader. A mounted warrior.”

  “My strong warrior. So much in store for you and your future. I spoke these words once to you. Do you remember?”

  I nod in reply. Isolde looks at the necklace she gave me long ago. On a leather cord I wear around my neck hangs a metal triangle. Isolde says it means male, a solar symbol representing spirit, divinity, fire, life, prosperity, and harmony. Not knowing what that has to do with me, I’d hoped someday it would be clear. Now, holding the old metal in my hand, I know that time is coming.

  Isolde captures more smoke. “To serve is sometimes to sacrifice. Your future is before you. Therefore, you have sacrifices to make.”

  Confusion clouds my mind. “But you said—you told me—I would father the Prophecy.”

  “To father has different definitions. I mother many.”

  My head drops. “I am to father Rose? Because hers has passed?”

  Silence.

  “But I’m not much older than she is.”

  Silence.

  Pain rips through me with the sacrifice I have to make. The last thing Rose is to me is a daughter. “Rose will never be mine.” Not the way I want her.

  “Words of a barbaric being. Mine. Nothing is yours, Warrior. Now, part of you? Is she not already?”

  The stinging in my eyes is so foreign to me as I look to Isolde for guidance. “Do I love her?” Her kind smile almost brings me relief. “But how? I have never even shared a word with her.”

  Isolde’s smile turns into a mischievous grin. “Not one word?”

  Of course Isolde knows. I try to make breaking rules not so, well, rule breaking. “Well, not while she was awake—Wait,” I suddenly have a glimpse of hope. “If Rose hears me, doesn’t that mean—”

  “That you are connected to her?”

  I nod. I know the answer. “She is connected to me.” I take a deep breath, trying to accept my fate. “That will have… to do.”

  Isolde’s eyes close as she tilts her face to the open circle in her ceiling, taking in the moonlit sky. “Ryder… you are to do whatever is necessary to keep this human alive. Even unused methods.”

  My head tilts with question, but before I get to ask her meaning, Isolde faces me again. Her eyes are powerful. “Now, go.” This meeting is over.

  I nod and do as I’m told.

  Back at Rose’s tree, I solemnly excuse Hunter and Sage. My expression makes it clear I know my duties. No words are shared. None are needed.

  This night, watching Rose sleep is the worst. To feel so strongly yet know I can never have her is breaking my heart, a heart that may never beat for another. So this heart of mine makes her a promise to sacrifice it all for her. I sit next to Rose on her bed. She sleeps with her back to me. I’m too far away and have to touch her.

  Shouldn’t but have to.

  My hand shakes as it hovers over Rose to feel her essence, her light. It is beautiful. Rose is truly a beautiful soul. My palm rests on her cheek, soaking her in. I’m surprised at the contrast between my tanned skin and her pale version. Her flawless glow beneath my warm hand entrances me. Even when she stirs, I can not pull away. I will use this large hand to protect her. I would lose this hand if the trade were ever asked of me.

  A crack forms in my being when I realize Isolde is right. Rose is connected to me, and this moment—this very moment—will have to be enough to hold me over for hundreds of years.

  The way Rose’s hand clutches mine to hold me closer during her sleep is the closest I have ever felt to another being. Still aware that I am breaking every rule, I lie behind Rose as she pulls on my hand, refusing to release my fingers. Their weathered, calloused feel seems to bother her not at all. Her kindness makes me realize I can’t deny her anything that she may need of me.

  My chest rests along her back. I tighten my hold. My eyes close. Her hair is so close to my nose. I breathe in her beautiful scent. I nuzzle into her neck, and she moans softly. I have never been able to read one not of my species, but with Rose it is effortless. Her fingers trace up and down my arm as if I am familiar to her. Then she speaks words I wish I could say in return. “I love you.”

  My arms tighten around her. In my heart I say, I love you too, my Rose.

  Chapter Five

  Rose

  Click, click, click…

  Once again, Sam’s nails pace up and down the hallway, up and down the stairs, and in and out of all the bedrooms. In spite of how annoying this has become over the past mornings, I wake up feeling refreshed. Happy. Loved.

  Stretching, Sam sniffs, following an unseen trail to my bed. “What is it, furry friend?” He whimpers but keeps sniffing my sheets. Before my mind can wander, I hear another sound. A shuffle of slippers. Mama?

  For the first time in over a year, Mama appears at my bedroom door. She is weak, but she’s on her feet by herself. I didn’t know if I would ever see this sight again and didn’t know how much I had truly missed it until this moment. My voice cracks like a broken child’s. “Mama?” I leave Sam inspecting my bed as I run to her. “Mama? Are you okay?”

  She smiles. My mama actually smiles. “I am—I feel… good?”

  Tears the size of huge raindrops fall from my eyes as my arms fly around her. “Good? Good is good, Mama… Oh, God. Good is so… good.”

  A strange, yet somehow familiar, voice echoes in my head. “I’m trying to help your mother. Just rest, Rose.” I look back at Sam smelling my bed and shake my head to clear my crazy thoughts. There’s no way someone is hanging out, chit-chatting with me while I sleep and mysteriously healing my mom.

  I don’t have work tonight, so Gunner and his father came over for a cookout. Both men walk into the kitchen looking so much alike, except Mr. Hayes has short hair and no gold in his brown eyes. I smile, happy to see them. “Hello, Mr. Hayes.”

  Gunner’s father smiles and hugs me. “Hi, darlin’. How’s your mama?”

  “Actually good! A little worn out from an active day but happy to be seeing you tonight.”

  His hand grips mine and shoves something in it. I glance at the receipt in my palm. Mr. Hayes just paid my phone bill. I rush to the wall and listen to the receiver. There’s a dial tone again. “No. Gunner just brought food over today—”

  He lifts his strong finger and points it at me. “Stop.”

  I stop.

  “Rose, you can’t be livin’ out here with no way to call if an emergency—God for
bid—arises.”

  He’s right. And none of us have cell phones. They’re an unaffordable luxury—not that mobile phones work here in the mountains, anyway.

  It feels so good to have an elder watching over me. I miss having a parental figure taking some weight off my tired shoulders. I hug him, fighting tears. “Thank you.”

  After I release Mr. Hayes, he laughs at his son. “See? She ain’t that hard to handle.”

  Louisa runs into the kitchen and jumps into Gunner’s arms. “Gunner!”

  “My little Lulu.” He squeezes her tight. His reward is a kiss on the cheek.

  Wade runs to him. Hugging Gunner’s leg, he peers up. “Did you bring dessert?”

  “Wade!” I want him to have manners, but he seems impossible to train.

  Mr. Hayes winks at me. “He reminds me of someone. Huh, Gunner?”

  Gunner moves Louisa to one arm and picks up Wade with his other. “Do I ever forget your dessert?” Wade reaches into Gunner’s breast pocket and pulls out two chocolate bars. Gunner puts them down with their dinner-spoiling treats and awkwardly walks to me. He leans close to my ear. “Are we good?”

  Mr. Hayes grabs a tray of meat to grill. “Mr. Wade and Lulu, let’s help carry this stuff outside for your sister.” Wade and Lulu happily follow Mr. Hayes to the back porch, examining their chocolate bars.

  My arms go around Gunner’s neck. I’m relieved at the sight of him, hoping for more of my newfound happiness. “I missed you today, Bubba. I think I always do, but now I get to tell you.” Gunner buries his face in my neck.

  On the back porch, we grill dinner. Lulu and Wade revel in the normal family feel of the night. Mr. Hayes seems to relish giving it to them. Grilled hot dogs and hamburgers are shoved down Wade and Louisa’s throats with laughter. Then Mr. Hayes says, “Miss Lulu and Mr. Wade, I’m taking a plate upstairs to your mama.” I’m not shocked he’s leaving us for her.

  Gunner, Sam, and I play kickball with Wade and Louisa in the field behind my house. The barren land probably loves being of some use. By the time we finish the game, the sun is down. Louisa watches a barking Sam take off into the woods and with joy, screams, “Fireflies!”

  Behind me, Wade wrestles with Gunner. “My ball!” I chase barking Sam and a happy Lulu into the woods. As we get closer, crossing the tree barrier, the lightning bugs begin to disappear. It’s darker with the lights from the house no longer reaching us and the bugs leaving. I take her hand. “They’re gone, Lulu.” Sam keeps barking and barking at something in a tree.

  Louisa searches the empty air above her. “But they were so pretty.”

  Goose bumps creep down my arms, making me sense we’re being watched. My breath slips from me when heat radiates through my body, but I don’t hear anyone or see anything other than tree trunks leading up a hill. Even with the season changing, there are too many leaves for me to see anything in the trees that would be causing Sam’s excessive noise.

  Suddenly, Sam takes off running, still barking like he is playfully chasing someone, except he isn’t looking at ground level. Lulu and I follow him until he stops at a tree and barks into the air. “What is it, big guy?” I peer into the branches but can’t see anything.

  “Fireflies!”

  She’s right. Lightning bugs have reappeared.

  “You okay?”

  I jump when Gunner catches up to us. Distractedly, I nod. “Yeah, Sam sees something up there.” I point into the dark tree.

  Gunner gives a quick glance. “Sam’s just being Sam.” He picks up Lulu then puts his arm around my shoulders, walking us away. Looking over my shoulder, I see Sam pawing at the tree trunk and crying upward. Gunner calls, “Sam, come.”

  Sam’s eyes follow something from the tree over to the next tree and then to the next as if something is jumping from one tree to the other. Gunner stops. “What the hell does he see? A bird?”

  I’m shocked when I pull from Gunner and allow my entranced body to follow a pull beckoning me deeper into the woods.

  “Rose?”

  It’s not Gunner’s voice that stops me. It’s a sudden, deeply felt fear. A cold sweat crosses my chest, causing me to hightail it back to Gunner. I rush to his body and grab hold, feeling Lulu’s leg wrapped around him. His strong arm comes around me in a flash, and his voice lowers. “What is it? You see somethin’?”

  “Rosie is scared again, Gunner.” Lulu touches my head.

  “Again?” Gunner inspects our surroundings.

  I can barely breathe, but it’s not from the heat sensation this time. Something terrible is out there. “Something—someone—Gunner, don’t let me go.”

  He yells over my head, “Who’s out there?”

  We hear nothing until his dad hollers out my window. “Gunner? What is it?”

  I talk into Gunner’s chest. “It’s nothing. I’m fine—just don’t let me go.”

  His arm tightens around me. “We’re fine, Dad.” He talks into my hair. “Why are you shaking then?”

  I bury my face under his chin. “I don’t know. Can we go?”

  “Yeah, come on.” He guides us toward home.

  “Lulu, whatcha mean, ‘Rosie is scared again’?”

  Her little shoulders shrug. “Dunno. She’s just jumpy when the sun goes down.”

  I’m shocked the child noticed something I considered unnoticeable. Recently, when the sun fades, my heart pounds like crazy, but I had no clue that my response was so visible.

  “Rose, what is she talkin’ about? I haven’t seen this.”

  I breathe him in. “It doesn’t happen when I’m with you.”

  Gunner thinks for a minute. “Is this like when you were nine?”

  I nod, refusing to release him.

  Lulu lays her cheek against his. “Why aren’t you scared at night, Gunner?”

  “Don’t sense danger. Nothing’s around that wants to hurt me.” Gunner affectionately kisses my head. Birds take flight from a nearby tree, causing me to jump and Lulu to squeal. Gunner tightens his hold on us both. “Don’t worry, my girls. Not a damn thing will get ya with me around.”

  I snuggle closer to the oversized, over-confident young man I adore. I know I always will.

  As we enter my backyard again, Mr. Hayes waves from the porch. “Gotta go check on Aunt Beth. Rose, your mom looks great!” Of course, he would notice her improvement. “Thanks for dinner, kids.” That wonderful man just thanked me for a dinner he and his wonderful son paid for.

  Family night continues as Gunner fills the bathtub with bubbles. Wade and Louisa are in heaven with the special treat. “I wish you lived here,” Wade tells Gunner, already immersed in the bubbles.

  Gunner and I freeze on our knees next to the tub.

  Lulu is naked, stepping into the tub, holding Gunner’s shoulder for balance. “Yeah, Gunner, Rose smiles more when you’re here.” The grin taking over my face embarrasses me. I can’t look at him.

  Gunner’s shoulders slump as if Lulu couldn’t have said anything sweeter to him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gunner inspecting me. He asks the bubble heads, “How would you two feel if I told you that I like Rose more than just a friend?”

  I gasp, “Gunner,” not sure if they’re ready for that.

  “You want to be her boyfriend?” Louisa asks with excitement.

  Now I’m doubly shocked. “How do you know about boyfriends?”

  Wade casually replies, “TV. School. You name it.”

  Lulu is pure attitude. “I am in the second grade, ya know.”

  I sit back on my feet. “Gunner, am I that behind?”

  “You are just that preoccupied with responsibilities.”

  “Do you want to kiss her?”

  Gunner and I snap our heads to Wade.

  He grins and accusingly
points. “You do!”

  Gunner dumps a cup of bathwater over Wade’s head. “What if I do?”

  “Will you get married?” Lulu combs her doll’s hair.

  “Okay, that’s enough. Bath time is over.” I get up and grab towels.

  Lulu pouts. “I just got in here!”

  I blink. “Uh, well, ten minutes then. I will be preparing PJs in your room.”

  While I dress my trouble-making siblings in their pajamas, Gunner wipes down bubble-covered bathroom walls. I wonder if this is what being married would be like: being with Gunner every day. I am with Gunner every day. Oh, my God! We do act like a married couple! He brings the wife money and food. All we’re missing is the sex—

  “Earth to Rose.” Gunner stands in the kids’ bedroom doorway, trying to capture my attention. Little does he know what I was just thinking about. “Do you have a fever? Your face is red.”

  “Nope. I’m good. Was, uh, just bending over. Blood rushed to my, uh, face.”

  “Oh. Uh, bathroom is in one piece again.” The phone rings. “I’ll get it.” Gunner heads down the stairs. Embarrassing moment averted.

  With Wade and Louisa tucked into their beds and already halfway to dream land, I check on sleeping Mama. Grabbing her dinner plate, I gasp. It’s empty. She always eats more when Mr. Hayes is with her, but tonight she cleaned her plate. The way she looks at him amazes me, as if she adores the man who fed her children when she became ill. Two widows finding comfort…

  Halfway down the stairs, I remember the phone. Gunner didn’t tell me who it was. My stomach drops. It wasn’t for me. Running down the rest of the stairs, I almost trip with nervous legs. I throw the dishes on a little table. “Gunner?”

  No answer.

  “Gunner—” He sits in the living room with his face in his hands. I rush to him, dropping to my knees between his legs. “Oh, Gunner. Your aunt?” He nods but won’t look at me. I know he’s crying. My hands grasp his face. “Look at me.” Wet, warm eyes find mine. “Never hide your tears from me.” He nods again. “I am so sorry for your loss, Gunner. Your daddy’s sister was a good woman. She gave the sickness a strong fight.”