by Blythe Baker
The clock’s soft tick, tock was my soundtrack on that cold, December afternoon. Everything else had been mostly silent. Guests that were visiting Faerywood Falls were out skiing in the powdery snow, enjoying the bright sunshine on their chilled faces. I could just make out some of the ski hills behind the Lodge through the window of the shop as I dusted and reorganized.
Everything was normal, and I was all too happy about it.
The bell at the front door sounded, and I heard someone step inside.
“Good afternoon,” I said as I pocketed the dust rag I’d been using to tidy up some picture frames. “How can I help you?”
I walked around the corner to find Lucan standing there, beaming down at me.
My cheeks burned as he took a step closer to me, his hands moving to my arms. “Hi,” I said, somewhat breathlessly.
“Hello there, Marianne…” Lucan said in his gentle way. “How are you today?”
“Much better now,” I said, unable to stop myself from grinning.
He leaned down and gave me the sweetest, softest kiss. It left my head spinning and my toes curling. “How’s your arm?” he asked, looking down at my left shoulder.
I pulled back the sleeve, glad that it was cold enough for me to wear clothing that covered up my injuries; the last thing I wanted was for Abe or Aunt Candace to worry about me too much. “Healing,” I said. “That salve Margaret made for me really seems to be doing the trick. Totally dodged having to get stitches.”
“Well, that’s good,” he said. “As long as she’s keeping an eye on it for you.”
“She is,” I said. “I’m going to see her next Monday to see if the bandages are ready to come off.”
“Good,” he said.
“So just coming to visit me?” I asked, wandering toward the back of the shop.
He followed closely behind. “Well, I was wondering if you’d be interested in having dinner with me tonight.”
I glanced up at him. “Of course I would. When and where?”
“Seven,” he said. “And my house, of course. I think Nico would be devastated if we didn’t at least include him for dessert.”
I grinned. “That sounds absolutely wonderful.”
“Is that Lucan Valerio I hear in there?” came Abe’s voice from the staircase leading up to his apartment.
He appeared a moment later through the doorway behind the counter, smiling.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Cromwell,” Lucan said with a small bow. “It’s lovely to see you.”
“And you as well,” Abe said with a fatherly sort of chuckle. “Coming to visit our resident lady?”
Lucan smiled. “Indeed I am. I won’t take up too much of her time, though, not to worry.”
“Oh, I’m never worried about that,” Abe said, sitting down in his stool behind the counter. He pulled a box of tools toward himself. “You’re always welcome to come and visit whenever you like.”
“Well, thank you very much,” Lucan said. He took a step closer to the counter, peering over the second box that Abe had just opened. “What are you working on today?”
Abe chortled. “Funny you should ask that,” he said, reaching into the box and pulling out a glittering diamond ring. “Some of these are just positively stunning. And one of a kind, too. But don’t worry; I made sure to set aside all the rings that Marianne’s shown any interest in while she’s been here, so whenever you want to look through them, you just let me know.”
I blushed scarlet, my jaw hanging open.
Lucan laughed heartily. “Well, how very kind of you, Mr. Cromwell. I appreciate that. It’s always best to choose one she’d like…right, Marianne?”
I wasn’t sure how it was possible, but my face turned even redder.
“Well, I will see you this evening at seven, yes?” Lucan asked, trying to hide his amusement at the embarrassment all over my face.
“Y – yeah,” I said. “Sounds good.”
I walked him over to the door, my embarrassment turning to a sheepish grin.
“I’ll see you in a little while,” I said.
He waved as he walked out into the parking lot, fishing through his coat pocket for his keys with his other hand.
It wasn’t long before it was closing time. Abe had modified hours during the winter, since it got darker so much earlier. “And no one wants to come antiquing when it’s dark and cold. Best to leave it for the lighter hours.”
Not that I was upset, of course. This meant more time with Lucan or Aunt Candace.
“It looks like your limp is getting better,” I said to Abe as I pulled my jacket on. “That physical therapist must be really amazing.”
Abe grinned. “It’s doing wonders. I’m feelings so much more limber.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said. I pulled my gloves on over my cold fingers. “Well, I’m looking forward to our lunch together at the Lodge tomorrow.”
“I am as well,” Abe said. “It was very kind of your aunt to invite my daughter and me.”
“Christmas is the best time to be together with family,” I said. “And you’re just as much my family as Aunt Candace is.” I went and gave him a big hug.
Now it was Abe’s turn to blush. “Well, you have a nice time with Lucan tonight. And I’m serious, by the way. I have those rings set aside.”
“I know you do,” I said. “See you tomorrow, Abe!”
I was looking forward to dinner with Lucan in a little while, but before I headed there, I had one more stop to make.
After running home quickly to change out of my dusty work clothes and explain my evening’s plans to Athena, who opted to stay home alone and nap some more, I headed along the main road back toward town. I was happy to admire how the ice had formed on the trees, thinking how beautiful it all was.
Before the fight with the monster, it was hard to appreciate all the beauty around me. The fear alone was enough to leech any and all happiness from me, even things like Christmas that normally would have had me as giddy as a child.
But now that it was over, I found myself relishing every joyful moment, hoping I’d be this appreciative for the rest of my life. I’d survived an intense, gruesome fight with a monster manifested from the darkest parts of magic. It had been grueling, and exhausting. It was still amazing that we made it through.
A shape appeared out of the darkness ahead. A man wearing a dark trench coat walked along the side of the road, bathed in the light from my headlights.
I’d recognize that wide-brimmed hat and heavy boots anywhere.
I slowed down beside him, and rolled down my window.
“Going somewhere?” I asked, nodding toward the pack on Dante’s back.
He looked up at me, and a small smile appeared on his face. “Well, I didn’t think I’d see you again…” he said. “Yeah. I think it’s time for me to leave town. I did what I came to do. There’s nothing else for me here.”
“Where will you go?” I asked.
He shrugged, pulling his pack further up his shoulders. “I’m planning to go tell the families who hired me that the job’s done. I’ll collect my pay and…see where life takes me from there.”
“Do you feel like you were able to put your past to rest?” I asked. I knew how heavy that question was.
He looked up the road ahead of him, scratching his chin. “I’m not sure, if I’m honest. Maybe now it’s time I face the monsters in my own head…”
“I understand what that’s like…” I said. “But you’re strong. You’ll win in the end.”
He gave me a tight smile. “Thanks,” he said. Then he chuckled. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way or anything, but I hope we never run into each other again.”
I smirked, too. “I get it,” I said. “And don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on things around Faerywood Falls from here on out.”
Dante shook his head. “I guess I just hope I never see another paranormal creature for the rest of my life. That night in the forest was enough for a whole lifetime.”
>
“I know what you mean,” I said.
Dante looked up at me and held out his hand. “Take care of yourself, Marianne…Light of the forest.”
I took his hand and shook it. “And you do the same, Dante…protector of the Ungifted.”
He smiled and started back along the road, putting one foot in front of the other.
I watched him go for a few moments, until the dark shadows swallowed him up.
I drove into town and pulled my car off the road to the last place I needed to go before I had dinner with Lucan.
“Hi, I’m Marianne Huffler,” I said to the woman behind the front desk. “I’m here to see Sheriff Garland? He’s expecting me.”
The woman stared at the computer screen over the top of her glasses. “…Yes, you’re right here. Go on through,” she said.
A loud buzz filled the room and two large metal doors at the end of the hall swung open as I approached.
I felt a glare, and saw Deputy Morris giving me a death stare as I walked by.
I just smiled as I passed by.
Sheriff Garland’s office was at the end of the hall, and he was already in there waiting for me.
“Good evening, Marianne,” he said, gesturing to the chair in front of me. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, Sheriff,” I said.
“You been keeping out of trouble?” he asked.
“Trying to,” I said as honestly as I could.
He grinned. “So…what can I do for you?”
I folded my hands across my lap. “I may as well just come out and ask. We’ve worked together a lot in the last few months, and I was given this idea by a friend of mine who was in the military, now deceased.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Sheriff Garland said, his face falling.
“Me, too,” I said. “But what I’m proposing, Sheriff, is that you allow me to join the force officially as a consultant.”
Sheriff Garland’s eyes widened. “Is that so?” he asked with a laugh.
“I think I’ve more than proved myself,” I said. “And this way, if you ever needed help with something, needed something more discreet done, I could do it. I have the experience, and I am more than happy to do so.”
“Well, I’ll be…” Sheriff Garland said, clasping his hands together. “I’ll be honest and say that I thought about this myself, but wasn’t sure how it’d go over with you. I still remember your face after that first body you saw…you’re sure about this?”
“Positive,” I said. “I think you need me, Sheriff.”
He laughed. “Well, that I do, Marianne. You’d be a valuable addition to the force.”
He held his hand out across the table to me.
“Welcome to the team, kid. Glad to have you.”
I shook it, and grinned.
It was true, what I said to him. He did need me, whether or not he knew it…
Though maybe not for such dark things now.
For more mystery and magic from Blythe Baker, look for Horribly Haunted in Hillbilly Hollow: Ozark Ghost Hunter Mysteries, Book 1.
About the Author
Blythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
To learn more about Blythe, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter at www.blythebaker.com