Instantly the wolf was beside Cassandra using the mattress as a shelter. She wasn’t certain if it would fully stop bullets, but it had to slow them down. “Now where is Elissa?”
Another shot rang out. Cassandra knew she was lucky as the bullet went straight through the mattress and embedded itself in the wall only about five inches from her head.
Cassandra flattened herself against the floor draping her body over Raven’s trembling body. She knew it was because her pup was angry she couldn’t protect her. So much like Elissa in that regard. Why they sometimes didn’t always see eye to eye.
More gunshots rang out. This time they sounded muffled. Cassandra wondered if it was Elissa or if it was the sheriff. Someone was out in the hallway finally dealing with the large man.
There was a thundering sound of a body falling to the ground. Cassandra remained where she was not knowing if it was the big man or not.
“Cassandra?” The young woman slowly rose from behind the mattress. The relief must have shown on Cassandra’s face when azure eyes met emerald ones as a small smile was on Elissa’s face.
“Elissa!” Cassandra managed to push the mattress out of her way. She made it to the door and removed the chair from behind it. As she was attempting to leave, Elissa blocked her path.
Elissa gently sat Cassandra on the chair. She knelt before her charge. “I don’t want you seeing what’s left of the man. I know you’ve seen a lot in your time, too much, but I can shield you from this. The sheriff and his men are making certain the man’s body is taken care of.”
“Thank you.” Cassandra wanted to finish what they had started before the horrible man had interrupted them. She knew it would have to take place behind closed doors, preferably the house they owned together.
“This time I only called in the Calvary.” Elissa knew it wouldn’t matter to Cassandra. It had been the vampire who had gone for help.
“I don’t care if you pulled the trigger or not, you saved my life. Again.” Cassandra couldn’t help taking Elissa’s hand and kissing the back of it gently. “I’ve lost count now.”
Elissa swallowed at the sensation the simple brushing of lips on her hand caused. Her stomach tightened. Her eyes darkened. Her heart would have been racing if it still beat.
With these sensations, Elissa knew she would have to be more careful in the future. Would she be able to control the animal inside of her when they did make love?
“It’s all clear.” The call from the hallway had both Cassandra and Elissa rising to their feet. It wasn’t the sheriff but the owner of the inn. “I’m sorry you ladies had to deal with such…Anyways, we have another room for you on the second floor. It’s even nicer than this one. At no charge.”
Cassandra wondered if the inn had thought this was a random act of violence by the giant of a man. There was a part of her that wanted to correct him. But if there was an investigation, she knew it would point to her and Elissa. Something neither of them needed.
“Thank you.” Elissa took the lead. “We appreciate that. We only have a satchel. If it’s all right, I’d like to take the blanket from this room to wrap around my niece.”
Once again, Cassandra had to contain her mirth at the way she was referred to. After nearly being killed once again, the lightness was necessary.
Cassandra was just grateful she hadn’t had to kill anyone. She wasn’t certain which would have been worse. A horrible mortal or a horrible immortal.
“Of course.” The man straightened his bowtie. “Whenever you are ready the key will be in the door. Again, accept our sincerest apologies.”
“No need, but thank you.” Elissa waited until the hallway was clear of people before wrapping Cassandra in a blanket and leading her down the stairs.
The key was where the manager said they would find it. Elissa turned it and opened the door. Without asking, Raven suddenly appeared from the third floor. Like the amazing wolf she was, she had disappeared until it was safe to be with her master.
“I’m exhausted.” Cassandra made her way to the bed. Instead of a double, it was the largest bed she had ever seen. “What time is our appointment with the lawyer?”
“It’s not until ten. You can sleep late and still have time for breakfast before.” Elissa made certain the door was locked and a chair was wedged beneath the door handle. She wasn’t about to take a chance a second time.
Cassandra turned the bed down before sliding under the covers. The softness of the mattress and the sheets nearly caused her to moan audibly.
Elissa found herself swallowing quite a bit around Cassandra in the past couple weeks. There was a part of her that wished their relationship had remained the same. There was another part that wished they could elevate it immediately.
Not waiting for an invitation, Elissa settled next to her charge. Cassandra also didn’t wait for an invitation. She rested her head on Elissa’s chest and draped her arm across the vampire’s stomach. Elissa’s hand rested on Cassandra’s lower back.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
As always, morning seemed to come too soon for Cassandra. After readying herself for the day in a dress Elissa had bought for her that morning while she still slept, they had taken the time for breakfast.
Joseph had been walking out as they had entered. They made plans for a late supper. He was leaving the next day. Elissa was hoping to do the same as the need to feed would be upon her.
At fifteen minutes to ten, Elissa and Cassandra were sitting in the outer office to their lawyer. Nerves were getting the better of the young woman.
“Miss Peters?” Cassandra nodded before standing. She didn’t have to wait for Elissa to follow her. Her vampire was right behind her. After his clients were seated, the lawyer brought out a legal pad. “My name is Douglas Spinster. I spoke with your aunt yesterday. Can you tell me in your own words what advice you are looking for?”
Cassandra leaned forward. “I’ll start at the beginning. My mother died shortly after I was born. My father, though I didn’t know this until three years ago, was alive. He had left me at an orphanage which he sent money to.”
The scratching of lead on paper and two sets of breathing were the only sounds in the office. “Due to certain circumstances, my aunt came into my life and took me in. We moved to New York and my Uncle Yohan tracked us down. He gave me letters that informed me my father was dead and that he’d left his entire estate to me. There was one issue. My uncle had to be executor and guardian of me and would control the money I was entitled to. I received this from him about a week ago.”
Cassandra reached into the satchel. She not only gave him the letter her uncle had sent, but the letters her father and mother had written for her. “There’s also letters from my mother and father.”
“Let me read through these. It won’t take but a moment.” Cassandra relaxed back in her seat. She wanted to take Elissa’s hand in her own but knew this was not the time.
Mr. Spinster was a speed reader. It only took him ten minutes to read through everything. He spent the most time on what Yohan had sent his niece.
“Even though the handwritten will stated he wanted his brother in charge of your care and money, it’s not admissible.” Mr. Spinster saw the twin expressions of confusion. “It’s not admissible because the signatures don’t match. The letters to you were signed by one man and the will was signed by another.”
The light went on in Cassandra’s head. “So that means Yohan has no legal rights to me or to the money my father left me.”
“That’s right.” Mr. Spinster glanced at his notes. “All you really have to do at this point is have me contact the lawyer mentioned in the letter your father wrote. You can either receive a lump sum or you can have monthly wire transfers. It’s up to you.”
“Wow.” Cassandra couldn’t help her expression. “I really didn’t think it would be this easy. Is there a way I could receive a large payment and then have the rest sent monthly?”
Elissa was proud of her charge. If th
ey had the large payment, they could do what they wanted. Whether that was a horse ranch remained to be seen.
“I believe we could work something out. Let me contact your father’s lawyer first.” Mr. Spinster already was composing a letter. “I will telegraph him to speed up the process if I can. It will still probably take up to three months for everything to fall into place.”
“That’s more than fast enough. I want to finish school. Then I can decide what to do with the money.” Cassandra was full of energy. She didn’t know what she would do to burn it off.
“Will you be in town tomorrow?” Mr. Spinster didn’t wait for an answer. He continued to compose the telegraph he would send.
It was Elissa who answered. “We’d like to leave tomorrow sometime if we could. After all, Cassandra has school to return to.”
“I should have some answers by tomorrow around noon.” Mr. Spinster rose. “If you don’t mind, I’ll keep these safe for now.” He made his way over to a floorboard and lifted it. The paperwork was locked safely away. “Until tomorrow.”
“Until tomorrow.” Elissa placed her hand on Cassandra’s shoulder. “Thank you again for all you are doing for us.”
“Don’t thank me until after you receive my bill.” The trio laughed as Mr. Spinster walked the ladies to the outer office. He handed his paper to his secretary. “Have this sent as soon as possible.”
More pleasantries were exchanged before Elissa and Cassandra made it into the daylight. “What do you want to do now?” The mortal smiled at the immortal’s question.
“This might sound a little odd with temperatures dropping, but I’d like to have a picnic with you.” Cassandra was grateful when Elissa took her hand. So far, their stay in Bloomfield had started out rough. But it was turning more pleasant by the moment.
Chapter 23
The restaurant was happy to provide a picnic basket for them. Elissa carried it as they walked away from town. There were too many people and too much going on for her liking. But if their trouble with Yohan could be placed behind them it would be more than worth it.
Raven was enjoying being away from all the people as she chased birds, rabbits or whatever caught her fancy. The wolf disappeared in the tall prairie grass.
Cassandra was practically skipping as they made their way along the unknown path. There was a part of her that wanted to walk for hours, but they had made plans with Joseph for a late supper.
“Have you thought more about what you want to do once you graduate?” Elissa wasn’t nervous about the answer. She knew whatever Cassandra chose to do, the vampire would not be far away.
“I’m not certain. I love the idea of a horse ranch, but I’m not that experienced at handling them.” Cassandra bent down and picked a wildflower. She held it to her nose and inhaled deeply. “I was thinking of something very different.”
“Oh?” Elissa watched her charge. In a moment like this when she took a moment to smell a wildflower, her youth was showing. Or was it her natural innocence and inner beauty?
“I don’t know if I’d need college for it, but I thought about maybe attempting to write.” Cassandra refused to look Elissa in the eyes. She was afraid of what she might see.
“You always have been quite the storyteller.” Elissa remembered more than once when she was supposed to be tucking Cassandra in bed when it was her charge who had woven a tale. Half the time the ending was never reached as a tired Cassandra had fallen asleep.
“Miss Belle says I excel when it comes to English.” Cassandra shrugged. “If I did attempt to write, I could still help with a horse ranch. Cause that still does appeal to me.”
“I know a great deal about horses.” Elissa pointed to a spot. It wasn’t in the shade, not that there was a lot of sun to come by. The ground was already level and there was a rock they could lean against.
Elissa spread the blanket they still had from the inn on the ground and began placing the goodies from inside the basket on the blanket.
“My father owned one of the biggest horse farms back in Greece.” Elissa nestled close to Cassandra. She watched as the teenager piled her plate with enough food to feed two people.
Cassandra placed the plate on her lap. She was grateful when Elissa allowed her to lean against her. It cushioned her from the rock. “I always wondered where you immigrated from.”
“I don’t like talking of the home country much.” Elissa gazed across the prairie. It was wide open spaces. There were very few hills. It was flat. It was unlike her home country.
“I think I understand why.” Cassandra had wanted to push for more but didn’t want to spoil their day. Good news at the lawyers had her giddy. She wasn’t about to do anything to ruin it.
“Actually, you don’t.” Elissa had been thinking more and more if they were to have a more equal relationship, she would need to open up more.
Some of the things Elissa had yet to share would be painful. Yet, it’s what true couples did. At least that’s what Andrea had always told her.
“I’m sorry.” Cassandra reached out. She placed a hand on her mentor’s knee. “If you don’t want to talk about something, I completely understand.”
“The fact I don’t want to is only because it’s painful and a bit selfish on my part.” Elissa placed her hand on the one on her knee. “You eat. I’ll tell you a little more about my time in Greece.”
Cassandra relaxed even more. She had nearly had her fill and was content just to listen to the alto vice. It had always comforted her. Even when just speaking to her through the screen door four years ago.
“My father, as I said, owned the largest horse farm within a hundred miles. Nearly everyone came to him when they wanted prize worthy piece of horseflesh.” Elissa closed her eyes. She was transported back in time.
“My father had wished for a son. Instead, he was stuck with a woman who was overly tall, strong and opinionated.” Cassandra giggled at Elissa’s description of herself.
“When I was ten, I was taller than any of the other children in the village, no matter their age.” Elissa could still remember the taunts. Her skin hadn’t been as thick and she had gotten into more fights than she could count.
“Since I was fighting with the other kids because of their calling me names, father pulled me out of school.” Elissa scanned the prairie. Nothing was alerting her senses. It was habit after all these years.
“I was lucky to even be in school. Most girls were lucky to be taught at home.” Elissa shrugged at the expression on Cassandra’s face. “Different times. Just like it was more accepting for a relationship between females. Now…”
Neither wanted to dwell on how the world would react to their relationship. Elissa didn’t care, but she did care how it would affect Cassandra.
“Anyways, since I was home all the time and my marital prospects were nil, father decided he’d use my muscles to help take care of the horses.” Elissa smirked at the memory of her father’s reaction the first time she’d thrown a bag of feed in the wagon as if it weighed nothing.
“While I was being used for grunt work, I was learning.” Elissa’s smile showed her pride. “By the time I was fourteen, I could break a horse better than any man. Period. It was the only reason father didn’t try to marry me off, or so he said.”
Elissa shrugged in answer to Cassandra’s unspoken question. “I don’t know if he knew my attractions were only for women or if he merely wanted me on the farm as long as he could.”
The vampire grew still. Her eyes focused on the sun as it was slowly descending. Soon they would have to return to town to meet with Joseph.
“I was turned before my father had a chance to say whether he was proud of me or wanted me to take over for him.” Elissa swallowed when she felt strong arms wrap around her waist. “There are so many things I wonder about and have for the last millennium.”
Elissa made certain she was gazing in emerald eyes. “It’s another reason, among many, why I hesitate in turning you like me. All the regrets you h
ave haunt you for eternity.”
The vampire cursed. They’d been having such an amazing day. She hadn’t wanted to turn things so…Somber was the best way to describe it.
The giggle surprised Elissa. She turned to see a smiling Cassandra. The young woman had her head tilted as if attempting to think of something to say.
“I understand.” Cassandra turned so they were facing one another. “But life is more than regrets. While certain images haunt me, I don’t dwell on them. I think of this amazing stranger who took it upon herself to feed my orphanage.”
Before Elissa could say anything, Cassandra hastily continued. “I remember this amazing stranger rescuing me from a fire. And when I was blamed for the fire, I remember this amazing stranger taking me in.”
Cassandra took Elissa’s hand and kissed the palm. “When anything scares me or becomes too much to handle, I only have to do one thing.”
It was Cassandra who leaned closer. They were not as close as they had been in the inn before they were so rudely interrupted. Their eyes were locked.
“I think of you.” Cassandra reached up and stroked Elissa’s cheek. “You can make me smile, laugh or feel protected. Sometimes all at once. So when I need strength of any kind, I think of you.”
“I…” Elissa was overwhelmed. She wanted to close the distance between them. But her charge was only fourteen. She was twenty-four in mortal years. It was too great an age difference, wasn’t it?
“Thank you.” Elissa knew if she could blush, she’d be redder than an apple. “I guess I’m going to have to start thinking in your terms. In some ways, you have already changed how I think about things.”
This admission had Cassandra extremely curious. “Oh really?” She didn’t want to push. Elissa had practically unlocked the gates to her past without even asking. So she wasn’t about to push her vampire if she was willing on her own.
“I didn’t used to think of Sarah or Andrea. The two women I loved. That loved me.” Elissa pulled back. She wasn’t ready for the kiss, yet she was. Speaking of her former lovers also caused her to withdraw.
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