The Heart of a Hero

by Janet Chapman

  Julia got a little dreamy at that notion herself. That is, until she remembered she had better things to do than wonder if anyone—oh, say, a man with sky-blue eyes and magnetic muscles—would ever feel compelled to slay dragons or move mountains for her. She started writing notes again. “Do you think I might persuade Adeline to leave that small boulder on her finger in the resort safe,” she asked, “while she and dear Berdy hike through the wilderness for a week in late November?”

  “Yes, that might be wise.” Rana wrapped an arm around Julia and gave her a squeeze. “You, my lovely lady, are not only a quick prevaricator, but a natural at creating illusions.” She leaned away to look Julia in the eye, her own eyes shining with laughter again. “You have me wanting to renew my marriage vows on top of this wild and rugged mountain.” She patted Julia’s knee and stood up. “But not in November. Nor do I have a wish to ride off into—”

  Rana gasped and Julia flinched so badly that she dropped her calendar book when a sharp clap of thunder suddenly pierced the air at the same time a flash of light burst up from the woods to the northeast, immediately followed by a low rumble that shook the ground beneath the gazebo.

  “Since when do aftershocks flash?” Julia whispered, staring at where she’d seen the light—which was the same direction Reggie had been riding, she suddenly realized. “Oh no, Nicholas and my brother are down there. That flash could have been the sun reflecting off dust from a huge landslide or something.”

  Rana caught Julia’s sleeve when she started toward the stairs. “Your brother is perfectly safe with Nicholas.” She waved in that direction. “Have you not heard any of these . . . aftershocks up here before?”

  “Yes, several times, actually. In fact, there was a really long, rumbling one just a few days ago.” She let Rana lead her back to the bench and they both sat down again. “I had to tell the guests whose cottage I was cleaning that the tremors are never violent enough to damage anything. But I’ve never seen a flash like that before.”

  “Our vantage point is likely the reason we saw it today,” Rana said. “But you needn’t worry about—”

  “Mother!” Olivia’s husband shouted as he broke through the trees running toward them. Julia recognized his father, Titus, running up the path behind him. “Where’s Nicholas?” Mac asked as he drew near. “He’s not answering his cell phone.”

  Rana stood up, her smile gone as she gave a worried glance in the direction of the flash. “He’s out riding with Julia’s brother. Reggie, isn’t it?” she asked, looking back at her son when Julia nodded. “They may be out of range of the small phones, as the two of them rode past the conference pavilion over an hour ago.”

  Julia bent to retrieve her calendar book off the floor and also stood up. “We saw a large flash of light with this aftershock,” she told Mac, pointing down the northeastern side of the mountain. “I thought it might be a—”

  They all flinched this time, including Titus just as he was reaching them, when another crack pierced the air—the two men spinning just as the second flash faded and the ensuing boom rumbled the ground beneath them again.

  “By the gods, what is he doing?” Mac growled, looking at his father. “He can’t arbitrarily—” The rest of what he said was lost when Mac turned away and lowered his voice as he stepped closer to Titus.

  Julia stared at them in confusion. The two men had run up here thinking Nicholas had something to do with the booms? What; had his training sessions graduated from paintballs to hand grenades?

  And Reggie was with him? And Tom?

  “I have to go find Reggie,” Julia told Rana as she picked up her tote. She shoved her calendar book inside and headed down the steps to find her baby brother even if it meant she had to ride a horse. But when she started past Mac, he suddenly moved into her path—quite like Nicholas often did, she realized.

  Only she wasn’t quite brave enough to push past this particular giant.

  “I’m sure your brother is fine, Julia, if he’s with Nicholas.”

  “Thank you, but Reggie’s only sixteen, and I’d rather not have him around any training sessions that involve explosives.” Although now that she thought about it—considering Mac was looking at her blankly, apparently trying to figure out what she was talking about—why would Nicholas need explosives to protect the resort?

  Mac stepped to the side to stop her when she tried going around him. “I prefer you not run through the woods right now until we’re certain—” He snapped his head up when another flash appeared, this time closer to the fiord, its piercing crack arriving half a second later, along with a ground-shaking rumble that was slightly subdued compared to the previous two. Julia shot around him and started down the path leading off the ledge again—only to be snagged around the waist and lifted off her feet. “Julia,” Mac growled, making her go perfectly still, “I would ask that you not—”

  “Oceanus!” a man shouted as he came through the stunted trees running toward them, an equally frantic woman struggling up the path behind him. “What in the name of Zeus is going on? I’ve spent the last hour searching for my sons, and suddenly there are three percussions?” He stopped in front of Mac’s father. “By the gods, if anything’s happened to them—where’s your man who brought us here?” he asked, looking around before pinning his florid-faced glare back on Titus. “Nicholas. Where is he?”

  “Mac,” Rana said softly, having walked up beside him. “Give me Julia.”

  It appeared Mac had forgotten he was still holding her dangling off the ground, not that Julia had considered bringing that fact to his attention. Holy Hades, the man was big. And obviously strong. No wonder Olivia felt invincible.

  And no wonder Peg thought her childhood friend was insane for threatening to bludgeon Nicholas—who was equally big and strong—with her tote.

  Okay, that was another thing she couldn’t ever do to Nicholas again.

  Mac lowered Julia to her feet but didn’t release her, his attention once again on the man glowering at his father. And she wasn’t sure, but she’d swear Mac was . . . well, growing; like he was actually getting taller or something. She definitely felt the tension humming through him as the angry man—a guest as well as a personal acquaintance of the elder Oceanus, she gathered from the way Titus was trying to reassure him that his sons were probably just out hiking the trails—continued to rant and rail at him, only now in a language she didn’t recognize.

  “Rana, you have to help us,” the angry man’s wife petitioned in a panting, heavy accent, abandoning her husband to run to her friend—although the woman hesitated when she realized she had to go past Mac to get to her.

  Rana, bless her unflappable heart, went to the woman and immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “All will be well, Meleda. I’m sure your boys are fine.”

  Meleda gave her a hopeful smile. “They . . . they can be a handful sometimes.”

  “Julia! Hey, Jules!”

  Julia gasped at the sight of Reggie waving at her from where the trail intercepted the cart path as he headed toward them at a run while all but dragging the horse he’d been riding—only now there was a young girl in the saddle. Julia struggled against Mac’s hold. “Let me go,” she demanded when he still hesitated, then started running the moment he released her—although Mac reached her brother before she did.

  Reggie dropped the reins and turned to help the girl down, then protectively tucked her against his side. “This is Katy. She’s in my class. Three men were chasing her through the woods,” he said in a rush. “Nicholas went on ahead and got her away from them and sent her to me with instructions to bring her back while he . . .” Reggie looked at the woods behind him, his eyes turning troubled as he darted a nervous glance at Mac, then back to Julia. “He went after them,” he whispered. “But then we heard some of those aftershocks and the entire forest lit up behind us. Three times.” His hold on Katy tightened when the girl hid her face against him just as Titus and Rana and the angry husband and frantic wife arriv
ed.

  “Where are my sons?” the man snarled, reaching for Reggie.

  Mac stepped in front of him. “That’s enough, Perdiccas,” he said, the look in his eyes making the man back away. “I suggest you take your wife to your cottage, and Father will bring word of your sons once we know their whereabouts.”

  “Please,” Meleda said, tugging on her husband’s sleeve. “Let us do as he says.”

  “Come, Perdiccas,” Rana also gently petitioned, even as she embraced Meleda again and started for the resort—only to stop at the sound of hoofbeats.

  Everyone turned to see Nicholas calmly cantering out of the woods, veering without changing stride when he spotted them. He brought his massive gray horse to a halt several yards away, then silently ran his gaze over the gathering.

  Julia flinched when Mac’s hand shot out to land on the angry father’s chest when he stepped toward Nicholas. “Enough, Perdiccas,” Mac growled in warning.

  “Where are my sons?” the man in turn growled up at the man on the horse.

  “I sent them home,” Nicholas said quietly—although Julia doubted she was the only one who heard the dangerous edge in his voice as his unusually dark blue eyes bore into the man. And then he actually grinned when Mac had to shove Perdiccas back when he heard that news. “They should arrive in a . . . week,” Nicholas continued rather provokingly, “if they’re more successful at their little sport as prey than they were as predators.”

  Julia then saw Nicholas make eye contact with Titus and give a slight nod before urging his horse into a canter down the cart path toward the resort.

  No, she was never, ever threatening him again.

  Perdiccas—his eyes narrowed and his face nearly purple with rage—rounded on Titus. “I want that insolent bastard delivered to me in chains.”

  “I will afford you one hour to pack,” Titus said calmly, contradicting the rage in his eyes. He turned with a slight bow to Meleda. “Although brief, it was nice seeing you again, madam.” And then the elder Oceanus took Rana’s hand and walked away.

  “Wait,” Perdiccas snapped, causing Titus to stop and look back. “I’m not leaving until we conclude our business.”

  “I suggest you gain authority over your sons before you consider ruling a nation,” Titus said roughly, turning and walking away again.

  “Please, maritus,” Meleda whispered—Julia recognizing the Latin word for husband—as the woman reached out in petition. She dropped her hand when he still didn’t move, then also turned and walked away.

  “Will you and your wife be traveling home together or . . . separately?” Mac asked, the threat in his voice making Julia wrap an arm around Reggie, her heart swelling with pride as her baby brother still hugged the probably even more traumatized young girl, one of his gangly teenage hands holding her head against his chest as if he could stop her from hearing any of this.

  Not that Julia knew what any of this was.

  The man they were calling Perdiccas—why did that name sound familiar to her?—stared into the woods where his three sons had been chasing the girl and the light had flashed three times, and out of which Nicholas had ridden alone, then finally turned and strode toward the resort, his anger and frustration palpable.

  Okay then; their impromptu little gathering was down to four—two of whom were apparently scared speechless, and one . . . well, Julia couldn’t decide if she was scared or utterly and completely . . . spellbound.

  What in holy Hades had just happened?

  And what could Nicholas have meant when he’d said I sent them home?

  How, by lightning bolt?

  “Is Nicholas in trouble, sir?” Reggie asked Mac, making Julia wonder whose strong and confident voice her brother had stolen. “Because from my point of view, and Katy’s,” he said, nodding down at the girl he was still protectively holding, “Nicholas is a hero. Katy met those guys down in Turtleback, and they lured her up here by promising to take her swimming in the outdoor pool and then to dinner at the restaurant. But once they got here, they talked her into going for a hike first.” Julia saw Reggie’s jaw tighten. “She managed to get away when they tried to rape her,” he growled, “but they were gaining on her when Nicholas caught Katy and sent her to me and then . . . went after them,” he said, darting a look at the woods before he turned back to Mac and lifted his chin. “They deserved whatever he—they deserve to spend several cold nights lost in the woods trying to get home, and I don’t think anyone should go searching for them.”

  Mac’s eyes softened, and he reached out and gently cupped the girl’s head. “Did the boys harm you, Katy?” he asked.

  “Th-they tore my blouse,” she said, pulling the jacket Reggie must have given her more tightly around herself. She shook her head and hid her face in Reggie’s chest as he tightened his embrace again. “But they didn’t hurt me.”

  “Still,” Mac said, dropping his hand, “Olivia and I will see that your parents take you to a doctor when we bring you home.”

  “No!” Katy cried on a gasp. She looked at Julia and then Reggie, her eyes filled with renewed fear. “Don’t let them call my parents, Reggie,” she pleaded, apparently deciding he was her best bet. “You know what my mom’s like.”

  Julia knew exactly what Shirley Angstrom was like, as she’d had a few go-rounds with the holier-than-thou woman herself concerning Katy’s older sister spreading vicious rumors at school about Trisha. “Come on, you two,” she said, even as she looked at Mac for approval. “We’ll go back to my apartment and make some hot cocoa.”

  Mac reached out again, this time his large hand clasping Reggie’s shoulder. “I can see why Nicholas didn’t hesitate to send Katy to you. On behalf of my wife, Nova Mare appreciates your actions today.” He then gave the three of them an actual bow and walked to the horse Reggie had been leading.

  Her arm still around her brother, urging him forward and effectively bringing Katy with them, Julia started off again—only to have Reggie pull to a stop. “Mr. Oceanus?” he asked. “You didn’t answer my question. Is Nicholas in trouble?”

  Mac turned, holding the reins. “Trust me, Mr. Campbell,” he said with a grin. “Nicholas has made a very long and illustrious career of getting out of trouble.”

  On that note, Julia hustled the two teenagers up the path to the gazebo where her cart was parked, deciding she would have to think long and hard, and maybe stretch her imagination really far, about what had happened this afternoon on this mountain overlooking the fiord—neither of which had actually existed four years ago.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nicholas felt the footsteps stop at his side door, then heard a soft knock. Finding himself caught off guard again but nevertheless immensely pleased, he remained sitting leaning against the two-story-tall windows staring out at Bottomless and simply waited. Sensing his visitor peering inside, he then heard the footsteps continue along the side porch, and took another sip of beer just as Julia stopped at the corner of his house.

  When several heartbeats passed and she said nothing, Nicholas extended his hand without looking at her; partly to see if she’d walk onto the exterior continuation of his home’s floor, but mostly to find out if she would approach despite there being a six-pack of beer sitting on the glass deck beside him. Several more heartbeats passed until he heard a sigh, followed by stilted footsteps before her hand slipped into his. He set down his beer and moved the six-pack to his other side, then steadied Julia as she slid down the window she was keeping herself pressed against and settled beside him.

  “Would you like a beer?”

  “Yes, thank you, I believe I would.”

  He pulled a bottle out of the cardboard pack, twisted off the top, and handed it to her, stifling a grin when she took a long guzzle, wiped her mouth on her sleeve, and relaxed back against the window with another sigh. “Aren’t you supposed to have a railing on a deck that’s over a foot off the ground?” she asked, also staring at the uninterrupted view of Bottomless nearly two thousand feet belo
w.

  “The carpenters are still trying to figure out how to attach one. Is the girl okay?”

  Julia gave a soft snort. “She’s more than okay; Katy thinks she’s in heaven. That’s her name, Katy Angstrom. She turned sixteen just a week ago. And the poor clueless girl either doesn’t realize how close she came to this day ending very badly, or she honestly believes having a man swoop in and save her is how these things work.” She tapped his leg with the toe of her sneaker. “I’m sorry, but Reggie has stolen your thunder and is now officially Katy’s hero. She was still holding his hand when I left.”

  “Thank you for coming to tell me . . . assuming that’s why you’re here,” he said, just before taking another sip of beer.

  He lowered his bottle to see Julia worrying the label of her own bottle with her thumbnail. “Between Trisha showing up with her friend Kimberly and Reggie and Katy and six cats, the apartment was getting a little crowded. Well, five cats now, because Big Cat escorted me here.”

  “Big Cat?”

  “The long-haired Maine coon or bobcat or . . . something on steroids.”

  “Ah,” Nicholas said with a chuckle. “That would be Solomon.”

  “Any particular reason you named him after a very wise Old Testament king?”

  “Because Sol is a very wise old cat.”

  Julia lifted her bottle, giving another soft snort just before taking a sip.

  “So you came to my home to escape the chaos in yours?” he asked, turning to stare out at Bottomless again.

  “Partly. But also to thank you for what you did for Reggie today.”

  He looked over in surprise. “For taking him horseback riding?”

  “Well, that, too. But mostly for treating him like the intelligent, capable young man he is.” She looked down, her thumbnail worrying the bottle’s label again. “Folks around here have a tendency to visit the sins of a father upon his sons, and to a lot of people Reggie is . . . well, at best he’s invisible and at worse he’s a loser. But he’s not,” she softly growled, looking up. “He just needs a chance to prove himself.” She reached over and touched his arm. “You can’t possibly understand what you did today by sending Katy to Reggie and saying that he’d take care of her. My brother has never known what it’s like to be treated with respect, or ever had anyone simply . . . expect him to do something really important.” She gave his arm a pat, then dropped her hand with a soft chuckle. “You should have seen him after you cantered away and those boys’ father stormed off. Reggie actually defended you to Mac, basically saying you better not get in trouble because those boys deserved it.”