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According to Legend

Page 26

by Gerri Brousseau


  Chapter 35

  After our shower, I took out a tape measure. I needed to get some clothes that would fit Moheeladeck. As I wrote all his measurements down on a small pad, he asked, “Why do you do this?”

  “I’m going to the mall and get you some clothes.”

  “What is . . . mall?”

  “That’s a place with a lot of stores where I can buy you clothing. In order to stay in this realm you will have to blend in. You will need some jeans, a few T-shirts for sure. I really wish you could just come with me, but you can’t leave the house with nothing on.”

  “I like staying here with you when both of us wear nothing.”

  “Moheeladeck, if you keep this up, I won’t get to the mall at all today.” I moved away to get dressed, but he had other ideas. It was an hour later when I had finally gotten dressed. We went downstairs and I made a quick breakfast after which I shot an email off to my company resigning, effective immediately. I knew it wasn’t good business practice, but at this point, I didn’t care. I knew my place was with Moheeladeck, in his time. But what about David?

  I shoved that thought aside, picked up the paper with Moheeladeck’s measurements on it and, not mentioning anything to him, at the very bottom of the page I scribbled ‘in-home pregnancy test.’ Even though I wasn’t really ready for this, I was starting to get excited at the prospect of a positive test result.

  “Okay, I’m going to go to the mall.” I was nervous about leaving him here alone. “You stay here. Don’t go outside. Just watch TV,” I said as I picked up the remote and clicked the on button.

  When the picture and voice blared to life, Moheeladeck jumped. “What magic is this? How did those men get in there?” he asked.

  “This is a television,” I said. “Nothing you see there is real, well almost nothing. It is strictly for entertainment. You can’t speak to those men. They can’t hear you. You merely watch what is being shown there,” I tried to explain, but knew I was failing miserably.

  I clicked through the guide and found a movie that I thought he might find interesting.

  “Here, watch this. It’s Dances With Wolves, a movie about an Indian tribe in the West,” I said.

  I didn’t know if he would understand that it wasn’t real. As the movie began, Moheeladeck settled into a comfortable chair as if it were as natural as sitting by the fire. I watched him for a moment and thought, maybe it was.

  “I’ll be back in about one hour. Don’t touch anything,” I said. I hope he wouldn’t try to microwave popcorn and accidentally burn the house down. I grabbed my purse and started toward the door. This was like leaving a three-year-old home alone. I was struggling with the entire idea.

  “Come on, Half-Breed, let’s hit the mall,” I said as I headed toward the door.

  The wolf got up and followed me. I hate shopping, he complained.

  I know you do, but would you rather I go alone? What if I happen to bump into Williamson? You better come along.

  You are right, Princess. We must go together.

  I was afraid and on guard the entire time. Every little noise and approaching footstep made me jump. It was difficult to focus but the trip ended up being uneventful. I got everything we needed with the exception of shoes. I even remembered to get the pregnancy test. I wanted to do that without letting Moheeladeck know so I could share the good news with him, if there was good news to share.

  I didn’t want to stay away from the house any longer than necessary, and I was also starting to get paranoid about who might be working with Mr. Harvey and Officer Williamson. Not knowing who was behind it all, I feared that I could get abducted at any moment. Having Moheeladeck here with me was certainly going to make me less afraid.

  But what about David? How was I ever going to sort all this out? Again, Half-Breed made no comment on my thoughts.

  When we pulled into the garage and I shut the door behind us, I heaved a heavy sigh of relief. “Home, safe and sound, Half-Breed, and the house is still standing. That’s a good sign. I wonder if Moheeladeck is enjoying the movie.”

  Yes, no trace of those dirty dogs who tried to abduct you yesterday. I feel a lot better with Moheeladeck here with us. I can protect you, but I can only do so much against armed men and in the form of a wolf, Princess.

  I understand, Half-Breed. Let’s get these bags inside. I need to do one thing before I have Moheeladeck try on his clothes. Hopefully, we will have something to celebrate tonight.

  We unloaded all of the packages from the car and dragged them into the house. I was unprepared for what I saw when I got inside. Moheeladeck was seated cross-legged on the floor in front of the TV arguing in his native tongue with the tribe in the movie. I couldn’t help but laugh. He was so absorbed in the story he hadn’t noticed me until I laughed.

  “You have returned,” he said. He rose quickly, forgetting the movie. “Let me help you carry those sacks.”

  I handed him the bags. “Let’s bring these things upstairs and you can try them on.”

  He followed me up to my bedroom and placed the bags on my bed. I grabbed the little pink box and rushed into the bathroom to do the test. I followed the instructions and waited the allotted time for the little ‘plus’ or ‘minus’ sign to appear.

  “Princess, is something wrong? You have been in there a long time?” Moheeladeck asked as he gently tapped on the bathroom door.

  “I’m fine. I’ll only be another minute.” I hope.

  Was I holding my breath? I was more excited than I ever thought I would be over this and soon the little ‘plus’ sign appeared in the space. The test was positive.

  I was pregnant!

  “The test is positive!”

  Test? What are you screaming about in there? Half-Breeds thoughts flooded me.

  “I bought a home pregnancy test and it’s positive. We’re pregnant!” I answered excitedly as I hurried from the bathroom.

  “Pregnant?” Half-Breed and Moheeladeck spoke in unison.

  “Yes, we’re going to have a baby!” I said, rushing to my husband. I threw my arms around his neck and rained kisses all over his face.

  “Yes, we already know this,” he answered, laughing at my excitement.

  “I had to be sure. Tonight we truly do have something to celebrate.” Despite my fears, I couldn’t stop smiling.

  Does that mean hot dogs for dinner? Half-Breed asked with a hopeful tone in his voice.

  “We’ll see,” I replied, giggling like a schoolgirl.

  “Oh, I nearly forgot. Moheeladeck, let me show you your new clothes. Maybe you should try them on. I want to see what you look like in them.”

  “I would much rather you take yours off, but I will put them on if it pleases you,” he said.

  I showed him what went where and soon he stood before me wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He really looked great in those jeans.

  “Emm, you really have a great butt,” I said.

  “Butt?” he asked, “What is butt?”

  I reached out and patted his hard, tight buns.

  “There are some aspects of this time I think I enjoy.” He smiled.

  As I looked at him, I thought of another smile. I wondered what would happen if David showed up here and came face to face with Moheeladeck, Divakar’s mortal enemy. I realized that Moheeladeck was staring at me. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where my mind was,” I said, a little embarrassed.

  I know exactly where it was, Half-Breed’s thoughts entered my mind. I remembered that Moheeladeck could also hear the wolf’s thoughts.

  Moheeladeck and I both looked at Half-Breed. My eyes were pleading with him not to communicate my thoughts to Moheeladeck. Tears welled up in my eyes and threatened to spill over.

  “You have to allow emotional swings for a woman who is having a baby,” I blurted out as I started to cry. I knew I couldn’t keep this up. I had to get control. I had to figure out what was going on and where my heart was taking me, and I had to do it soon. Seeing my tears, Moheeladeck drew me into hi
s arms.

  “What troubles you, my love?” His concern made me feel guiltier than ever and the sobbing worsened. He held me close and tried to sooth me, but the more he tried, the harder I cried.

  “I’m sorry,” I kept saying. “I can’t help it.”

  He clearly didn’t know what to do so he just held me, letting me cry, soaking his new T-shirt.

  Finally the crying stopped. “I’m sorry,” I said, “I think that I’m over emotional right now.”

  “I am not sure, but I think it may be because of our child that you experience these tears.”

  He held me closer and gently rubbed my back. “Now, tell me again how much you like my butt in these clothes.”

  I giggled and he smiled, but our playful moment was interrupted when my cell phone rang.

  Reluctantly I picked it up. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Pam, this is Matt Wayne. I just wanted to make sure we were still on to show the house today?”

  “Oh, yes,” I said, glancing at my watch, “I had nearly forgotten. Thank you for calling. I’ll be out, but you have the key and the security code to get in. How long will you need me to stay out with my dog?”

  “An hour should be enough time.”

  “Great, I can do that. I’ll be leaving shortly and good luck.”

  I turned to Moheeladeck. “We’re going to have to take Half-Breed for a little walk so that the realtor can show the house.”

  “We will go out together?” he asked.

  “Yes, do you think you’re ready?”

  “Ready? Probably not, but I am willing,” he said as he was trying on the black leather jacket I had bought for him. With his long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, he looked like a fiercely handsome biker, except for the moccasins.

  “We really need to get you some shoes,” I said.

  “Maybe we can go to your mall and get them together now that my great butt is covered in these . . .” He hesitated as his fingers grasped the material.

  “Jeans, those are called jeans and, yes, now that your naked butt is covered we can all go to the mall. Half-Breed will have to stay in the car, but after we get you some shoes, maybe we can take him to the park as a reward. He loves to go there and get hot dogs.”

  At the mention of hot dogs, Half-Breed’s ears perked right up.

  Soon we were all in the car and headed toward the mall. We parked in a shady space and left the windows down for Half-Breed. He liked to watch all the people coming and going and always kept a watch out for enemies.

  We went into the mall and I headed directly for the map of stores to find a place to get men’s shoes. But when I turned around to speak to Moheeladeck, he was not standing beside me. He was still close to the entrance, surveying his surroundings in awe.

  Oh, this was not a good idea, I thought to myself. I went back to him and put my arm through his. “I think that I have found the right store on the map.”

  As I led him into the mall, it didn’t escape my notice that most of the women were openly staring at him. He was quite a sight in the black leather jacket and those snug jeans.

  We were heading toward the section of the mall where the shoe store was located and when coming around the corner, we bumped directly into the last person I expected to see. David.

  My heart thundered. In surprise? Fear? Or was it something else?

  Moheeladeck pushed me behind him and took up a defensive stance. David backed up a step as if in shock. “What are YOU doing here?” he demanded, his voice rushing out in a hiss at Moheeladeck.

  “I have come to protect my bride from you.”

  David glanced from Moheeladeck to me. “I should have taken what you would have so willing offered when I had the chance,” he snarled. The look on his face was that of Divakar. It was as if he had a split personality and the evil one was now in control.

  “You should have seen her the other night,” David taunted Moheeladeck in a low voice. “Standing in my arms panting with desire.”

  Moheeladeck took a step forward and grabbed the front of David’s shirt.

  I was quick to step between them and placed my hand upon Moheeladeck’s arm. “Both of you stop this,” I said. “This is neither the time nor the place for this.”

  Moheeladeck released his grip on David and stepped back.

  A small crowd was beginning to gather around us. I took Moheeladeck by the arm and ushered him past David. “If you’ll excuse us, David. It was a pleasure running into you. Perhaps you should stop by the house some time so we can continue this conversation in private.”

  David stood there and watched us walk past.

  “I certainly would enjoy seeing you again in private. I will take you up on your invitation, Miss Hastings,” he replied and then, directing his comment to Moheeladeck, he said, “This is still far from over.”

  When we got back to the house, the tension in the air was palpable. None of us seemed to know quite what to say. We brought the bags from the shoe store up to my bedroom and I made space in my closet for Moheeladeck’s things. My mind was racing from topic to topic as I tried to think of something to say to break the awkward silence between us. I was so focused in my thoughts that I jumped when my cell phone rang. Matt Wayne. His client had made an offer to purchase the house.

  “That’s wonderful news, Matt. What’s next?”

  “I will prepare the contract for his signature and once he signs it, I’ll bring it over for you to review and sign. He wants to pay cash so we can close as soon as you are able to get your affairs in order and get moved out.”

  “Pay cash? Who is it exactly that is interested in buying the house?”

  “He’s a doctor. Dr. Benjamin Harvey.”

  Chapter 36

  My hands were shaking. I sank into my bed as I dropped the phone.

  “Is there trouble?” Moheeladeck asked.

  “No. I sold the house and it appears I have to move out quickly.”

  “That is good. Now you can come back and remain with me.”

  “I can’t. Not yet. I have to talk to David.”

  The mere mention of the name made Moheeladeck’s body rigid, and his hands balled into fists at his sides.

  “No, no, you misunderstand,” I said.

  “I understand perfectly.”

  “No, you don’t. The person that is buying my house is the doctor who signed David’s mother’s death certificate. You see, David believes that his mother was poisoned and he has been trying to find information about this particular doctor, but it appeared that the doctor had vanished. As it turns out, that same doctor is the person interested in buying my house.”

  “I don’t like the sound of this,” he said.

  Just then, my cell phone rang again. Oh for the love of God, I thought. This was getting annoying. “Hello,” I barked into the phone.

  “Hello, dear, this is Agnes, Agnes Warren. Am I calling you at a bad time?” she asked.

  “Oh no, Mrs. Warren. Well, actually, yes, I do have a few things going on right now but it’s fine.”

  “I won’t keep you then. I just wanted to tell you that the museum committee dinner is set for tomorrow night at my house. Can you make it? Say around six o’clock?”

  “Oh, well, I don’t have my calendar with me at the moment. Would you mind terribly if I called you back in a little while?” I needed to buy some time.

  “No, not at all, dear. I’ll hear from you later on. I truly hope you can make it.”

  “Okay, Mrs. Warren, I will call you. I promise.”

  I hung up the phone and heaved a heavy sigh. Why did contact with Mrs. Warren make me so apprehensive? Things were starting to unravel fast and my nerves were fried.

  I had to talk to David. The hurt look on Moheeladeck’s face nearly killed me. “I’m sorry, but I have to let him know.” I dialed his number and wasn’t surprised to find the call went directly to voice mail. “Hi David, it’s me, Pam. Look, I need to talk to you. I have just found out that Dr. Harvey is in town and I thou
ght you would be interested. Call me.” I hung up.

  “Maybe you should send me back to the People until you can sort out your feelings.” Moheeladeck was still standing in the same position, with his hands in fists at his side.

  “My feelings have nothing to do with this!” I snapped.

  “Don’t they?” he asked.

  I knew I had overreacted and didn’t need to snap at him. What is wrong with me? Is it the guilt? Is it true that I really don’t know my feelings? I closed my eyes for a moment to collect myself. I stepped toward him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m just a little overwhelmed right now.” I put my arms around him and he put his around me, but held me away from him, as if he wanted to keep some space between us.

  The catcher was vibrating madly over my heart. Its motion, which was usually a comfort to me and a reminder of my love for Moheeladeck, suddenly seemed to be pointing out its disapproval of my feelings for David. The more I tried to ignore it, the stronger if vibrated. I wanted to silence it, like I wanted to silence my conscience. I would be better off without it for now, I thought.

  “I have an idea that may make things easier for me.” I paused. “Since you are here and you will not need to summon me to you in my dreams and I won’t need to summon you to me, why don’t I take the catcher off? That may help me sort things out.”

  “What will you do with the stones?” he asked.

  “I’ll let you wear it for a while,” I said as I slipped it from around my neck and handed it to him.

  “I don’t like the idea of you without the protection of its powers.”

  “You are here to protect me so I shouldn’t need it.”

  “It is yours to command. The powers belong to you. I cannot possess it,” he said as he slipped the catcher back around my neck. I knew he was not going to help me through this decision. He was right. It was mine alone to make.

  “I love you enough to abide by any decision you come to, my Princess. Does he?”

 

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