Mystic Tides

by Kate Allenton

  The smallest sheep she’d ever seen stood in the back. The only way she knew it was there was because it jumped higher than the other animals in order to get a good look.

  Glancing over her shoulder, Grey was looking for an escape that would keep the townspeople out of harm’s way. If the animals were affected by the spell, then she was in deep trouble. The pigs oinked and pressed against the gate. The ponies snorted and shook their heads, trying to break free. Hell, even the cows moo’d. The sheep and goats moved in closer.

  Please hold, Grey repeated in her head. She didn’t want to scar the children for life by having an impromptu variety animal roast without a barbeque pit, but damned, if they came close enough, she just might have to.

  “Syd…I’m going to run. Give them a push to stay. Call an emergency meeting with the girls. We’ll meet at Bethany’s in an hour.”

  Sydney had her arms stretched out, holding back the curious little boys from moving forward.

  “One….two….three…”

  Grey turned and ran as fast as her feet would carry her. She heard the chaos she’d left behind, the animals all making a variety of sounds. They wanted her and would attempt to escape. Grey knew it, and it was just going to be a battle of wills to determine which ones got free and which ones remained in captivity.

  Grey turned down the street that ran next to the magic shop. Unable to maneuver the turn, she bounced off the brick building, scraping her shoulder and tearing her sleeve. Crumbles of dirt fell down on her head, yet she didn’t stop. She heard the patter of animal feet behind her. She pushed her arms and legs faster. Her nose twitched, her allergies kicking in. A sure sign they were getting close.

  She came out the corner into the alley and ran into a hard, massive chest, bouncing off of it like a coin on six-pack abs. Fingers dug into her skin, stopping her from landing on her butt. Cool palms held steady, righting her in place.

  She pushed her hair out of her face and met the eyes of the one man she didn’t want to see.

  “Sorry, I can’t stop,” Grey said in a huff, gazing back over her shoulder toward the alley. “They’re going to find me.”

  “Who…”

  Grey’s brows dipped when she heard the click of the animals’ feet on the asphalt. She moved behind Beck, using him as a human shield, unsure which animal was coming to eat her first. She clutched his shirt and buried her head in his back, waiting.

  Beck laughed a full-belly laugh, and she peeked out around his arm.

  The sheep that had been jumping higher than any of others stood there, staring at them both.

  “This little guy wouldn’t harm a flea.” Beck’s voice was warm like a blanket wrapping around her body.

  “That beast wants to eat me.” Grey pointed to the animal.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I just think he likes you. He’s not attacking.” Beck twisted and pulled Grey out to his side. He leaned into her. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, darlin’.”

  “Darlin’? Who says that?”

  Beck’s smile widened. “The man who grew up on a farm and knows how to handle that little baby staring at you.”

  “Darlin’ it is.” Her acknowledgement tasted sour in her throat, yet it didn’t stop her from inching closer to him.

  With every step the little lamb-looking thing took toward her, Grey could feel the fire warming in her hand. When Beck laced their fingers, the fire dissipated. His cool grip sent a small ripple of calm through her body. If she didn’t know better, she might have thought that Beck, the newbie in town, had the ability to “push” like Sydney.

  Grey wasn’t sure if it was the weird sensation that surprised her or the fact that a sheep stood at her feet, sniffing her leg but not trying to eat her. Either way, her day was going downhill fast, and if the damn animal opened his mouth to bite, she’d be using Beck’s body like a fire pole, only she’d be climbing up it as fast as firemen were known to slide down to answer the sound of an alarm.

  “He’s not going to hurt you.”

  The little sheep jumped, and when he did, he came up to chest height. Grey went to step back, but Beck held her in place. “Jumpy little sucker, isn’t he? Why don’t we take him back?”

  “I’m not going back out there. They’ll attack.”

  Grey lowered to her knees and held out her hand. Maybe if she made friends with the thing, it might go back home. The sheep didn’t sniff her hand. He licked the damn thing. His tongue left a wet path over her palm and up her arm. Maybe it was his version of a kiss.

  One of the animal herders rounded the corner, his big belly bouncing as he ran with several carrots dangling from his hand. He spotted the animal and stopped, resting his hands on his knees. His words came out in panted breaths. “I thought he got away.”

  “You need to put this one in a taller pen he can’t jump over,” Grey said through gritted teeth as the animal moved farther into her personal space, turning around twice like a dog might and then sitting down nestled between her legs. It faced the man with the carrots, as if the damn thing was a guard dog, protecting his master.

  The man stepped closer, and the animal inched farther back into Grey’s legs.

  “You’re scaring him.”

  “We have a pen set up behind the library that’s bigger than the one on Main Street. We need to get that little guy over there.”

  The animal tamer set his gaze on Grey, ignoring the animal at her feet. He licked his lips and lowered his gaze to rest on her breasts. “How about I take care of the animal and take you out for a drink afterward?”

  Grey rolled her eyes at the suggestion as the trainer put his big, beefy hand on the little animal. The tiny sheep let out a whimper and a squeal.

  “Stop,” Grey said as anger welled up in her body. She rose and touched the man’s arm, issuing her own silent, and warm, warning. “You’re hurting him.”

  The man yanked his arm back and covered the hot spot with his palm. “Fine. You can do it yourself.” He shoved the carrots into her chest, purposely touching her breast.

  Oh it’s on. She took a step toward the perv, ready to issue her own brand of hell.

  The man turned and walked away, grumbling beneath his breath as he headed back down the alley.

  “It’s not worth it. Just let him go.” Beck rested his hand at her back. “I’ll help you get this little guy back where he belongs.”

  “That’s not necessary. I can do it myself.” Grey fed the animal one of the carrots and started walking down the alley behind the buildings. She paused and glanced over her shoulder, making sure the little sheep was following and not in attack mode.

  “Have fun,” Beck called out as he swiveled around and headed in the opposite direction.

  “Well, at least he wasn’t affected by the spell. Either that or he’s a damn good actor,” she muttered to the little ball of wool now walking by her side.

  Reaching into her pocket, Grey pulled out her cell and called Sydney, requesting that they meet at a new spot behind the library in an hour, a good ways away from anything that might want to eat her. It would also help her avoid any other advances from people she might come across.

  When had her life been reduced to walking in alleys behind buildings and hiding in the shadows? Her cousins needed to fix this, and fix it fast.

  Grey rounded the corner of the library to find the town mayor, Helena-Marie, standing at the corral with the gate held open. Her polished business suit and matching practical pumps belonged anywhere but near the animal enclosure.

  “I hear you’re in quite the pickle.”

  “I was pretty sure you already knew.”

  Helena-Marie’s mouth twisted up in a grin without hesitation.

  “Yeah, I’ve got your number, Mayor. Mrs. Know-All-Sees-all.”

  Grey walked into the enclosure and waited for the sheep to follow before dropping the carrots on the ground and quickly heading for the gate. She slammed it shut, locking the animal inside.

  “I may know all, Grey, but I’
ve never made anyone bend to my will. The choices you’ve made have always been your own.” Helena-Marie rested her arm on the enclosure and looked in on the fluffy white animal. “In this case, I’m only here to offer a suggestion.” She pointed to the sheep inside that had since started jumping and bouncing around from place to place, not walking like a normal animal. “It appears you have a lot of new admirers,” She gestured to the animal. “Like him.”

  “Care to tell me how to make them go away? If you haven’t guessed, I’m not a very good people person or good with animals walking on four legs. They tend to get singed hair. I’m not sure I’d trust my cousins to perform another spell. Not when this affects more than just me.”

  Grey’s shoulders sagged as she watched the animal now eating some of the carrots that she’d left. “If I wasn’t such a good girl, and ethical, this crap could ruin marriages.” She gave Helena-Marie a pointed stare.

  Helena-Marie laughed outright and then covered her mouth. “Sorry, but if you were interested in any of the married men in town, that would have already happened.”

  Grey shrugged. She knew what others thought about her. It didn’t really surprise her. “Anyway, what happens when the spell is broken and these people realize what they’ve done? Relationships could be destroyed in a heartbeat. I’m sure you don’t want that for your town, do you?”

  “It’s a good thing your ethics aren’t in question, Grey.” Helena-Marie glanced over to her. “And yes, I always knew you weren’t that kind of girl.” She winked as if she was in on the joke.

  “Great.” Grey let out a deep breath. “So how do I break it?”

  “True love, dear.” Helena-Marie started to walk away.

  “Wait!”

  Helena-Marie turned and clasped her hands in front of her. “The one man who hasn’t been affected is the one man you seek. Get him to tell you that he loves you, and the spell is broken. It’s as simple and complicated as that.”

  “But…Beck is the only man who hasn’t tried to accost me.”

  Helena-Marie’s grin grew bigger before she winked. “Nothing in your life is coincidence, dear.” She pointed to the pendant hanging around Grey’s neck. “Take your pendent for instance. He has the exact same one in a different color. There is not another similar pendant in the world, except for yours. They were forged in love and for love. When you and he are together and wearing the pendants, the effects of the spell will dissipate, but they will never fully go away until you both admit to love. Unless, of course, you find the women who forged those pendants and convince them to destroy the pieces.” She shrugged. “But I have to warn you. If by some chance you find the person that forged them and they get destroyed, your chance at happiness will be destroyed along with them.”

  Helena-Marie walked closer and laid her hand on Grey’s shoulder. A move that Grey would have shrugged off from anyone other than the mayor. The touch reminded her of her mother’s, caring and gentle and something she missed from so long ago. “I can promise you this…It won’t be easy.” She smiled again. “But it will be worth it. You just might have to concede to get him to agree.”

  Helena-Marie spun on her heels to walk away.

  “Wait…concede what?’

  “You’re a smart girl. You’ll figure it out. Don’t forget about the fireworks.” The mayor lifted her fingers and wiggled them as she left. “The town is going to need you.”

  Grey was still standing at the gate and watching the sheep play in the oversized pen when the others showed up an hour later.

  Grey, Halona, Sydney, and Bethany all stood outside the wooden corral watching the small white sheep jumping from place to place.

  “You know…” Grey tilted her head. “That can’t be natural.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe he grew up with goats. I’ve seen them jump like that.” Bethany folded her arms and leaned against the wood. “I think he’s kind of cute.”

  “Yeah, maybe in a lamb chop kind of way,” Grey admitted.

  Sydney grinned. Even though she didn’t openly admit she agreed with Grey, it was there, written on her face.

  “Oh no, tell me you won’t hurt her.” Bethany shook her head several times in quick succession.

  “Him,” Grey corrected the disagreeing bleeding heart while rolling her eyes. She turned to address her cousins. "This is all your fault, Bethany. When you cast that damn spell for me to find love, you should have specified. HUMAN.....and male," she amended. “You've got half the girls in town wanting to date me, and the only man who can help fix this is unconcerned that a sheep had chased me."

  Sydney tossed her arm around Grey’s shoulders. The move, meant to comfort, always did the opposite. Public displays of affection had never been her thing. Grey rolled her shoulders, getting rid of the dead weight.

  “I’ve got some shears you can borrow. Just think what you could do with all of that white fluff.”

  The little sheep that she would have instantly fried only an hour ago was staring up at her. “The mayor told me how to break the spell.”

  “It’s true love, isn’t it?” Bethany asked excitedly as she moved closer. “My potion worked.”

  “I have to get Beck to say he loves me.” She lifted the pendant from her shirt. “Or find the person who forged this damn thing and get them to destroy mine and his.”

  “First of all, who’s Beck, and how in the hell are you going to figure out who made that glass?” Bethany asked while exchanging confused looks with the others.

  “The new fireman that you guys so kindly railroaded me into dealing with at the shop. It’s him, okay? And I have no idea how to figure out who made this damn thing.”

  “We can cast a spell to find the jeweler,” Bethany suggested.

  “Oh no, you will do no such thing. You’re on spell restriction, young lady.”

  Halona clapped her hands together. Bethany gave a motherly smile, and Sydney threw her head back and laughed.

  When Grey narrowed her eyes into a glare, Sydney swiped the tears from her eyes. “What? Fire starter,” she said, pointing to Grey. “And fireman. You have to admit, it’s kind of funny. You can light his fire, and he can put yours out.”

  The rest of her cousins chuckled. Only Halona was decent enough to cover her smile behind her hand.

  Grey straightened her shoulders, and her brow rose. “You do realize that I may retaliate?”

  The laughing stopped as quickly as it had started.

  “Okay, so go get your man to say those three little words, even if he doesn’t mean them, and break this damn thing.” Sydney grabbed Halona and Bethany by the arms. “Meanwhile, we’ll work on another spell to break the one we cast.”

  “I meant what I said about being on restriction.” Grey held up her hands. “You three have done enough. No more spells or I start shooting fireballs at your rodents. They could use a few hairs singed.”

  Halona gasped, Bethany lifted a hand to her chest, and Sydney held up both hands.

  “No spells, but if he doesn’t say the words, we need to come up with something else.” Sydney grabbed the other two again and started to haul them away from Grey, as if to keep them safe and out of reach. “Come on, girls, we need to go research how to break a spell without performing another one.”

  “Is that even possible?” Halona asked as she was being dragged away.

  Chapter 4

  Grey pulled at the baggy jeans, hoping the belt held firm around her tiny waist. She tucked a stray flying red strand back into the hoodie and tightened the drawstring in hopes of keeping her red hair out of sight. It was on days like this that teleportation would have been a nifty skill.

  “I’m going to kill them,” she mumbled beneath her breath. “Murder them with my bare hands,” she amended as she glanced down at the garb she’d been forced to wear. She looked like a damn skateboarder wannabe, or worse. Grey growled. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

  The large brick firehouse stood across the street. The only man who could help h
er stood just inside the open bay doors, running a rag over the fire truck. She took one deep breath and crossed the road.

  “I need your help.” Grey loosened the strings and lifted the hoodie from her head.

  “Mine?” Beck asked. His gaze travelled down her body and back up. His lips quirked.

  “Laugh all you want. Go ahead. Get it out.”

  “Why are you dressed like that?”

  “It’s a long story.” Grey blew her long bangs out of her face and smoothed them back with her hand. “You’re the only one not affected by what my cousins did to me.”

  Beck rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Did you lose a bet or something and they made you dress like you’re fifteen?”

  Grey drew in a long, calming breath. It wasn’t Beck’s fault he was clueless about her predicament. As he was the only man unaffected, it stood to reason he was the only one whose words would matter.

  “Never mind what they did. It doesn’t matter.” Grey plopped down on the bench near the gear, hoping the other firefighters hadn’t spotted her presence yet. The last thing she needed was a group of firemen all vying for her attention before she was due to help on the barge tonight. “I need you to profess your love for me. That’s the only way this spell can be lifted.”

  “What?” Becks brows dipped. “I don’t love you. I hardly know you beyond the fact that you have a fetish for fire extinguishers. Does that bleed over to firemen also?”

  “It doesn’t matter if you love me. Just say the words so the spell will be broken, and we can all go back to our normal lives. You’ll never have to see me again.” Grey made a cross over her heart. “I swear it.”

  “Spell? So you’re witches?” he asked. “I knew it from the looks of your store.”

  She threw up her hands in the air, her patience slowly dwindling. “Yes. Okay? Now just tell me the damn words.”

  Beck tossed the rag over his shoulder. “And what if I don’t want that?”

  “Get real. You already said you don’t know me.” She grinned and stood. “Believe it or not, like it or not, you’re my true love”—she used air quotes around the words, unsure if she truly believed it herself— “and until you take notice, I’ll never be out of this hell. I don’t like it either. You weren’t going to ask me out, so why bother pretending interest now? Just say the damn words, and we can go our separate ways.”