by Lyn Horner
“Howdy, Dev, Michaela,” Conn said, standing to greet the pair. He helped Lara up from the couch while Tristan and Char also rose.
The big guy – Dev – marched into the living room and slapped Conn on the back. “Hey, Lara, I’m glad you’re back,” he said, smiling at her and nodding to Char and Tristan.
Michaela, who’d taken time to shed her coat, hugged both Conn and Lara. “Welcome back. We’ve been worried about you two.” Then she rushed to embrace Char. “Charlotte! I’m so happy you made it here safely.”
“Hello, Michaela. I’m happy to see you safe too,” Char said, her calm tone assuring Tristan she felt no painful emotions from the other woman. When they parted, she said, “I’d like you to meet Tristan Jameson, my … mate.” She snared his gaze with a smile that warmed his heart. “Tristan, this is Dr. Michaela Peterson.”
“Dr. Peterson, it’s a pleasure,” he said with a polite nod.
She smiled and waved away the formality. “Just call me Michaela. I’m happy to meet you, Tristan.”
“Lara told us you went through a rough time in Galveston,” Char said.
Michaela’s sunny smile slipped. “Yes, it was pretty bad.” She sent Dev a warm glance and motioned him over, hooking his muscular arm with hers. “Charlotte and Tristan, meet Dev Medina, the man who saved me.”
“Howdy, Miss Charlotte. I’m pleased to meet you,” Dev drawled with a smile, softening his blunt features. Then he shifted his attention to Tristan. “Welcome to the club, friend,” he said, offering his hand.
“Thanks.” Tristan grinned and shook hands with him.
Then Dev turned to glower at Conn. “What the hell took you so long? Gabe and I were about to head for the Big Apple to hunt you down.”
“Sí, I was looking forward to visiting New York,” Gabriel called out from the kitchen where he was helping Josie put away groceries. His remark drew laughter.
“So Josie told us,” Conn replied to Dev. “We crossed paths with some Hellhounds. They slowed us down.”
“Damn! Sounds like you’ve got a story to tell.”
“We do, but we’ve been on the road for days, laying down a false trail.” Conn glanced at Lara, who stood leaning on him. “Lara is exhausted. We all are. If you don’t mind, I think we all need a night’s sleep before we get into explanations.”
Tristan couldn’t agree more. Slipping his arm around Char, all he wanted to do was lie down with her next to him and sleep for about twelve hours straight.
Conn nodded. “Sure, no problem.”
“You can sleep in my room,” said Leon Tseda, rising from his rocking chair. He gestured at Conn and Lara. Then he told Tristan and Char, “Michaela and Dev have the other bedroom, but the couch pulls out. Or I have sleeping bags. The grandkids use them when they visit.”
“We can’t take your bed, Leon,” Lara protested. “Sleeping bags will do fine for Conn and me.”
“No. You need the bed.” He nodded at her injured leg. “And I keep a sleeping platform in the hogan. I like to sleep there sometimes. Only there do the old ones visit my dreams.”
A short while later, Tristan lay with Char cuddled close on the pulled out sofa bed. The mattress was lumpy and narrow and his feet hung over the end, but he wasn’t complaining. His fiery-haired angel slept contentedly in his arms. Nothing else mattered.
*
The next morning dawned cold and clear. The fire in the potbellied stove had died and the living room was chilly. Shivering, Char dug fresh clothes from her duffle bag and dashed into the bathroom to change. When she returned, Tristan was dressed and had folded up the bed. He pulled her close and stole a kiss. They were interrupted by Josie, who came padding silently from the back of the house, where the bedrooms were located.
She laughed as they drew apart. “Sorry. Don’t mind me. I need to start the coffee. The others are moving around. They’ll be out here shortly. Tristan, would you mind getting a fire going in the stove? There’s wood and kindling over there.” She pointed to a large basket near the stove then walked into the kitchen.
Staring at the stove, Tristan crooked an eyebrow and scratched his unshaven jaw. “Uh, sure, if I can figure out how,” he muttered.
“Come on, I’ll help,” Char said with a grin. “I’ve built a few fires in my time. Mama and I used to go camping back home.”
“My hero! Show me how it’s done, Wonder Woman.”
She laughed and demonstrated her rusty skills. She soon had a fire blazing. Not to be outdone, Tristan headed for the kitchen, where he impressed Josie by quickly putting together a batch of no-rise cinnamon rolls and setting them to bake. Learning he was a pastry chef, she elbowed Char in the ribs as they prepared to scramble a huge bowl of eggs and start bacon frying.
“Lucky girl! Better be careful, though, or he’ll fatten you up like a Thanksgiving turkey.” As if to confirm her prediction, a luscious aroma of cinnamon and baking bread spread through the house, making Char’s mouth water. It had the same effect on the other residents, who came trooping into the kitchen, practically drooling over the scent.
They breakfasted around the large, family style table, the men wolfing down food, especially the rolls, like they hadn’t eaten in a month. Tristan beamed at their obvious enjoyment, making Char happy for him.
“You can stay in my home as long as you wish,” Leon Tseda said, dark eyes twinkling as he licked creamy frosting from his fingers. “As long as you make these.”
His comment drew a round of laughter. Josie poured more coffee as Char, Tristan and their two traveling companions began to relate their encounters with Hellhounds in New York. Dev swore in English and Gabriel in Spanish, listening to Conn and Tristan describe their wild ride through the night with bullets flying as they led the three Hellhounds away from the mansion where the women hid.
Char’s airway constricted as she remembered her terrifying confinement in the hidden room. She clenched her hands in her lap, skin growing clammy and her breathing labored. Noticing, Tristan gripped her wrist.
“Don’t think about it, angel,” he said, perceiving the cause of her distress. “Look at me. Take slow, deep breaths.”
She turned her head, gazed into his eyes and forced herself to do as he said.
“That’s it. Good girl.”
“Charlotte is claustrophobic,” Lara explained to the others. “Being shut in the dark, narrow space where we hid was very hard on her.”
As her breathing returned to normal, Char ducked her head. “I’m sorry for being such a weakling,” she said in embarrassment.
“You’re no weakling,” Michaela said firmly. “Claustrophobia is an agonizing condition. I’ve treated patients for it, so I know what you go through. If you ever want to talk about it, I’d be glad to listen. Maybe we can come up with a way to lessen your fear of tight spaces.”
“Thank you, Michaela. I would appreciate your help.” Although still embarrassed, Char smiled and sat up straighter.
With her episode over, Tristan told how he and Conn had lured their pursuers to their death, drawing exclamations around the table and a shocked look from Char, since he hadn’t disclosed this to her before. But as they recounted the ensuing Hellhound attack at the Manhattan apartment building, nobody felt sorry for the dead villains.
After that they discussed how to go about contacting the three remaining Guardians. Dev revealed he had already reached out to a friend who was a profiler for the FBI, asking her to contact Nathan Maguire, a Guardian living in Tampa, Florida. He was a tattoo artist, of all things!
“My friend, Talia Werner, agreed to pass on a message to Maguire from Michaela saying he needs to meet with his six associates. We figured he’ll know what that means. I also gave Talia my parents’ phone number, with their permission. She’ll give Maguire the number so he has a way to contact us. I’ll need to check in with Mom and Dad every few days to see if the man called.”
“You can’t call them from anywhere near the canyon,” Conn said flatly.
&nb
sp; “Of course not. I’ll drive up into Colorado each time, like I did before when I called Talia and my folks. That will keep me on the road a lot but it should throw off anyone trying to track my phone.”
“Your friend may have a problem with Nathan Maguire,” Char said, remembering him from the one Guardians’ conclave she had attended. “He is outspoken to the point of rudeness at times. Also, Josie mentioned she had a hard time convincing Gabriel to trust her.” She glanced at the two, seeing Gabriel smile ruefully and Josie give an emphatic nod. “I don’t think Nathan will be any easier to win over.”
Dev chuckled. “You don’t know Talia. She is one stubborn woman when she sets her mind to something, and she’s not above breaking a few rules. She supplied me with information when I was helping Josie plan her flight path and refueling stops down to Colombia. Classified information in some cases,” he added, arching his brows.
“Assuming Ms. Werner succeeds in sending Nathan to us,” Lara said, “that leaves Adam Dvorak here in the states and Delilah Moreau in Paris, France. I think I know a way to reach Adam, but I have no idea who to send after Delilah.” She shrugged and looked from one person to another, seeking ideas.
No one spoke until Leon, the honorary member of their group, said, “I have always wished to see Paris. I will go.”
“Father!” Josie blurted, gaping at him. “Are you crazy? You have never even been out of Arizona.”
“That is so, Daughter, but I am not too old to see a little of the world. And do not be disrespectful to your father.”
Josie muttered an apology but continued to stare at him as if he’d lost his mind.
“Leon, I’m truly grateful for your offer,” Lara said, “but you know the dangers we face. None of us want you to risk your life for us.”
“You see? No one expects such a thing of you, Father,” Josie persisted.
Leon ignored her. Crossing his arms, he contemplated Lara. “I will do this thing not only for you, but for my people. We Navajo are a proud race. Our code talkers helped win World War Two. Now I will do my part to protect our future from these Hellhounds.”
Char gazed at the dignified man with new respect. They all did. How could anyone deny him his chance to contribute to the brave lineage of his people?
After a long moment, Lara nodded. “Very well, Leon, the job is yours. Please keep in mind that we still don’t know how the Hellhounds are finding us. Delilah Moreau might be a traitor. You could walk into a trap when you approach her.”
He shrugged. “The only way to know is to go to her. And if she is the traitor, she won’t be expecting an old Indian to come her way, now will she?”
*
That afternoon, Char went for a stroll with Tristan. A cold wind nipped at her ears, making her turn up the collar of her coat. Arms entwined, they wandered along the path leading to the main trail through the canyon. Gazing across the narrow valley, they watched a group of tourists pick their way down a rocky path from the canyon rim, toward the famous White House Ruins Josie had told them about.
“I’d like to walk that trail and explore the ruins one day if you’re game,” Tristan said.
“I’d love to, and I can’t wait for Josie to give us a tour of the canyon like she promised.” Looking up at him, she said, “But right now there’s something I need to tell you about.” The time had come to share her last, most terrible secret with him.
He studied her, eyebrows arching skyward. “Alright. Want to find a place to sit and talk?”
At her nod, he suggested Leon’s orchard. Moments later, they sat cross-legged facing each other between two peach trees. Dry leaves crunched beneath them.
“I’ve put this off as long as possible,” Char said, “because I hate to burden you with knowledge of what’s to come.”
“That sounds ominous,” he said, watching her reach into a deep jacket pocket and draw out the blue metal tube containing the scroll she was sworn to protect.
“The prophesy I guard is ominous.” She unscrewed one end of the tube and carefully withdrew a small parchment scroll. Gently unfurling it, she took a deep breath and began to read.
I am called Rinella. Our Great Mother Danu has visited my dreams, showing me a far distant future filled with great suffering. This vision leaves me wondering at the frailty of life, yet hopeful.
In that time there will arise a terrible sickness that will spread over the entire earth, carried by humans on their flying machines. Victims will grow ill one day, suffering fever, coughs and stomach pain. They will worsen rapidly, draining them of fluids and destroying their internal elements, killing them by the second day in most cases.
Within days many thousand will die, within weeks millions. The human population, already reduced by war, will diminish even more. Yet, as I said, there is hope. Physicians and those who study diseases will find a cure for the pestilence. Enough survivors will be left to rebuild their world. This is the promise of Danu.
Char slowly rolled up the scroll and slid it back into its container. Tucking the tube into her pocket, she met Tristan’s appalled stare.
“My God!” he rasped. “Do you believe all that will actually happen?”
She looked away. “I don’t want to, but Rinella’s description sounds awfully close to some of the outbreaks recently reported.”
“Yeah, it does. So far they’ve been contained – after claiming far too many lives. But if some new super bug crops up … .”
“Exactly. Every time I read the scroll, it terrifies me.” Scooting close, she begged, “Hold me, Tristan.”
He lifted her onto his lap and wrapped her in his strong arms, pressing her face to his chest. ”I pray to God and your Goddess that the prophesy never comes true,” he said. “In the meantime, I plan to love you as long as we both live and beyond.”
Char caught her breath. Tilting her head back, she bathed in the warm glow of his hazel eyes. “And I you, my darling.” Bringing his head down, she kissed him with every ounce of love in her being.
Two days later they celebrated Christmas. They had no tree or gifts to hand out, but they were surrounded by friends and love. And wasn’t that what Christmas was all about?
The End
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Titles by Lyn Horner
Rescuing Lara
Romancing the Guardians, Book One
Decoding Michaela
Romancing the Guardians, Book Two
Capturing Gabriel
Romancing the Guardians, Book Three
Touching Charlotte
Romancing the Guardians, Book Four
**Romancing the Guardians Box Set**
Part One
Profiling Nathan
Romancing the Guardians, Book Five
White Witch
Texas Devlins, Book One
Darlin’ Irish
Texas Devlins, Book Two
Dashing Irish
Texas Devlins, Book Three
Dearest Irish
Texas Devlins, Book Four
**Texas Devlins 4 Book Bundle**
The Perfect Gift
A Texas Devlins Christmas (novella)
Six Cats In My Kitchen
Photo illustrated memoir
**Antholo
gies Lyn is in**
Rawhide ’n Roses
2015 Rone Awards Finalist
Silver Belles and Stetsons
Popular Christmas Anthology
About the Author
Lyn Horner resides in Fort Worth, Texas – “Where the West Begins” – with her husband and several very spoiled cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn worked as a fashion illustrator and art instructor before she took up writing. She loves crafting passionate love stories, both historical and contemporary. Lyn also enjoys reading, gardening, visiting with family and friends, and cuddling her furry, four-footed children.
Celtic myth and folklore, as well as unusual powers of the mind fascinate Lyn, influencing most of her writing. Recently, she has also become interested in Native American mythology.
The author’s award-winning Texas Devlins series blends authentic Old West settings, steamy romance and psychic mysteries. Her ongoing romantic suspense series, Romancing the Gaurdians, combines her trademark flashes of psychic phenomena with Irish folklore and a chilling apocalyptic sub-theme. Along the way, readers are treated to thunderous action, terrifying suspense and sizzling romance.
**See next page for Review Excerpts**
Praise for Lyn Horner’s Novels
Rescuing Lara
Romancing the Guardians, Book One
“It’s so wonderful to pick up a romantic suspense-filled novel and fall in love with both main characters … the plot is brilliantly set up as it slides across genres and takes on its own life! … Picture a vibrant, multi-colored braided ribbon, each color being a subplot and you can visualize how well Ms. Horner has woven this tale together withs depth and precision, while creating a masterful work of art through words.”
—Amazon TOP 500 Reviewer
“It was easy to imagine the Irish countryside with the author’s descriptive prose…Ms. Horner does a good job weaving the tension and suspense of the main story arc of Lara’s mission with the ancient Druid scroll…with Lara’s own emotional dilemmas.”
—BigAl’s Books and Pals
“This book had it all, it was a fast read and I read it in less than one day. Lara and Conn are wonderful characters, as well as Dev who I hope to read more about. The book has love, sex, suspense, prophecies and violence. Although the book does not end in a cliffhanger, there is no doubt there is more to come. There are six more Guardians out there and I can’t wait to read the next story in the series.”