“That’s nonsense. The boy was a New Crescent native son. It started here and ends here.” Aunt Ernestine pointed out in a no-nonsense tone. “We take care of our own. That’s how it works. Now the town heals.” She nodded her head at Gillian, “It was his destiny…and yours, too, my girl. I knew it the minute you set foot in town. You are meant for Travis.” She rolled her eyes at him and took Gillian’s hand. They could both feel the power the other possessed and instantly recognized it. “You had to meet this family in order to fulfill your fate, to accept your power. You, Gillian, are one of the three. You will take my place as the town’s guardian. The other two aren’t yet ready but they will be soon. Now, this trouble has passed, but given time, the town will see more. We will have to stay vigilant.”
They all exchanged curious glances. No one was quite ready to deal with her prediction.
Much later, after everyone else had wandered home to their beds, Travis and Gillian snuggled together on a chaise lounge, still not ready to sleep.
Gillian said, “Talk to me about it, Travis.”
Travis smiled. He’d have to get used to her reading his mind. “No matter what the provocation, it’s never easy to take a life, but I wonder…if he’d held anyone else, would my aim be nearly as deadly?” He buried his face in her neck. “Gillian, I could have torn him apart with my bare hands.”
“I’m glad you didn’t have to. I was so happy to see you sneak in that broken down old house. The power was there all the time, waiting for me. All this time, I thought I needed control, but I was so wrong. I’d been resisting it instead of accepting it…accepting who I am, what I can do.” She snuggled closer to him and said, “Our connection is getting stronger all the time. I can read some of your thoughts. Does that bother you?”
“No. I think what we have is miraculous, a gift. You’re an absolute Goddess. I’m very much in love with you, you know.” His white-gold eyes shimmered at her.
“Yes.” She kissed him. “I found that little gem when I was wondering around in your mind while tied to that damned chair.”
“I guess I don’t have to ask you to marry me, then.”
She sat up and looked down at him with regal outrage. “Of course you have to ask me to marry you! I’m the first of the three guardians of New Crescent. Ernestine Sinclair’s successor, and, as such, I demand the whole works—vulnerability, trembling lips, bended knee and all.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that. Damn…Aunt Ernestine was bad enough…” He pulled her back down to rest her head on his chest. “I know you love me, so it’s just a matter of time before I get the asking you part right. We will be married, that’s a promise. I can’t wait until you’re pregnant with our child. That will be the sexiest thing on earth.”
Overwhelmed, the thought of it brought tears to her eyes but she said lightly, “I’ll be grumpy, demanding, and water retentive. And I’ll make sure you are aware of just how I’m feeling at all times. I have an edge in that department.”
“I’ll love you, no matter how much water you retain. What fun Reggie is going to have at my expense.”
They both laughed at the truth in his statement. He tilted her face to his and gently took her lips.
She could feel the surge of sweet anticipation the thought of their future gave him. Effortlessly, she reached out and shared her joy with him. It multiplied ten fold and spread out before them, filled with endless promise.
Miles away from the house on the cliff, snug in her bed, Aunt Ernestine smiled in her sleep.
TROUBLE
New Crescent 1
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Lou George lives within driving distance to Toronto where she is fortunate to have the best of both worlds, the city and the country. She’s worked in the design studio of a major art museum for over twenty years. The creative atmosphere there has helped to keep her imagination fertile and her humor well exercised. In her personal life, she’s surrounded by family, friends, and an animal or two, or three. It is no surprise that her books include four legged characters. She comes from a long line of animal lovers and her home is filled with love and laughter. She believes there’s a little bit of magic in each of us and that working hard for the happy ending is always worth the journey.
www.BookStrand.com
Trouble [New Crescent 1] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Page 22