by Betty Bolte
“What did we do exactly?” Tara had surmised the spell Lenore was under had a way to be broken, but had not been able to riddle the answer. Not until Grant suggested an offering of sorts.
“You gave me your food. A thank-you gift, you said, indicating you cared about how I had treated you. An act that brought such happiness and relief I can’t describe the feeling.” A tear trickled down Lenore’s left cheek. “Then you, Grant, touched me to help me when my body trembled with such heartfelt gratitude I could barely contain my emotions.” She turned her gaze to Tara and smiled. “Then you touched Grant and your healing powers flowed through him and into me, and that magnificent, selfless act freed me. I say again, thank you.”
The woman had been trapped in a crone’s body for centuries, in the middle of the woods, waiting. Needing someone to offer a gift, a helping hand, without her asking for either. Surely she didn’t see very many visitors in all those years, so the opportunities would have been, at best, rare. Imagine the uncertainty and despair she must have felt in equal parts for a very long period.
Lenore sidestepped to stand before Grant, reaching out her hands. He hesitated, obviously unsure whether to permit contact, but slowly extended his hands to let her clasp them with her long, slender fingers. He startled enough to bring a smile to Tara’s mouth.
“Grant, I understand you do not trust what Tara has told you about magic and witchcraft.” Lenore’s striking blue eyes searched Grant’s pale gray ones for two heartbeats. “But you must open your mind and your heart to see your future clearly. Indeed, you must accept her for the person she is for you both to find true happiness together.”
He peered at Lenore for a few seconds in silence. Released from her grasp, he took a step back and toward Tara. “I believe in the empirical method of science. Keen observation leads to findings. So I suppose, as you say, I should trust what I’ve seen for myself. But how can I trust what Tara has been telling me?”
“You must have faith in the woman you care for.” Lenore studied him as she nodded. She glanced at Tara and splayed her arms wide. “If you cannot, then you can never reach your destiny with each other.”
Grant turned to regard Tara with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. He blinked several times, snapping his lips together to press them into a line. “Tara, I want to believe you are telling me the truth, but you must realize how hard this is for me to accept.”
“Have I ever lied to you?” Tara folded her arms and moved away from his rigid frame. “Ever?”
“No. You haven’t.” Grant looked at Tara for several moments, a slight lift to the corners of his mouth. He swiped a hand through his hair and slowly shook his head. “Then I owe you an apology, Tara. I should have believed you when you confided your secret to me. I should have trusted you to tell me the truth.”
Tears sprung to Tara’s eyes and she blinked, releasing one to cruise down her cheek. She swiped it away and swallowed the rest. “Yes, you should have.”
Grant moved closer and took her hand in his big, warm one. “I’ll never doubt you again. I promise to see you as both a woman and a healer who uses magic.”
“That’s all I ever asked, Grant. Thank you for believing in me.” Tara squeezed his fingers with a slight smile on her lips. Then she caught Lenore’s eye with a wave of her free hand. “What will you do now? Do you want to come with us?”
Lenore shook her head and then looked up at the hushed ravens sitting in the trees. With a slow lift of both arms, she raised her hands toward them. The birds rose as one into the sky, circling slowly overhead. Lenore clapped three times and then waved as the ravens paired off and flew away in different directions. Within moments, they had gone, leaving the valley quiet and serene.
Lenore lowered her gaze to Tara’s. “I shall die in peace.”
“What?” Tara blinked rapidly, trying to comprehend the other woman’s acceptance of her death. “But you have your whole life ahead, don’t you?”
“I’ve lived too long already. It’s my time despite my outer appearance.” Resignation filled Lenore’s eyes. “But you and Grant do have your lives ahead to look forward to. If you follow the river upstream about three miles, you’ll find your car, Grant.”
“Only three? I thought we’d gone much farther.” Tara glanced at him, spied his own surprise in the revelation.
“The Hollow existed in a different dimension in space and time, making it all the more difficult for you two to have found me.”
A different dimension. That explained a lot. The time flying by. The unkindness of ravens cohabitating in the small clearing. Ravens?
“Lenore, did the ravens lead us here?” Tara nodded, anticipating the other woman’s answer.
“Yes, they were my scouts, my little helpers, which is how I knew you were approaching.” Lenore smiled at Tara. “They listened to your conversation and shared it with me.”
“That’s how you knew of my promise to keep Tara safe.” Grant glanced up at the sky, searching for the birds but finding only songbirds flitting about in the pretty valley.
“So they distracted me while Grant discovered the overlook spot, right where the ravens wanted us to be.” Tara grinned at the cleverness of the ravens. “The portal into the other dimension and eventually Raven Hollow.”
“Very good. The portal had to be opened at the right time to allow you entry.” Lenore smoothed her hands on her gown as she glanced at Grant when he gasped. “What?”
“The earthquakes…” Grant rummaged in a pocket of his knapsack, finally pulling out his compass. He held it before him, peering at the face as the needle circled and then stopped. “It’s working again. How—?”
“The ravens sensed my saviors were converging and the spell caused the earthquakes as the means of opening the portal to permit you both inside. So you might say magic brought you here, led you here, and now that the spell is broken it has released you back into your dimension.” Lenore folded her hands together and regarded Tara, a gleam in her eyes. “Go on. You’ve a life to live.”
“If you’re sure…” Tara hated leaving the woman alone again in the middle of the woods without even a house. She glanced at Grant and then to Lenore. “Where will you live?”
The air shimmered around Lenore, softening her image as she smiled and nodded. “Do not worry about me, Tara. My time has come. Go in peace and love, my friends.”
A veil lifted behind Lenore like a theater curtain pulling aside to reveal a gathering of beings, sparkly and shifting side to side, a seductive dance, as hands reached toward Lenore. Beckoning her to join them. Tara sensed they waited for Lenore, to welcome her home among her family and friends. Slowly, one heartbeat at a time, Lenore’s substance evaporated into the cool, autumn air. Her essence lingered for a few beats of Tara’s heart, then dissipated until she could no longer sense the woman’s presence. The curtain fell into place, concealing the other realm from view. A beautiful way to pass into the next life. Tara closed her eyes for a moment, wishing Lenore a tranquil existence after her trials. The cry of a hawk sounded overhead, and she opened her eyes to watch it slowly soar across the bright blue sky. Then she dropped her gaze to meet Grant’s.
“I guess we should be on our way.” Tara scanned the clearing, silent and empty. “There’s nothing to keep us here anymore.”
Grant heaved a sigh. “One thing before we go.”
“Can’t we get out of here and then talk?” She’d become anxious and restless, as if something were pushing her from the site of the vanished little stone house and its mystical occupant. They no longer belonged.
“This can’t wait.” Grant pulled her to him, holding both her hands as he contemplated her for a moment. “I want you to know I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I want to learn more about your abilities. But most of all, I want to kiss you.”
She lifted a brow. “Thanks. Okay. I want to kiss you too now that you’ve admitted you were wrong.”
“Don’t rub it in.” He tugged on her hands, closing the dista
nce between them until her chest pressed against his.
“Only for a day or two.” She winked at him then sucked in a breath as his head dipped toward her.
His lips conquered hers in a demanding, ravenous kiss. She returned his ardor, wrapping her arms around his neck to capture him in her embrace. A woman starved for his taste, the feel of his hands on her back, holding her close. The world melted out of her awareness for several glorious minutes of passion shared between a man and a woman. Only slowly did reality encroach and have them gasping for air, grinning like fools at each other in the grassy meadow.
Grant slid a hand down her back and then clasped her hand. He led her over to where they’d dropped the backpacks, helped her put hers on, and then wiggled into his. All while exchanging secret smiles.
“Ready to go?” Grant held out a hand, waiting.
“Am I ever.” Tara placed her hand in Grant’s, and they started walking toward the river. “I can’t wait to hear what my sisters have to say about our disappearing act.”
Chapter 23
The trail wound upstream between steep walls of rock and scrub brush. Tara huffed behind Grant’s determined stride along the rock strewn path. The top of the incline came into sight, and she sighed with relief. It seemed like they’d been hiking for hours, but her watch said it had only been at most one. Outside of the spell-bound hollow, she could believe what she saw on its face. But she had to keep up with Grant’s quick march. He’d increased the distance between them inch by inch as her energy flagged. One foot in front of the other. Just keep walking. Her mantra as she trudged up to the top and then stopped.
“Grant.” She barely had breath to say his name. Dragging in air, she tried again. “Grant.”
He looked over his shoulder and then halted, turning to face her. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head and beckoned him closer. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she leaned forward and braced her hands on her thighs. Her heart beat against her ribcage, gradually slowing with each passing minute. “That was some climb.”
“We’ve got to keep going, or the sun will set and we’ll be wandering around in the dark.” He scanned their surroundings, the sun halfway to its bed, crossing the azure sky without a hint of clouds. “Lenore didn’t think it was far.”
“I hope not. I’m sick and tired of playing nature girl.” She grabbed the ponytail holder and pulled it out. Ran fingers through the damp tresses, shaking them out to lay on her shoulders. Long shadows of the tree trunks lay across the path. Indicating late afternoon? Not again. She had no desire to relive the time weirdness of the hollow. “Are we even going in the right direction? Does anything look familiar?”
His gaze landed on her hair and then slid up to meet hers. “You should leave it down more often.”
She cocked her head to one side and sighed. Not what she cared about at that precise moment. Men. “Thanks. Answer my question.”
Grant fingered several strands, keeping his attention on her. “Fine. Despite the fact I think you have beautiful hair, I’ll answer your question.”
She lifted one brow and waited. Not patiently, tapping her fingers on her elbow.
“We’re going the way she told us to go, and since we had fallen so far into that sinkhole, it makes sense that we have to climb to reach my car.”
She glared at him, annoyance simmering in her core. “You do realize magic had a part in our fall? It may have only felt like we fell a long way?”
“I think we’re on the right track, so let’s keep going.” He winked at her, dropping her hair to her shoulder. “Trust me.”
The hint of interest in his eyes softened her resistance enough that she nodded. When he looked at her like she was a fine dessert, she couldn’t help but fall a little bit more in love with him. And he was right to continue. Surely they’d reach the trail head before too much longer. “Lead on. I don’t want to spend another night in the forest.”
She followed him down the other side of the hill, winding gradually down to a level stretch of trail. Around them, birds flitted about. Unseen creatures rustled the dried leaves along the trail. The smell of cedar and pine and the distinct aroma of fresh air created a heady concoction. One she’d gladly replace with the scent of her home.
As they hiked around a bend in the path, Grant suddenly gave a yell of happiness. He glanced at her, pointing ahead. “There. The trailhead at last.”
She peeked around his broad shoulders and saw the brown park sign in the shape of an arrow. “Don’t stop now.”
She pushed past him and walked as fast as her legs would carry her toward what she considered her salvation. They’d spent days in that blasted hollow. They’d freed Lenore from the spell and done their proverbial good deed. Time to return to Roseville and normalcy. Taking the short path from the main trail to the parking lot, she burst into the clearing with its gravel area. Grant’s car waited for them. She’d never been so happy to see a vehicle in all her life.
“Thank goodness.” Grant strode up beside her and cut her a look. “I am sorry we missed the family dinner, though.”
“Me, too, but at least we can go home now.” She grimaced, aware of the lengthy explanations facing her when she walked into her house. Would they believe that she hadn’t made up such an outlandish tale as they had to tell? Would Roxie believe she’d come to grips with being herself no matter what others had to say? The moment Grant had acknowledged her gift had opened her eyes to the realization she needed to be true unto herself before anyone else could accept her abilities. She exhaled, relief and frustration mingling in her sigh. “Hopefully in time for some leftovers at least. Come on.”
Grant kept pace with her, fishing in his backpack side pouch for the car keys. He pressed the fob to unlock the doors, and they both got inside without delay. Tara picked up her phone and turned it on, pleading for a signal. After a few moments, she stared at the date and time on the screen. How?
“Grant, what day does your phone say?” She turned to peer at him, disbelief reverberating through her soul.
“I dunno. I didn’t bother taking the time to look at it since we’re in such a hurry to get back to town.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked the screen. Blinked twice and then snared her with his gaze. “Tuesday?”
“That’s what mine says.” She regarded him for several astonished moments. The three days they thought had passed had in fact only been one. “Time was most definitely doing weird things in Raven Hollow.”
“Yeah…” Grant started the engine and shook his head. “Just be glad we’re out of there.”
“I am. Drive.” Tara didn’t know whether to be relieved that they hadn’t missed Thanksgiving or not. “I need to get home.”
He glanced at her as he slipped the vehicle into gear and pulled out of the parking lot. “You still have to make dessert, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She stared unseeing at the blur of trees passing by her window. She had less than an hour before Grant would drop her off at her house. Time in which to make a decision as to what on earth she’d do about dessert. She had to make it the next day to give Roxie and Beth the kitchen on the big day. No way would she dare step foot into the kitchen with them. She glanced at Grant, determined not to let her entire family down. “Now to figure out what I’m baking.”
As the car slowed to turn onto the main road, a pair of ravens perched on the stop sign, side by side, their eyes fastened on her as if they recognized her. Their adventure had begun with just such a pair of omens following her. Fitting for them to usher them on their way. Still, she’d prefer if they’d leave her alone. She blinked, and they suddenly took flight, their wedge tails and ebony feathers disappearing into the distance.
“I’m sure you’ll make something wonderful.” He cast her a sideways glance and then focused on the road.
Tara sat in silence, mulling the possibilities. Recalling the way the ravens cooperated with the wolves to identify and essentially prepare a meal. Remembering Lenore’s
tale of never being satisfied with what others did for her until she’d been punished for centuries. How she’d learned to be thankful for the efforts of others. To first be true to herself. The lessons about reaching out for help when needed or desired. Not to show weakness or inability, but to evoke a sense of community, of friendship, of family. The very concept of being grateful for the people around her and not judgmental of them.
Before long they reached the outlying country neighborhoods surrounding Roseville. Twilight had descended during the drive. Several houses boasted strands of Christmas lights twinkling on roofs and in the trees and bushes. The holiday season had arrived, and this year for the first time she would not be alone. She had Grant, who cared for and about her.
She swiveled her head to contemplate him. The epitome of a good man. Caring, strong, supportive, and yet willing to fight for what he believed in and to protect those he loved. A mix of hidden talents and obvious strengths. She could never find another man who enticed and enthralled her on so many levels. He’d proven capable of keeping his word, taking her seriously, and being there to support and guide her. From the first day he’d returned to Roseville, he’d been kind and considerate. And sexy as hell. Tempting her at every turn. Helping her when she needed it, whether she asked or not. She recalled his reaction to the kitchen when he’d first entered her home. Maybe she should find out what other talents he possessed.
“When you were in my kitchen, I got the impression you know something about cooking.” Tara aimed her querying gaze at Grant. “Like baking?”
He nodded, shooting her a quick half grin. “One of my specialties as it so happens.”
“Don’t toy with me, Grant.” Hope blossomed inside at his revelation. “I’m in serious need of help and fast running out of time.”
“My mother made sure I knew how to take care of myself before I ever left home. You know, how to do my laundry, clean my room, and feed myself.” He steered the car around a curve and then glanced at her. “Including baking everything from cookies to cakes to pies.”