Willow’s Cry
Beverly Ovalle
Paranormal Romance
Willow’s Cry
Copyright © 2018 Beverly Ovalle
First E-book Publication: April 2018
Cover by Bound2Be Covers
All cover art and logo copyright © 2018 by Beverly Ovalle
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
If you find Willow’s Cry being sold or shared illegally, please let me know at [email protected]
Dedication
Thank you to Christine and Robin for your wonderful help as beta readers! I couldn’t have finished Willow’s Cry without your input.
When you've pissed off Mother Nature, anything can happen...
Alex is just a regular guy… who can hear the wind speak and the earth talk, not a bad thing for a Park Ranger if a bit unusual. His life is everything he desires. Until Mother Nature expresses her displeasure at his family’s threat to sell the land they had been charged to protect. Alex is left to try to stop the sale, finding a damsel in distress along the way who wraps herself around his heart.
Happy living in her tree, observing the world without joining in, Willow has yearned for Alex for years. Too shy to emerge, the little nymph is suddenly catapulted into Alex’s arms, her tree destroyed during a massive storm.
Mother Nature has a plan and she’ll do everything she can to force Alex’s family to continue their roles as guardians, even if it means sacrificing one she protects.
PROLOGUE
The storms swirled through the trees, wind battering at a large oak tree. Lighting flared, showing the rain beating down, sizzling everywhere it struck. Thunder shook the earth.
The inhabitants hid inside their trees, praying Mother Nature, Gaia, would settle down. She was angry and it appeared Peter, the Oak King was the victim of her wrath.
A large groan, a series of snaps, and the old oak cried out, tipping over.
Gasps filled the air. Eyes wide, the nymphs and fauns watched his certain death.
The weeping willow near him reached up, trying to catch him as he fell. A load crack, a cry and young Willow fell from her tree as it split.
She had caught the old oak tree, but at the price of her own. Willow’s cry echoed throughout the forest. The storm calmed. Then Willow began to weep.
CHAPTER ONE
The phone rang, loud and obnoxious in the quiet night. God, he hoped there wasn’t another emergency. Alex stomped in, slamming the door open, tired in every inch of his body. He didn’t even flinch at the loud bang from the door hitting the wall. With his luck he’d be going back out again. The passing storm had downed trees and stranded campers. The last couple of days searching for hikers lost in the storm had every bit of his body aching.
“Hello?”
“Good job finding the hikers.”
He didn’t need accolades. Grunting rather than replying, he placed the phone on speaker. Before he could take a much needed rest, he needed to file his paperwork. Jordan’s call was only an irritant.
“You could at least say thank you.”
“What’d you need?” On the best of days he didn’t like people. Placing his hat onto the table and tossing his coat over the coat rack Alex kicked the chair back from the desk and settled down, wriggling to find comfort in the hard seat. Jordan never called without a reason.
“Just wanted to complement you.”
“Fine, consider it done.” Hanging up the phone before Jordan say another word, Alex reached over and turned his computer on. Booting up a new program his cousin Kane had designed and installed, Alex began to speak and it typed. Thank God. Sometimes his fingers seemed larger than the keyboard. Complaining to Kane about the problem of how long his reports took to do got results. Alex smirked, just like he knew it would.
Alex leaned over, untying his boots. His voice echoing through the empty room. The laces unforgiving, tight with rain and mud. The heat in the room began to sink into his cold tired bones. With the laces loose enough, he pulled them off, spreading his toes in relief. He wrinkled his nose. The smell from the wet leather of his boots and the stink of his feet began to fill the room.
Alex stripped off his socks, tossing them towards the utility room. Exhausted, he planned on bunking in the room next to the office. The Forestry Department set it up as an emergency shelter for those lost or injured while in the forest. Emergency fire fighter crews, trainees and interns bunked here for their on the job training. Originally designated as his living quarters, he preferred to live in an old cabin on land his family owned. The cabin stood on the edge of the park, not a half mile away.
Fixed up, Alex felt at home surrounded by the forest.
But he thanked God the shelter sat empty tonight. The fire and rescue crews left after the unlucky hikers were found. The ache in his shoulders relaxed. They were safe and receiving treatment.
Stretching, Alex completed his report. Saving it and emailing the report in, he then switched the computer off. Alex took a moment and relaxed, linking his hands behind his head, letting the tension from the last few days roll off. He groaned, his back popping with the stretch of his arms. Sighing, back cracked and arms down he looked around the room. The quiet surrounding him filled him with contentment. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
He stood, stripping off his shirt, heading to the back room. The washer stood ready for his filthy clothing. Grimacing, the mud oozing through his fingers, he tossed it in the wash. Wet and muddy from head to toe, he could barely stand, his bones aching from the cold. Normally he’d trek the half mile to his cabin, but the ranger station would do for him tonight.
Alex stripped, everything from the skin out going in the wash. He stooped over and grabbed his discarded socks, tossing them in, grimacing at the puddle left behind. He would deal with it tomorrow. Washer on, he headed to the bunk room, shivering in the chill air. Wanting nothing more than the warm beat of water sloughing off his skin. He stopped short in the door frame, staring at the disarray.
“Shit.” Alex shook his head, grimacing. His shoulders drooped. The beds needed stripping and changing, but they would have to wait until after his shower. His bones needed warmth. Usually the rescue groups took care to clean up, but they’d pulled out sirens blaring for another emergency. He ran his hands through his hair, tugging at the ends. He’d forgotten they’d stayed here. What a hell of a week.
Thank goodness the ranger station installed an on demand hot water heater. When the bunk house filled, it was worth its weight in gold. It also meant while the washer did its thing he could still take his hot shower. Regardless of the mess, he’d still be able to take away the chill.
Alex groaned, spying the phone receiver sitting in the middle of the coffee table, the phone lying next to it. If there were any messages they’d have been forwarded to his cell phone. His dead cell phone. Being gone for two days out on the trail of the lost hikers, charging it became the last thing on his mind. Heading back to his coat, Alex grabbed his cell and hooked it up to the charger. Sometimes being responsible sucked.
Enough. He’d check for messages later. The shower was calling his name.
The liquid heat rolled down his body. Rolling his neck, he let it do its work, his muscles relaxing one by one. Head against the tiled wall, he watched the dirty water swirl in the bottom, exiting down the drain. He’d soap up. In a minute. The sound of the water tinkling down soothed him. Closing his eyes, muscles relaxing, each bead took away a b
it of his stress, the images of the past couple of days flashing in front of his eyes.
The trek to get down to the hikers fell to him. First on the scene, Alex evaluated the situation. He quickly set up his equipment. Listening to the wind, an urgency had him securing ropes to the large rocks jutting up through the grass. Pitons weren’t his first choice but he needed to hurry. Ensuring each rope had its own ascender to help the hikers climb to safely. Not to mention if either were injured he could move them up on his own.
Alex glanced at the area, the mountain a guaranteed mudslide waiting to happen. With the imminent threat, speed became absolutely necessary. Sending his coordinates over the two way radio strapped to him, Alex stepped off the cliff, quickly rappelling down.
One of the hikers, unhurt other than assorted bruises, did his best to help Alex secure the injured hiker for transport. With a search team yet to reach them, Alex needed his muscle to help pull up the unconscious woman. Her leg was broken, and even with a makeshift splint it would be a hard journey up. Alex stabilized her for the trip to the top. Looking at the path, hearing the urgent whispers in the wind, Alex realized he needed to act now.
Exhaling, he squared his shoulders.
“We need to get her up now.” His voice shook the male hiker from his stupor. Sliding a harness on the exhausted man, Alex hooked him up. Quickly explaining how he could help, Alex sent him up one rope. Attaching another to the woman, Alex pulled, thankful for the ascender to give him a breather. Dragging her slowly up the mountainside was the only way to save her. Alex winced, knowing she’d need emergency aid as soon as possible. A broken leg, and bouncing up the side of crumbling rock and mud would do that. Judging by the man’s exhaustion while he tried to help keep her from hitting the mountain with each upward movement, both would need treatment for hypothermia. Finally at the top, Alex pushed her away from the ledge, the man dragging her closer to safety. Swinging up, Alex stood, carrying her a safe distance away from the edge, the man following.
“Here. Sit next to her.” Pulling out emergency blankets, he wrapped one around the man and tucked another next to the woman. “Help is on its way.”
A loud roar shook the ground. Turning, Alex watched the mountain change once again. The spot of the rescue disappeared, rock and mud terraforming the ever changing landscape.
“Fuck.”
Alex glanced over, hearing the shaky voice. He couldn’t agree more. Taking a deep breath, he silently thanked whatever deity whispered warnings in his ear, urging him faster. He shuddered, his heart racing. Too close. Five minutes later, didn’t bear thinking about. Fifteen minutes later, Alex shook his head. Better not to think about it.
Shaking himself free of the too recent memory, he stretched, cracking the bones down his neck and upper back. The water ran clean beneath his feet. Turning, he let the water pour over his face, play in his hair, and run down his body.
Alex couldn’t explain it. He always seemed to know where to go. The trees and wind directing him when immediate danger threatened. Long ago he learned you couldn’t predict stupid so he’d learned to listen to the world around him. One of the reasons he responded to calls along with the search and rescue squads even before becoming a park ranger. The weird looks made him stop trying to explain it.
Quickly soaping up, and rinsing off, Alex turned off the water before grabbing a towel. Drying his hair he headed to the washer. Shifting the laundry, Alex heard the beep of his cell phone.
“Shit.” Bound to be bad news the way the last couple of days passed. Call him a pessimist, but lately nothing went the way he planned.
Grabbing the phone, making sure the charger stayed attached, Alex checked his call log. He sighed and relaxed. One call from his cousin Levi. One he was expecting. Their grandparents were fighting over the property again. Levi came to find proof why it should stay in the family. His grandmother’s obsession to get rid of it making no sense.
Alex dialed Levi, but got no answer. Cell phone service being notoriously bad in the area, it wasn’t a surprise. Levi was probably just checking in. Alex offered him his cabin, but Levi preferred camping. Discharged from the Army, Levi returned with an aversion to being enclosed.
Alex understood. Some things were better left unspoken. No need to sit and whine about what couldn’t be changed. Levi’s pictures exposed the ugliness he’d seen. Levi’s inability to stay within four walls for long without becoming disturbed evidence enough. Alex could see the winds weaving around Levi, calming him, the earth rumbling beneath his feet, trying to sooth him.
Not even among his family could Alex admit what he could sense. If and when Levi needed to talk, he would listen. Preferable over a couple of shots.
Slipping on sweats, Alex began to strip the beds. With an armload of sheets, Alex started another load. Grabbing a clean set, he made up a bunk. His muscles ached. His eyelids drooped, heavy against his eyes.
Alex checked the doors before he crashed. Locking them not so much against human intruders, but animals. A strong wind occasionally blew open the door, inviting in those four legged critters also looking for a warm place to stay. Waking up to a raccoon in the station not a way he wanted to spend the morning. Groaning, Alex sprawled across the bed, tired eyes closing, sinking into the welcoming darkness. The sounds around him faded away.
CHAPTER TWO
The sun beat in the windows, warming up the room. Alex stretched, yawning. The sunshine bright across his face. Levi, he should check on Levi. Shaking his head, Alex rolled out of the bunk. Sleep still called to him. Coffee. Coffee first. That would wake him up. Breathing in the crisp clean air of the surrounding forest, Alex rolled his shoulders. The ache in his muscles relaxing.
Answering the call to Mother Nature and a quick splash of cold water to his face and Alex felt human again. Human enough to start that pot of coffee. And breakfast. Alex ticked off a list in his head. Coffee, eat and then listen to the message from Levi. A damage check to the park.
His first stop, checking to see if the campground was undamaged. The money brought in by the campers helped to keep the park open. Most respected nature around them, a few slobs needed to be cleaned up after, disrespectful of anything not theirs. But all part of the job. It beat sitting inside an office suffocating.
Alex scraped the last of his oatmeal from the bowl and washed up, taking a deep breath of his fragrant coffee. Sitting back, second cup in hand, he listened to his messages. Levi called but not to Alex’s phone. Levi called the emergency number. It was so garbled Levi’s location couldn’t even be heard. But Alex knew where he should have been. He would start there. Thank God he was an early riser. He should be able to reach the glen by nightfall if there weren’t any other emergencies along the way. And if Levi wasn’t at Alex’s cabin.
Alex called the main ranger station and let them know he’d received an emergency call and would be out in the field. He always made sure the other rangers could reach him. He checked his satellite phone’s battery, and grabbed an extra for his radio.
Pouring the rest of the coffee in a thermos, Alex tossed it in with the food, water and a first aid kit he kept in his emergency backpack. Alex grabbed it and slung it on heading out the door. Levi’s call came in the day the storm struck. Mother Nature throwing one hell of a tantrum. Relieved the weather calmed down he wondered what other problems would crop up.
The campers a necessity to check on, Alex pulled his radio out. “Jesse. Do you read?” Alex heard the crackle of the radio go off, then a response.
“Jesse here.” Another squawk of the radio went off. “What you need boss man?” Nothing riled Jesse, he was as steady as an old oak tree.
“Jesse, get out and see if the logging company has cleared the trees that came down in the campground. I know they were working on it, but I don’t know if they’ve finished.”
“Will do. Jesse out.”
“Thanks, Alex out.” Alex slid the radio back in the holster on his hip. It would take him a little less than half an hour to reach
the cabin. Hopefully Levi made it there. If not, Alex would head to the glen. Damn his grandmother and her schemes. If Levi was injured, all blame would be squarely on her back.
The secret glen was the place of all the fantastical tales from their grandfather, the reason for his grandmother’s ire. Levi visited there when they were small children, Alex thought, but not since that he knew of.
He, on the other hand, spent quite a bit of time there. His mother would meet his father there. He frowned. His father. Alex was sure his father was married and the secluded area prevented anyone from seeing his parents together. He hated dirty little secrets, hated being the dirty little secret.
His mother never married and he figured his father was the reason why. Alex resented the fact his father was not in his daily life. His mother told him he didn’t understand and one day he’d know the truth. At this point in time Alex figured it didn’t much matter. He snarled, thinking of it. It did matter, but damned if he would admit it. Taking a deep breath, the cool air soothing, Alex exhaled.
The path to his cabin was fairly worn. He tried not to follow the exact same path every day, but over time, he wore a trail. Faint, but obvious to anyone who cared to look for it. He would see what damage occurred along the way. He stretched, hoping it was minimal, but doubting it.
The hike was fairly uneventful, and the damage to the area appeared minimal. Alex’s shoulders relaxed, sighing in relief when he crossed the border onto his grandfather’s land. There was something almost magical about it. A sense of home slid under his skin, a calling only being here ever answered.
The park was filled with life and made Alex feel as if he was doing something important yet it couldn’t compare to the feeling he got when he crossed the border of his family’s land. He never asked if anyone else in the family felt the same, not really knowing how to express it.
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