Courage of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  Hanna let out a chuckle that turned quickly into a laugh. Tears born of a jumble of emotions stained her cheeks as she remembered the paramedic finally finding it in the dirt right before she was hauled up to the chopper. “Yes, Mom. It does. We’re thinking a fall ceremony in the vineyard.”

  Mary averted her gaze, pretending interest in her clasped hands as she said, “That would be lovely. Your father will be thrilled.”

  It wasn’t the over-the-top excited reaction Hanna might have previously expected, but it was good enough for now. “Mom?” Hanna asked.

  Mary Pelsh lifted her chin and patted away the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Yes, honey?”

  “Everything is going to be wonderful even if it’s messy. No matter what happens, I will never regret this choice.” Hanna spoke her truth with loving confidence. “I hope you can trust me to know my own mind. That I’d rather spend one year loving Rhys with my whole heart rather than deny either of us this precious gift.” She turned to him, barely holding back her tears. “I pray with everything I have that we’ll grow old together right here in Keating Hollow, but if that dream is taken away from us, I won’t regret us being together for a single second.”

  His eyes shone with so much love Hanna could almost feel it wrapping around her. “Me, too, love. Me, too.”

  “Oh god,” Millie said, clutching her chest. “That’s beautiful.”

  “She’s right.” Mary sent her daughter a small knowing smile and then moved to Millie’s side. The two women hugged each other and instantly burst into tears.

  “Now you’ve done it,” Rhys said.

  She chuckled. “Look who’s talking? That was one heck of a proposal, Silver. A little dramatic, don’t you think?”

  “It worked, didn’t it?”

  “Yes, it did,” she whispered and snuggled into him. “But as much as we both seem to enjoy a challenge, let’s not try to top that one, okay?”

  “Deal.”

  The door swung open again and Healer Snow strode in. “Well, hello to my two favorite patients. I hear we’ve had quite the excitement today.”

  Hanna tried to get up from the bed, but Rhys kept a surprisingly tight hold on her, keeping her firmly in place. She gave him a look, indicating he should let go, but he just shrugged and kept his arm around her. Hanna rolled her eyes but couldn’t help secretly loving his possessiveness. After the events of the day, she was happy to stick to him like glue.

  “We did,” Hanna said. “I think Rhys was just trying to impress me with a helicopter ride.”

  He snorted. “You’re the one who called them.”

  “Damn straight. And I’ll do it again if you decide to pitch head first into the dirt right after proposing.”

  “Hmm, very interesting. Proposing? Do you have news?” Snow asked.

  Hanna held up her hand and beamed.

  “Congratulations. Very exciting, indeed.” She glanced back at the two moms who were still holding on to each other. “Mary, Millie, it’s good to see you both, too. How’ve you both been?”

  “Doing well,” Mary said.

  Hanna knew that wasn’t true. Even though her mother had accepted that she and Rhys were together, something was totally off with her, and it was going to take more than one conversation to resolve it.

  “Good until today,” Millie said. “When I got that phone call…” Rhys’s mom swallowed and then cleared her throat before whispering, “It was just like reliving that day all over again.”

  Mary wrapped her arms around Millie, holding her close. “He’s okay, Mil. Just breathe now.”

  Their shared, raw pain made Hanna’s heart ache.

  “But I can’t stop thinking about what if,” Millie said so quietly Hanna almost didn’t hear her.

  “Now don’t go borrowing trouble,” Mary gently scolded her. “I’ve been doing that enough for both of us.”

  “Mary’s right,” Healer Snow said. “In fact, once you all hear what we’ve discovered, I think you’ll all rest quite a bit easier.”

  That got Hanna’s attention. “About Rhys?”

  “Yes.” She turned to the man in question. “Perhaps we should talk in private first?”

  “Is it about my heart?” he asked.

  “Yes. And your diagnosis,” the healer confirmed.

  “Then there’s no need to talk in private. I’m just going to tell everyone here whatever you say anyway.”

  “All right.” Healer Snow flipped open the folder she was holding. “First things first. The issue today had everything to do with the new medication we put you on. It caused your blood pressure to drop to unsafe levels. It’s a known side effect that presents in less than two percent of patients. If you hadn’t gone hiking, it likely wouldn’t have been a problem and we would’ve caught it at your checkup and taken you off it immediately.”

  “So he didn’t suffer a heart attack or anything like that, right?” Millie asked.

  “That’s correct. He just passed out from low blood pressure, altitude, and exertion. The IV and energy potions we’ve administered have stabilized him. His heart is fine.”

  Hanna felt all the tension ease from her body. Rhys was fine. He hadn’t been dying on top of that lookout.

  “Am I going back on the old medication?” Rhys asked.

  Healer Snow shook her head. “No. In fact, you don’t need any medication at all.” She walked over to the bed and pulled up a stool to sit next to him. “When you came in today, we pulled blood and ran a bunch of tests. The technician saw something that was interesting and asked me to come take a look. It turns out that the gene you carry, the one that puts you at risk for sudden cardiac arrest, has a slight mutation that was missed the first time you were tested.”

  Hanna’s spine started to tingle, and she knew this was going to be a big deal. “What does that mean?”

  The healer glanced around at everyone in the room. “It means that Rhys’s risk of a cardiac event is less than five percent. No meds are needed. All we need to do is keep an eye on the heart and make sure there aren’t any abnormalities. I’d say a full exam once every six months for the next few years, just to make sure the medication itself hasn’t caused any changes, and then after that, it’s just an annual exam.”

  Everyone was completely silent as they absorbed the news. Hanna was tempted to ask the healer to repeat herself, but she couldn’t get the words out. She was too shocked.

  Rhys had frozen beside Hanna, and even though she couldn’t seem to speak, she was able to squeeze his hand in both of hers. Finally, he sucked in a breath and said, “Are you saying there’s only a slim chance I’m going to fall over from a sudden heart attack?”

  “That is what I’m saying.” She grinned at him. “I ran the test three times myself, just to make sure. Your chances of an incident are no better or worse than most men of your age.”

  “Whoa.” He turned to Hanna. “Did you hear that, love?”

  “I heard,” she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. “I heard every word.” Her tears spilled over, and she grinned up at him. “I guess you’re stuck with me for the next sixty or seventy years.”

  His bright gaze searched hers, and she felt the depth of his love all the way down to her toes. He fingered the ring he’d given her. “I hope you were sure when you said yes, Han. Because you’re stuck with me now.”

  “I’m sure,” she said. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

  “Thank the gods.” He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “Think the parents will leave now so I can give you a proper kiss?”

  Hanna laughed. “Probably not. But kiss me anyway. They’ll just have to deal.”

  Rhys grinned then tilted his head and kissed her so thoroughly that by the time he broke away, her head was spinning.

  “Well, I guess we won’t have to wait too long for grandchildren,” Millie said.

  “Oh, gods. They’re still here?” Hanna said, cheeks flaming with heat.

  “Afraid so.�
� Rhys’s chest rumbled with amusement. He tore his lips away from Hanna’s and spotted Healer Snow talking to his mother. “Hey, Snow. When am I getting sprung from this place?”

  “Any time you’re ready, Rhys. All your vitals are normal now,” she said.

  “Thanks.” He turned his attention back to Hanna. “Ready to take me home? I think we need to celebrate.”

  Hanna giggled and slid off the bed. “Your place or mine?”

  “Whichever’s closer.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Talking about going home was one thing. Deciding who was going to take them was entirely another. Rhys wrapped his arms around his fiancée and waited while his mother and Mary debated who was going to get to drive them home.

  Mary insisted her vehicle was roomier and probably more practical. Millie claimed she lived closer to both Hanna and Rhys and it just made more sense for them to go home with her. Besides, she had leftovers at home she could pick up and give to them. Mary said she’d stop and get them something from Hanna’s favorite place there in Eureka, and on and on they debated.

  “Hey! You’ve been sprung,” Abby said as she strode toward them.

  “Abby, thank the gods,” Hanna said, pulling her into a hug. When she released her, she said, “Please tell me you’re our ride out of this joint.”

  Rhys waved at Abby, relieved to see her. The thought of spending the next forty-five minutes with either of their mothers was giving him a headache. He gestured to the bickering duo. “We can’t ride with either one of them or the other will probably combust with envy.”

  Abby glanced over at them and winced. “Wow, they’ve really worked each other up into a lather, haven’t they?”

  “You have no idea,” Hanna said.

  “I’ve got this.” Abby squared her shoulders and trotted over to the women.

  “I feel a little bad,” Hanna said, glancing up at him. “They were so worried, and now we’re ditching them.”

  “Nah. We’re just practicing self-preservation.” He winked at her. “Besides, if we get into either of their cars we’re going to be grilled for every detail of today. I don’t know about you, but it’s not something I want to share with either of them. Not now. And not before we have a chance to talk about it.”

  Hanna frowned. “Talk about which part?”

  Rhys hadn’t intended to bring it up so soon or in the hospital, but he hadn’t forgotten her reaction when he’d asked her to marry him. She’d been completely freaked out, and he needed to know why. He was more than willing to accept her yes, the one she’d given him in the helicopter, but before they moved forward, he needed to understand what happened. “The part right after I asked you to marry me before I passed out.”

  “Um… okay.” She tore her gaze away, but not before he saw the fear flash in her beautiful eyes.

  “Hey, gorgeous. Don’t do that,” he soothed, needing her to know he wasn’t trying to pick a fight. “I just want to understand what happened there. Whatever it is, we’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Before she could answer, Abby strolled up, a self-satisfied smile on her face. “I’m a genius!” She brushed a strand of her long blond hair back behind her ear. “I told them we needed to go get your Jeep from the parking lot where you left it. They were both a little disappointed but understood you’re gonna need your wheels.”

  Rhys groaned. “Damn. I forgot about that.” He slipped his arm around Hanna, making sure she knew he wasn’t pushing her away by bringing up what happened at the clearing. “Can we at least get food first? I’m starving.”

  “Sure, we can get food. But don’t worry about the Jeep. Just give me the keys and I’ll handle it. Let’s get going. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

  Hanna threw her arms around Abby. “Thank you,” his girl said. “Don’t tell Faith, but you’re my new best friend.”

  Abby chortled. “It’ll be our little secret.”

  “Okay guys,” Abby said as she pulled into Hanna’s driveway. “Need anything else before I go pick up Olive?”

  “I’m good,” Rhys said. He ran his fingertips over his girl’s arm. They were in the back seat as if Abby was their chauffer, but he hadn’t wanted to be physically separated from her after their crazy day. He was thankful Abby didn’t seem to mind.

  “Hanna? How about you?” Abby asked, glancing back at her.

  “We’ve got food and a new lease on life. What else do we need?” Her smile was forced, and Rhys wondered if Abby picked up on it also.

  “Cool.” She spun around and started texting on her phone.

  Nope. She hadn’t noticed. Or else she was pretending. Rhys leaned forward. “Thanks for everything, Abby.”

  “My pleasure. Where do you want your Jeep delivered? Here or your place? Clay and Drew are going for it just as soon as I take them the key.”

  He glanced at Hanna. “Here?”

  “Sure.” She dug around on the floor gathering their backpacks.

  “Got it.” Abby said.

  Rhys handed her his key, grabbed the Chinese takeout, and then climbed out of the car. Hanna joined him, and they both waved as Abby sped off down the road.

  “This isn’t how I imagined the day going,” Rhys said, giving her a crooked smile. “I had big plans for those pools on the way back down the trail.”

  Hanna let out a soft chuckle. “I bet you did.”

  “Come on.” He tugged her toward her front door. “Let’s eat. And then I’m hoping you’ll let me hold you for a while.”

  “If you still want to,” she muttered.

  He definitely heard her, but he let it go… for now. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about this in the front yard. He wanted to be inside her house where he could soothe all her ruffled feathers and make sure she knew he loved her no matter what. As they climbed her steps, he asked, “Got your key handy?”

  “It’s not locked,” she said with a shrug. “Keating Hollow has its advantages.”

  He turned to meet her gaze and stared at her as if he could see all the way to her soul. “It certainly does.”

  “Rhys,” she whispered and pressed her palm to his cheek. “Sometimes I just don’t understand what you see in me.”

  “I see everything, love. Your heart, your fear, your compassion, your talents, all of it. And you see me, too. Always, even when I’m trying to hide from you. It’s why we fit. Don’t you understand that yet?”

  She bit down on her bottom lip and furrowed her brow.

  He pressed two fingers over the creases in her forehead and smoothed them out. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s the truth. Now come inside. I’m starving.”

  “All right.”

  Rhys opened her door and led her straight to the kitchen. He set the bag of food on the counter and said, “I’ll be right back.”

  After washing up in her bathroom, he strode back into the empty kitchen and got to work on setting the table with plates, chopsticks, and two glasses of iced tea. By the time Hanna reappeared, he’d lit the candles and opened the take-out boxes.

  “Hey, thanks. This looks great.” She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. The scent of fresh soap hit him, and he noticed she’d not only washed up, but she’d put on fresh clothes too. He found himself slightly envious since he was still wearing his dirty hiking shorts and T-shirt.

  “You’re welcome.” He sat at the end of the table next to her and passed her the lemon chicken while he dug into the sweet and sour pork. They ate in an uncomfortable silence that was driving Rhys crazy. But he didn’t want to talk about this over moo shu pork and pot stickers, and he needed the fuel. So he waited patiently until the last fortune cookie was gone and then started clearing the table.

  “I’ve got this,” Hanna said.

  Rhys waved her off. “Nah. This is nothing. Why don’t you go get that shower I know you’re dying to take? I’ll get these in the dishwasher and then relax on the couch until you’re done.”

  “Rhys,” she said, sounding exasperated. “Sto
p.”

  Her tone was so commanding he put the plate back on the table and turned to look at her. “Why?”

  “Because you’re tiptoeing and that’s just… I don’t deserve that. I was the jackass here. You laid your heart on the line and I…” She shook her head.

  “You what, Hanna? What happened? What went through your head after I asked you?” Now that she’d brought it up, he wasn’t going to let it go. Whatever it was, she was clearly bothered by it, and he wouldn’t keep acting like everything was fine when it wasn’t.

  “Dammit.” She pushed her hair out of her eyes and sat back down in the kitchen chair.

  Rhys leaned against the bar that separated the dining room and the kitchen and waited. He knew her. She’d get it out eventually.

  “I didn’t know you were going to propose,” she said as she stared at the table.

  “Is that a bad thing?” He’d wanted to surprise her. He’d wanted it to be the best damn day of her life. Instead it had turned into her worst nightmare. All he wanted to do was gather her in his arms, take her upstairs, and hold her until the sun came up. But that wasn’t what she’d accept. Hanna was courageous and didn’t need him to hold her together… no matter how much he wanted to.

  “It shouldn’t have been.” She raised her head, and there it was. Her need to face this problem head on was clear in her determined expression. “But my mom got in my head. Her stupid arguments were right there, and I panicked.”

  He raised both of his eyebrows, surprised. “You mean you were thinking about what your life would be like if my heart gave out suddenly? What would happen to you if you became a young widow?”

  “Yes.” She didn’t elaborate. She just threw her confirmation out there and held his gaze as if she had issued a challenge.

  “Okay.” He shrugged one shoulder, surprised by how much that hurt. He understood it, but it didn’t stop the ache in his gut at the realization she’d doubted if she could walk down the unknown path with him. “Why did you decide to say yes?” He hated to admit it to himself, but a bone-crushing thought occurred to him. He cleared his throat and forced out the one thing he was certain he didn’t want to ask but had to. “Did you do it because you thought I was dying?”