Dreamweaver (Hell Yeah!)

by Sable Hunter

  DREAMWEAVER

  HELL YEAH!

  By

  SABLE

  HUNTER

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  DREAMWEAVER

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright 2017 © SABLE HUNTER

  Cover by JRA Stevens

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher

  DREAMWEAVER

  Was it a dream or just the edge of reality?

  For a brief, shining moment, Pepper McCoy belonged to rock star Judah James. Completely. The depth of their attraction stunned them both. Every moment they were together, electric heat arced between them like the sweetest fire.

  And then everything changed...

  For reasons she can't understand, Judah pushed Pepper out of his life. He told her she just imagined their love, that none of it was real. He even brought another woman into the picture to prove to Pepper that their time together was a lie. And Pepper might believe him, if it wasn't for the adoration in his eyes anytime she finds him watching her unaware. Even the songs he writes are filled with the words of love he once whispered in her ear.

  No... something is wrong.

  Something isn't right.

  Judah wants her, she can’t believe otherwise.

  Pepper refuses to give up on love.

  And no one should be surprised...

  After all, she's a McCoy.

  Dear Reader:

  As with all my books, the time lines of this book overlap other books. Pepper McCoy’s story, DREAMWEAVER, encompasses events that take place in Heath’s story, HOW TO ROPE A MCCOY and Tennessee’s story, IF I CAN DREAM, as well as other HELL YEAH! books. Big plot points, such as Heath’s marriage, Philip’s murder charge, Aron’s kidnapping, Ryder’s courtship by the Duke brothers, and Tennessee’s heartbreak with Molly are referred to, but not retold in their entirety. As with our own lives, the daily lives and loves of the McCoy family intersect and take place while other people’s own life stories are unfolding. So, if you haven’t read or don’t remember those stories, refresh your memory. I attempt to design the books so each can function as a stand-alone and it does, as far as Pepper and Judah’s story goes, but the family details covered in other books can only be hinted at, not retold. Now, wasn’t that clear as mud?

  On another matter, let me say that the subject matter of this book is sensitive and I spent many hours researching Judah’s condition. I was much inspired by the life of a man who was indeed a romantic hero, but also battled his own personal demons. I guess we all do, in a way, our demons may just be of another sort.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  About the Author:

  SABLE’S BOOKS

  CHAPTER ONE

  A Rising Wind

  Pepper’s Epiphany – age 12

  “Someday you’ll thank me for all this wisdom, Penelope Elizabeth. Just mind what I tell you.” Miss Susannah Montrose sipped her mint julep and rocked back and forth. “You’re not a tomboy like your sister, Ryder. You’re a Southern belle through and through.”

  Penelope McCoy, better known as Pepper to her family, sat on the wide gallery of Magnolia House soaking up every word the kindly, older lady could convey. While her four brothers and her sister spent their days riding horses through the swampy thicket or fishing on the bayou, she whiled away the hours with their closest neighbor. Pepper found Miss Susannah fascinating. She loved her grand old home and the beautiful gardens surrounding it. “I am very grateful for anything you want to teach me. When I grow up, I want to be just like you.”

  Old Susannah waved her well-manicured hand dismissively. “Nonsense, I’m an old-maid, girl. One day, you’re going to marry a handsome gentleman and have a dozen babies.” Taking another sip of her drink, she pointed out into the garden. “Look, the azaleas are happy today. Can you hear them singing?”

  Pepper cocked her head to listen. “Well, I can hear the wind in the leaves and I can hear the mockingbird fussing at your orange tomcat.” She was careful not to say that she didn’t believe the flowers were singing. Pepper never wanted to insult Miss Susannah or her beliefs.

  “Alas, I wish you could.” Sighing, she leaned her head back against the rocker. “Most everything will talk to you, if you’ll only listen. Why the big hydrangea on the north side of the house, she said we’re going to have a big storm this year. She’s very nervous. What do you think of that?”

  Pepper didn’t bat an eye. “Your hydrangea has been here for many years, I’m sure it knows and sees many things.”

  Her answer seemed to pacify Susannah Montrose. “Now, tell me what you’ve learned from our talk today.”

  Pepper soothed out her pink crinoline skirt. She always dressed up when she came to Magnolia House. “I learned that pearls go with everything and wearing perfume makes a day special.” To emphasize the thought, she fingered the dainty strand of pearls around her throat. “Also, I learned that we should never miss an opportunity to entertain, the more celebrations the better.”

  “Good, very good.” Susannah held out a pitcher and refilled Pepper’s glass with sweet tea. “Drink up and tell me more.”

  Pepper dutifully took a sip and repeated what she’d committed to memory. “Always use cloth napkins, never fail to write a thank-you note when appropriate, and always take a hostess gift when you pay a visit.”

  Miss Susannah nodded. “Good. What else?”

  Lifting her leg, Pepper touched the banister with her foot, noting she could see her reflection in the shiny, black patent surface of her shoe. “We should approach everything with a soft-spoken elegance, unless someone is attacking God, country, or the SEC.” Pepper smiled at this bit of advice. “Oh, and macaroni and cheese is an acceptable vegetable.”

  “Yes!” Miss Montrose clapped her hands. “I do declare,” she beamed at Pepper, “the next time the clematis vine asks me how you’re doing, I’m going to tell her you’re a beautiful, smart child.”

  “I’m pleased the flowers keep you company, ma’am.” Sometimes, Pepper felt sorry for the genteel woman. She’d outlived all her relatives and the way people gossiped about her was a shame. “I suppose I should be getting back to Belle Chasse, Mama is cooking up a big pot of chicken and dumplings for supper and I’m supposed to help with dessert.”

  She rose and held out her hand for her elder’s glass. “May I take these back to the kitchen for you before I go?”

  “No, dear, just leave them here.” She indicated the wrought iron café table between them. “I think I’ll sit out here until dusk falls. I do love to see the fireflies playing among the trees. Being outside is not nearly as lonely as being inside.”

  Pepper did as she was told with the glass, then she gave Miss Susannah
a kiss. “Thank you for a very enjoyable visit.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Come back to see me anytime.” She stood to watch Pepper leave, taking the garden path that led along the bayou back to Belle Chasse. “Say goodbye to the lemon tree. She’s putting on fruit and a kind word means so much.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” As she passed the tree, Pepper touched a few leaves. “You’re beautiful, Miss Lemon. Yellow is my favorite color. Everyone appreciates your efforts and we look forward to the many pitchers of lemonade and the lemon meringue pies we’ll make with your fruit.”

  She paused, waiting for the small voice to answer her that Miss Susannah Montrose claimed to perceive. Unfortunately, all she could hear was a faint rustle as the wind caressed the branches.

  “Tell your mama hello for me!”

  Pepper turned to wave goodbye to her kind hostess. “I will. Take care!”

  * * *

  “Mama, can Miss Montrose hear things that we can’t? She’s always telling me what her flowers say.”

  Pepper stood on a stool next to her mother as they decorated sugar cookies for the evening meal.

  “Why, that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.” Pepper’s older brother, Tennessee, spoke his mind as he quenched his thirst with a tall glass of water. “I hear tell that old lady is as crazy as a loon. She ought to be put away some place where she won’t hurt herself or others.”

  Carolyn McCoy picked up her dishtowel and popped her son on the arm. “Don’t say that, Ten. We live in the South. We don’t hide our people away, they sit on the porch and drink tea with everyone else. Every family has someone who’s different. There’s no one with a more generous heart than Miss Susannah, she’s used her inherited wealth to support many community efforts and she maintains one of the most historically important estates in Louisiana with style and grace. Miss Montrose isn’t crazy, she’s eccentric.”

  “She hears voices when there’s no one around, Mama,” Tennessee insisted. “That just ain’t right in nobody’s book.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with Miss Montrose, she’s good to me.” Pepper was adamant. “She’s one of my best friends.”

  Carolyn hugged her daughter, then grabbed her son to give him a hug. He tried to evade the embrace, but chuckled when he was unsuccessful. “Oh, Mama, don’t squeeze so hard.”

  “Listen, you two, let me explain something to you. The older you get, you’ll realize this truth even more, but don’t condemn other people too quickly. Some will see the world differently than you do. That doesn’t make either one of you wrong. Until we’ve walked in someone else’s shoes, or seen the world through their eyes, we can’t judge how they divine it. The good Lord didn’t make us all the same, thank goodness. The world would be a boring place if He did.” She opened the oven door and slipped the cookies in to bake. “If you push everyone away who might be a little different than you, there’s no telling what blessings you might miss.”

  Pepper thought about what her mother said and she vowed to always give others the benefit of the doubt. “Yes, Mama, I’ll remember.”

  A few months later, Miss Susannah’s hydrangea bush was proven correct. Hurricane Katrina came and nothing was ever the same for the McCoys.

  * * *

  Judah’s Advent – age 17

  “His fever ran high, but he’ll be fine, Tala. Judah is a strong young man.” Jonathan James held his beautiful wife close to his heart.

  “If anything were to happen to him, I don’t think I could go on,” she sobbed into her husband’s shirt. “This is all my fault, I should have protected him better.”

  “You did nothing wrong, he is a normal boy living a normal life.”

  “Our son isn’t like everyone else, he is so talented. Someday the whole world will know his name and listen to his music.”

  From inside his bedroom, Judah listened to his parent’s conversation. He made no move to comment, the truth was – he felt like shit. They called mononucleosis the kissing disease and if he’d really gotten this from Mary Ellen Sarver, he didn’t know if the kiss they’d shared had been worth it.

  Pushing aside the covers, he raised up from his bed to take a sip of water. His mother was having a conniption fit since he’d taken ill. She was such a worry-wart. She’d not only dragged him to the doctor, Tala had fed him every concoction her shaman mother advised. He’d drank teas and wore poultices. There was even a Native American medicine bag hanging around his neck. “And whatever’s in it, stinks to high heavens,” he muttered in disgust as he lay back down.

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  Judah turned over, not surprised to see his best friend lounging in the sturdy branches of the oak just outside his second-story window. Glancing to his door, he could see his parents had moved on from their vigil in the hall. On weak legs, he rose to unfasten the latch and let Zion in. They’d long ago removed the screen and if his father had ever noticed, he’d said nothing. “Come in, Chastain. How’s it hanging?”

  “Better than you, apparently.” Zion Chastain came to sit on the side of Judah’s bed. “Are you contagious?”

  “Only if you kiss me.”

  Zion grimaced. “Not a chance. So, how long are you going to be laid up?” He placed his worn backpack on the floor. “Do you want me to get your assignments for you?”

  Judah groaned, “Don’t be so conscientious. If I’m going to be sick, at least let me have a good time doing it.”

  “Whatever.” Pulling his baseball cap off, he swatted Judah on the shoulder. “Just get better soon, because I’ve just booked the band our first gig.”

  This news was better than any dose of medicine he’d been given. Jerking to an upright position, Judah propped a pillow behind his back. “Hot damn! When? Where? How?”

  Zion laughed at his friend’s miraculous recovery. “Two weeks from Saturday at the high school dance. I played Mr. Castleberry a clip of one of our sessions and he’s willing to give us a chance. And…” he paused for effect, “Rod Sanders’s dad is one of the chaperones.”

  “Fuck, man,” Judah muttered with reverence. “I’ve been begging him to listen to our stuff for ages. The man’s a legend in the music industry. No one has more connections than him.” Thoughts began to whirl in his head. “We’ll do two sets, so we’ll need to perfect a couple more songs. I want to do as many original ones as we can.”

  “Whoa, whoa. Settle down, kemo sabe. Take your time, get better first. We’ll go back to rehearsing as soon as you’re on your feet.”

  “Hand me my notebook and my guitar.” Judah pointed to the floor next to the dresser. “I had a few crazy dreams during this bout of fever. No use wasting good inspiration.”

  Zion did as he was asked, putting the notebook on the bed and the guitar in Judah’s hands. He loved music too, but not like Judah. His friend lived and breathed it. Everyone who listened to him play and sing knew Judah James was extraordinary. “Just take it easy, don’t push it.”

  Judah stroked the strings of his guitar, caressing the instrument like it was a beautiful woman. “This is only the beginning, Zion. I have a feeling I’m going to look back on this day as the one that changed my life.”

  * * *

  Some years later…

  The first time ever I saw your face.

  “You go on in, Ryder. I think I’ll enjoy the sunshine.” Pepper swung her bag over her shoulder and gazed down the street. “The mountain laurels are beautiful this time of year.”

  Ryder didn’t have time for flowers or sunshine. “I need a new dress for this party and I would appreciate your opinion.”

  “Fine,” Pepper answered dreamily. “Just take a look around, when you see something you like, call me. I just want to stretch my legs for a bit.”

  “Don’t go far, as soon as I finish here, we’ve got to head back to Highlands. I promised Heath we’d have supper on the table by six. Our brothers are going to be tired and hungry. This is the busiest time of year for them with all the new calves to be vaccinated and tagg
ed.” Ryder shook her head in consternation and headed for the boutique. “You’d do well to come in and hunt a new outfit for yourself, something trendier. You’ll never catch the eye of a guy in those prim little sundresses you love to wear.”

  Pepper didn’t answer, she gave her sister a casual wave and took off for a stroll in front of the shops.

  … Meanwhile, a few blocks away…

  “I’m fine, Zion. Let it go.” Judah pulled on his worn gray jacket, zipping it up halfway. Spring had arrived, but there was a distinct chill lingering in the air.

  Shaking his head, Zion followed his friend out of the dorm. “Sorry, I just worry about you. You’ve been acting weird, even for you.”

  Rolling his eyes, Judah jammed his fists into the front pockets of his jeans. “I’m a musician, weird comes with the territory.”

  “After ten years of serving as your best friend and confidante, I think I’m qualified to judge when you’ve gone off the deep end.” Zion drew his backpack over one shoulder and fell into step beside him. “You haven’t been the same since you were sick our Senior year in high school. In fact, you’ve been getting worse.”

  “I had mono, not cancer, it’s over and done with,” Judah muttered dryly with a shrug. “Come over tonight around eight and we’ll go over a new number.”

  Letting out a frustrated breath, he abandoned his line of thought for now. “Can’t wait.” Zion Chastain lifted his chin to a pretty blonde who was giving them the eye. “When did you finish the song?”

  “I haven’t, but I’ll complete it this morning.” Judah cast him a cocky grin. “Have a good time in class, if you can keep your eyes off Helena Mitchell.”

  “Even the beautiful Helena can’t compete with my desire for a B in calculus. I need it to graduate.”