by A. W. Cross
"Why don't you let me help you?" Again, he kept pressing to do more than she allowed, but she wouldn't let him be privy to her financial struggles.
"You do help, more than you know. I do need someone to help me figure out some things in fathers’ shop, if you'd be willing later?"
Gustavo nodded, "It'd be an honor."
"Great, let's hurry... I want to get into town before the sun sets to high."
He nodded again, following the whirlwind of a girl out of her door. As they ascended the steps, Gustavo's red-haired friend, Lucien appeared at her gate.
"I knew that I would find you hear, chasing that brunette wench again. How many times does she have to tell you know, before you leave her alone?"
"Lucien, you're in the presence of a lady, don't use that word."
Lucien's stunning green eyes gave Bella a once over, and it made her want to crawl inside of her skin. She had never liked the man, but he had saved Gustavo's life once, and the two had been friends ever since. That meant, wherever Gustavo was, Lucien was sure to follow.
"Yes... quite the lady," he said with a sleazy grin, and Bella's anger began to bubble over. "You're needed back in town, Gustavo. Did you not remember the town meeting today? They're electing a new mayor. A lot of women are turning up, rooting for Mavis Hickens, I think you should be there."
"Dadblammit, I forgot that was today. I don't care if he wins, but we can't have Stearns winning, he'll turn this little place on its knees. We're trying to build something here, can you imagine?"
Lucien raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. Giving off the distinct feeling that he didn't care which way it worked out. Bella cared, but she had so many things to worry about she simply couldn’t make it to the town meeting.
“Bella,” Gustavo stepped ahead of her, casting her an apologetic look. She knew immediately he wouldn’t be able to accompany her into town.
“It’s fine, Gus. Just set my things in that barrel, I can take care of it,” she flashed him a kind smile. Knowing that he was working hard to help make their town better, it had always been important to him.
“Why are you helping her anyway? Seems like that’s something a husband would do; did she finally say yes?” Lucien’s voice dripped sarcasm, as he cast another look in her direction.
Please stop looking at me. She pleaded in her mind, wanting nothing to do with the crass being who couldn’t seem to leave her well enough alone.
“Lucien! Not another word, do you understand? The girl has just lost her father. Marriage is the farthest thing from her mind, and even if she does say yes, it will be no one’s business but ours,” he reprimanded the man.
“Hmph,” Lucien huffed loud enough for her to hear. “Seems like you can do better than the likes of her, nose always in her gardening or stuffed in a book. I can think of a female or two far better suited for you,” he waggled his eyebrows slightly, and though the man had been staring at her with animalistic intent, she knew he meant women who were far more attractive than she.
“Maybe he’s trying to save all those beautiful women for you,” Bella said sarcastically, “I mean clearly, your good looks and charm are just drawing them to you in droves.”
“Listen here wench, Gustavo is the best looking fellow in this village and he can do far better than you. It’s going to be your loss, when he moves on, finally.”
She squinted her eyes angrily, watching the red-haired man with contempt.
“And on that day, she will be the luckiest woman in the world. As for any woman who says yes to you, it will be her darkest day in history.”
With that, Bella heaved the wagon hard past them, elbowing Lucien as she shoved her way past.
He started to mumble something after her, but Gustavo shushed him, while letting out loud guffaws of laughter, at her response.
2
Bella's feet stomped hard on the dirt as she made her way quickly into town. She knew she had left her gate wide open, and only hoped none of the animals broke free from their enclosures and escaped because she had been too hot-headed to turn around and make sure everything was locked tight enough.
"Good-morning Bella, everything all right?" The baker smiled to her as she passed.
"Ugh, yes, I'm well. Thank you for asking," she was anything but, however she was also not someone to just share her life with anyone who asked. "You're croissants smell especially wonderful today," she complimented him, sending his face alight with a brilliant grin.
"Thank you, Bella. How are things since your father passed?" Why? Why did people feel the need to ask her this every time she showed her face?
"Things are as well as can be expected," she said cordially, willing back the tears that fought themselves to the surface. She hurried on from the spot, knowing that his next remark would have to do with how much Mr. Luna enjoyed his fresh baguettes, and she just didn’t have the heart to tell him she couldn’t afford any this week.
"Have a nice day!" she called behind her, making her way further into the square.
He mumbled something, but it was too much for her. It was too soon for her to be here, she could feel it.
"Bella! It's wonderful to see you!" Mrs. Garnier, the piemaker, smiled warmly at her as she came closer to the shop.
"Thank you, Mrs. Garnier."
"What brings you into town?"
Bella could already feel the heat of embarrassment creeping into her cheeks. "Um," she said softly, trying to find the words, and Mrs. Garnier sensing her discomfort studied the basket Bella pushed.
"Are those from your garden?"
Bella nodded.
"I'll take all of your fruits, I'm near out and I've a wedding to bake for, a town hall meeting, not to mention my own various needs," the woman smiled affectionately at her, and Bella, fighting back tears, could only manage a weak "Thank you," as she gingerly gathered all of the fruits from her basket and carried them into Mrs. Garnier's shop.
"Are you absolutely sure?" Bella asked her, not believing her luck.
"Of course, my dear. We women have to look out for each other, Mr. Legrand will understand if I don't purchase as much from him this week, or the weeks following. He's doing well for himself." Mr. Legrand, the more well-off farmer known throughout the village had always been Mrs. Garnier’s fruit and vegetable supplier, while Bella and her father had relied on the generosity of passerby’s.
Bella threw her arms around the woman, knowing that her kindness was not just rooted in her need for fresh fruits for her pies and goodies that she kept her shop, but it was also rooted in knowing that Bella was in need for the moment, and it was too hard for Bella to express how badly.
These were the moments that made living here so valuable, and it made her feel guilt for ever wishing she could be anywhere else.
The truth was, she wanted to be somewhere else. Somewhere she didn't see memories of her father everywhere she went. Somewhere she wasn’t just a poor farm girl wondering how she was going to care for their small crops, and animals, and run-down farm on a dime.
Somewhere she could do and be so much more, but alas it was not to be. With her father gone, she was forced into this life, and it would be all she would have to look forward to for the rest of her days.
With all eyes on her, and longing to be out of sight, she hurried to her last stop. A place where she knew she’d be greeted by a friendly face with a smile, and no expectations.
With just a few potatoes and carrots left, she wheeled her cart in front of the bookstore. As she gently pushed open the soft wood door, the smell of worn pages wafting through the air kissed at her nose. It was like the feel of a hug from a long-forgotten friend. She closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply, thankful that no matter what happened in her life there was still one place she could get away, one place that she could find escape.
“Bella girl, what a pleasure to see you! I’ve been hoping you’d be back.”
“Bernard, it’s been so long. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to come.” The elderly m
an, with the balding head and slight hunch, moved as quickly as he could for his age, and met her at the front of the store.
“It’s been lonely in here, without you, madam.”
Bella laughed, “I’m sure you’ve got along just fine,” she said playfully.
“All right, I have, but you’ve been missed. Don’t doubt that for a moment.”
She grinned wide, “Thank you, that means more than you know.” She reached out and grabbed his aging hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Do you have anything new for me, things have been hard, and I could use an adventure.”
“I’ve just the thing Bella girl. Rivers and boats, and runaways. Princes in faraway castles, the whole lot. I ordered a few while you were gone.” He left her there, while he went to the counter and retrieved the priceless items from behind it. “Here, I knew you could use a good getaway. Just make sure you come back some day,” he teased her, stroking his aged chin.
“I don’t know, one day I’m going to adventure through one of these, and never return,” Bella winked at him. “In all seriousness, thank you for thinking of me, I’ll have these back as soon as possible.”
He nodded, “I know you will, Bella girl. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourself in the long run, okay?”
Bella bowed just slightly, and then, placing the beloved books in her cart outside, rushed back in and gave him a hug, before she hurried home for the day. There were a great many things to accomplish before Gustavo came over, and she wanted to make sure it was all taken care. Running a farm, even a small one, by herself was more work than she had anticipate. It had been easy with her father around. Everything ran like clockwork and tackling the chores together had made their routines seem like fun.
Mr. Luna was terribly funny, and he seemed to know just what to say to keep Bella laughing and happy while they gathered eggs, shoveled manure, watered plants, weeded, and did the various other things to keep their sweet little cabin and its farm running smoothly.
Oh, how she missed him.
Sweat dripped down her brow, and Bella used the back of her apron to wipe it away.
“Well, someone’s been a busy bee,” Gustavo’s familiar voice startled her.
“Gus! I didn’t think you’d come… with Lucien at your heel and all,” she raised one eye disapprovingly, indicating her feelings for the man.
“Don’t be too hard on him Bella, I don’t think he means any harm. He’s just protective of me.”
“You’re sticking up for him?” she challenged, fighting back the sour taste of reproach.
“No, not at all. He doesn’t understand our friendship, given my feelings for you, and your sudden…” he stopped mid-sentence.
“No, no, go on. You were about to insult me, may as well finish.” She wiped the dust from her hands onto her apron and twirled her thick hair into a bun, where careless strands fell to the side of her face. Gustavo couldn’t take his eyes off her, which she never seemed to get used to. She knew he wanted more, but it would be unfair to say yes.
“I promise I don’t mean it as an insult, but he doesn’t understand, nor do I, why you would turn me down when us marrying could help you save your father’s farm.”
She fought back a flash of anger, and through clenched teeth, she told him, “Look Gustavo, I’m not just some helpless girl who doesn’t know how to run a farm. I certainly don’t need a man for that.”
“no, no, I meant financially. I want to help, but it would be improper for me to just hand over money to help you.”
“And I wouldn’t take it,” she said adamantly.
“I know you wouldn’t, because Bella, I love you to death, but you’re so stubborn. You’d rather starve here, than allow anyone to help you.”
“You’re right about that,” she said. “I think it’s important for you to know Gustavo, that I do care for you deeply. I’m not turning you down because I don’t have feelings for you. The problem is, I don’t have the right kind of feelings and even though I know you’d be okay with that, you deserve so much more. You’re a wonderful man, and my best friend. You deserve to be loved with every fiber of ones being, but I can’t love until I can deal with this grief in my heart. Which may never happen.”
“Then I’ll wait,” he answered, batting impossibly thick dark lashes against his cheek, and smiling his wide caring smile reserved just for her.
“I can’t ask you to do that. Please, for your sake, fall madly in love with someone who deserves it?”
She could tell he was fighting back words, and instead of continuing to argue with her, he took glance around the shop.
“So, what can I do to help here?” he asked, but she could hear the hurt in his voice, and it pained her that she’d been the cause of it.
“Gustavo…” she breathed, and then decided against discussing the matter anymore. “Well, there are several pieces of furniture here that remain unfinished. I don’t have my father’s woodworking gift, but I can assemble the pieces if you can help me cut them?”
He nodded, out of duty, but his generous smile had long since faded.
3
The evenings breeze shifted the blades of grass in dance like motion. While the fleshy pale-pink fragrance of the Daphne odora filled his nostrils. He moved about the gardens, mindful of his tail not whipping against the exotic foliage. His talons broke through the moist soil, leaving pronounced impressions of his print.
Fletcher Winslow III was cursed with dragon’s blood.
Not a disease that could be cured with tinctures or eastern medicine.
No. The blood that had once pumped through his mother’s veins and all those before her, ran rampart through his own, causing him to shift into the monstrous form upon his eighteenth birthday.
He’d ravaged throughout the castle, prior to shifting, dismissing all the staff. His emotions were out of control until he fell ill with a fever, and that is when Griselda first appeared. She was the keeper to his ancestral line. A human damned to walk the earth if a Winslow were alive, to care and see to the family’s every need.
She’d explained to him just what he was experiencing but it was all like a dream to him. A terrible vivid dream from which he has yet to wake from.
“Fletcher, why don’t you come in now and have some soothing broth. You’ve been feeding off vermin as of late, that I’m afraid when you return to your human form, you’ll continue craving the despicable creatures.” She said with such a loving tone, making her way to his side, embracing his strong jawline. The very one capable of setting the entire world in flames.
He snarled. “Broth.” A throaty laugh echoed within the strong stone fortress. “Please, don’t patronize me with the belief that I’ll ever return to human form. You and I both know that is untrue.”
“Fletcher Winslow the third! What kind of attitude is that? Hmm?” She said, glaring at him, hands on her hips. “If your mother…”
“Enough!” He roared. “My mother isn’t here, now is she? She’s dead!” He spat.
Griselda didn’t back down. “Your mother might be dead in form, but her spirit lives within you. So, I suggest you stop sulking and get yourself back into the castle to have some of this broth I cooked up for you.”
He watched as she assertively moved back toward the castle.
She might not be his mom, but over the past six and a half years, she’d been more of a mom to him than any other woman or dragon he knew. And he didn’t know any other dragons, so that was saying a lot.
The Winslow Curse preceded all the history he knew. At least this was what he’d gathered through his research in the hidden library deep beneath the castle. Where not only text about his lineage was kept secret, but so was a lot of firsthand accountings of exactly how history had truly taken place; unlike the fabricated versions made up by the narcissistic men who’d survived the many events.
Before man roamed the earth, there were dragons. Like men, the dragons fought for power. They too were flawed and corrupted, and i
mmensely powerful.
They stopped at nothing, trying to take control of the land. And one by one, the dragons slowly disappeared, until only one remained, just as man was born.
The remaining Winslow dragon watched from afar how man lived, carefully imitating his every move, until one day, he too walked the earth as one.
A matter of evolution or a miracle? No one could truly tell, at least Fletcher had gathered much from the writings. But what he did know was every ancestor fell in love and gave birth to one offspring.
Each of them had been in the know about who they truly were, therefore, when their eighteenth birthday came and went, they maintained their human form, and only shifting into dragon form when they wished.
Fletcher unfortunately hadn’t been privy to such information. His mother had died when he was a young child and he’d been raised mostly by the staff within the castle.
Money wasn’t an issue. There was an abundance and he learned early on how to defend what was his. A trait he figured he’d picked up out of the sheer need to survive.
A rustling in the gardens caught his attention, as he took to low flight, batting his long leathery wings.
Three rabbits moved hastily through the open green, panicked by the unknown beast hoovering over in the air.
He took in a deep breath and released a scorching stream of red orange flames, roasting the poor innocent creatures in their spot.
Satisfied with his unexpected hunt, he nabbed the three lumps of meat with his sharp fangs and carried these into the castle. When he found his into the kitchen, he tossed the rabbits onto the counter next to simmering broth.
“I suppose we can add these into the broth and make it a stew.” Griselda said without a flinch, moving musically into motion adapting her dinner choice. “Why don’t you go on to your room and wash up. I’ll drop some veggies into this and call you when its ready.”