Ozette's Heartstone

by Judy Pierce

  Pants On Fire Press

  Winter Garden Toronto London

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  Pants On Fire Press, Winter Garden 34787

  Text copyright © 2015 by Judy Pierce

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from the publisher, Pants On Fire Press. For information contact Pants On Fire Press.

  All names, places, incidents, and characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Illustrations and art copyright © 2015 by Pants On Fire Press

  Cover art by Natalia Nesterova

  Interior art by Silvia Hoefnagels

  Book design by David M. F. Powers

  The publisher is not responsible for recipes or websites (or their content).

  First edition: 2015

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file.

  Visit us at www.PantsOnFirePress.com

  eBook ISBN: 9781625175717

  This book is dedicated to The Divine Miss Piddlewinks, the squirrel who started me on this journey, to Ozette, the white squirrel who inspired me to write books about squirrels, and to all the compassionate people who work tirelessly to protect animals, both wild and domestic.

  At the end of Ozette’s Destiny read-ers everywhere were left wondering what was next for Ozette, the very special white squirrel and her friends in that magical place, Farlandia. Fortunately for us, it was just the first book in the Tales from Farlandia books by the very talented Judy Pierce.

  Obviously enjoyed by children of all ages, readers of Ozette’s Hearthstone won’t be disappointed. In this volume, the very precious Farlandia is threatened by a pair of baddies who want to clear-cut Farlandia, grow crops and build a hunting lodge! The very idea! Obviously it’s important for Ozette to round up her friends and save their beloved land. They hatch a plot to stop the villains. Will they save Farlandia? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

  Like the first book in the series, Ozette’s Heartstone includes all the recipes for the treats that Ozette and her friends eat. All of the recipes are tested by the author and are fun for kids to make with a grown-up, perhaps sharing the treats as they read.

  Expect sprites, nature magic and watch for the adorable 3 chipmunks and Gizmo to make their debut.

  Don’t miss a word of this wonderful adventure.

  Darlene Arden

  Certified Animal Behavior Consultant

  Author of Small Dogs, Big Hearts,

  Rover, Get Off Her Leg!, The Complete Cat's Meow and the coffee table book, Beautiful Cats.

  Prologue

  Queen Ozette sat quietly under the branches of the tree she’d planted from the golden acorn her grandmother had given her. She watched as a shaft of moonlight outlined its branches. The white squirrel marveled at how the tree seemed to glow with an inner, shimmering light. She was so engrossed in thoughts of her grandmother and her life in Farlandia that she failed to notice a lone human on a nearby knoll, sitting astride a horse, his arms folded on his chest, scowling.

  Chapter One

  An Unwelcome Guest

  Two Months Later

  Spring slid into summer as easily as a bullfrog slides off a lily pad and slips into a pond. It had been five full moons since the gentle-natured white squirrel had been crowned Queen of Farlandia, that magical land through the thin veil from Earth World, the world humans inhabit and think they understand.

  So far, Ozette’s duties had been light. Oh, there had been a few squabbles. Her elf friend Oliver had been a little annoyed at some crows who had eaten most of his sweet pea crop. Now, Oliver didn’t mind being generous, but he had counted on that crop to provide him with enough sweet peas to share with friends. Although he would never admit it, sweet peas were also an ingredient in one of his shape-changing potions.

  Last week, the quick-thinking Ozette had met with the crows and Oliver, passing her talking stick to each speaker, so the crows wouldn’t monopolize the conversation as crows liked to do. After the crows promised to be more thoughtful, the subject was dropped—at least for this growing season.

  Last month, Milligan Mouse had gotten into a heated discussion with some dragons over a patch of truffles. You can guess who won that one, although Ozette tactfully convinced the dragons to share with the little mice.

  Ozette’s biggest challenge had been settling a dispute between a family of groundhogs and a family of red foxes. The foxes wanted to take over the groundhogs’ den because it was bigger than theirs. The white squirrel had to use all of her negotiating skills to convince the foxes to move into a den a little closer to the river. Gracey and Gabby, two roly-poly groundhogs, had been so grateful for being able to keep their burrow that they often left baskets of vegetables under Ozette’s nesting tree.

  Ozette had a way of resolving conflicts while still being kind and loving, and the forest creatures often said how lucky they were that the white squirrel had come to Farlandia and agreed to be their queen.

  Summer was long and lazy. Ozette had spent most afternoons swimming in creeks and ponds with her many friends and dining on the plentiful fruits and vegetables she gathered in the forest or from friends’ gardens. The humble squirrel was a much-sought-after guest at afternoon teas hosted by the animals or Princess Abrianna, Ozette’s human friend.

  As dawn approached, Ozette perched on a branch in her ancient maple tree, gazing in wonder. Fingers of maroon, magenta and fuchsia slid across the horizon to be joined by peach, salmon and pearly pinks to paint the sky like a glorious mural. The sunrise wrapped Ozette in a cloak of color, warming her to her core. She sighed contentedly. Another dawn in Farlandia.

  Although Ozette had enjoyed the peace and quiet of the last few days, she was looking forward to some adventuring with her friends.

  She stretched and yawned, preened her fluffy white tail and licked her paws to clean them. Then she polished her beloved tiara with dried moss until it gleamed. Ozette scampered down her tree, sniffing the summer-scented breeze. She headed for a patch of jumbledberries she’d been checking daily for ripeness. Being a squirrel, she ate often, savoring every bite and giving thanks for the bounty of the soil. Today the berry clusters hung like jewels on slender branches. She plucked several of the newly ripe berries and closed her eyes in bliss as their juicy tart-yet-sweet flavor struck her tongue.

  Ozette was normally a generous squirrel, but the lure of the berries proved too much. She knew she should take some to Oliver, so he could bake batches of jumbledberry scones, but before she knew it, she’d devoured every ripe berry. She shrugged her shoulders, knowing more would be ripe in a few days. Feeling only a little guilty for not alerting her friends to the ripe berries, she headed back to her nest.

  Ozette stretched out on a high branch and surveyed the forest. Birds sang their most melodious songs. Small animals scampered through the fern and moss-laden forest floor. The delicious smells of sun-warmed earth scented the warm air and, once again, Ozette was thankful that she lived in this ancient forest.

  She scratched her left ear then amused herself with one of her favorite pastimes–making up names for wildflowers as they burst into bloom.

  “Hmm,” she murmured. “Those are ruby popettes, and those yellow ones… I’ll call them sunettes.” The flowers seemed to nod in approval. She eyed some purple buds and decided she would wait to see what came to her when their faces were fully visible.

  Ozette yawned and climbed into her nest for a much-needed nap. Lying on her back, she pulled her bushy tail between her legs and was soon asleep. She was awakened by the sound of hooves pounding th
e ground. Groggily, she wondered if Maxwell, her winged unicorn friend, had landed for a visit. Perhaps he had brought Duchess Zorina, the Bichon Frise Ozette had rescued when “DZ,” as her friends called her, was lost in the forest. Ozette smiled sleepily. Her return of the little dog to Farland’s Queen Beatrix had set off a chain of events that led to the white squirrel being crowned Queen of Farlandia, the farthest territory in Farland.

  She stuck her head out of her nest, ready to give a welcoming call, when she heard voices. Human voices. She slipped cautiously out of her nesting hole and sat on a thick branch, grateful that the canopy of leaves would shield her from view.

  Two men on horseback were standing near her tree. Despite the heat, they wore heavy breeches, long-sleeved shirts and riding boots. The man in the lead was astride a chestnut mare. He ran his hands through blond, curly hair and pointed in Ozette’s direction. Ozette gulped and made herself as small as she could, terrified he might see her. She didn’t understand this unbearable fear she felt but trusted her instincts. And her instincts said these men were up to no good.

  “We’ll clear this entire area, and here’s where we’ll build the hunting lodge. That huge maple over yonder,” the blond man said, pointing at Ozette’s nesting tree, “will be used for flooring. No chewin’ or spittin’ on that beauty,” he said, nudging the other man with a ham-sized fist. Ozette thought she might faint and fall from the tree.

  “Ya know, Boardmore,” said the second man, scratching at his scruffy brown beard. “Our cousin has deeded this land to itself. Can you believe it owns itself? I heard that some white squirrel was crowned queen with the agreement that the land not be touched. I don’t know if I’d want to mess with Queen Beatrix,” he said.

  “Relax, Smiley,” Boardmore growled. “The queen is nutty. Deeding that land to itself is proof of that. As her oldest cousin, that land should rightfully have been mine. Now that the queen has let us come to Farland, I figure we can do pretty much what we please.”

  Smiley was silent for a moment, then said, “If you remember, brother, the queen was against allowing us in Farland. If a couple of her advisors hadn’t intervened...”

  “You worry too much, Smiley,” his brother said gruffly.

  “And her closest relative is actually her sister, Princess Abrianna–” Smiley began.

  “Smiley, just be quiet,” Boardmore said in a menacing voice.

  “Smiley?” Ozette whispered. What a strange name for someone with such a sour face.

  Boardmore walked his horse close to Ozette’s tree. “I figure if we clear this entire area down to that creek over yonder, we’ll have plenty of room for the hunting lodge and water for our crops. Should be great hunting here. Wouldn’t mind bagging me that white squirrel.”

  Hearing that, Ozette’s knees began shaking so hard she was sure the men could hear their “rat-tat-tat” as she gripped the limb. Visions of her life in Earth World flitted unbidden through her head–the sound of giant earth-eating machines gobbling up fields of wildflowers, the sharp crack of a smoking stick as yet another animal fell to the soft ground, the buzzing of saws as more and more forests giants hit the Earth, shattering everything in their path. Ozette shuddered. This couldn’t be happening here.

  The men dismounted and inspected the trees, not caring that they were smashing wildflowers, mushrooms and tender ferns beneath their heavy boots.

  Kicking at the ground with his heels, Smiley spoke. “You might want to reconsider, Boardmore.” He plucked a piece of sweet grass and stuck it into his mouth. “Farlandia is said to be eaten up with powerful magical creatures. They can make all kinds of mischief, nasty little thugs. Not sure we should mess with them.”

  “Don’t be such a wuss, little brother. Those are just old wives’ tales,” Boardmore replied. He looked up at a particularly fine, old-growth oak tree. His eyes turned to narrow slits as he considered the possibilities. “Yup. This is definitely the place. This time next year it’ll look totally different. And it will be mine, all mine.” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation adding, “We might even be able to sneak some of our Earth World friends here to share the hunting and work the fields.”

  By now, Ozette was having trouble breathing. She wanted to flee into her nesting hole, pile moss over her head and sleep. Maybe when she woke up, this would all have been a nightmare. But she knew she had to hear every word they said, so she’d know their plans.

  I wonder when they plan on starting this...carnage, her fear now replaced by a burning anger.

  As if reading her mind, Boardmore said, “We’ll wait until after the new year. That gives us time to get our plans drawn up and to lull her majesty into trusting us.” He laughed, a gruff, grating sound that set Ozette’s teeth on edge.

  “That so-called Queen Beatrix gave away my natural birthright. Let her think I don’t care, and then, BAM! Good bye forest,” he said, spitting onto a batch of pale gold wildflowers. Ozette swore she could see them shrivel under his foul spittle.

  The men quickly mounted their patiently waiting horses and wound their way through the thick, virgin forest.

  Ozette was still shaking when the sound of the horses’ hooves had faded. Her squirrelly mind was racing a mile a minute, and she couldn’t seem to hold onto a single thought before it flitted away.

  “Think, Ozette. Think. You have four or five full moons to thwart their plan. What to do?” Her thoughts turned to that terrible day before she journeyed to Farlandia. The day when her beloved grandmother, the Divine Miss Piddlewinks, told Ozette that some of the animals in Earth World were blaming her for the destruction of their beloved forests because she was different, a white squirrel, a bad omen. Would she once again become the scapegoat for something that was beyond her control?

  She looked around at the pristine forest. She heard the birds innocently singing their joyful songs. This would not happen again, she vowed, making her paw into a fist and sticking out her jaw.

  She scampered down her tree, listening intently to make sure the men were not returning. She scurried to where they had stood, wrinkled her nose, and fanned her face.

  “Phew.”

  The smell of the horses was pleasant. It was the stench of the men that offended her delicate nose. She looked at the trodden plants, and a tear slid down her face. She smoothed the dirt and tried to replant the flowers that had been ripped from the ground. Fortunately, the plants would regenerate–they were resilient that way–unless, of course, Boardmore and Smiley had their way.

  A sob escaped from Ozette’s throat. She sat on the ground and took six deep breaths to calm herself.

  “I need a plan,” she thought, as she got up, dusted off her fur and started pacing.

  She found herself heading toward the golden acorn tree. When Ozette fled Earth World, she had carried the golden acorn that her grandmother had found one autumn day when they were planting acorns for winter. Declaring the acorn an omen that would lead Ozette to a grand destiny, her grandmother had pressed the acorn into her granddaughter’s paw before Ozette left Earth World.

  The white squirrel had planted and lovingly tended the acorn as it grew from a spindly twig to burst forth into a mighty tree with bright green-gold leaves on the night of her coronation.

  A sudden thought made her gasp. Would Boardmore and Smiley harvest this tree too? She sat under the tree and tried to think. The earth seemed to be gently vibrating beneath her, calming her. A slight breeze ruffled her fur. It seemed to be calling, “Ozette. Ozette.”

  As Ozette’s breathing slowed, she realized she couldn’t do this alone. Although she’d met the queen briefly, Ozette’s closest human friend was Princess Abrianna. The princess was witty, wise and a great friend to all the elves, fairies and animals. Ozette would seek her counsel.

  An exuberant blue sky kissed the horizon while a multi-colored butterfly hovered over a patch of ruby popettes. Ozette climbed a massive tree she called the grandmother hickory, as its branches always seemed welcoming. As she leaped from b
ranch to branch, the tips of the leaves sprang back beneath her. From there, she jumped to a smaller poplar tree, and continued from tree to tree, never touching the ground until she reached Princess Abrianna’s cottage. What would happen to Princess Abrianna if they didn’t stop Boardmore?

  Ozette loved the princess’s charming cottage with its bay windows, fancifully carved shutters, stone fireplaces and inviting benches; all were set amid a profusion of flowers, vegetables, fruit trees and herbs. A clear, bold creek flowed into a deep, inviting pool. Ozette couldn’t believe it was only yesterday that she and her fairy friends had frolicked in the pool and shared tea and cookies with the princess.

  She looked around the garden, hoping to see the princess. Cassady, the princess’s golden retriever, suddenly bounded out of the creek with a laughing Princess Abrianna close behind. The princess carried two woven baskets filled to their brims with assorted melons. The princess looked startled when she saw the white squirrel waiting by a porch swing.

  “Ozette,” she called. “What a nice surprise. Come join me for lunch. Look at these late-season melons. We’ll have fruit salad, homemade rolls and cheese, perfect on such a sun-kissed day.”

  Ozette took a step forward. She glanced around the princess’s land. Everything seemed so normal, so beautiful. She looked into Princess Abrianna’s eyes. The princess set her baskets on the ground, knelt and took Ozette’s paws in her hands.

  “My dear friend. What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Come. Let’s sit on the swing, and you can tell me what’s happened.”

  She plumped the pillows and sat down. Cassady shook, spraying water everywhere, then she laid her head in the princess’s lap. The princess rubbed the dog’s ears absently.