Chapter One

ONCE UPON A time, a devious old woman slid a huge metal tray out of the oven. Disbelief and excitement bubbled up inside her, she’d finally done it.

“Oh yes, come to mama,” she murmured as her gaze landed on the life-size gingerbread woman. The mere thought of snacking on the tasty morsel laid out before her made her mouth water. It would be her little secret while her husband was out chopping wood in the forest.

She hummed a happy tune, smiling to herself as she placed strawberry drops atop small mounds completing perfectly formed breasts.

Inhaling the heavenly aroma of cinnamon and spice, she picked up an icing bag and carefully piped on big round eyes, a cute button nose, and luscious mouth. She took a step back and rubbed her hands together, savouring the moment.

In the next heartbeat, she almost fainted, startled beyond belief when the woman’s confection eyes flew open.

 

THE SECOND GINGER managed to pry her eyes open, her gaze landed on a wrinkled old woman hovering over her, drooling like a rabid dog. Instinctively, she knew she had to flee. And so, before the old woman could react, Ginger leapt off the tray. With the table acting as a barrier between them, she tore off out the door.

The woman lunged and missed, her face flushing an angry red. “Come back here, you ungrateful cookie.” She plucked a rolling pin up off the table and waved it in the air. “How dare you flee your maker.”

The absurdity of the words and the sight of the woman lumbering after her made Ginger cackle like a lunatic.

Not daring to slow her pace, she mocked the woman over her shoulder. “Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me; I’m the Gingerbread Woman.”

Branches grazed her delicate skin as she dodged in and out of trees. Just as she thought freedom was near, a burly old man emerged from behind a tree, blocking her path.

His lascivious gaze roamed over Ginger’s naked form, making her shudder. “Where do you think you’re going? I want to eat you.”

Determined to outmanoeuvre him, Ginger dodged left, feigned right, and while the old man was off balance, she darted around him.

Exhilarated, she dashed away, singing at the top of her lungs, “Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me; I’m the Gingerbread Woman.”

Small birds flittered from tree to tree as if egging her on. Where she was running to, Ginger had no clue, but she couldn’t stop. The breeze on her face and the heady sense of freedom made her feel invincible.

Sadly, her elation crashed and burned like a car slamming into a brick wall the second she broke free of the forest and stepped into a clearing. An expansive river lay before her—no way across and no way around.

Heavy footfalls grew nearer. Ginger slumped in defeat. Before long, the old woman and old man would be upon her and her five minutes of freedom would be over. Would the old man lop her head off right there with his wood-chopping axe, or would they drag her back to the cottage and eat her one limb at a time?

She should’ve known escape was too good to be true. The memory of her brother being outsmarted by a sly old fox sent a cold shiver down her spine.

Just when Ginger thought all hope was lost, a silver object glimmering on the water caught her eye. Hope flared in her chest. She sprinted toward the river, long blades of grass licking at her feet.

Once she reached the bank, Ginger jumped up and down, waving her arms in the air. “Help, help, over here.”

Her gaze flicked back and forth between the couple fast approaching and the wide-eyed brunette paddling frantically in her direction.

The second she was within reach, the woman extended a hand. “Get in.”

Ginger took hold and jumped. The boat dipped dangerously to the side, then righted itself once she settled her backside on the hard wooden seat. She flung her arms around the waist of the woman sitting before her, breathed in her scent, and revelled in the flex of her strong back muscles as she paddled them to safety.

An indeterminable amount of time passed before a small jetty came into view. Relief washed over Ginger and her rescuer’s ribcage expanded and deflated as she tried to catch her breath, no doubt as relieved as Ginger to have put some distance between themselves and the couple yelling obscenities at them.