“Unbelievable.” I blinked, willing the view in front of me to change. It didn’t. “This has to be some Friday the Thirteenth curse.”
Fields stretched out to the right, running along the length of the old country highway. Centaurs milled about the green space, waiting their turn to cross the highway and follow the herd up a narrow, two-lane road winding its way up a tree-covered slope. Leggy yearlings paced alongside their mothers. Women with gray hair and graying coats scolded anyone who dawdled. Sharp-eyed adults guarded the perimeter, weapons strapped to their human and horse halves.
“Next time we will take the main road.” Elron glared at the mess outside our car.
“Agreed.”
The four cars in front of us were as stuck as we were. With the centaurs everywhere, there wasn’t enough room to turn around, and the earth only knew when they’d finally get up the two-lane road. We could be stuck here for hours.
“But, really, who knew we needed to plan for migrating centaurs?” There had to be hundreds of them. “I didn’t even know there were any herds this big in the area.”
Elron shook his head. “I thought they heavily advertised large migrations to prevent issues, including this one.”
“Me too.” My previous giddiness had lasted exactly fifteen blissful minutes.
He shifted the car into park and turned off the engine. “There is no use in leaving it running.”
A chestnut tail thumped against my window. “No argument from me.”
Five minutes later, I dug a book out of the back seat. Three minutes after that, I closed it. I wasn’t reading anyway. As far as I could tell, the steady stream of centaurs up the two-lane road had not significantly diminished the mass around the car or stretching across the fields.
Fifteen mind-numbing minutes later, blue lights flashed in the side mirror. I twisted around. A line of police cars were slowly making their way through the crowd. As they drew close, I spotted Rodriguez riding shotgun in the lead car. He gave me a jaunty wave.
I sighed. If he got us moving, it would be worth the teasing.
Elron checked the clock. “If they work quickly, we will still get to the bed-and-breakfast in time to check in before dinner.”
“Don’t forget the dessert bar. I’m hoping for chocolate.”
“I cannot imagine a dessert bar without chocolate.”
“Me either.” I grinned, getting back into vacation spirit.
Outside, Rodriguez and an officer I didn’t recognize were talking to three centaurs. After a few minutes of conversation, the centaurs turned and trotted in different directions, and the second officer went back to the cruisers. Rodriguez walked to our car, tapping on my window.
I rolled it down. “Yes?”
He grinned. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“Funny.”
“I thought so.” His smile faded. “They’re going to clear a path so you can turn around.”
“Thanks.” We could backtrack to the highway and be at our cabin in a few hours.
Rodriguez went to tell the other cars. Around us, the centaurs moved away from the cars and left the road. Elron turned on the car and carefully backed us onto a wide shoulder so he could make the turn easily.
My giddy mood returned as we left the migrating centaurs behind. “Just like that, our vacation is back on track.”
“It would take more than a herd of centaurs to derail our vacation.” He came to a stop at the light.
I settled into the seat. “You, me, and no responsibilities. Sounds like heaven.”
Elron took a right, and we were only two short miles from the highway.
The car shuttered. A thump vibrated through me, and a cloud of smoke appeared behind us. I grabbed the Narzel-what-now-handle above the door. “What was that?”
Elron’s lips pressed into a flat line. “A problem.”
The car slowed. The passenger side dipped as the wheels came to a stop on a sloping shoulder. Elron turned off the engine and flipped on the emergency lights.
I twisted around. Behind us, a thick cloud of smoke obscured the view out of the rear window. “Narzel.”
Was it so much to want a vacation? Was it?
I flopped back into my seat.
Elron lifted his phone to his ear.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling a tow truck. I have no desire to spend more time stranded on this road than absolutely necessary.” Elron poked a number and put the phone back to his ear.
He had a point. Mom could drive the other car over. We could move our stuff and be back on the road before long. I called Mom.
She didn’t answer.
Of course not.
Today was cursed. That was the only explanation. A wild Friday the Thirteenth wreaking havoc.
Elron hung up. “They estimate half an hour before the truck arrives.”
“We can make that work. We might end up eating dinner on the road, but we still have the rest of the vacation.” One rough day would not derail my vacation. Not if I had anything to say about it.
Elron nodded. “We enjoyed that apple house in Blue Ridge.”
“Now that sounds fun. A tasty dinner and a quality dessert. You have my attention.”
He gave me a playful smile. “We could pick up a couple bottles of apple wine.”
“And a pie to go with it. This delay could work out in our favor.”
His eyes heated. “I was considering the hot tub—”
My phone rang. “Hold that thought.” I answered it without looking, thinking Mom was calling me back. “Oaks Consulting, Michelle speaking.”
“Ms. Oaks, I’m Merry, from Outlook Inn.”
Merry wasn’t Mom, and I couldn’t think of a good reason for the bed-and-breakfast to be calling. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry to say.” Merry hesitated. “That is, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel your reservation. We would love to have you in the future and can offer a free night.”
This wasn’t happening. “We’re due there in less than five hours.”
“I’m sorry.” She cleared her throat. “Half the building flooded this morning. We won’t be open for any reservations for at least a month.”
“Oh.”
“Would you like to rebook now?”
“I’ll call back later.” I ended the call quickly and politely.
That was it. Our entire plan for the vacation, gone with one phone call.
I faced Elron. “So, I don’t—”
He shook his head slightly. “I heard.”
“Elven hearing.”
“It has benefits.” He held up his phone. “I can search for a new bed-and-breakfast or hotel.”
Flashing blue lights filled every mirror.
I twisted around to see a police car parked behind us. Rodriguez got out of the car.
My phone rang again. This time I checked to see who was calling. Mom. I thrust the phone toward Elron. “You talk to her, I’ll talk to Rodriguez.”
Elron took the phone, and I got out of the car.
Rodriguez lifted an eyebrow. “When I heard a car was waiting for a tow, I never thought it would be you.”
“What can I say? This Narzel-blessed day just keeps getting better.”
He tried to suppress a grin but didn’t quite manage it. “What happened?”
“You see the smoke?” A lot of it had dispersed, but there was still enough to make my point.
Rodriguez nodded.
I pointed at the car. “Thump, then smoke.”
“So it’s dead.” Rodriguez rocked back on his heels. “I have room in the car. My driver is still with the centaurs and will be for a while. I could take the two of you and your things back to the Lodge.”
Elron got out of the car and held the phone out. “Dorthea and several voices came through the phone, and she hung up.”
I sighed. “We’ll take you up on that ride.”
Twenty minutes later, we bumped down the driveway to the Lodge. Elron’s car was on its way to the shop. Mom still wasn’t answering, and Elron had tried calling five different places, none of which had any availability. As far as I could tell, our vacation was dead.
The back seat wasn’t my favorite place in a police car. It was especially not fun with suitcases stacked nearly to the roof behind Rodriguez. I scooted forward as the parking lot came into view. “I should be free to take that shift on the full moon.”
“I’ll be glad to have you.” He pulled into the last open spot.
“If I’m not sitting in a hot tub counting stars, I might as well be working. Let me out so I can unload the car.” I slid over to the door.
Rodriguez got out, came around and opened the door.
“Thanks.” I yanked a suitcase out after me.
Elron got out of the car, his attention on something on the other side of the cruiser.
I shaded my eyes. Three elves were talking with Mom, Dorthea, and Landa. If there was a problem, they were more than capable of dealing with it. While Landa was short by many race’s standards, her four-and-a-half-foot frame was perfectly normal for a brownie. She’s been running this lodge for many years and there wasn’t much she couldn’t handle.
With a shrug, I went back to unloading the car. It didn’t take long to make a pile of our stuff. I thanked Rodriguez and told him I’d be in touch to firm up the details for the full moon. He drove off.
I picked up two of the suitcases. “Can you give me a hand?”
Elron didn’t answer.
“Elron? Did you hear me?”
I looked up, and he was halfway across the parking lot, headed for the elves. They pivoted to face him, ignoring Mom and the others.
“What now?” I muttered as I trotted after him. I had to stop thinking my bad luck had run out. There was always more. Always.
Elron stopped, his shoulders tight. “Mother? Father? I thought you were… What are you doing here?”
Elron’s mother stepped forward. Her boots were soft with wear, as were the homespun pants tucked into them. A leather tunic covered her shirt, and a sword sat low on her hips. Her white blond hair was pulled away from her face in three layers of braids. “We heard you were marrying a witch.”
His father moved abreast of his wife. His clothing matched hers, but his hair was the same silver as his son’s. “We came to stop the wedding.”