Chapter 19

The next day, Alex hurried through her chores with the hen completely ignoring her. Once finished, she headed back to the area where she’d seen all the trails. The fresh snow last night had filled in all the old tracks. Nothing but smooth snow covered the ground. She wandered deeper into the trees letting a feeling inside her guide her steps. After a couple of minutes, the strange sensation increased. It was almost the way she felt when she met another wizard, different—but still magic.

The unicorn had to be close. She’d never sensed magic this strong, not even when she was at magic school. It had to be because of the lack of other people; people always seemed to create an energy all their own. Her senses hummed the farther in she went. Then she spotted a trail of only one set of hooves coming toward and going away from her. Finally, a trail she could follow.

She knew she needed to be heading back, but she couldn’t pass up this chance. The trail wound deeper and deeper into the firs. The boulders got larger the farther she went. She had to be getting close to the side of the mountain.

More trails joined with the one she was following, all leading in the same general direction. Her steps became a little easier with the trampled snow, but exhaustion had settled in. Her legs ached and her breathing had been labored for several minutes now. The unicorn had to be close. She could feel the magic pulling her. After taking a pause to catch her breath, she continued on.

The trees became scattered among the boulders. A narrow trail wound around the large hunks of rock. After rounding a large boulder, a rock face loomed close. The trails all led to a dark narrow slit in the rock face. As soon as she’d gotten a stone’s throw away from the crevice, she heard the pounding of hooves.

She stopped and took a couple of steps back.

The unicorn charged forward and stopped just outside. He snorted and huffed. His front hoof dug into the dirt and snow repeatedly, flinging it back.

Alex held up her hands and took several more steps back.

The unicorn tilted his head down and snorted, creating a cloud of steam.

“Whoa,” Alex said. “I don’t want to hurt you. I’ll leave.” She stepped carefully backward. The unicorn continued to stand guard, still huffing like a pit bull guarding his bone. She turned around and headed back through the firs.

How could she gain his trust? She trudged back across the meadow. How would you get a pit bull to accept you?

Treats. That was what she had to do. Bribe him. Tomorrow she’d bring a bucket of oats. He should like that. Alex hurried back as fast as she could, not lifting the spell on her until she was near the porch. She clomped in and went over to the fire to warm up.

Steve was sitting in his chair reading. “Did you enjoy your walk?”

“Immensely. I think I’ll go again tomorrow and maybe the day after.”

“If you want exercise, I know of a way to do that here.”

Alex refused to turn and face him, knowing from the heat in her cheeks that she had to be blushing. “I enjoy being out in the fresh air after being trapped inside for so many days.”

Steve set his book down on the table. He moved close and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. He whispered into her ear, “If you want to slow things down, just tell me. You don’t have to go out hiking every day to avoid me.”

She turned around and wrapped her arms around him. “That’s not it.”

He lifted a strand of hair off her face.

“I enjoy being outside. Seeing all the snow, trees, and mountains. I don’t get to see this in Denver.”

“No, I guess you don’t.” He worked the edge of her ear between his lips.

“At the rate we’re going, you’re going to run out of condoms.”

He pulled back and looked at her. “True. Next time I see Peter, I’ll see if he has any I can have.”

“I thought you said he didn’t date much. Why would he have any?”

“A man can hope, can’t he?” He kissed her neck. “I can warm you up better than this fire can.” He started kissing her neck again.

“You only have two left.”

He took her hand and headed to the bedroom. “Then I think we should pay Peter a visit tomorrow.”

She had to bribe the unicorn tomorrow. “Why don’t you go while I’m out taking my hike. I’d be too embarrassed to be around when you ask him.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He started undressing her. “We’ll use one now and save the other in case it snows tomorrow.”

That evening, they made a nest in front of the fire so they could snuggle while eating dinner and reading. Mandy insisted on lying against them on the blanket.

The next morning, Alex rushed through breakfast and chores so she could get an earlier start. The moment Steve turned his shower water on, Alex rushed over to the front door. She slipped her wand out of her coat and tucked it into her waistband. Without wasting a moment, she dashed out to the barn, Mandy close on her heels.

Mandy ran over and brought a ball back.

“Not right now, girl,” Alex said to the excited dog. “I only have a couple of minutes.” She looked around the barn and found a spare bucket tucked in next to the hay bales. Alex grabbed the bucket and took it over to the barrel of oats. She popped the lid off and poured scoop after scoop of oats into the bucket.

Anna Belle strolled out of her pen the moment the lid popped open. Alex carried the half-full bucket to the middle of the barn and set it down.

Mandy dropped her ball in the bucket.

Alex pulled it out and brushed the oats off the fuzzy ball. She tossed it away and Mandy bounded after it.

Anna Belle eyed the bucket and started to move toward it.

Alex spotted Anna Belle heading toward her, so she snatched the bucket up. “These aren’t for you,” she said to the cow.

Anna Belle was determined.

“Okay, okay,” Alex said. She circled around the cow and took the bucket to her pen. Anna Belle stayed close. Alex tipped some of the oats into Anna Belle’s bucket and rushed back to the middle of the barn again. This time she didn’t waste a second and whipped her wand out. “Decresco,” she said and touched her wand to the bucket. She continued to touch the bucket as it shrank. Once it was down to the size of a ball she lifted her wand. She snatched the miniature bucket up before Mandy got the idea that it was a new play-toy. Alex tucked her wand back into her waistband and carried the tiny bucket to the cabin. She cracked the door to the cabin open and heard the water still running.

Mandy pushed through the door carrying her ball.

Steve would be finished in only a minute or so. She rushed into the cabin and pulled the brown bag she’d found earlier out of her coat. She slipped the bucket in and folded the bag over several times.

The water turned off.

Alex put the bag in her coat pocket, pulled her wand out of her pants, and put it back in her coat. She could hear Steve getting dressed, so she ran into the bedroom and started snatching some clothes. He would expect her to be ready to get her bath as soon as he’d finished.

“Why does Mandy have her ball in here?”

Alex headed out of the bedroom, trying not to rush. “I guess I missed it.” Alex set her clothes down on the table, took the ball from Mandy, and walked out to the barn to drop the ball.

The moment she got back to the cabin, Steve said, “I could have done that.”

“That’s okay.” She picked up her clothes. “It’ll remind me to be more careful the next time.” She went into the bathroom and pulled the sheet closed before he could ask another question. Or notice that Mandy didn’t have her ball when they’d first come in. “Poor Anna Belle,” Alex mumbled. With giving the unicorn some of the oats she’d have to give Anna Belle less or she’d run out too soon.

As soon as she was showered and dressed she said, “I think I’ll pack a lunch and head out earlier today. I want to get a little farther.”

“Are you sure? You were gone for several hours yesterday.”

Alex nodded as she pulled out some food for lunch. “I’ll get ready so I can get back sooner. You can take a long visit with Peter. I’m determined to make it all the way across today, so I’ll be gone for several hours again.” She headed into the bedroom and put a sweater on over her shirt. Steve was starting to wash the dishes when she came out. “I’ll be back a little earlier today,” Alex said. She put her hat on and started tucking loose hair in.

Steve walked over to her. “Are you sure you won’t get too tired?” He took her coat off the hook and helped her into it.

“The sun is out and it isn’t snowing. I want to enjoy this.” Alex said as she fastened her coat.

“Keep a watch out for clouds. If you see anything moving in, head back.”

“I know, the weather can change in minutes.”

Steve removed the bar and set it against the wall. “Be careful.”

Alex headed out and removed the snowshoes out of the box next to the door. “Don’t let all the heat out.”

He shut the door.

Alex looked back and didn’t see him watching out the window. She quickly slipped her wand out. She used it to get the snowshoes on and to make herself lighter. After putting the wand back in her coat, she slipped her gloves on and took off across the meadow. Today, she knew exactly where to go. She headed straight for the rock and through the trees for the unicorn’s cave. When she got close, she slowed down and started to hum a simple melody. She passed through the last group of trees. The unicorn guarded the entrance.

He shuffled and pawed the ground.

Alex continued to hum and slowly pulled the bag out of her coat pocket. She unfolded the top and carefully pulled the miniature bucket out. She placed it on the ground in front of her.

The unicorn paused.

Alex slowly pulled her wand out, making sure to keep it pointed away from the unicorn.

The unicorn snorted and lowered his head. The tip of his horn pointed at her.

“Amplifico,” she said and touched the bucket. Once it was full size, she laid her wand down and dumped the oats out.

The unicorn sniffed and raised his head.

Alex picked up her wand.

The unicorn pawed the ground but didn’t lower his head.

She used her wand and shrunk the bucket back down. Once she’d finished, she put her wand and the tiny bucket back in her coat. “Hope you enjoy the oats. I’ll try and bring you some more tomorrow.” She took a couple of steps back.

The unicorn sniffed some more and took a step closer.

Alex waved, turned, and headed off. She hummed again so the unicorn could hear her leaving.

The next day the unicorn stood there as she put the oats a little closer. He wouldn’t let her enter the cave yet, but he wasn’t making any aggressive movements. She did this again the following day. The day after that, she approached and he wasn’t standing outside. What if he’d been hurt?

She paused a minute then entered the gaping black hole. What am I doing? Her instincts screamed. Wild animals could be hiding inside, waiting for some unsuspecting prey to wander into their lair. She shook her head. No. The unicorn was inside; he wouldn’t let anything attack her. His magic called out to her. Normally she would use her wand to provide some light, but unicorns hate wands. They would allow wizards and young children to approach, only if they showed the proper respect.

She unfastened the snowshoes, propped them up against the rock face, and took a step in. Nothing happened. She took another hesitant step, then another. She took one glove off and reached out to touch the wall, running her fingers along the rough granite surface. The solid rock made her feel a little safer.

After another step, she touched fur. She dashed back to the opening and took a moment to slow her breathing. Once her heart had slowed a bit, she crept back in. This time when she felt the fur, she stopped and pulled the hairs off the protruding rock. She rubbed the coarse brown hairs between her fingers and noticed the musky scent of animal.

For a second, the scent reminded her of Steve, but that was stupid. It was only some bits of fur that some bear must have rubbed off as it moved through the crack. Of course some animal would use this cave as a home; these mountains didn’t provide many holes large enough for a big animal.

“There is no reason to fear the darkness,” Alex kept telling herself as she edged farther into the dark crevice. Her left hand’s fingers trailed across the cold stone wall guiding her in. She kept trying to see but gave up for a moment and closed her eyes. There wasn’t anything to see anyway. She shuffled her feet across the dirt floor, feeling for any change. The last thing she wanted was to step off a ledge or trip over a rock. With her luck, she’d trip over a rock and lose contact with the wall. Who knew how large the space was? Was it still a narrow passage or had it widened out into a large cavern? If she lost contact with the wall, she could wander around aimlessly and lose all sense of direction.

She patted her coat front with her right hand. Her wand was still there. If worst came to worst, she could use it as a light and find the way out again. It was a shame unicorns were so distrustful of wizards, or she’d already be using it. She kicked a small rock and on instinct she opened her eyes. A faint glow outlined the edge of a wall. The closer she got, the more shapes she could make out. The passage turned to the right. Alex paused and took a deep breath. The unicorn was in here, his glow providing the light.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she whispered. She didn’t want to startle him. If he bolted, he’d run into her. The passage was too narrow for the both of them. She edged around the corner and with a couple more steps the crevice opened up to a sizable area.

The snow-white unicorn remained nestled against the farthest end of a slight ledge that ran along the left side. His coat cast a pale glow throughout the space. She paused when he snorted and shook his head.