| |
Fawna managed the last few yards up the steep face of The Magic Mountain toward the little cabin perched at the top. When she was in elementary school, every morning before school studies began, she’d put her hand over her heart and sing, America The Beautiful. She used to wonder what a purple mountain looked like and she wondered what,’‘purple mountain majesty’ meant. Looking up at this mountain, she finally knew. With the tip of the purple shaded mountain kissing the copper colored sky tinged with swirls of clouds colored in magenta, purple and turquoise the only appropriate word she could come up with was majestic.
Once she’d visited Captain Chavez and made sure he was ok, she wanted to get away from the town. She was panting from her unaccustomed exertion and heat in the dead of November, causing her round bosom to rise and fall beneath her ribbed shirt, open at the neck with her heavy breaths. Her sky-blue knit shirt and black Spandex yoga pants hugged her curves underneath the riding breeches she’d bought at the She Shed in Magic. Unfortunately, there was no one there to get a glimpse of the tantalizing sight.
Fawna was two for zero in that department. Romance just wasn’t in the cards. She turned, huffing as she pulled at the reins of her horse, limping up the trail behind her. As she bent forward to grasp the leather thongs better, the superb breasts almost popped over their covering.
She’d come out to explore the mountains of Magic to escape the gawking of the families that were on the plane with her. She’d heard of No Travel Zones where remote areas with delicate environments were no longer welcoming untidy tourists, who’d get too drunk in their bars only to urinate on their unpolluted lakes or rivers and litter the ancient streets.
Not long ago, she’d read a story in Gawker Magazine about an American couple who’d gotten married at a sacred Greek church and taken a picture with the bride simulating having oral sex on the groom with the church as the backdrop and posting it on social media. It went viral. Even with their bridal garb on, the picture was crass and the church threatened to ban couples from ever marrying there again.
That’s how a few of the hordes of passengers were treating Magic. The majority were respectful. A handful, however, were getting drunk, throwing trash in the streets, and acting as if they had absolutely no home training. Fawna was anxious to get away from the passengers who’d descended on Magic like a hive. And even though most were nice and appreciative of what the residents had done to accommodate them—such as doing a little thing like saving their lives, and providing free lodging at a moment’s notice for over 200 unannounced guests—like her parents often said, all it takes is one rotten apple to spoil the whole bunch.
She could see why the town of Magic was anxious to get the passengers out of their hair. The Fates had said something about needing to get them back into the time wrap within six days so as not to through the Earth’s timeline out of wack.
Not only did she want to get away from the crowd, she wanted to ground her nerves after her ordeal with Brock. The first time they’d made love, he’d told her that he wanted her to be with him forever. She had no idea that he meant smashing into the ocean together!
She heaved a heavy sigh. He wasn’t at all who she thought he’d be. Not only did he try to kill her and everyone on board the aircraft—she was beginning to think her taste in men was jinxed.
“Do I have horrible taste in men or what?” She cried to Jangles, the horse she’d rented as she walked alongside him. “I thought that book, Alexandru’s Kiss, meant Brock was the one, but I guess I picked the wrong one to kiss. I wish I knew more about the mysterious power I have to make books appear out of thin air. Sometimes, like Single White Female, the meaning seems clear as glass. Other times, it’s more vague. I wish I knew someone who could help me figure it out.” She suspired and moved on.
Turning toward the cabin once more, she stumbled up the rough trail, the riding boots she’d purchased in Magic were built for style but not for heavy use, causing her to wince at every step. She came to the door and knocked. At once there was a response inside; a chair scraped followed by footsteps.
He flung open the door and she feasted her eyes once again on the man who’d burst into the cockpit and kept Brock from beating her senseless and sending them all to Kingdom Come. By the time she came to in the co-pilot chair, he’d disappeared. She looked for him when they landed on Oscar’s laundry, but never saw him disembark. She thought maybe she’d dreamed him, or like she did whenever she empathized with someone, imagined him in one of her visions. What went on in the plane was still somewhat of a terrifying blur.
She felt like she’d landed slap in the middle of a Head and Shoulders commercial with the most delicious man she’d ever laid eyes on as the hair model. At that moment, she swore he was moving in slow motion while his superb crown blew in the breeze. More than six feet of virile manhood greeted her, deeply bronzed from life in the open. Fawna found herself looking up into bright hazel eyes, his irises rimmed in ebony— not altogether unfriendly, but guarded. He had a firm chin and long, chestnut locks that rivaled any long thick locks she’d seen on her hundreds of hair shoots. And even though his hair flowed past his shoulders like a waterfall, he was all man. She compared the solid breadth of shoulder, and his rippling muscles, with the physique of her ex-husband Stephen. If this one turned out to be gay—oh, what a crying shame.
“Yes?" said the man in an almost vibrating baritone.
“I—I'm lost,” began Fawna in an unsure voice. “It’s getting dark, my horse fell and lamed himself and I saw your cabin here, so I thought I'd take a chance and see if you could show me how to get back to the town. I was just out on a ride, but I wandered too far from Magic.” The man looked at her with an appraising gaze. His eyes swept over the unmistakable swells beneath her low-neck blouse, over the trim curves encased in expensive riding breeches.
“You must be cold, when the sun goes down around here, it gets chilly pretty quick,” he stated. “Step inside and sit before the fire. I’ll see to your horse.”
“Thank you.”
Fawna brushed past him, his rock hard forearm pressed against her round shoulder. A tiny shiver of delight ran through her at the contact. She picked up a chair and moved it before the fire, sat and warmed herself before the roaring flames. Outside she heard the man going down the trail and speaking soothingly to Jangles. A few minutes later, he entered the cabin.
“Who are you?” he asked in an ‘I don’t like strangers’ tone.
Startled, Fawna turned her wide green eyes up to him. "Fawna Zanobia, Wal. she stopped. Just Fawna Zanobia. What’s yours?”
“Not that it makes any difference,” he sounded sour, “I’m Chaz Xanadu. I notice your horse carries the Lazy 8 brand on the saddle blanket.”
“That’s right. I rented him from the Lazy 8 Ranch just outside of Magic.”
“I'm sorry, but I haven't time to baby-sit a stranger. I have some important business to attend. The folks in town know me well, I’m sure they didn’t intend on you showing up at my door today. I’ll show you the trail down, and you'll just have to take care of yourself."
“I don't understand!” Fawna exclaimed. “I've heard a lot about Western hospitality, but the example you’re showing me isn't very memorable.”
“I'm sorry,” he stiffened. “I've a serious purpose right now. The townsfolk are quite aware and I’m sure once you’ve gotten down the trail, someone at the Lazy 8 Ranch will make accommodations for you.
“Actually, I’m staying with Sophie and Charles tonight. I told you, I just got lost, then my horse....”
“You people seem to think you can just show up here, uninvited and we must all roll out the welcome mat. Some of you act as you would at a country club, and get away with it. You’re all very lucky nothing worse happened,” he interrupted.
“Look, I know you—whoever you are—whatever you are—saved all of our lives. I’m quite grateful. I suppose your horse never fell because you know how to handle him. Well, I didn’t, and mine is injured. I couldn't expect to be as expert with a horse as you are. I never would have bothered you otherwise.” Fawna said cuttingly.
He stared down at her. She rose, stamped to the door, her big riding boots making her look childish. There goes these big ass clodhoppers of mine. For an instant she thought she detected the man’s eyes softening, a tender afterglow, but when she looked at him once more he was impersonal, distant.
“You’ll need to leave your horse here for the night then send someone up from The Lazy 8 for it. The trail down the mountain is easy to follow, and if it gets dark, don't be frightened. I'm sure you wouldn't want to worry Sophie and her family. In fact, I’ve contacted her. She’s feeding Tory’s twins, but said she will come up to trail to meet you as soon as she can get away. You won’t be by yourself but a few minutes. He pointed out the well defined path down the mountainside, in the opposite direction from the one Fawna had walked to come up to the cabin. A blaze of angry fire flashed in her eyes as she started down, stamping her boots into the red earth as though working off her annoyance.
“Thanks, a lot” she flung the words over her shoulder, “I'll send you a check for your services.”
“Just what I might expect,” he shot back. She understood she’d shown up out of the blue, but dammit, her feet hurt like hell. She just wanted to rest a bit. The last thing she wanted was to keep her uncomfortable boots on, let alone walk back to Magic. As she continued down the trail she was determined not to give the brute the satisfaction of seeing her every step ached. She turned under an arch of trees that shut her off from his sight. All at once she felt small and frightened in the cool darkness of the mysterious woods. In the shadows she couldn’t see where she was going. Before she realized what was happening, her ankle turned on a loose stone. An excruciating pain shot up her left leg. She remembered she let out a piercing scream before everything went black.
Fawna struggled up out of the mists of unconsciousness and looked around. She found herself on a rude bunk against one wall, and a second glance assured her she was back in Chaz Xanadu's cabin. But something peculiar was happening. Firm masculine lips were passion-pressed against her own. Masculine arms were holding her tight, but ever so tender. In the moment it took her to collect her wits, Fawna found herself responding, almost against her will, to his eager mouth on hers. His caress felt simultaneously strange and familiar. In spite of herself, she knew little shivers were chasing up and down her spine.
Chaz, seeing she had recovered consciousness, drew back immediately. Fawna pretended she was unaware of what had happened, and even managed the tried and true expression, “Where am I?”
“It's all right,” the man said in a soothing tone. “You sprained your ankle walking down the trail. Thank goodness I heard you scream. I carried you back here and attempted to fix it up as well as I could.”
Thank goodness? Fawna was baffled. One minute he wanted her out of his hair—his centerfold hair—she couldn’t help noticing as she looked at him, the next he’s glad he rescued her. How strange he behaved. Fawna glanced down. Both her boots were off and her feet were bare. Around her right ankle he’d wrapped a mass of tape, applied with the skill of a surgeon. Just who was Chaz Xanadu and why was he out here, determined to be all alone?
“I thought at first you had a broken ankle, but I guess you’ll pull through all right. I had to cut your boot to get it off—your ankle was about twice its ordinary size by the time I got you back here. I’ve already let Sophie know you’ll be staying here until your ankle gets better and you can ride again. She said she’s glad you’re safe.”
“Thanks,” murmured Fawna. “But why this sudden change of attitude?” She puzzled.
"Well, if I don't like strangers, that’s one thing, but letting you perish out there on the trail alone with a twisted ankle is another. I knew Sophie wasn’t able to get to you before I was. Anyway, I'm probably not as bad as you think I am. I just don’t want any harm to come to you.”
“What harm will come to me?”
He let the question go unanswered.
“Only you pampered Easterners are more interested in gossip and drinking and anything else that’ll garner attention—especially now that you’ve all been exposed to what’s here in our town. A visit brought on only by emergency circumstances, I assure you. I feel guilty because the circumstances are the ones I caused. I couldn’t think of a way to rescue the plane without involving the people of this town.
“Well, the residents of Magic have already had a town meeting, The Fates are in charge of sending all of you back in time soon, so as not to tangle with the Fates of Earth and what they have in store for all of you.
“Magic does not wish to become the next Roswell. Why just think of the commotion that would be caused by the whole of Earth knowing about the residents of Magics. Giants, garden trolls, fairies, vampires, shifters—all of us. She looked at him when he said ‘all of us.’ He didn’t even notice he’d said it.
“Look at how crazy earthlings go when there are suspected aliens at Area 51 in Roswell? This town would be trampled. Three people from your flight have already had to have their cell phones confiscated by the sheriff for trying to take sneaky selfies of Charles and other vampires without their permission because they know the vampires will be invisible. But sneaking up and putting their arm around the vampire, their arm will be visible around ‘something’. One of the vampires was accosted while he was out eating with his family, for crying out loud. It’s just like fish—after about three days, visitors start to stink.”
“Does that mean you think I fit that description?”
“Your circumstances were unavoidable. And I didn’t see you in town trying to invade anyone’s privacy. Seems you did just the opposite. Twisting your ankle was something that couldn’t be helped.”
“Thanks. I suppose I owe you something for bringing me back here. “Speaking of unwelcome guests, what happened to Brock? By the time I came to at the .... castle, both you and Brock seemed to have disappeared. What happened to him. I’m sure you don’t want him running loose in Magic since he tried to kill us all.
“Tory shrunk him and took him to the Empathy Empress to see if he has a soul that can be salvaged.
Empathy Empress? Fawna remembered she had heard someone else talking about The Empathy Empress. But who? She wondered. He continued.
“The Empathy Empress, whose name is Crystal, lives deep in the woods and is ruler of the Empathy Fairies. If there is someone like Brock who tries to do harm to himself or someone else out of grief or something horrible that happened to him or a family member that torments him, the Empathy Fairies will surround him with their light, attempting to find a path into his soul by allowing him to empathize with others who feel his pain.
If the fairies or the Empathy Empress fail to warm his soul—he is considered a souless being and must be dealt with in another manner. From the aura I received when Brock walked by me in the airport—even The Empathy Empress herself will not be able to redeem his soul. Nothing for you to worry about. You just need to concern yourself with getting well and staying off the ankle.”
“It seems I'm occupying your bunk.” Fawna attempted to rise, but sank back and groaned as she moved her swollen ankle.
“You'll stay in my bunk all night, too,” said Chaz in a tone that allowed no denial.
“But what will you do?”
"Oh, don't worry about me. I'll sleep outside, under the stars.
"Afraid of me?"
“No—I enjoy sleeping outdoors. I do it more often than I care to admit,” he said, with a faraway look in his eyes.
“There is a mountain lion who has been trying to get at my livestock. I’ve been awaiting his return.” He lied.
Fawna sat up, leaning back on her elbows, the action throwing into bold relief the firm swells of her bosom, drawing Chaz’s eyes like a magnet. He approached the bunk as if hypnotized. He sat down beside her, and slipped one of his powerful arms about her waist. She let her head drop on his shoulder, then raised it to meet his. Their mouths fused in a kiss that started around two hundred degrees and went up to a thousand.
His hand moved toward her. Then the muscles of his jaw bulged, he drew back his hand, and rose from the bunk.
“I apologize. It was wrong of me to do that.”
“Then why were you kissing me when you assumed I was still unconscious?” She wanted to know.
Chaz flushed, a deep red stain showing through his bronze. “If I'd known you were that conscious, I certainly wouldn't have done it. I’m drawn to you, Fawna, as if I...” His voice trailed as if he were between talking to her and deep inside his thoughts. “I’ll see you in the morning—good night.” He turned and walked to a small closet to gather a blanket and his sleeping bag and a pillow. Then he left the cabin. Fawna watched as he left, an aching void where her heart should have been.
He thought it ironic she should think it was she whom he was afraid of. As he gazed at the stars and looked at the moon, which would be full tomorrow, he knew she had much more to fear from him and the beast waiting to burst out of him.
Fawna woke the next morning to find the little cabin filled with mountain sunshine, the air sweet with dew and the odor of fresh growing wonders in the rich red Magic soil. She tested her ankle by trying to put her weight on it while sitting on the side of the bunk. She found, to her delight, it wasn’t sprained at all, just twisted.
She could hobble about without too much trouble, provided she did not put her full weight on the injured foot. When she looked outside she found the blanket and sleeping gear Chaz used neatly folded, lying on the small wooded bench that sat on the porch. She reasoned he must have left early, on the hunt for the mountain lion.
She rummaged around, started the fire, filled the coffee pot and hung it over the flames. Then she limped from the cabin out to a small stream that ran behind it. She bathed her make-up free face in the clear cold water, then looked around, and, moved by a sudden naughty impulse, started peeling off her clothes.
Her bathing attire consisted of thongs and her red bra that clung to her like tissue paper, and her ankle wrap.
If the water had been calm she might have been able to see the reflection of sublime tanned deliciousness, a mirrored picture of rounded mounds, of delicately curved hips that quivered as she walked; of toned thighs that curved downward to shapely calves.
The cold mountain air brought a rosy blush to her sweet tawny-colored skin. Instinctively, as if to keep off the cold, she covered her round shoulders with her hands. Then, gritting her teeth, she stepped into the cold water.
At first she shivered, her teeth chattering; then she splashed around, beginning to grow warm. The spring water felt glorious on her skin. In all the hustle bustle after the plane landed, she didn’t get a chance to shower or bathe before leaving Magic on horseback.
Above the noise of the stream, her ears captured the measured hoofbeats of a horse. She looked around, in full panic mode. She could see a mounted figure off in the distance, slowly making his way up the trail. Without a doubt it was Chaz, coming back earlier than she thought he would.
Fawna scrambled out of the water, ran on to the bank as fast as she could, her twisted ankle slowing her movements down. She remembered in angst she had neglected to grab a towel from the bathroom, and as Chaz approached the cabin she could do no more than cower on the brink of the stream, holding before her the pants and skimpy shirt she’d removed.
“Don’t come near here,” she screamed. “I haven't got my clothes on! Go away, please!” She yelled. “Can’t you see I was taking a dip?”
Startled, Chaz turned in his saddle, then seemed to reel back as the sight of Fawna, shielded by what she held before her. Fawna knew that her naked body was right in his line of vision.
She had a good idea he could distinguish her general outlines, if nothing more.
Chaz Xanadu grinned, held his hand over his eyes, and turned the horse’s head.
“I won't let the horse look at you either,” he chuckled. “I'm going into the cabin. See you when you get dressed.”
Five minutes later, damp from her plunge, Fawna hobbled into the cabin, her eyes downcast. Chaz took her gently by the shoulders, tilted up her head and looked into her big eyes.
“Don’t be shy,” he told her. “I only caught a glimpse of you. Let’s forget about it and eat. I promise you I will never again do anything you don’t want me to.”
Fawna leaned against him for a moment, delighting in the feel of his solid strength, then hopped around the cabin in her bare feet pouring coffee while he commenced to frying bacon.
“Guess you haven't got a sprained ankle after all. That’s good. Which reminds me—I’ve brought a pair of easy shoes for you to wear. I had some on the porch. They may be a little big, but with your swollen ankle, you don’t want tight fitting shoes anyway.”
She could’ve thrown her arms around him and kissed him for that alone. Those boots were murder and the last thing she wanted to do was put them back on! He drew out a pair of soft-soled moccasins into which she thankfully stepped.
“You’re a dear.” On instinct, she slipped her arms around his neck and raised her provocative lips.
Startled, she looked up into his eyes, which had grown cold all of the sudden and she could’ve sworn they flashed yellow. Was she imagining things again?
“I suppose,” he gruffed, you would kiss anyone who did a little thing for you.”
Chaz Xanadu's head came down, his mouth closed over hers, his arms tightened about her rounded slenderness. His grip was so tight. For a long lingering moment Fawna forgot about the ranch, about her aching ankle, about everything except the fact that she was in Chaz’s arms where she felt like she’d always belonged.
Through her flimsy ribbed shirt she felt her firmly swelling bosom mashed against Chaz's solid chest, the pressure sending little waves of delight radiating along her nervous system. Then he stiffened and pushed her away.
Fawna’s face flamed. “How dare you! You're the most unreasonable brute I ever encountered.”
"I'm sorry if I gave you any wrong ideas about how I felt," his tone was blunt.
“But this is so silly. Why should you think—?”
“I don’t go around explaining my mood to strangers. I forgot to tell you I was down at the ranch this morning and they are sending up an extra horse for you. You'll be able to leave sometime this afternoon to stay with Sophie and Charles Carson.
"You had no right to go to the ranch! I want to stay here, and no one can stop me. I'll pay for my board and lodging!"
"That would hardly be possible," said Chaz. "There are reasons you cannot remain. I want you safe.”
“The last person who said they wanted me safe tried to kill me.” She began to tremble, then cry.
He went over to her and held her close. Letting her sob out all of her jumbled up empathy tears. Tears of a giant who’d been mistreated. A child vampire who almost died from drinking the wrong blood type. Tears of the mom and dad who thought they were going to lose her. Tears from Jangles, her horse who went lame. From the pilot who got hurt because of her. She could see and feel all of their pain. She felt overwhelmed by it.
All Chaz could do was hold her and let her tears escape onto his strong chest.
They ate their meal without a word. Fawna washed the dishes then sat on the couch—exhausted by all her emotions. She knew that Chaz tried not to look at her, but nothing he could do could keep his eyes away.
“I’ve contacted the ranch,” he stated. “There will be no horse coming for you. I mean to keep you safe. Remember your promise earlier. You must not leave this cabin. I have to go out for a couple of hours.”
Fawna looked up at him with questions in her eyes, but she knew he’d provide no answers. No matter. She just wanted to be with him. She wanted to shut out the pain of the people in Magic. “I promise I won’t leave. I just feel like staying up here on the mountain top instead of down there in Magic. You go ahead and do what you need to do. Don't bother about me.”
****
While Fawna remained relaxed on the couch, Chaz spent time preparing his equipment for his trek. She watched curiously, still asking no questions, as he assembled his rifle, a pick, a shovel, rations, water, and various mysterious packages.
Chaz stopped in the door. “I'm leaving,” he announced. “You can prepare lunch for yourself; I’ll return as soon as I can.”
“Goodbye,” Fawna told him, trying to sound aloof. She’d already made a fool of herself twice for love—things were moving too fast. Maybe he was just stringing her along. Maybe while he was away, she should just go back to Magic. She was sure he wanted no part of dealing with the town as it was overrun with strangers.
Chaz looked at her, stood irresolute, then flung his pack to the ground. Before she knew what was happening, he had swept her up in his arms, crushed her against his chest and pressed his mouth against hers. She felt her whole being responding to his virile lovemaking, delighted in the feel of her soft bosom crushed against his chest, in the painful tingle of his strong arms around her waist. He made her dizzy with want.
What's the use? She groaned to herself. I’m only kidding myself.
He sat her down and looked in her eyes as he spoke. “I’m the only one who can take care of you out here. You must promise me that if you do stay with me tonight, you mustn’t ask any questions and you must stay locked up in the cabin until I tell you it’s safe to come out. No late night or early morning skinny dipping. Promise me! I can’t think of anything but you.”
Fawna started to say something, but found herself prevented from doing so in the most delightful possible manner. She finally managed to free herself and the instant she did so—she took hold of her common sense.
“I knew it!” She exclaimed out of fear of losing her heart a third time to someone who was not worthy of it. “You’re no different from my ex-husband, Stephen or even that maniac Brock—professing his love for me by crashing into the ocean so we would be together forever. Thanks for acting so nasty this morning, to remind me—you—like all men are two sides of a coin. It’s one I’m not interested in flipping any longer. I don’t need another man to turn my life upside down again.”
Chaz looked stunned, then an angry gleam came into his eyes. He slammed the door behind him, and advanced toward her menacingly. “Your first mistake with me is to think that I am like any man you know. You are so wrong. I am unlike anyone you have ever been in love with. To love me is to accept a dare from nature and get swept into currents so deep, one minute you’re drowning—the next you’re swept up in the most delightful ecstasy. I know you feel me. I’ve felt you for months. This is no ordinary love. And you know this.” A sinewy hand fell on her shoulder and whirled her around.
Fawna found herself lifted and twisted, he gripped her shoulders with his strong hands, his fingers digging into the fleshy part of her shoulders. Then all of a sudden, she was being shaken back and forth, becoming so dizzy that the room seemed to be spinning around and around. At the same time she thrilled at his manly touch.
He picked her up and gently sat her down on the couch.
“I'm sorry,” he murmured, “but you just don’t know what you mean to me.”
I don't care, whispered Fawna to herself. “I’ll be waiting for you when you return.” She found herself returning kiss for kiss Chaz planted on her mouth, her neck, and in the shadowy hollows of her throat...
Then he walked to the door, left and closed it behind him. She stretched out on the couch and fell into the deepest, most relaxing sleep she’d had since her brush with death.
