Page 7 of Kissing the Kelpie

After a while, the music changes. It takes a sad turn. Whatever this pull I have toward the man playing is, it isn’t one sided. He’s disappointed I’m not coming. I don’t need him to say the words. I hear it in his music. The pace is slower, and the tones of his instrument lower. Like the violin itself is crying.

When he realizes I’m not coming, the music will end, and he’ll leave. Probably for good. I sigh. This thought hurts. Aches.

For what feels like hours, I flip from side to side. No matter what I do, I can’t get comfortable. I want to tune the music out, push him from my mind, but nothing helps. Especially as the music continues to play.

Although beautiful, I notice something haunting in the music. Is the man able to tune into my emotions and create sounds that resonate the deep sorrow I’m feeling? Of course not. He’d need to know me.

What’s become of me? Am I so desperate for attention and affection that I’ve lowered myself to project what’s in my heart onto him? Would I do that if he were any man who ventured into the forest? A criminal or scoundrel? I’m pathetic. A shadow of the woman I used to be. Heartbreak and loneliness can do that to even the strongest woman.

It’s one thing to want companionship. Another to show desperation. I refuse to do that, and it’s one more reason I need to close my eyes and keep them closed until morning.

*

“C’mon, Mama, we need to collect the eggs and take care of the garden.” Like a spring, Ana hops out of her tiny bed and changes from her nightgown into a sundress.

“Mmm.” I roll over. “Give me another few minutes.”

“Are you sick?”

Ana places her tiny hand on my forehead, then replaces it with a kiss, imitating what I do when she gives me a hard time waking up and getting out of bed in the morning.

Luckily, she has never been sick. Never so much as had a fever. Em claims her daily dose of brimberries is what keeps her healthy. Keeps us all healthy.

“No. Why?”

“Because you’re always up first, and you never want to stay in bed.”

“Shows what you know. I always want to stay in bed.” I tweak her nose and smile at my daughter. “Part of being an adult means I can’t lounge around in bed all day.” I take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I just didn’t get much sleep.”

I sit up and get to my feet in slow motion. Opting to rinse my face before I attempt anything more, I head to the basin, scoop water into my hands, and splash it over my eyes and cheeks. I live by the motto of fake it till you make it; I’ve done it all Ana’s life. What’s another day?

My daughter’s tiny hand reaches for mine again. I look at the smile on her beautiful face. She’s perfect. The embodiment of beauty, purity, and innocence. My heart swells. What the hell is wrong with me? There’s nothing in this world that means more to me, no love that’s more special than this.

I feel foolish for my morose behavior. I already have everything I want and need. My daughter is alive and safe. A fleeting romantic rendezvous, which is all I can ever have with a man who stumbles into the forest, can’t compare to how I feel for her.

On our way out to the backyard, Ana picks up a basket to collect the eggs. We only had four yesterday, which works for us, but we usually have more in the summer. The coop is clean, so I know that’s not stressing the hens.

“Mama, look!”

My eyes travel in the direction Ana’s pointing in. I see and hear it simultaneously. Tied to a branch close to my bedroom window are chimes!

Maybe that’s why the music never stopped? When I didn’t come. He brought it to me. I look down at the bracelet on my wrist. It’s made of the same type of blue and green sea glass.

A strange man knows where I live. He was here, outside my cottage. He managed to completely evade my wildlife security team and leave something next to my window without alerting me.

“It’s beautiful!” Ana wraps her arms around my legs, hugging my side. “Thank you, Mama.”

A spike of fear stabs my heart. I’m not dealing with an ordinary man. My grandmother taught me to keep my mind open to the fact that supernatural things exist.

She created Em, a leshy, to serve and protect her bloodline. I’ve seen him change his size and appearance. The only way this man could’ve left the chimes here is if he didn’t look like a man, didn’t smell like a man. He didn’t come here as a human. My eyes scan the yard, searching, frantically looking for something, anything that may be out of place.

I need to hurry up and finish here so I can go to Em and alert him of the possible threat. I take a quick headcount of the animals. The chickens and goat are accounted for. Nothing appears to be askew. I see no sign of ripped clothes or blood, no sign that Safra or the wolves killed a possible intruder.

The only conclusion I can come to is he’s out there somewhere. Lurking. Watching. Waiting.

Chapter 6

“What’s going on?” I ask Erin, holding Anna in my arms as if she were a baby, not a five-year-old. “It’s a madhouse. Getting in here is like standing in line for the hottest toy in the one store that sells it the day before Christmas.”

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