Remedy Maker (42 page)

Nimble fingers worked the elastic as she pulled her blonde hair through the twisted loops and secured the mess. The trembling in her hands told him she talked a good game and he admired her for her bravery.

Just like Patience.
He had his own problems in dealing with memories of the past.
I truly hope Serenity fares better.

Rhycious led her away from the populace of mythological Boronda and toward the small town of Willow Bay. Tall sassafras trees stretched up to scatter stars in an ebony sky with their branches. Twigs snapped beneath each step of his wide hooves.

Thankful to be back in his equine body, he lifted the arm of his injured shoulder carefully. While in his human form, he healed at a human’s rate. As a Centaur transitioned, he recovered supernaturally quick. An ache remained, but the wound had closed completely. If trouble loomed ahead, he’d be prepared for it now.

In conjunction to his old-fashioned weaponry, he could count on the addition of his newly acquired gun. It would be a plus in dangerous situations, especially if Dryas had managed to arrive at Samuel’s before him. The very thought billowed his banked fire of anger.

“This isn’t the way to Pay’s tree.”

“She’s safe with a friend of mine.” At her wary sidelong glance, he added, “He can be trusted, believe me. You’ll understand when you meet him.”

Serenity shook her head, pushing a branch out of her way. “Trust is something I’m running low on these days.” Her tone reflected the way she probably felt—terrified, adrenaline tapering down from frantic, forlorn, and abused.

He hoped she wouldn’t live in fear the rest of her life. Patience would help her sister work through this.

*    *    *

For the hundredth time, Patience paced to Samuel’s kitchen window and leaned on the sink to gaze out. Darkness stretched across the hay fields. The horses were out on one of the harvested pastures and she tried to differentiate their grazing bodies from the special one she searched. A very different body type—one she sorely missed.

“Come away from the window. Have another piece of peach cobbler.”

Light from the oil lamps reflected Samuel’s worried face in the window. But when she looked over her shoulder at him, he’d wiped the furrows from his brow and poised a knife over the sweet treat in the cast iron pan.

She smiled at his efforts. “
Smackerdoodle
, that’ll be my third piece.” One last longing glance outside, and she stepped back. “Trying to turn me into a
tub-a-lard
before Rhycious returns?”

Samuel’s lips turned up. “Staring out the window and waiting for him to appear is along the same lines as watching water boil.”

Patience raised her hand and shook her head, declining the offer of dessert that had been made by one of Samuel’s sisters. Both of Samuel’s parents were deceased and he faithfully managed the family farm. His siblings had married and moved away, and started their own families. One day when he married, he would proudly raise his family on the homestead in the traditional Amish way. He was just waiting for the right woman to come into his life.

Patience understood how he felt. She worried for Rhy’s safety and anguished over her missing sister. Serenity was out there, somewhere. Tightness squeezed her chest, tears springing into her eyes. She blinked rapidly to dry them out. Her composure was a fragile shell.

 “Ready for another cup?” She used a hot pad and lifted the coffee pot off the stove.

“Yes, please.” She filled his mug as Samuel held it out for her. “Let’s take these outside. I want to make sure everything’s buttoned up for the night.”

He opened the door and moved back to let her pass first. Moist, warm air fanned her face as she stepped through the kitchen’s back door. Sultry and sweet smelling, the night pulled at her baser Nymph nature.

Night birds rejoiced for the coming Festival of the Trees with a contest of who would sing the most beautiful songs. All around her, life teemed in reproductive anticipation.

Patience felt the call of something larger, of a destiny beyond what she knew. Sipping her coffee, she prayed fervently for Rhycious to return to her.

Samuel rolled up a garden hose and she gazed up at the deep blue of the night sky. As the wind controlled the movement of tree branches, thoughts of Rhycious consumed her. Warmth uncoiled and spread to her chest, shoulders, and neck.

She drew an inward breath.
He’s near.

Samuel tapped her arm, his eyes searching hers. “I’m going to check the water troughs. You’re welcome to walk with me.”

“Sure.” She nodded and followed along.

He topped off the trough so water flowed over the edge and a horse whinnied in the distance. His flat crowned hat tipped back off his forehead, and he rested his arm on the fence post.

Another whinny followed the first, and then another.

“Are they
throwin’ a wazzup
to you?”

“Perhaps,” Samuel said softly. “But if not—Rhycious entrusted me with your care, and I’ll not be taking chances with your life. Let’s get you back inside the house.

When Samuel stared off into the dark as he rushed her toward the house, Patience began to worry. If he knew something was out there, then she wanted to know about it, too. She wanted to be able to defend herself—to shimmer away if she had to. If an immediate split from the scene were in order, she’d grab Sam, and take him along.

A faint drumming grew louder, vibrating the ground as it neared. Samuel halted in his tracks. Over her host’s shoulder, Tiny galloped toward them from out of the dark. He hit the brakes near the fence, leaving skid marks twenty feet long. With two snorts and a toss of his head, Tiny spun on a hind hoof to gallop off in the direction he’d come.

“Something has that horse spooked.” Samuel tossed out the remaining coffee from his cup and urged her to the safety of the house. “Come on, let’s get you . . . .”

Tiny trotted to the fence again and this time he pawed the ground, striking out to hit the boards. Samuel paused, a bewildered expression on his face.

Patience tossed her coffee out too, then tapped his hand. “I think Tiny’s
communicatering
to us. I’ve got zero on what he’s saying, but every time we start to leave, he comes unglued.” Mouth askance, Samuel clearly didn’t believe her, so she set to prove her point. “Check it out.”

With Samuel’s hand trapped under hers, she pulled him toward the house a few steps. And sure enough, Tiny snorted and trotted a tight circle, his muscular body bending a graceful arch. His heavy hooves tore at the ground, digging up tufts of grass and dirt. Moving away from them, he returned, clearly agitated.

Releasing her arm, he faced his draft horse. “I believe you’re correct. To be sure, he’s acting unsettled to keep us here. Worry is often misuse of imagination, and I allowed mine to close on me.”

Patience nodded her agreement, the warm spiral turning near her heart.

In the dark, a second horse approached at a walk. More subdued than Tiny’s frantic gait, the powerful steps projected a massive size. There was a clink of metal striking metal, and hooves moving across mowed grass. Someone coughed quietly.

Buckskin legs and a fully armored upper body emerged from the shadows, shooting a shiver up Patience’s spine. Despite the dirt and obvious weariness, his face warmed her heart and set her blood to boil.

You came back for me.

Rhycious’s disheveled ponytail hung low and limp, escaped tangles drooping against the curve of his cheek. Above the knob of his bicep, the armband of his Centaur herd, signifying his allegiance to Queen Savella, picked up strains of the low moonlight.

“Rhycious!” If the four rail fence standing between them were gone, she would have run the distance separating her from the man she couldn’t live without. In her eyes, even in his unkempt state, he was one gorgeous mythological walking on four dragging hooves.

 As he neared, the rest of his sexy Centaur body came into view. And striding at his hip, with a filthy arm laid across his wide back, plodded a tired Serenity. She was dirtier than Patience had ever seen her.

“Serenity!” The heaviness plaguing Patience’s chest ceased to squeeze and her bones suddenly went hollow. Feeling as light as dandelion puff, she grabbed hold of Samuel’s arm, afraid she’d float away. She barely noticed when he took the mug from her hand. “Double rebound me, you’re alive and amplified!”

Tears sprang into her eyes and watered the lovely vision of her sister and Rhycious trudging toward them. Patience studied his face, filing away every crease and smear of dirt. Love for her Centaur bubbled up, poured out through her heart, and flooded her body.

Whispered words pushed through the tightness of her throat. “You found her, Rhy.”

“Hey, Sis. Miss me much?”

Tears spilling over her cheeks, Patience rushed forward and helped her sister climb between the wooden rails. She grabbed her by the arms and scanned her from head to toe. “Thank the gods from their golden horns to black hooves, you’re safe.” She hugged Serenity tight, noting the thinness of her body. “Where’d you stash yourself? I’ve been psycho with
worryitis
.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you all about it.”

The ground beneath Patience’s bare feet shook from the aftershock of Rhycious jumping the fence. She planted a kiss on Serenity’s cheek then went to Rhy, throwing her arms around his neck. The force in which he hugged her back, picking her up off her feet and holding her to him, blew her mind as it took her breath. Dirt be damned, she needed to hold him.

When her lips touched his, she focused on pressing her love into him. Tongues tangling, hands drifting, their reunion was cut short by a loud throat clearing.

Rhycious eased his rib cracking hold and rested his forehead on hers. “It feels so good to touch you again,
Polytima
. To know you’re safe.” A shiver coursed through him and he tightened his grip.

Patience jerked back to look into his face. The same face that she’d woken up to this morning, only it was full of worry for her. “I’m
bangin’
perfect. Why would you be
worrified
?”

Serenity frowned and took a step toward them. “Patience, do you even know—”

Rhycious cut her off. “Let’s take this discussion elsewhere.” He released her hand, looking around the barn and darkened pastures. Strain of the past hours mirrored in his dark, sunken eyes and in the set of his handsome mouth.

“You’re welcome to come inside.” Samuel motioned toward his house, but he eyed Rhy’s equine form. “Although I think you would be more comfortable in the barn where there’s more room.”

“Thank you, Sam. I appreciate all you’ve done for me today.” Rhycious reached out, battle-scarred leather arm guards creaking, and shook hands with his Amish friend. “There’s still a chance of danger, so it’s best I take the women to my place. I can defend them better if need be, and it’ll keep you safe, too.”

“I defer to your better judgment. You know what’s best for yourselves, my friend.” Samuel took a hesitant step toward Serenity and removed his hat. He fiddled with it nervously, the ceramic mugs clinking softly in one hand. “We weren’t properly introduced. My name is Samuel. I’m a friend to Rhycious.”

“And me.” Patience piped up, linking arms with her sister.

“Yes, and you too.” He smiled, blushing. “I’m very pleased you are well, Miss Serenity. Patience has been very worried about you. If . . . .” He moistened his dry lips. “If there’s anything I can help you with, I hope you’ll let me know.”

Rhycious gripped his friend on the shoulder, and then gave him a slap on the back. “Thanks, Sam. I’ll let you know.”

What a Minotaur.
Patience couldn’t believe Rhy. She clamped her gaping mouth shut before she said something that would embarrass Samuel.

Unaware of his faux pas, Rhycious turned toward the road leading home. “Let’s go home, ladies.”

Patience let go of her sister’s hand, but turned back when she didn’t follow. Serenity tipped her head first one way, then the other, examining Samuel with curious eyes.

“What manner of human are you?” she asked. “I’ve never met one so mild and soft spoken. You’re radiating a calmness that’s rare in humans.”

“I’ll fill you in with the
deets
on the way home, Serenity. Come on.” Patience tugged her sister’s arm, urging her along. “Later, Sam. And thanks for everything.”

“
Guten nacht
. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Serenity.”

Sam put his hat back on, his expression serious, mouth set firm. Patience glanced back after they hit the road to the cabin. Rolled sleeves revealed muscular arms crossing his chest, black pants, and wide stance.

Patience wasn’t sure, but Samuel looked taller for some reason—stronger.

Thirty-Two

Rhycious fit his key into the lock and opened the door to the cabin. It’d been one hell of a day. First thinking he’d lost Patience human hunters, and then finding her, only to trust someone who didn’t believe in violence to protect her—what a sucking dark hell to climb out of.

Thank the hoofed gods he hadn’t disintegrated with a PTSD episode.

Patience trailed her fingers across his body armor as she walked past, drifting into his house as regally as any mythic queen.

Serenity hesitated, rubbing her hands together and pulling back to stand in the dark.

“Come in and be welcome.” He opened the door wider.

“Thank you.”

He gave her an encouraging smile, though he felt far from inspiring. Too many people invaded his peaceful, solitary life.

Built with his own two hands, he had designed the cabin with single occupancy in mind, one room earmarked for patients. The second room was seldom needed, thank the gods.

Two extra people in his house lowered the ceiling by five feet, and the walls seemed to close in. Bleak and overwhelming, an elephant-sized ball of stress crushed down, shortening his breath.