Hex Winter Shifter Seasons

by Raines, Harmony

  As if there were two parts of a whole, one here while the other is elsewhere, his bear said.

  Do you think she’s suffering from something like schizophrenia? Hex asked.

  I don’t know. But maybe there are other illnesses that might give the same symptoms. His bear gasped as a sudden thought came to him. What about the herbal tea?

  Hex waited for the toast to pop up and placed the two slices on a plate which she slid onto the table in front of Hilda. “There you go, Hilda. Do you want a coffee refill?”

  “Yes, please.” Hilda passed her cup to Hex.

  “I drink far too much coffee. I wondered what herbal tea you drink.” The words sounded forced, but Hilda didn’t seem to notice.

  “It’s an herbal blend Elmer buys for me. The box is in the cupboard. It’s raspberry and ginseng.” Hilda buttered her toast while Hex checked out the box of herbal tea. It was a long shot, but he was concerned there might be something in the herbal tea that had made Hilda act so strange. However, a quick scan of the ingredients on the side of the box and a sniff of the contents told him there was nothing untoward with the tea.

  “Try some if you want,” Hilda offered. “They are a lovely pick-me-up. I swapped to them because I was drinking too much coffee and was having trouble sleeping.”

  “Thanks. Maybe when we come back from the hospital, I’ll have a cup. Cutting down on caffeine might help me sleep easier.” He closed the box of tea and put it back in the cupboard.

  “Do you have trouble sleeping?” Hilda asked with concern. “I never used to...”

  “I have dreams sometimes. They wake me up.” He looked up. He could sense Martha coming down the stairs and his heart raced at the nearness of his mate.

  “Enjoy your life with your mate, Hex. All too soon it can be taken from you.” Hilda had no idea how true her words might be.

  Chapter Twelve – Martha

  “Okay. I think we’re ready to go,” Martha announced ten minutes later.

  Hilda had insisted on her daughter sitting down and having a cup of coffee and some fruit since she looked peaky. “It’s all that city living, it’s not good for you.”

  “I’m fine, Mom. It’s just been a long couple of days and I’m nervous about the visit to the hospital.” Martha caught Hex looking at her with concern. Did she really look that bad?

  “There’s nothing to be nervous about. I feel fine.” Hilda slowly stood up from the table. “I wonder if the whole thing is a waste of time. The doctors must be busy and with this storm on its way, we shouldn’t take up time that could be spent with patients who need help more.”

  “Mom, we’re going,” Martha said firmly. “I know you feel fine now, but last night you were not with it. You couldn’t remember Hex at all, and you didn’t recall me being here.”

  Hilda frowned and her expression grew troubled. “If anyone else had told me that, I’d have called them a liar.”

  “It’s true, Mom. I didn’t want to worry you, but I need you to go to the hospital for the tests Shawn ordered.” Martha wrapped her arms around her mom and hugged her close. “If anything happens to you in the snowstorm that could have been prevented if you’d had these tests done, I’d never forgive myself.”

  “I can’t argue with you there,” Hilda said quietly as she hugged her daughter. “I had no idea.”

  “You looked so sick.” Martha clung onto her mom before she let her go and said, “Come on, let’s not be late. You’re right, the doctors and nurses at the hospital will all be under pressure with the snowstorm coming. They’ll want to get home to their own families.”

  “I’ll just go to the bathroom,” Hilda said.

  “Okay, I’ve packed you an overnight bag. Grab anything else you think you might need if we get stranded,” Martha called after her. “And don’t forget your antibiotics.”

  “I won’t,” Hilda called back.

  “You think I’m treating my mom like a child.” Martha looked up at Hex as he finished cleaning the surfaces. She picked up a banana from the fruit bowl and peeled it carefully.

  “No, I think you’re trying to look after her and keep her safe. Since she’s had episodes of memory loss, it’s prudent to remind her of things like taking her meds.” He smiled diplomatically as he placed the cleaning sponge down on the drainer and came to her. “You are doing your best and your mom knows that.”

  Martha leaned into him as he slid his arm around her shoulders. “Thanks for being here.”

  “I have no place I’d rather be.” He kissed her cheek. “Your mom is coming back. We really should get going.”

  Martha nodded as she quickly ate her banana and then grabbed the overnight bags. “Let’s go.”

  “I’ll take those.” Hex took them from her. “You help your mom.”

  “I don’t need help,” Hilda insisted.

  “I’ll go put these in the back of the truck.” Hex held up the two bags and headed out of the house. Hilda turned to follow.

  Summoning all her courage, Martha followed her mom and Hex out of the house. She had no idea what the day held, but surely it couldn’t be more eventful than yesterday when she’d met the man of her dreams.

  Outside, the sun tried to break through the clouds gathering over the mountains, but the thick heavy clouds clung together, leaving the sky a muted gray. Hex was right, the snow was closer than the weather forecast had said. Martha was more grateful than ever that Hex was taking them in his truck. Her own car was built for city travel and wouldn’t cope well, even with the back roads that threaded through the lower slopes, let alone the steep road that led into Cougar Ridge.

  “Okay, Hilda, I’m going to help you into the truck.” Hex patted the passenger seat of the truck as Hilda nodded and took a deep breath. “Why don’t you climb in first, Martha, and you can help your mom get settled once I lift her in?”

  “Sure.” Martha placed her foot on the step and hauled herself into Hex’s truck. Immediately she turned toward her mom and held out her hands. “Up you come, Mom.”

  Hilda wrapped her arms around Hex’s neck, and he scooped her up as if she weighed nothing at all and placed her carefully on the seat. “Oh, I like this. It’s high, isn’t it?” She peered forward out of the front windshield.

  “It is high.” Martha smothered a laugh.

  “Are you laughing at me?” Hilda chuckled as Martha reached behind her and pulled on the seatbelt.

  “Just a little and more because it’s nice to see you out of the house and smiling.” The toll of the last couple of days had worn Martha down but today she felt lighter, as if everything was going to be okay.

  “Well, we could always go somewhere nice instead of the hospital,” Hilda suggested before she rolled her eyes. “I know, we need to get those tests done.”

  “And then we are going somewhere nice,” Hex announced as he got into the truck and started the engine. “After we’ve been to the hospital, we’re going to stop by the sawmill. My mom is making lunch for us.” He grinned. “They cannot wait to meet you.”

  “Oh.” Hilda looked down at the blue slacks she wore along with thick snow boots and a warm winter coat. “I would have worn something special if I knew we were meeting your parents.”

  “Just my mom, and maybe my brother, if he’s around.” Hex pulled out onto the road which was busier than normal as people went to the local store for supplies. “And you look fine, Hilda. Just fine.”

  Hilda gave a small smile. “Quite the adventure.”

  Martha took hold of her mom’s hand as they drove out of Cougar Ridge, taking the steep road out of town at a slow speed. As they reached the main road leading to Bear Bluff, Hex put his foot down on the gas and the truck responded. If the weather did turn bad, she had every confidence that if it was possible to get back to Cougar Ridge, Hex and his truck would get them there. If not?

  Maybe a couple of days away from Cougar Ridge and a house full of memories and ghosts might be just what Hilda needed.

  I certainly will no
t complain if we have to bunk over at Hex’s house for a few days, her cougar announced. In fact, I hope it snows so hard we have to stay there for a week. Or two.

  Martha hid her smile. I wouldn’t mind a sleepover either.

  They reached Bear Bluff Hospital in good time, the roads were surprisingly clear. People were hunkering down for the storm and not risking getting stranded out on the back roads. A shiver of apprehension coursed through Martha. Her wish of getting snowed in with Hex might be coming true.

  “Are we sure we can’t just go straight to Hex’s house?” Hilda asked as she looked at the hospital building. She was tense, her face pale as she turned to face Martha. “I feel fine, honestly I do. I even slept better last night. I’m sure I just needed the antibiotics Shawn gave me to fight the infection.”

  “Mom, we’re here and were going in.” Martha unbuckled her seatbelt and when her mom still didn’t move, she unbuckled hers too and then reached over and pulled the handle to open the truck door. Cold air whooshed inside the truck and ruffled some papers on Hex’s dashboard. “The snow is close.”

  Hilda shivered as she swung her legs around and faced out of the door. Hex switched off the engine and darted out of the truck and around to the passenger’s side in the blink of an eye, his arms held out to catch Hilda. “Down you come.”

  Hilda reached out her arms and Hex lifted her down effortlessly. “You are a gentleman, Hex.”

  Hex grinned as he winked at Martha’s bemused face. “Do you want me to lift you out of the truck, too?”

  Yes, yes, her cougar cried.

  “No, I can manage, thanks.” Martha shuffled to the edge of the seat, aimed her foot at the step and slithered down to the ground with little grace. Recovering herself quickly, she straightened her jacket which had rucked up her back and turned around to shut the door.

  “Come on, Hilda,” Hex said as a gust of wind buffeted her. “You hold onto me.”

  Martha pulled her hood up and held it closed around her face as a stray snowflake fell lazily from the sky. “They sure didn’t forecast snow for today.”

  “The weather is unpredictable around the mountains,” Hex said. “It only takes a slight shift in pressure over the mountain for the weather to change. I guess that’s why mountain rescue is kept busy. Hikers go up there on a nice day unprepared and then the weather changes in a heartbeat, the mist rolls down from the mountain and they get in trouble.”

  “No such problem for shifters.” Martha caught hold of her mom’s other arm as a fresh blast of wind hit them. “Although, I don’t think I’d recommend being in the mountains on a day like this, shifter or no shifter.”

  They battled their way across the hospital parking lot as a flurry of snowflakes whipped around their heads before melting into nothing. Reaching the main doors leading into the hospital reception area, Martha let go of her mom and pushed the door open. The three of them were instantly cocooned in the warm air, flavored with the usual hospital smell of cleaning fluids. Not entirely unpleasant, but it lingered on the air as they reached the reception desk.

  “Hello, Hilda Jewson. She has some tests arranged for today.” Martha spoke to the receptionist who directed them to the third floor.

  A short elevator ride later, they were heading along the corridor to the clinic where Hilda would have blood taken before her appointment with a doctor, who would examine her more thoroughly. They didn’t expect to get any answers today, but Martha was hopeful that when the exam results were looked at along with the blood results, the doctors would be able to treat Hilda.

  “Sit down and I’ll get us some coffee while we wait,” Hex said as he helped Hilda into a chair.

  “Thanks, Hex.” Martha touched his arm as a wave of love swept over her. He’d been so good, so patient with her mom.

  “No problem.” Hex looked left and right before he sauntered down the corridor in search of coffee.

  “You like him a lot,” Hilda said as they waited for the nurse.

  “I do.” She watched him until he disappeared around a corner, then she let her other senses kick in.

  “I want you to promise me something.” Hilda spoke with raw emotion and Martha turned to face her with concern.

  “What is it, Mom?” Martha asked.

  “If anything happens to me, if these tests don’t tell us what we want to hear, then you will not let anything taint your relationship with Hex.” Her mouth formed a tight smile as she gazed on Martha.

  “Mom, let’s just wait and see what the doctors say.” Martha didn’t want to think about the doctors giving them bad news even though she knew it was a possibility. “You said that you were feeling much better.”

  “Which is why I want to have this conversation now. I do feel better. Much better. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some underlying cause for why I was feeling sick.” Hilda took a deep breath and her body shuddered as she fought back tears. “But if I do get bad news, I don’t want this to ruin what you have with Hex. I want you to build a new life with him. A long and happy life.” She brushed the hair back from her daughter’s face. “I loved your dad so much. And I want you to know that same love and happiness.”

  “I promise that whatever happens, it won’t change how I feel about Hex. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be there for you every step of the way. Hex will understand that since his mom is on her own, too.” Martha took Hilda’s hand and gripped it tightly. “You are my mom and you were there for me every step of the way as I was growing up. There comes a time when those roles are reversed, and you have to let me care for you.”

  “Mrs. Jewson,” a nurse called out.

  “This is us.” Hilda stood up but before she went to the nurse, she said, “I love you, Martha.”

  “I love you, too, Mom.” As they walked along the corridor, Martha fought the urge to grab her mom and run from the hospital. But she knew that would not help. If there was something wrong with Hilda, then this was the best place for her.

  Chapter Thirteen – Hex

  Hex rounded another corner. Still no coffee machine. He looked over his shoulder. He couldn’t see his mate, but he could still sense her. She’d moved from the spot he’d left her, which probably meant they’d been called in to see the nurse who would take Hilda’s blood.

  That gives us more time to wander the hallways of the hospital looking for the sacred coffee, his bear mused.

  Not helpful, Hex replied. Can’t you sniff out the damn stuff?

  Nope, but I can sniff out a certain doctor. His bear raised his head and inhaled deeply.

  Shawn is here? Hex asked, looking around.

  He’s a little farther down the hallway with a group of other people.

  Intrigued, Hex momentarily forgot about his mission to find coffee and went to look at what the good doctor was up to. He still had an urge to rip the guy’s head off, but that urge had faded somewhat after he’d made love to Martha. Holding her in his arms, claiming her as his mate had cemented the knowledge that she was his and only his.

  Just like we are hers and only hers, his bear added.

  Hex grunted at his own stupidity. Of course, she wouldn’t ever look at another man. It might be different if she wasn’t a shifter, but since she was a shifter, the desire to find her mate and be with her mate overruled all other desires.

  “Hex.” Shawn was leaning against the doorframe of what looked like a gym. “What are you doing here?” A small smile of amusement played across Shawn’s lips. He must be aware of Hex’s reaction toward him yesterday, did he think Hex had come to challenge him to a fight over Martha?

  Did Martha even tell him we were her mate? his bear asked.

  “I’m here with Martha. I drove her and her mom to the hospital.” He gave a tight worried smile before he looked over his shoulder in the direction of his mate. He could still sense her through the hospital walls.

  Shawn turned away from the people in the room. “How is Hilda?”

  “I’m not sure.” He ran a hand through his h
air. “She was a lot better yesterday and then last night she couldn’t even remember meeting me.”

  “You make that good an impression,” Shawn joked.

  “Hey, you remembered me,” Hex pointed out, keeping his voice even and not letting Shawn goad him.

  “Sure, I remembered you. Since you looked as if you were going to tear me to pieces just for coming to visit Hilda in a professional capacity.” Shawn grinned as Hex opened his mouth to defend himself but found he had nothing to say. “Hey, it’s okay, I’m playing with you. After you left, Martha explained that you were her mate and you’d just met. She felt bad that she hadn’t told me.”

  “It was a shock for both of us.” Hex ducked his head. “I’m sorry, by the way. And I appreciate what you’ve done for Martha and Hilda. Martha is very worried about her mom.”

  Shawn turned his attention back to the people in the room. “I would go and see them but I’m about to give a presentation on Reviving and Resuscitation in Cold Conditions.”

  “I shouldn’t take up any more of your time.” However, Hex’s eyes were drawn to the slides being shown in the room. “They’re talking about reviving people who have entered the water.”

  “Yes.” Shawn nodded. “With this cold spell approaching, we’ll see a lot of cases of people falling through the ice, particularly in Bear Creek. They think the ice is thicker than it actually is and then it cracks.”

  “Any tips?” Hex asked. “On reviving people?”

  Shawn fixed his full attention on Hex, his head tilted to one side. “Sure.” He frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” Hex averted his eyes as the doctor stared at him. It was as if Shawn could look inside him and see how he ticked.

  “Your heart rate is elevated, and your breathing is fast. You’re about to have a panic attack.” Shawn placed his hand on Hex’s shoulder and led him away from the room. “Just breathe. In and out.” Shawn took deep breaths and encouraged Hex to do the same.

  “I’m okay,” Hex nodded and stood up straight as his breathing returned to normal.