Hazel's Heart

by Terri Reid

  Hazel waited until they left the barn and then quickly snuck outside to the police cruiser. With a wave of her hand, she easily opened the trunk, looked inside and, with a satisfied smile, found what she was looking for. She gathered the items up and carried them back to the barn with her, awaiting Joseph’s arrival.

  She’d nearly finished all the milking when she sensed Joseph’s nearness. The goats also seemed to sense him and then gathered together in the center of the pen for protection.

  “It’s okay girls,” Hazel cooed. “He’s our friend, he won’t hurt you.”

  Stepping outside, she saw him quietly heading toward the cruiser with Fuzzy at his side. When he walked through the beam from the overhead light, she could see that he was shirtless and shoeless. Then he stepped toward the cruiser and was once again in the shadows.

  “They’re in here,” she called.

  He froze and slowly turned towards her. “I beg your pardon?” he asked.

  She smiled and walked towards him in the darkness. “I said your change of clothes are in the barn,” she replied. “I thought it would be more comfortable for you to change inside.”

  He stared at her for a long moment, then shook his head. “And that’s it?” he asked.

  She came closer until she was standing in front of him. “No, that’s not it,” she said softly. “Thank you. Thank you for saving me.”

  She could tell that he was still very confused. “No questions?” he asked. “No concerns?”

  She shrugged. “Well, okay,” she began. “What kind of creature are you?”

  “Wulf folk,” he replied.

  “A wolf person,” she said and then smiled at his surprise. “I took German in high school. I was a nerd.”

  He nodded slowly, searching her eyes for some kind of reaction. Then he shook his head and finally asked, “Why isn’t this a surprise for you?”

  Hazel shrugged. “You know, I’ve heard rumors about wolf people my whole life,” she explained. “I’ve just never seen one in person.”

  “So, are you impressed?” he asked with a cocky grin. “Any other questions?”

  She stepped forward and saw that his nose was still elongated. She reached up and gently stroked it. “Full moon?” she asked.

  “No,” he said, holding his head still as she caressed it. “It’s not a curse, it’s an ability. I can pretty much turn it on and off when I need it.”

  She slipped her other hand up onto his shoulder and looked into his eyes. “Housebroken?” she teased.

  He chuckled softly. “Yes,” he said, his voice thick. “Definitely yes.”

  She moved her hand, so it caressed his cheek, her eyes wide with wonder. “Fixed?” she asked with a mischievous smile.

  Shaking his head in wonder, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. “Definitely not,” he growled softly.

  She lifted her face towards him and trembled at the intensity in his eyes. “Joseph…” she sighed.

  He lowered his face and crushed his lips against hers— tasting, exploring, and possessing. She moaned and returned his passion, her hands threaded through his hair, pulling him closer. He felt the adrenaline rush, felt a different kind of heat pour through his veins. He wanted her with an intensity he’d never felt before, with a hunger he’d never experienced.

  He felt her shudder in his arms and then tasted the saltiness of a tear. He leaned back and saw her, eyes brimming, lips swollen from his kisses, and her face flushed. “Hazel?” he asked tenderly.

  The tears overflowed and streamed down her cheeks, she looked up at him in confusion. “I don’t…” she stammered. “I never…”

  He pulled her back into his arms, but his time there was comfort rather than passion. This time the soft kisses that he rained on her face were tender and sweet. This time, when she placed her head against his shoulder, he knew that she was finding comfort and security. And, he knew, that he would always want to be that place for her.

  Finally, when her trembling had ceased, he looked down at her and smiled. “I probably should change,” he said softly.

  She ran her hand across his muscular bare chest and sighed. “I kind of like you this way,” she replied, and he was relieved to see her teasing smile return.

  “It’s not regulation,” he replied with a smile, tucking her against his side and walking with her to the barn.

  She sighed. “That’s too bad,” she said. “You would have women from all over the area confessing to all kinds of crimes if you dressed like this.”

  “Well then, I’m doing it to prevent a crime wave,” he chuckled.

  They walked inside the barn and the goats immediately panicked. Fuzzy found a stack of haybales to climb up on, on the other side of the barn and laid down to rest.

  “Fuzzy’s not causing their panic, they still smell the predator side of me,” Joseph said. “I’ll just go in the back and change.”

  She handed him his clothes and pointed out a bathroom in the back of the barn. “I’ll be done here by the time you get out,” she replied.

  He walked away, and Hazel walked the last doe up to the milking stand. She leaned her head against the doe’s flank, as she adjusted the milkers, and sighed. “So, Florence,” she whispered to the doe. “What am I supposed to do now? I think I’m falling in love with a wolfman.”

  The doe bleated sympathetically.

  Hazel nodded. “You’re right,” she agreed. “What the hell am I thinking?”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  When he walked out of the bathroom, Joseph’s features were all back to normal. “So, any Wulf folk visible?”

  Hazel shook her head. “No, you’re back to normal Chief Norwalk,” she said, then she looked over her shoulder. “Even the goats aren’t worried.”

  With his extra clothes under his arm, he walked over to the pen. “How’s Lefty?” he asked.

  “See for yourself,” she replied softly. She pointed over to a smaller pen and they both looked over the half wall at the little goat sound asleep nestled against his mother.

  “He’s probably exhausted,” Joseph said. “That was quite an adventure.”

  Hazel nodded and then turned to him. “Thank you again,” she said. “For saving us both.”

  He looked down at her. “Don’t ever put yourself in that kind of a situation again,” he said firmly.

  “After your appearance, I think Wanda is going to think twice about coming to the farm,” she replied. “But, you’re right, I need to remember that we’re in the middle of a war.”

  “Speaking of that,” he said, glancing over his shoulder toward the house. “Whose side of the war is Donovan on?”

  Hazel shrugged. “I’d really like to believe that he’s on our side,” she said sadly. “But I don’t know. Cat doesn’t trust him, but he broke her heart several years ago, so I’m not sure she has the most objective point of view.”

  “I need to interview him, and the rest of your family about what’s going on,” he said. “I was hoping that my, um, ability…”

  She nodded. “This is your secret,” she said. “You have the right to decide who knows about it and who doesn’t. But we do need to be sure that our stories about what happened tonight are consistent. There were a lot of people there who saw a wolfman come out of the orchard.”

  He nodded. “And your family knew that I ran to help you,” he said, “Instead of driving with them.”

  “And if you hadn’t,” Hazel said, her voice shaking. “Lefty would not be alive right now. You arrived just at the perfect moment.”

  He looked down at her, his eyes clouded for a moment. “When I heard you scream,” he said, “I was so afraid that I was going to be too late.”

  She reached up and stroked his cheek. “So, what are we going to say?” she asked.

  He thought about it for a moment. “How about if we tell them that Fuzzy and I ran out of the orchard at the same time? I went for the man holding you and Fuzzy went after Wanda. Then, once you were release
d, you took out the man holding Lefty. When they all ran off, Fuzzy and I pursued them.”

  She nodded. “Then it looks like Wanda’s wolfman is just Fuzzy,” she agreed. “And she was overacting.” She smiled at him. “It was dark enough that nothing was too clear. I think that will work.”

  Joseph turned to Fuzzy. “Are you okay with this story?” he asked.

  Fuzzy lifted his head and yawned widely.

  “Yeah, this won’t be the first time Fuzzy was pulled into a little intrigue,” Hazel admitted. “He’s gotten me out of trouble more than once.”

  “Why do I have no problem believing that?” he asked with a tender smile.

  “Because you are obviously an experienced law enforcement official who understands people very well,” she said, then she nodded her head in the direction of the house. “We should probably go in.”

  He put his clothing down on a bale of hay next to the pen, then put his hands on her shoulders. “And what do we say to them about us?” he asked.

  She reached up, pulled his head down for a quick, hard kiss and then released him. “I don’t think we’ll have to say anything,” she replied. “Because they are probably all already speculating on their own.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  “Who is this Norwalk and what’s the deal between he and Hazel?” Donovan asked when he, Cat and Agnes were all gathered together in the family room.

  “Oh, nothing, dear,” Agnes said. “Chief Norwalk just gave her a ticket yesterday morning. But they were able to clear up that misunderstanding.”

  Donovan shook his head. “No, he was going far beyond being a law enforcement officer when he found out Hazel was out in the pasture on her own,” he said. “There was a lot of emotion in his reaction.”

  Cat shrugged. “So, what if there was?” she asked. “I really don’t see that it’s any concern of yours.”

  “I’ve known Hazel since she was a skinny kid with skinned knees,” he said. “She’s like my kid sister.”

  “And then you left, and she grew up,” Cat said bluntly. “None of your business.”

  Agnes looked back and forth between the two of them and shook her head. “Let’s concentrate on what’s going on with the covens,” she said sternly. “And then you two can work out your own personal difference after that.”

  “After what?” Rowan asked, entering the room with Henry.

  Agnes sighed and rolled her eyes. “Can we ever have a conversation in this house without having to repeat ourselves?” she asked.

  Rowan shook her head, as she and Henry headed over to sit on the couch. “No, probably not,” she said easily. “Especially when you don’t wait to start the conversation until everyone is here.”

  “Donovan was asking about the relationship between Hazel and Joseph,” Cat remarked.

  “I know, right?” Rowan exclaimed, smiling at Donovan. “I’d say the police chief is more than a little interested in our Hazel.”

  “Can we please stick to the topic?” Agnes asked.

  “Sure,” Rowan replied. “What’s the topic?”

  “The other coven and what’s going on with it,” Agnes ground out through clenched teeth.

  Henry cleared his throat and Agnes glared at him. “I do apologize, Agnes,” he said. “But I believe there’s one more item a little more pressing. When Joseph initially pulled up with Donovan in his cruiser, he said that he brought Donovan here for medical attention. And, as I can see blood seeping down the back of his shirt, I’d say that was a priority.”

  Cat turned toward Donovan in astonishment. “You’re hurt?” she exclaimed, jumping up and coming over to him. “Why didn’t you say…”

  She looked at his back and gasped. “Who did this to you?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Donovan said. “I’m fine. It looks worse than it is.”

  Henry walked over, placed his hand on Donovan’s shoulder and then shook his head. “No, actually, it feels much worse than we can see,” he replied evenly. “Take your shirt off, Donovan.”

  Donovan shook his head. “I said…”

  Hazel entered the room at that moment, waved her hand in Donovan’s direction and instantly his shirt was gone. She looked at him and shrugged. “Argument’s over,” she said.

  “Brat,” he replied.

  Henry looked at Donovan’s back and then looked up. “Agnes, I believe some of Rowan’s Calendula ointment would be helpful. Would you mind?”

  Agnes shot up. “No, of course,” she said. “I’ll get some immediately.”

  Henry glanced over at Rowan meaningfully.

  “Here Mom,” Rowan said. “Take my keys for the still room. I just made a new batch and it will have stronger properties that the others. If you don’t mind?”

  “Of course, I don’t mind,” Agnes said.

  “Take Fuzzy with you,” Joseph insisted and the wolf standing at this side hurried after Agnes.

  The room was silent until they heard the back door close. “Why did you want my mother out of the room?” Rowan asked.

  Henry glanced at Rowan and then back at Donovan’s back. Rowan followed Henry’s gaze and her stomach turned at the sight of the raw and oozing flesh.

  “Donovan,” Henry said. “I need you to carefully lay down on your stomach. Joseph come over here and help me.”

  The two men supported Donovan as he moved into a prone position. Cat’s eyes filled with tears as she saw the ragged gashes of torn skin across his back. She knelt on the floor next to Donovan’s face. “Who?” she asked, her voice breaking.

  He took her hand in his and brought it up next to his face. “Don’t cry, sweet Catalpa,” he whispered. “I’ve had worse.”

  Henry looked at the old scars on Donovan’s back and met Joseph’s eyes, Donovan hadn’t been lying about that.

  Joseph stepped away to let Rowan close and she gasped softly when she saw the damage. She looked at Henry and nodded. “Together?” she asked.

  “Together,” he replied.

  Henry placed his hands on Donovan’s back and Rowan knelt next to Henry, laying her hands over his. They both closed their eyes and Rowan spoke first,

  Bind the wound and heal the skin,

  Remove the ache that lies within,

  Then Henry spoke,

  We take the pain to us from thee,

  As we ask, so mote it be.

  Rowan’s hands tightened over Henry’s as the pain of the wounds flowed from Donovan’s body into their own. Joseph watched as Henry’s face grew pale and, for a moment, slashes of blood appeared on the back of his shirt. He looked over at Donovan’s back and watched the skin heal, the ragged cuts bind together, and the redness dissipate.

  “Henry, don’t try to take it all in,” Rowan gasped. “We need to share. There’s black magic involved.”

  “I’m fine,” Henry said weakly. “We’re almost done.”

  In frustration, Rowan slid her hands from above Henry’s to lay on either side and suddenly she grimaced in pain and drops of sweat beaded on her forehead.

  Joseph turned to Hazel. “They’re in pain,” he whispered urgently.

  She nodded. “All magic has a price,” she whispered back. “Healers are required to take the pain of the injury into their own bodies and then release it. Part of the healing process is the sacrifice of the healer.”

  “But they are both sharing it,” Joseph said. “Why is it so painful?”

  “Because they are fighting both the injury and the black magic that caused it,” Hazel said. “Filtering the dark energy out of their bodies is harder than just moving the pain and injury out.”

  Finally, Rowan and Henry lifted their hands from Donovan’s back and sat back against coffee table, exhausted. Donovan sat up and turned to them, moving his shoulders experimentally. “You did too much,” he accused gently.

  “We did what was necessary,” Rowan whispered, placing her hand on his arm. “You are my family, Donovan.”

  “Thank you,” Donovan replied, his voice thick with e
motion.

  Then Rowan turned to Henry. “And you,” she said, laying her forehead against his. “You took too much.”

  He nodded, his eyes still closed. “I thought I could handle it,” he said wearily.

  She kissed him softly. “You thought wrong,” she whispered. “But I love you for trying to protect me.”

  He opened his eyes warily. “You do?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “This once, because you thought you were protecting me. But if you try this again, I’ll have Hazel turn you into a were-raccoon.”

  Joseph turned to Hazel in surprise. “What?” he asked.

  Hazel grinned. “Old family joke,” she whispered. “Really, it’s nothing personal.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  When Agnes returned with the container of salve, everyone was comfortably seated in the great room. “Here you are, Donavan,” she said, handing him the container. “Although I assume that you really won’t have any need for it, now that it served its purpose to get me out of the room.”

  She turned to Henry. “You must learn to be a little more subtle, dear,” she said.

  “Englishmen are the epitome of subtlety,” Henry said with a fond smile at Agnes. “You are merely wiser than your years.”

  Sitting in an oversized chair, Agnes looked around the gathering. “Now, how do we start?” she asked.

  “If it’s all the same to you, Agnes,” Joseph inserted. “I would like to ask some questions, considering part of this is now a police investigation.”

  Agnes nodded. “Of course, please, be my guest.”

  Joseph turned to Donovan. “Did you meet with Mayor Bates this evening?” he asked.

  Donovan nodded. “Yes, I did,” he replied. “Mayor Bates sent me a text requesting a meeting.”

  “May I see that text?” Joseph asked.

  Donovan fished his phone out of his pocket and pressed it on. Then he accessed his text application and looked down. “It’s right…” he stopped and then scrolled, looking confused. “It was right here. It was the last text I received.”

  “Is it in your deleted file?” Cat asked.

  He shook his head after he accessed the deleted folder. “No, it’s not in there either,” he said, then he looked up and met Joseph’s eyes. “I don’t have any proof that the mayor summoned me to his office this evening.”