by Kimbra Swain
“How crude,” I gasped.
“Oh please, little Miss Potty Mouth,” he said as he left money on the table for the bill.
I grimaced a little because I had been trying to clean up my language. It wasn’t proper for the queen to walk around spouting profanities. However, I was finding it extremely difficult. Walking outside he watched me contemplate. I looked up to meet his eyes.
“What?”
“You done?” he asked.
“Done what?”
“Brooding,” he said. “I swear you’ve been around Levi too much.”
“That should turn you on,” I laughed making a kissy face.
Digging through all the drawers in my dresser and throwing clothes all over the bed, I had yet to find the right thing to wear to the plaza that evening.
Levi darkened my bedroom doorway, surveying the damage.
“I swear, Grace, you have more clothes than any woman I’ve ever known. How do you get all of that in your closet?” he smirked.
“Magic,” I muttered as I continued to dig.
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“Something that doesn’t make me look like a whore,” I replied. “All of these look like they came from strippersrus.com!”
He chuckled. “Just wear some jeans and a sweater like you did earlier today. What’s the big deal?”
“You know what the big deal is, Levi Rearden. Don’t make me slap you,” I said.
“I might let you depending on where you place the slap,” he said.
“I could never come between you and Dylan,” I smirked back at him.
He smiled, “No one could steal that man’s heart from you. No matter how the sparks flew between us, I knew he was yours.”
I died laughing. “You are crazy, Dublin. So, Kady?”
“No, actually I’m taking Ella tonight,” he said.
“What? Really?” I was shocked. He met Ella one of his first days in Shady Grove. He clearly found her attractive, but said she wasn’t his type. I supposed he meant whore fairy, but that had never stopped him from admiring me.
“I thought I’d give it a chance. She calls me all the time,” he boasted.
“Liar!”
“Okay, well, she did call me today and asked me to go with her,” he said.
“So, you said yes?” I asked.
“Kadence is so done with me,” he muttered. “At least, I can go and have fun. I hear Ella is a sure thing.”
Walking up to him, I embraced him feeling the tingle between us. “I love ya, Levi. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. I mean, you are gorgeous even when you are brooding, but you are tender hearted. Don’t break your own heart in the process of trying to fill it.”
“Damn, when did you become so poignant?” he said as he hugged me back.
“Since I did a fool thing, by falling in love,” I said.
He pulled back and looked at me. “You haven’t told him yet?”
“He knows,” I said.
“Doesn’t matter. You still have to say it. Do it tonight. Don’t wait any longer, Grace,” he suggested.
“I won’t. I promise,” I said.
“Now get dressed, I’m leaving in thirty minutes,” he turned, slapping me on the ass.
My face turned fifty shades of red, and I charged him. He ran through the trailer squealing like a pig. “Levi Rearden! You are going to get it!” He beat me to his bedroom. The door slammed in my face as I heard him laughing on the other side. “Twenty-nine minutes!”
“Damn it!” I said skulking back to my room.
Twenty minutes passed as I sat on my bed looking at the carnage of clothes lying around my bed. Levi appeared at the door again with a long, wrapped box. He chucked it over to the bed, and it landed next to me.
“It’s not Christmas,” I said.
“Open the damn box and get dressed. Dylan called. He’s on his way,” he said.
“Shit!” I said. Picking up the box, my eyes watered a little. Pulling off the paper, I looked up to him. He wore a cheesy grin that made me want it kiss him. In a purely platonic way, of course. Opening the box and folding the paper back, I found a deep plum sweater. I pulled it out of the box, touching the soft sleeves. It would hang off one shoulder the way the neck was cut.
“Do you like it?” he asked timidly.
“It’s lovely. Did she pick it out?” I asked.
“No, a couple of days ago I rode into town with Nestor to pick up his coffee supply. He let me out at the mall. I liked the color,” he said.
Jumping off the bed, I hugged him tightly for the second time that afternoon. “Thank you, Levi,” I said.
“I’m glad you like it. Now, get on some skinny jeans and boots. Hurry up!” he said pushing me away.
Piecing my outfit together with his suggestions, I stared at myself in the mirror. It was the right kind of sexy and nice. More Grace than Gloriana. However, even looking at my platinum locks and turquoise eyes in the mirror, I realized that I looked different. Even to myself. My soul had changed. My heart had changed. It was written in the depths of my eyes.
As I admired myself in the mirror, Mr. Sandy Hair stepped into the reflection. “Wow,” he said grinning. He walked up behind me. Standing as close as he could without touching, I heard him breathe in deeply.
He wore dark jeans with a tan Henley sweater and my favorite leather jacket. His scent enveloped me. His hair, which had grown longer on the top, was tousled perfectly. I gawked at him. “You look fantastic,” I said.
He stared at my bare shoulder cutting his eyes to me in the mirror. He leaned forward like he was going to take a bite. My heart pounded because I wanted him to do it. At the last moment, I spun around. “I wasn’t going to do it,” he teased. “At least not yet. You ready?”
“In more ways than one,” I admitted.
“Come on,” he nodded toward the door.
We parked just down the road from the plaza and walked close to each other. The tree was towered above the center of the small park across from city hall. The streets were blocked off as children ran freely. Vendors had all sorts of foods and crafts. I saw BBQ Brad set up with a small cart near the edge of the park. He waved to Dylan as we approached.
“Man, I’m glad you didn’t eat all my sausage today,” he said. “It’s selling like crazy out here.”
“Brad, I told you that it’s the best smoked sausage I’ve ever had,” Dylan told him.
“Yeah, I know, man. But I just didn’t realize. I’m so busy. Talk to ya later, man,” Brad said taking money from the hands of starving townspeople.
Dylan and I walked around the plaza greeting everyone that we knew. Thankfully no one called me “Queen.”
Large strings of Christmas lights hung between the light fixtures in the plaza surrounding the large unlit Christmas tree. The center gazebo was lined with lights and illuminated the area with night quickly approaching.
Hearing a shriek behind me, I turned to catch Winnie as she barreled into my arms, dressed as an angel complete with a tinsel halo. “Aunt Grace, look at me! I’m an angel,” she said, jumping out of my arms and twirling.
“You look fantastic, Winnie! I can’t wait to see your program,” I said.
“Hey, Mr. Dylan,” she said to him shyly. Normally she high-fived him or tried to punch him playfully.
“Hello, Winnie. You look beautiful,” he said.
Her cheeks flushed pink. The kid had a crush on him. I couldn’t blame her. “I’m going to have to hide you from Winnie,” I said as she ran off to meet her friends.
“She’s a catch. I don’t know how I’ll choose,” he said.
Night quickly fell as we all gathered around the darkened tree. I saw Levi arm in arm with Ella Jenkins across the way. He smiled as she chattered on. I didn’t see Kady at all. Or her father Bro. Matthew Rayburn.
The children lined up in front of the tree as the Mayor stood on a small wooden platform with a microphone. “Good evening, Shady Grove!” he called to t
he crowd. They all responded cheerfully.
“I welcome you all this evening to the annual tree lighting ceremony. Let’s get to it! I’ll start the countdown. 5…4…3…2…1!” he shouted as the town counted with him.
As the tree erupted with lights, the crowd cheered.
“Alright now. Let’s listen to these angels sing!” he said indicating the children all dressed in white robes with tinsel halos.
They sang “O Christmas Tree” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to the pleasure of all those who listened. They finished with a sweet rendition of “The First Noel.” The crowd clapped as the children dispersed running to their parents as the night grew colder and darker. Winnie stood there confused. I looked around and didn’t see Bethany.
“I got her,” Dylan said. He walked up to her bending down to her level. Her bottom lip quivered, and he scooped her up in his arms bringing her over to me.
“Mommy isn’t here,” she whimpered.
“How did you get here?” I asked.
“Pastor Zeke from my church picked me up, but mommy said she was coming,” she pouted.
“I’m sure she wanted to be here,” I said.
“No, she never wants to see me sing,” she said.
“I thought you were magnificent,” I said moving her thoughts from her mother.
“Me, too,” Dylan added.
Levi strode over with Ella on his arm. “Winnie, you did so good!”
“Uncle Levi!” she squealed lunging toward him. He took her in his arms as Ella backed off with a scowl. I locked eyes with her, and she faked a smile towards the adoring Winnie.
“She needs a coat,” Levi said.
“Winnie, did you wear a coat?” I asked.
“No, ma’am. My old one didn’t fit,” she said.
“Here use this,” a familiar female voice said from behind us.
We all turned to see Kadence Rayburn and her father standing there. She offered her blanket scarf. “Thank you, Kady,” I said turning to Dylan wide-eyed. “We will get you a new coat tomorrow, Winnie. Want to go shopping?” I chattered to avoid the tension in the air.
“This is soft. Thank you, Kady,” Winnie said.
“You are welcome, sweetheart,” she said. “Grace, that is a lovely sweater.”
“Thanks. It was an early Christmas present,” I said without mentioning Levi who stood frozen with Winnie in his arms, Ella by his side, and Kady giving him the stink-eye.
“Well, how about we take Winnie home?” Dylan said.
“No, I want to stay with Uncle Levi,” she said clinging to his neck.
He smiled and patted her on the back. “I’ll take you home,” he said. “You need your sleep for shopping tomorrow.”
“Can we go to the big city?” she asked.
“Sure,” I replied.
“Woo hoo!” she cheered. “Okay, Uncle Levi, you may take me home.”
Levi turned to Ella who shrunk away from him millimeter by millimeter. “Go ahead! I’ll meet up with you later,” Ella said. I saw pain course through his eyes.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll call you when I get back,” he said. Taking one last glance at Kady who stood stoically, he turned toward the outer barriers to take Winnie home. As he got away from the group, I looked at Dylan who nodded in return. I sprinted after Levi catching up with him and Winnie.
“You okay, Dublin?” I asked.
He stopped and turned to me. “I’m okay, Grace. I don’t know what I was thinking coming with Ella. She couldn’t stand the sight of Winnie. How could someone look at this angel like that?” he said grinning at her.
“Hell, if I know,” she blurted out.
I covered my mouth with my hand to hide my laugh. As I regained my composure to scold her, Levi beat me to the punch. He sat her down, bending down before her. “Winnie, pretty little girls don’t say hell. Okay?”
“I know, but I heard my momma say it a lot,” she said.
“Yes, well, some adults say it. Even Aunt Grace,” he said. I kicked him in the shin. “But you are supposed to be good until Christmas so Santa will come. Right?”
“I suppose,” she said hanging her head.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he hugged her. “Just don’t say it anymore, okay?”
“Yes, sir,” she said.
He scooped her up again and turned to me. “Go tell him,” he said.
“Levi!”
“Now, go!” he laughed as he carried Winnie to my truck.
Turning back to Dylan, he watched me return. He spoke to the preacher and his daughter, but kept his eyes on me.
Kady spoke to me first, “So, the curse is almost over, right?”
“Thankfully, yes. If I can make it to midnight,” I said.
“I’m sorry for the way I’ve acted, Grace. I had no right,” she said to me, but smiled at Dylan.
Part of me understood her hatred of me. If Dylan even hinted at liking another girl, I’d probably lose my sanity. “I understand, but I’m not the one that should get the apology.”
She looked at her feet. She wore the cutest brown boots. “I’m not ready to swallow my pride on that one, yet,” she said. “Maybe it’s for the best.”
Dr. Tabitha Mistborne walked up to us. “Hi, Grace, how are you feeling?”
“Official visit, Doc?” I asked.
“No, just checking on a friend,” she replied.
Friend. I rarely had friends, much less female friends. “Thank you very much,” I said looking at Dylan.
“Come this way. You need to try this fudge that Mrs. Frist made,” she said pulling me away. Dylan continued to talk to the preacher and his daughter while the doctor led me toward the candy carts. Before we got to there, she said, “You aren’t okay.”
“Actually, I feel terrible. Every bit of power in me is draining,” I said.
“You shouldn’t be out here. Let Dylan take you home. Get out of the cold,” she said.
I grimaced. I felt it was my duty to be there. If for no other reason than to prove that I’d beat this curse. “Dr. Mistborne, I need to stay,” I said.
“Call me Tabitha, and I understand. Here take this,” she said offering me a clear luminescent crystal. “It’s storing some healing power. Perhaps it will come in handy to make it through the night.”
I stared at the crystal as I took it from her. It brightened with my touch. “Wow!”
“It responds to your power. Just keep it in your pocket. It will know when you need it,” she said.
“Thank you, Tabitha,” I said.
“No problem. We should do lunch sometime,” she said before walking away.
“Yes, we should,” I said.
“Everything okay?” Dylan asked startling me from behind.
Spinning to meet his eyes, I realized how worried he was about me. “She gave me a crystal just in case.”
“I’m taking you home,” he said.
“Make me,” I teased.
“I’m serious, Grace. I won’t lose you now. You’ve already scared the crap out of me several times this week. Please, let me take you home,” he begged.
Across the plaza, a man started screaming. “Oh, hell,” I muttered.
Dylan’s eyes turned to the scream like a hawk, then he bounded through the crowd toward the commotion. I followed, only slower. The heels on my boots prevented me from running. It occurred to me that we’d gone all day without a troll incident. We were due.
As the crowd cleared before me, BBQ Brad held a plump man down and screamed at him. The man’s mouth was stuffed with sausages, and he couldn’t speak.
“Brad, what happened?” Dylan asked.
“What’s it look like Dylan? He’s eating all my sausages,” Brad whined.
I laughed, “Don't get your tinsel in a tangle, Brad. It's Christmas. Maybe he was starving.”
He turned his mouth sideways looking down at the troll. “He ain't missed no meals.”
“Hey!” the guy managed through a mouthful of sausage.
&n
bsp; Troy Maynard sauntered up with Amanda and her son. “This must be Phillip.”
“You know his name?” I asked.
“Yep. The brothers and I are getting to know each other,” he smiled.
Two deputies grabbed Phillip up and dragged him to the nearest cruiser.
“Four more. Know anything about them? Or their mother?” I asked.
“Levi showed me the info he found online. The stories say their mother is a witch or an ogress,” Troy said.
“Good grief,” I grimaced. “Just what we need with the Cane Creek girls in town.”
“I checked the Palmer place this morning. They've moved on,” Troy said.
I shook my head. Knowing how far they travelled to get here, there was no way they’d cut and run.
“They are still here,” Dylan said.
“How do you know that Mr. Lawman?” I asked playfully since I'd come to the same conclusion. Then I saw it, fear and anger furrowed his brow. I turned to look behind me. Four goth bitches walked toward us.
“Troy, clear the plaza,” I said.
“Amanda, take Mark home,” Troy instructed. With a loud voice, he turned to the crowd. “Everyone, please clear the plaza. We've had a credible threat, and I need everyone to move out quickly.” In the world we lived in, the humans would turn on each other in acts of terrorism. The simple statement was enough to catch everyone’s attention.
The people stood stunned for a moment, but quickly began to run in different directions. Watching the witches spread out before us, I pushed my sleeves up revealing my tattoo. I knew the curse was taking most of my power, but I would not let these woman hurt my town.
“I am Gloriana, Queen of the Exiles. I order you to leave this town at once. Everyone here is under my protection,” I said loudly. Looking around, I noticed that a few of the townsfolk remained including my grandfather.
Lisette stopped her approach and smiled at me. “Misfit Queen in a town full of misfits. You are all a joke. Look at you, the curse eats at your soul. The more you fight it the more you lose yourself. Soon you will be dead.”
“Last chance, swamp butt,” I said. Dylan's warmth passed over me as he moved closer.
“I had to alter the curse once I saw you last night. My dolly had the wrong color hair.” She pulled a misshapen handmade poppet from her pocket. Its hair had been ripped out, and she had glued a tuft of platinum hair to its head.
