Blue Moon Magic

by Dawn Thompson

  “I came because Wyoame offered a challenge. A gifted class is wonderful, but here I can make a real difference.”

  Richard leaned forward and his face became tight and grim. “There’s something … I don’t know if…”

  “Is something wrong? If it’s about Lisa, please tell me.”

  “Lisa’s mother, Maryanne. Four years ago, she left me and took Lisa with her. By the time I found them, Maryanne was heavy into drugs.” He sighed and a look of pain crossed his face. “She went to jail, but she’s out now and she still hangs out with some bad people. Dangerous people. I got sole custody in the divorce and parole conditions say she can’t see Lisa outside of supervised visits, but I worry.”

  “I understand.” She’d have to be more vigilant. Flowers in her garden and one in peril—the fortuneteller’s words. “Leave me your contact numbers and a photo of Lisa’s mother if you have one.”

  Richard nodded and his mood lightened, as if he’d placed one burden behind him.

  Allison went over Lisa’s test results with him, filled out the health department forms, and memorized Richard and his father’s cell phone numbers. He promised he’d bring his ex-wife’s photo the next day. “Either me, Mom or Dad will bring Lisa to school and pick her up,” he said.

  Allison laughed. “I don’t blame you, but this is the Wild West, and you haven’t met Charlie Two-Horse. Our bus driver keeps a shotgun locked in a rack over his head, a pistol under his seat, and knife in his belt. He says, ‘SOBs will have to crawl over my dead body to get one of my kids.’ He’s an ex-marine.”

  Richard grinned and relaxed. “I’ll have to meet him.

  “There is one thing,” Allison said. “Lisa’s middle name. Donnchadh? Is that correct?”

  “Yeah. It’s my middle name. A family tradition thing. Maryanne insisted Lisa was the only child she would ever have, so we laid it on her, poor kid. It’s Gaelic. Means dark warrior. I made some mistakes that particular year, but Lisa wasn’t one of them. Listen…”

  He flushed and wouldn’t meet her eyes. He drew a deep breath and plunged on. “There’s a big fair in Page this week. Lisa’s been begging me to take her on Saturday. Maybe you could go with us—just to get to know Lisa better, of course.”

  Too soon, don’t rush me, her mind cried, but her mouth said, “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  “Great.” A disarming gleam of humor brightened his eyes as he leaned back in his chair seeming both pleased and relieved. “You’re gonna love it.”

  * * * *

  Allison watched an uneasy little girl as she sat on the truck seat between her father and her teacher. Lisa, clearly on an emotional rollercoaster, may have alternated between jealously and hope. She probably saw Allison as a rival and potential mother and wasn’t sure how to deal with her mixed feelings.

  Richard had been pleasant during the week. He always made time to speak to her when he dropped Lisa off, but he never became pushy. She still found him attractive, but regretted her decision to join him and Lisa. Richard seemed genuine, but an affair would be a disaster for a small town, one-room schoolteacher, and she knew their relationship could progress no further than that. After all, she couldn’t marry him. How could they build a life if she always silently compared him to some wonderful lover in her past?

  When they arrived in Page, disappointment consumed her. Allison hadn’t expected the fair to be a magical carnival, but dismay filled her as she walked through the noisy crowd. Diesel smoke from the power generators burned her eyes and booths filled with all manner of odd smelling food turned her stomach.

  Richard moved close to her as they watched Lisa ride a quite ordinary Ferris wheel. “You want some cotton candy?”

  Allison shook her head. She rubbed her fingers together at the memory of Cahir kissing the sweetness away.

  And the carousel? A faded sign painted on the ticket booth proclaimed it to be the Blue Moon. She stared around her, but there was no magic in this place.

  The giant disc lumbered in an endless circle, carrying wooden horses that didn’t see Allison at all. It rumbled to a jerky halt and Richard helped Lisa on, where she chose a palomino like those on the ranch. When he returned, he laid a gentle hand on Allison’s shoulder. Disappointment crossed his face when she drew away.

  “Who are you looking for?” he asked.

  Allison stared at him. “I’m not…” She stopped. Yes she was. The moment she entered the fair she’d been looking for her magical lover. Cahir. Her warrior.

  Richard shook his head. “I keep trying to get your attention, and you keep looking past me.” His voice carried a note of resignation.

  Allison searched his blue eyes, looking for a spark of magic. She found none, but there was warmth and honest desire.

  “Allison, I guess I’m a little rough around the edges, compared to some guys you know.” He grimaced. “But nobody’s perfect.”

  Allison’s mind turned like the carousel of wooden horses. Cahir had challenged her to recognize him if she met him on the street. No dream lover this solid, very human man standing before her, but perhaps that’s what Cahir wanted her to know. Only the cold ceramic dolls were perfect and unchanging forever. She’d spent her life looking for the ideal lover in a flawed world, and there was no perfection in reality. For the first time in many years, a sense of peace filled her and the loneliness faded away.

  “I was looking for something I knew in a dream,” she said. “Nothing real.”

  “When I first saw you, I thought you were something from a dream, too, one I’d had a long time ago. Then there you were, and I thought … Everything is real if we want it to be, Allison.”

  She laid her hand on Richard’s chest. His heart beat like Cahir’s heart—only faster. “I want you to be real.”

  He caught her hand, raised it to his lips and kissed her fingers. Then he threw his head back and laughed. “Come, Cailin. Let’s go ride the carousel.”

  * * * *

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  Midsummer Magic

  by Kristi Ahlers

  Cumbria, England, 1557

  The full moon glowed an incandescent blue in the night sky. The second full moon that month. Meredith fondly remembered her mother telling of the magic that was about on such a night. It was good luck to wish on such a moon.

  And if Meredith ever needed the magic of a Blue Moon it was now.

  Closing her eyes, she made a wish on the Blue Moon, a wish of finding a love that would defy all, one to fill her heart. In her mind’s eye she pictured a dark knight on a handsome steed. A man who would risk all to love her and keep her safe.

  She wanted a child’s fairy tale, her logical side chided.

  Ah, it was a silly wish, but on a night such as this it seemed fitting. She sat up and looked longingly at the pond. Images of the water’s cool caress upon her heated flesh lured her to the water’s edge. Deciding a small swim would buoy her spirits she stood and made her way to the beckoning pool.

  She promised not to tarry long. Removing her gown, she walked into the silken water and dove under the surface.

  For the first time since her father’s return home, Meredith smiled. The smile turned into laughter sounding musical to her ears.

  The simple pleasure of a midnight swim on the night of a magical full moon was exactly what she needed. It would bring her peace.

  Yes, magic was afoot this night.

  Suddenly, she knew somehow she would be happy.

  * * * *

  Kieran Fraser laughed aloud as he and his men raced their mounts across the glen. The full moon lit their path, allowing them to travel at a fast clip. Their hunting had proved rewarding. They would return with well-blooded horseflesh for their herd.

  It would be a long ride before they reached the wives and sweethearts who awaited their return. For the first time, Kieran felt a small twinge realizing no one special waited for his return or prayed for his safety.

  An odd empti
ness filled his heart as his eyes moved heavenward to the blue moon.

  With a sense of whimsy he long forgot he possessed, he wished for a small miracle. He wished to find a lass who would set his heart on fire, one that would wait for his return. A lass with the power to heal his body as well as his spirit after battle.

  He wanted someone to share his life, his dreams.

  Kieran and his men planned to cross the border as soon as they watered their new cattle. Since Kieran was familiar with the landscape, he knew of a hidden glen with a quiet pond not far from Langdon’s holding.

  With a smile on his face he set spur to his horse and raced across the moorland, outpacing his men. He raced on, passing his brother while tossing out a challenge that he would reach the water first.

  Tonight no one could catch him.

  Dismounting, he led his horse to the water’s edge. Patting his mount’s neck he murmured words of praise in the Gaelic, but stopped mid-word—then had a hard time closing his mouth.

  Rising from the water, bathed in the bluish glow of the moon was an angel. He felt the corner of his mouth quirk up—a dripping wet angel, but an angel all the same.

  Barely able to breathe, he watched, mesmerized as she wrung the water out of her long hair. Hair the color of moonbeams. She reached for the gown discarded on the ground and slid it over her head. He felt as if he’d taken a blow to the chest as he watched her wiggling, dragging the material over her lithe body.

  Jealous of the fabric hugging her curves, Kieran’s eyes drank in the womanly shape he longed to explore with his fingers. His lips. His manhood throbbed painfully behind his plaid and a groan escaped him.

  Meredith’s head snapped around. Startled, she’d thought she was alone in the glen. She blinked to clear her sight, ‘twas no tricking of the moonlight—the man stood, watching. He was handsome, strong of limb and she watched spellbound as he moved closer.

  Her breath quickened as his height forced her to look up at him—she barely reached his wide shoulders.

  The strong jaw of his handsome face was softened by the almost too sensual cleft in his chin. His hair was either black or dark brown—hard to be certain under the moon’s pale rays—brushed his bare shoulders. She yearned to run her hands over those shoulders, to feel the steel underneath.

  Dark, piercing eyes stared at her, amusement flickering in them at her wanton inspection.

  Blinking to cover her embarrassment, she finally looked around and noticed she wasn’t alone with her dark warrior. About a dozen men, similarly dressed stood off to the side, watching her and the man in front of her.

  Waiting.

  Panic flooded her. She realized the situation was dangerous. Too busy assessing the other men, Meredith didn’t see the warrior before her move until too late. Meredith jumped at the contact when he placed his hand on her arm.

  “Dinnae worry, lass, we willnae cause you harm,” Kieran assured, when he read the fear in her eyes.

  He frowned, not liking the alarm he saw in the eyes of his angel. Following the direction of her gaze, he realized his men stood nearby with expressions ranging from humor to confusion, even a couple of leers. Jealously surged through him and he flashed his men a look of reproach.

  With a command in the Gaelic, he sent his men to tend to the horses so they could be on their way.

  Turning back to the beautiful woman, he said, “Lass, it isnae safe to be about alone at this hour.”

  Her eyes moved over him before shifting to his men. Her expression was one he couldn’t read.

  “It is doubtful, sir, that your men could cause me any more harm than what I face in the future.”

  Kieran frowned. “I dinnae ken what you say, Lass…”

  “Sir, please do not misunderstand my shaking. I do not fear you and your men. I am shaking…” she gave a nervous laugh, “my shaking is due to the state of my undress.”

  Kieran hid the smile at the lass’ rambling thoughts. He never knew angels blethered so. At the sound of chuckles, he turned to find his men clearly wondering if they’d not happened upon a madwoman.

  Glancing about, Meredith noticed the chestnut she’d seen Langdon abusing the last time she’d been in his presence. The moon shone on the animal’s wounds, which appeared to be slowly healing. “Who are you? Why do you have Lord Langdon’s horses?”

  “What ken you of Lord Langdon?” the man asked with a sound of disgust in his voice.

  He was a stranger, yet some quality about this man made Meredith feel safe. Before she caught herself, she answered honestly. “I know he’s cruel and one I wish I could escape. You do his horses a good turn by taking them.”

  Kieran watched her, his heart hearing faster than his mind could. The poignancy in her simple words touched him in a fey way he little understood. Compelled him. Without a second thought, he scooped her into his arms and stalked back to his horse, then mounted behind her holding her in his arms.

  She stared up at him as they rode away at a fast clip. She seemed to be fighting an enchantment, but he noticed when reason began to intrude. Her head whipped around.

  “This is not the way to Langdon’s manor. What are you doing? Where are you taking me? Who are you? What do you want?”

  Kieran looked at the beauty he had in his arms, sensing her rising panic. His spine stiffened, bracing for the argument he knew would be forthcoming once he gave her his answer. Once more a smile crossed his lips, and he mischievously leaned forward and planted a kiss on her soft lips. They were as sweet as he imagined. Lifting his head, he gave her the answer she’d been looking for. “I am Kieran Fraser, Laird of Clan Fraser, and I would think ‘tis rather obvious what I’m about, Sweeting. I am kidnapping you.”

  * * * *

  Meredith, stiff in Kieran’s embrace, mentally ran through her options. Although she had no wish to marry Lord Langdon, being kidnapped, even if her abductor was handsome and in a rough way charming, was not an improvement to her situation. Men!

  They rode fast, thanks to the bright light of the moon. Since the ground was a blur, and she had no desire to throw herself under the sharp hooves of their mount, her escape would have to come from reasoning.

  “You don’t want to kidnap me, Laird Fraser. This will only bring trouble to your doorstep.”

  Meredith quietly waited for a response—something like the horse stopping so she could dismount. Quickly, she realized he’d either not heard her, or simply chose to ignore her.

  Taking a deep breath, she decided he must not have heard her. At the rate they were traveling, words could easily be lost to the wind. Surely he wouldn’t ignore her … would he?

  Turning within his hold, Meredith tilted her head to peer up at him. The man smiled at her. She felt his arms tighten as he pulled her closer. She was overcome with the desire to rest her head against him. But that would be foolish. Wouldn’t it?

  “Laird Fraser, you must attend me. I am betrothed to Lord Langdon…”

  She felt his hand brush her hair from her face before he pulled her head to his chest. They rode for a moment before she tried to gain his attention again. This was a fantastic feat since she now knew how he smelled. It was a spicy yet musky scent. And it was playing havoc with her common sense and her ability to think let alone act on her plan.

  “Laird Fraser, please, you must return me to my father. Lord Langdon will be very angry if I’m gone and he may blame my father.”

  “Hush, lass, ‘tis going to be awhile before we stop. Take your rest. We will talk later.”

  Her temper rising, Meredith tried to pull away from his seductive hold, but found she was no match for his strength.

  So he wanted to hold her? Then he would hold a statue. “Laird Fraser—”

  “Kieran.”

  Meredith pulled back far enough to meet his gaze. “What?”

  “My name is Kieran. I wish to hear you say my name.”

  “If I do, will you release me?”

  “Nay.”

  “Nay?”

&nb
sp; “Nay, I’ll not let you go.”

  Meredith huffed a sigh of irritation. What a frustrating man! Well, he wasn’t the only one who could be stubborn.

  Since appealing to his common sense didn’t work, she would have to resort to being crafty. She had to escape before they crossed the border.

  “Laird Fraser, may we stop for a moment, please?” She followed this request with a down turned glance, squirming a little to convey her need to stop.

  She must have been convincing, the rogue holding her brought his mount to a halt. Gently, he lowered her to the ground.

  Meredith felt a small amount of disappointment. For a moment she’d been living her dream. Only, reality dictated she return home.

  The moment her feet touched the ground, she made her way to the concealment of the bushes.

  “Dinnae take long, lass. We still have a long distance to travel.”

  Not bothering to acknowledge his words—after all, he’d been rude enough to ignore her earlier—she darted into the foliage.

  Carefully she picked her way in what she hoped was the direction of her home. Her heart felt like it pounded itself out of her chest. She knew if she didn’t get away now, she wouldn’t be given a second chance.

  Her breath labored, she listened for pursuers. The only thing she heard was the restless movement of the horses. She turned, intent on her escape and ran into a very hard, bare chest.

  “The horses are in the other direction, lass.”

  Did she hear humor in his voice? How was this funny?

  “Why are you doing this? What could you possibly want from me? I … I don’t understand!” Meredith felt her eyes tearing. She was scared, angry, and tired. She was also drawn to the man in front of her and that confused her. She was in a muddle.

  “Come with me, lass. You are tired and we must make haste. We will talk later, I promise.”

  “Meredith. My name is Meredith.”

  She felt her world tip as Kieran picked her up and strode toward his mount. He said nothing as he arranged her before him.