The Secrets of Moonshine

by Denise Daisy

  Turning off the light, she lay in bed, with the scent of the oil still permeating the room. Her eyes grew heavy, and as she drifted off to sleep, the scent pried open a suppressed memory...

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  DAY EIGHT

  Marcus hung up the phone on the kitchen wall.

  “Bus is ready!”

  He expected triumphant cheers, cries of relief, excitement to get back on the road. It didn’t work that way. His supposed good news was not met by a round of cheers from the troupe. Instead, their reactions were more subdued, each member hating to see their week of rest and relaxations come to an end. However remote and quaint, Moonshine had crept its way into their hearts. Marcus returned to the table and continued his announcements. He informed the troupe that Larry would be delivering the bus to the inn within a few hours. He suggested they pack all their belongings so they could be on the road before one o’clock. Then he asked Travis to get their bill ready, desiring to take care of their debt immediately. To everyone’s shock, and Wilbur’s delight, Travis informed them that there was no charge, stating that one should never take advantage of someone else’s misfortune. Those were the first words Travis had spoke all morning.

  Stunned, the troupe sat in silence.

  “Anyone heard from Bronwyn?” Lillian interrupted the sudden quietness. “She never returned to the inn last night.”

  “She probably stayed out all night making another baby with Ryan,” Bethany said bitterly.

  Travis shot her a sharp look. She blushed. She spoke out of turn, but she didn’t care; she was angry. Bronwyn had been so different since her break up with Ryan. Bethany had accepted the distance, figuring the pain in Bronwyn’s heart was causing the change in her behavior. Now she understood the distance. When you withhold a secret of that magnitude, it builds an invisible wall. No matter how hard Bethany may have tried, she could not have broken through that barrier. Her anger with Bronwyn stemmed from the fact that she had kept the pregnancy quiet purposely. She could have been there for her. She could have helped her through it all. To her, it was a loud proclamation stating that Bronwyn didn’t want her help or encouragement.

  “You have to be happy for her,” Lillian said, jumping to Bronwyn’s defense. “This is what she has dreamed of for so long. I find it terribly romantic that Ryan would come all this way to find her.”

  “She’ll have it made now,” Karley said, biting into her bagel. “Being married to Ryan Reese, she’ll never have to work again. Lucky girl.”

  “She is so lucky,” Carla Jo practically drooled the words into her cereal.

  Travis stood and took his dishes to the sink, exiting the kitchen in silence. Bethany and Lillian exchanged glances; each knew what the other was thinking. Travis appeared sad, yet angry, not to mention agitated. Bethany was glad Ryan had come. She had not trusted Travis from the beginning. She could not see in him this integrity that Bronwyn insisted he possessed. Furthermore, if Bronwyn had kept something as big as her pregnancy with Ryan a secret, then she’d certainly withhold the truth about herself and Travis. It didn’t make sense for two people to be out all night, sneaking back into the inn at ungodly hours, only to insist that nothing was happening. No two people who had just met have that much to talk about.

  Bethany made a mental note and recounted how many nights on this short trip Bronwyn had been away. There was the first night during the storms, when she and Travis spent the entire night in his cabin’s basement. Then there was the second night, when they both disappeared for some time at the falls. There was the third night, when she and Travis had supposedly sat in the garden until midnight discussing her writing. The night before the festival, Bethany woke to see Bronwyn leave the room. She didn’t return until sunrise the next morning. Then there was the night of the festival, when they were out on the lake watching the fireworks together, not returning to the inn until three that morning. Then there was Sunday night when Bronwyn mysteriously left the porch to take a walk and did not return to the inn until just before sunrise. And what about yesterday afternoon, riding up on a motorcycle with that Falcon guy? What was that all about?

  Bronwyn was definitely keeping secrets. Bethany’s anger began to fester and rise. Of course she had been lying. Her best friend, who she thought she knew very well, had turned into someone altogether different. The Bronwyn she knew would never intentionally have an affair with a married man.

  Now, on the eve of their departure, Ryan shows up. Bethany found herself thinking Bronwyn didn’t deserve Ryan, either. She pushed away from the table angrily, stomping up the stairs, to pack her belongings.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Bronwyn woke with the sun. She was quite refreshed; despite the fact she only had four hours of sleep. She refolded the blanket, returning it to the foot of the bed, smoothed out the comforter, re-fluffed the pillows, and left the room. She washed her face, brushed her teeth with her finger, and combed her hair. Realizing she had not eaten in almost twenty-four hours, she scooped up the completed script, and headed back to the inn for breakfast. As she passed Larry’s Garage on the way, she noticed their tour bus parked directly out front. Larry whistled as he finished up the final repairs.

  She stopped in and complimented him on his skilled work, and as she entered the bus, the familiar smell greeted her nose. She walked down the aisle, stopping in her area, sitting in the seat where she‘d traveled and slept. She thought back to the fateful night of the breakdown, the storm, riding to the inn in the back of a pick-up and dodging hailstones. She smiled at the recollection. She walked back down the aisle, allowing her hand to gently rub the back of the seats. She pulled a small envelope from her stack of papers and placed it in Bethany’s seat.

  With that done, she left the bus. She wasn’t sure how she would return home to retrieve her belongings or where she would go to begin writing the story. She desired to stay in Moonshine. However, there was one problem: Travis. She knew she needed to distance herself from him. He was married, and she had no intentions of interfering any further--and as much as she hated the thought, she knew it would be best for her to leave Moonshine altogether.

  The Inn was quiet when Bronwyn entered the kitchen. Only Marcus and Anna sat at the big wooden table, mulling over a map, trying to decide the quickest route to their next destination. Bronwyn was happy to find the two of them together. She proudly turned the new script over to Marcus, who was extremely delighted to receive it. He scanned the pages, speed reading, happy with their new story.

  She then tendered her immediate resignation. After several questions borne of deep concern for her, Marcus and Anna accepted.

  Not finding Bethany or Lillian in the room, and after querying Molly, Bronwyn decided to search for them in the gardens, but her hunt was futile. Every garden was empty, with no sign of the girls. She continued on, following the small cobblestone path until she approached the final garden; the door was slightly ajar. The secret garden was now accessible. She pushed the heavy door and eagerly stepped inside. Thick, massive trees, overtaken with moss and hanging vines, guarded the entrance. She pushed her way past, following the path as it led to a wooden bridge crossing over a medium sized pond. Koi and other colorful fish swam gracefully in the waters below.

  After crossing the pond, the bridge led to another cobblestone path. She followed the trail through many more flowering plants and trees. This garden, though seemingly un-kept and extremely wild in nature, proved to be the most beautiful of all, and as she made her way through, she felt a sense of the sacred, and wondered why this garden was special. Why did it have a locked door when the others did not? Then she had a thought: could this be the place where the legendary tree of life is hidden? Her heart pounded at the assumption, and as she looked over the many massive trees growing near her path, her eyes fell upon Mavis, on her knees working the soil, planting and pruning. Gardening tools and a basket filled with plants lay beside her.

  She stopped, not sure if she should continue her approach or back
away slowly. She was not at all prepared for a one-on-one conversation with Mavis. She could only deny any involvement with Travis should Mavis question her. The fact that she indeed had feelings for him might surface, which she could not refute. So, she decided to back away, retracing her steps quietly.

  “Leaving so soon?”

  Caught! Her heart skipped a beat. “I was looking for Bethany and Lillian. I thought they might be here.”

  “No, it’s just me.”

  She took the information as her opportunity to leave, but Mavis’ request stopped her cold.

  “Can you stay for a minute?”

  Mavis continued to dig in the dirt. She grabbed a flowering plant from her basket and placed it into a small hole, keeping her back to Bronwyn.

  “Would you like to know how I got my injuries?”

  The question surprised Bronwyn, and made her stomach churn. She had been curious, wanting to know, yet for some reason she feared the answer. She didn’t have a chance to respond, however, for Mavis continued on anyway.

  “I think you need to know. Why don’t you sit there in the nice cool grass? My stories tend to get lengthy.”

  Despite her inner urge to run, she felt somewhat of an obligation to hear her out. Besides, whatever story may unfold, she was certain it would provide some sort of insight into Travis, his heart, and depth of his faithfulness. So she sat in a patch of cool green grass, in the shade of a maple tree, and waited for the story to unfold.

  As though she had eyes in the back of her head, Mavis waited until Bronwyn settled before beginning her story.

  “It happened when we came through the portal. The call was swift and unexpected, but we were thrilled to find ourselves here in Moonshine, safe at last. What we didn’t know, was our enemy followed after us. They were desperate, and couldn’t lose Travis to this world, seeing as he is our Tree of Life. They needed him in order to remain immortal.”

  Bronwyn’s head grew dizzy with Mavis’ statement. However, Mavis allowed no time to question.

  “The opening of the portal always causes a horrific storm, like the one that hit the night of your arrival. We all ran for the basement. Once we got down there, I noticed my husband wasn’t with us. I waited, but he never came.”

  Bronwyn’s heart began to race as Mavis continued to dig, plant, and speak. All the while her back was still turned.

  “I gave Molly’s hand to Carla Jo, and told them to stay put down there. I headed back up the stairs. To my surprise, half of the inn was gone. The rain was pouring down; the wind stronger than I had ever seen. I saw my husband lying on the ground. Blood was pouring from a knife buried in his chest. I ran over to help him. I tried to pull the knife out, to help him to safety. The force of the wind working against me made it impossible. He yelled at me to go back underground with the kids. I couldn’t leave him there. He was the love of my life. I adored him. This was the man I loved more than I loved myself.”

  Bronwyn hung her head and closed her eyes.

  “The next thing I knew, I was hit in the side of the head. It was as if the entire half of the inn blew over on top of me. The last thing I remember hearing was my husband screaming. When I woke a few days later, Travis was there with the kids. As usual, he was doctoring me, seeing to my every need. I could tell by the look on his face that my husband hadn’t made it.”

  Bronwyn’s eyes flew open, as she raised her head. What had Mavis said? Her husband hadn’t made it? Before she could interrupt with her question, Mavis answered it.

  “I lost the love of my life that day.”

  Mavis turned around to face Bronwyn, sorrow hollowing her face. Pulling herself up from the ground, she grasped onto a large embellished stone for support. A stone that had been blocked from Bronwyn’s view was now plainly in sight. Bronwyn stood from her spot in the grass, slowly, reverently, walking towards the grave marker. Moving her lips, she read almost inaudibly.

  Brennan John Colton

  Beloved husband,

  Amazing father, brother, and friend.

  Prince of Eden

  “On this earth, but not of it.”

  I don’t understand,” she stammered. “I thought…”

  “You thought Travis was my husband.” Mavis finished the sentence for her. Speechless, Bronwyn swallowed and gave an affirmative nod. Mavis smiled.

  “Travis is Brennan’s brother, my brother-in-law. He and Brennan were extremely close, especially after the death of Ariston. Travis came along side me during the horrible tragedy, rebuilt the inn, helped me raise the kids, and gave them a father figure.”

  “You two never married?” Bronwyn thought she knew what shock felt like, but this revelation brought it to an entirely different level.

  Mavis smiled. “No. Our hearts both belong to only one person. Mine to Brennan, and Travis--well, he lost his heart to someone many years ago, and I suppose he’ll wait a lifetime for her, if it comes to that.”

  “Who is she?” Bronwyn asked curiously, color flooding into her cheeks.

  Mavis noticed and smiled sweetly, the gaping hole in her mouth not near as unappealing now. “Travis might get upset with me, if I share secrets from his personal life. You’ll have to ask him about her yourself.”

  “Is she from Eden?”

  “Yes, she is from Eden, and that is all I am at liberty to tell you.”

  Bronwyn wasn’t sure how to feel. All the guilt she had for being attracted to Mavis’s husband was suddenly lifted. Her heart had betrayed no one. Yet all the bliss of that freedom was overshadowed by the new realization that Travis had a lover in Eden. Undoubtedly she was someone breathtaking - a flawless ethereal goddess, with whom she could never compete. Now it was her duty to write the story that would return Travis to Eden, and to the arms of his lover, another world away.

  For a fleeting moment, she thought about running back to Marcus, retrieve her resignation and head back to normal life, forgetting she ever set foot in Moonshine. However, her heart would not hear of it. Now that she had heard the story of Eden and met some of its people, she could not turn back.

  She observed Mavis gazing at the stone marker, her eyes lost in thought. The darkness that took her beloved must have been the same force that came looking for her the first night. The enemy of Eden, riding on the wind, to kill and destroy, devouring whatever lay in its path or posed a threat. A cold chill sent a warning to her soul.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered to Mavis, placing her arm around the innkeeper’s shoulder. They stood silently for some time, starring at the marker, until their solitude was interrupted by the hissing sound of the tour bus air brakes. A loud honk of a horn announced the bus’s arrival.

  “Looks like your ride is here,” Mavis said.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Bronwyn left Mavis in the garden and headed to the front of the inn, where she found Bethany and Lillian loading their luggage, along with the rest of the troupe. It didn’t take long for her to sense Bethany’s anger. She wanted to talk with her but Bethany refused, stating that there would be plenty of time for them to talk on the bus, since their next engagement was in Texas, and the ride would be a long one. Bronwyn honored Bethany’s request, but said nothing about staying behind. She regretted parting ways with things still unresolved, but took comfort in the fact that she had left a letter on Bethany’s seat, explaining some of the events of the week, combined with her sincere apologies of never confiding about the miscarriage. She excelled in writing her thoughts anyway, so a letter might indeed prove to be a better way of resolving the hurt feelings.

  “Where’s Ryan?”

  Bronwyn started. Travis was standing beside her, and looking more desirable than ever, now that she knew he was not a married man.

  “I sent him away.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t love him.”

  Travis continued to stare at her, and she thought she saw a hint of a smile in his dark eyes as the words left her tongue.

  Walt, slamming the lugga
ge compartment shut, drew their attention back to the bus.

  “One last chance,” Marcus approached her, making sure she was certain of her resolution to remain behind. Her face grew warm, feeling Travis’s gaze as she convinced Marcus once more of her decision. She hadn’t told Travis she was staying behind, and she wondered what he was thinking now that he knew. She longed for him, she couldn’t deny it, but even though he wasn’t married, he was still completely unavailable to her. She ignored his gaze and watched the heavy black bus make its way out the long driveway, and disappear down the lonely two-lane highway without her. A wave of loneliness swept over her, along with a slight panic that possibly she had made an impulsive and irresponsible decision. She quickly reprimanded her thoughts. She would not allow herself to doubt. Her decision had been well thought out, hours upon hours on the porch swing last night. Deep inside her soul, she knew she was doing the right thing; still, there was something about watching the bus disappearing around the corner that evoked a deep feeling of loneliness.

  “Want to go for a ride? There’s something I’d like to show you.”

  Her heart raced at his offer. “Sure,” she tried sounding nonchalant, hoping he didn’t see the sheer excitement spread across her face.

  She climbed in his truck, and before she could shut the door, he had it rolling toward the highway, heading back into Moonshine. He drove down the main street, past the church and courtyard, past the lake and road that turned off to his cabin. He drove for some ways before the two-lane road narrowed into a single-lane. She realized now why there was never any passing traffic on the highway. The road actually dead-ended in Moonshine. It would be impossible for anyone to be passing through the town. If one traveled this forgotten highway, it was for one reason only: they had business in Moonshine. She realized now that her arrival was no accident, but instead was a prophesied event beyond her control, just as Falcon had said.