Gully Washer

by Kimbra Swain

  “Dylan!” I said struggling to get away from him. He was laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe. I was happy to see him playful this morning. I hoped his dream was a good one.

  He released me, and I bolted for the front door when I felt a sting across my ass. He had spanked me going in the door. I felt the heat rise up my neck to my cheeks. I couldn’t catch my breath as we both tumbled into the living room gasping for air.

  “Was Momma bad, Daddy?” Winnie asked.

  “See what you started?” I said pointing at her.

  “Yes, she was,” Dylan said sternly.

  “Dylan!” I protested.

  “But she promises to be good. Right, Grace?” he said.

  “No,” I said.

  Winnie gasped, slapping her little hands over her wide-open mouth. “She might need another spanking,” she said through her hands.

  “Oh, that is enough,” I said, stomping off to the bedroom trying not to laugh.

  Dylan followed me in there. “I’ll be right back, Winnie, then we can go to town to buy a new dress for the wedding,” he said, as he rushed through the bedroom door to me. He slammed it hard, making a huge show.

  “Do not let our daughter be the fuel for your kink!” I said.

  “You are the fuel for my kink,” he said with smoldering flame blue eyes.

  I laughed at him. It was this ridiculousness that made our life together perfect. He stalked over to me. “Dylan,” I warned him.

  “Do you want your spanking now or later?” he asked.

  “I really don’t like that kind of thing,” I said.

  “I know,” he smiled. “But I like to see you squirm.”

  “Oh, my stars!” I exclaimed. Not being able to hold back any longer, I just asked. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes,” he said simply.

  “Well?” I asked.

  “It seems we are still getting married,” he replied.

  “Don’t lie to me,” I said.

  “I’m not. My soul is at peace. I swear it, Grace. The dream was still there,” he said.

  “All of it?” I asked.

  “You, me, Winnie and a baby boy,” he said.

  My heart pounded in my chest. “Oh my,” I whimpered.

  “It was beautiful. I can’t wait until we do it for real,” he smiled. “The location was different this time though.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Where was it?” I asked.

  “There was a big house with a long front porch that wrapped around the side of the house. Behind it, there was a garden and a gazebo. It was there. I’ve never seen that place around here. I would remember it. It was beautiful. Winnie and Mark were playing on a big fort-looking jungle gym. All our friends were there. It was better than any of the other dreams,” he said as his eyes glassed over.

  “Don’t you cry on me,” I said.

  “Phoenixes don’t cry,” he said.

  “Yeah, but Dylans do. I’ve seen it,” I said.

  “I love you, Grace,” he said.

  The rain poured as I waved at Dylan and Winnie. Dylan was living up to his promise to take Winnie shopping. I wanted to go to the grocery store and pick up a few things for dinner. When I got to the store, I was drenched. Not even an umbrella could stop this downpour. I considered using some magic to keep it off of me, but I decided against it. We weren’t fully protected from the outside just yet. No need to start throwing magic around willy-nilly.

  The cool store ignited goosebumps on my wet arms when I stepped inside. Mable waved at me from the cash registers. I pushed a buggy through the aisles, picking up the items I needed for the next few days.

  I turned the corner without looking and slammed my cart into Mrs. Frist.

  “Good grief, Grace,” she scolded, but then remembered that our stations had changed somewhat over the last few months, and she blushed with embarrassment. Mrs. Frist had always been the widow of Shady Grove. She’d had countless husbands and lovers. She even tried to get me to loan her Levi at some point, but he wasn’t interested.

  “I apologize. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” I said.

  “How are you and your family?” she asked.

  “We are doing very well. Thank you for asking,” I said politely. I really didn’t like the woman, so I pushed my cart away from her when she spoke again.

  “How do you live happily when you know Dylan has had a child with Stephanie?”

  Turning to her smug look, I smiled and said, “Because I love him no matter what happens. He is mine now, and the past doesn’t matter. We deal and move on.”

  “You are still naïve, Grace. That will bite you in the ass,” she said.

  “Dylan bites my ass on the regular, so I’m not worried,” I said. Her anger flared in her eyes, but I narrowed my gaze at her. She flicked her aggressively hair-sprayed locks over her shoulder with a huff then pushed her cart away.

  It was enough to get me riled up out of my sunny disposition. By the time I got to the checkout lane, I was brooding harder than Levi on a two-day drought.

  “You gotta ignore her, Grace. She has always aimed to get under your skin,” Mable said.

  “I know. It’s just that we’ve had such a good couple of days. I hate to let her ruin it,” I said.

  “She only ruins it if you let her. Besides, you could just turn her into ice dust like the bear,” Mable said.

  My eyes darkened at her mention of Diego Santiago. “That isn’t something to joke about Mable,” I said with disdain. I realized the Unseelie fairy in her had come out in those moments. I didn’t expect to see it from her. However, I knew she had been a servant of my father at one time, and an execution was a normal thing in his court. I didn’t intend to make a normal thing in Shady Grove, but her tone sent chills through me.

  “Forgive me, my Queen,” she muttered.

  “It is forgotten,” I replied in a way I’d remembered my father forgiving his servants. Her eyes flashed blue then back to brown. I looked down at the jewel in my tattoo as it radiated a deep sapphire color. Invoking my father’s words had ignited the power in it somehow. I knew I still had much to learn about ruling, but it was my responsibility now. I would take it seriously.

  When I pushed the cart back up at the front of the store, it seemed like the rain had decided to stop. I rushed out to the truck to load my groceries, before it started raining again. I piled everything into the back seat, then pushed the cart to the corral.

  Sitting down in the truck, I felt a cold rush over me. I looked to my left at the dark figure sitting in my passenger seat. I stared at the being for a moment before he turned his eyes to me. His skin was as black as midnight, but his eyes were a flashing yellow with slits for pupils, like a feline.

  “Pooka,” I said. The power in my tattoo brightened. He shifted away from me before speaking.

  “Forgive me, my Queen, for startling you so,” his voice came out as a whisper.

  “How may I help you?” I asked.

  “I’ve come to tell you the truth,” he purred. I felt the rumble of contentment as it shook the windows of the truck.

  “Speak it,” I said bravely.

  “Of the men you’ve loved. There is one to die, one to live, one to expose, and one to mithe,” he riddled. I wanted to ask him more, but I knew the rules of the omen. He could only tell me what he willed and nothing I asked.

  “I would graciously thank you for your service, but the omen is hard to bear,” I said.

  “It is, but I bear it for my monarch. I hope that we do not see each other again in this life or the next,” he said, fading away to a dense fog, then dissipating completely.

  I shuddered at his warning and couldn’t begin to think of its meaning. I truly loved very few men in this world. None more than Dylan, Levi, and Nestor. It broke my heart to think of it. Laying my head down on the steering wheel, I took deep breaths trying to maintain my composure. I closed my eyes for a moment when something tapped on my window. I looked up to see Fordel
e standing at my door. Opening the door slightly, he pushed it open.

  “Are you alright, Hannah?” he asked. “I’m sorry. Grace.”

  “I’m fine. Just had a visitor that threw me off a bit. Thank you for checking,” I said.

  He looked back over his shoulder to Wendy his wife who was putting groceries in their Volvo. I gently pushed him out of my way pacing over to her. She knew what I wanted.

  “I can’t help you, Grace,” she said.

  “Do you tell fortunes or not?” I asked.

  “I do, but it’s not the same as the cat,” she said.

  “What cat?” Fordele asked.

  I got the feeling that Fordele was always a little behind when it came to his wife. I remembered our relationship. He was sweet and caring, but not the brightest bulb in the shed.

  “She had a visitor who delivered the omen,” she said to him, then turned to me. “But, I cannot decipher whatever he told you. The fates won’t allow it. I can look at your future, but those things I will not be able to see. In fact, until they are fulfilled, I would say that any reading I did for you would be tainted. I’d rather not, but if you require it, I will.”

  “No. Heavens no. I would never force you,” I said, realizing that I had become a little overbearing in my fright. “I’m just a little upset. It will be okay.”

  “Yes, it will. Come along, Fordele,” she said.

  “You sure you are alright?” he asked.

  I nodded, trying to smile. Jumping back in the truck, I drove over to Hot Tin. The groceries I had would keep for a few minutes so I could talk to Nestor. I barreled into the bar without thinking there would be anyone there this early in the day, but Nestor stood at the bar having a cup of coffee with Remington Blake.

  “Grace, what’s wrong?” Remy ran up to me, bracing me as if it looked like I was about to fall down.

  “Is it that obvious?” I asked.

  “Yes. Come sit down,” Nestor urged. “You look pale.”

  “She feels warm,” Remy said guiding me to a stool. Nestor reached across the bar to take my hand in his.

  “You are right. She’s warm to the touch. What happened, Grace? Where is Dylan?”

  “He’s in town with Winnie buying a dress for the wedding this weekend,” I said as my voice faded.

  Remy picked up his cell phone off the bar. He walked away from us as Nestor focused on me.

  “Tell me,” he said.

  “Pooka,” I muttered.

  “Oh, no. What did he say, Grace?” Nestor urged.

  “Tabitha is on the way,” Remy said.

  “I don’t need a doctor,” I fussed.

  “I don’t care. I called her for myself. I’ve been needing a check-up,” Remy said.

  I had to crack a smile at his ridiculousness, but Nestor never stopped staring at me. He waited for me to repeat the omen.

  “It was a pooka, Remy,” I said.

  “Fuck,” he said.

  “What did he say?” Nestor urged.

  “Of the men you’ve loved. There is one to die, one to live, one to expose, and one to mithe,” I recited.

  “Well, it’s not looking good for either of us, Ness,” Remy said, laughing it off in his way. I wanted to protest that I never loved him, but the truth was I ran to Shady Grove because he hurt my heart. You don’t get heartbroken by a sincere feeling of friendship. Heartbreak requires affection on some level. In that case, there were more candidates than just Dylan, Levi and Nestor.

  “Grace, it will be okay. Did Dylan dream?” Nestor asked.

  “Yes,” I gulped.

  “Okay, that’s good. Who do you love or have you loved?” Nestor asked.

  “Dylan,” I gulped, squinting my eyes to force back tears. I was sick of crying over all this bullshit. What happened to my quiet life in the trailer park when no one had a clue who I was? But then I was reminded that everyone knew me, I was the out of touch fool. “You. Levi.”

  “I’m chopped liver, eh?” Remy said.

  “Do you want to be a part of this?” I asked.

  “If it means you admitting that what we once had, ages ago, was love, then yes. It’s totally worth it,” he teased trying to make me smile.

  “Fordele,” I said in response. “My father.”

  Nestor nodded toward Remy, but I shook my head.

  “Finley,” I added.

  “Well, that’s more than enough,” Nestor said.

  “And Remy,” I whispered.

  He leaned in close to me. “Say it again.”

  “Not on your life,” I said. He guffawed like a fool.

  “Live, die, expose, mithe,” Nestor said. “Four of us.”

  “Can I sign up for the mithing?” Remy asked.

  “Is everything a joke to you?” I shot at him.

  He rubbed his forehead. “No, Grace. I just like to make things a little lighter for you. All of this stuff is depressing. I miss crazy Grace running around mouthing off to everyone,” he said.

  “You want mouthing? I start with you,” I said.

  “I don’t think Dylan would approve,” he said with a grin.

  I sighed while Nestor chuckled. “Don’t encourage him,” I said. “This is serious.”

  “There’s nothing you can do, Grace. You have to live your life. Don’t worry about the omen. You can’t stop it or change the outcome. Omens suck like that,” Nestor explained then started to wipe clean glasses with his towel. I knew the nervous habit. He was thinking about something. Tabitha walked in soaked to the core.

  “Why, here’s the good doctor now. Tabitha, I was just telling Grace how I needed a check-up. She suggested that I needed some mouthing. Do you provide that service?” he asked her with a wink.

  Her jaw dropped open at his boldness, but then she quickly recovered. “As a matter of fact, I do, but you couldn’t afford me, Remington Blake.”

  “I bet I could negotiate a fair price,” Remy coaxed. “As long as you admit it’s for sale, I can come to a payment plan that would make us both happy.”

  I shook my head, as she reached up to feel my forehead. “You are still sick,” she said.

  “I feel fine. That damn pooka spooked me,” I said.

  “Say that three times, Tabitha. Pooka spooked. I need to make sure your mouth is worth the price,” Remy continued to flirt.

  Nestor held back laughter, but not very well. I couldn’t hold it back any longer. He was the king of flirts. I remembered why he and I used to have so much fun. Tabitha poked at him because he’d gotten uncomfortably close to her. “Back off, Remy,” she scolded him.

  Leaning into her ear he said, “I did all that to make Grace smile, but now that I’ve accomplished that I still would like to negotiate for the mouthing because I don’t think the mithing is in my future.”

  “Mithing?” Tabitha asked, trying to ignore him.

  “He’s serious, you know?” I said to her.

  “What? No, he’s just flirting,” she said.

  “I’m a serious flirt,” he said. I knew that he was. Something in Tabitha’s response to Remy peaked his interest. She just hadn’t caught on yet. She looked at him, then at me.

  “You seem fine except for the heat. When did it start?” she asked.

  “Last night in bed with Dylan,” I said.

  “That’s what happens when you sleep with a Firebird,” Remy said. “Tabitha Dawn, why don’t you let me show you how a real man lights a fire.”

  “How the hell do you know my middle name?” she asked.

  “How the hell do you expect me to do my job as the lawyer of the Queen of the Exiles if I don’t know about her subjects?” he returned. I was having fun watching them. Nestor seemed to be entertained as well.

  “Well, it’s none of your business,” she said, returning to me. “Just be careful. Okay?” Remy had thrown her off. I could have had chicken pox, and she would have said it was tuberculosis at this point.

  “I can think of a lot of things that aren’t my business that I would love
to make my business,” he said.

  “Is he serious?” she asked.

  “Why don’t you find out?” I responded.

  “Remington Blake, are you asking me out?” she said turning on him.

  “Absolutely,” he said without hesitation. She looked at me like I needed to give her permission. I just shrugged. She had already seemingly roped Levi into something I didn’t want to know about. She might as well take a roll with Remy.

  “That isn’t an answer,” she said. “I’m going home. You may call me if you think of a way to properly ask me out.” She turned on her heels and stomped out of the bar, but at the last minute, her bravado wavered. She looked back to see what he was doing, but he had turned completely away from her to look at Nestor. I looked up at him beside me and he winked at me. I laughed. Tabitha looked confused, then bumped into Dylan who was coming in the door.

  “Hey, Dylan. Bye, Dylan,” she said completing her exit.

  I ran to him throwing my arms around his neck. “Hey, yo, what’s this?” he asked.

  “Pooka,” I said.

  His smile faded. “He finally talked to you,” he said.

  “He scared the shit out of me,” I protested.

  “Does she feel funny to you, Dylan?” Nestor asked.

  He slid his hand up my arm, and his eyes widened. “Why are you warm?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “Someone has cursed me. Or I’m sick. Or who knows, but it doesn’t matter, because someone I love is going to die.”

  “I thought of another,” Nestor said.

  We all turned to look at him. “Jeremiah.”

  “I do not love Jeremiah Freyman. He betrayed me,” I said.

  “I did a fine job of that myself, but you still loved me,” Remy said.

  “What the hell?” Dylan asked.

  “Grace, sit down,” Nestor ordered. I plopped back down on my stool.

  “The pooka said that of the men I loved one would die, one would live, one would expose, and one would mithe,” I said.

  “So, there is a list of men that you’ve loved,” Dylan said putting it together. “I better be on it.”

  “See, he wants a piece, too,” Remy said, tapping the bar. Nestor sat a glass in front of him, then pulled a bottle out from under the bar that I rarely saw. Courvoisier cognac was Remy’s favorite.