Jasper took his eyes off his son, no remorse on in his face. “And that’s because of you.” He turned toward Jonah. “Because my pledge was stolen from me, my pack didn’t trust my leadership, my authority.”
“The Reaping has been outlawed for a long time,” Garrett replied, easing closer to Jasper, yet his eyes were on Janna, who still stood too close to the bastard.
“It’s me he wants. Let me and Jasper handle this.” Jonah nodded toward Janna. “She has nothing to do with any of this.”
“Oh, but you’re wrong.” Jasper pulled out a gun, holding it out toward Jonah before swinging it toward Janna. “She has everything to do with it. You took my pledge, made a fool out of me in front of my pack, so I will make you pay. You will never stop paying for my disgrace.”
It took Janna a second to realize what was happening, but it was too late. Her eyes instantly found Garrett’s. Seeing the true terror on his face, she knew she was going to die. Regret hit her so hard her legs almost buckled underneath her. She watched as Garrett shifted right before her eyes to try to get to Jasper in time, but it was too late. The sound of the gun going off and the howl of rage happened at the same time. Pain like nothing she had ever felt hit her chest, throwing her off her feet. Garrett’s wolf’s scream of rage was the last thing she heard.
******
Someone was petting her head. Janna’s eyes felt heavy, her tongue swollen with thirst. She fought against the darkness, but it was too much. She heard a whimper and wondered briefly who was hurt and why in the hell she was so tired. Had she been drugged? Finally, she opened her eyes to a blurry world. Lifting her head was impossible, but she tried.
“I think she’s coming around.” A woman’s voice sounded frantic.
“Watch out, Sam,” a familiar voice ordered. “Janna? Can you hear me?”
Janna tried to answer, but couldn’t speak. Her eyes moved down. Two large paws lay in front of her, which was odd. She opened up her mouth again and heard panting; she couldn’t speak. Suddenly, things became a little clearer and she panicked. Those were her paws and she was the one panting. Terror hit her hard, making her struggle.
“Janna stop!” Garrett’s voice ordered, his large hands trying to calm her. He got down close to her face. “You had to shift to live, to heal. You’re fine, but you have to stay this way so you can get better.”
She stopped struggling, not because she wanted to, but because she was too weak to continue. Her head dropped heavily, her eyes closed on their own. Darkness once again claimed her and she welcomed it.
What felt like hours later, Janna woke again; this time she was in human form. As soon as her eyes opened, they looked down checking for furry paws; but instead, she saw her body under soft cotton covers. Relief swept through her. Sitting up, she felt so much better than the first time she woke. Glancing over, Garrett sat in a chair next to the bed, his eyes closed. She took a moment to study him. He looked like he had lost some weight and dark shadows marred his handsome face.
Quietly, she sat the rest of the way up and felt a small pull in her chest area. Looking down, there was a white bandage. Slowly, she peeled it away from her skin. To her astonishment, there was nothing there. Hearing the chair creak, she looked up, meeting Garrett’s intense gaze.
When he didn’t say anything, but just stared, Janna slowly looked down. “I’m sorry.”
Garrett finally moved as he removed the bandage the rest of the way. Staring at her chest, he remained quiet. It wasn’t until he raised his gaze to hers, that she saw his unshed tears. Gently, he pulled her into his grip, bringing her onto his lap, holding her tightly, but not tight enough to hurt her.
“Do not ever do anything like that again,” he said into her neck as he held her tightly. “I thought I lost you.”
Janna nodded, her own tears falling freely. “How long have I been…?”
“Almost a month.” Garrett pulled away to look down into her face. “The bullet was silver, which is deadly for us, but your human part saved you as well as your wolf.”
“My wolf?” Janna asked, confused. She only remembered very little of what happened.
“With you being unconscious, your wolf knew what needed to be done and took over. You shifted at your wolf’s will.” Garrett kissed her mouth lightly. “You have a very clever wolf.”
Her eyes shot up to his, panic shadowing her face. “Leda?”
“Is fine.” He frowned. “As is everyone else.”
“And Jasper?” Janna shivered in disgust even saying his name.
“Dead as well as his son, as are the rest of the pack who decided to stay loyal to the bastard.” Garrett’s voice deepened in anger. “None of them will be bothering you or anyone else again.”
Janna nodded with a frown. “I’m sorry I put you through this.”
“As soon as you feel better, I will yell at you, but now, you need to rest.” Garrett stood with her in his arms and laid her back in bed.
“I can’t rest until you say you forgive me.” Janna clasped his face in both hands, not letting him rise.
“Of course I forgive you, but I swear, Janna, I don’t think I can live through this again.” Garrett lifted her once more, hugging her tightly.
“I know and I just…” Tears formed, unable to finish her sentence.
“We will talk later, but I promise you, if you do decide to disobey me again, I will spank your ass,” Garrett warned, his voice hard and a promise in his eyes.
“Promise.” Janna gave a small grin with a raised eyebrow.
“Any time you want that sweet ass spanked, woman, you just let me know.” Garrett laughed, clasping her hand tightly in his.
Staring at their fingers intertwined, she frowned again looking up at Garrett. “Was someone petting me?”
This time his head slammed back, his laughter bouncing off the walls. “Yes,” he finally answered. “Sam, who will kill me if he knows you are awake and I haven’t gotten him yet, was here every single day. He would sit for hours talking to you, petting you when you were shifted and brushing your fur.”
“He did?” Janna smiled, surprised.
“That kid loves you, Janna.” Garrett chuckled. “I guess I should go get him and let the other’s know you’re awake. Jonah has been here every day also.”
Janna watched as Garrett stood. “And do you still love me, Garrett?”
Garrett looked down at her, his gaze so intense she felt it as if it was a touch to her skin. “More than my own life.”
“Please wait to let anyone know,” Janna said, feeling a little guilty, but wanted nothing more than to be held by him. “I just want to be here with you.”
“Anything you wish, beautiful.” Garrett lay beside her, taking her in his strong arms.
After a while Janna sighed. “I guess I also owe my wolf an apology.”
“So it’s no longer a beast?” Garrett smiled against her hair. “I think your wolf will appreciate that very much.”
She shook her head. “Guess I’m lucky my wolf didn’t change and pee on all my stuff since I was mean to it.”
Garrett leaned up to look down at her. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“Well, me and my mom had a dog named Renee.”
“Renee?” Garrett cringed.
“It was a poodle,” she replied as if that explained everything. “Anyway, he always…”
“You named a male dog Renee?” Garrett looked down at her again.
“Focus, Garrett,” she snapped, but with a grin. “Renee always got out on my mom and would run away. Then he would come home days later, all dirty and beat up. Well, I guess he was mad at my mom because he kept peeing on her favorite slippers.”
“Who named him?” Garrett asked, his eyes closed as he listened to her story.
“Mom,” she replied, her eyes closed with her head resting on his shoulder.
“Maybe his peeing on her slippers had nothing to do with running away, but being named Renee.” He chuckled when she elbowed h
im in the stomach.
“You missed the whole point of that story.” Janna sighed, snuggling closer.
“No…” Garrett yawned, holding her close. “You missed the point of why Renee, the male dog, was pissing on the person, who named him that horrible, embarrassing girl name, slippers.”
Before long, both were sound asleep, missing the fact that Jonah had been standing in the doorway. He smiled at them both, looked up with a sad smile, and then closed the door behind him, all the time holding the journal close to his heart.
Other Books
By
Teresa Gabelman
THE PROTECTORS SERIES
Damon (The Protectors Series) Book #1
Jared (The Protectors Series) Book #2
Duncan (The Protectors Series) Book #3
Sid (The Protectors Series) Book #4
Adam (The Protectors Series) Book #5
Slade (The Protectors Series) Book #7
LEE COUNTY WOLVES
Forbidden Hunger
CONTEMPORARY
Rodeo Romance – Release date 5-26-15 Summer Fire Box Set
Return to Synopses
Gertie’s Paranormal Plantation
By:
Melanie James
Gertie’s Paranormal Plantation
Copyright © 2015 by Melanie James
Editing: AVC Proofreading
Proofreading: AVC Proofreading
Proofreading: Book Nook Nuts
Cover Artist: Dreams to Media
All rights reserved
ISBN-13: 978-1511667968
ISBN-10: 1511667966
Published in the United States of America
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you wish to share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should delete it from your device and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work. Illegal copies come with fine up to $250,000.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is coincidental.
Books by Melanie James
Literal Leigh Romance Diaries
Accidental Leigh
Serious Leigh
Hopeful Leigh
Haunting Leigh
Joyful Leigh
Literal Leigh Romance Diaries: Complete Boxed Set
Darkness Series
Conjuring Darkness
Éveiller Drive
Ava & Will
Kara & Dave
Laura & Alan
Jamie & Brad
Ashley & Jeff
Valerie & Greg
Stand Alones
A Valentine’s Surprise
A Deadly Obsession
Acknowledgements
Romancing The Paranormal Authors – It has been a pleasure to work with you on such a fun project.
Tammy – Thank you for going the extra mile on this one!
Monkeys – No matter what you are there for me and I love you for it.
Alicia – You’re the bestest!
Ron – I love you more than life!
CLAuthors – Thank you always for your support and love!
Dedication
To my readers around the globe. You humble me with your kind words. You have shown not only me, but my family an astounding level of support. I can’t possibly thank you enough.
Preface
The sweet and perpetually optimistic witch, Gertie O’Leary, showed up in the second book of the Literal Leigh Romance Diaries series and has been Leigh Epstein’s best friend ever since. Although it is a spinoff of the Leigh series, Gertie’s story is written so it can be read as a standalone. If you want to know more about Gertie’s Great Chicago Fire and Titanic mishaps, then you’ll want to check out the Leigh series. Now, if you’ve read the Leigh series, you’ll find that Gertie’s inexperience and candid manner provides comedy of just a little different flavor. Like all of the characters from the Leigh series, Gertie is just another one of the girls next door finding her own way in a modern, paranormal world. Sometimes a little awkward, and more than a little naïve, Gertie is certainly smart and unabashed. We all know a Gertie or two, and bless their hearts, you just have to love them. Hopefully, we can all look in the mirror and get a glimpse of Gertie in ourselves.
Prologue
Just over two years ago, I was staying at a mansion on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans, one of Marie Laveau’s many homes. Darcy, my black cat, and I had just been thawed out. I guess I should probably explain what happened. We had just spent a century frozen like some sort of bizarre ice sculptures. That was my punishment for a little magical mishap that will forever be known as The Sinking of the Titanic. But that’s another story.
“Gertie, I want to talk to you, witch to witch.” Marie’s red and gold silk robe concealed her feet as she strolled towards me, providing a perfect illusion of her floating across the floor. Her trademark turban of pleated crimson silk added to her mystique as the legendary Voodoo Queen. A magenta folder in her hand waved as she talked. “I’ve looked over your file and I believe you’ve got a good heart. You’re the kind of witch I’d like to see more of.” She tossed the folder onto a nearby coffee table and gave me a piercing look. “It was me who personally vouched for you and recommended that you be thawed out. Consequently, I have certain expectations of you. You can understand my interest in your future. Can’t you?”
I nodded my head in agreement, but then I shook my head in uncertainty. “Thank you, Marie. Of course, I’m indebted to you. But…what sort of expectations are we talking about exactly?”
“Let’s talk about the use of witchcraft. From now on your actions reflect on me, my reputation. You see, Gertie…once you become a witch, the Sword of Damocles hangs above you. And that sucker is just waiting for you to screw up. And when you do…” Marie made a chopping motion with her hand. “Bam!”
“Sweet Jesus! Really?” I looked up, expecting to see a great sword precariously dangling above my head. “How far up is it?”
Marie shook her head and then droned on and on. She told me some fable about a king in the days of ancient Rome and talked about responsibility and accountability. Her Creole accent was as elegant as it was mysterious—mesmerizing actually. Her voice was background music. The words floated around, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was way too distracted by the thought of yet another magical punishment waiting for an opportunity to come crashing down on me. My gaze kept darting around the ceiling. Suddenly, Marie was silent. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed she was staring at me. I think she was waiting until I became uncomfortable. And I certainly was.
“You’re still looking for the sword. Aren’t you, Gertie? And you didn’t hear a word I said. Did you?” She wasn’t so much asking me as she was telling me in a very disappointed voice.
I nodded, but I wasn’t too ashamed. “Uh, yes. Sorry.”
“Is your head still frozen?” Marie’s thin eyebrows always danced up and down, like they were unsure of where they should be located.
“No. No, it thawed out just fine, thanks for asking.” I touched my head on the sides and top.
“Girl…girl.” Marie quietly rubbed her temples with her fingers. If it were anyone but Marie Laveau I’d have to say she was upset, but I figured she was using her mind reading powers. That is until she mumbled to herself in Creole, words like “nayif” and “jèn ti fi.”
Is that Creole? Creole! A Voodoo curse for sure. I just pissed off the Voodoo Queen. Then I cringed both mentally and physically as I awaited my fate. Most likely I’d be a snake, destined to slither through the swamps of Louisiana for eternity.
Marie snapp
ed her fingers. “Gertie!”
“Get ready, Darcy. Here comes the Voodoo.” I whispered.
“Calm down. Just listen carefully. I’m just going to say this once. You are a sweet young woman and very intelligent, but you are also very naïve, unbelievably naïve. When you walk out of here, you are on your own. I cannot tell you what sort of witch you should choose to be, all I can do is advise you.” Marie leaned toward me to impress the importance of her lecture. “Our powers are great, but they come with responsibility. This is what I want you to do. Find your mission in life, your passion. Then devote your talent and time to whatever that thing is. It will keep you focused and you will be a witch that can make a difference.” Marie lifted a small gold pocket watch from the folds of her robe and looked at the time. “I have to leave now, but you do understand. Don’t you?”
“Sure! Of course, Marie.” I fought to keep my eyes from looking for that damned levitating sword of Damocles.
“One more thing. You must think things through carefully before you act.”
So here I am, two years after that meeting with Marie and I have taken her advice. My passion is my love for animals, and my magical talent is the ability to change animals. I’ll try to explain. I own and operate a pet shop, paranormal pets for paranormal people. But it’s much more than that, it’s a shelter for all creatures, paranormal or not.
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