by Lori King
Free didn’t say anything at first then nodded his head. “Sure.”
She pulled away from him. He didn’t believe her. She could read it on his face. “You don’t believe me.”
“Bloom, maybe you had a nightmare and hit the glass beside your bed. You’ve been under a lot of stress.” Free looked conflicted.
“Get out,” she said, agitated.
“Bloom, come on—”
“Get out. No…don’t touch me. If you can’t believe me, just get out.” Bloom started shaking. He actually thought she was crazy, but she knew what she heard.
“Bloom, I’m going to go downstairs and get the broom and start cleaning this up.”
“You don’t get it, do you? I said get out of my house.” Bloom pushed his hand off of her and backed away.
“You’re just tired.”
“Sick and tired of you. Just get out. Please!” She screamed when he didn’t move.
“This isn’t over, Bloom. You’re just mad and—”
“Yes, it’s over. You think I’m going to spend my life with someone who thinks I’m crazy?” Shaking her head, she turned around and went back into the bathroom and closed the door. “You need to be gone when I come out. If you are still here, I’m calling the cops.” Bloom said, leaning her head against the door. She waited until she heard him leave, then got into the shower. She had a lot to do today, including staying away from the man she loved.
* * *
Free slammed the door and headed toward the office. The woman lived in the bathroom. He checked and didn’t smell any scents that shouldn’t be there. His pack’s scent was in the house; Rose’s scent was still there, and now Bloom’s. Nothing out of the ordinary was present. As much as he’d been in that house, he’d never felt the presence of a ghost. Nothing felt off to him. His wolf would have found it. Jerking the door open, Free marched in and sat down hard in his chair. He could feel Buck staring at him, but how could he tell him that his mate thought there was a ghost in the house and now she sleeps in the bathroom!
Buck surprised him by not saying a word, just going back to his work.
“My mate is crazy.”
Buck simply glanced over at him. “Okay.”
“Well, aren’t you going to say something?”
“Nope, not touching that one. I happen to like your mate, and she’s nothing like a crazy person.”
“She hears ghosts in the house and she is sleeping in the bathroom because of it.” Free threw his hands up in the air. “Don’t you think there is something wrong with that?”
“No. Rose said there were ghosts living in the house,” Buck replied nonchalantly.
“She was crazy, too, and you know that, Buck. She was very eccentric. I loved the woman dearly, but…”
“But what? She was as sane as we are. Look, Free, maybe Bloom does see ghosts. Maybe it’s Rose.”
“Did Rose ever say that the ghosts threw things down the hallway and at her door?” Free’s eyebrow rose, waiting for him to answer.
“No, she didn’t, but you and I both know that Rose didn’t tell us everything. Just like the split in the will. You expected it, but Rose didn’t tell you.”
“Now Bloom wants nothing to do with me. Said if I didn’t leave her house she was calling the cops on me. I checked the house and found nothing. No new scents. Nothing!” Free leaned his head back against the wall. “Damn, the woman drives me insane.”
“Maybe we need to get you checked to see if you’re crazy,” Buck said with a smile. Free glanced up when the door opened and saw Bloom standing there. She didn’t say anything to him but looked over at Buck.
“Good morning, Buck. I’m going for a drive. Be back in a few.” Bloom pulled the keys to the Mule off the rack and closed the door.
“Yeah, it looks like she’s still mad at you.”
“I guess I need to go make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble.” Free stood up.
“Alpha, take some advice from me. Give her some time; don’t check on her. She needs to feel like she can do this on her own. Trust me when I say that she’s okay here on the farm. Just do your work and let her cool off. I will talk to her when she gets back.”
“You know I’m only allowing you to talk to me like this is because you’re my best friend, right?” Free sat back down and booted up his computer.
“Yes, and because I’m wise beyond my years.” Free snorted at his friend’s comment.
“You’re full of shit, too.” Free and Buck both laughed, but he knew his friend had been mated before and decided at this moment he should take his advice. But only this time.
16
Bloom and Mr. Wright sat at the kitchen table, eating cookies in silence.
“What you fretting over?” Mr. Wright asked.
Bloom looked up and then back down at her plate. “We are planting a strawberry crop and they’re not blooming yet. They’ve tried everything and we are running out of time, and the crops will die. That’s a lot of money wasted. I would like to hire you, Mr. Wright, to help me plant strawberries.”
She watched as Mr. Wright put down his glass. “Are we not friends?”
“Of course we are. I just didn’t want you to think I was using our friendship to get you to help me. So I have money set aside and I want to hire you and keep our friendship separate. That way if you get mad at me as a boss, or rather the person paying you…well, you won’t end your friendship with me. Because I don’t have many friends, and I like coming here and just talking. And to be honest, sometimes it’s nice to just sit here.” Bloom sighed.
“Bloom, I don’t want your money, but I will help you. Let’s go outside. I want to show you something.” Mr. Wright got up, and Bloom followed him out the back door. They walked in silence as they went to the back of the barn. Bloom couldn’t believe it. Strawberry plants were everywhere, and tiny buds were blooming all over them.
“Mr. Wright!” Bloom put her hand to her mouth. They were beautiful and green. “You have a magical thumb.”
“Nah, just learned a lot over the years and never had anyone to pass it on to. So now I’m going to pass it on to you.” Bloom couldn’t help it when she hugged him. If the barn hadn’t been to his back, she would have surely knocked him down.
Patting her on the back, Mr. Wright pushed her away. “None of that, now.” Mr. Wright turned away but she saw the small smile curve up his mouth before it disappeared. “Got your notebook?” Bloom pulled it out and showed it to him. “Good, get ready to take a lot of notes.”
Bloom sat down on the ground and before she knew it, two hours had passed. She would have kept going, but her phone dinged, letting her know she had a text. “Free is getting anxious and so am I. Where are you?” The message was from Buck.
“This is such great information, Mr. Wright.”
“Now, here are four plants for you to start with, but put together all the ingredients and then mix it into some soil and then put it around the plants. They will bud using that. Remember the pine needles and mulching and water. If you do all of this, you will see great results. Now go on before they send them shifters looking for you.” Bloom didn’t know what to say about that. Maybe he was crazy, but then again, maybe she was crazy too.
“Thank you, Mr. Wright, for helping us.”
“I’m not helping them.” Mr. Wright pointed toward her house. “I’m helping you.”
Bloom smiled and started to hug him again, but he backed up and shooed her away. “Now go on. I like them first cookies better,” he said and walked back toward his house. Grabbing her notebook and her strawberry plants, Bloom got on the Mule and headed home.
Free was at the barn waiting for her. Buck was standing to the side, talking with one of the young kids who was frowning at her. Free didn’t wait long before he pounced on her. “Where have you been?”
Bloom ignored him and picked up the plants and her notebook and walked out of the barn with Free on her tail. Apparently, this was a show and tell, because all the help and Bu
ck came outside to watch. “Bloom, I asked you a question,” Free said, putting his hand on her arm to bring her to a stop.
Obviously, he didn’t realize how mad she was, but she showed him. Dropping the items she had in her hands, Bloom turned on him and used a move she was shown by her dad. It was instinct for her and he had put his hand in the right spot. Grabbing his hand, Bloom tucked and rolled, flipping Free over her onto the ground with a loud pop. Standing over him she said, “Never put your hands on me again.” Not one person spoke or made a sound. She knew she had probably shocked them all, but she had enough of the ghosts and Free, who was supposed to love her but had a crappy way of showing it.
Picking up her stuff, she marched off toward her house. She needed to get the ingredients and mix them before she planted these. Slamming the door, Bloom put her stuff down on the table and turned on the sink. Washing her hands, she noticed she was shaking. She heard the back door open and prayed it wasn’t Free.
She didn’t turn around but continued to wash the dirt off her hands. Buck came up beside her and just watched. “I guess you’re going to tell me I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Nope. He knows better. I’m just checking on you,” Buck answered.
Turning off the water, Bloom stood at the sink trying to get her thoughts in order. “Did I hurt him?”
“Nope, only his pride, but we all need to be flipped on our ass sometimes. Builds character.” When she glanced up at him, he was smiling.
“I…I didn’t mean to—”
Buck cut her off, “Like I said, Bloom, he knows better. He’s a grown man and he knows how to treat a lady.” Buck narrowed his eyes looking at the plants on the counter. “Those strawberry plants have flowers on them. How did you do that?”
“Mr. Wright showed me what to do, and gave me four to help the others.”
“Old Man Wright?” Buck asked.
“Yep, he likes me,” Bloom said.
“Obviously. So what are we doing wrong?”
“Not much, but I wrote it all down.” It felt good to Bloom knowing that she could contribute to the farm. The two of them mixed the ingredients then went to the barn and got the pine straw. She followed the directions to a T and now it was time to wait and see what happened. If it worked, they would do this with all the plants.
“You have a visitor.” Buck pointed at the car pulling up. RJ was getting out of the car. When she looked closer at him, she noticed he was in a suit and long tie.
“Wonder why he’s so dressed up?” Bloom muttered.
“You said you would go to the dance with him,” Buck answered.
Bloom froze and turned around. “Tonight is the Hallows’ Eve Dance?”
“Yeah, that’s why he’s here,” Buck said. “Now go get ready and I will see you there. Save a dance for me.” Bloom wanted to crawl under the house. She heard the door open and knew that Free would be standing at the office door, listening.
Hurrying away, Bloom met RJ coming around to the side of the house.
“You ready?” The look on her face said enough. “You forgot.” RJ laughed. He took his finger and rubbed dirt off her face. “You’ve been playing in the soil?”
“Funny. I forgot but—”
“She’s going with me.” Bloom and RJ both turned around to find a pissed-off Free.
“Well, let’s hear Bloom say that,” RJ sneered.
“No, I made a promise to go with RJ, so I’m going with him. I told you that I couldn’t be with someone who doesn’t believe in me.” Bloom suddenly felt tired. She didn’t give Free a chance to say anything further. Instead, she opened the door and walked in, closing it behind her. Slowly she walked up the stairs. She didn’t want to go to the dance, but she did tell RJ she would, and she never broke her word.
“I’m home,” she muttered to the ghosts. At the moment she just didn’t care anymore.
* * *
“What do you think you’re doing, RJ?” Free stood right in front of him.
“Taking a pretty girl to the dance. Not my fault you can’t seem to get it together. I’m sure we’ll see you there with a date. It wouldn’t look right if the Alpha didn’t show up with a date.” RJ turned his back and walked in the house.
Before he could grab him, Buck pulled him back. “Alpha, stop. RJ is not the one you’re angry with. Plus, he just gave you a hint. He knows that Bloom is your mate. Do what the man said and take a date. Then ask Bloom to dance and tell her you contacted a witch to see if they could help out with the ghost problem.”
Free felt the anger slowly dissipate, but RJ was in the house with his mate, and that wasn’t working for him. “Get him out of the house with her, or get in there yourself.”
“Okay, just calm down. Go run before you get ready. I think it will help clear your head.” Buck walked in the back door, leaving him alone.
Buck was right; he needed to find out if there was something in that house. He knew Dunn had a witch that lived on pack land. He needed to ask for a favor…and he hated that.
17
Bloom pushed her hands down her dress for the hundredth time. RJ told her she was beautiful, but Free was on her mind. She had told him that she would call the cops on him, and then flipped him onto his back, and now she was here with another man. Now everyone was staring at her. Even the people who worked on her farm were giving her dirty looks. Especially the kids…they seemed to be taking a great deal of interest in her. Thank goodness they left early.
Buck pulled her away from RJ and onto the dance floor. She loved Buck. He was so easy to talk to. “You look beautiful, Bloom.”
She smiled, “Thank you, Buck. I just wish things were different. We just can’t seem to get it together.”
“The question is, do you love him?” Buck asked the one question she could never lie about.
“Yes, I do, but he doesn’t believe me and I can’t be with someone who doesn’t.”
“Tell me what happened,” Buck asked, and she could tell he really wanted to know. As they danced, Bloom told him every detail. He narrowed his eyes as she explained.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes, I do. I’ve heard of ghosts haunting the home they’d lived in, but that doesn’t sound like Rose. If anyone wanted you here, it was Rose,” Buck explained.
“Thank you, Buck. Just saying that you believe me means the world to me.” Tears rose up in her throat but she managed to quell them. Then Free walked in with the girl from the pub. Her breath caught in her throat.
“What’s wrong?” Buck followed the direction she was staring and turned her away. “Do you want me to take you home?”
“No,” she said, feeling a sob rising in her throat.
“Hey, Buck, I will be out at the farm in the morning to check the tractor,” an older man said. He was standing to the side putting on his coat.
“That’s good, Pete,” Buck answered.
“You must be Bloom,” Pete said with his hand out.
“Yes, sir. Nice to meet you, Pete.” Bloom offered her hand.
“Well, I will see you tomorrow too, then. I’m off…got to get my beauty sleep.” Pete smiled.
“I need some air,” Bloom said as she stared at Free and the woman. They were over to the side talking to another couple. She wanted to die. It was a mistake to come here.
“Pete,” Bloom called out.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Can you give me a ride back to the farm? I don’t want Buck or RJ to have to leave.” Bloom asked.
“I can take you, Bloom,” Buck offered.
“No, you stay, Buck. Claire just came in without a date and maybe you can dance with her. I’m not feeling well anyway.”
“Bloom, are you sure? I don’t mind. Really.”
“I’m sure. Thank you, Buck, for everything.” Bloom went to grab her coat, and walked out with Pete.
* * *
Bloom took the dress off and put on a pair of blue jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt. She packed her clothes in an old s
uitcase she had found up in her closet. There was a shotgun in the closet, too. Her dad had taught her how to shoot when she was younger. Writing RJ a note, she released her part of the property and house to Free. She didn’t want it, and whatever was in this house didn’t want her here anyway. Plus, Free had moved on.
She didn’t belong here, and it would be too hard to continue to work and live here with him. That also meant she would lose the one million dollars, but she couldn’t take that anyway. It belonged to the farm. Free could have it too. She signed her name and said that she would call him when she got settled somewhere, and he could send the papers for her to sign. Every word she wrote hurt to write. She looked around at the beautiful room one last time and picked up her suitcase. She had left the dress on the bed with a note for Claire. She hoped she could return it to pay RJ back.
Turning off the lamp beside the bed, Bloom walked toward the hallway and heard that terrible voice again. “Leave!” Dropping the suitcase, Bloom bent down, covering her ears.
“I’m leaving. I’m leaving,” Bloom whimpered. When the noise stopped, she glanced up and saw a shadow coming toward her. She could feel her heart as it beat loudly. Her body froze, petrified that the ghost had manifested and wanted her dead.
“Bloom.” Cold terror gripped her as someone whispered her name. Free walked out of the shadows, staring at her.
“Leave!” the voice screeched again. She couldn’t breathe when the voice vibrated through her.
“Bloom.” Free ran to her side as she backed up against the wall.
“Can’t…breat—”
“Breathe, honey. Please breathe.” He placed her hand over his heart.
“Leave, Leave, Leave, Leave, Leave!” The voice screamed over and over again. Free turned around, staring up at the ceiling. Then the ceiling fell through and four bodies crashed onto the floor. Bloom gasped, crawling backward and hitting the wall.
