Oak & Mistletoe

by McCauley, J. Z. N.

  Bowen and the hunter scuffled with the tug of war they were in. As they struggled, Catherine burst through the trees.

  “Catherine!” Danny said, his throat burning.

  “Danny! Oh thank God, you’re alive,” she exclaimed, relieved though alarmed by the sickly state she found him in. She had to get him out of there.

  Meanwhile, Bowen was struggling with the hunter. The hunter had the upper hand more times than Bowen was comfortable with. His hand still on the trigger, he kept trying to knock Bowen off him, or at least free his hand long enough to shoot. Danny was still in the hunter’s target view. When Catherine came to him, he tried to push her away so she didn’t get caught in the crossfire should Bowen fail.

  Just then, Bowen tripped, but tripped towards the hunter. The hunter pulled his crossbow up and accidentally hit the trigger. The arrow left its hold and shot up, tearing leaves and tiny twigs as it went.

  Bowen was knocked back off his feet, as the hunter pushed him. Catherine stood and reached out a hand in front of her, wishing to stop the hunter’s breath. The hunter dropped his crossbow and stopped in his tracks as if she willed it to happen. She watched him closely as he grabbed his throat in fear. He was choking, and he hunched over, fading fast. The noise of far off leaves rustling made them think someone else was coming, when suddenly the traveling arrow returned and shot down into the hunter’s back, straight through his heart. His expression went blank, and his eyes glazed over. The hunter stayed on his feet for half a second more, then fell to the ground, face in the dirt.

  The three, reunited at last, looked around and breathed heavily. Bowen rose from the leafy ground and went to help Catherine carefully pick Danny up. “How did you do that Catherine?” Danny struggled to ask.

  Catherine pushed Danny’s long bangs out of his face, and looked curiously at him. “What are you talking about?”

  Zapped of energy, Danny just gave her a knowing look. Catherine hadn’t had a chance to realize what did actually happen until now.

  “. . . I don’t know how, but I think I was choking him,” Catherine said as the three started walking, arms interlocked to support Danny’s limp body. But Danny had already passed out from the exertion.

  “We need to get him back to Mary’s cottage,” Bowen stated. Catherine agreed, and they left as quickly as they could.

  *

  When Bowen returned to the battlefield the next day to bury Conall’s body, he found it disintegrated beyond recognition. It looked like it had been lifeless for years. Bowen suspected it had something to do with the curse. He moved the body as best he could and covered it with dirt and whatever rocks he could find nearby.

  Bowen returned to Mary’s home to find Catherine sitting next to her brother’s bed where he slept soundly. “He’s safe now, his fever broke last night,” he said softly, careful not to wake him.

  Catherine let out her breath. She had feared the worst until that moment. Bowen smiled and leaned down to help her out of the room, leaving Danny to sleep. “You don’t have to be such a gentleman and help me wherever I go, you know. You’re injured,” she said, gesturing to his bandaged ribs, and shoulder.

  “I’ll be fine, I’m healing already,” he said, and waved his arm emphatically as they walked through the house.

  Mary was cooking in the kitchen and they settled at an old wooden table. “He’s going to live?” she asked without turning from the stove.

  “Yes,” Bowen said with confidence.

  Mary glanced back at Catherine, “I’m glad to hear it, Caty,” she said.

  Catherine leaned on the table with one elbow, and looked through the newspaper. Bowen simply enjoyed sitting and watching normal life continue. Catherine’s eyes moved across the large page, from one inked word to the next.

  “Bowen?” she said.

  He came out of his daze. “Yes?”

  “Where do we go from here?” she asked.

  Bowen looked confused, “What do you mean?”

  “I can’t go back to my old life,” she said, “I can’t be the Catherine Green that I was before.”

  “Why ever not?” he shrugged.

  “Because you don’t fit into that life, and I can’t go back without you.”

  Bowen smiled.

  “So what do we do?” she asked again.

  “I hadn’t thought about it. I’ve simply been trying to get used to the idea of no curse. It’s nice,” he trailed off.

  Catherine continued reading.

  Bowen’s eyebrow twitched, “What are you looking for?” he asked.

  “A place to live . . .”

  Mary finished the dishes, and drying off her hands with a towel she turned to them. “And jobs? Unless you plan on being on the run?” she asked.

  “Job, yes,” Catherine answered, still looking through the paper.

  “You’re welcome to stay with me,” Mary offered. “And well, I own a few of the shops in the village, if one of those suits you. I could use the help. My employees won’t give you any trouble about where you’re from or anything.”

  Catherine looked up from her paper, swinging her red waves behind her shoulders before she stood and hugged Mary.

  “Won’t Kenneth be unhappy we’re here when he comes to visit?” she asked, pulling away.

  “Caty, don’t you worry about my grandson. He got himself in a bit of trouble when he betrayed you two. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him for a while.”

  “You’re not upset?”

  “Oh no, dear. It’s nothing we can do anything about. He’s got to pay his dues. Maybe it’ll teach him a lesson finally,” she explained.

  Bowen stood, his head brushing against the tiny kitchen’s ceiling. “Thank you,” he said to Mary.

  “I’ll never grow tired of hearing your accent,” she said happily to him.

  Bowen and Catherine looked at each other and laughed.

  *

  Some days passed, and Danny’s health improved steadily. With Bowen’s doctoring, and Mary’s homemade meals, he was well on his way to being one hundred and ten percent. Catherine was relieved as she checked on him day to day.

  She knew it was time to return Bella’s car to her, and Danny offered to drive it there since he wanted to return to Dublin. First Catherine bought herself and Danny a prepaid mobile with no names connected to it, and called her friend. She told Bella everything—well mostly. Bella didn’t know about Catherine’s power. Catherine thought that was best for now. But Kathleen’s death was difficult for Bella to take at first.

  “I’m so sorry, Cathy!”

  “Thanks.”

  “Kathleen’s at peace now,” Bella said, and Catherine believed her.

  When the call ended, she went over plans with Danny. Knowing he would be leaving to return the car the next day, she reminded him that he might be wanted by the Gardai for Síne’s disappearance, as well as questioning about both her and Kathleen.

  “I’ll keep out of sight for a while,” he said.

  “Really? What will you do for money?”

  He shrugged. “Odd jobs. I’ll find tons around the city.” Danny wanted some things to go back to normal, but he was going to be different this time. He just had to figure out how. Seeing Bella again would be a nice step to normal, he thought.

  Catherine wasn’t too sure about his plans, but let it go.

  In the early afternoon, Bowen opened the door to Mary’s book shop in the village centre and saw Catherine putting a large leather bound book away. She turned when she heard the door open and smiled at him.

  “Just a sec,” she said and disappeared behind a door in the back with a small cart.

  Bowen skimmed the titles nearby. Catherine soon reappeared with her jacket and a sash purse in hand. They left the small book shop and as they reached the borrowed compact car, Bowen opened the driver’s door for her.

  “Where are we going?” he asked as she drove them from the town they now called home. “I hope it’s not another adventure,” he added.

/>   “Very funny . . . It’s a surprise. I wanted to do this before I gave the car back,” she said without taking her eyes off the road.

  “I hate surprises,” he mumbled irritably.

  “I know, but not this one,” she said, chuckling to herself.

  Bowen watched Catherine as much as he could. Catherine looked vibrant. He loved seeing her this way.

  “Bowen?”

  “Hm?”

  “Do you really think I brought the sun out that day?” she asked.

  “I know you did. It explains why it was usually sunny in the days leading up to the battle. Somehow you call it out with your power, and it fuels you.”

  “I bring sunlight,” she said quietly to herself. “When Conall attacked you during the battle, I understood what he said . . . but I don’t think he was speaking English, was he?”

  Bowen looked surprised. “No, he wasn’t . . .”

  “Then how could I know?” she wondered.

  Bowen shook his head; he didn’t have an answer. “It wasn’t your power,” he remarked.

  Catherine nodded in acknowledgment. She told herself she would let it go, just like everything else. Catherine realized shortly after Conall’s death that she would never be completely healed, never be whole again without Kathleen. But in her brother’s safety and happiness, and with Bowen by her side, she found her bliss.

  They soon reached their destination, and exited the car to see rolling hills, small mountains, and waving grass winking at them in the breeze. The sun was high, and warm. Across the way, the empty land was speckled with trees and hundreds of flowers. The flowers turned their faces to the sun, trying to soak in every ounce, and Catherine did the same. She led the way as they walked hand in hand.

  Bowen saw it before Catherine could say anything, and he stopped to keep it in full view.

  “I read this is one of the oldest oak trees in Ireland still standing,” Catherine said, “I thought you would want to see it. Maybe it’ll bring you hope for our future.”

  Bowen squeezed her hand and smiled. They walked closer, and stopped once more. Bowen’s neck stretched as he looked high up at the layered branches and thickly grown leaves against the remarkably blue sky above. He breathed in the fresh air, feeling full of life. He smiled, remembering the times he’d spent playing around the brothers of this tree as a child. He gently touched the bark and felt Catherine give him a small squeeze.

  “The oak is beautiful. Its life force is indeed old, but still very strong. Thank you for introducing me,” he said smiling happily. Catherine nodded and smiled back.

  “I want to live happily ever after with you Bowen,” she said.

  Bowen reached for her and pulled her into a deep kiss. Catherine wrapped her arms around him and surrendered. He pulled away slightly to look into her deep eyes and held her tightly to him.

  “Can we be together forever?” she asked, wrapped up in Bowen under the majestic oak. “Yes, forever and all of time.”

  The End

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  THIS BOOK WOULD not have been possible if it weren’t for my loving and supportive family, and friends. I want to thank my husband and children for all their understanding, comfort, and love. You have been my rock and helped me stay focused. Thank you to my grandmother who encouraged me, supported me, and was a friend when I needed her most. Thank you to my aunt and mother who were excited to read it upon release.

  Jayne, Chiara, Roksana, Janai, Linnea, Elisa, and Andy—Thank you to my dear friends whose kindness and support have kept me going.

  K.P. Stewart, Cassie James, Elise Kova, Karen Tomlinson, and Katelyn Anderson—Thank you to my fantastic author friends who generously had a hand in helping the publishing and media process, as well as helpful writing critique and advice for this book. You guys are amazing!

  Thank you to my wonderfully kind and extremely talented cover artist Mélanie Delon. You plucked Catherine’s image from my mind perfectly and made her real in another exciting way. I am forever grateful, and already ecstatic to see the cover for the sequel.

  Thank you to the editor Kiele Raymond for her hard work, helpful views, and writing advice.

  Finally, thank you to my awesome and efficient publisher.

  I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who helped me in one way or another to make this book a book and known to readers.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  J.Z.N. McCauley resides in lovely New England, where she loves wearing jackets and boots in the unpredictable weather there. She is a wife and mother who enjoys life to the fullest. Also, being a nerd across many genres is something she expresses openly.

  McCauley spends most of her spare time writing, drawing, or reading. She loves archeology, mythology, history, music and many other forms of art as well. Always having a variety of interests and talents, she could never pick just one. When the chance pops up to travel to any of her favorite places, she takes way too many pictures. Otherwise, she is exploring a mystical land in a daydream. Which all provides fuel to her immense joy of writing. She is the author of the novella A Bell Sound Everlasting as well as the fantasy novel Oak & Mistletoe. She is currently writing The Oathing Stone (Fall 2017), a sequel to Oak & Mistletoe.

  Visit her Online at

  www.jznmccauley.com

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  Instagram (@JZNMcCauley) You can also subscribe to her monthly book newsletter for news on releases, appearances, and giveaways at www.jznmccauley.com/subscribe