Magic in the Mountains

by Donna Kunkel

  “Give me a few minutes of privacy, and I will look.”

  Alex stood. “I’ll wait outside.” She opened the door and walked back out to the reception area to wait.

  “Anything I can help you with?” Mrs. Pratt asked.

  “No, thank you. Principal Vale asked me to wait here for a few minutes.” Alex started pacing around the small area.

  Mrs. Pratt kept watching her. “Take a seat, or you’ll wear out the threads in that old carpet.”

  Alex stopped then sat in a nearby chair. Within moments Principal Vale opened his door and motioned Alex in. Alex sat back down in the guest chair while Vale took his seat behind his desk.

  “I checked the book, and I have an answer for you.”

  Alex moved forward on her chair.

  “The book now recommends that you should write stories for children and adults. The stories should be about people discovering that they have magic. When the readers check out the author website we will be able to look at their responses and judge if they should be considered as possible candidates for attending school. Hopefully this will help us find more wizards than we currently have.”

  “It actually said all that?”

  Vale nodded. “It did. The writing was minuscule so all the information could be included in the small space. I have never seen such a specific answer. Does that help?”

  Alex nodded, “I’ve contacted a publishing company about getting a job there, but I’m not as sure about becoming an author.”

  “You have time. Try to start writing in your spare time for now, then maybe more if you are still interested.”

  “Thanks for looking. I really appreciate it.”

  “Are you keeping in touch with Mr. Davis?”

  “I’m trying to, but it’s hard. His cabin is on the basic side. He has to go to a neighbor, his best friend, to make a radio call. Right now, the phone lines are out.”

  “Let me know when we can make a trip out there. I want to talk with Mr. Davis and see the eggs. Until then, I will find out as much as I can about dragons.”

  They both stood and shook hands. Vale showed her out of his office and walked her back to the gate. After unlocking the gate, he said, “I always appreciate it when a former student contacts me. My door is always open.”

  “I’m glad you could help. I’ll let you know when we can get out there.”

  Vale nodded and shut the gate. Alex headed back to the traveling booths and back to Denver. She ate a quick lunch before calling a cab to take her back to her apartment.

  That afternoon she got a call from the publisher she’d contacted. “This is Tami Fisher. I talked with Ms. Gibson, and you came highly recommended. I have three assignments I want you to do before we speak next week. As soon as you finish each task I want you to send it in, and I’ll send you the next task at noon the next day. Based on your input we can see if you’ll be a good fit.”

  “Okay,” Alex answered. “What’s the first task?”

  “I want you to write a short segment that advertises a movie, maybe something like The Wizard of Oz. This should be like what you find on the back cover or the inside flap of a book. Something that will entice the customer to want to read the book.”

  “Okay,” Alex said.

  “Do you have any questions?”

  “No, it seems clear enough.”

  “Good then. I’ll be looking forward to see what you send. If you have any other questions, send an e-mail. My assistant watches my inbox all the time.”

  Alex hung up and powered up her computer. The “as soon as you finish” meant they were interested in finding out how long she took to get the task done. The sooner she finished the more impressive it would be, as long as she did a good job. By late that night, she’d sent in her piece.

  The next day she got a request to write ten pages about anything she wanted to write about, fiction or nonfiction. She wrote a bit about Caroline seeing the unicorn and had it in by the next day. The following day Tami sent the first three chapters of a book asking her to read it and make any comments or suggestions. By the next day, Alex had sent back her response. She received only one more e-mail confirming her appointment to meet with Tami.

  Alex rented a car the day of her appointment and arrived at the building where Tami had her offices. The location was a two-story brick building that had probably been someone’s home at one time. The assistant showed her in to the conference room.

  Tami strode in and shook Alex’s hand. “I’m so glad we could meet.”

  “I expected your offices would be in some big office building,” Alex said.

  “Most of my clients, and half of my staff, work from their homes. We give them the choice to do what works best for them. We only meet here when we need to discuss things face to face.” Tami motioned Alex to a chair at the end of the conference table and took the seat next to her. “I liked what you sent in. What are you interested in?”

  “I’m looking for something that will be more creative than my last job.”

  “You have a gift for writing. Ever consider writing a book?”

  “I might later on, but right now I need something that will pay my rent.”

  Tami opened the manila folder she’d brought in. “I liked your suggestions on the three chapters. Are you interested in working as an editor?”

  “This would be something I could do from anywhere?”

  Tami nodded. “All you’d need is a good Internet connection. Then you would have to come here when needed to go over the project’s status with the rest of the team.”

  “That would be great.”

  Tami and Alex talked for over an hour going over the details of the job and the company’s policies. Two hours later, Alex walked out with a job which she could possibly do from the valley. She’d have to borrow Peter’s Internet connection to send things in, but it could work. As long as she could convince Steve that he could control his bear. On the way home, she bought a bottle of champagne and a couple of steaks to celebrate with Joe.

  The weather continued to warm up. Three weeks after she’d left, Steve set a date for meeting at the hotel so she could get her car. Joe drove her out but left as soon as they saw her car and Steve waiting inside. Alex checked in and got a room for the night.

  Alex asked, “How are the roads?” They headed into the restaurant and selected a table away from any of the other customers.

  “Still snow-packed. The plows came through but there’s still a layer of snow and ice.”

  Alex looked up from the menu she’d been perusing. “How’d you get my car here then?”

  “I towed it behind my truck. I put my chains on so I got pretty good traction.” Steve reached across and took her hand. “Let’s grab a quick lunch, then we can go up to the room and you can tell me what you found out.”

  They talked about Mandy, Anna Belle, and Peter until their food arrived. After wolfing down their sandwiches, they headed up to the room. Steve paced. “What did you find out?”

  “I talked with Principal Vale, and he believes he can help.”

  “How?”

  “As soon as I can drive in, I’ll set up a meeting with you and him. He can tell you more than I can, and you can ask questions. He also wants to see the eggs.”

  Steve nodded. “I’ve started a list of questions I need to ask.”

  “Is the unicorn still there?”

  “Yeah, he’s enjoying the hay. As soon as I get close, he comes out to meet me. I’ve been driving up to the cave now and he doesn’t seem to mind.”

  Alex reached out to Steve. He took her hand and sat down on the bed next to her. She asked, “How are you doing?”

  “Other than missing you?”

  Alex nodded.

  “Okay, I guess. Nothing changes much.”

  “Only when someone stumbles onto your front porch?”

  He pulled her into his arms and gently brushed his fingertips down her cheek. “The luckiest moment of my life.”

  “I mis
sed you.”

  He started undoing the buttons on her denim blouse. “This fits you a lot better than my flannel shirts do.”

  “But I enjoy your flannel shirts, especially when you’re in them.”

  “Shut up and kiss me already.” He pulled her down onto the bed with him.

  They spent the next few hours making love or wrapped around each other. They left the room when sunset approached.

  Alex asked, “When will I see you again?” once they were outside.

  Steve pulled her coat tightly shut as they stood next to her car. “I guess when you can come with Principal Vale.”

  “That won’t give us any time to be alone.”

  “No. We’ll have to see how this goes first.” He gave her a long passionate kiss and headed back to his truck.

  He definitely didn’t believe in long goodbyes. Alex watched his truck disappear into the pass before she headed back in for some dinner. As much as she enjoyed their time together, it was over too quickly. She headed back to Denver the next morning.

  At least in Denver the grass was finally starting to send up some green blades, and she could see tiny leaves forming on the crabapple trees. Spring was finally starting. Now she’d be able to get to Steve’s. But then there were also the April snows to worry about. As much as she would like to, she couldn’t risk getting stuck there again.

  Her new job was keeping her busy. She had a stack of manuscripts to review, and she had to have electricity to power her computer to do this. She could work at Peter’s with all his solar panels, but Steve didn’t have any. No matter how much she hinted about getting some, he seemed wary. After spending most of his life with only limited electric, this would be a major change she’d be bringing about. Would he start feeling overwhelmed by all the changes? She couldn’t blame him if he did. All she could do was try and convince him how much better his life would be.

  Chapter 26

  Alex kept calling Steve now that the phone lines were back in service. Each time they talked, he seemed to become more distant. At first it was little things, then he started finding excuses to end the conversation. At least the snow had ended for the most part. Steve mentioned how they had gotten a few more storms that only dropped a couple of inches. He said the road in was getting better, but it still had some icy spots. Since Alex didn’t have chains for her car, she had to wait.

  Her new job was a vast improvement over her last one. She was finally enjoying what she did. Tami would send her a manuscript and Alex would work with the author polishing the story. Alex even tried writing. At first, she only wrote a few small bits that gradually increased in size. Three weeks after she’d picked up her car, Steve let her know that the road in was clear enough for her to drive in safely. She would finally get a chance to see how Steve was doing. Did his distance mean his bear was indeed waking up early, or was he not interested in having a relationship with her? How she missed seeing him every day.

  Alex arranged to pick up Principal Vale at The Dirty Dog and take him to see Steve. At first, she didn’t recognize Vale dressed in a dark gray suit. He looked so different from the way she’d always seen him wearing robes. He presented a striking image with his crisp suit. He stood outside the door holding his hands loosely behind his back. As soon as she pulled to the curb, he opened the passenger door, tossed his coat in the back seat, and settled into the front passenger seat.

  He gave her a wink and an easy nod. “This is going to be interesting. I cannot wait to meet Mr. Davis.” He closed the door and Alex pulled away. She headed to the nearby highway. “Is the unicorn still there?”

  “Steve said he was. He mentioned that the unicorn comes out to meet him when he brings the hay. He can even drive the snowmobile close to the cave now.”

  Vale touched his fingertips together forming a steeple as he peered out the front window. “It appears that our unicorn is becoming tame. That puts an interesting twist on things.”

  “How?” Alex asked as she pulled onto the highway.

  “We will probably need to bring the unicorn with the eggs. I imagine he will want to continue guarding them, or he would have left by now.”

  “Why would he leave?”

  “He did his job by locating them and making sure someone is aware that they exist.”

  Alex thought for several minutes about the unicorn. “But he’s decided to stay.”

  “Indeed.”

  “He would actually keep watch over them? It isn’t as if an animal could eat them, they’re hard rocks.”

  “No, but an unscrupulous wizard might try to use them for nefarious purposes.”

  “Someone would do that?”

  “I am afraid so. Not all wizards are noble, some have evil in their heart just like everyone else. Magic does not make one good or evil, it is simply a gift a few of us possess.”

  Alex could see the mountains looming ahead as she started her ascent. “I never gave it much thought.”

  “Why would you? You have not had to deal with someone who leans to the dark side of magic.”

  “Have you?”

  “Only on occasion. I have been lucky. I am sure our security force has dealt with several.”

  Alex nodded. For the first time she understood the implications. She’d never considered the matter before, just lived in her happy cocoon.

  “I understand that you have secured a new job.”

  “How did you find out?”

  “The Book. When I looked in it the day of your visit the writing was faint. Now it is as plain as day. I take it you have started writing something?”

  “A little. Nothing of any significance.”

  “You have taken the first step on to a new path. It will take time.”

  Alex giggled. “You sound like a wise old sage.”

  “And that surprises you? I nurture new wizards, what would you expect?”

  “A wise sage.”

  “Do not let my age fool you. I am still only one man.”

  Alex took a quick glance at him. He was watching her and grinning.

  He broke out in a booming laugh.

  “You’re teasing me.”

  “Of course. Everyone expects me to be some master who knows everything. I try to live up to their expectations.”

  “Did you learn anything more about shape-shifting? Do you think you can help Steve?”

  “I believe so. As long as he wants to learn about magic.”

  “Why wouldn’t he?”

  “You would be surprised, not everyone does. I encounter many who continue to deny the existence of magic, especially in themselves.”

  “Why?”

  “Many reasons, although religious beliefs seem to be the most prominent. They refuse to believe that magic and God can co-exist.”

  This was an area Alex had never considered much. She’d gone to church with some of her roommates in college but had never settled into any specific religion. She believed in striving to lead a moral life but always steered away from any one church. If they discovered she had magic, she hated to think about what they might do. She paid more attention to the road as it wound in among the mountains.

  Vale leaned back putting his hands behind his head. “The mountains still manage to amaze me.”

  “I’d think you’d be used to them by now. You live right in among them.”

  “Maybe, but you get a different perspective when you are actually winding around them. The school grounds are in a high meadow, so you forget how tall the mountains actually are.”

  “I love taking this road for that very reason.”

  “Is that why you chose to drive to Grand Junction?”

  “Um…” Alex could feel her face heating up. “No.”

  He pulled his arms back down, “I do not want to pry, but why would you drive instead of taking the traveling booth?”

  “I was being stupid.”

  “How so?”

  “I was trying to see if I could go thirty days without using any magic.”

&
nbsp; He remained silent and waited for her to continue.

  “It was dumb. I’d become disappointed with trying to find a wizard boyfriend, so I decided to see if I could find someone in the normal world.”

  Vale remained silent.

  “So I decided to try and live only in the normal world.”

  “Did you have any luck with that?”

  “Thankfully no. I had gone twenty-three days before using magic on purpose. I might not have except for going to Grand Junction to visit some college friends. Then I got snowbound.”

  “I bet you had a lot of mishaps during those days, especially the longer it was.”

  “As a matter of fact, I did.” Alex worried her lip. “Why?”

  “When you ignore your magic, especially over a long period, it wants to find its own way of getting out. What happened?”

  “I popped a lot of corn, I gave a hen some interesting quirks, and I changed Steve into a bear…Or did I?”

  “Probably not directly, not with your level of power. You were just the final push to force his change.” Vale laughed. “To think you ended up with another wizard,” he managed to get out. “And a rare shape-shifter at that.”

  Alex nodded. “I didn’t know he was.”

  Vale stopped laughing. “Couldn’t you sense him?”

  “I may have noticed at first, then the situation distracted me. There were some signs when we got more involved. But I never thought about it again until he told me about him being a shifter.”

  “Now that is interesting.” Vale nodded slowly.

  “My powers aren’t that strong. Maybe you’ll feel something that I don’t.”

  “Maybe.”

  “What else could it be?”

  “Think back to the first moment you met him.”

  Alex thought about waking up in his bed, his touching her hands and feet checking for frostbite, and when they shook hands.

  “Did you feel anything the first time you touched?”

  Alex concentrated on the memory, then answered, “I don’t remember.”

  “Where you attracted to him when you looked at him?”