Chapter Three – Ruth

“There.” Ruth turned her easel around and rested it on her knee, while the young couple in front of her giggled at the caricature she’d just sketched out.

“My nose is not that big!” insisted the young man.

“Are you sure?” his girlfriend asked. At least, Ruth assumed they were boyfriend and girlfriend, since they clung to each other like glue. She longed to ask them if they were mates. There was something about that kind of true love that fascinated her, even though it could spawn terrible heartache.

The young man touched his nose. “Yes.”

She giggled even harder. “Look at my eyes. You can almost see my bear popping out.”

Definitely shifters, Ruth mused. “They’re meant to be fun, to exaggerate what is already there.”

The girl leaned forward and whispered, “Can you see my bear?”

“No,” Ruth admitted. “But there is something predatory in your eyes. Maybe it’s brought on by the nearness of your mate?”

“Could be.” She took a closer look. “Thank you.” Patting her boyfriend’s chest, she said, “Come on, pay up. You said you would buy one for me if I liked it.”

“Here.” The boyfriend handed over his money.

“Thanks. All for a good cause,” Ruth said as she rolled up the drawing and put an elastic band around it. “Tell your friends.”

“We will.” They walked off, hand in hand. Ruth stood up and stretched, while watching the two lovers as they wandered around the other exhibits.

“I’m going to take a break,” Ruth told Dani, who had almost sold all of her cakes. “My hand is cramping up from drawing so many caricatures.”

“If you see Jamie and the kids, tell him I’m nearly done,” Dani said. “He can help me clean up.” She put her hands on her hips and looked around the room. “The Renaissance Faire is a hit.”

“It sure is.” Ruth wiped her hands on a cloth. “This should be a yearly event.”

“It should.” Dani’s attention was drawn to a couple of children who Ruth recognized from school. They were siblings, the youngest, a girl, was in Ruth’s class. They were new in town, too, fostered by a local family, after being involved in a case of neglect. “Hi, Jason. Hey there, Jenny. Do you want to decorate a cake?”

“I didn’t think they had sprinkles in medieval times,” Jason was saying.

“Shh, don’t rat me out,” Dani said, placing two cakes down in front of the children. “You can put on whatever you want.”

While Dani spoke to the children, Ruth made her escape, slipping out the door and breathing in the fresh mountain air. There was something to be said for living in a small town next to wide open spaces and forests. She inhaled again, letting the air refresh her. Being inside and concentrating on each of the drawings had left her mentally tired, but fresh air would soon bring her back to life.

Ruth circled the assortment of stalls and workshops. Learning something new always excited her, it was one of the reasons she became a teacher. Bringing up four kids, when you were still a kid yourself, might have been tough, but it had given her a window in on their lives. She’d watched the way they learned. In return, Ruth never outgrew the eyes of her inner child, and experienced the same kind of excitement as they did as the five of them explored the world, through museums and books, music and theater. This joy of learning spurred Ruth on in her pursuit of teaching as a career.

“Hello.” A man’s voice attracted her attention, it was loud, almost feverish with excitement. How could she ignore it?

Thinking she was about to come face to face with a freaky guy who shouted hello to all the women who passed by, she turned around. “Hi.”

The sun was bright, compared to the inside of the building, and the rays blinded her as she turned to face the owner of the voice. Raising her hand, she shielded her eyes, letting them focus on the man. And what a man he was. A small sigh escaped her. If she ever did settle down, this was her kind of guy.

“We haven’t met.” He thrust his large hand out to her.

She stared at it for a moment before asking, “Are you a parent of one of my students?”

“Parent. No.” He shook his head, his hand still extended toward her. “I’m Michael.”

“Hello, Michael.” Bemused, Ruth placed her hand in his, the shock of recognition scorching her skin. She might not be a shifter herself, but that didn’t disguise the bond between her and Michael.

“Sorry.” He held onto her hand for a moment longer, before letting it go. Ruth brushed her palm against her jeans, trying to shake off the tingling sensation left by his touch. “I saw you…”

“You sound like a stalker.” Ruth cocked her head to one side. How should she play this? She couldn’t just accept it. Could she? A shifter’s mate was not a life choice she’d ever intended to make. The memories of her stepfather’s distress were all too vivid, even after so many years. Sure, she wanted to settle down with a man, share her life with another person. But she’d expected to find a human. A straight, no hidden animal lurking under his skin, human.

“Sorry…”

“You already said that.” Why was she grilling him? Because she didn’t want to just lie down and take this like her mom did. She couldn’t be that person. Could she?

“Can we get a coffee?” Michael asked, taking the hat off his head, which was adorned with peacock feathers. “Please.”

Ruth smiled, he might not be the kind of man she wanted, but he was good enough to come to a Renaissance Faire, and wear a stupid hat to raise money for the school’s new nature garden. “Later. I have to go back inside.”

“You are volunteering today, too?” Michael asked. “I didn’t see you at any of the meetings.” He gave a short laugh. “Believe me, I would have known you were there, and not made a fool of myself in front of everyone.”

Ruth took a moment to look at the people around them, half of whom were pretending not to watch the meeting of two mates. “I didn’t know we had an audience.”

“Sorry.” He grinned. “And sorry for saying sorry. I’ve lost the ability to speak in any cognitive capacity.”

“Come find me when you are finished.” Ruth backed away, keeping her eyes on Michael, and not letting her cheeks turn pink with embarrassment. She had a reputation to uphold.

“Where will I find you?” Michael asked.

“Won’t your senses guide you?” Ruth asked.

“I don’t even know your name.” Michael looked perplexed and took a step toward her.

“Ruth. I’m inside the hall, caricatures are my specialty for today.” She kept her head high as she turned and walked back toward the hall.

“Good to finally meet you, Ruth,” Michael called after her.

Ruth didn’t need to turn around to know Michael was watching her. She could feel his eyes boring into her back as she walked away.

“Did you see Jamie?” Dani asked, stacking her Tupperware containers on the table as Ruth walked past.

“No.” Ruth looked up, dazed. “Sorry.”

“Are you all right, Ruth?” Dani asked, coming around the table to join her friend.

“I just…” Ruth pointed toward the door, unable to put what had happened into words.

“You just…” Dani frowned, and then looked up as the door banged open and her daughter, Juliet, came running in.

“Hey, Mommy. Hey, Ruth. Is it true?” Juliet asked.

“Is what true?” Dani asked.

“Daddy said Ruth is Michael’s mate.” Juliet leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially to Dani.

“Wow, no wonder you look as if you were run over by the alpacas,” Dani gasped, then her face broke into a broad smile. “That’s amazing, he’s a good man. And a rich one. Not that money matters,” Dani added as Jamie approached.

“Are you kidding me, I’d trade you in for a millionairess any day.” Jamie put his arm around his wife and kissed her.

“It’s a good thing I know you are joking,” Dani answered. “Because I know all about medieval torture.” She patted his chest. “And the best parts to cut off.”

“I should get back to my drawings,” Ruth said absently.

“Are you all right?” Dani followed Ruth.

“Yes. I just didn’t expect to be the mate of a shifter.” Ruth picked up her pencils, ready to draw. “It’s not something I wanted.”

“Fate has a way of giving us what we need. Even if we don’t know we needed it.” Dani put her hand reassuringly on Ruth’s arm.

“I’ve never needed a man,” Ruth insisted.

“This isn’t about needing a man. It’s about needing love. We all need love, Ruth.” Dani’s son ran up to her and took hold of her hand, pulling her away. “Give it a chance, what have you got to lose?”

Dani was right, what did she have to lose? Herself? The part of her that she’d fought to nurture during the years she became mom to her siblings? Her memory dredged up the times when her stepfather was too distraught to deal with any of the day-to-day chores.

A shifter’s love was different than normal love, obsessive even. Was that the kind of love she wanted?

When she looked up to see Michael standing in the doorway, his eyes searching for her, her heart answered with a resounding yes.

The very thing she had been running from since her mom died was staring her in the face. Was she brave enough to reach out and take it? Brave enough to own it, and not let her past destroy a precious love?