THE FINAL CHAPTER
A knock on the door announced their visitors just as Clara took the pan of fresh rolls out of the oven. Mason answered the door while Clara emptied them into a cloth lined basket and took them to the table, then took off her apron and hung it in the kitchen.
By the time she was done, everyone was in the dining room admiring the spread on the table.
“Clara, you already know Amos. This is Taralyn, their son, Talon, and their daughter, Arianna.”
“I’m five!” Talon exclaimed, running forward to hug Clara excitedly. “Are you going to have a baby or did you just eat too much?”
Talon’s parents laughed nervously, but Clara’s laughter filled the small room as she hugged the child back and ran her fingers through his thick, glossy black hair.
“I’m going to have a baby.”
“Oh good. I hope it’s a boy, because I already have a sister.”
“Talon!” his mother hissed.
“It’s alright, Taralyn,” Clara said. “He’s five.”
“I’m really sorry about that,” Taralyn said. “Can I help with anything?”
“It’s all set. All you have to do is enjoy.”
“Thank you for inviting us into your home,” Taralyn said softly.
Clara smiled, but she watched Taralyn’s face, surprised to see that the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Something was bothering the woman, but Clara couldn’t put her finger on it.
They all sat down at the table, and pretty soon, they were chatting like old friends, with Talon jumping in with adorable five-year-old chatter now and then. Taralyn stayed mostly quiet, as did Arianna.
Clara caught Mason watching the two of them, too, and she could tell that he’d noticed their reticence, but he appeared to chalk it up to shyness. Clara wasn’t convinced. Something was making Taralyn very uncomfortable, and it wasn’t Clara.
“I can’t wait to be a bear like my daddy,” Talon said, then covered his mouth.
“It’s alright, Talon,” Amos said. “Everyone on the mountain knows about us. It’s safe here.”
“He can’t shift yet?” Clara asked, surprised.
“Not until puberty. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to live with humans undetected. Could you imagine trying to keep a child as rambunctious as Talon from shifting whenever the urge hit?”
“No, I really can’t, but that’s a relief. I wasn’t looking forward to the possibility of trying to feed a newborn bear.”
Mason choked on the wine he was sipping, covering his mouth with his napkin as he coughed and laughed simultaneously.
“Why didn’t you just ask me?” Mason said when he could breathe again.
“It didn’t occur to me at first.”
“Are you not a bear?” Taralyn asked quietly, her head still down. “I thought humans couldn’t carry a werebear baby.”
Taralyn didn’t flinch, but when she said the last sentence, Clara very clearly felt her flinch internally and get angry at herself for asking the question. Something about her final statement was connected to her quiet demeanor, Clara was sure of it.
“You’re a witch, aren’t you?” Clara asked, deciding that being bold was better than silently ignoring the elephant in the room.
Taralyn stared at her, dumbfounded, though she didn’t deny it.
But it was Arianna’s expression that left no doubt in Clara’s mind that she was right. Amos was the first to speak; everyone else at the table was staring at Clara, including Mason. Even talkative little Talon had nothing to say.
“How did you know?” Amos asked. “We’ve never told anyone, not even Mason.”
“Because, I’m a witch, too.”
There was a long moment of shocked silence, then Arianna sat up a little straighter, fidgeting in her seat a little before she finally said something.
“Can you do magic and spells like me and Mama?”
“I can, but I’m not very good at it yet.”
“You’re probably better than me,” the little girl insisted.
“I don’t know. Have you ever turned your hair red before?”
Arianna giggled.
“No. What color was your hair before?”
“Blonde with streaks of color, but those came out of a box.”
“Do you think you can show me how to color my hair?”
Clara smiled at her.
“I love your hair the way it is,” she said, admiring the glossy black hair that was so close to her mother’s. “And I’m not the best person to teach you how to do spells. I mess them up more than I get them right, even with the help of the book.”
Taralyn perked up.
“The book?”
Clara shrugged.
“I guess, but I don’t know. My grandmother left it to me, along with a note telling me that I was a witch. I didn’t know until she died last year.”
“Can I see the book?”
“I don’t see why not. As soon as we’re done here, we can all go over to my family’s cabin and I’ll show it to you.”
The conversation seemed a little more relaxed after that, and Clara caught Mason smiling at her, the pride evident on his face without him saying a word. When they were finished, they hurriedly cleaned up the table. Mason caught her alone in the kitchen, pulling her into his arms and kissing her soundly.
“What was that for?”
“For being you. I don’t know how you always do it, but you put people at ease and make them feel welcomed. You learned more about Taralyn in five minutes than I have in the five years she’s been married to my best friend.”
“To be fair, I can practically read minds.”
“I know that, but it’s not just that you knew she was a witch. It was how you handled it and how you speak to the kids. You’re such an amazing person, Clara. I’m so lucky that I found you.”
“Technically, Bethany found me,” she laughed.
“Yes, but I was drawn to Bear Mountain for a reason. I thought that reason was to create a safe place for my own kind, but I think that there were many reasons, and you are a big part of that. If I hadn’t tried to buy your place, you wouldn’t have known it was here, and I never would have met you. It’s all so coincidental and absolutely perfect.”
“We call that Fate,” she said, kissing him tenderly.
“I never believed in Fate until I met you. Now, I know that it exists.”
They finished putting up the last of the dinner dishes then piled into Clara’s truck and drove down to the cabin.
“You did a great job on this road,” Amos said.
“I had to do something. It was like an obstacle course. Hopefully, by the time everyone starts arriving, we’ll have the dirt roads and paths maintained.”
“We have a lot to accomplish over the next year,” Mason said. “But as people and families trickle in, we’ll have more hands-on deck, and things will go faster.”
“I’m hoping to get renovation done on our cabin before winter,” Amos said.
“I should be able to help now that we’re back home,” Mason said. “If you want, Taralyn and the kids can stay at my place while we work. We have plenty of room.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Amos said as Clara put the truck in park by the front door.
“I love this,” Taralyn said, standing on the front porch and taking a deep breath.
“You can open the door and go inside if you want,” Clara said.
Mason looked at her, but she just nodded her head in Taralyn’s direction as the door swung wide without issue.
“Interesting,” Mason said.
“Very,” Clara agreed.
Clara watched them as they toured the cabin, which was smaller than Mason’s house, but as big as most three-bedroom houses in the city and nearly twice as big as the cabin Amos and his family were staying in, even though it only had one less room.
“Here’s the book,” Clara said when they circled back to the living room.
Clara held out her hands and the book flew from the shelf and into her outstretched arms. She nearly buckled under the force of the book’s excitement to see her, but she held firm, glancing at the page the book had opened to.
Spells for Blessing Homes and New Beginnings was the first spell on the page. Clara nearly laughed out loud.
“I hear you,” she whispered to the book.
“You hear what?” Mason asked.
Clara set the book down on the table, taking a deep breath and smiling at Taralyn.
“I had a feeling it would come to this, and now that I’ve had some time to get to know you, I know this is the right thing to do. Taralyn, Amos, this cabin has everything you were looking for: a place to keep horses, enough room for everyone, and plenty of land to grow. This property has been in my family for generations, and I think it’s only right that while I can’t live in it, another witch should live in it.”
“Are you sure?” Taralyn asked, tears welling in her eyes.
Clara nodded.
“It will always be mine, but I hate the thought of the barn and the cabin being empty now that I’m moving in with Mason. The cabin has a life of its own and being empty isn’t good for it. You can use the furniture or if you want something different, we can store it, and you can purchase your own. As long as you live on Bear Mountain, this will be your home.”
“Oh Mama,” Arianna said. “Does that mean I can have my own horse since we have room now?”
Taralyn laughed, a single tear slipping down her cheek.
“I told her we would only have two horses because there wasn’t room for more.”
“Well, there are four stalls in that barn, and plenty of pasture land to keep them fed half the year.”
“I can’t believe this,” Amos said quietly. “Are you sure?”
“I am. I can’t imagine a nicer family living here.”
“I’m the oldest, so I get to pick my room,” Arianna said suddenly, running down the hall and claiming the biggest bedroom aside from the master.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Clara said. “I’ll move anything I can’t part with out tomorrow, and you can move your stuff in. But you can stay the night tonight if you want. It’s up to you.”
Taralyn stepped forward, hugging Clara tightly.
“Thank you,” she whispered, still holding her. “I didn’t want to let the kids know, but I didn’t think I could live in that place there, so far away from everything and so cramped.”
“I understand,” Clara said. “I hope this will be exactly what you need.”
They left Taralyn and her family in the cabin, walking hand in hand to the barn in the bright light of the full moon.
“That was really nice of you,” Mason said. “I didn’t want to ask you to do that, but I knew that it would be the best place for them.”
“He’s your best friend and they’re like us, you know?”
“A witch and a werebear?”
“No. Really awesome,” she said, shaking her head and laughing. “Yes, a witch and a werebear. I thought about offering at dinner, but I wanted to make sure. When she opened the door and it unlocked for her, I knew I was making the right choice.”
“You amaze me,” he said, kissing her on the cheek then opening the barn door for her. “I think Amos already fed them their grain today.”
“I know, but I want to see them and figure out what we need to take and what we should leave. Is Amos rich like you?”
“No. He didn’t grow up with the opportunities I had.”
“Then I guess I’ll leave most everything, and they can just have it.”
“Even the hay?”
“Would you rather load it onto the truck then into the other barn or leave it here for their family.”
Mason laughed.
“You can fit a forklift in the aisle of the new barn. I think I’d rather move the hay by the pallet instead of one at a time.”
“Exactly. Same with the grain. The only things I need from here are Rain and Sunshine’s bridles.”
“Good thing you already stripped the stalls out to let them dry before the winter.”
“I forgot about that, but you’re right. Everything is ready for them; they just need to provide the horses.”
“I was thinking of taking care of that. Amos is basically my right-hand man, and I want to make sure they get well-trained horses for the kids.”
“I think you should. I get the feeling that Amos is too proud to ask for money if he needs it.”
“He is. Living in the colony will be great because, for the most part, money is going to be obsolete. But until we’re completely self-sufficient, we’ll need to buy anything we need, and I’m going to need Amos and his family fully equipped to be founding members. They are the backbone of my plan, and having solid, trustworthy horses is something that they need.”
“So, are you going to tell him that you’re buying them?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll figure something out.”
Clara filled a bucket with grain, but before she could lift it, Mason swooped in and took it from her hand.
“I’m not broken,” she said, scowling.
“I know. But it’s better to have your hands free to pet them. I know they’re going to be happy to see you.”
When they went to the gate, Clara whistled shrilly, and within a few minutes, they could hear hoofbeats thundering in the distance. Rain and Sunshine skidded to a stop in front of her, both vocalizing excitedly and nuzzling her belly.
They stood like that for a long time as she explained to them that they would be moving the next day, and she closed her eyes and envisioned the luxurious barn and the huge pastures that Mason had had Amos fence in just for them. The pair shook their heads excitedly, and it wasn’t until Clara left that they finally ate their grain, too excited by her presence to think about food.
*
It was almost a week later when Clara and Mason made their way up the long road that led up the mountain, Clara’s trailer loaded with four horses and enough coordinated tack for the four they were bringing home, plus Sunshine and Rain.
“When we get home, I would like you to rest and let the rest of us do all the work,” Mason said, one hand on the wheel.
“I’ve been resting since we left Seattle,” she said, shifting uncomfortably in the seat beside him. “I don’t need any more rest.”
“After the way you tore through that tack store, I’m surprised you’re still on your feet,” he teased, squeezing her more tightly up against him. “If I knew a thing about horses, I wouldn’t have taken you in the first place. You’re getting close to having our baby, and six hours roundtrip in the truck can’t be good for you.”
“It’s alright.”
“Clara, you’re due any day now. It isn’t worth the risk.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, trying not to get irritated with him. “I know you’re just trying to protect me, but I’ve got this. I want to be there when they see the horses, especially the kids. It was really hard to ask them what their favorite color was without letting on what I was doing.”
“Is that why it took you all that time to find just the right shade of green for the bay?”
“Yes. And Talon likes turquoise because it starts with a ‘t’.”
“Well, he is five,” Mason said, passing right by the new barn and driving down the road that led to the Finch cabin. “I thought it was a perfectly reasonable explanation for why he had a specific shade of blue that he liked.”
Clara laughed, her excitement building as they got closer to the cabin. She couldn’t wait to see their faces.
“We should unload them in the front pasture so they can stretch their legs,” Clara said.
“Will do.”
Mason pulled behind the cabin, creeping up until the back of the trailer was just a few feet from the gate and stopping as gently as possible so he didn’t jar the horses. Clara started to get out of the car, but Mason stopped her.
“Be careful, please,” Mason said with a stern look that didn’t faze Clara.
“I will.”
She waited for Mason to get out, sliding the rest of the way across the bench seat and letting Mason help her down even though she didn’t need him to. Then she untied the horses from the outside, talking to them softly and reminding them to take their time going down the ramp. They all snorted their approval, and one by one, Clara took them from the trailer and handed them to Mason. Mason turned them out in the pasture, leaving their halters on so that they were more easily identified. Though each horse looked distinctly different, they were all one shade of brown or another, and she knew the halters would help keep them straight while Amos and his family got to know the latest additions to their family.
The kids were already running out of the house by the time that Mason put the third horse in the pasture. He got the fourth horse in just as the kids reached Clara, both shouting excitedly and wondering what was going on. Amos and Taralyn weren’t far behind, and Clara could already feel Taralyn’s emotions welling over at the sight of the horses wandering around the field, eyes alert and heads up as they took it all in.
Without saying a word, Taralyn wrapped her arms around Clara and hugged her tight.
“Thank you,” Amos said as he shook Mason’s hand.
“Which one is mine?” Talon blurted out, jumping up and down and pointing at all four horses.
“It’s the one with the turquois halter,” Arianna said matter-of-factly. “Is mine the green one?”
“Sure is,” Clara said. “You’re going to love all the tack. Except for the saddle, she’s green from hoof to tail. Your helmet is even green.”
“Can we ride them?” Talon asked, still bouncing from foot to foot with all the excitement.
“They should have a day or two to get settled before you handle them,” Clara explained. “Right now, the most you should do is watch them and feed them. Tomorrow, you can brush them.”
Clara crooked her finger, indicating that the children should follow her as she waddled to the trailer’s storage room, her round belly causing her more discomfort than she’d let on.
“These are for you,” she said, handing each child a bucket that color coordinated with their tack. “There are brushes and hoof picks and everything else you need to make sure your horse is pampered.”
The pair of them sat right there in the grass, digging through the buckets and inspecting each item. Clara watched them, envisioning the day when she would give her own child their very own horse and equipment. Would they be filled with this same sense of wonder?
She couldn’t wait for the experience, but at the same time, she knew she could. She placed her hand on her belly, smiling when the baby kicked against her hand and rolled inside her. The baby was getting so big, but she wasn’t ready to give birth yet. She was enjoying the experience, and she didn’t want it to end.
“Clara, can I talk to you?” Taralyn asked quietly.
“Of course,” she said, following the woman away from the trailer and toward the cabin. “I’ll be back,” she told Mason when they walked by the men.
Taralyn led her into the cabin, taking her to an end table where the book of spells sat.
“How did that get here?” Clara wondered aloud.
“I don’t know. It appeared this morning while I was getting everything ready to wake the family up, and it won’t let me turn the page. I was freaked out at first, then I read the page and I realized that the book was trying to tell me something. Clara, do you know anything about this?”
“It’s a family book of spells. It was at my house, but I guess it decided to leave.”
The book thumped once on the table.
“Is it alive?” Taralyn asked in an exaggerated whisper.
“It is,” Clara said, remembering what happened the last time when she’d said it wasn’t. “If you’re not a witch, you can’t even open it.”
“Clara, the spell is for two witches.”
“It is?”
“Yes, and there’s something more. It’s a spell to see into the past.”
“Oh,” Clara said. “Now I’m more confused than before.”
“I’m not.”
Taralyn looked uncomfortable.
“Why not?” Clara asked.
“Well, the book showed up after I was talking to Amos about the curse. I was trying to find ways to break old curses, but I couldn’t turn the page. Then, the words glowed and I read the spell for two witches to see the past, and I knew that the book was trying to tell me that we needed to see who cast the curse in order to know how to beat it.”
“So, what do we need?” Clara asked.
“It looks like we only need each other.”
“Alright, but I have to warn you, my spells tend to get a little out of control.”
Taralyn laughed.
“It can’t be that bad.”
“This is the third color I’ve accidentally turned my hair,” she said, pointing at her now brunette hair. “I’m trying to get back to blonde.”
Taralyn laughed then covered her mouth and shook her head.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh. But you’ll get better, I promise.”
“Thanks.”
Clara read over the words, anxiety growing. She’d never cast a spell in front of another witch before, and she was nervous. When she’d read the page three times, she finally sighed, preparing herself for a spell she knew would take so much out of her. This wasn’t a simple charm, but a massive undertaking that really needed a better, more accomplished witch.
“You can do this,” Taralyn said.
“I’ll do my best,” she said, kneeling on the floor when Taralyn did and taking the woman’s hand. “How do we get out of this?”
“Once the vision starts, we have to see it through. It’s going to feel very real, so be prepared for that.”
Clara wasn’t prepared, but it was now or never, and she wanted to know the truth as much as everyone else did.
“Are you ready?” Taralyn asked, squeezing Clara’s hand.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said, then she closed her eyes.
Together, they recited the words on the page, and as the world around them faded and gave way to the world of the past, Clara held tight to Taralyn and the last bit of reality she knew.
*
Clara felt like she was falling, the air rushing around her violently until her feet hit the floor and her eyes flew open. She looked around the unfamiliar room that was obviously decorated for the times long before Clara was even born. Everything had a nostalgic feeling that should have brought Clara comfort, but she felt frantic instead. Rushing to the other room without knowing where or why she was going, she found herself in front of a bathroom mirror, touching her bruised face gingerly. Clara stared at the reflection in the mirror, shocked by what she was seeing. It was Coral Finch, her grandmother. But she was much younger and wrapped in a tiny bundle clutched against her chest was a little baby sound asleep against her mother’s chest.
Clara fought her emotions, trying not to let what she was seeing upset her so much that she left the vision. She was living the vision through Coral’s eyes, and she was only along for the ride.
There was a knock at the front door, and Coral looked up at her bruises one last time, her defiance overshadowing the terror that dug deep hallows under her eyes.
“Never again,” Coral said, kissing the baby’s soft curls and rushing out of the room.
She opened the door and a large man with black hair and dark brown eyes was standing there on the porch. He sucked in a quick breath when he saw her, his rage evident, but Coral wasn’t afraid of this man.
“Is he here?” the man asked.
“No Sam, he’s not.”
“I’ll kill him if I see him,” Sam growled.
“And if you do, you’ll be put to death for killing a human, even one who deserves it. Now, please, let’s hurry. I don’t know when he’ll be back, and I don’t want Caroline to see her father like that again. She deserves better.”
“She won’t remember,” Sam said, his voice tender as his large hand covered her head.
“I’m not so sure about that.”
Sam nodded, helping Coral down the stairs from the house to the walkway that ran through their picture-perfect yard complete with the white picket fence and the monster hidden inside. She wasn’t the first witch to be battered by her human husband, but she was going to make sure that she was the last. Sam grabbed her bags and put them in the trunk, then he held Caroline while Coral buckled her seatbelt in the old car, then handed her back so Coral could hold her tight while he drove.
Disco played softly on the radio as they drove down the highway, leaving Seattle behind and heading toward the wilderness. There wasn’t a car on the road, and Coral breathed a sigh of relief knowing that they weren’t being followed. Tim Collins would never be able to find her or their child, and he would never hit her again.
“I wish I could have fought back,” Coral said, leaning against the back of the seat, eyes closed in defeat.
“You know the penalty for harming a human… even if they deserve it. You would have been put to death, no questions asked. How do you think they get away with the things they do to us? They know that none of us can fight back, or we risk death.”
“It isn’t fair. That law was enacted for witches who cast demon spells on innocent humans and werebears who terrorized people. We’ve been living in harmony for decades. Those laws are completely obsolete.”
“Not for people like Tim.”
“And your sister’s husband.”
Sam gripped the wheel, angry at what had happened to his sister.
“But you lived,” he said. “And I’m going to make sure that no one ever hurts you again.”
I’m going to do one better, she thought, already building a plan in her head. Mistreatment of paranormal beings had been a problem since the laws were passed to prevent paranormal violence. As times changed, the laws remained the same, and like many of her kind and Sam’s kind, Coral’s husband knew that she couldn’t fight back without risking an immediate death sentence.
They drove for hours, with Coral dozing off in the front seat every now and then with Caroline clutched tightly to her chest. When Sam turned off the highway and down a long dirt road, Coral sat up, squinting to see the scenery in the dark beyond the headlights.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’re new home. He can’t get to you here.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to afford a place by myself,” Coral said, afraid to depend on Sam the way she’d depended on Tim. “I don’t want another man to have the power he had over me again. Not even you.”
She braced herself for anger, but Sam only reached out and took her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing her knuckles so tenderly that tears sprung to Coral’s eyes.
“I’ll make sure no man can ever hold something like that over you again.”
“How? If you give me money, I’ll still be indebted to you.”
“I thought about that, and I came up with a plan.”
“I’m listening.”
“You’re the most powerful witch I know.”
“Aren’t I the only witch you know?” she teased, surprised that she could already joke even though her cheek still hurt and the dried tears on her face still tugged at her skin.
Sam laughed.
“I need a spell, but it’s not just for me. We need change or our people are going to be extinct before sweet Caroline is old enough to have a child of her own.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I was hoping you could come up with something, but whatever it is, I’ll pay you. The cabin is already in your name, and I’ll pay you as well.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I do. That man has been exploiting your powers for his own gain for years. It’s time someone paid you for everything you do.” He took his eyes off the road for a second and looked at her in the darkness. “Deal?”
“Deal,” Coral said.
She watched his face as he drove, wishing that he’d been the one that she’d met and married so young, instead of the monster who had hidden behind a winning smile.
But she couldn’t go back, even as powerful as she was. She just had to make do with what she had and thank her lucky stars that her baby was alright.
They drove down the dirt road for quite some time before it angled upward, and they took the road that would one day be the well-maintained fire road Clara used to get to the cabin. Sam pulled up to the little house, putting the car in park and carrying Coral’s things inside while she walked in with the still sleeping baby.
“I’ll make a fire for you, and I’ll check on you every day if you want me to.”
“That’s sweet, but you don’t have to.”
“I want to, Coral. I can’t help thinking that you wouldn’t be in this miss if we had just—”
“And I wouldn’t have Caroline,” Coral interrupted him, cupping his cheek in her hand.
He closed his eyes and sighed.
“You deserved better, but I was too busy amassing a fortune to realize how wonderful you were until it was too late.”
“It’s never too late.” Coral leaned in, kissing him gently before she stepped back and smiled shyly. “I’ll work on that spell, and I’ll let you know when it takes.”
“Alright,” he said, looking like he didn’t know what to do. “I guess I’ll check on you in a couple days. There’s a week’s worth of dry food in the pantry, and some fresh food in the refrigerator. I bought into these solar panel things, and they work pretty well. I wouldn’t trust the freezer, but as they get more efficient, I’ll upgrade the system.”
“You don’t have to,” she said, but he waved her off.
“Please, Coral. Let me help.”
She nodded.
“Okay,” she said, looking down at Caroline, who was starting to awaken. “I’ll see you soon?”
“In a week or less, promise.”
He smiled when he dug in his pocket.
“Here’s a check for you. I thought about opening an account for you in your name, but I knew you would want to do that yourself.”
She looked at the check, shocked.
“This is too much,” she said, but he ignored her offer to return it.
“I’ll be back soon,” he said again, heading for the door. “Work on that spell, Coral, and I’ll see you soon.”
She nodded, fresh tears springing to her eyes when he kissed her again and left before she could talk him into staying. Coral watched the headlights disappear then closed the door and used her magic to lock it tight.
“Only a witch will be able to open this door,” she said to Caroline, who cooed and blew bubbles excitedly. “And I’m going to cast a spell that will protect us all for the rest of time.”
Clara’s eyes flew open, and she sucked in a deep breath of air like a woman who had nearly drowned.
“It’s okay, I’m here,” Taralyn said, still holding Clara’s hand tightly. “What did you see?”
Clara looked around, surprised to see that Mason, Amos, and the children were there, too.
“You couldn’t see it, Taralyn?”
“The vision was only for you. I was just a conduit to help you get there.”
“I saw my grandmother,” she said. “She’s the one that cast the spell.”
“How do we break it?” Mason asked.
“We don’t. The spell won’t break until the laws change. We’re not the problem but protecting us was the only solution. If a witch or a shifter knows they can’t have a child with a human, they will seek out their own kind.”
She explained what she had seen, going into great detail so they could envision what she was describing.
“Wait, did you say Sam?” Mason said.
“I did, why?”
“Did he come back?”
“No,” Clara said, shaking her head. “I don’t know how I know that, but it was the last time she ever saw him.”
“I know why.”
They all turned and looked at Mason, waiting for him to explain.
“Sam Jones was my grandfather. My grandmother was a human woman, and when she realized that raising a werebear child, even one that was half human, could be so difficult, she walked away and never looked back. So, my grandfather hired a nanny. When my father was seven, he left late one night, and he never came home.
He got in a car accident, but my father said the nanny always believed it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t long after his sister, Lillian, was killed by her own husband. There’s no way that’s a coincidence. Now that I know what you’ve told me, I’m sure that Coral’s ex-husband had something to do with it.”
“My grandmother was in love with your grandfather, but they never went beyond a kiss. Her heart was broken when he didn’t come back, and she almost ripped up the check, but she needed it to survive.”
“And the spell?”
“At your grandfather’s request, and like I said, it isn’t going to break until the world changes.”
“Clara, are you okay?” Amos said, sounding a little unnerved.
“I’m fine, why?”
Taralyn looked at her then, her eyes growing wide when she looked at the floor.
“What?” Clara asked again.
“Clara, your water just broke.”
*
Doctor Adams breezed into the living room of the small cabin, looking around and smiling. He was older, at least seventy-five.
“I’ve been here before,” he said, settling in by the bed in the master bedroom. “You’re pretty far into your labor, so there’s not going to be time for any pain management.”
“Just get the baby out,” she said through gritted teeth, while Taralyn wiped her face with a cool cloth and Mason held her hand.
“Will do,” the doctor said with a chuckle.
Clara closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain and focus on her breathing. When Doctor Adams told her to push, she did as he asked, Mason cheering her on and Taralyn trying to keep her comfortable.
“One more big one,” the doctor said, smiling at her from his spot at the end of the bed.
She almost yelled at him for being too cheery, but the urge to push was too much, and with a loud, warrior cry, she pushed one last time, and then there was silence.
Clara held her breath, so tense that she was sitting partially upright. When there was a tiny whimper, followed by a loud wail, she fell back against the bed, exhausted and crying tears of joy.
Taralyn left her then, helping the doctor clean the baby and bringing the tiny bundle back to her wrapped in a thin blanket.
She handed the baby to Clara, who looked down into the sweet face and cried even harder, laughing as the joy overwhelmed her. She looked to the doctor, and he smiled.
“You did a great job,” he said. “You really didn’t even need me.” He smiled at Taralyn. “You did an amazing job getting everything ready in such a short time.”
“I used to want to be a midwife,” she said shyly.
“Well, I’m not getting any younger,” he said. “And if I understand Mason’s plans here on this mountain, they’re going to need a midwife on-hand. How would you feel about shadowing me and learning?”
Taralyn looked at Mason and Clara, her face a mix of disbelief and childlike awe at the opportunity.
“Say yes,” Clara said, shaking her head and laughing. “I couldn’t have lasted this long without you.”
“Should I?”
“Yes,” the three of them said in unison.
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Good, because I could use some help while these two get to know their new little girl.”
The doctor and Taralyn left the room after gathering everything up, closing the door quietly behind them.
“You were amazing,” Mason said, kissing the top of Clara’s head then kissing the baby.
“You were my rock.”
“I can’t believe how perfect she is, though she doesn’t have your red hair.” He laughed. “I hope she has her mother’s charm and her knack for spells.”
“That sounds more like a curse,” Clara laughed.
“If she’s just like you, I’ll be happy.”
“And if she’s her own little person?”
“I’ll be ecstatic.” He was quiet for a moment, and Clara could feel him carefully choosing his words before he spoke. “We didn’t talk about names,” he said.
“I’m glad we didn’t,” she said.
“Do you have something in mind?”
“Now, I do. I was thinking about Samantha, after your grandfather. He’s the only reason that my grandmother survived, and he’s the reason that my family lives here. Without him, I wouldn’t have met you, and she wouldn’t be here.”
Mason tried to speak, but he had to stop and compose himself.
“What about a middle name?”
“I haven’t gotten that far.”
“What about Coralynn? A mix of your grandmother’s and your mother’s names?”
“I love it. And I love that our child will honor our grandparents, who never got to know the love they shared. She’s brought me hope, and I think she would’ve done the same for them, had they lived.”
“Our grandparents would be so proud,” Mason said, kissing Samantha on top of her soft head again and taking her when Clara handed her over.
“You know what?” Clara said, closing her eyes and seeing them both very clearly. “I think they already are.
* *
Hey sexy. Thanks for reading, you are the best!
This book is from the “Bears With Money” series and all the other available books are listed below.
BOOK 4 – THE BEARS TRIPLETS
BOOK 5 – HER HERO WAS A BEAR..
BOOK 6 – THE BEAR'S HOUSE GUEST
Go grab a bear with money right now and collect them all!
You are a star!
Amy x
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