Her eyes were steady as if she’d been expecting me. “I’m just now getting my things together.”
“I need you to come with me.” I couldn’t put it in any better language than that. I was beyond thinking rationally.
“I know,” she said simply and came around from behind the counter. She leaned up and kissed me fully on the mouth, then on the side of my neck as she whispered the words I would never forget. “I love you. I’m here. It will be okay.”
***
I headed toward my car, but Liane came up beside me and snagged my keys from my hand. “I think I’d better do that.”
I fought off the urge to kiss her again; the need was so great. I nodded and climbed into the passenger seat. “Drive where I tell you,” I said, and she nodded.
We didn’t speak — words just didn’t seem to be appropriate. I gave her directions, and although it had grown dark, she drove competently and without question. When we came to my driveway, I opened the glove box and hit the remote to open the high gates that fenced me from the world. She pulled forward through the opening and paused long enough to make sure it locked behind us. She seemed nonplussed, although I knew it was a novel and potentially dangerous situation in which to place herself.
She trusts me.
We pulled up to the house, and as we climbed from the car, Diablo was restless and snorting, his hooves kicking the walls of his stall. He knew there was a stranger on his turf.
I took Liane’s hand and led her to the barn to meet him. As soon as she walked into the warm, fragrant space where only a single light bulb burned a circle of awareness, he settled immediately. In fact, he became docile and raised his muzzle toward her hand so that she might stroke him. She cooed to him, and he came closer, wanting her to open the gate and climb aboard. I recognized instantly the effect she was having and did as he wanted. Snapping reins onto his bridle, I heaved myself onto his back and sat upright, extending my hand down to Liane to slide up behind me. She did so easily, and Diablo shifted from side to side like a child nestling down into a soft blanket.
We left the barn and let Diablo have his head, but he didn’t gallop as he normally did when first released. He walked, almost in a dancelike movement designed to keep her seated and against the warmth of his hide. The moon was bright, and there was no need for light. He knew his way, and I trusted him. Liane snuggled into my back, her arms wrapped around my waist — not to keep from falling, but in a hug of love. Diablo knew where I wanted to go. Like so many times before, he always knew.
We stood at the highest point where Carlos Acres could be seen, rolled out like a carpet of magnificent grandeur and lights. In the darkness, I could almost pretend that it belonged to me, as it should. I could ignore the fact that there were people there who didn’t want me; didn’t even care if I was alive. Yet, of all that lay before me, it was their love I wanted most.
Liane said nothing, and when we returned to the barn, she slid off effortlessly and picked up a brush to groom Diablo gently before returning him to his stall. Without asking, she nabbed an apple from a nearby bucket and fed it to him, stroking his muzzle.
As we walked to the house, I asked, “Do you ride often?”
She smiled, a tiny upward tilt of her lips. “I’ve never touched a horse in my life.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Hawk
The house was warm, but unnaturally quiet when we walked through the front door. I opened a window to air things a bit. “Why don’t you shower while I make us a pot of tea and something to eat?” Liane suggested.
I nodded, and it felt like I was gliding as I walked. It was all so effortless. I toweled off after the shower and threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. I found her waiting, curled on the sofa with a tray set up on the coffee table. Two steaming mugs of tea sat next to a platter of sandwiches and it occurred to me I’d never seen a more delicious banquet.
“Sit down, Hawk,” she said, pointing to the chair opposite hers. “We need to talk about a few things.” They were the words that I’d waited to hear but didn’t want to say.
I picked up a mug and nodded before sitting down. She wasted no time, and her voice was almost like a symphonic instrument awaiting its cue to begin playing.
“There are secrets in this room which must be released,” she began. “Secrets are not always bad, but when they are, they’re poison. I know you have things to tell me, but I’m asking that you let me talk first. It may make a difference in what you have to tell me.” She folded her long hair over one shoulder and tucked her legs beneath herself more snugly. It was a movement that suggested insecurity.
I drank more of my tea, waiting for her to begin.
“Hawk, I need to share something about myself that may make you a bit uncomfortable at first. I hope you’ll respond the way I think you will, but if you don’t, I’ll call a cab and leave you be.”
I lowered the mug and leaned forward, shaking my head as if to tell her no.
She lifted a hand and smiled gently. “It’s quite alright, just listen.”
I pulled off the sunglasses I wore night and day. I wanted her to see the real me as she spoke. Her response was another gentle smile and nod of agreement that it was about time.
“Hawk, you know how I shared the fact that I’m an empath, as was my mother and her mother.” I nodded. “Well, there’s one part of it that I didn’t go into detail about because I wasn’t exactly sure whether I could reproduce it at will or whether it was a one-time coincidence. When my mother was in her last days, she was beyond the pain medicines and suffering in agony. I sat by her bed and felt so helpless. She and I had always had a special connection. I summoned in my mind a visual of a hot air balloon in a pasture, bathed in warm spring sunshine. It’s difficult to explain the how part of it, but I mentally sent her that vision. I knew she received it because I saw her smile and relax; she even nodded a bit. The only problem was that this sort of transfer wasn’t a one-way street. I took on her pain and had to leave her side and go outdoors before I could feel it go away. It wasn’t pleasant.”
I swallowed, trying to wrap my head around what she was telling me. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I’ve never done that before, or since…” her gaze met mine and a ripple of fear went through me because I knew what she was about to say, “until last night.”
I stood up so hard and so fast my chair toppled backwards. This was crazy talk. The woman I was falling in love with was crazy. Or a witch. A liar. She stood up too, turning toward me, watching me pace the room. I glanced at her and it was… her. Not some witch. Not some trickster. Not a liar intent on doing me harm.
Her.
My beautiful Liane. A magical creature of light.