Bewitching My Love (10 page)

“
But, where am I to take her? What am I supposed to do with her?” Fern looked down. The child was precious, with reddish gold curls encircling her face and soft hazel eyes as perfect as the morning sky. The chubby little cheeks puckered upward in response to her smile as she cooed.

“
As I already said, Fern, she is more important than you can imagine. Now please, go.” Abigail made certain Fern got away before Elizabeth arrived. She could only hope that Fern would not only know, but understand the importance of the child. The sisters were strong, but when it came to love, the strength had to come from the bearer of that love. Fern had much to learn from Rose, namely love.

Fern held Rose close to her chest as she descended the rocks. Abigail had her leave through an entrance in the back just as Elizabeth got there. She was trying to keep the baby from crying because she didn’t want them to be heard, but it really wasn’t difficult. Rose lay sound asleep in her arms with her small cheeks pushed against the blanket she was wrapped in. She had no idea how she would care for the child, with no food, no clothing. What was she supposed to do when she wanted to eat?

She’d just dropped down from the last of the rocks when Rowen stepped out from behind them, nearly scaring her to death. “Rowen, how… how did you find me?”

“
I followed Elizabeth, Fern, thank God I’ve found you. Why didn’t you tell me where you were goin…?” He was suddenly silenced; the little girl in Fern’s arms had woken up and was staring at him. A perfect little face looked at him in a quiet, calm way that helped him to forget his anger with Fern for the time being. Reaching out, he let his finger run over her plump cheek. “My God, Fern, she’s beautiful!” He looked up into Fern’s eyes. “She looks a lot like you. She has your eyes.”

Fern smiled at his response, it was much like her own. “There is something special about her, isn’t there? I have no clue what to do with her, Rowen. Mary asked me to protect her from Elizabeth, but I don’t even know how I’m supposed to feed her.”

“
Come on, let’s get back to the cave, Fern, we’ll figure it out from there. Here, let me take her for a while, it’s a long walk back.” Rowen took Rose and cradled her to his chest. Her little face was still looking up into his as they walked, and try as he might, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. What should he do? If Elizabeth knew he had the child and had no intention of handing her over to her, he would die. Or maybe he’d just go up in a poof of light. How does one disappear when they are suddenly erased from existence? The thought made his insides churn. He couldn’t save himself by letting this child die. Hell, he couldn’t even stand the thought of Fern dying for the sake of his precious existence. All of his reasons for coming here were slowly beginning to fade away in importance.

Fern watched Rowen holding Rose and marveled at how she disappeared in his muscular arms. Her mind went back to last night when he held her in his arms and how they made her feel. He was a ruggedly handsome man, almost barbaric in a way. Funny, but she hadn’t really let herself realize how much she really was attracted to him. He was incredibly sexy with his hair tied back, and his now darkened chin from the lack of razors in this century. She must’ve been staring, because the look in his eyes when he caught her looking at him made her blush. “Maybe we can find a cow along the way, Rowen, do you know how to milk one if we do?” She thought about his long fingers wrapped around the teat of a cow and blushed again. If last night were any indication, he’d have no trouble with a cow.

“
I haven’t a clue, like you I grew up in the city. I’ll go to the village once we get back and see if I can purchase some. Maybe there will be some clothes and cloth for diapers as well.” Fern’s inspection of him didn’t go unnoticed; he was still amused with the blush in her cheeks, and the way she tried to get out of it. “So tell me, Fern, what were you thinking just then when you were undressing me with your eyes?”

She did blush then, from the roots of her hair, to the tips of her toes. “I don’t kn…know what you’re talking about, Rowen. I was only admiring the way you were holding Rose. You do it so well, I’d have thought you were a father.”

“
You can’t fool me, Fern. After last night, well, you have to admit, it wasn’t all that bad.” Rose had gone back to sleep, so he decided to have a little fun. Her blushing made him want to dig deeper, maybe he could get to know her a little. Get her to show him a little of what was hidden inside that beautiful body of hers. Not that he should, it would be hard enough to leave her as it was. But her game of acting innocent was too tempting. “Come on now, admit it! You wouldn’t mind another round with me, would you, Fern?”

“
You’re acting like a complete ass, Rowen, I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I am not attracted to you. So get that through your stubborn conceited head.” How dare he even hint that she would consider having sex with him? What remained of her innocence would stay put, no matter how much the thought intrigued her. “Do you want me to take Rose now? I could carry her for a while.”

“
No, she’s asleep and doing just fine.” There was so much about her he would love to know, to actually get inside her head and see what made her tick. “You really are good at avoiding things you don’t want to talk about, aren’t you, Fern? Don’t worry; I won’t pester you about it, much. But mark my words, one more look like that and I’ll make sure you know exactly what you missed last night, what we both missed.”

She looked at him through lowered lashes and didn’t trust herself to speak. He was being obtuse for some reason and was making her feel uncomfortable. “Looks like we’re almost home.” She chuckled, “Home, wouldn’t it be nice to be in our own bed instead of a hole? I could really use a soft mattress and about two days of real sleep.”

“
I can think of a lot of things I’d like to do in bed with you, Fern, and sleep isn’t one of them.” Ducking down in front of her, he entered the cave with Rose still sound asleep in his arms.

“
Can’t you just drop it, Rowen? I am not interested in having sex with you. If I wouldn’t have done it on my own last night, what makes you think I would now?” Oh God, she was such a liar. The thought of him touching her again made her tingle from head to toe. She had no doubt lovemaking would be extraordinary with him. She watched his full lips curl into a sardonic smile and looked away when she remembered the way they felt on her skin, heated and tempting.

“
Alright, I’ll drop it for now, Fern. But remember, you still have to tell me what you were thinking back there.” He smiled at her frown and bent down to leave the cave. “I’ll be back as quickly as possible, I’m going for that milk. Don’t leave this cave, Fern. Once I know Elizabeth is back home, then we can figure out what to do with Rose. Surely Mary has something she wants you to do with her besides hiding her out in this cave.”

Fern watched him leave then laid down beside Rose on her blanket. She gazed at the child as if she were her own. Gently, she kissed her soft cheek and smiled when the little lips puckered into a frown. Lying down on her side, she let her eyes close. She was tired; a little rest would do her good before Rowen’s return.

She thought about his words. Sure, she was attracted to him, and she knew she would battle for her innocence every second while they were together. But, she wouldn’t give in. Love was more important to her than a few hot nights of sex. But still, it would be unbelievably fantastic. Worth it? Maybe!

* * * *

“
Abigail, you will fetch my granddaughter this instant.” Elizabeth had waited long enough; it had been almost two hours since they sat her down. The sisters fed her and told her stories of their new spells and chants, forcing her to look at their cheery faces. She’d had enough.

“
I can’t get Rose for you, sister Elizabeth.” Abigail knew they couldn’t continue the charade. She and the sisters were hoping to give Fern time to figure out what she was supposed to do with Rose before they let Elizabeth know she was gone. “Mary spoke to us last night during one of our chants. She told us to give her to the girl named Fern. She has her now, and we don’t know where she has taken her.” There, that should dissuade her.

Elizabeth raised her cane in anger and shook the tip of it at Abigail. “You stupid fool, don’t you know there is nothing that can keep me from my granddaughter. Not even Mary. Tell me Abigail, how does Mary know of Rose? I told her she died at birth, how is it she knows?”

“
I do not know, sister, perhaps she is a stronger witch than you know!”

“
Mary is not a witch, she has the ability to reach others with her mind, evoking them to hear her, that is all. When I find the sister that told I will help her find her death.” Elizabeth stood to leave, dusk was approaching. She had a long ride to the cave.

Abigail stood in front of her. With her hands on her hips she faced her square on. She didn’t fear the old witch. “You haven’t the power to hurt your sisters, Elizabeth. You’re old now, and too slow to bring us any harm. Leave Rose be, she is of good, not evil. You will never have her, ever. The sisters will make sure of it.”

“
Get out of my way.” Shoving the tip of her cane against Abigail’s abdomen, she pushed her back against the wall. “Your goodness will be your undoing. My granddaughter also has my blood, Abigail, that cannot be denied.”

Abigail stood rubbing the pain in her abdomen when Elizabeth left. There was only one thing left for her to do. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was the only way to ensure the child’s safety. Turning, she looked to the sisters’ faces for support, it was there as always. “Come sisters, we must create a spell. Our sister Fern must be told what to do.”

“
Fern, wake up!”

“
Leave me alone, I’m tired.” Fern let her arm lay over her eyes. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?

“
Fern, wake up now! Elizabeth is coming, you must do as we tell you or she will take Rose.”

“
Elizabeth is coming here? Are you sure?” Fern sat up quickly to a half dark cave. Rubbing her eyes, she realized she must have been dreaming. When she felt the nudges on her side, she looked down into Rose’s sweet little face. The little girl was cooing and kicking her feet. She wondered how long she’d been awake. “Come here, sweetheart, you must be starved. Rowen will be back soon with some milk, and maybe some cloth for a diaper, hmm?”

“
Fern!” The faceless voice echoed against the cave wall.

“
What?” Jumping, she turned around searching for the person behind the voice, but no one was there. “Who’s there?” Her voice echoed in reply.

“
It is Abigail, Fern. You must get up and take Rose with you back to the wardrobe. The sisters have created a spell to allow you to pass through time. You will take Rose to the place of worship and leave her there to be cared for by the priest. Then you will return here to finish what has been started.”

“
I don’t understand. Why would I go against Mary’s wishes?”

“
If you do not do as we ask, Rose will die, and Rowen will die. Mary has been told of the sisters’ decision, she agrees it is the only way.”

Fern sat staring down at Rose, she knew she had to do as she was told, she couldn’t let this child die. “Alright, I’ll do it. When should I go?”

“
Now, go now. Elizabeth is approaching.”

“
What about Rowen?”

“
He will not return until the deed is done. He must not be told of this, Fern, he is of good blood, but cannot be trusted yet. Hold him dear to your heart and he will understand.”

“
Alright, I’ll go now.” Standing to her feet she quickly pulled Rose into her arms then bundled her in her blanket. Thinking quickly, she grabbed a piece of paper from the small note pad Rowen kept in his pocket. With his pen she wrote a quick note. “Take care of this child until the time comes for her mother to take her home. She is a child of love and as beautiful as a Rose.” “Come on, baby Rose, I’ll take you where you will be safe.”

With Rose cuddled to her chest, Fern ran across the fields until she came to the old house. She hadn’t been in it since their arrival; the thought of it scared her almost to the point of turning back around. But then the cooing of the little girl reminded her of why she was there; taking one step at a time, she entered the house and went straight up the stairs. The wardrobe stood in the same place as it had before. Her heart started to pound wildly in her chest, but she didn’t stop. As if the wardrobe knew she was there, its doors clicked, creaked, then swung wide open, allowing her to step through.

CHAPTER NINE

With the abundance of cows grazing in the fields, Rowen thought for sure he’d have no trouble finding milk for Rose. But it seemed all the women were in the habit of nursing their children. Made sense, considering he was in a century where Gerber wouldn’t be a household name for several hundred more years. Cloth for a diaper wasn’t a problem, he found that easily enough and after much fuss, he found a rancher willing to sell him some milk. With his treasures in hand, he headed back to the cave.

It was completely dark by the time he got back. The glow from inside the cave could be seen for quite a distance; he hadn’t realized it before. They would have to be more careful; tomorrow he would drag some bushes over to cover it. “Fern, I’m back. It took forever to find milk, but…” She wasn’t there. “Where the hell did she go?” he spoke out load to the empty cave. He should have never left her alone again. He was just leaving the cave to go in pursuit when she showed up. He frowned when he saw her empty arms.