Yield (30 page)

I didn
’t know what he is up to, but it wasn’t a wedding present or anything good.  I trusted Ames, but I worried he was going to do something dangerous.  In the time I’ve known him, I’ve not seen him with Wicker or Trigger, much less all at the same time, when they weren’t plotting dodgy missions of doom.  Or saving me.

Tossing and turning all night in my own bed alone on the day Ames proposed to me sucks.  Yeah, I was trying to be honorable too, but I was just really ready to be married and all. 

I laid there and let my mind wander to the future.  Picturing Ames in charge of the guards was easy.  Picturing me standing beside him was weird.  I could see us both sitting around the table in the big main room making decisions about important events and such, but I couldn’t see us sitting on two thrones and purple robes and crowns all over.  I giggled for no one to hear.

So the terms king and queen sounded silly, but it was the way of the goblin realm.  I guess president or prime minister were just as silly to place them in.

For a moment, I pictured a little dark haired boy and girl running into the main room.  I loved the idea, just not for many years.  I needed to grow up a little more.  Married to the most wonderful man in the world was one thing, children was another.  In the morning, I would start planning a wedding.

Oh, heck.  My mind was doing it now.  I could see the flowers. I don
’t want to pick them.  I want to be surprised.

The dress...I had covered.  As long as it looked nothing like the froufrou mess I was in before, I
’m good.  And Ames specifically requested his preferences.

I knew I wouldn
’t sleep now.  I dressed fast and went to wake up Katelyn.  The ladies said they would love to make my dress.  Inspiration told me I should let them make it exactly the way he asked. 

Getting in was easy.  Finding the smallest needle in the haystack was impossible. 

Trigger was in the back door before Wicker could trick the lock on the front. We’d done this on so many occasions, it took little effort and even less thinking to do it.  The lookout position was more important than the actual break-in. 

Why did we have so many occasions or need to break-in?  Joshlin.  His ability to screw humans over was endless and the three of us were forever cleaning up after his mess.  Most never knew Joshlin was stealing from human storages and reserve banks. He
’d been stealing food for years and we’d spent years returning what we could and giving something in return that equaled the value.  Joshlin never knew of our Robin Hood acts.  No one did. 

In the living area I was compelled to stop and look at the painting.  In some pained way I wanted to take it.  Hide it away and preserve the memory as not tainted like it has become.

I forged on to the kitchen and silently motioned to Trigger to begin work on the basement door.  I felt like the “recipe” I was looking for must lie in there.   Once in, I knew electricity wasn’t an option so my flashlight was on and ready. 

The walls were still filled with the many jars like a Jekyll and Hyde movie.  Brains, eyeballs, whatever was in them made the whole ambiance a little disorienting.

I shuffled over without a sound to the place where Mrs. Clark stood the whole time we were down here last.  I remember her leaning on a built in the wall stainless steel countertop.  She’d washed her hands in the sink behind it.  I couldn’t remember her reading anything or thumbing through a book of magic potions.  She’d explained that most of our kind didn’t need a spell to do magic.  If someone needed something, they called on a “magic” friend who could do the deed. 

Searching the room got me no where.  My phone buzzed.  That could only mean one thing.  It was too late.

“If you want something, you should just ask?”  Her firm voice lit the room with her anger.

I arrived at the top of the stairs to two hands in the air and the back of Trigger.

“Ma’am, we were just...”

“Leaving.”

Her black mamba eyes shot to mine.  I thought they were green.  Treacherous ground to walk on with this lady.  She was not out for the good of all mankind or anything of the sort.

“What are you looking for?” 

“Something you’d never give.”

“Try me,” she waved for Trigger to step aside and for me to come up the stairs.  She closed the door to the basement.  “And tell the young man hiding in my laundry room to step in the room.”

Trigger dropped his mouth and shot it off.  “How did you know, ma’am?”

“Fools.  Breaking into a coven leader
’s house is impossible, Ames.  Know this now before you make a complete idiot of yourself.  I knew you were here and I wanted to know why.  So out with it.”

The light came on overhead.  She sat down at the kitchen table in a typical old lady robe, crossed her ankles, and folded her hands together like I might begin a story for her to hear. 

“I want the ingredients list to get Emma’s magic back.”

“It won
’t do you any good without the gruroot.”

“Humor me.  I
’d like to at least know what I’m up against.”

“No.”

I burned on the inside toying with the idea of twisting her neck.  It was that thought that made me stop.  I’d changed for Emma.  I couldn’t think like that.

“No you won
’t or no you don’t have it.”

“
No, I won’t.  Unless...”

The mamba eyes cleared a bit.  I started to think maybe this woman had a demon in her and this wasn
’t the grandma I was supposed to know.

“Get on with it,” I tried to hurry her up so I could get out.

“Unless you promise to become coven leader regardless of anything that happens.”

I was the king of how to spin a catch.  “If it means you promise that you are not interfering in anything to do with Emma or I before or after our wedding.”

She twisted her wrinkly lip sideways and bit down on it.  Her mind was almost assuredly looking for a loophole.

“And nothing you concoct or create, say or do, ask or see will hurt Emma in any way.”

“Done.”

“I will become your coven leader after the wedding is complete and the realm is in order.”

“What timeline do you infer?” she asked unfolding her hands and laying them flat.

“A month.”

“Done.” 

Mrs. Clark walked to the far corner of the kitchen and rattled a jar open.  “
Cookies?”

She was unreal.

“We need to get back.  I’ll take that list now if you don’t mind.”

“Is there something you need to tell me?” she lifted a cookie out and sure enough Trigger
’s happy hands took one.

“There you go
, dear.”  Mrs. Clark reached behind her back and held up a box, her eyes stark green again.  “Be a dear and turn that other light on.  Burglars should learn to use lights when searching for haystacks where needles are buried in the open.  It makes their task easier.”

She just reminded me she
’d heard every friggin’ word we’d thought.  Why hadn’t I remembered that detail? I was losing my touch.

She opened the box in question and thumbed through some cards.  “Let me see now.  Hmmm!”

The side of the box said “RECIPES FOR THE SORRY COOK!” across the middle in bold red letters.  I needed a box to hide in that said BETTER WAYS FOR THE SORRY SNEAKASS. 

“You keep then in the kitchen...in that?” I was trying to be a smartass.  It came easy to me.

“You seem to have overlooked it I see,” she said lifting her same green eyes over her glasses to prove her point and see it written across my face.

“
Just hurry up.”

“Done.  I will write it down for you.  I do hope you have the gruroot, but if you don
’t all is not lost.  After all, she said you needn’t worry about her.  She needn’t sacrifice and nor should you.”

I have never met someone more evil than this woman.  And I
’ve met some pretty shaky characters in my time.

The morning came.  I went to breakfast alone.  Ames was still gone.  I was freaking out on the inside, but everyone around me saw my smiles only.  My eggs and toast sat cold as I moved it around with my fork.  Sitting at the long table in the main room with Katelyn and several other friends I’ve made since, I didn’t notice any of them look up and fiend reaction to who entered the room.

But I found his scent before he made it to me.

I let him have his fun.  Silent like the darkness, he wrapped a warm hand around my neck and moved my hair aside.  I heard his greeting and felt his feet hit the side of my chair, but I didn’t pay attention.  Relief was hitting me like a brick wall.  I may not be able feel his emotion right now, but I can sure give it.  I relented and jumped up.  My face buried in his shoulder blade, I released the penned up feelings of ache. It was childish and petty, but I was so worried.

“From now on,” I stammered into his neck, “I want to at least know when you
’re coming back from your missions with the guys.  I can’t stand the not knowing part.”

“I
’m hoping I won’t have many more of these screw ups to fix. I see retirement in my future.  But I had to do this.”

“You don
’t have to explain.”

“You amaze me sometimes
, Emma.  I don’t know why you love me.”

I leaned back to look at his face for the first time.  I
’d gone straight into his arms.  “If it will keep you from going away for nights at a time, I’ll give you a list.”

His face tightened with a look I didn
’t think matched my words, but he softened and answered, “I’ll take that list one at a time the morning after our wedding.  For now, I want you to eat.”

Looking down at the cold eggs, suddenly I was starving.

“How long have you’ve been staring at them?”

“I couldn
’t sleep.”

The largest frown ever covered his face.  “Come with me.  I
’ll make breakfast and watch you eat every bite.”

“Will you tell me where you went?”

A kiss landed on my nose.  “Soon, my love.  Eat first.”

When she came out with the very words, “I
’ll give you a list,” I wanted to gag.  I was furious if she knew.  Thoughts of marring the person’s face for telling her flashed through my brain.  It could have only been two people.

Her face and emotions said anything but, so I let go of my resolve and teased her a little instead.  She eased immediately and I knew pretty quickly she didn
’t know anything about where I went.

Her food was ancient telling me she hadn
’t eaten a bite.  Knowing I caused that made me mad so I was already moving to the kitchen with her by my side.  I didn’t intend to let her out of my sight for a while.  Realistically I knew we were both being childish about the idea of not being away from each other and I knew very well I’ve never once felt that way in my life, but I couldn’t stand the look on her face. 

She was meaning little things like video games with the guys and such as my outings.  I knew this.  She was in pain not knowing where I was.  She even told me so.

This girl really has changed my life.  I’m ready to stay at my realm, help the people, and be by her side.  If a mission arises, Trigger is young, but capable. 

Watching her eat I told her, “I
’m serious about the missions.  After living a life of being forced to hurt others at Joshlin’s stupidity, I am done.  While I have no intentions of carrying on his biddings, I know problems will arise.  Trigger will take over that area of need.”

I don’
t even know why I told her this, but maybe just to see her face register that I’m committed to her.

Emma finished the bite she was on and swallowed a gulp of orange juice.  She leaned over the counter where she sat on the tall wooden stool to make her point I guessed.  “While I agree that Trigger is capable, I
’m not expecting you to sit around and be bored.  You can tell me all you want you are tired of it, and I agree on the wretched parts pertaining to Joshlin, but there are times that I know you will want to be involved. I’ve learned that about you and I love it.  Your heart is in everything you do, Ames.  I was lonely last night.  I missed you.  I was crazy waiting for you.  But it had nothing to do with you doing something you felt was important to do.  I won’t let you sit around and let someone else see the action I know you’ll miss.  You’d hold that against me one day.  When I wanted to run, you ran with me.  You didn’t ask me to stop because it would make you worry less.  Instead, you worked around it.  I want you to help others however you need to and I will be there with you.  If it’s dangerous, I’ll be the get away car.  I didn’t mean for you to interpret last night as a ball and chain kind of fear.  I want you to go on your adventures and return unharmed, just not at night.”

Wow!  I just don’
t know if there is a woman in this world that can equal her.  I flipped around the two feet of distance it took to get to her and covered her with kisses.  “I am the luckiest man in the world.”

“Don
’t you forget it, Ames Cahn,” she giggled between kisses.