Page 12 of Must Love Moss and Moonshine (Moonshine Hollow)

TANSY

W e sat beside the fire, drinking and laughing late into the night. While Kellen’s life was solitary, he was not without woodland miscreants who kept him busy. The brownies, who’d had a hand in my accident, were the most common ne’er-do-wells.

“They have no discernment in who they bother,” Kellen told me with a laugh. “But common sense should have warned them not to mess with trolls.”

“So they wheeled it out? The whole cheese?”

“And a hefty one too. Down the mountain, over to the stream where they’d built a raft.”

“Did they not know it was your Yule gift to the trolls?”

Kellen laughed. “Perhaps they did but they didn’t know how much the trolls coveted it… Or perhaps they did not care.”

“So, what happened when they discovered?”

“The troll cave is two leagues from here, but even I heard them howl with rage. The entire forest went quiet.”

I paused a moment, then laughed.

“It took all my eyes to discover what they had done and where they had gone. The little thieves had already eaten a wedge when they found them. Very unluckily for them, the trolls found them before I did. It was a mere chance that I arrived when I did. If I hadn’t?—”

“The trolls would not kill them, would they?” I asked, pausing mid-sip as I studied Kellen’s face.

The dryad, who had been matching me in pace on the chestnut ale all night, had a soft expression.

Joy was coming easier to him now. I was delighted to discover that his cheeks dimpled when he smiled widely and laughed loudly.

“Kill them? Well, the logic they shared with me after they had stuffed the little clan in a sack and recollected the cheese was that they were planning to eat them. After all, the brownies had eaten the cheese, so it made logical sense to them.”

I laughed. “No!”

“Yes. From inside the sack, they screamed for my help and pleaded with the trolls for mercy. They should be very thankful that I had come prepared.”

“What did you do?”

“I traded the trolls three flagons of Moonshine in exchange for the brownies.”

I laughed out loud. “That is a fortune wasted.”

“You’re right,” Kellen said with a laugh. “And so I told the brownies later, but it was a deal I knew the trolls would accept without hesitation.”

“So what did you do?”

“Made the exchange. I wished the trolls well, then took the satchel of brownies. I let them hang on that hook,” he said, pointing to a hook by his front door, “for the night to rethink their life choices.”

Chuckling, I slugged back the last of the chestnut ale. “And did the brownies reform their ways?”

“Against the trolls? Yes. They will never risk that again. But against harmless Sylvan women? Not so much.”

“You think me harmless, dryad?” I asked.

Kellen met my gaze. There was a twinkle in his eyes that had not gone away since that kiss at the side of the stream. “I think you might be the most dangerous creature in this forest right now.”

I smirked at him. “Good, then I have you right where I want you.”

“Indeed you do, Sylvie,” he said, lifting the pitcher again. He turned it over, showing it was empty. “We have reached the end and have a very long walk tomorrow. Suppose we should go in?”

I nodded, realizing my head felt dizzy. When I rose, I paused a moment so I would not sway. I then collected our mugs, the pitcher, and the small block of excellent acorn cheese Kellen had made—the same kind that had tempted the brownies to near death.

Kellen set about putting out the fire while I returned the supplies to the cottage.

Within, a fire burned warmly in the fireplace, casting a cheery orange glow.

Marvelle had curled up at the foot of Kellen’s bed on the crocheted blanket.

The little creature slept soundly. I put the cheese into the icebox to stay cool, then went to the sink, where I washed the pitcher and mugs.

Working the pump, I pulled up fresh water and then began my work.

Something about the very simple task of being at home and doing dishes felt calming.

The bundles of herbs hanging over the window shed their gentle scents of lavender, wild rose, aster, and chamomile.

I looked out the window, watching Kellen work.

He was stacking up the unused wood, covering it from the rain, and working to dampen the fire.

I paused, feeling the scene deeply in my chest.

I want this.

This.

This is what I have been searching for.

The voice came from deep within me, from a place that remembered who I was and where I had come from.

“Why?” I whispered back to myself. “Am I running from something? Someone? Why?”

But it was not my own voice or memory that answered.

Once more, I felt my grandmother’s presence and, with it, the sweet scent of snowdrops that always clung to her. “It’s the glimmer, little Sylvie,” she whispered.

I stood motionless, watching Kellen, my heart yearning to take him into my arms once more, to kiss him again and again. And then, the deep feeling of want groaned to life once more.

Turning back to the dishes, I began my work again. “I don’t even know who I am or where I come from. Until then…” I replied to myself, my grandmother, to whoever I felt watching and listening.

I was drying the dishes, setting them back on the shelf, when Kellen entered again. When he saw what I had done, he smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

We stood there in silence for a moment, neither of us sure what to say. After a long moment, Kellen gestured toward his bed. “You should rest. I have some reading to do before we set off tomorrow.”

“Kellen, I really can’t just continue to take?—”

“There will be no argument here. At least, not with me. As for Marvelle… Well, I leave that to you.”

“All right, then,” I said, glancing back at the bed.

“Let me make you a healing tonic before you sleep. I have plied you with ale all night. The least I can do is remember my duties as caretaker.”

“Plying me with ale is caretaking, I promise,” I replied with a laugh, then went over to the bed and sat down, trying not to disturb the little squirrel.

As Kellen worked to make my tonic, I carefully removed my boots. Either the ale was working, or my ribs were mending. Either way, it hurt much less.

The dryad returned a few moments later, handing me a steaming clay mug.

“Drink and rest. I will wake you when it’s time to go.”

“Thank you, Kellen,” I said, taking the mug from him. “For everything.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he replied. “Call if you need anything,” he told me, setting a gentle hand on my shoulder before he retreated to the reading nook on the other side of the cabin.

Wrapping my hands around the mug, I sipped, feeling the tonic soothe me as it went down.

On the other side of the cabin, I saw Kellen light a candle and then settle in to read.

I sat silently, feeling a calm wash over me as I watched him.

When I finished the mug, I set it aside and slipped under the covers.

My head felt heavy from the ale, but my body was warmed from the healing brew.

I moved carefully so as not to wake the squirrel.

He lifted his head, looking at me, then made his way closer, shimmying under the blanket with me and curling up against my chest. Closing my eyes, I held the tiny creature gently with one hand, then tried to fall off to sleep.

My elven ears remained tuned to Kellen’s every move. After a time, I heard him set the book down and blow out the candle. He then adjusted himself in the seat, the chair creaking.

As I lay in his bed, enveloped in his smell, I wanted nothing more than to have him here with me.

I listened as he shifted in his chair. He could not possibly be comfortable.

There was just one bed in the house. I would not have the man looking after me be in so much discomfort.

There was plenty of room in his bed for two—and one squirrel.

Gently moving Marvelle, I rose and padded across the cabin to Kellen, who was not asleep.

I set my hand on his shoulder. “Kellen?’

“Sylvie? What is it? Are you?—”

“I’m all right. I just can’t sleep knowing you’re so uncomfortable here while I am in your bed. There is plenty of room for both of us.”

He stared up at me. “I would not invade your space.”

“It’s your space that I’m invading. I’m inviting you.”

His eyes searched my face as he considered.

I could see the war raging inside him. I understood it.

I felt it in me as well. How was it possible to know someone briefly, but feel like you knew them so well.

Something odd was happening here. And while I didn’t understand it, I knew I didn’t want Kellen to feel any kind of discomfort—ever again.

That included a stiff neck from sleeping in a chair.

Maybe he was taking care of me, but I wanted to return the favor.

“I’m inviting you,” I said again, but this time, softening my voice. “It is a long walk tomorrow. You said so yourself. You will be more rested in your bed.” I reached out for his hand.

After a moment of hesitation, he took it. While his grip was much larger than mine, his hand was warm. I led him back to his bed and slid under the covers, adjusting the sleeping squirrel. The creature groused at me.

Kellen chuckled. “Marvelle seems much less worried about the comfort of my neck and back.”

I grinned, then slid aside, moving one of the two pillows on the bed so Kellen, who was much bigger than me, could get comfortable.

“My horns,” he said shyly. “I will try to be cautious.”

“I’ll be fine,” I reassured him, then pulled the cover up and turned on my side, facing away from him. Then, thinking better of presenting him with my rear all night, I turned toward him.

Marvelle, annoyed with all our antics, rose and scampered across me, finding a spot between us. Nestling between our pillows, he made himself comfortable.

Kellen and I both chuckled.

Lying on his back, Kellen turned and looked at me. “Are you… Do you have enough space?”

“I do,” I said, then reached out, slipped my hand into his, and closed my eyes. “Thank you for taking care of me,” I whispered.

“It is my pleasure,” he replied, gently squeezing my hand.

Maybe it was the drink, the healing tonic, or the warmth of the bed… I don’t know what it was, but moments later, feeling the safest and most comfortable I’d felt for as long as I could remember, I began to drift off to sleep.

“Glimmer,” I whispered, my word barely audible as I drifted off to dreams.

Sounding like he was far away, his voice echoing, Kellen whispered, “Yes.”