Page 7 of Must Love Moss and Moonshine (Moonshine Hollow)

TANSY

M y eyes opened slowly as I felt the soft warmth of morning light spilling over me. It took me a moment to remember where I was. I had been traveling, on the road to…somewhere. Where had I been going? I’d been in a terrible rush to get there.

And then…

And then, nothing.

I didn’t remember anything.

By Kellen’s retelling, I’d been thrown from my horse in the middle of an enchanted forest, and he’d rescued me.

I looked at the wooden beams above me. The earthy scents of dried herbs hanging there mingled with fresh forest air wafting through the room. This was his space. And yet, it felt so safe, so comforting.

Rolling over, I saw Kellen standing at his bench before the cottage window, his back to me, humming in a low tone as he worked.

Sunlight filtered through the thick glass, casting a warm glow over him.

The beams caught the deep green strands in his hair and highlighted the lines of his broad shoulders.

His rough-woven tunic accentuated his strong arms, and though his leather trousers were worn, they fit him perfectly, revealing the firm muscles beneath.

But what captivated me most was the way he moved, his hands steady and practiced as he sorted through bundles of herbs and mushrooms. He handled them with such gentleness, almost reverence, as he plucked stems and brushed away bits of soil, his fingers moving with a patience that stirred something inside me.

A tug pulled at my heart, a quiet but insistent ache that felt both foreign and familiar. A longing. He looked so at ease, so…settled. That sensation was completely unfamiliar. Deep in my heart, I knew I was anything but settled. But why? How? I didn’t know.

Seeing Kellen like this, I found myself wanting to be part of it.

The thought caught me off guard. I didn’t know this man.

He was a complete stranger to me, and yet…

I gave myself just a moment to linger with the idea.

As I watched him, my heart beat just a little faster, my body warming under the covers.

There was something more than just admiration or gratitude stirring in me.

I imagined slipping my arms around his waist, embracing him, resting my head against his back, his warmth surrounding me.

I envisioned the feel of his hands as they reached for mine, rough and steady, grounding me in a way I’d never let myself hope for before.

But even as I thought it, I realized something. I remembered something important. That ache for a home told me something about myself I had forgotten—I had no place. I was a rootless person. Why?

I shifted, the soft rustle of the covers catching his attention. He turned, those forest-hued eyes meeting mine.

He gave me a soft smile, the kind that felt like morning sunlight, warm and gentle. “You’re awake. How is your head?”

I gently touched my temple. “The ache is gone.”

“And the ribs?”

I felt my side. “Better, but not perfect.”

“It will take time. I’ve had a bruised rib before. It will be tender for a while.”

“Get knocked from horseback as well?”

“Bystander injury. A duel between a porcupine and a bear that went very poorly for the bear. He needed help getting quills removed from his nose. We’ve never been friends, old Mohr and me.

He seems to think that he is alpha of this forest. And he should have been far more grateful for my help. We are still not on speaking terms.”

I laughed.

Kellen smiled softly then gestured to an ancient-looking book sitting on his workbench.

“I spent the night reading. A former guardian used to take care of the villagers in Moonshine Hollow. She documented a case much like your own, including how she helped the person remember.” He turned and went to the table.

“When you arrived, you had nothing but the clothes on your back and your belt. I removed it so you could rest more comfortably. But you had some pouches attached to it,” he said, indicating the belt lying on the table.

“Maybe they contain something to help you remember.”

When I moved to rise, Kellen set down his herb bundle and crossed the room.

“Here. Let me help. The healing salve will have aided your recovery, but you’ll still be tender,” he said, reaching out.

His fingers were warm and strong as they closed around my arm, sending an unexpected heat through my body.

I hadn’t anticipated the intensity of it. “Take it slow.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, willing my voice not to quiver like a love-struck teenager.

He guided me to the table, his arm wrapped supportively around me.

The warmth of him, the earthy scent of the herbs he’d been handling, and that quiet strength that radiated from him—it all washed over me, muddling my thoughts and causing what seemed like an unfamiliar but pleasant ache in my chest.

I gave him a grateful smile, gazing into his eyes. A flicker of something I couldn’t quite name passed between us. I should have pulled back, broken the gaze, said something light to shatter the moment, but I didn’t.

Instead, I leaned into him just a bit, drawn to his solid warmth, the steady beat of his heart that I could feel through the thin fabric of his shirt. My fingers tightened slightly on his arm, and his hand shifted just a fraction, steadying me.

Kellen gave me a soft smile then helped me to the bench at the table.

Once I’d sat down, he disappeared into another room, returning with my belt and its attached pouches.

I pulled it closer and opened the first pouch.

Inside was a handful of coins. It was a meager amount, enough for a few nights’ stay at an inn, maybe a new pair of boots, but not much.

“Well,” I said, shaking the coins in my palm. “We know I’m not an heiress. Nice little satchel, though,” I added, admiring the blue-dyed leather coin purse which looked very well made.

“Indeed it is. And it’s not easy to get that color so vibrant.”

“Maybe I made it.”

“Perhaps,” Kellen said then gestured to my hands. “Your fingers… You wear your nails short, and the tips are worn.”

“Are you saying my hands are scratchy?” I asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

“Compared to mine, they’re as soft as rabbit fur. I’m saying it seems you must work with your hands.”

I studied my fingers. A vision appeared before me, as if I were looking through thick fog. I saw myself working busily with something, but I wasn’t sure what. “Maybe.”

Opening the other pouch, I found several small spools of leather in varying colors.

Along with them was a small knife. I pulled them out, setting them on the table, then considered them for a moment.

“I don’t know why I have these,” I said, feeling frustrated at my inability to remember.

“I know I need them for something. And… And they’re new.

That’s why they were in my pouch. But where I got them or why… Nothing.”

“What about the name Bromir?” Kellen asked.

“Bromir,” I repeated, this time feeling a sense of familiarity. I heard a man’s laugh and caught a flash of light and the sound of music, but it faded at once. “There is… There is something there.”

“A…husband, perhaps?” Kellen asked.

Did I detect a note of tension in his voice?

Uncertain, I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I’m not wearing a wedding ring, so that means something, right? I don’t feel married, but the name is familiar. How do you know it?”

“You spoke it in your sleep. You were dreaming, I think. You laughed and called to a man of that name.”

I narrowed my gaze, frustrated by the lack of clarity, then shook my head. “Nothing clear.”

Kellen nodded. “Stay here a moment,” he said then went to fetch my boots. “The elder dryad had another idea, but it requires a little walk. Are you up for it?”

“If you can help with my boots.”

“Of course. I’m sure you’re ready to get out of my stuffy house.”

“Only if by stuffy you mean cozy and comforting. Trust me, it is no hardship to rest here.”

“I am glad to hear you say so. Now, let’s get you ready. There is something I want to show you.”