Hearths of Fire (10 page)

“I managed to keep her from harm so far,” Charlotte replied, trying her best to lift
the sides of her mouth. She couldn’t pinpoint why Robert Ashe made her so uncomfortable.
“I had the day off today, so Neal and I thought we would make the most of it by dropping
by so I had a chance to meet you. Garreth and Mandy have gotten rather close over
the last two months.”

“Yes, they have. It’s wonderful to know they found each other so early in life, isn’t
it?” Robert’s gaze was focused on something behind Neal and Charlotte, so they both
turned to see who was behind them. Patricia Ashe was walking toward them with her
hair up on some sort of clip. She’d gone gray early, although it was mixed in with
a mousy brown color. Charlotte wasn’t sure why she was expecting a black dress of
some sort, but the woman was wearing pretty much the same outfit as her husband—a
black sweater overtop a black dress shirt and black jeans. It was downright creepy.
How could Mandy not see it? Charlotte should be grateful that her sister was still
wearing normal clothes. It was then that a vision of her sister wearing a black turtleneck
this morning came to the forefront. “And here is my lovely wife. Patricia, please
meet Charlotte Whitefall. You’ve already met Neal Bauer.”

“Yes, I remember,” Patricia stated, a false smile pasted on her thin lips. Charlotte
could see immediately that this woman didn’t like Neal. Whether it was from their
previous run-in or she just didn’t like Alpha men was up for debate. Patricia’s dark
brown eyes zeroed in on Charlotte. She wasn’t sure why, but it felt as if she was
being looked over with the intention of being bought. “Charlotte, it’s such a pleasure
to meet you. Robert and I were just talking about Mandy and how perfect she and our
son are together. A higher power is certainly watching over them.”

Charlotte wasn’t quite sure what to say to that, so she kept quiet while shaking the
older woman’s cold hand. Something caught Charlotte’s eye as she looked to their right
to see Garreth entering the large barn. He had to have seen them, yet he’d chosen
to not come over. She had no doubt that he was calling Mandy right now. Hadn’t her
sister mentioned they were going to the festival early before Garreth had to run a
booth?

“We were hoping to sit down with you,” Neal said, bringing everyone’s attention back
around. “I’m sure you can understand that since Mandy and Garreth have gotten so close,
that Charlotte would want to know more about what you do here…what you stand for.”

“Please, come inside for some refreshments.” Robert waited to walk back to the house
until his wife was by his side. Together the couple led the way up the porch steps
and into a house that had sparse furnishings. Charlotte could easily see the beauty
of such an old farmhouse and yet it now appeared to be only a shell of what used to
be. “Have a seat and we’ll be right with you.”

Just like that, Robert and Patricia exited the living room…if one could call it that.
The only pieces of furniture were two foldout chairs and a couch. It gave off the
appearance that the chairs were used to indicate a higher authority and just for shits
and giggles, Charlotte almost sat in one just to see what Robert and Patricia would
do upon their return.

“Don’t even think about it,” Neal murmured, taking a hold of her hand and leading
her to the couch. They both sank down on cushions that were as hard as two-by-fours.
There was a cheap laminate table with short legs in front of them that was situated
in between the couch and two chairs. “They’ll come at me first and then they’ll tell
you what they want you to know about Ashes to Dirt. Just follow my lead.”

“Is it bad that I don’t like them already?” Charlotte whispered back, sitting forward
on the hard cushion. She felt the urge to be ready to run, which was laughable. Neal
was here and armed. Nothing was going to happen. “Wait. Should we drink what they
give us?”

“Absolutely not.”

Charlotte’s gaze swung his way in astonishment when he didn’t even hesitate to answer
her question. She was technically being facetious, but now that he’d stated so clearly
what he thought the Ashes were capable of…she was suddenly feeling a little nauseous.
Hearing the sound of footsteps coming through from what must be the kitchen, Charlotte
sat up a little straighter.

“Here we go,” Patricia said with another pasted on smile. She was holding a tray with
four glasses of water sans any ice cubes. She placed the circular serving tray on
the table, chose one of the glasses, and then sat in the chair to the right. Robert
did the same, choosing the seat on the left. “Water is our choice of beverage here.
It cleanses the body and the soul.”

Charlotte once again found herself a little speechless, but she picked up a glass
anyway. Even though she wouldn’t drink out of it, it gave her something to do with
her hands. Neal blatantly left his on the tray, although no one pointed that out.

“Neal, I think we’ve had this conversation before.” Robert paused to take a sip of
his water. Once he was done, his smile was back in place as if he’d been programmed.
“I know the town was a tad bit nervous when we first brought our followers here, but
Hearth is such a peaceful town. As we stated previously, we’re only here to promote
good. We’ve been called by a higher power to spread the word.”

“Yes, that
is
what you said.” Neal’s green eyes never wavered from Robert. Charlotte held her breath
as she waited to see which direction Neal would take this conversation. “Of course
that was before your son started to date Mandy.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were of any relation to the Whitefalls.” Patricia didn’t
cross her legs, but instead kept her feet flat on the floor. Charlotte had known that
one of them would bring up the subject of Neal’s relationship with Mandy. What she
hadn’t expected was the knives to come out so early…so much for promoting peace. Her
anger started to stir that these people would think they had a right to comment on
their friendship. “It was our belief that you two were to be married and that Charlotte
decided against that at an early age.”

“Our past decisions have no bearing on the fact that Charlotte and Mandy are like
family to me,” Neal said in a hardened voice. “Which is why I’ve come home to ensure
that Mandy makes the right decision in regards to her future. Is it true that Garreth
is taking over the leadership of Ashes to Dirt?”

Charlotte saw Robert’s smile slip somewhat and wondered why he was so displeased that
they knew that fact about their son. Patricia didn’t move a muscle or show any sign
that it bothered her. Charlotte was finding it rather hard not to ask her own questions.
If Neal didn’t hurry this conversation along she was going to take part, regardless
of his previous warning.

“Yes, Garreth has been groomed for this his entire life,” Robert responded, his fingers
tightening on the glass. “He will lead us to a better life.”

“I’m sorry,” Charlotte interjected, feeling the intensity of Neal’s gaze but ignoring
his previous advice. “Neal asked you what Ashes to Dirt stands for. I know you said
good, but what exactly do you believe in? What goes on here that these people would
give up their lives to live off of this land? How did you convince them to do that?”

“Land is what we were given,” Patricia replied, her brows lowering with agitation.
What amazed Charlotte was that her thin smile never wavered. “We must use and promote
the goodness of such a gift. Our followers know this and honor this by giving up their
material possessions. There was no convincing needed because they obeyed their hearts’
directives.”

“Our main concern is Mandy.” Neal placed his hand on Charlotte’s back and what must
look like a supportive gesture to the Ashes was really a warning to her. She was already
at the point that she didn’t care what these people thought of her, so what difference
did it make if she offended them with her question? “We want her to continue on
her
path of graduating high school and attending nursing school. I’m sure if Garreth
is to take over as leader you’ll want him to focus on his duties here. We would like
to be on the same page.”

“Of course Mandy should go to nursing school. She was born to be a healer,” Patricia
said, stressing her words and causing Charlotte to set her glass back down on the
tray. “If she chooses to join Garreth at the altar of his sovereignty, we couldn’t
be happier.”

“Sovereignty?” Charlotte repeated, wanting a little more clarification on that. She
was so going home and telling Mandy that she couldn’t see Garreth anymore. Granted,
Charlotte only had say for another week but it was better than nothing. “I don’t think—”

“If Mandy were to join Garreth at this so-called altar,” Neal stated, his hand coming
to rest on Charlotte’s shoulder, “what would her duties to Ashes to Dirt be?”

“Why, our healer, of course.” Robert reached over to his wife with his left hand,
which she took. “Mandy has been chosen.”

“Mandy has not been
chosen
,” Charlotte exclaimed, having had enough of this circus they called a conversation.
The Ashes weren’t really giving any answers. “She’s still seventeen and in high school.
She has a lot of living and experiencing ahead of her. Mr. and Mrs. Ashe, don’t get
me wrong—Garreth has been nothing but kind to her. I just want the three of us to
be on the same page when it comes to their future.”

Robert and Patricia both stood at the same time, as if they were waiting for those
words to come out of Charlotte’s mouth. She felt like she was in some
Twilight
film and that if she blinked she’d be back on her living room sofa in front of the
television. Unfortunately when she tried it…she and Neal were still sitting in the
Ashes’ living room. Nothing scared Charlotte more than when Robert and Patricia spoke
in unison.

“Their future has already been foretold.”

‡

“Y
ou didn’t hear
a goddamned word I said, did you?” Neal tightened his grip on the steering wheel
as he scolded her. He should have known from his past experiences that Charlotte did
what wanted, when she wanted. This morning’s meeting didn’t go anywhere near what
he’d planned. “You just antagonized the leaders of a cult. One, I might add, whose
son is going to reign over with the apparent help of your sister in the very near
future.”

“Don’t act like you were all sunshine and roses,” Charlotte exclaimed with irritation,
turning as much as she could in the passenger seat to face him. “You were quite assertive
back there as well.”

“That’s how I wanted it. I was going to play you off as the concerned older sister,
not a bat-shit crazy blonde heretic with an agenda.” Neal could only imagine what
Robert and Patricia were telling Garreth at the moment. It didn’t help that they were
all one round short of a full clip. “And what the hell was that parting question about?”

“Asking why they wear black when they’re supposed to promote good was a reasonable
question,” Charlotte argued, throwing her hands up in the air as if she had the right
to be exasperated with him. “They didn’t seem to have an answer.”

“Oh, they have an answer, all right. They just weren’t about to share it with you.”
Neal shook his head at how fucked up that meeting had gone. “You haven’t changed a
bit.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Charlotte asked in such a manner he would have thought
she was insulted. He’d spoken the truth. “You weren’t asking the right questions,
so I did what I had to do.”

“Impatient.” Neal allowed the memories to wash over him…every one of them, from when
she’d woken him up at six hundred on the morning of her sixteenth birthday for him
to drive her to the DMV to take her driving exam to when she’d waited for him outside
of sixth period their senior year wondering why he hadn’t formally asked her to the
prom. She’d even had her arms crossed and her toe tapping on the hard floor. “You
never could wait and you always tried to take over.”

“Tried?”

When Neal looked over at Charlotte her eyebrow was raised and the sun that was shining
through the windshield made her blonde hair glimmer. Without thinking of the consequences
and sure as hell not knowing what prompted him to do so, he pulled the truck over
and slammed it in park. Within seconds he’d unclipped her seat belt and had her in
his lap. When his lips claimed hers, he felt like he’d finally come home.

Charlotte tasted slightly of berries from the gloss that had been left on her lips
and sugar from what must have been in the syrup. It was almost as if he was taking
in fall’s flavors. The combination was heady and he needed more. Neal slipped his
hands up through her hair to cradle her head, tilting it just so. He couldn’t get
enough. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue, wanting more of her essence.

Tightening his grip, the gasp Charlotte emitted traveled straight to his manhood and
the feel of her weight on his lap only added to his pleasure. Just as when she’d been
younger, she didn’t just let him take his fill. Her small hands were fisted in his
light blue zip-up sweater that he’d worn to cover his holster. He didn’t wear it because
blue was her favorite color, but it had crossed his mind. She tried to pull him closer
but there was no space left.