Chapter 18: Coming Clean

[Dove]

As a punishment for breaking the rule of stepping into forbidden grounds, I had to help with the harvesting and help out at Connie's B&B.

Cole didn't tell me this - Megan did.

She was my new 'escort' - Owin had left the village for his political duties and Jude needed to increase training for the young warriors.

As for Cole, we were back to square one - he was missing in action again. I have not seen him for a week.

"Okay, give me that."

A toned bronze arm slithered into my blurry view and removed the beet from my stagnant hand. I blinked the mist away, looked up and smiled at a bemused face.

"Cry or smile - choose one," Megan shook her head and threw the beet into my basket, "don't do both - you look scary."

I returned to the record book and scribbled a note about the unusually small beet that just went into the basket.

Megan sounded so much like Cole that it felt like he was next to me. The thought reddened my eyes again. I turned from her and lifted my chin to