Passage (Soul of the Witch Book 1) by C. Marie Bowen

Author:C. Marie Bowen [Bowen, C. Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Life after death, Magic, Near Death Experience, Paranormal Romance, Series, Historic Fiction, Past Lives
Publisher: Pixler Publications
Published: 2018-02-23T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Merril Shilo

Merril reined Midnight in the morning stillness. The vast, empty prairie acted as a soothing balm to his shattered soul after his father’s funeral. Kevin had attended, but the brothers hadn’t spoken. As soon as the reverend left The Shilo to return to town, Merril had ridden out. He'd come more than two miles along the Shilo-Highlands boundary in search of strays. He pushed his hat to the back of his head and relaxed. It looked good. Unless the other wranglers found any calves, they were ready to call the branding and notching done.

He recognized Shadow Creek ahead. He'd ride home along the streambed on the Highlands side. If any missing cattle were here, they’d be near the water. He urged Midnight into a trot parallel to the waterway. Ahead, the foliage thickened where the creek dropped over the plateau ridge. He could never see this place and not think of Nichole.

Merril made his way down the ravine along the brush and stopped near the secret opening he and Nichole had made years ago. He dismounted and wrapped Midnight's reins around a low-hanging limb.

“I'll be back,” he whispered as he lifted his rope from the saddle. Then he stopped. Random splashing from within the brush enclosure confirmed his suspicions.

I’ll be damned if I wasn’t right. And I’d hoped to get home early today.

There were too many loose ends to resolve. The most urgent being a conversation with a sober Kevin about their future. Like it or not.

He parted the greenery with slow movements, careful not to startle a skittish calf.

“Michael have mercy!” he gasped, as Nicki's little gelding, Sugar, nuzzled at the leaves near his head.

“What are you doing here?” He rubbed the bay's nose and accepted his greeting. ''Just like old times, huh, Sugar? Is Nicki with you, or are you just playing tricks on old Lloyd?”

Sugar huffed and sauntered on to better grazing. A loud splash brought Merril's attention to the pond. A smile spread across his face as Nichole surfaced on the far side of the pool.

She stood in the shallows, her back to Merril, as water lapped at her waist. Then she turned. Clear rivulets of icy water ran sparkled over her high, firm breasts and arms.

Merril’s groin tightened as she called for Sugar to watch, then splashed her way back to his side of the pond. Before he had time to change his mind, he crouched beneath the foliage and walked into the sunlight. He stopped beside her folded clothes.

Nichole hadn't noticed him as she swam across the pool and stood again in the sunlight. When she turned and saw him, she uttered a squeak, and sank into the deepest part of the small pond. The clear water bumped against her chin but hid little.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed. “You scared me to death. Give me my clothes.” Heat rose in her cheeks as she sputtered her demand.

“What do you mean, ‘what am I doing here’?” He sat beside her parasol and loosened the handkerchief around his neck.

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