 |
 |
|
Home Biography Books Coming Soon Reviews Awards Appearances Free Reads Links |
FREE READS By Lizzie T. Leaf CHAPTER TWO Amanda Livingston didn’t think her day could get much worse. Her morning started with a phone call from Jess Morgan giving the good news on his engagement to the ditzy bitch he’d dumped Amanda for. Worse, he had the gall to ask her if she’d like an invitation to the wedding. What a dick wad! No, she wasn’t still in love with him. Those feelings faded over the past year. Okay, she’d admit the day he announced they had noting in common any longer and he’d found someone he could be happy with, left her devastated. She’d sat on the bed and clenched her fist as she watched him pack his belongings when what she really wanted to do at that moment was throw him and his meager possessions off the top of the highest building. Yes, it still stung a little to think of the five years she’d invested in their relationship and he never asked her to marry him. About the only thing he proposed during their time together was to lots of kinky sex. Whether she was a veterinarian or not, the games he’d suggest to spice up their love life she found repulsive and…well her mind didn’t even want to go there. “Look on the bright side,” she mumbled. “The jerk is truly out of your life now and you’ve just met a yummy new man. Phil Roberts has a thousand times more potential than a wannabee rock n’ roll musician.” She stretched her neck from side to side in an effort to relieve the stiff muscles. The emergency call out into the country shortly after the cheery start to her day ended up consuming more hours than she’d anticipated when complications in the horse’s labor developed. Thankfully, she’d saved both the mare and her foal, but the birth, long and difficult for the first time mother, left all involved exhausted. Amanda shrugged her shoulders up toward her ears in attempt to release more stress. “Long hours are part of the job. Stop your whining and when you get home you can have a nice hot bath.” Her eyes darted to the side of the dark street. The city council really needed to get off their asses and have street lights installed in this neighborhood. “Note to self. Remember to not come this way after dark when you’re so tired.” A movement from the sidewalk caught her weary eyes. A cat streaked across the road in front, far enough ahead she only tapped the brakes. Another figure followed, causing her to stomp down on the break pedal. Too late. The SUV hit the unfortunate second animal, sending it flying through the air. “Oh my God.” Amanda scrambled from the vehicle, her heart in her throat. She saved animals, not killed them. Rushing to the side of the limp figure in the middle of the street, she fought back tears. “I’m sorry.” Her expert hands ran over the body, her fingers feeling for any obvious fractures. Internal bleeding would have to be determined by further testing. “Poor little guy. Look at you. Damn, I sent you flying. The headlights are no help. It’s so dark out here I’m not sure what breed of dog you are. Scottie, maybe.” She slipped off her light sweater and wrapped it around the soft form. “At least you’re still breathing. Let’s get you over to the clinic where I can examine you better.” Gently placing the wounded dog in the back of the SUV, she muttered a soft thank you for the traffic light timing that allowed her to make the drive quickly. Inside the clinic, she did a more thorough exam and x-rays. “A minor concussion. You’re lucky nothing is broken.” She stroked the wiry black coat. “The impact knocked you unconscious, but you should come around soon.” In answer to her prediction, he opened his eyes for a second and attempted to lift his head. “No, it’s okay. The shot I gave you will kick in any minute and you’ll sleep. I promise you’ll feel better when you wake up. But, you’re going to be sore and probably have a headache.” Exhaustion flowed though her and a loud yawn escaped. Given tomorrow’s heavy office hours, staying up all night with him here in the clinic was out of the question. She had a cot in her office closet she kept for nights she needed to stay over with a patient, but the thought of hauling it out was more than she wanted to deal with right now. Since the little guy wore no identification, she had no way of notifying the owners, either. “Well, my friend. Look’s like you’re coming home with me tonight. If I keep you on the bed with me, I’ll know if you wake up and need anything.” Rand opened his eyes and groaned. His attempt to move sent pain ripping through his body and he knew someone was using his head as a drum. Damn, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. The closing of a drawer distracted his assessment of body pain and drew his attention toward an open door into what appeared to be the bathroom. A woman came into view and stopped. The light behind her made the t-shirt she wore transparent and did nothing to hide the curves it covered. “You’re awake.” She advanced toward him and he could see from a bedside lamp the deep rich honey color of the long braid hanging down over her shoulder. “Do you need to go outside or are you not up to that yet?” Why the hell did she talk to him like a child. Oh yeah. That’s right. You’re a dog. Memories of the earlier part of his evening came rushing back. His sisters were dead when he got his hands on them. “I’m sorry, little guy. I really tried not to hit you.” Gentle fingers stoked his side and rubbed behind his ears. Damn, that feels good. Why is my hind leg kicking? It hurts like hell every time I move. Yep, I’ve seen dogs do that when something feels good. I could actually enjoy the scratching if the thumping would stop so the pain would go away. “Who do you belong to?” The sweet voice of the angel sitting on the bed beside him wanted to know. “I bet your owner is worried sick. You’re about the most enchanting little fellow I’ve seen in a long time.” The full lips made a little boo-boo pout. If she only knew. Rand eased his head further under her hand, encouraging her to scratch more. Pain or not, the desire to stand up and kiss the pink mouth when she did the pouty thing, almost overcame the soreness. Then again, dogs don’t really kiss. Doggy kisses are licks. He didn’t care what one called them as long as he could get his tongue against those soft lips. “Even though you’re awake, I’m still going to keep you in bed with me tonight. The sedative I gave you isn’t completely out of your system and I don’t want you moving around too much.” Hot damn, jackpot! Too bad, he found himself in some little dog’s body when he snuggled up against this luscious specimen of a woman. “Let me get us settled.” The beauty pulled back the covers on one side of the bed. “You can stay where you are, though it’s my usual place. I don’t want to move you too much because I know you have to be sore from the banging you received.” She reached over and turned out the light. “Goodnight, little guy.” Rand listened to her breathing and knew from the steady rhythm, she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. He snuggled closer and sniffed. Roses. She smelled of roses, his favorite flower. Sleep searched him out and he moved again in an attempt to find a more comfortable position. Allowing his heavy eyelids to close, he inhaled the scent of the human beside him once again. The slumber that only a moment ago almost claimed him disappeared. Oh, crap. How the hell did a dog deal with a boner? “Mom and Granna are going to kill us if we don’t figure out how to undo this spell.” Riz twisted her hands and blinked back the tears threatening to spill. “Tell me something I don’t know.” Mel’s watery green pools reflected the same fear in her sister’s. “Why can’t we ever leave well enough alone? You’d think after fifteen years of getting into trouble with stuff we aren’t supposed to touch we’d learn.” “So, true.” The large black cat sitting on the table between them shook his head. You do realize your mother has a special spot for Rand, even if he doesn’t have the magic abilities of you two trouble makers. After all, he’s the son of the first man she loved. If he’d lived, you two would have a different father.” “Shut-up, Simma!” The twins yelled in unison. “My, my. If nothing else, this mess you’ve created has you both working together for once.” “True, Simma.” Mel reached out and scratched behind one of the big cat’s ears. Riz smiled and tweaked the other one. “Yeah, maybe we can accomplish more by working together.” She gave her sister a love tap on the shoulder. “Ouch.” Mel rubbed the wounded spot . “Good thing we have this new spirit of cooperation going here or I’d have to hit back. Still, the question remains. How do we undo what happened?” “Huhuum. Excuse me, hairball.” Simma turned his head and cleared his throat again. “May I suggest looking in the second volume of the book you used to create the problem?” Mel eyed the cat dubiously. “There’s a second volume? Mom and Granna never mentioned a second volume.” Let’s just say your mother and grandmother know the pair of you well. Too well in fact. They didn’t think you were ready for some of the magic contained in the second volume. “Where is it?” Riz looked around the kitchen. “Not here, kittens. Follow me.” Tail straight up, Simma started down the hall and stopped at the door of the room where their mother kept the most powerful magic ingredients. Riz shook her head. “We can’t get in there. Mom keeps the door locked.” Mel’s shoulders slumped. “We’re screwed.” “Not so fast, Ladies. Are you forgetting who you’re dealing with? After all, I am the family familiar and have a certain amount of magic. The cat stared at the door and blinked until a soft click sounded. “Shall we?” Entering into the room, Simma stopped in front of a large cabinet and once again stared until a slight noise indicated the lock released. “Try the top shelf. And be careful.” Amazed at the ease with which the large double doors opened, Riz pulled a chair over and Mel climbed onto the seat in an effort to reach the top shelf. “Wow, this is twice as thick as Volume I.” She handed the book down to her sister’s waiting hands. Making her way over to the empty table in the middle of the room, Riz dropped the weight down with a thud. “Man, is that ever heavy. No wonder Mom and Granna don’t use it often.” Simma licked a paw and shook his head. “Hello dense ones. They are witches and powerful ones at that. Do you think they’d use brut force to lift something weighing that much? “Good point.” Mel said and her sister nodded in agreement. “I have another question.” Riz looked at her sister who tipped her head in concurrence. “Why can we understand you when you do the mind talk and we couldn’t pick up anything from Rand when he changed?” “Valid question for once.” Simma hopped onto the table. “If you recall, you can’t always read what I’m saying. Your abilities in that area are developing. Combined with the shock Rand experienced with the transformation, he blocked your limited efforts.” “Got it.” The twins spoke in accord. Riz opened the book and groaned. “This is written in some language I can’t read.” Mel looked over her shoulder. “Me neither. Why did Mom and Granna keep this book locked up? It’s not like either of us could use it.” “Allow me.” Simma moved around to sit at the bottom of the thick volume of charms. “This is a very ancient language and handed down through the ages to only a selected few. Fortunately, my long association with this family has given me some knowledge of it.” The large cat studied the pages in front of him and they began to turn slowly. After several minutes, he stopped. “Hmmm. This may be what we are looking for. How to reverse animal enchanting.” “Sounds right.” Mel reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. “Read it to us…please.” “Very well, since you asked nicely. It says here the full moon affects the change during its waxing and waning phase.” Riz interrupted with a question. “ How? Tell us how that works.” “Well, little Miss Impatient, if you’d let me finish reading we might have an answer.” Simma returned to the pages of the massive book spread in front of him. Okay, so he couldn’t decipher it word for word, but close enough would do. “Looks like our boy will revert to human form for about a week during this period. Let’s see, where is the moon cycle now.” He looked across the room to a calendar on the wall. “It appears your brother is going to be running around on all fours for another two weeks.” “Then he’ll become himself again.” Mel let out a sigh of relief. “Only for a week. Remember, the charm is only reversed for a week during the moon phase. “Oh.” Mel’s shoulders slumped. Riz placed her arm around her sister. “We’ll continue to search for a permanent reversal of the charm. With Simma’s help of course.” She shot a pleading look toward the cat. “Yeah, we can do that.” Mel stood up straight and looked at her two companions. “I just have one question. How are we going to find Rand to tell him about this?” |