Hearths of Fire (21 page)

“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.

Their tongues played, but it soon turned to who could dominate the other. Charlotte wasn’t going to win and when he held her still, her body melted into his. Neal savored her surrender and he wasn’t sure how much time passed as he drank from her. He only knew that he didn’t want this time with her to end. When her phone rang, reality finally crashed upon them and he slowly pulled away. He rested his forehead against hers, giving both of them time to catch their breaths. He closed his eyes so he didn’t have to see the rejection that surely showed in her blue eyes.

“Neal?”

Charlotte had whispered his name and he heard the haunting question in her voice, but he had no answer as to why he’d just done what he did. Neal released his hold on her slowly, letting her hair sensually glide through his fingers one last time. He’d be gone by tomorrow afternoon and she would carry on as if this had never happened. He should too, but he had a gut feeling that it would be harder for him to forget.

“Answer it,” Neal ordered, allowing Charlotte to slide back into her seat.

For the first time since he’d come home Charlotte actually did what he’d requested. Neal was grateful, for it kept them talking about something that didn’t need rehashing. He’d been inundated with past memories and it had gotten the best of him. It wouldn’t happen again. They had more important things to deal with, such as Mandy’s future.

“Hello?” Neal could feel Charlotte’s gaze on him as she answered the phone. It wasn’t until she’d placed her hand on his arm that he finally looked her way. The alarm that had settled over her features drove away any worry that he might have had over his actions. “What do you mean she’s missing?”

“Who?” Neal mouthed, putting the truck in drive and pulling back onto the backcountry road that would lead them back into town.

“Becky didn’t go home last night,” Charlotte murmured, tilting the phone away from her mouth. Putting it back in place, she asked the person on the other end, “Where did you hear this? Okay. Thanks for letting me know, Pam.”

Charlotte immediately disconnected and then placed another call. Neal came to a stop sign and once he saw the way was clear, he then continued forward. He thought back to their visit with the Ashes, but nothing stood out that they might have abducted Becky. They had probable cause though, especially if the young girl was going around town telling people she’d overheard Garreth talking about rituals. The most likely circumstance was that the girl had spent the night at a friend’s and had yet to call home.

“Pam said that Thelma stopped into the bookstore today and of course spilled the town’s gossip.” Charlotte continued to listen to what Neal presumed was still ringing on the phone while she caught him up. “She’s saying that Becky was reported missing by her parents a couple of hours ago. They contacted all of her friends before going to the sheriff. What if they have her, Neal?”

“We don’t know that,” Neal said calmly, taking a left when he came into town so that he could cross over to Main Street. “Obviously old Sheriff Plinkton didn’t get to speak with Becky this morning. I’m sure he’s looking into it, but we both know the likelihood of them abducting her is nil. They haven’t committed any crimes—”

“You and I both know they are the reason for the missing livestock,” Charlotte insisted before she groaned and pulled the phone away from her ear. “Mandy is not answering her phone. I know for a fact that one of the deputies had to have talked to her. She is one of Becky’s best friends.”

“I’m sure Mandy’s on the phone making calls of her own.” Neal made a right onto Main Street, taking the first parking spot he came across. This kind of news in a small town would gather up the troops. He shifted into park and then turned off the engine. Before they both walked into chaos and the remainder of the day was spent trying to locate a missing teenage girl he needed to make something clear. “Char, I’m sorry. That kiss…it was uncalled for. It won’t happen again.”