The ghost of the Pungo Witch meets a shattered heart.
SAVING GRACE
Enchanted Keepsakes #1
Aubrey Wynne
Releasing May 1, 2017
Plato Publishing
The ghost of the Pungo Witch meets a shattered heart.
Jackson Hahn, Virginia Beach's local historian, has his eyes on the mysterious new woman in town. When she enters his office, he is struck by her haunting beauty and the raw pain in her eyes. Her descriptions of the odd events happening in her bungalow pique his curiosity.
Chloe Hicks' life consisted of an egocentric ex-husband, a pile of bills, and an equine business in foreclosure until a fire destroys the stable and her beloved ranch horse. What little hope she has left is smashed after the marshal suspects arson. She escapes the accusing eyes of her hometown, but not the memories and melancholy.
The sexy historian distracts Chloe with the legend of a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft. She is drawn to the story and the similarities of events that plagued their lives. Perhaps the past can help heal the present. But danger lurks in the shadows...
Jackson Hahn, Virginia Beach's local historian, has his eyes on the mysterious new woman in town. When she enters his office, he is struck by her haunting beauty and the raw pain in her eyes. Her descriptions of the odd events happening in her bungalow pique his curiosity.
Chloe Hicks' life consisted of an egocentric ex-husband, a pile of bills, and an equine business in foreclosure until a fire destroys the stable and her beloved ranch horse. What little hope she has left is smashed after the marshal suspects arson. She escapes the accusing eyes of her hometown, but not the memories and melancholy.
The sexy historian distracts Chloe with the legend of a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft. She is drawn to the story and the similarities of events that plagued their lives. Perhaps the past can help heal the present. But danger lurks in the shadows...
Late February, 2006
Four Seasons Ranch
Shawneetown, Southern Illinois
Chloe
bolted up, willing the fog in her head to dissipate. The bed sheets were
twisted around her ankles. Sweat trickled down her back. The terror froze her
limbs while she struggled to calm her thudding heart and listen for the sound
all horse owners dread. But it was the smell that made her realize this was not
a terrible dream.
Smoke.
Instinct
took over and she scrambled from the four-poster, making a beeline for the back
door and the barn. Her toe smacked against the corner of a wall as her eyes
adjusted to the darkness. Oh god, not my
babies. Not Bunny. Panic weighed down her legs as her bare feet hit the
gravel. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. She tried to run down the
long driveway, her eyes riveted to the red-orange flames shooting up into the
black sky. Paul, her trainer, emerged from the darkness, his signature white
hat on his head, his face colored yellow from the fiery glow. He signaled for
her to take the front of the building as he disappeared around the back.
The
frigid night air slapped her awake, but a horrifying screech from a panicked
horse kicked in her adrenaline. Chloe reached the big, sliding doors and tugged
them open. Heat smacked her face, and the smoke assaulted her lungs. Coughing,
tears running down her cheeks, she slid back the bolts and opened the stall
doors. On the other side, Paul’s voice faintly reached her over the crackle
that filled her ears.
“Hiya!
Move it, move it.”
The
fire had consumed the other half of the barn where the arena was located. Above
her was the loft, filled with winter hay and the last of her savings, now
adding fuel to the already intense blaze. She pushed the thought from her mind
as the flames shot through the center of the alleyway and the arena caved in.
Grabbing one of the lead ropes that hung at
each door, she smacked the first horse on the rump and sent him flying out of
the barn. The first three horses on each side followed their stable mates into
safety with little persuasion. But Duchess, her mother’s old mare, wouldn’t
budge. Chloe threw the lead rope over her neck and forced a calm tone. “Easy,
girl. That’s my girl. Walk on, now. Walk on.”
The
old horse snorted and pranced but followed her out of the stall. When they
neared the opening, she withdrew the rope and whacked Duchess’ hindquarters.
With a leap, the horse disappeared into the gray haze. The acrid odor of
scorched hair and burnt wood filled her nostrils. Embers popped. She felt her
cheek blister and wiped at it with her shoulder, while leading two more horses
out by hand. She could hear BW’s shrill bark and knew he was herding the
animals into a paddock as she sent them out.
Crack!
Above
her, a beam gave way and formed a fiery V. The horses must have sensed it also
because they lunged ahead, snapping Chloe’s shoulders forward. She struggled to
maintain her balance but fell to the matted floor, her knees striking the hard
rubber. A boom behind her sent a
spray of sparks, and pain shot along her backside. From the corner of her eye,
she saw a strand of her hair spark. She beat at her neck frantically, putting
it out with her bare hand. The heat was sweltering now. Images wavered in the
flames that licked at the dry timbers of the remaining stalls and the heavy
beams above.
Scrambling
to her feet, Chloe ran outside into the frigid night and stumbled down the
drive to help Paul. As she reached the other side of the barn, she doubled over
as a coughing spasm racked her body. Hands on her knees, gasping to pull air
into her tight chest, she heard him yelling over the crackle and whinnies.
“Bunny
won’t leave the stall, and won’t let me near her foal.”
“What
about Jack?”
“He’s
good. C’mon, the roof is gonna give.”
His
hand tightened around her arm and pulled with such force her feet almost left
the ground. Plunging back into the smoking hell, they entered Bunny’s stall and
found the foal in the corner.
“Paul,
I’ll get the foal then Bunny will follow.”
Another
loud snap from above. She grabbed the lead rope dangling from the horse’s
halter and handed it to the trainer. Running a palm down her mare’s neck, she
spoke soothingly, “Atta girl, Bunny. There’s my girl. Let’s get your baby out
of here.” The mare’s ears perked at her voice and words. Chloe tossed a rope
around the foal’s neck and pulled. The baby gave to the pressure and followed
Chloe out.
Behind
her, a loud, splintering crash was followed by a shrill squeal. Her stomach
twisted as she turned to see Paul pulling at the lead rope. A fiery beam pinned
Bunny as she thrashed, her legs flying in the air. One hoof caught the man in
the head, and he crumpled to the ground.
Fighting
for air, her chest a tight ball of agony, Chloe stumbled back in and grabbed
Paul under his arms. BW appeared at her side. Together, they dragged him out of
danger. With the last of her strength, she shuffled backwards until her feet
tripped on something solid. She fell, his body tangled in her legs as they both
landed with a thud.
A
sob ripped at her raw throat at the sound of a muffled shriek. Tears spilled
down her burning cheeks as she shook the lifeless body on top of her. BW licked
at his master’s face. Chloe collapsed, her hand still on Paul’s chest, finding
hope in the slight rise and fall of his shallow breathing. In the back of her
brain, the sound of sirens wailed faintly. Above her, a shadow loomed. Mike? How did he get here so fast? And
then her world went black.
Bestselling and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule and barn cats. She is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. Obsessions include history, travel, trail riding and all things Christmas.
Her short stories Merry Christmas, Henry and Pete’s Mighty Purty Privies won the Preditors & Editors Reader’s Choice in 2013 and 2014. Dante’s Gift, the first in A Chicago Christmas series, received the 2016 Golden Quill, Aspen Gold and Heart of Excellence awards.
Her upcoming series “A Vintage Romance” was inspired by tales of her stepfather, who served for the British Air Force in WWII. Wynne’s medieval fantasy series “Medieval Encounters” will launch in 2017 with Rolf’s Quest.
