Blood Debt (Touched Series Book 1) (11 page)

I believed Gretchen, that she really was talking to my mother. 
I had been on the fence about whether I
whole-heartedly
believed until
Gretchen told me about my second grade play
. 
I had completely dismantled the stage props while I was dancing around like a butterfly.  The only way she could have known about it was to hear about it from either my mother or me.
  In that moment, I knew she was on the level
,
at least about being able to communicate with my mom.
  I hadn’t thought about that play since I was seven
.  T
he only logical explanation was that my mother’s spirit had shared the event with her.

Just two days ago I
had
felt consumed by my grief for my mother
. 
That grief was replaced with a new hopefulness
that
I
’d soon be able to talk to her again
,
and
I had a brand new car
.
  I
hoped that I wasn’t somehow caught in a
dream world
, or if I w
ere
, I
wished
never
to
wake up
.

I stammered,
“Will, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll stay here.  Say that you want to be a part of
our
family.”

I noticed it wasn’t just Will standing in front of me with anticipation
. 
Beau, Bruce, Bart, Ben, Brent and Gretchen were all waiting for me to answer.  The joy that I felt in that moment rivaled other momentous occasions in my life, like hitting my first homerun when I played softball in high school, seeing a dolphin for the first time in the
ocean
,
and one of my most cherished memories – tasting my very first mint chocolate chip ice cream shake.
True, none of these memories could top being accepted into such a tight-knit family, but each memory was one that I loved.
  Without any apprehension, I answered, “I’m in.”
   

Will scooped me up in a tight hug, “Camille, you’ve just made me the happiest father in the world.”  While in his embrace
,
he whispered in my ear, “I’ll take care of everything.  Don’t worry about your grand
mother
.”

I could feel my muscles stiffen
. 
Gretchen must have told him about our conver
sation about the blood debt.  Even though he told me not to worry, the fact that he was whispering to me, out of earshot of everyone else – definitely made me worry
.  C
ould someone really want to kill me because my mom had broken off an engagement?  I had no reason to doubt Gretchen
,
but it
was all a little hard to swallow
.

Things began moving even faster once I had committed to stay
. 
Gretchen took me shopping.  In her words, “Your closet is lonely
;
let
’
s get it some friends.”

I noticed that Will and Gretchen were the only people in the house
who
went anywhere alone.  It wasn’t anything overt, but it seemed odd that of the
eight
adults in the house
,
six
of us always went on errands in pairs or better.  Having been an only child
until this week
, by Saturday I was actually craving some alone time.  Conversation revolved around Bruce’s
wedding
,
although I hadn’t seen Hannah, nor had she called.  It seemed a little strange.  The few friends of mine
who
had gotten married were all over each other in the days before the wedding, working out seating details, vows, synchronizing last minute
schedules
.  Saturday morning had come and gone and still no sign of the bride. 

By mid-afternoon Saturday,
Bruce was
in exceptionally high spirits.  I didn’t detect even a hint of nervousness.  The backyard had been transformed into a beautiful outdoor cathedral with seating for easily two hundred people. 

The brother
who
I had spent the least amount of time with
was
the eldest
,
Beau.  I caught Beau
straightening
seating and
smoothing
ribbons that had been rearranged by the breeze.  Outdoor misting fans were going full throttle
, so
the grove where the ceremony was to take place was at least ten degrees cooler than the regular air temperature.  “Hi, Beau, do you need any help?”

Beau flinched, “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were out here
,
Camille.  No, just doing a last minute check before the guests start to arrive.  Shouldn’t you be inside getting ready?”

“Naw, it’s a couple hours before the big event
. 
I just need to get dressed and I’m ready.”

“I’m surprised
Mom
hasn’t had you primping and polishing since your eyes opened this morning.”

“Why would she
?  I
t’s not like I’m getting married.  I’m not in the ceremony
.  Nobody knows who I am
,
and you guys know what I look like.”

“But there’ll be fifty eligible bachelors here today, maybe more.  I’ve heard news spread pretty fast that you were here.  It’ll be your first chance to . . . you know
. . .
find someone.”

“
Oh c’mon Beau
.  W
ho would care that I’m here?”

“Uh, let’s see, the Hinmans, the Dixons, the Newtons, the Carltons
, the Ivys
,
just to name a few.  Each of those families has an older son
who
is nearing the end of betrothal age.  No one expected for us to have a ready-made sister of age.  You’ll be
pretty popular
this evening.”

“You’re not serious.”

“I’m completely serious.  I’m in the same boat
. 
Betrothal age for Centaurs is 18-30,
so
if I’m not picked in the next two years,
I’
ll
end up settling for a human.”

“Beau, you’re great
.  T
here are lots of women
who
would be happy to have you.”

“Thanks, Camille.  Don’t get me wrong
.  A
t this point I’m thinking the settling factor could be an improvement over perpetually waiting
.  I
t just sucks that I won’t be able to carry on our
blood line
.  At least Bruce will be able to.”

“Maybe because I didn’t grow up knowing any of this, it’s a little hard to take it seriously.  I think you love who you love
;
race shouldn’t be a factor.”

“That’s very ‘human’ of you, but this is more than
just about
race.  There is magic in our blood
,
Camille.  To let it dilute
unnecessarily
is akin to wasting the magic.
  Dad would never let you consider a non-Centaur as a suitor.”

“Will doesn’t have a
say
in my decision.  When I find the right guy, it won’t matter wh
o or what
he is.  I’m not racing a clock either
.  I
t’ll happen when it happens.”

Beau laughed out loud, a
loud
throaty snicker, “Camille, you have a lot to learn.”  Beau shook his head and went back to straightening the wedding decorations.

Brent came up behind me, “What’s so funny?”

Beau looked at his younger brother, “Oh nothing
. 
Camille just tells good jokes.”

A little miffed that Beau would so easily dismiss my feelings, “Beau seems to think that Will
can
select a
husband for
me
. 
I told him that wasn’t going to happen
,
and who I fell in love with and married had nothing to do with Centaur roots or anything else.”

Brent took my forearm, squeez
ing
it a little harder than necessary but enough that he had my attention, “Don’t say that
,
Camille.”

“
Say what?  That I don’t agree with the courtship ritual that Bruce is going through?  Have you noticed
Hannah
hasn’t even talked to him the last couple of days
? 
How can he be marrying a woman he hardly knows?”

Brent looked at me skeptically,
“What?  That’s what’s bothering you?”

“Well, a little, y
eah
.  How does he know he’ll even like her?”

“It is a great honor to be selected by a Centaur woman
.  O
f course
,
he’ll like her.  He’ll love her, honor her and cherish her.”

“What if they aren’t compatible?”

Brent narrowed his eyes, “What have you seen
,
Camille?  Did you receive a vision about them?”

“Whoa, no!
No visions
. 
I just think it’s odd that they would decide to marry without knowing each other.”

“No more odd than dating and unions out of wedlock.  Why do people give themselves to others when they know that person isn’t going to be with them for the rest of their lives?”

“That’s part of finding out who the right person is.”

“Then our way should be much preferred.  Everyone knows the woman makes her choice
.  I
f she
can’t decide
,
her family will select the most appropriate match.  And who knows her better than her family
?
”

“You’re saying that if I don’t
pick
a husband in the next eight years, Will’s going to choose for me?”

“Eight years? Ha! I’ve never known a woman Centaur to wait until she’s thirty to choose.  Most choose when they’re late teens or early twenties.  If you haven’t selected someone in the next year or two, yes
,
Dad will definitely choose for you.”

I felt anger welling up within me
, n
ot because Brent had made me angry with his
words, but
because this
whole
idea
was acceptable
to them
.  I could feel my face flush bright red as I readied to set Brent straight when a kind voice came from behind me.

Chapter 9

“Miss
Strayer
, I came early hoping I’d be able to introduce myself.”  I was getting used to being called
“
Miss
Strayer
”
and wasn’t surprised with myself for turning in the direction of the voice.  Before me stood an athletic man
.  He had light
blonde hair, grey eyes,
and he stood eye-to-eye with Brent
,
so he had to be
at least 6’ 3
.
”
It looked like he was wearing a n
ervous
smile.  “I’m Chris Carlton
.  I
t’s an honor to meet you.”

I stood dumfounded at this Adonis of a man
. 
I held out my hand in an effort to shake his
.  H
e
took
my palm in his hand, then bowed down to kiss my hand.  It was a gesture I’d only seen done in old time movies
.  Every time I’d seen someone do that
,
I wanted to gag
,
so I was
beyond
surprised when the gesture
created instant butterflies in my stomach.  Chris held my hand in both of his as he straightened up, “Are you enjoying South Carolina?”

His eyes were
mesmerizing
, absolutely stunning.  I stammered a little, “I’m . . . I like it here, but I’m still not used to the heat.”

“Would you like me to
walk
you to the house so you can cool off a bit before the ceremony?”
  He spoke with absolutely perfect English, no accent of any kind.
  This was odd because everyone other tha
n
the Centaurs I
had
met seemed to speak with the southern drawl I’d expected in this area of the country.