Chapter 1
Chapter
One
CANYON CREEK
Ella
“Good girls go to heaven and bad girls go to…” — E
W hen my siblings and I were little, we traveled a lot with our parents—maybe three times a year. With our parents’ busy schedules, it’s a miracle we got to see them as much as we did. Don’t get me wrong; they were always present. Even if they couldn’t make it for some reason, they made sure we felt their presence by either sending us meaningful gifts or ensuring our bodyguards were always with us to keep us safe and cheer us on. Banning never missed a single parent-teacher conference or science fair when our parents couldn’t make it.
Our family vacations were sacred too. Mom and Dad always put aside time for travel. A crystal globe Dad gifted Mom when they first fell in love is always spun to decide where we will go next. Each kid gets a turn, and each time, a magical place is chosen.
When I turned thirteen, it was my turn again to spin the crystal globe and choose the place we would visit for our family trip. I spun the globe, and it kept turning until Evie, growing impatient, stopped it. Her small hand landed on Monaco.
We were all excited for different reasons.
I couldn’t wait to experience all the beauty the gorgeous country had to offer—the food, the culture, and the magical places to discover.
I have many fond memories of that trip, ones that will live in my heart until it stops beating, but one that I always revisit is when I dragged my very chic, non-believer Mom into an antique store where I thought I’d find something unique to bring back home to my cousins. Raiza was obsessed with crystals at the time, and Willow loved nature. She was also going through a phase where she wanted to be a witch—not the ugly kind from scary movies, but the kind of witch that works alongside the earth to heal and bring balance.
Kind of kooky, but that’s my Low. Wonderfully different, and I wouldn’t have her any other way.
After Mom gave me a thousand reasons not to go inside, she relented when she realized how excited I was to enter the tiny antique store with the spooky decorations and broken door that squeaked as if we are entering eternal doom.
Some of my siblings stayed behind with Dad and Uncle Benji because they were either afraid or uninterested.
Mom didn’t want to go in, but she gave in, though she complained all the way. She even told the kind lady who works there that she didn’t believe in witchcraft and that it was all a bunch of hocus pocus. Yet, she waited patiently while the lady, with the colorful outfit and flashing jewelry, helped me pick out the souvenirs for my cousins.
That day I saw and felt just how much Mom truly loved me. She went as war as to participate in something she didn’t believe in just to make a little girl happy.
The memory is still fresh, as if it was just yesterday and not years ago.
“That’s an Amethyst,” the store owner says, pointing to the purple crystal I am holding. I examine it closer, noticing how it glistens in the light. “That one is known for its ability to amplify positive energy and create a harmonious environment.”
I look up and show Mom the crystal. “I think this one suits Azariel better. Can we get it for him?” My cousin Azariel is different from most boys, or so Aunt Kadra says. I think so too. Azariel is brilliant but a silent type of brilliant. He doesn’t brag about his accomplishments or make us feel less than because our IQs aren’t as high as his. He’s also quiet, but if he truly cares, he’ll give you a piece of himself, even if it’s small. It means something—at least it does for me.
Mom gently brushes my hair back and smiles. I love my mommy’s eyes; they remind me of emeralds. “That’s sweet, baby. I’m sure your cousin will love it.”
Beaming, I place the crystal into the shopping basket Mom is holding and turn to look at Davina. That’s when I notice the purple tarot cards in her hand.
Like Mom, I don’t believe in the supernatural or that anyone can predict my future, but the longer I stare at the purple cards with constellation symbols, the stronger my urge to know what she does becomes.
“Miss Davina, can you read my future?” I ask politely.
Feeling Mom’s strong but gentle hold on my left shoulder, I turn to look at her.
“Ellaiza, no one knows your future but you,” Mom tells me sternly.
Scrunching up my nose, I roll my eyes playfully. “It’s just for fun, Mom. I know I’m in charge of my future and no one else.” A soft smile appears on Mom’s face. She isn’t convinced but at least she loosens her hold on my shoulder.
Turning back to Davina, I ask, “So, will you?”
Davina nods and leads us to a black wooden table with more crystals and a few lit candles in the far corner of the store.
Feeling excited and curious, I ask impatiently, “Miss Davina, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to know if I’ll fall in love when I’m Mommy’s age. If so, who will he be? Will he be handsome like the prince in every fairytale? Smart? Funny? A politician like my Daddy? Or will he be scary but loving like my uncles Riagan and Vitali?” Mom tenses at my question.
Frowning, I look up to find her looking down at me with concern. Okay, I think I pushed it by asking about my uncles. Uncle Benji once said that they were good men who did bad things, and Daddy agreed. I don’t think they’re bad. They make my aunties smile and are kind to me.
Davina holds up her left hand to silence me. “Hush, little girl. Quiet your mind so I can see what life has in store for you.” Understanding, I take a deep breath and nod, then take my seat across from her. Davina takes my left hand in hers and studies it with a curious look. “You’re not using the cards?” I ask, glancing at her deck of cards on top of the table.
She smiles kindly. “No. I don’t need them. I can read your future by feeling your energy—your vibes. Now hush and close your eyes.” I do as she asks, and she takes both my hands in hers. The store is so quiet that I can hear my own heart beating.
Thud… Thud… Thud…
I think even Mom can hear my heart racing in the silence. I wait for Davina to tell me what she sees for my future, but she doesn’t say anything. I hear her heavy breathing. Losing patience, I crack one eye open to find Davina staring straight at me, though she seems distant—somewhere far, far away.
I start to worry, but then her body begins to shake while she squeezes my hands so tightly it starts to hurt. I don’t dare pull away, despite feeling Mom’s annoyance.
When Davina finally speaks, her voice is different—like something out of a horror movie. “I see a man. A man with sad eyes.” I gasp. A man. Sad eyes. “Your paths will cross more than once.”
A man with sad eyes?
But…why?
I want to ask what the man with sad eyes looks like and when I will meet him. Is he kind? Does he like the color pink? I want to ask a million questions, but I stay quiet, not wanting to interrupt her. “You’ve both crossed paths in past lives and in this one, little one, but…” My eyes fly open as Mom makes a noise, catching my attention. Her face looks troubled. “He is a strong man. A man who will have more phases than the moon. He will be surrounded by darkness, yet he has saved you more than once. And then it will be your turn to save him.”
Darkness?
That doesn’t sound right.
Save him from what?
Davina speaks again, this time more seriously and concerned. “Your life won’t be perfect, sweetheart. Many roads will appear before you, and the one you choose will be a rocky one, but it will take you to the place your heart has always desired. Home. So be brave, and most importantly, be smart. Sometimes our brains get in the way of our happiness. That’s why you’ll need to listen to your heart. A piece of advice: the heart and the mind don’t always get along, and sometimes they might fool you. So be wise.” Her tone holds a warning, and a chill runs up my spine. I wait for more, but Davina’s eyes clear as she slumps in her seat, looking tired.
Her words leave me feeling confused and a bit afraid.
After a few long moments of silence, her warm brown eyes lock onto mine. “Sweet child, what is the one thing your heart desires most?”
Brown eyes and a bright smile that makes butterflies dance in my belly come to mind.
What my heart desires most is…
Looking Miss Davina right in the eye, I speak. “I just want—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because Mom interrupts, looking annoyed with Davina.
“I think that’s enough. Your father and siblings must miss us, baby. Let’s go.”
“But Mom—” She gently grabs my hand and lifts me from the seat.
“You can’t stop fate. Be it today or tomorrow, paths will cross, and hearts will be stolen,” Davina warns me as Mom guides me through the tiny store toward the exit.
I never believe in that kind of thing. I believe in myself more than in fate, yet something Davina says sticks with me.
“The man who holds the key to your heart will save you more than once. And then it will be your turn to save him.”
A man did save me more than once, but then he disappeared, never to be seen again. I never lost hope that I would see him again. My dad always tells us that good things take time. And he is the wisest man I know. I know the man of my dreams is out there; he just has to find his way to me.
“We’re here.” Uncle Benji stops the truck.
“Oh, wow…” I breathe out as soon as he opens the door to the truck.
What…
“Welcome to my hometown, little lady,” Uncle Benji says in a funny accent.
Wide open spaces. Rugged mountains. Prairies. Untamed wilderness. Empty roads. Heat. Unspoiled natural beauty.
These are the first things I notice.
“Where are we?” I ask my uncle.
“Canyon Creek, Montana.” He smiles as he helps me out of the truck.
Uncle Benji had kept the fact that this is where he is taking me a secret until we leave Italy. We’ve flown for long hours and then driven for more hours until we finally reach this empty highway road.
This is… well, not what I’m used to.
I don’t realize I have made a face until Uncle Benji speaks. “Don’t be a brat. That’s not you.”
I sigh. He’s right. This isn’t who I am. I don’t judge others, nor do I think I’m above anything or anyone. I guess I’m still not feeling quite like myself after the last few days.
Taking a deep breath, I look around while Uncle Benji unloads my bags.
This place is actually genius. It’s somewhere no one would expect me to hide, and I’ve never visited it before. Looking around, I find the scenery quite charming. It reminds me of the small town from one of Aunt Mila’s favorite romance novels. Maybe I’ll find a charming cowboy who dotes on me here, just like the heroine in that story.
Maybe…
But first, I consider all that I know about this state. I must confess, it is not much. All I know is that Montana is a land of high mountains, deep valleys, green forests, and treeless crest lines. Most people call it Big Sky Country.
In truth, it is beautiful and so different from what I’m accustomed to. D.C. and Montana are opposites, and perhaps that is a good thing. Change, although scary, is a good thing. I hope it is in this case.
I give my uncle my best puppy-dog eyes and a sweet smile. He smiles softly and pinches my cheek, none too gently. “You know, Uncle, if Mom knew I would end up in the countryside, she would flip.” It’s true—Arianna Kenton is a city girl through and through. She actually believes she’s allergic to rural life. Dad knows it’s a bunch of baloney, yet he feeds into her delusion like any loving husband would.
Uncle Benji grins. “Oh, your mother knows.”
“She knows?” I gasp playfully.
Uncle nods, seeming amused. “It was her idea.”
“Blasphemy. Mom would never allow such cruelty,” I joke.
He grins and looks behind me. “Speaking of cruelty, here’s your carriage now. Just in time.” He laughs.
I love my uncle dearly, but at times like this, I just want to wipe that mocking smile right off his face.
The sound of a car approaching makes me turn, and as I do, the urge to hit my uncle arises again. Bad, Ella. Hitting is bad. Unless, of course, it’s deserved.
A run-down, mud-stained four-wheeler parks a few feet from us. The pickup truck is covered in mud and looks as if it hasn’t been washed in days—maybe even years.
The sun is too bright, making it hard for me to see who’s inside the truck. I shield my eyes, but it’s still too bright.
Squinting, I step forward enough to see the silhouette of a large man climbing out of the truck and rounding the hood.
It can’t be…
My heart thuds violently in my chest with every step the man takes toward me. When mud-stained black leather Army boots stop before me, a swarm of hornets invades my belly. The sensation intensified as I lifted my gaze, taking in his worn-out boots, faded blue jeans, and tight white thermal, until my eyes reached his thick neck and bearded face. A face that I stored deep in my memories. A place it wouldn’t hurt as much. A face that could rival those of Hollywood actors and Greek sculptures in every art museum in the world.
I once thought this man couldn’t get any more handsome, but I was wrong. Time proved me wrong.
When he was younger, he had a boyish charm, but the man in front of me is exactly that— all man. Rugged. Dark. Tempting. His once short, sun-kissed blonde hair is now longer and glimmers with tints of gold.
My heart swelled as I took him in, and the urge to step forward and wrap my arms around the man who used to be my friend— the one who snuck cupcakes into my room when I was sad— was almost too strong. I nearly gave in, but then that beautiful face opens its mouth and killed the tiny bugs in my stomach. “Miss Kenton.”
Miss Kenton. Not Moonshine. Not Ella. Miss Kenton.
I force myself to stare into his brown eyes and fight hard not to glance down at his plump lips, at the way his tongue darts out to wet them.
He’s mad. That’s clear in his tone and the way he addresses me. It stings, I am not going to lie.
But I have a choice to make. I can either let him see the hurt in my eyes that his blatant disregard has caused, or I can mask it with a fake smile.
So that’s what I do. I smile. The fake smiles I use when someone hurls insults my way or the same one I put on for the world when they point out I’m not my mother’s biological daughter or how I don’t look like my siblings. The fake smile only makes him scowl harder, as if it offends him somehow.
Huh.
I’m out of my element here. This is not the man I knew as a girl. Not at all. The years have changed him. Hardened him, even. I know he was only part of my life for a little while when I was a child, but still, I wonder if perhaps I was just a job to him.
Did my naive mind back then truly believe we were once friends? Was I naive to think a man like him actually cared about the little girl he guarded?
The Shaw Banning, I knew didn’t act like looking out for me was a burden. What changed?
People change, Ellaiza… That’s what Mom always says. Life changes people. Breaks them, even. Only the strongest survive.
Is that what happened to Shaw? He is still the most beautiful man I have ever laid my eyes on. But when I stare at him, I see something sad—like a broken mirror.
I stand motionless, watching as he carefully looks me up and down before his eyes meet mine again. What is he thinking? I wonder. Does he even remember the moments we shared?
Lifting my chin like my mother and father taught me, I give him another fake smile. Damn, it hurts, but I don’t let it show. What’s one more heartache today?
Hardening my soft heart, I say, “Glad you’re done chasing stars, Shaw Bear.” With that, I turn my back and help Uncle Benji with the rest of my bags.
On an impulse, I glance over my shoulder grin. “Welcome home.”
The grumpy man narrows his eyes, unable to hide the recognition, and it only makes my smile grow wider. He hasn’t forgotten me. My eyes clash with brown ones—brown almost like caramel when it burns. I see it then. A flash of something. I’m still not sure what it is, but it’s much better than the vacant gaze he gave when he first stepped out of his truck.
I guess that’s a win for me. Ella 1 – Shaw Bear 0.
The man I once thought was my white knight is standing before me after so many years.
What a sweet plot twist this is.
The sadness I felt moments ago is quickly replaced by a thrilling excitement that makes my heart pump faster. I didn’t get the charming cowboy, but I did get the grumpy ghost of my past. One that’s always been at the back of my mind and heart.
Shaw Banning.
I should count my lucky stars… my wish came true.