Chapter 17 #2
I can't help but smile back.
An hour later Dad is throwing Lukas the keys to the jeep.
“How is this gonna get us there? It's nothing but bush?” Lukas asks confused.
Dad gives me a pointed look.
“Krista will take care of that. This is a relaxing spa break. Take a load off and enjoy a drive for once!” He chuckles as he puts his arm around my mum. “Besides it'll be nice to have clearer tracks around this place. Might even get some quads!”
We wave and get in the car.
“So which way we headed?” I ask.
Lukas points to the woods that run up behind the house along the West side of the mountain.
I rub my hands together and get to work with tree shuffling.
I see Lukas' eyes widen before he starts the jeep forward. After about 15 minutes we are making good progress and I don't even feel the slightest bit tired. The forest moves at my slightest thought and I give out a constant wave of gratitude.
“How long will it take us to get there?” I ask.
“A couple hours. It's not all that far to be honest. I'll still be in howling distance.” He smirks.
“That's good to know.” I reply as I take a deep breath and try and push away my worries.
“I gave Caleb the phone last night and he said he was pretty close to cracking it after a few hours so with any luck when we go back tomorrow he'll have some insider intel for us.”
“We can only hope. Any advantage is better than nothing.” I sigh, trying not to think back to how I got Alistair's phone in the first place.
“You are our advantage Kris.” Lukas states reassuringly. He reaches over and places his hand on my thigh. His thumb brushing softly back and forth. “You are the most caring, beautiful and resourceful person I know.”
I place my hand over his and smile. “Thanks. You're not so bad yourself.”
“It's all down to incredible genetics.” He says with a playful smirk.
I can't help but laugh and Lukas chuckles with me.
We drive for a little while longer when I sense terror and pain coming from an animal to our left. My back goes straight as I scan the forest out of the window.
“Krista what is it?” Lukas voice is deep and calm but I feel him go on high alert.
“There's an animal in trouble. A deer. She's in pain and terrified.” I say as I unclip my seat belt.
“She's probably about to be dinner. You can't interfere with the natural food chain.” He's stopped the car and holds onto my hand as I go to get out of the car.
“I know that. I can't feel a predator nearby. She needs my help.” I say sternly.
He lets go and gets out the car to follow me but I've already started leaping through the trees to her.
My forest traversing skills are now perfected and even Izzy struggles to keep up with me now.
I position the trees perfectly to push me up and forward with ease as soon as my foot lands on a branch.
I can move the air around me to change direction as I jump.
It feels like I'm flying through the forest. My movements are light and graceful and the distances between my strides go over several meters.
I find the deer in seconds lying on the ground in the middle of labour.
There are two small hooves jutting out of the birth canal.
I touch her mind and realise that she has been in labour for far too long and she is totally exhausted.
Her eyes are wide and she is gulping air.
I place my hand over her head and transfer some of my own energy to her along with reassurance that I'm going to help her.
Her head drops back to the ground as I watch her go through a contraction but the baby doesn't move.
“Hang in there Mama I'll get you through this.” I whisper to her.
Lukas finds us mere moments later and assess the situation.
His tone is steady as he says, “This baby is far too big. It's stuck and we're going to need to pull it out.”
“I don't feel anything from it. There's no aura or energy. I can't feel it's mind.” I say with tears in my eyes.
Lukas moves round and takes hold of the fawns hooves. “Tell me when she gets a contraction.”
I nod and place my hands on her stomach feeling her muscles throughout her body. “Now.”
Lukas grunts as he pulls. His feet pressing firmly into the ground. A moment later I see a little tail.
“Well no wonder you're having so much trouble Lady. You got a big backwards baby.” I say softly as I do my best to keep her calm.
She bleats back in reply.
“And another one.” I say as I feel her body tense up.
Lukas pulls and more of the fawn is revealed.
“Nearly there.” He breathes. “She may stand on this last contraction so that gravity helps the fawn out but she is looking really weak.”
“OK. I'll help her.” I funnel the energy of the earth through myself and into her to give her the strength to be able to stand. So that her own instincts can take over. “Come on Mama. One last push.” I whisper to her. “Now.”
Lukas pulls and the fawn starts to slide out the rest of the way. The Doe forces her legs down under herself and shoves herself up. The baby falls to the floor and instantly the mum is there nuzzling it with her nose.
The fawns little body is lifeless as the mum tries to clean it. I can feel her worry that her baby isn't breathing. I go to her, stroking her neck and tentatively reach down to the fawn. I close my eyes and search for any sort of sign of life in the little fawn.
Then I find it. The faintest glow of hope.
I place one hand on its head and one over its chest and will that glow to get stronger.
As that glow turns into a heartbeat I feel the brain begin to come to life and I send healing energy into it.
Getting the heart to pump harder and the lungs to take a breath.
It's eyes open and I know my work is done. I step away and let Mama take over.
I plonk down onto the ground with happy tears falling down my cheeks. Lukas sits down with me and wraps his arm around my waist.
“Well done.” He says proudly.
“Well done to you too.” I reply as I rest my head on his shoulder. “Does this make us and Aunt and Uncle?” I laugh.
“Sure it does! Big, strong baby like that. He definitely gets it from my side of the family.” He shakes his head. “I thought for sure he was gone though. I've never seen healing that powerful before.”
“He had a small bit of fight left in him. I just helped it to grow.” I smile up at him.
He looks down at me with awe. “You're incredible.” He whispers adoringly.
I tilt my head and give a slight shrug as I go back to watching the Mama doe with her new baby.
Her body is tied but strong. She is recovering quickly as she lovingly cleans her baby. She stops to look up at us both. Her big round eyes looking into ours and I feel her send us a wave of gratitude.
I chuckle.
“What?” Lukas mutters.
“She says Thank you.”
We sit and watch as the baby blinks and slowly on wobbly legs stands. The happy tears fall harder as he takes a few tentative, unstable steps. The mama nuzzles him and he finds her teat and begins to suckle.
I feel the strong, stable energy from them both and I know they will be alright. We quietly stand and head back to the Jeep.
We are soon back on track to the springs.
We get there after an hour of driving and I'm instantly in shock.
The forest opens to a clearing of 5 steaming pools of water.
They are crystal clear with blossom trees in full bloom surrounding them.
There's a flat grassy area perfect for making camp.
I walk around and behold an incredible view across the top of the forest. Eagles fly overhead and the sun is warm upon my skin. I feel relaxed already.
Lukas begins unloading the Jeep and the cool box is the first thing to come out. He opens it and takes out a bottle of Champagne and two glass flutes. He pours us both a glass. I gladly accept mine as he holds his up for a toast.
“To new baby Bambi, Mama Doe and natures best midwives!” He announces with a huge grin.
“Cheers!” I shout as we clink the glasses and take a sip.
His eyes hold mine for a moment and I can't help but get lost in the vivid colours of them. His face is so rugged and handsome.
I can feel the tension between us. The way his gaze lingers, how attentive he is.
If life were simpler I would let myself see where this could go.
Part of me wishes Lukas was my fate and not Alistair.
Lukas is kind, protective and sincere. If my life is at the ranch like my father says then sharing that life with Lukas would make sense.
Nothing is ever simple and easy. Then again I've never been one to believe in fate. What about free will?
I sip my glass as he unloads the truck and sets out two beds under the sky.
He lays out some lunch on a small fold away table.
Sandwiches, fruit and some chocolate chip shortbread.
I sit down with him and he refills our glasses.
We eat and talk for a while as we take in the magnificent scenery.
I can't wait to get in one of the pools.
The waters are crystal clear and the steam is circling around in the much cooler air.
This entire situation is so intimate. The wine, the scenery, the fact that it's just the two of us.
I finish my glass and stand.
“I'm gonna go change.” I say. Not that there is anywhere particularly out of view.
“No worries your bag is on the back seat.” He replies.