Collection 1

By Therese A Kraemer

PRINCE CHARMING
Waking from a dream, she finds her reality altered and now she is a part of a fairy tale.Perhaps she'll get her prince at last

Dream Weaver-A modern story
about a two hundred year old female spirit, Trista Walton who sold her soul to the Dream Weaver when he promised to send her a soul mate.
In a drunken rage Brock Werner loses control of his car and although injured, he makes it to an old abandoned house.
He awakens to find the place is haunted by a beautiful spirit who tells him that he is dead. At first he refuses to believe her, but he soon falls in love with her.
After weeks of bliss, Brock awakens to discover that he has been in a coma. He later returns alive to the house which confuses Trista.
Dream Weaver gives her another chance to live and she enters the body of a woman who had just died.
She returns to the house to learn that Bock has recently died and is haunting the place. But she can see him and they rekindle their love again.

The People Of The Mist-A Romance/ Fantasy.
Geena Troy robs from the wealthy to provide for her community that live in the forest. They appear with a mist, and after a while they disappear.
One day while robbing a stagecoach, she accidentally shoots the marshal. To save his life she must take him to her people.
Wallace Preston wakes in a lodge confused as to how he arrived there.
No matter how hard Geena fights the attraction she falls in love with Lace but she knows she can’t let her heart win because she and her people will be gone when the mist disappears.
But no matter, she makes love to the man then runs away. Lace follows her to a hideout where he discovers who she is. He resigns his marshal post and they find happiness together.

The Duke’s Daughter-A Paranormal Romance
about a witch, Renny Rayleigh. At the age of twenty-six she’s been a detective for many years. Hired by a young women to spy on her fiancé, Renny discovers the man is cheating on her client.
Anwar Radcliffe is accused of cheating by the lady detective based on information that’s not true. To get even, he hires Renny to trap her in another lie.
When she discovers that he made a fool out of her, she uses witchcraft on him after he kisses her.
After Anwar discovers that Renny used magic on him, he’s enraged and she’s confused to discover that her witchcraft doesn’t work on him.
Later, she confront him in a restaurant and again her magic fails to work. Angered, he takes her up stairs and makes love to her and proposes marriage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spangaloo Publishing
• Release date: Sep 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301109371

Therese A Kraemer

Because I am dyslexic, I find writing a challenge, but my love of writing has inspired me to write more than sixty children’s stories, over two hundred poems and thirty-seven Romance Novels. I have also illustrated two story books used by primary teachers and students as a part of a vocal hygiene program at University of Arizona’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences.My credits also include four stories published by McFadden Publishing Co. in NYC. I wrote, illustrated and published two books of poetry used as fund-raisers by the Leukemia and Multiple Sclerosis organizations. I wrote illustrated and published in one book, forty-two children’s stories.I had an exhibition at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Fl of my pen and ink drawings of animals. Recently, I have had three E-Book Romance Novels and a book of short stories published on the Spangaloo.Com website and another on the Smashwords.Com website. I make my home in Melbourne, Florida where I continue to write and illustrate

Book preview

Chapter One

Damn! Nothing on the boob tube but repeats, Zoë mumbled beneath her breath and then plopped herself down on the couch with a dramatic sigh. Sheesh, here I am twenty-nine years old and my only friend is the TV, and that freaking thing is boring. And the bar scene was okay for, maybe twice, but now it became depressing, and seemed mindless, as all the men she met.

Okay, Zoë, she scolded herself. Open a book and read. She got off the couch and gazed at her book case deciding to pass over a romance novel, since she was already in a blue funk. Besides, men in those books are simply obsolete, and it was a damn shame! She smiled at her conclusion, and then shrugged. On second thought, just to be fair, men nowadays had their good points. Heading for the fridge she declared aloud, When one is bored, one eats. After a minute of indecision, she grabbed a big red apple. Strolling back to the living room she sat once again and bit into the juicy fruit. Too late she realized she had swallowed too big of a piece. She choked and gasped for breath but was unable to dislodge it. Oh God, I’m going to die.

Her lungs screamed for air and tears formed behind her lids. Panicking she tried to think of what to do but she was so frightened that her mind refused to focus on a solution. Clutching her throat she again tried to cough but the object felt like a rock and the obstacle continued to block her air passage. Zoë staggered to the phone but the room tilted and tears clouded her vision. Now her head was buzzing, and all she could think about was that a freaking piece of fruit was about to take her life.

If she only knew that eating a piece of fruit was not good for her health, she would have opted for a dish of ice cream.

That was her last logical thought.

Chapter Two

Your Highness, perhaps ’tis time to give up this foolishness, proclaimed Walter. There were times, like now, when he felt that he had been the prince’s servant for too long.

Never Walter! There has to be some one who is---

Sire, ye have tried ye best but…. Walter sadly shook his head. Ye’re becoming the talk of the kingdom. The gossipmongers are having a---

Just hand me my sword, ye old fool, grumbled his prince. Yer jawing ’tis grating on my nerves. Being a mother hen does nae become ye. If I wanted to be nagged I would still be living with the queen at her castle, and yer rolling of yer eyes ‘tisn’t a deterrent, ye are my servant nae my conscience.

Walter snorted. Ye are Prince Albert Drake Charming, not a feeble minded youth. Sooner or later ye will meet yer princess; ye need not scour the countryside to search for a lass. He sat on a bench by the brazier; even with a fire his old bones were chilled from the dampness of the room.

Prince Albert sighed as if he had been punctured and deflated. I am almost thirty and one years old and I have yet to find my true love. He tied his tunic and adjusted the ruffle on a sleeve. A princess is nae going to just appear, he snapped his finger, like that!

Walter had the urge to again roll his eyes but refrained himself. What was the use? Milord, last month ye tried to free a princess who had been locked in a tower. He scratched his whiskered chin. What was the lassie’s name? Rachael? No. Repunsel. Humph! After ye risked yer foolish neck climbing up the tower by just the hair on her head, the wench refused to be set free saying ye were nae her type. His hands went up in frustration. I say my prince, what’s the matter with the weaker sex today? Ye would think that…. Oh, what’s the use? Ye do nae listen to me, he grumbled.

Walter stood hearing a few bones creak and shuffled over to a window to look out, he felt as bleak as the gray clouds. His rounded shoulders seemed to slump more and more each new day. He was not getting any younger and cared for the prince since the lad was weaned from his mother’s breasts, and he loved the man, but Albert had always been a handful.

His queen mother had been widowed before the prince’s birth, and he was the only father figure for the youth. The queen wasn’t and would never be a mother to the prince; she was vain and loved only herself. And he knew his place, a mere servant but he also knew he had the right to lecture the man. After all, it was he who taught the prince all he knew. Walter was father, teacher and servant all in one. Oh, the prince tried to be stern with him but Walter knew Albert loved and respected him.

Again he would speak his mind and said, And what about that one, err… Beth. Betty. No, Bell. Said ye were too handsome and said she liked men who looked, he groaned, more beastly. And---

Oh, all right! I get yer gist Walter! But I am nae giving up!

Walter turned with a shrug and handed the prince his gloves. Ye’ll be the death of me. But he was not a man to give up easily either and said, Do nae forget the princess who had been asleep for a hundred years. Ye were nae even given a chance to save her when three fairies threatened ye with a spell if ye did nae leave. Have ye forgotten that?

Nay, Walter but I am still going to find my princess this time. I shall nae return without one.

Stubborn fool. His master isn’t exactly like one would someday read about in story books, thought Walter, but he had to admire the man’s constitution. He just prayed that the prince wouldn’t lose his handsome head in his quest. There are things worst than being a bachelor, like death!

Chapter Three

Three months later Prince Albert entered a clearing in the middle of a forest. To say that he was tired and frustrated would be the understatement of the century. He had met a strange little man named Rumplestilkin, who was in a foul mood. And then he stayed in a charming house that would have been more pleasant if it weren’t for two ugly sisters drooling over him. The only pleasure was someone singing so beautifully in what he believed was the attic. When he asked about the voice and its owner, he was told that she was only a step-sister who lived apart from the others. He could only assume that she must be even uglier than her sisters, but she had a voice like a bell.

Maybe Walter was right, he mused as he sat on his steed. He was about to turn and give up his quest when he heard weeping. Nudging his horse forward he came upon a strange sight; seven dwarfs were kneeling around what appeared to be a glass casket. Curious, as to why a glass coffer lay in the middle of the forest, he dismounted and came forward.

She’s dead, he overheard one little man sobbed. Another blew his big red nose. Then another teary eyed man stood not adding much to his height, only reaching his waist.

What happened to her, asked Albert. His heart almost stopped upon looking at the beautiful maiden lying in state.

She was poisoned with an apple, informed another and then he went into a fit of sneezing.

Bah, humbug! growled another. She was tricked by the wicked queen.

Another came forward. She was too lovely to bury so we put her in a glass coffin.

Albert wanted to agree, she was the loveliest maiden he had ever seen and it was just his luck to find the one he could love for eternity, and discover her too late. He swallowed and cleared his throat. Please, I have never seen such white skin and red lips on a maiden. I must kiss her, with yer permission, of course.

All mumbled among themselves, and then one shyly said, We cannot see any harm. We all loved Snowy, and she had given us so much happiness for a short time. He blushed and stepped back.

The cover of the glass bubble was lifted and Albert held his breath. She’s exquisite, he whispered before bending to place a kiss on those desirable lips. The softness sent shivers down to his booted feet. To every one’s shock, the beauty gasped and her eyelids fluttered; astonished, all stared in disbelief. Albert leaned closer and she gasped and coughed again. Something flew from her mouth, hitting him on his chest.

Dumbfounded, he jumped back.

Zoë felt a rush of fresh air fill her lungs; it was painful at first. Somehow she realized that she was alive but her eyes remained closed thankful that she was finally able to cough up that piece of apple. She swore at that moment that apples were off her list of fruit. So much for an apple a day keeping the doctor away, she thought. But she should be thanking God and not complaining because by some miracle she was alive. At least she believed she was until she opened her eyes.

If this is heaven God, I must have been one hell of a good girl.

Zoë was staring into the face of the most handsome man she had ever laid her eyes on. Or was it the countenance of an angel? She blinked.

The face smiled and with a shaky hand she dared to touch it.

He was warm; flesh and blood! Oh, my! she gasped, You are indeed real. The face nodded. You must be my knight in shining armor, she whispered jokingly.

He took a hand and kissed it tenderly.

She smiled and sat up. You saved my life, but how? she asked mystified.

He shrugged. I only put my lips on yer sweet mouth, he explained.

Oh! You gave me mouth to mouth resuscitation. Well, thank you again. Still oblivious to her surroundings, she asked, What is your name doctor?

I am Prince Albert Drake Charming, he bowed.

Zoë giggled thinking that he was taking this a bit too seriously. Prince Charming, indeed! Well, she was just too happy to be alive that she would play his little game. Prince charming, huh? she murmured and then she finally took her gaze off his handsome face and looked around.

What the…? Hey, what’s going on? Is this a joke?

I knew this was too good to be true, she thought.

She was definitely in a coma and maybe she had jumped the gun and thanked the Almighty too soon.

Chapter Four

A small voice made her look down. Dwarfs? Okay, God, I admit that I wasn’t a good girl, but this… She shook her head trying to shake some sense into it. Either I’ll wake up, or I’m really dead. She glanced again at the handsome man and thought, Well hell! The other side might not be so bad after all.

From a high-pitched voice, she heard, Snowy, you were poisoned by a witch.

Could she open her eyes any larger in astonishment? This was all too unreal. Here she was surrounded by a handsome man claiming to be Prince Charming and … one, two, three, four, five, six, no, seven little men. Damn! This was preposterous! Not to mention asinine! "Look, I don’t know what is going on but…

Snowy? Seven little drafts? Poison apple! This was definitely a joke.

But of course, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Laughter won out but she laughed only to hide how frightened she was. Swallowing her fear she said, Please do not tell me that you think I am this…. no, she covered her face. Maybe if she waited a moment or two before looking again this would all be gone and she’d be in a hospital room. Yes, all she needed was a few minutes to come around and wake up, and then she’d have a real laugh at all of this. She ordered herself to take a few good deep breaths and then---

Snowy! a voice called and she groaned aloud. Apparently, they were still there but she continued to cover her eyes.

Go away; you’re all a figment of my imagination! A strange dream. And furthermore, my name is Zoë, not Snowy.

Albert was not about to be cast aside again. He was thrilled; at last a princess who believed in him. His determination wasn’t for naught. Overwhelmed with joy, he was going to take her back to his kingdom if he had to tie her to his horse! She was a little strange, but he figured that the witch had put a hex on her. It mattered not; he would break the spell and make her his queen. Although, she was far from being a princess, he believed that this was his true love. While he was contemplating his dilemma, he heard the little men were murmuring over the same conclusion that the witch had put a spell over her.

Zoë still refused to open her eyes and accept her fate ignoring the men mumbling amongst themselves. Snowy, one called to her again. She moaned and peeked through her fingers.

Go away! I’m not this Snowy. My name is Zoë White. Oh, no!" she gasped realizing how much her name sounded like Snow White. Dear Lord! Maybe it would have been better if she had died. Well, at least this wasn’t hell, and it certainly wasn’t heaven, so… it must be limbo. Then, she might as well make the best of it. When she’d wake up from this, what ever this was, she’d finally have a good laugh. Might even write a book. Girl wakes up in story book character’s body. But who would believe it? It was happening to her and she couldn’t believe it. I mean, really?

Zoë sighed, All right, and threw her legs over the side of the casket noticing that she was no longer in her jeans but a cream colored dress.

Why not, she had to look the part, didn’t she?

What now? she looked into puzzled faces. No less befuddled than she was of course. No one spoke. Suddenly, she was swept into the strong arms of the prince. For a dream, he was certainly the stuff that dreams were made of; handsome, strong, and gallant. She snuggled closer deciding that she might as well enjoy this to the fullest before she awakened to reality.

Zoë was carried and placed onto a giant white horse. It was magnificent and naturally it had to be white, they were always white, especially in her childhood fantasies.

Never atop of a horse before she felt quite nervous but when the prince mounted behind her, encasing his strong arms around her, her fears evaporated. She melted against his hard chest, now whishing that she might like to stay in this coma forever. She definitely wanted to get to knew her knight in shinning armor; her Prince Charming.

Bye Snowy! Voices chimed in. Have a happy and healthy life. We will miss you. Bye. Bye."

Zoë turned and waved not seeing a dry eye amongst them. Caught off guard for a moment she realized that the dwarfs had to have loved the woman very much. The woman’s body she was now occupying temporarily. But the thought of returning to her own body and lonely world did not please her right now. Being in Albert’s strong arms was sending thrills up and down her spine and his hot breath on her ear was a sensation she didn’t want to stop.

How are ye feeling princess? he whispered into her ear that was already tingling.

Like a popsicle on a hot day, she was tempted to say but swallowed the words instead. Now, Zoë was a modern girl and had had her share of romance and she wasn’t afraid to tell a man what she liked, but this wasn’t an ordinary male. He was living in the past, and men didn’t like forward woman she knew. She played coy and sighed, Oh, just fine. Then she realized that he called her a princess.

Well, why not, this was her coma.

He rested his chin on the top of her head, not saying anything, but she was full of questions, of which she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answers. She figured that it mattered not since her fate had been sealed by a kiss.

Chapter Five

Zoë awoke. The continuous rocking of the horse had put her into a deep sleep and she opened her eyes disoriented. It took her only a second for all that had happened to come crashing back into her head. She jerked straight up wondering how long she had been out and where they were. But she was surprised and pleased to find that she was still wrapped in strong arms. She let out an unladylike yawn hearing the man behind her chuckle. She jabbed him in the ribs and he grunted but she knew that she had done little damage to his hard body. Suppressing a giggle she smiled a little but a moment later, to her chagrin, she had to relieve her bladder. Now how does one go about telling a prince, in this century, whatever era this was, that one had to pee? Luckily, he reined the horse and dismounted.

We shall camp here this evening tide, milady. I am sorry that there are nay Inns about, but I shall make ye as comfortable as I can.

She smiled not caring a whit where she spent the night with this hunk! In fact, she was not a stranger to camping. You wouldn’t call her a Girl Scout, but she could manage nicely in the woods for one night, thank you very much!

This will be okay, my prince, Zoë smiled sweetly.

Okay?

Err, um, fine, she blurted out forgetting about using her modern slang. It will be just fine.

He gave her a puzzled glance then shrugged. I shall go and catch us something to sup on. Ye should be able to have started a fire by the time I return, princess.

Not knowing how to answer that she simply nodded, but as soon as he left the area, she ran into the bushes and relieved herself praying that the leaves she used were not poison oak. Back at the campsite, she frowned as she looked about the area wondering about her dilemma.

Sheesh! Don’t tell me that I have to rub two sticks together? she foolishly asked herself, but of course, she got no smart answer. So she retrieved two pieces of wood, sat with a grunt and a curse and proceeded to do just that, rub two sticks together.

I guess my temporary existence isn’t going to be a story book romance, at least not right away, she grumbled to herself.

Zoë heard laughter and looked up to see the prince holding a bloody rabbit. Her stomach revolted immediately no matter how hungry she felt; no way was she going to eat the cute little furry creature. How could he? And why was he laughing at her? She nearly broke a fingernail and her palms were becoming sore. Crap! She could’ve at least have wakened in a more modern time. Oh, grand…just grand! Well, she was in no mood to be made sport of, so tossing the sticks aside, she stood.

Look here, Bert! she demurred, I know nothing about starting fires without a match or lighter! Eyeing the dead thing she had a sneaking suspicion that she was about to ask to cook it also. And I will not skin that poor little creature, even if I knew how. Where I come from my meat is all prepared and frozen until I can pop it into a micro-wave. The look in his eyes would have frozen fire. Oh, oh!

Albert eyed her dubiously, and then added a scowl. "Hell’s bells! The name is

Prince Albert! he said with just the right touch of condescension. I do nae know what ye a jawing about but I will let yer insolence past this time for I fear ye have been put under a spell. Sit, I will skin the animal and start the fire."

After an appropriate silence, she amended, Very well, whatever. I um… mean, suit yourself. But with difficulty, she bit back a scalding reply and watched him retrieve a bag from his belt, strike a small rock against a piece of flint a few times before the dry leaves caught fire. Damn, he could have given her that before he left. Well, so much for her Prince Charming. Maybe men haven’t changed so much!

All you men are the same, she grumbled. Dammit, even in her own fantasies she cannot conjure up a perfect hero. Well, the thrill was nice while it lasted but she’s a modern gal and this ancient male chauvinist was not going to talk down to her. Humph! But she decided that she’d be better off to stay put and out of his way, so she sat on a rock and bit her tongue.

She watched Prince Albert wiped the bloody knife in the dirt and start at the fire. Try as she might, Zoë couldn’t figure out all that happened to her. She must have sat for awhile before the smell of something cooking snapped her out of her confused musings. Her stomach rumbled and that furry little creature no longer looked uneatable. She was not one to cut off her nose for spite, so she swallowed her pride and sat next to the prince.

Mmmm, it does smell good, she exclaimed in a neutral voice, trying to sound as if she didn’t appreciate him cooking a meal. And drat, if he didn’t smile making his eyes twinkle in the firelight. He was so handsome and his eyes were so blue they reminded her of robin’s eggs. Long black lashes that any girl would envy him, as she did, fanned his high cheekbone.

And, to make matters worse, he dimpled in both cheeks. A strong jaw, told her that he wouldn’t give up easily on anything he set his mind to, and right now he was set on taking her somewhere. His hair was the color of sand and it was shoulder length. Her palms itched to run her fingers though his locks and to her dismay her hunger had tuned to another direction.

Gratefully, Zoë’s thoughts were interrupted by a deep grunt and a stern command. Here, eat! Prince Albert handed her a leg. She looked at it for many minutes fearing to swallow anything but it smelled delicious. Taking a deep breath she nibbled then swallowed. It slid down easily and she regained her confidence in herself but continued to take little bites not chancing another bout of choking. Thankfully, she finished the meat without any difficulty.

Sincerely, she said, Thank you.

Ye are welcome, Snowy.

Sheesh! To that she snorted. Look let’s get one think straight! she stiffened defensively. The name is Zoë! Z-O-Ë! Forget what those little men called me, my name is Zoë White. No connection to the real Snow White, follow, Bert. Err… I mean Albert?

Ye will address me as Prince Albert, Yer Highness, or Milord and I shall call ye whatever makes ye happy.

Her brow rose and she answered in a patronizing tone, Okay, milord, and she curtsied.

Sarcasm is nae becoming, Mistress White, he bit back, his eyes gleamed with intent as his arms crossed his massive chest. Arrogance was in every line on his body; a body that she wanted to touch. God, she couldn’t have thoughts like that, especially if he was only a figment of her imagination. Well, if she were in coma and had to conjure up a male, she had to be pleased with herself, for her imagination was working overtime. But be that as it may, he was still a jerk.

Look here, Albert, I’ll not be talk to as if I’m a child. She began walking away calling him every name she learned by the age of six. He may be handsome but she’d not put up with his chauvinistic ways, no siree bob!

When Albert had gone into the woods his aim was swift and on the mark and his dagger landed in the rabbit’s furry hide. He was happy with his catch and hurried back to his princess not wanting to spend much time away from her. He knew he had fallen in love with the maiden at first sight and he wanted to be with her every moment for the rest of his life.

Upon entering the camp, he had stopped short in his tracks upon seeing her sitting on the hard ground struggling with two sticks. She wore a pout on her lips and he wasn’t too sure but had she muttered a few unladylike blasphemies? Shocked momentarily, he had to chuckle for she looked so charming even though she was surely losing her temper. She was like no other female he had ever encountered and he could just hear his manservant now. God’s blood, Prince Albert what were ye thinking? At that moment he was thinking that there was nay denying her beauty. Her large brown eyes, porcelain skin, lips like cherry juice and just as sweet. Hair black as midnight and it smelled like a bouquet of fresh flowers. When she had sat before him he ached to make love to her. Oh, she was a mystery all right for she didn’t act like a princess. Perhaps, she was a mere servant; but it mattered not, he loved her and he would be patient with her.

He was not comfortable with her lack of regard for his title, but he had to let it slide, for now. There would be plenty of time later for him to demand the proper respect he deserved. Now, he had to gain her love and he felt that that was not going to be easy; besides, he saw no harm in his future lady-wife calling him by his Christian name.

Albert let out a frustrated sigh before he went after her. Swinging Zoë around, their eyes locked and an electric tension filled the air. He wanted to say what was on his mind but stifled all that was pent up inside. He was experiencing a painful condition that could only be relieved by making love to the stubborn woman. Although, he had taken many maidens in the fields, this female was no ordinary woman, and if he wanted her respect, he