Discovery and Love In Gettis

By Gerri Bowen

Returning home with her daughter after from hiding from Mr. Big Boss, Laurel is delighted to find she can now see auras as her mother does. She also desires more out of life and decides it’s time to go out on a date with someone. But with whom?

David decides to follow his long held dream and become a writer. He also believes Laurel would be perfect for him.

Maggie and Joren are happy in their new found love and in no hurry to set a date for their wedding.

Koozie, Dromo and Port work hard to get their charges to hear them.

But, as often happens in life, nothing really works out the way you planned.

The Portal opens and everything changes when new and unexpected people walk into their world.

Even Koozie, Dromo and Port are thrown off when they see who traipses through.

Everything changes. For everyone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gerri Bowen
• Release date: Sep 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370491780

Gerri Bowen

Gerri lives in south central Pennsylvania with her family, two dogs and far too many cats. Her books and stories can be found in the romance section. Some are Time Travel, some Historical and some contemporary. All involve fantasy and the paranormal and humor.

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Discovery and Love… In Gettis Copyright 2016 by Gerri Bowen

Published by EverSummerLand

Cover design and Layout by www.formatting4U.com

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author at [e-mail]. This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

For more information on the author’s works, please see www.GerriBowen.com

Acknowledgements

I thank the Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers for all their help, enthusiasm, laughter and our annual Retreat.

I thank Emily Norment for being my first reader.

I also thank fellow CPRW friends Vicky Burkholder and Joyce Meyers for taking their precious free time to read this and giving me their suggestions on how to make it better.

I also thank Judi Fennell for her patient editing skills as well as her formatting skills.

The cast of characters:

David-Captain David Heacock. Born in Massachusetts. Trained as a doctor in Boston. Served as a battlefield surgeon in the Civil War.

Helen-Matriarch of the Bourke family. Widowed.

Maggie-Mother of Laurel.

Laurel-Maggie’s daughter.

Patti-Laurel’s young daughter.

Colin-Maggie’s brother.

Nora-Colin’s wife.

Brendan-Helen’s son.

Kelly-Helen’s daughter.

Artur-Maggie’s father. Was chief of his village. Now lives in Helen’s house.

Joren-Engaged to Maggie.

Thora-Joren’s daughter.

Niel-Maggie and Colin’s brother.

Moira-Colin and Nora’s daughter.

Danny-Colin and Nora’s son.

Dr. Lloyd Merriweather-Doctor where Laurel works.

Dr. Val Doiron- Doctor where Laurel works.

Samantha-Sammy- Dr. Merriweather’s sister.

Aunt Janie-Maggie’s sister-in-law.

Gunna-Joren’s first wife.

Britta-Joren’s grandmother.

Mr. Big Boss Guy-He’s the big Boss Guy.

Erik-Joren’s grandfather and Britta’s husband.

Joyce-Britta’s sister.

Jorge-Joyce’s husband.

Dr. Franny- Doctor and co-owner of Serenity House.

Gaspar-Dr. Franny’s partner, in love and in life.

Glossary:

My Wild-Blooded World

For those readers unfamiliar with my work, these pages describe those unknown creatures you’ll be reading about in this book. The full list is on my website www.gerribowen.com

AMAZON PEACE KEEPERS:

The Amazon Peacekeepers was an army of women, of mostly Immes, Pelldari and Shenti origins, who kept the peace wherever they were sent. Their success came from their development of the shot shield. It was form fitting body armor that could deflect any missile, any object at all, and return it to its source.

Their popularity with the masses was due to the fact they never harmed anyone. Any fatalities or injuries occurred against the ones who fired on the Peacekeepers.

Their training was vigorous. Many girls were injured and maimed, some died before learning how to move their body to deflect. Many thought Queen MariVI the embodiment of grace and skill when she deflected with her head and arms and body, obliterating any who sought to disrupt the peace by throwing bombs and missiles. She maintained an Amazon had to strengthen her precognitive abilities so as to better anticipate an attack.

(THE) AMELIA:

It came to pass that one of the planets was special, because when it was formed it was formed with the love of life into every particle of its matter. On this particular planet, all life knew an urge to grow, and to grow joyfully and abundantly, uncontrolled and amuck, as it were.

It was here that the Da TamPanni set up the sanctuary, a place for all beings of the universe could come for shelter, refuge and healing. He placed this sanctuary in an area he called Breen, on land that would become islands and ocean, on The Amelia, also known as the planet Earth.

(THE) COUNCIL:

Organized to ensure normal humans remain ignorant, and unharmed, by those with the Wild Blood.

Council members also befriend those humans with Wild Blood, taking the time to train them in how to use their gifts.

(THE) DA TAMPANNI:

In the beginning, when all the souls that ever would be burst into the void and began seeking knowledge of The Plan, the Da TamPanni was first in their midst. He began as a star sweeper, deriving great pleasure in sweeping the debris of the Great Opening and forming belching balls of gas, brilliant, giant stars. All this with just his thoughts, mind you.

Creator was pleased by Da TamPanni’s diligence, delighted as the Da formed a star and then surrounded it with fifteen plants, each one different from the others, for this showed Creator that Da TamPanni understood The Plan. As a reward for his fantastic brilliance, the Da TamPanni was given governance over this star and its planets, and all that might evolve upon them.

It was on Breen that the Da TamPanni set up the sanctuary, a place for all beings of the universe who could come for shelter, refuge and healing. Since Breen also served as a portal, a door through time, its existence was to be kept secret and protected.

The Da TamPanni preferred to let mortals interact with other mortals whilst he dealt with his other worlds and his other-worldly visitors. He began the practice of selecting amongst the Wild Blooded mortals to form a family, and placing them in charge of Breen.

With that honor came the understanding that this family would guard Breen, keep the peace within and allow none to enter. Nor was talk about Breen allowed lest that encourage the curious and greedy. He placed no restraints on how the family maintained control of Breen’s borders.

The consequences for disobedience were well known…death or banishment. However, people being what they are, there were times a dynasty failed, and a new dynasty was established.

The Da TamPanni is not a god. Woe to the one who places the name TamPanni and God in the same sentence. He will, however, allow himself to be called an angel.

DENNENE:

The Dennene are everywhere on The Amelia. Although given their own dimension to call their own, they slip into ours regularly. Wild, untamed spaces attract them, or areas gone to weedy growth. They come into our dimension to enjoy the chlorophyll. They get off on it.

You know when you come upon them, for although they remain unseen, you’ll sense a cold, unemotional presence. If that happens, it means they’re cautioning you to go away or stop digging, or pulling a particular weed. The Dennene don’t know weeds. All growth is precious to them. If you explain aloud what you’re doing, transplanting something to another area, or pulling up this so you can plant flowers, they might assist you.

On the other hand, they might warn you to leave well enough alone. If you ignore their warning, then generally whatever you attempted won’t work. They knew that ahead of time and warned you. You didn’t listen. Apologize immediately.

Some people have had success with the Dennene by keeping up a continual stream of conversation whilst gardening. By explaining what you hope to accomplish, you would be amazed by the assistance they give. Or you might drive them away with your incessant chatter.

Generally tall and fair, they have pointed ears and show themselves as a white or shiny human-like form. When sighted by humans, they are sometimes called Fae, or Faery, ghost or angel.

Dennene generally don’t like anyone but other Dennene, which is why they have their own dimension to live in. They don’t have emotions like humans. Long ago when they battled the Nosrum, ridding their selves of emotion is what saved them as a race. They don’t understand deep emotion, but it intrigues

them, sometimes disgusts them. Yet some are attracted to us because of our emotions; perhaps their racial memory remembers and misses emotion.

Beauty attracts them. Beauty of face, form or voice. A Dennene, male or female, will follow a particularly beautiful person, sometimes for years, and may even try to persuade that person to follow them back to their dimension.

The Dennene believe they found the Shadow. All are proficient at using either the large or small Shadow.

The Dennene deny the Fae are related to them.

At this point in time, their ability to vanquish Nosrum is their claim to fame. Their abilities may include entering minds, creating illusions, and altering local weather. They can have exceptionally long lives.

DENNENE PATROL:

Members of the Patrol are an exception to the normal Dennene. Formed by the Da TamPanni, the Patrol is composed of Dennene whose minds are just a little more open to other creatures outside their dimension…Dennene who have compassion. A small sliver of compassion, but it’s there. Again, a hint of what had been before their battles with the Nosrum.

There is always a group of riders out searching for Nosrum. They will not always go out of their way to help humans, but may help someone if they have the blood of Dennene flowing in their veins.

DROMO THE MAGNIFICENT:

Dromo the Magnificent has been much maligned, due to the fact that after accepting the assignment that brought him millions of years into the past, he destroyed three planets and lost another three. Once he realized he was about to destroy three inhabited worlds, he transferred as many life forms as he could onto The Amelia.

By remaining to rescue the doomed, Dromo lost his arms and legs. Being part Pelldari, he self healed, but later, after watching the Wizard of Oz, decided he liked the look of steel arms and legs, substituting steel for tin.

It is whispered that since the Da didn’t destroy Dromo for his actions, merely forbid him entry to The Amelia, that Dromo must be one of the Da’s children.

Dromo sneaked onto The Amelia whenever he could. He liked London, particularly 1960’s-70’s London, where he could wander with his steel arms and legs, and no one gave him a second glance. It was there he met Spoe.

The Da interceded for Dromo eons later, when he was brought to trial for the destruction of one million Antilier egg cases. Dromo maintained he was set up. The Da may have believed him, for again, he wasn’t destroyed. Instead, the Da TamPanni sentenced Dromo to an indeterminable number of centuries of habitation on The Amelia, but in animal form, to learn a lesson.

FAE:

The Fae, faery, or fairy evolved early on The Amelia. Although they are distantly related to the Dennene, they deny any association.

GIFTED:

Those humans who have the Wild Blood, and can access their gifts, whatever they may be.

NOSRUM:

Where the Nosrum originated is a mystery. Some say from the silent sector of the universe, because they destroyed all life there and now hunt in our sector. They seek to destroy.

They have no visible form of their own, but slip into bodies from whatever planet they happen to inhabit, like a type of possession. They feed off fear. The greater the fear they create, the stronger they become.

When reading about someone accused of murder, much to the shock of all who knew the accused, it is a given that Nosrum has used that person. Even animals will be used, because unprovoked animal attacks produce large amounts of fear.

Killing a person or animal hosting a Nosrum will not kill the Nosrum. The Nosrum slips away to the next host, usually the one who has just murdered his host. Angry people, battles, riots attract Nosrum. So do important people like royalty, politicians, and church officials.

The Dennene hunt the Nosrum. It is said that because the Dennene long ago fled the Nosrum instead of fighting them, they will never have another home of their own until all Nosrum are extinguished. When they find a creature possessed, three or more Dennene corner it, tie it down, and stare until the Nosrum is forced from the body.

Some believe Nosrum is a fungus, floating through space until it settles on a planet.

PELLDARI:

From planet Pelldar in the Pelldari star system. Although Pelldar remains intact, The Amelia draws the Pelldari to visit, as well as to borrow humans that interest them. They have always been on this planet.

The Pelldari are known for their healing, having perfected mind to cell treatment. Since they are capable of extending and restoring the life of any cell in the body, they have the means to extend life forever.

The Amelia has fascinated the Pelldari since it was first discovered. Their love for this tiny, yet lush wild world, lead them to rescue many species that are now extinct. It was the Pelldari who began Animal Control.

Pelldari blend in wherever they go. They can heal, read minds, and project their thoughts.

QUEEN MARI VI:

The last free Queen of the Amazons, Koozie defied Sector One concerning their decision to use her peacekeepers for purposes other than peace.

Resisting arrest, she escaped with ten thousand of her personal guard and one Northman. Since she felt obligated to return the Northman to his home from where he’d been taken, she decided that this planet was as good as any to hide her guard. Dropping off the women five hundred at a time, throughout the centuries, wherever they took a fancy, Koozie counted on the fact The Da TamPanni was as tight-assed as everyone asserted him to be, and wouldn’t allow Sector One to invade and capture her peace warriors.

Her plan to return and form a resistance against Sector One was foiled when the Da took her to task about the invasion of ten thousand alien women. He may have let her go if she hadn’t complained her warriors were without their shot shields since she’d shucked them, ten thousand shot shields, in some large and deep body of water.

Koozie joined Dromo in his animal adventures, ostensibly to learn some lesson.

SECTOR ONE:

Initially formed to address grievances, once men began to take on the bulk of work it somehow evolved into a huge, complex governing body that took itself very seriously.

Seeing an opportunity to expand its influence with the help of the invincible Amazon Peacekeepers, the First Director tried to force Queen MariVI to cooperate. His successor ordered her arrest for treason.

Sector One is now concentrating on finding a new Queen who will listen to reason.

(THE) SHADOW:

The Large Shadow serves as a short cut through the universe. Unfortunately, since its discovery, many unfriendly entities have used the Large Shadow as a place to hide, making it a sometimes dangerous place to be.

Terialis has taken on the task to help and guard those who inadvertently enter inside.

The Small Shadow is used for Shadow Blending. Like pulling a piece of blanket over you to hide.

SHENTI:

Shifters.

Wild Shenti prefer to remain in animal form, and have little use for non-Shenti.

Civilized Shenti shift when they desire to do so. They are as comfortable in their human-like form as their chosen animal form.

Usually larger than most humans, they are also stronger, more agile, and faster.

Some claim all the races of beings descended from Shenti.

TERIALIS:

A Dennene who travels the Large Shadow, protecting the innocent.

VAMPIRES:

Sunshine vampires are natural healers. Using their eyes to entrance, they then use their fangs to extract illness or poisons, or, inject healing mixtures into a body.

Sunshine vampires gave up their hunting and blood feasting when they had to accept sanctuary on The Amelia. They now eat regular food. They still have their fangs.

Blood vampires are rogue vampires, who have reverted back to blood feasting. Even though they don’t kill their victims, the Council must ferret out the rogue and destroy them, before humans become aware and panic ensues.

However, if Nosrum possesses a blood vampire, the next time that vampire bites, he will turn the victim into a Nosrum vampire. The Dennene are immediately called in to assist.

Vampires originated on one of the planets Dromo the Magnificent destroyed.

WILD BLOOD:

A human who has any mixture of Dennene, Shenti, Pelladri, that is, any extraterrestrial blood in their veins. Some humans with Wild Blood have no gifts at all, whilst some are very gifted. A human with Wild Blood who is gifted needs to be trained in their abilities, lest they begin to think they are loosing their mind.

Chapter One

In Which David Makes Decisions

And

In Which Laurel Makes A Happy Discovery

It has been brought to my attention that in order to go to school and acquire the skills to become an EMT, I will have to get there by some means. David studied Dr. Franny’s face to see her reaction to his statement.

She smiled from across her desk. That’s true. Have you decided to become an EMT? If so, you don’t look happy about that decision.

I was trained as a physician. He flicked his fingers. It feels demeaning to return to school to train to become an EMT.

I’m sure it does. But you must remember that what you were taught over one hundred and fifty years ago doesn’t apply to today’s medicine. If you went into medicine to save people’s lives, then that’s what you’ll be doing as an EMT.

He made a face. "I entered medicine because my father and uncle were physicians. It was expected of me, so it seems disrespectful to their memories to not be a physician."

Was being a battlefield surgeon something you found rewarding?

David shuddered. It was horrible. The loss of life so… He closed his eyes. "Wicked. All the deliberate maiming and killing was wicked. They never told me how to prepare for the screams of the men, the horses, the noise, and all the blood, or all those noxious odors. He shook his head and opened his eyes. I still have bad dreams at night about that time."

You’ve never mentioned those dreams before today. She wrote something on a piece of paper. They should be lessening soon. If you didn’t become an EMT, what would you like to do?

He pursed his lips and remembered all the fights with his brother and cousins about his preference, but that didn’t matter anymore. They were all dead. He’d checked on the Internet. Poet.

Dr. Franny nodded. He was surprised she didn’t display shock, the usual expression people showed when he’d confessed that in the past. All she said was, Hard to make a steady income with poetry.

That is what my father said to me, or words to that effect. His brother and cousins had laughed and pranced around him when they’d heard what he’d wanted to do.

However, if you have the ability to write an engaging story, you could be an historical novelist. You know how things were way back when.

A novelist. He could do that.

I see that appeals to you. But until you start making money from your books, you still need an income. I suggest you study to be an EMT and write at night.

By what mode of transportation do I arrive at the school? The thought of driving terrifies me. And, he leaned forward, I don’t have chests filled with loot and gold to buy a car, or start my own business or pay for my education. Nor do I have family members already living here to help me like the others who came through the portal with me do.

You’re not the first to mention the angst associated at the prospect of driving a car. Gaspar and I have come up with a plan for that. You and the others will be driving safely and worry-free in no time.

David leaned back in his chair. I have no money. He looked back at Dr. Franny. "One must pay to get a learner’s permit. And then pay for driving lessons. You have to pay to take the driving test. Then you have to pay for a car. I researched it all up on the Internet."

Also, there’s the insurance for your car, the gasoline to power your car, and the check-ups for your car. Dr. Franny gave him a sad smile.

David slumped and shook his head. I have no money.

Didn’t Joren say he would loan you the money?

David pursed his lips. True, except that, in the eventuality I am unable to repay him, he would gut me with his sword.

Dr. Franny chuckled.

He gave her a dirty look and leaned forward. "Every day of my captivity he threatened to gut me. Every single day. I still see him swinging his sword, smiling at his sword, stroking his sword, talking to his sword, and it always ended with him pointing his sword at me and saying that his Singer of Mighty Blood Songs would be happy to gut me."

Do you hate Joren?

David swallowed his immediate reply and sat back to think about that. Did he still hate Joren?

Dr. Franny silently waited.

No.

You look surprised, David.

"I am. I am not sure when my anger left me, but I don’t hate him anymore. He did keep us all alive. Found and provided food for us all. Remained behind to protect us when he could have slunk away with his men. Also, he is a good father to Thora. She loves him very much."

Does that surprise you?

It does. Joren is a much better person in this time period.

When one has a full stomach and doesn’t have to always be on watch for an attack, one can relax.

David frowned. I remember wondering if we would be attacked as we marched, and worried if a cannon ball would fly through me while I was in surgery. Would it take off my head, or an arm or a leg? How much it would hurt? He looked at Dr. Franny. It was slightly better after I was captured. Well, not at first. I didn’t understand why they were so angry with me. They kept asking me things, and although I didn’t understand them, the inflection of their words led me to believe they were questioning me as if I were a spy. After they stopped beating me, it was just Joren I had to be afraid of. Gutting me with his sword.

That sounds like something that you could put in a book.

He sat upright. He could write about his experiences. It does, does it not?

Contractions, David. Please remember to use contractions in speech. And may I strongly suggest you first read novels written nowadays before you begin writing? The style is quite different then it was in the past. Sentences are shorter. No longer pages of paragraphs describing rooms or countryside or clothes. The writer comes to the point much sooner. And they use contractions.

David felt like rolling his eyes. I try to remember to use contractions, but it’s hard to keep in mind that their use is not only allowed, but encouraged. I have a mental battle going on with using contractions, fearing I may be hit with a ruler and then realizing no one will hit me.

Dr. Franny sighed. And women now wear bloomers. Yes, I realize things have changed dramatically for you.

David frowned and studied his lap. Was Dr. Franny angry with him? Or just exasperated? He looked