The Miracle of Green

By Alma Hanaway

The Miracle of Green is suspenseful, thrilling, and intriguing. There is also a love, danger, and mystery involved. It has a touch of the supernatural with nonstop action and with a sprinkling of paranormal romance.

The Miracle of Green tells a story of a woman trying to forget her past by running from the dangers that haunt her dreams and threatens the lives of her sons.

Mandy wakes every night screaming with fear of the past. If it wasnt for her sons, life would not be worth living. Her mothers death brings her sister home, but she keeps her distance from Mandy. Connie does not understand why she feels threatened by Mandy and her sons.

Her brother provides the protection that she needs to be safe. As much as Mandy tries not to dwell on the memory that robs her of sleep and sanity, she is terrified of what will happen when they find her.

But danger seems to follow Mandy, and she has to be rescued againthis time by a stranger, a handsome, wide-shouldered, deep-blue-eyed hunk of a man. A man that seems to call to her Cat, and she wants the man and what his hides inside. Could love blossom with this stranger, with how her sons could cope with this man, or is she fated to live her life alone?

There is adventure, love, and mystery that throw her into turmoil. And what of all the secrets that she holds? Could Jasons love be strong enough to save her from her dreams and love her sons?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514493380

Alma Hanaway

I am an avid reader. I read a wide range of books, but gravitate toward the paranormal and some romance. I crochet, sew, and home-can almost everything in my garden. I am not immortal or a vampire or even a shape-shifter, but I think that it would be so cool to be able to have those attributes. I suppose my biggest problem is that I love to cook for family and friends. The idea for my stories comes from two things, my job at a county jail, and my children and grandchildren. They are a story in itself with their strong will and bossy attitude. That and mixed with the stories of what my job can and do create, it was a natural. I have always loved art and writing, but for some reason, I never found the time to pursue either one. I was born in 1948 at Batesville, Indiana, grew up, and graduated in Ripley County, Indiana. Raising eight boys and one girl, I am very proud of the now fifteen living grandchildren I have. I love to write, and with the inspiration of my family and friends, the stories are becoming, interesting. I am retired and live in Jennings County, Indiana, with my husband, James.

Book preview

CHAPTER

1

A horn blared. Beeeeeeeep!

The sound seared deep into my brain.

My mind jerked quickly to awareness at the sudden noise, as the cars sped around me. Weariness closed over me. The weight of it bore down on my body and clouded my mind. The guilt that I carried deep inside… The guilt that ate away at my mind and soul for five long years. However, that guilt did not override the guilt that I felt, as I ran to try to escape the turmoil that boils inside of me.

Another loud blast of a horn startled me back to reality, and I whipped the steering wheel of the faded blue sedan to the right to put the car back onto my side of the road. My head pounded as I realized what I was doing.

A loud beep sounded next to the driver’s door, and I glanced out the side window. I watched as a small purple Sentra that was keeping pace with me. A nice looking young man sat in the driver’s seat, attired in a dark blue suit, a matching tie with white pinstripes cinched primly around his long neck. The tie hung down the front of his satin white shirt, held in place with a gold colored tie tack. His barely there smile made his eyes sparkle. I watched as the smile quickly turned to a grimace as he glared across the gap at me. Then to accentuate the grimace; he gave me the bird. This consisted of raising his fist in the air with his middle finger extended. I could feel the heat as it crept up my neck to my cheeks. I quickly averted my eyes back to the road. I glanced down and noticed that the speedometer registered a slow thirty-five. I suppose that was another strike against me. I just hoped that no one was keeping score.

Too many hours on the road and lack of sleep were taking its toll, and it was at the time of day that wavered between the daylight and dark.

The twilight hour.

I think that is what they call it, or lovers light. The most beautiful time of the day, just as the sun fades into the dark evening shadow. Yes, a lover’s night. A night to enjoy and savor the soft warm body of that special someone, as the waning of the sun, bathed the land in its golden glow.

Beautiful.

If you were not driving, it would be a beautiful part of the evening. The beginning of May was the beginning of a painful new life, hopefully a wonderful beginning.

We were on a two lane unknown highway. Somehow, I had gotten us off the interstate. Again.

Not good…

I glanced quickly into the rearview mirror, and noticed two luminous sets of green eyes staring back at me, wide with fright. I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath and waited for the calm to settle within. I quickly opened my eyes as I blew my breath out in a disgusted sigh. Disgusted with myself for running away instead of coping with the situation. I cleared my throat of the burdensome lump that threatened to fill my eyes with tears, and with a slight tremor in my voice asked, You guys okay? Ooooh my God baby! I am soooo sorry. I jerked my eyes to the road to keep my bearings.

I glanced back into the mirror, and all I could see were two red heads shaking. However, they still did not say one word, and I knew that they were just scared out of their minds. Moreover, it was my fault. I knew that that was not a good sign, not a good sign at all.

That meant my mind had retreated into the recesses of the past again. I needed to get some sleep, but I do not see that happening none too soon. I tried to focus on the road, but my mind was a jumble of hazy memories of pain and death. It was like blacking out but still being able to function on the edge of a cloudy mind, but not remembering what you did. One thing I am grateful for is that I did not shift into my other self. Especially inside this old car with two wide-eyed boys in the back seat.

That would have been disastrous, I almost said aloud as I fought the tears back down.

Yes, I am the fabled shape shifter in the twenty first century, and in my younger days, I had a lot of fun with it. I also had to be very careful that no one discovered my secret. My mother knew what I was and it scared her to think, that I had inherited this trait from my father. It upset her to no end, only because she just did not understand, or want to believe what my father was, even though she loved him without question. It just never dawned on my mother that my father would pass on his heritage to her children.

When I married, I never revealed my heritage, to my husband, or my capabilities of what I could do. I knew that my brother would not betray me. The secret we shared was bonding and sacred. We had to keep this secret from society, because the human world would not understand. But then again, it seems that I did not know that John and his family also kept secrets.

My brother leaned more toward the human side than animal. He related that information to me many times, as I tried to persuade him into changing, so I did not have to run alone. He inherited the gene but never wanted to shift completely, so he never experienced the exhilaration of being free and running through the woods. I loved the feeling of the chase, the thrill of the kill, the smell of the grass, the dirt beneath my paws, and the wind in my fur. Yet here I am, running away from my home instead of running through the forests around the farm, and lying on a tree limb, high above the forest floor, as the dawn broke across the sky. It has been months since I let my other-self-out to run free, and I pray that I will be able to do so again soon. I did not know how much longer I could contain the beast.

Another blast of a horn, and I was jerked back to the present. Oh Lord, please keep me awake, please. I sent up a silent prayer. The night had not gone well, only one hour of sleep, and then I was startled awake by the screaming.

Am I destined to be plagued by nightmares for the rest of my life? I wondered to myself. I just hoped that Kenny would not be too upset with me for leaving. I have put him through a lot. I should have told him, but I was afraid that if I did, he would not let me go. It was the cowards’ way out. I knew that I was leaving for the wrong reason, but I could not take any more death and sorrow. If I had stayed any longer, I would have lost what little sanity I had left. I hoped that he would find the note, which I left on the dining room table two days ago. I had weighted it down with his favorite desert, ‘Peach Cobbler’. He should be coming over to check on the boys, and of course, he would not admit it, but he comes over to check on me also. It was a routine of his, to make for sure that we were okay.

I can imagine what my brothers face will look like and what he would do. He will read and reread the note, and then he will close his eyes, run both of his hands through his close-cropped reddish blond hair. He will rub the back of his thick neck with his huge hand as he opens his glistening eyes.

Then he will slowly shake his head and sigh, Mandy, not again. he will look up at Mason, handing the note over to him, then say, take care of it. You know what to do.

I pray to God, that he has room in his heart to understand, and forgive me. I hope he will not do anything stupid. However, knowing my brother as I do, he will send Mason or Thomas after us.

A tiny voice from the back seat brought me out of my musings, and back to reality.

Momma; I hungry, are we there yet? Colt, my soon to be five-year-old asked. He was anxious to get out of the restraints of his car seat. A small little man, so full of energy like a rambunctious ball bouncing with no control and so impatient to get nowhere.

No, honey, not yet, I answered my youngest. So here, I am twenty-five years old, with two small boys, which I packed into this old car, on the run from my past. We were heading out west to visit my half-sister Connie in the hopes of starting a new life. Connie was from my mother’s first marriage. Connie’s fathers name was Robert Sega. My mother loved him very much and they had one child, Connie. He died all too soon in a car wreck, after only being together a short ten years. Connie was fourteen years old when mom married my father. She said his name was Adric Santana; he was a tall, wide shouldered, strong mysterious red head, and a very handsome man. She said that she loved him with all her heart, and then died inside when he left.

Kenny was born six months after they were married, and then two years later I joyfully arrived, two months premature, but strong and healthy. I can only remember bits and pieces of my father, as he toted me around with him wherever he went. My most striking memory was when I snuggled up against him; lay my head on his shoulder, as I hugged his neck. He wrapped his big strong arms around me, then tenderly kissed the side of my face, and said, Yes, Mandy; you are the one. Then in no time at all. He was gone from my life forever. Is that what I am trying to do? Run away from my life, my responsibilities. I hope not. I would rather die than give up my sons to an unloving pride… Family.

Hey mom, I got to go to the bathroom, and I’m hungry too. What about McDonald’s? Please, Jed pleaded, as he scrunched up his face as if in pain.

He was always the logical one. Even at almost seven years old, he was a genius, and acted older than his age, but he was still my little boy. Both boys just wanted video games, and to watch TV more than anything else. I caught a glimpse of the boys in the mirror, and my heart filled to overflowing with pride and love for them. I hated taking them away from their uncle. They adored my brother, Kenny, and his protectors, Mason and Tom. This was not going to be easy for me to live with.

It was hard raising the boys alone. Their father died in a ‘parse’ hunting accident, before Colt was born. So here, I am twenty-five years old, a widow with two kids to support, and running away from reality. As far as John’s death was concerned, they can say what they want, but I knew the truth, and it plagued me every night. For five years, it was the cause of my nightmares and sleeplessness. I always wondered if my mother knew the truth. I let my thoughts slip back to after the incident with John.

For three years, I worked at two full time jobs just so I would not have time to think about that horrible night of John’s death. I tried my best to make a life for the boys on my own, but it was too hard on me trying to find a baby sitter while I worked nights. I moved in with my mother at her request. She wanted to help with the boys, while I worked.

Living with mom was not easy either. She was a very demanding person, and she did not like the feeling she got whenever she was around me. To her I was something to be wary of and feared, but Kenny, now he was her pride and joy. It was not that she did not love me, she just refused to believe that our father and I were the same, and not that I was different. Mom refused to acknowledge what dad was, a legendary shape shifter that could change at will, into some sort of large cat. Dad told Kenny and I about what and who he was, and warned us not to tell anyone about our ability. The people or humans would not understand about shifters. We knew that mom had trouble believing in us, what we were, but she loved us, but still leery of the boys and me.

Then mom had an incapacitating stroke, and I had to quit my jobs to take care of her. She was extremely demanding, pushing me every day and night to keep a closer eye on the boys. She was so afraid that they would inherit the fear that she felt being around me. If she only knew. The truth was they were the same as me, I could smell them, and I watched the subtle signs of things to come.

After two years of taking care of my mother, bathing her, feeding her, and dressing her. Catering to her every need was more taxing to my mind and body, than running after my two rambunctious boys. At least being busy took my mind off the guilt that plagued me. There was no one else to help.

Connie lived in Utah and my brother Kenny was in the Military. My days were long and tiring; my day started at five in the morning, and lasted until I fell into bed a little after midnight. As exhausted as I was from the daily routine of the care of my mother and the two growing boys. I still never got more than two hours sleep before the nightmares invaded my mind with a screaming awakening.

One bright sunny morning after getting the boys settled at the breakfast table with their morning Juice and cereal. I remember the morning was warm and bright, a beautiful day in May. I went to my mother’s room to wake her, to start her daily routine. I opened the door to her room and felt a warm lightness surround me, as if loving arms surrounded me. There had always been the heaviness of sickness and fear, whenever I entered her room. She was lying on her back in her bed. The blanket lay folded down across her chest, exposing her pink flannel nightgown. Her arms were on top of the blanket and her hands crossed at her abdomen. It was as if someone had already prepared her for burial. Upon her face was a smile as if she was finally at peace. I smile as tears roll down my cheek.

The notifications and the arrangement made. Connie arrived from Utah and stayed a week in a nearby motel. She helped me through the ordeal of the funeral. Connie refused to have anything to do with the house, so before she left we both signed all the paperwork, and named our brother Kenny, as the executor of the estate. We knew that he would do the right thing, with the house and land.

It did not escape me that during the time that my sister was here she was leery of being alone with the boys and me. I tried to alleviate her fears by never being in the same room with her without someone else along, but it was hard. I love my sister and I needed the closeness of family. I knew that, as long as my mother’s family feared me that was not going to happen.

Two days after Connie left, I received the letter from John’s brothers, stating that they were filing for the rights to the boys. I could not let them take them. They did not love them. On the same day, I received a call from their lawyer that the clan has legal rights to take my sons. I knew then I had to leave. I had to get away. It would be wrong of me to drop this in Kenny’s hands to handle.

I called Connie and asked if we could come out for a visit. I assured her that we would not be imposing on her or disrupting the family. We would be staying at a motel for more or less than two days. Well, maybe I can find a better job in Utah, and the things in my life will change… like sleeping.

Mom? That sign that we passed read ‘WELCOM TO HEENEY, Population UNKNOWN. Mom, on the map, Heeney is in Colorado. We are supposed to be in Utah, mom, not Colorado, Jed stated proudly, as his voice pulled me back from my thoughts. I think you took a wrong turn again, and we are lost…again.

My heart was full to bursting with love and pride for him. He had been studying the Atlas, and the state maps, so he could help me get to our destination without getting lost. Well as it so happens, it was a lost cause for me. I still got lost.

Okay, okay, we’ll stop and get some food, and maybe directions. Maybe they will have a motel here and we can spend the night, I said as I tried to comfort the boys. The boys had always seemed older than they were. I guess they had to grow up fast. On the other hand, was it the curse of me being their mother?

I slowed down as the road angled into the small but quaint town of Heeney. It was not a very big town; just a typical old-fashioned western town that time had forgotten, with a paved two-lane road through the center with old and new buildings lining each side of the road. There was a generous sprinkling of large and small homes here and there. A few of the older, stores scattered along the street still had false-fronts. I suppose that went back to being in the old Western towns. There were a couple of clothing stores, one on each side of the road. They set directly across from each other, as if they were at a standoff, and just waiting to challenge for the day’s sales. On the left side of the road stood an Apothecary, and a modern grocery store, a block apart.

An old-fashioned hardware store with weathered board siding that was in need of a few gallons of paint. The bright red feed mill looked freshly painted sat on the right side of the road. Next to the feed mill, an old western style building sported a newly painted sign that hung above the big open double doors, which informed of a livery stable. It looked to be a well-maintained building, and through the open door, I noticed a loft with loose hay, and well-kept stables or stalls inside. Did they still use horses here? There were hitching posts on one side of the faded clapboard building, which filled the empty lot between it and a small garage and gas station that sat next to the livery. I guess that answers my question.

The grounds all along the street seemed to be well organized and neatly groomed, with Maple trees neatly spaced along both sides of the street.

I looked up and saw a flashing yellow sign with an arrow pointing down over a brightly painted red roof, over a white clapboard building up ahead. It was just past the second stop light. Yes, there it stood to my amazement, a Millie’s Diner. A quaint mom and pop restaurant, and it looked warm and inviting. To my surprise there was also a Dollar Inn down the road and between them was a building with a flashing neon sign that announced the ‘Boots & Chaps’ in the window. I took it for granted that it was probably a bar or some sort of tavern.

The newer stores seemed out of place in this small town: that was a throwback to the eighteen hundreds. The town was well kept, it was clean; there was not a speck of trash anywhere. The grass what I could see of it was neatly trimmed, not one place was different from the other. It would seem that whoever mowed the grass did the whole town.

I pulled into the diner’s parking lot and found an empty spot, and shut off the engine. It only had a few cars and trucks scattered throughout it. One stood out from the rest, it was big and black, and had four doors, with a Ram emblem on the front of the hood. I guess the cowboys here do not always ride horses.

I got out and opened the back door to un-strap Colt from the booster seat. I heard the door slam across from me, and noticed Jed’s red hair sticking above the window well, Jed you stay right here till I get over there, I said as I shut the door to the car.

Close microphone We crossed the parking lot to the dining room, and I was trying my best to hold onto Colts hand, as I drug him across the lot while his eyes seemed to be fixated on the big truck. I opened the door, and scanned the place as we stepped inside.

A small quaint little restaurant, Windows set and two half walls, harbored booths that made up the three sides. Tables filled in the center. The third wall had a half bar, with the cash register, and a hallway that led down a lighted hallway with several doors position on both sides. The place was clean and smelled wonderful. The tables were nondescript, and there were servers trolling around the small dining room as they delivered food, filled empty cups. The place gave off a feeling of warmth, as a low drone of soft conversations of friendly voices mixed with the smells of delicious food, felt like heaven to me. I noticed the restroom sign off to the right down a hallway, and asked Jed, Honey can you take Colt with you to the bathroom?

Jed scrunched up his nose and a frown crossed his face, as his shoulders slumped, and then whined, Aaaaah…mooom. He takes too long. He always wants to play with the hand dryer, Jed’s little voice was music to my ears even when he was complaining.

I don’t play with dryer, Colt chimed in. his face screwed up in defiance.

Yes you do. Mom the last time he took off his pants and held them up to the dryer, Jed retorted as he balled his fists at his side. He was fully determined to win the argument.

I turned my full attention toward Colt, and trying my best not to smile, and asked, Colt?

Aaaaah…momma. I got my pants wet when I washed my hands, so I took them off to dry them. That is all I did. I didn’t play honest momma, Colts little voice was full of determination to prove he was not messing around.

Now that’s enough boys. We are all tired and hungry. We can finish this at another time. Okay. I’ll order the food, and Jed, please take Colt with you, I kept my voice calm and even and added a smile of appreciation.

Sure mom. Colt lets go get washed up, he mumbled as he turned and took Colts hand and headed for the restroom.

He was reliable and sometimes mature, as if a twenty-year-old man stuffed into an almost seven-year-old body. He would grumble about, babysitting his younger brother, but he would look after him. Not to say that they did not bicker and fight at times. Sometimes I was at wits end trying to keep the peace in my little family with those two boys.

I felt a tingling at the back of my neck, an itchy feeling that prickled the skin as if ice water ran up and down my arms and spine. It felt as if I had eyes on me that penetrated deep into my soul. I glanced around trying to locate were this feeling would be coming from, and why I would have this feeling at all. I was tired, so maybe I was starting to imagine things. I could not help wondering, was it all my imagination? It was a relief to stop, and rest. To give my mind some time to think and my body a chance to recoup from the stress of driving. I took a deep breath, found an empty table, and seated myself. It seemed that there was a server standing in front of the table quicker than it took me to set my purse down.

Hi! My name’s Steph, I will be your server. What would you like to drink ma’am? She said more cheerful than I felt, as she brandished a pen in one hand and a menu in the other.

Hello. I do not need a menu. Thank you anyway. I will have a Cesar’s salad, western dressing, coffee with cream and a glass of water with lemon please. Chicken nuggets, French fries, and a glass of chocolate milk for Colt and hamburger, French fries, and regular milk for Jed, and two small waters, I placed the order and as the waiter left, I let out a deep sigh of relief.

I looked up when Jed’s voice broke through my thoughts. I watched as the door opened to the men’s restroom, and a tall wide shoulders stranger held it as Jed stepped through.

Thanks for your help, Mr. Colt likes to play and we don’t have the time for that, Jed said as his voice rang clear and confident.

You’re welcome, sonny, glad to be of service. Is your mom and dad here? when he spoke I could hear the smile in his voice.

The man had on a grey western hat, and the way he stood blocked most of his face, and I could not make out any features except the faintest edge of a smile that disappeared behind the edge of his hat.

Our dad is dead; he was a very bad man. Mom is over there, she’s all we got. Thanks again Mr. Colt doesn’t mine me very good, Jed’s voice sounded aggravated as he stood looking up at the man.

You are doing a fine job helping out your mom. Now… don’t keep your mom waiting, the voice was deep and rang with authority.

I smiled as Jed stuck out his hand toward the guy, and said, Thanks again, I’m Jed,

The man griped Jed’s hand, then said, Jack here, you take care sonny, then he glanced my way smiled, raised his right hand, and with two fingers extended touched the brim of his hat and nodded. A salute from a true cowboy?

I smiled back and my heart jumped up a notch, as I intently watched the boys for any sign of danger.

Colt came barreling through the restroom door, right into the man standing there. Colt looked up into the eyes of the stranger. Come on Jed; I hungry, Colt said as he grabbed Jed’s hand and pulled.

The man was careful not to touch Colt as he bent down on one knee and looked Colt in the eyes, and said, What’s your hurry Buddy?

Colt stood with wide eyes as he returned the intense stare, as if sizing him up and processing what he was saying. Colt never flinched as if he was contemplating an attack. Predator’s eyes? I sorry for running into you Mr. His voice soft and meek.

You need to listen to your brother now, and help your mom as much as you can. You think that you can do that boy? The man said in a steady tone of reassurance.

I will! I will try hard, but… I still hungry, Colt blurted out.

The man stood back up to his full height, and towered over Colt, as he chuckled at the remark; he ruffled Colts red head, turned and touched the brim of his hat again, with a nod. I smiled back and inclined my head, then he causally turned and walked out the door, and my fear left with him.

The boys headed back toward me. I watched them walk across the multi colored inlaid tile floor of the dinning room toward the table. I smiled, they were both full of life and energy, for the life of me, I could not see a trace of John in either of them, and that made me very happy. The nightmares were enough without the daily reminder of his image reflecting through the boys. They both shared my traits of the Reddish Blond hair, and the emerald green eyes, and the slightly pale skin.

Jed was a head taller than Colt; his arms and legs were long and gangly, as if he was a young colt just trying to gain his bearings. Colt was still a little chubby with baby fat, but not to the point of being heavy. They both wore blue jeans with holes in the knees, and t-shirts, emblazed with Cheetahs and Mountain Lions. Their sneakers were old and scuffed, but they were clean, and they were both healthy boys.

I smiled as I wondered what kind of cat they would be. Only time will tell. I was getting a little concerned, Jed should have shifted by now, but in a way, I was not in any hurry for them to run in the woods… just yet.

Both boys climbed into the chairs just as the server reached the table with our order.

Here you go ma’am, a salad, you must be Jed, Hamburger and fries, and that leaves you; Colt chicken nuggets, and fries, she said in an accent that revealed her southern heritage, as she set the food and drinks down on the table in front of us, then she continued, I’ll be back later to check on ya-all. She smiled as she turned and walked away.

I turned my attention to the boys, and asked, Are we ready for grace now? That my mother insisted on, and I kept the tradition going for my boys and me. Even after my mother’s death, I can still hear her say, Well…it couldn’t hurt. A low sigh escaped my throat as I bowed my head.

Mom, can I do it please? Jed asked.

I looked up, and smiled at him, Sure honey if you want. Jed, who was, the man you were talking to? I was surprised at his comment to give grace. The serious look on his face, and his smiled tore at my heart. He has never volunteered before. The question I asked never fazed him.

"His name was Jack. He helped me get Colt away from