The Sky People Cast Iron Farm Series Book Four by Ali Spooner

Chapter 1

Chapter One

(Excerpt)

 

Whit Brewer sat in front of her computer monitor, staring at the words on the screen. She unconsciously twirled the ring Eli had given her when Eli proposed to her on Christmas. Whit was behind schedule on the textbook she was developing, so she promised Eli she would spend several nights in her treetop lab working on the project.

Winter at Cast Iron Farms was progressing well, but Whit was restless without a farm project needing her attention. Mark and Mitch were settling into their new home, and Carol and Julia’s relationship blossomed. Carol had been her best friend since childhood, and Eli was grateful to have her nearby. Julia, a jeweler, had become enamored with Carol and agreed to move in with her. Eli stayed busy splitting wood or helping Mark in the forge during the day and enjoyed her carving around the fire at night.

Whit had never felt this level of contentment in her life. She had a wedding planned for the spring, new family and friends, and dreams of starting a family with Eli. She and Eli had traveled to Asheville to meet with a physician regarding artificial insemination and received a file of prospective donor profiles. Eli wanted Whit to review the potentials, and when she had pared her selections down to the top four, they would review them together and make a selection.

Whit had reviewed over fifty profiles but found her attention returning to one man in particular. There was something that felt familiar about him. He was handsome, and his IQ score was impressive. He was a professional in the medical field, and Whit decided he would be her top choice. She minimized the document she had been staring at for an hour and pulled up his profile.

A brilliant smile filled the top right corner of the screen. Dark blond hair and blue eyes sparkled in the photo. The eyes were more profound than Eli’s but not as bright as Mitch’s or Mark’s. He had her hair coloring and Eli’s eyes. She wondered if Eli would have the same reaction. After reviewing her other choices, Whit’s eyes returned to number 143.

Whit closed the file and stood, needing a stretch. She walked outside to the deck and looked around. She could see the glow of the forge inside the cave where Mark was working some steel. The cool air carried the sound of the power hammer as it tapped out a steady rhythm. The flash of headlights coming up the drive revealed Mitch was returning home from a date with Jessie. Eli had lit the fire pit down by the creek, and the shadows from the flames danced across the yard. Eli would sit in her chair, whittling on some piece or another with Cruz stretched out beside her. Life was good.

Whit returned inside the lab and smiled at Oscar sleeping on the bed beside her desk. She softly stroked the cat’s coat. “I can’t seem to focus tonight. Are you about ready to head home?” Whit sat at the computer to shut it down, and a glowing from her bookcase caught her attention. The crystals from the cave she had stored in a small bowl were emitting a soft blue light. She watched them pulse for several seconds before they stopped abruptly.

“That’s odd,” Whit said and called to Oscar. “Let’s go home.”

Oscar stood and stretched before jumping down to race Whit to the door. Whit locked the door behind them and started down the steps from the lab, then crept behind the wheel of the Gator. Whit reached the bridge and looked up the mountain contemplating a visit to Mark. She noticed a blue glow near the top of the mountain and turned right to investigate. As she neared the cut-off to Mark’s, the light disappeared. Since she was close to Mark, she drove to the cave outside his home.

Mitch looked up when he heard Whit approach. Mark was quenching a blade and smiled when he saw her step out of the Gator. Whit saw several blades on a nearby workbench. “You’ve been busy.”

“I’ve got orders on top of orders,” Mark said with a grin. “People must think I have a talent for creating fine blades.”

“Undoubtedly so if you’re getting that many orders. You make some mighty fine pieces,” Whit said as she examined one of the finished blades.

Mitch looked at her. “Were you up at the lab tonight?”

“Yes, I’m just coming down. I’ve lost my focus for the night.”

“Did you see a falling star or something a few minutes ago?” he asked.

“I thought I saw a blue glow for a few seconds, but then it was gone. What did you see?”

“Just a quick flash of light blue. That’s what made me think of a falling star.”

“You weren’t smoking any wacky weed, were you?” Mark asked.

“No. Besides, Whit saw it, too,” Mitch replied.

“Were you smoking wacky weed?” Mark teased Whit.

“No, but maybe we need some,” Whit said and rolled her eyes. “I’m going to leave you guys to your man cave stuff and see what Eli’s doing. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Whit.”

“You two don’t stay up too late. I think Eli wants to go to the diner tomorrow.”

“I’ll finish this blade and shut it down,” Mark replied.

“I’m out of here, too. I’m whipped and going to head to bed,” Mitch said.

“The chick-flick wore you out, Son?”

“I could barely keep my eyes open.” Mitch grinned. “Goodnight.”

Mark walked to the Gator with Whit. “Come up for breakfast in the morning. I want to break in the Blackstone griddle I got for Christmas.”

“That sounds great. Any particular time?”

“Whenever you get up and moving. I’ll send Mitch down for eggs.”

“We can bring them,” Whit offered.

Mark shook his head. “That’s how I motivate him to get out of bed on the weekends.”

Whit nodded, climbed into the Gator, and drove home. After parking the vehicle in the barn, she walked around the end of the house and saw Eli sitting by the fire. Eli had a long stick across her lap as she carefully removed the bark with the knife in her right hand. Whit watched her lover as her hands worked to smooth the wood. The peaceful look on Eli’s face made Whit smile.

Whit stepped into the fire circle. “Would you like some company?”

Eli looked up and smiled at her lover. “I’d love some.”

Whit sat beside Eli. “Everyone is busy tonight except me. I can’t seem to focus.”

“Is there something on your mind we need to discuss?” Eli asked.

Whit shrugged. “I honestly don’t know what it is. My life has never been more perfect.” Whit stared at the crystal necklace Eli was wearing. It often glowed when they were together, but tonight it seemed brighter. “Has that been glowing tonight?”

“More than usual,” Eli replied. “Generally, it’s just when you’re close.”

“The crystals in my lab were glowing tonight, too,” Whit replied. “Then Mitch and I saw a shooting star or something a few minutes ago.”

“Are there any meteor showers on the horizon or anything that could be triggering some cosmic energy?” Eli asked. “That could be why you find it hard to focus.”

Whit shook her head. “No, nothing for weeks yet. Odd, but nothing to worry about, I’m sure.”

Eli continued to shave the bark. “Where did you see Mitch?”

“I dropped by the forge to see what Mark was up to, and Mitch had just come home from a date. Mark’s business is taking off, isn’t it?”

Eli looked up from the stick. “Yes, and he couldn’t be happier. Mark is doing something he enjoys and makes decent money at it, too. Mitch has an off day from school Monday, so he and I are making a trip to the junkyard for more leaf springs. Mark told me those are easy to cut and work with.”

“Using the cave for a forge was a great idea. Even when it’s cold out, Mark can work in the warmth of the cave,” Whit remarked.

“He’ll be rolling it outside in a few months,” Eli replied. “The power hammer was a good move. It saves him hours of work and pain by not having to flatten the metal with a hammer.”

Whit reached down to pet Oscar. “I noticed he still rubs his wrist at times. If we had a bracelet made, would he wear one made out of crystals? It worked for you when you were having headaches.”

“It’s worth a try. Do you think Julia could make him something that looks manly but not so big it interferes with his work?”

“I’m sure she can. I’ll go up to the cave tomorrow and see if I can find some smaller pieces. Do you still want to hit the diner for lunch?”

“Yes, I think we need a break from cooking. I’ll hike up to the cave with you if you want some company,” Eli offered.

“I would love the company. That reminds me, Mark is cooking breakfast for us in the morning. He wants to start breaking in his new Blackstone.”

“Great, I love Mark’s breakfasts. Hell, what am I thinking? I love all his cooking.” Eli stopped carving. “I hope he’ll make some breakfast burritos. Those things are off the chain. Damn, now I’m hungry,” Eli said.

“Would you care to join me for a slice of pie before bed?” Whit asked.

“Apple with cheese? Count me in,” Eli replied. “Let me clean up here, and I’ll be right in.”

“Coffee?” Whit asked.

“Sure,” Eli replied and wiped the shavings from her lap. She used a little rake to gather them while Whit went inside to start the coffee and pie. Eli dropped the shavings in the fire pit and closed the lid to extinguish the flames.

 

†

 

Mark shut down the forge and sat on a stool to admire the latest blades he had forged. There was still a lot of work to finish the knife, but he had completed the most critical task. Mark picked up one of the blades and inspected it for cracks and a warp. Finding none, he smiled at the beautiful Damascus pattern in the steel that would come to life as he began honing the edge to finish the blade. Mark looked around the cave for blocks of wood he would use to create the handles. Time to cut more blocks. Mark reached up to turn off the light and left for home. His phone pinged with a text.

Your sister is hoping for breakfast burritos.

Then breakfast burritos she will have. Mark added a smiley face to the text. See you in the morning.

 

†

 

Whit stirred Eli’s coffee, and when the microwave dinged, she pulled out a large slice of apple pie. She looked up when Eli walked in. “You have impeccable timing, my love.” Whit pointed to a stool and placed the pie and coffee in front of Eli.

“Perfect,” Eli said after taking a bite.

“Thanks. I’m glad you enjoy apple pie. It’s my favorite to make.”

“My favorite to eat, too,” Eli replied as she cut another bite. “I could eat this every day.”

Tomboy stretched on the back of the sofa, looked at them, and blinked his green eyes. He jumped down and ran up the stairs. Cruz followed behind him. “I think our animals are trying to tell us it’s time to go to bed.” Eli smiled.

“It is getting late,” Whit said as she rinsed the dishes and wiped her hands. “Do you have big plans for tomorrow?”

“Breakfast. Crystal gathering with you. Lunch at the diner, but after that, I’m free. Is there something you want to do?”

“I think I’m ready for us to review the potential donors,” Whit replied.

“Do you want to do that first?”

“No, it can wait. There’s no rush,” Whit replied.

Eli walked to Whit and wrapped her in a hug. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“About having a baby? Absolutely not. I can’t wait to have a baby together.”

“We have a month before the wedding. Do you want to wait until after we’re legal to get the procedure?”

“Would you prefer that over a shotgun wedding?” Whit laughed.

“The timing doesn’t matter to me. I love you with all my heart, with or without a child.”

“I never get tired of hearing that from you.”

“Do I say it enough?” Eli asked.

“Yes, and when I hear you say those words, it makes my heart dance.”

“I hope to make you a happy woman for another fifty years,” Eli vowed.

“Just fifty?”

“For starters.” Eli laughed and took her hand. “We’d better head upstairs before the posse comes looking for us.”