Summary:  It’s Halloween night.  Things happen.  Some things are special.  And some are  very special. Share this night with a woman in love and will soon have heart’s desire come true.  Alternative Universe. Written for the 2021 Bonanza Brand Boonanza Challenge.

Rating: T

Word Count:  1430

It was over.  I was tired and glad the Happy Harvest Day celebration was finished.  An annual tradition for five years now, the Harvest Day party had replaced the traditional Halloween festivities the children in my congregation had participated in until a tragedy devastated the church.  The parents of the church had demanded – and received – a better, safer way for their children to have fun on Halloween, but without the witches, goblins, demons and poisoned candy.   Yes, poisoned candy.  Five years ago, one of the children in our congregation had been trick-or-treating with friends and parents and somewhere along the way had acquired a piece of deliberately poisoned candy.  When the family came home later that night, the little girl had been allowed to eat a few pieces of the candy before bed.  Within three hours, she was dead.

I pulled into my driveway, tired and thinking of Candy.  Yes, the child’s name was Candy and I had known her since she was born.  She was my goddaughter, the first-born child of my best friend and her husband.  Since her death, Tish and Trevor had not been the same.  Really, neither had I. No more children had been forthcoming for them.  I still mourned for my friends and for the little girl that had so charmed my heart.  I had spoiled her every chance I had.  I wondered, for my friends’ sake, if there would ever be another child for them – and for me.

The garage door opened and the lights came on as I approached the entrance.  Living in a rural suburb of “ranchettes” was great; a wonderful combination of suburbia and country. I parked the car, sighed and leaned back on the headrest.  The garage door hummed closed behind me.  Inside the house, I collapsed into my big, comfy recliner.  Perhaps I fell asleep.  Perhaps not.  Suddenly, I felt the languor drain away as a sweet awareness swept over me. He was calling to me.  Eager to be with him, I went to the small stable where I kept Spectra, my white mare.  Quickly putting on her bridle, I leapt onto her back and she headed out.  I did not need to guide her for she knew where she was going, although I did not.  She had felt the awareness, too.  A warm October breeze swirled around us, leading us to him. My heart quickened its pace as her gait likewise quickened.  He was a sensual magnet that drew me to him in hunger for that which only he could give.

The moon was huge and white against the black, cloudless night as I approached the small ridge.  There he was; a deep silhouette against the brilliant orb.  Astride his horse, he remained still as Spectra and I beat a quick tattoo up the small rise to his side.  I reined in across from him; his smile fueled my desire as he pulled me to him.  His kiss was the sweet treat that no one else could match.  I leaned into his embrace as far as I could, greedily meeting his lips with eagerness.

“Come with me,” he said as he turned Sport downhill.  Falling in beside him, we rode slowly, side by side, close enough to hold hands.  We had no need of words.  We shared occasional glances of joy to see each other again. I did not know where he was going; I did not care.  All that mattered was he was here.  He was with me.  I needed him; wanted him.  Somehow, he always knew when my need and desire were desperate, and always, he came to me then.  It had been a long time since I had felt this happy.  Since I felt at peace.

He led us behind a thick stand of trees into a small glen. A little pond shimmered silver in the moon’s illumination.  He dismounted and came to my side.  I slipped from Spectra into his arms.  His embrace was strong; I needed his strength.  For a time, we just stood there; his arms supporting me; his body warm against me.  I sighed as he slowly, gently pulled away from me to look into my eyes.  He could see the pain there.  He would chase away the pain. He was the medicine for my aching soul.  My own guardian angel; God’s love gift to me wrapped in this special person and in this special time.

We lay together in the rustling grass, leaves swirling softly all about us.  We loved as we always loved; slowly, gently, carefully, meeting each other’s needs in the unspoken ways that lovers do. My hurt melted away as the warmth of desire heated me with contentent, satisfaction and the most delicious happiness.  Oh, how I wish I could find in reality what I found in this time of fantasy that seemed – and perhaps was – more than reality could ever be.  Wrapped in his embrace, our legs and arms happily entangled, we kissed, murmured, nibbled and tasted.  No confection of human making could ever be so sweet. No award-winning chef could create a recipe that was such delightful ecstasy.

“I know how deeply you hurt on this night; you and your friends.  Your loss was great and the devastation deep.  The cruel trick that was inflicted on all of you destroyed so much – and the healing seems so far away.  But it isn’t.  I promise you a time for joy will come.  A time of loving and healing.  This is Halloween, a night – bad things can happen.  But Valentine’s Day is coming – it won’t be this year, but the next year, there will be joy and loving.  Trust me on this.”  His words confused me; I did not understand.

Sweet childish laughter came from the far end of the glen.  Rising on my elbows, his arms still around me, a saw a beautiful young girl dancing in the moonlight.  Her blond hair floated in silvery locks as she twirled and whirled.  Her pretty little dress belled around her as a colorful blossom blooms forth in spectacular hues.  She stopped, smiled at me and gave a little wave.  Blowing a kiss to me with her small hand, she skipped away into the night, her laughter following her delightful wake.

I was stunned.  I still did not understand.  What had I just seen?  Why had my heart danced within me as this lovely child had danced in the moon’s light?  I looked at him, questions in my mind and in my soul.  This childish specter had seemed so very real and so very much alive.  In those few moments my thoughts of Candy were far away.

“No.  It wasn’t Candy.  She is with God for now.  It is not yet time for her to come to the ones who will be blessed by her love and her life.  But this one, this beautiful angel you just saw will in the next year, come to Tish and Trevor.  Her life will come into Trish from Trevor in June and she will enter their lives in February, on Valentine’s Day to be exact. And you will, again, be a deliriously happy godmother.  And, my special love, in a few years, an angel of your own will come to you and the man who is to be your happy destiny.”

I was fully awake, nestled comfortably in my recliner, a soft blanket wrapped about me.  In that strange time between being fully asleep and fully awake, I remembered everything that had happened.  And everything that had been said.  Then, I quietly drifted away again.

The bright autumn sun awoke me with its warming beams. Something flitted in my mind and then was gone.  I knew I had been with him.  I knew we had loved in the moonlight.  He had given me a promise – but what was it?  I just could not recall what had been said.  Yet, there was within me a quiet warmth and joy.  I knew something, something special and wonderful had happened – or was it going to happen.  I could not remember what it was.  Yet, I knew – I knew – for there was a magic in my spirit; something that had not been there for a long time.

Halloween was over.  November 1^st was here.  Time to get up and get busy on this first day of a new month.  What was in the night was special, not just because it was Halloween, but not just any Halloween.  It was a special night.  A special Halloween of the heart.

Tags:  Adam Cartwright, Magic