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Restoring Faith	By : Lady_Kae Category: +G through L > Harvest Moon Views: 2535 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used from the game Harvest Moon: ToT. All characters ,game related material, and lyrics, save for original content is property of their respective owners and no money is being made from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
A/N: Okay, I've been on a roll this week. Three chapters in three days? It might very well be four by tonight or tomorrow. It also just occured to me that I mentioned in a previous chapter that there were no children on the island currently. I completely forgot about Chloe, and I'll have to double check if I've made mention of her in the previous chapters. If not, well, soon enough I guess. As always, thank you for sticking with me for so long, and thank you for reading. Enjoy this 13k+ word chapter XD
~Kae

Chapter 13:Hunted
Restoring Faith
A Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility Fanfiction

Kohri woke up as the sun filtered in from her window and she snuggled deeper into the warm body behind her. Gill was a damn saint in her estimation, all things considered. He had laid all the power into her hands, and he would always be there for her. It didn’t matter to him how she would need him, only that she tell him that she did. So far, he had delivered spectacularly in that regard. This, sleeping beside him, was exactly what she had needed, just this exact medley of emotions.
Contentment. Protected. Wanted. Needed.
Gill’s arm was draped tightly over her waist as he slept beside her. Kohri was pinned against the wall right now, but it was more than worth it. He was spooned around her perfectly, his nose buried in her hair, and his breathing soft and even. Kohri turned over as much as she dared so that she could look at him, and she smiled serenely as Gill’s hold tightened on her again and his nose scrunched up in his sleep. She laughed softly at the look on his face before it disappeared and she drank in the sight before her. He looked so innocent, so peaceful at the moment that she didn’t want to wake him at all. Kohri needed to get to work on her plants however, watering and weeding them, checking for any blemishes, and readiness for harvesting.
Kohri closed the distance, pressing her lips to his jawline to rouse him gently. “ Gill…” she said softly between kisses. “ I need to get out of bed. I still have work to do this morning.”
Gill inhaled sharply through his nose as he stretched tautly against her and his eyes fluttered open after a moment. He blinked rapidly at the light shining in and he sighed as Kohri’s lips found purchase against his neck. “ I could get used to waking up like that.” Gill purred delightedly, his voice deliciously husky and thick from sleep.
“ I could get used to sleeping that damn good.” Kohri said happily herself before she pressed one final kiss as closed to his lips as she dared. She was playing with fire in this case, but Gill respected the boundaries she had set for herself. He wouldn’t push them himself, but he wouldn’t stop Kohri from resetting them for herself either.
Gill pressed a chaste kiss to her brow in reply. One hand settled on her hip as he pulled her in as close against him as he dared while the fingers of the hand under the pillow played with the ends of her hair. “ I’m glad I was able to help. Now that I’m here though, and seeing as how my father gave me the day off arbitrarily, do you need my help with anything?”
Kohri blushed prettily even as she laughed at the double entendre he had given her. It couldn’t be anything but with the sexy, husky tone of voice he used. “ Phrasing, Gill.” she chortled.
Gill smiled wickedly as he got nose to nose with her. “ I know.” he replied, unashamedly. The dichotomy between them had shifted so much in just a few days, but he didn’t have any regrets. He could see and feel the difference that his words from last night had made in Kohri, and that was more than good enough for him. She had needed to know that she had something to look forward to once the hard road finally smoothed out. Gill, as far as Kohri was concerned, had the patience to a saint to leave it up to her.
Kohri laughed as she smacked his arm playfully and she sat up, giving Gill a mouthwatering eyeful of her bountiful busom. “ When did you get to be so incorrigible?” she asked, still giggling madly at his antics.
“ Not sure, but I like that we can play around like this and not have to mince words.” Gill replied as he sat up in the bed as well. He hadn’t ever been this way with Angela so Gill had never known about this side to himself. Though he had stayed the night with her a few times, there was never the sense of raw, physical need that was trying to hijack his system like right now with Kohri. He looked down at the little single and his mind began percolating. Both of them had enjoyed this immensely after all. “ You know, it could be easier to have me stay Friday nights after debate night. I don’t know if we can keep sharing this little single though.”
Kohri looked thoughtful as she started to pull food from the refrigerator to make breakfast with and Gill came over to help. A soft smile crossed her face as Gill began pulling dishes from the cabinets to set the table with. “ Southern Omelettes this morning?”
“ You’ve got onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach?” Gill replied as he began setting up the coffee pot as well. He saw Kohri nod as she began grabbing what they needed diced. “ Hand me about eight eggs then and I’ll get them going while you’re chopping the veggies.”
“ We’re in for a right treat too. I splurged on some high end butter and cheese from Hanna and Cain’s shop a couple days ago.” Kohri added as she began handing Gill the eggs he had requested. “ I’m thinking I might expand the house again Gill...Put in a couple of bedrooms, have a proper living room and dining room set up. I might move my office too.”
“ You’re thinking of going to talk to Dale about it today?”
Kohri shook her head with a laugh. “ No. Luke will be pestering me with questions that should never be asked in mixed company, even if he is like a brother to me. I might get over there on Monday. I think I’m just going to enjoy the weekend in for once. I might head over to the festival tomorrow for a few minutes, Owen mentioned he’s got a booth after all, but other than that I’m looking forward to a few days of relative relaxation.” The quick tattoo of the knife against her cutting board brought Gill to a pause to watch her.
He couldn’t understand why he loved watching her cook. Maybe it was because Angie had been so dismal at it? She had been worse than Maya and twice as likely to burn water after all. Gill and Kohri both straightened as they thought they heard laughter ring out through the house and without warning, Gill doubled over in a full on belly laugh to join it. Kohri was confused, there was no getting around it as she stared wide eyed as her chopping slowed down. The buzzing in her ear was growing more and more pronounced as she looked over to her table.
“ I think Angela decided to pay a visit this morning, Gill.” she said, smiling after a moment. “ But if you don’t mind, I would love to know what brought that on.”
“ Angie was a worse cook than Maya.” he began, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes all the while. “ I remember one morning where I had to spend the night because of a nasty typhoon that came through, and Angela tried to make breakfast the next morning as a surprise. I woke up to the smoke alarm going off and the smell of burnt eggs that morning. What brought the memory up was the fact I enjoy watching you cook and I wasn’t sure why for a moment.”
Kohri snorted as bell like laughter seemed to echo throughout the house still. “ I met her once actually...I don’t think she’s too pleased with me.”
Gill shook his head as he began cracking the eggs. “ She told you to embrace what was before you, I’m assuming?” He didn’t even question her on it, he couldn’t after all. Gill knew what Angie had been called to do, and that she had contacted both of them on Kohri’s birthday a few months back.
He still hadn’t figured out a good enough excuse to tell Ramsey when he had set their wedding bands back into her headstone.
Kohri looked at him with a look that clearly told him to continue. Gill sighed heavily as he grabbed their mugs from the cabinet now that the coffee was almost done. “ She spoke to me that night too. I think it was the first night that I had honestly let go of her memory. She told me that she wanted me to move on, and that there was someone currently in my life that could offer me more than she ever could. I saw you talking with your parents, though I couldn’t hear what was being said. She had described it as a state of in between, neither dreaming or awake, so some magic had to be in play. Considering what I’m sure she told both of us..”
“ She’s helping the Harvest Goddess too?” Kohri asked, setting up her ten inch skillet on the stove and kicking the flame to high so that she could start the veggies. A decent dollop of butter sizzled pleasingly when it hit the hot metal and Kohri swished it around in the pan. She and Angela hadn’t spoken of anything related to her visions of the ethereal beauty after all.
“ She’s the goddess’ arbiter as she trapped away. She told me you would need my help, but not how. I didn’t know everything about what you were going through until you told me a month ago, so it’s not like I kept it from you all this time while waiting for you to come and talk to me. Before she left me, she pressed something into my hand to prove that it had actually happened.” Gill had finished cracking and beating the eggs by the time he had finished talking
Kohri couldn’t really be mad that Gill had been given an inkling as to what she had been going through a month ago. He was still in her corner a hundred percent, just as he had promised that he would be. She took the beaten eggs as she gave the first batch of veggies a final quick toss before adding half to the mix. “ Can you put some toast on? What was it?”
Gill popped four slices of bread into the toaster and he poured himself a cup of coffee. “ It was what would have been our wedding bands. They had been set into her gravestone.”
Kohri snickered a little. “ I bet Boss had some choice words for that.”
“ You have no idea.” Gill chortled. “ Speaking of, I did find that item I told you about. If I had known I was going to be here this morning, I would have brought it along.”
Kohri flipped the first omelette and she sprinkled some of the cheese over the top of it and let it sit. She looked over to Gill, and a small laugh nearly escaped her. In a effort to keep his clothing looking presentable, Kohri had found one of her dad’s old shirts; it was three or four sizes too big for her as it was, and her longest pair of sweatpants.
Unfortunately they just weren’t long enough as he was quite a bit taller than she was. He looked like he had a pair of high-waders or even capris on.
Gill could see the mirth on her face as she plated the first omelette and she instantly started the second. “ I’m surprised you held out that long in not getting a kick out of seeing me in your clothes.” he said as he took another swig from his coffee cup.
“ Normally guys love getting to see girls in bits of their clothing, it just more comical in this case.” Kohri chortled as she only added spinach to hers. She didn’t like all the savory veggies first thing in the morning. Besides, spinach wilted quickly enough. Gill’s omelette would still be piping hot by the time they sat down.
Gill smirked as he topped off his coffee and then made Kohri’s the way she knew she like it before setting both cups on the table. “ Maybe I should start keeping some clothing in the wardrobe.”
Kohri smiled as she added the last of the eggs to the pan and she left the pan for just a second to cross the room over to Gill. “ If I didn’t know any better, Gill, you’re trying to make yourself a more permanent fixture in my home.” she purred as her arms reached around his waist.
“ Only if you’re not opposed to the idea, Kohri.” he replied with a grin as his arms wrapped around her in turn.
Kohri’s smile brightened immeasurably and her eyes lit up with unrestrained joy. “ I can’t say that I am.” she purred as she went back over to the pan to flip the eggs over.
Gill took his normal seat as he watched Kohri finish her portion of their repast and within moments she was joining him at the table. She grabbed a few pieces of the toast and she took a quick sip of her coffee. “ The offer still stands by the way. I don’t have anything to do today or tomorrow. Do you need help with anything here on the ranch?”
Kohri nodded. “ Actually, I do have something you are going to help me with. I’m cashing in my favor.” she said with a grin. Gill’s steely blue gaze settled on her as if to say ‘Well?’ as he began eating, she flicked a finger over her shoulder towards the door leading to the basement. “ You’re going to help me set up my lab.”
Gill’s eyes sparkled brightly at the thought and he quickly swallowed what was in his mouth. “ I would have helped you even without the favor I owe you Kohri. Are you sure you don’t want to use that for something else?” he offered.
Kohri smirked even as she blushed as a few things came to mind. “ If you insist.” she said shyly.
“ If that’s what we’re going to be doing this weekend, I’ll bring some of my work clothes over.” Gill said with a smile as he quickly set to tucking in.
“ Don’t forget to grab the quilt.” Kohri told him. “ Your father told me it was a quilt the other day, Gill.” she quickly added when she saw his confusion.
“ It’s only half of it. Alan took the other half fifteen years ago before the sprites disappeared.” he replied. “ I don’t know where the rest of it is either. I’ve been combing the island from top to bottom too. Well, with the exception of the mines. I won’t go near them.”
“ Why not?”
Gill sighed heavily and he took a deep drink from his coffee. “ When we were kids...Luke, Phoebe, Candice, Anissa, and I were playing hide and seek. I was only going to stay to the first couple levels, but I fell through a weak point in the floor that Ramsey hadn’t had a chance to cordon off. It was so dark and the space too tight. I was trapped and it took them a long time to find me. They might not have found me if the sprites hadn’t gone to my mother. I don’t do enclosed spaces so well, nor do I like heights so much anymore.” he admitted. Gill couldn’t help recall how panicked he had been the moment he had seen Kohri sit on the bannister of the deck overlooking the northern part of the island. He had moved to pull her back from it after all.
“ Owen and I can start looking in the mines then. Boss offered to upgrade my tools as long as I can provide the metals for it, so it works out this way.” Kohri replied with a smile. Her heart went out to Gill on that same note however. That had to have been horrible to go through. “ Maybe there’s somewhere that you haven’t thought to look yet here on the island.”
“ Just the mines and the hollowed out trunk of the Mother Tree. The way to Mount Gelato has been blocked for years. The boulder blocking the path is in a rather tricky spot under one of the roots from the Mother Tree. There’s no swinging a hammer there. Owen and Ramsey have both tried.” Gill said, his brow furrowed.
Kohri nodded as she began thinking. There had to be something she could do to get the path open.

Gill found Kohri finishing up in her fields when he returned with a knapsack slung over his shoulder. “ Kohri, are you almost done?”
“ Yeah. Just got to put what I’m selling into the box, and then I need a quick shower. Are you about ready?” she asked with a grin and Gill nodded.
“ I’ll go put everything away and get lunch going for us. Any requests?” Kohri shook her head in the negative and Gill began walking for the house. “ I’ve got the half of the quilt, by the way.”
Kohri’s interest perked instantly and she walked over to Gill with a basket ladened down with eggplants, a few large pumpkins, and bell peppers. Gill was holding out the quilt for her to look at and she read the little poem expertly embroidered into the fabric. “ The sprites make magical rainbows to stand the test. Build them up and the island will be blessed?”
“ Waffle Island was renowned for the rainbows that were here fifteen years ago. I think it was because of the sprites that they lasted even through any sort of weather.” Gill replied.
“ What are the sprites exactly?” Kohri inquired as she tenderly set her produce in her box for them to be sold.
Gill was easing the quilt back into his knapsack. “ They’re little fairies with pointed hats. They all wear different colors. There are five in total and their names are Alan, Darren, Ben, Collin, and Edge.” he told her matter of factly. “ I wish we knew more about what happened to them. Dale is the most knowledgeable on the entire island about the mother tree. He might even know just why it died.”
Both their minds clicked at the same time and they looked at one another excitedly.
“ Dale might help us think of something! Go put everything away. I’m going to call Ashemore Carpentry to see if we can come over.” Kohri said with a broad smile.
Gill was just as excited. After fifteen years, he finally had the chance to repay the debt he felt he owed to the sprites for saving his life.

Kohri all but bounced into Ashemore Carpentry, and Luke smiled at how exuberant her mood was. “ Hey Kohri. You alright?”
“ Better than alright Luke. Your dad still in the back?” she asked and Luke nodded. She paused for a moment before heading through the door. “ I appreciate what you and Owen did last night. Selena wasn’t too upset with you, was she?”
Luke shook his head. “ Nope. She understands that you’re one of my best friends Kohri. She knows that you’re gonna be in my life no matter what and she can’t make me choose between you two. Besides, she likes you too. She wanted to make sure you were okay and she knows you won’t open up to just anyone.” Luke had the grace to look a little sheepish. “ I might have accidentally slipped about your nerves with your court date coming up soon though.”
Kohri shook her head as she cupped his cheek in a sisterly fashion. “ Who else?” she asked flatly, despite the smile on her face.
Luke swore under his breath. Whenever Kohri got around to having kids, they were in trouble. She had a knack of knowing when everything wasn’t being said. “ Dad and Bo...They overheard me talking about it with Owen yesterday before the three of us went to the bar.” he grumbled out. “ I told them point blank not to treat you any differently though. You don’t like being coddled.”
Kohri’s grin widened a little. “ You’re right about that. Now, I do need to talk to your dad about a few things. Oh, do me a favor. That pretty ivory piece in the corner there?”
“ The queen?” Luke asked with a grin. Well, no time like the present if she was already feeling better. “ You know, you look like you’re glowing after all. Finally pin Gill down and have your wicked way with him?” he teased, all the while making sure he was out of reach. He had learned his lesson yesterday.
A snort from the front of the shop made Luke turn around and he had the grace to redden in embarrassment. The subject of his teasing was right there after all.
“ Hardly, Luke. I’m a gentleman after all. Besides, you should be worrying about your own virtue as opposed to mine. You look like you got mauled by a vacuum.” Gill retorted, his eyes glinting mischievously at the sight of the bright red hickeys on Luke’s throat. He hadn’t seen them last night, but then again, Luke had been wearing a scarf.
“ The ivory?” Luke questioned, still beet red in embarrassment. Gill’s teasing, while unexpected and welcome, had him wanting to find that scarf again.
“ Yes please. Set it up for me if you would. Charge everything to my account.” Kohri said with a snicker. “ Dale’s in the back Gill. C’mon.”
Dale was in the midst of sketching something out when Kohri and Gill entered the office where he did all his drafting.
“ That’ll be a very nice house. Who’s it for?” Kohri asked as she looked over Dale’s shoulder.
“ It’ll be a wedding present for Luke. I purchased a plot earlier today, the one near the tree line in the Caramel River district.” Dale replied with a grin. “ He’s already told me he’s thinking of proposing to Selena soon. He’s been combing the island for a blue feather when he hasn’t been working.”
Kohri’s smile softened a little. Luke hadn’t made mention of that yesterday, only that things were getting serious between him and Selena. Then again, they hadn’t done that much talking either. Their night out had been cut short due to Kohri’s anxiety attack. “ Maybe they’ll rent the field out to me so that I can work on growing more crops.” she said hopefully.
Dale chortled. “ Maybe. So what can I help you two with?”
“ We looking for more information on the Mother Tree, Dale. Maybe a way to revitalize it perhaps?” Gill offered.
Dale shook his head in an instant even as he set his pencil down. “ Not even the Mother Tree can come back from the dead Gill. Maybe if a seedling had survived, but it’s been fifteen years. We would have found it by now it that were the case. It is possible that the tree had just grown too big, and too old. Everything returns to the earth after all. However, I think that all the neglect is what killed it. People carving their initials into the trunk, littering. Look at how long it took to get all the refuse out of the Caramel Falls spring.”
Gill nodded. He and the other natives had spent every spring and summer for three years straight restoring the spring and river back to its natural state. “ There has to be something else...Something we can do.”
The clock tower bell rang out, horribly off time as always and the old carpenter scowled at the sound. It was forty past the hour, it wasn’t even near close for it to be ringing yet. “ If you ask me, you can start by getting your father to finally fix the clock. It hasn’t worked right since the mother tree died.” Dale grumbled.
Kohri’s attention perked at this. “ What was that Dale?”
“ The clock tower has been in a state of disrepair for fifteen years, pretty much since right after the Mother Tree died. Everyone has been on the mayor’s case to fix it. It rings at the oddest times, throwing everyone off.” Dale replied as he turned back to his blueprints. He didn’t see the excited look that passed between Kohri and Gill.
Now that Dale thought on it, he had never seen Gill in a pair of jeans or a tee shirt before.
“ I’ll meet you in town! Go!” Kohri said quickly, her eyes shining. She turned to Dale and she gave him a big kiss on his cheek. “ You’re a genius Dale! By the way, can you and the boys add a couple bedrooms to my place? I’m starting to need some more space.”
“ Sure thing Kohri. I’ll have to go up to do that though. I’ll get over there in a bit to start marking it out.”
“ Don’t start til Monday. Enjoy your weekend, alright? I’ll see you around Dale, thank you!” With that, Kohri bolted from the shop, running full speed for Waffle Town.
Dale looked at the door, confused. What had just happened?

Gill burst into the town hall, practically sliding to a stop as he came to the counter. “ Elli, where’s my father. I need to talk to him right now.” he said, his breathing heavy.
“ I believe he just went home for a brief moment to grab something. Simon just came over, yelling at him about the clocktower again.” Elli said, perplexed at Gill’s demeanor and state of dress. She knew Hamilton had said that Gill had the day off today, but she wasn’t used to seeing him so disheveled.
“ You’re a miracle El, thanks!” Gill replied as he ran back out of the town hall. This wasn’t coincidence. It couldn’t be. Angie had to be do something to help them get started, something that had to do with the rainbows that had used to surround the island. Gill slid down the handrail, almost tumbling on the landing but he righted himself, and he smiled broadly as he saw his father coming back up Arborio Road.
This definitely was not coincidence.
Hamilton came to a pause as Gill came up to him. “ Gill? Is everything alright? I thought you and Kohri were going to be working through the day?”
“ We are. Do you have the key for the clock tower? I can take care of it so that you can get back to work.” Gill replied with a smile. If only his father knew what he and Kohri were actually working on.
Hamilton grinned at the offer and he nodded enthusiastically. “ That would be such a relief, son. Thank you!” he exclaimed as he took the wrought iron key out of his pocket. “ What is it that you and Kohri are working on if you don’t mind me asking?”
“ Something special for the island. You’ll see, dad.” Gill replied as he began running back for the town square, leaving his father quite perplexed in his wake.
Kohri met Gill at the staircase and the two of them practically raced to the top. “ You said you looked everywhere.” she said breathlessly.
“ Apparently not. I never put the two together until Dale said something.” Gill panted as he opened the hatch that would give him access to the gears. He began looking for something, anything. “ Kohri do you have…” A flashlight was under his nose in an instant and Gill laughed almost disbelievingly at her intuition.
“ I always carry one. It’s still pretty dark in the mornings when I start looking at my crops.” she explained. She spotted something, a flash of color wedged between the gears. “ Gill, right there!” she said, pointing to the spot.
“ I see it. I’ll go get a broom handle or something from the cleaning closet. We need to rotate the gears to loosen it up so that we don’t tear it.” he said.
“ Lemme in real quick. It might give with the right amount of pressure. Let’s face it, you’ll have better leverage than I will.” Kohri countered. She and Gill switched spots, and she heard him grunt in exertion. Soon the gear began turning the way they wanted it to, and Kohri carefully took the little bundle in hand once it was clear. “ I got it!”
Gill looked at the other half of the quilt with tears shining in his eyes. This had been his receiving blanket when he had been a baby, and now that tradition could continue on. If only Shelly were here, she could mend it back to it’s pristine condition. “ I never thought I’d see it again.” he whispered thickly as his fingers caressed the fabric. “ Let’s see what the other half of the poem is.”
“ The first part said the sprites make magical rainbows to stand the test. Build them up and the island will be blessed. The little fairies make special cakes. Water the flowers and the sleeping ones will wake.” Kohri said, reading the whole of the poem. “ What flowers do they mean?”
Gill turned the quilt over and his eyes went wide when he saw a note pinned to the back. “ Wait, Kohri look!” He unfolded the paper and a melancholy grin crossed his face as he read it. He had never told anyone, but when he had been learning how to read and write, Gill had started teaching the sprites as well. They had been his first students and Gill had loved teaching them. “ To those who found this quilt, the harvest goddess is in trouble. Please help her! We’re too weak right now, we need to sleep. Wake us up! You’ll find us under beautiful flowers near special trees. Harvest Sprite Alan.”
“ Special trees?” Kohri echoed, clearly thinking. A rustle of branches drew her attention and she smiled broadly. “ They’ve been hiding in plain sight all this time.”
Gill’s brow furrowed a little at that. “ What do you mean by that?”
“ The trees, Gill! You told me the names of all the sprites earlier! That’s Darren’s tree right there! And remember when we went over to help me choose which plot I wanted to move in on? The little blue flower that’s a one of a kind? I’ve been checking on it since then and I found it odd that it hasn’t wilted or started seeding! The flowers by the trees are the sprites!” Kohri exclaimed exuberantly. She paused for a moment. There were only three trees that she knew of here on the island, but Gill had mention five sprites. “ Ben, Alan, and Darren are within reach right now. Darren’s right over there, Ben is in the Maple Lake district, and Alan is over on Brownie Ranch. Where are Collin and Edge?”
Gill shook his head in negation. “ I don’t know to be honest. Maybe the others will know?” he offered, still stunned at the realization that he could have tried doing something much sooner. They had been right under his nose this entire time. Especially Darren. Gill had always been close to the easy going sprite, and he loved reading by Darren’s tree as often as he could.
“ Don’t beat yourself up over this, Gill. It’s obvious that we were meant to do this together. We both had to move past our own issues before we could. My dad told me that helping you move on was only the first part of why I had come to Waffle Island, Gill. Both of us needed to open ourselves up again, and we have.” Kohri told him, bringing his gaze up to meet hers. She could see that he was blaming himself for not figuring it out sooner. “ Well, almost in my case.” she added with a sad laugh.
“ Soon enough, Kohri…” Gill said encouragingly and he looked over to the tree again. The south eastern point of the island gave them a teasing view of the Gull Islands. He looked back over to Kohri with a smirk. “ You wouldn’t happen to have…”
“...A bottle of water? You’re damn right I do.” Kohri grinned. She grabbed his hand, pulling him over to Darren’s tree. “ We’ve got a sprite to wake up.” They walked around the trunk and Kohri took a knee near the adorable, little green bloom. On closer inspection, the shape of it almost reminded her of a windmill. “ He’s not gonna blast me or nothing when we wake him up, right?”
Gill shook his head. “ I’ve never seen him do it before.” he replied with a grin, giving her a wave that clearly said to proceed.
Kohri gave him a little scowl even as she opened the bottle of water. She cupped one hand and with a deep breath in, she began sprinkling it all over the flower. At first nothing happened.
“ Wahhh! Oh sweet goddess that’s cold!” came a scream.
Kohri screamed as well in surprise and she recoiled back, falling right onto her ass. Her blue eyes were wide and herself stunned as a little fairy in all green appeared. “ Gill?”
Gill smiled happily as he took a knee beside Kohri. “ Hello Darren.” he said gently.
The little fairy rubbed his eyes tiredly as he yawned and he looked up at the two humans sleepily at first. The woman he didn’t recognize at all, but there was something familiar about the man with blonde hair and grey blue eyes looking down at him. Darren squinted for a moment before a huge smile broke out on his face. “ Gill!” he cried out happily, and he leapt up to give him a hug. “ Oh Gill! I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye or tell you what was happening! I’m sorry!”
“ Don’t be sorry Darren. Kohri and I are going to do everything we can to help the Harvest Goddess. Kohri, this is Darren, the harvest sprite of the wind.” Gill said as Darren turned to look at Kohri.
“ You’re the one the Harvest Goddess has been calling out to! Thank you so much for helping her.” he said as tears sparkled unshed at the corners of his eyes.
Kohri righted herself and she reached over to take Darren from Gill. “ You’re welcome Darren. I can empathize with how lonely the Harvest Goddess has been all this time. But Gill and I are going to need your help and the help of the rest of the sprites if we’re going to succeed in this. We figured that that you, Ben, and Alan are still here on Waffle Island. Where are Edge and Collin?” she asked.
Gill couldn’t help but stare at Kohri as she held Darren. Instantly, instead of her cradling the little sprite against her, all he could see was her sitting in a hospital bed and crying happily, holding a squalling baby with sandy blonde hair. She looked so maternal in that very instant, and he couldn’t shake the image from his mind. He hadn’t even thought about kids when he had been with Angie, and here he was daydreaming of having a family with someone that he wasn’t even officially courting yet.
Darren jumped out of Kohri’s arms energetically, drawing Gill from his thoughts as he pointed out over the water. “ Collin’s over there. I don’t know if you can get there by boat, but you can by crossing my rainbow.” he replied happily.
Kohri looked over to Gill, who only shrugged. He didn’t understand either. “ What do you mean by crossing the rainbow?”
Darren scowled a little petulantly at Gill. “ Did you show her the quilt?” Kohri had to fight back the snicker that almost came out. Darren was much to adorable to pull off such a pissed off look.
“ I did, Darren, but it said nothing about that.” Gill said placatingly.
Darren shrugged. Gill wasn’t wrong on that note. “ We sprites each make our own rainbows. As long as you can show you’re a friend to the sprites, you can cross it like a bridge. Don’t you still have your badges Gill?” Darren asked.
“ I don’t know if I do or not, Darren. I don’t remember them being physical at least, though they felt it. How do you make the rainbows though? And what about Edge? Do you know where he is?” Gill admitted.
Darren thought a moment, trying to recall where the other sprite could be. Nothing was coming up. “ I don’t know where Edge may be, though Alan might. As for how we make the rainbows, I need some ingredients to make my rainbow cake. It’ll be easier to show you than to explain it. As far as your badges are concerned though, Gill, lemme see your hand.”
Gill held his hand out to the little sprite and Darren’s hands glowed with magic for a moment. Light erupted from Gill’s palm and five badges appeared, though one looked faded, nearly invisible in fact
“ You’ve still got them! Something’s wrong with Ben’s badge though. Maybe because he was the first of us to go under when the Mother Tree died?” Darren speculated. He yawned a little and he stretched. “ I’m getting sleepy again Gill. I can’t do much like that any more. Not until we can do something about the Mother Tree. Is there anything else you need?”
“ Can you give us your rainbow recipe?” Kohri asked kindly.
Darren nodded with a tired grin. Using his magic to make Gill’s badges appear had really taken it out of him. “ A yellow seashell, an apple, some green herb fish, a grilled yam, and a carp.” He swooned a little on his feet and Kohri; with a worried cry of dismay, quickly caught him before he toppled completely. “ I’m okay. I just need to…” A big yawn escaped him and both adults sighed in relief. “...to sleep. Thank you.”
Slowly, Darren faded from sight, turning back into the little flower that had been sitting beside the tree for the last decade and a half.
“ That’s an easy enough recipe.” Gill said. “ Granted some of it is out of season. The carp won’t be back until spring.”
“ Try me.” Kohri replied with a confident grin. I have everything, including the carp, and I can make a serving of the green herb fish easily. I have some sauries that I just caught the other day. I just hope he doesn’t have to have the carp fresh. It’s been in my freezer. I thought it was funny that I hadn’t cooked it yet. Now I guess the question is this. Do we go wake the others first, or make ourselves a rainbow?”
Gill met Kohri’s gaze evenly before they both smiled. “ Rainbow.” they chorused and from there they raced back over to Gnocchi Ranch.

They decided to take a break for lunch, as Kohri had to make up a serving of green herb fish and grill up a yam at the same time. While she did that, Gill found the other pieces of the recipe. It was just as she said, Kohri had everything they needed.
“ When did you start collecting these odds and ends?” Gill asked. There was a box with things in her office. There was a lovely piece of blue wonderful in there, some wool yarn that Kohri had purchased on a whim from Hanna when it had been in the shop, a toadstool in a ziploc bag, a high end jar of ostonnaise, and a jar of red honey that had been with the little yellow seashells.
“ I don’t remember.” Kohri replied as she thought it over with a perplexed look. “ All I can remember was that I absolutely had to buy them or pick them. Do you think they’re parts of the other rainbow recipes?” She turned back to the yam and she smiled as she plucked it off the grill. It was perfect. At the same time, the buzzer on her oven went off and Gill pulled the casserole dish from the oven.
“ Thank everything that is good and green you made enough for us to eat. That smells amazing Kohri.” Gill said. He set up a plate and covered it so that they could give it to Darren. Once that was done, he plated the rest as Kohri placed the grilled yam into a snap top container. The carp was pulled from the freezer, and placed into a bag with everything else that Darren had needed for his recipe.
“ No kidding. Running all over the island has me starving.” Kohri replied as she took her seat. “ Oh! Grab the raspberry lemonade from the fridge before you sit down please!”
Gill smiled as he set the pitcher down. It was finally setting in that they were working towards possibly restoring Waffle island to what his had been almost twenty years ago. “ I can’t believe it…” he whispered to himself.
Kohri heard him and she reached across the table. “ Tell me about it. Do you know how relieved I am to know that those weren’t just dreams?” she offered playfully.
Gill laughed at that and the two continued their banter through the meal. They were right in the middle of the dishes when a quick, three count knock echoed through the room, and Luke entered the house.
“ Yo, Kohri! Got your delivery!” he announced. “ I brought Owen over too!” Oh he was going to love the amount of teasing that they were about to commence.
Kohri turned to see her friends carrying in the huge head board and Gill snorted in amusement. He had had a feeling that was what Kohri and Luke were talking about earlier when they had been at the shop. Kohri blushed brightly at Gill’s unspoken reaction and she elbowed him in the ribs with a petulant glare.
This did not go unnoticed by her two friends and Owen looked between Kohri and Gill as he tried not to laugh. “ Is there something you’re not telling us Kohri?” he managed to get out, but not before he started chuckling at the bright shade of pink she had turned.
“ Nothing happened, Owen.” Kohri groused, all the while keeping her back to the two so they wouldn’t see her glaring daggers at Gill. It was very clear he wanted to tease her by going along with what they were assuming.
“ Gill?” the mason asked, praying that it was something juicy that could be used as fodder later.
“ Nothing happened Owen. Kohri and I are going to be setting up her lab downstairs soon, and instead of working me to the bone and sending me home, she’s graciously offered to open her home up to me for the weekend.” Gill said. “ I’m a gentleman and I wouldn’t dare do anything untoward to her. Like I told Luke, I would think your virtues are more in danger than mine or Kohri’s.” he added with a snicker.
Owen’s scarf had slipped a bit and a bright red love bite was right by his adam’s apple.
All four adults laughed at that and Owen shook his head mirthfully as he fixed the scarf. “ So Kathy got me good. I deserved that.” he acquiesced. His expression sobered after a moment as he looked over to Gill. Kohri had gone outside to help Luke bring in the box spring. “ While she’s gone though. Thank you, Gill. Hopefully she’ll open her eyes soon enough.”
Gill shook his head slightly. “ No need to thank me, Owen.” he replied honestly. “ All three of us know there’s nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do for her.”
“ You’re a better man than I.” Owen said. “ If if were me in that position, I don’t know if I would have been able to stand waiting.” He made to move outside to grab pieces of the bed frame and Gill followed him to help.
“ I was waiting for her for five years, though I didn’t realize it until recently. Compared to all that time, a few months isn’t going to make a difference. Kohri knows where I stand, Owen. I accidentally told her last night. She called herself a coward because she scared to take the next step between us, and I snapped. It just came out. The look she gave me when I was done speaking, when she realized what I was putting on the table, I wouldn’t trade that look for the world.” Gill admitted.
Owen settled the pieces against the wall as Kohri and Luke went back outside, bickering over something at this point. Luke’s probably begging her for some of her fresh spinach again. He thought with a chuckle. “ What look was that Gill?”
“ Hope, adoration. Happiness?” the flaxen haired man offered as he began pulling the bedspread off and folding it. He frowned in that exact instant. Kohri had forgotten to purchase new sheets.
“ Luke already thought of that and Bo’s washing them right now. He’ll be by with them later once they’re dry.” Owen said with a grin. “ So how do you feel about all this?”
“ Relieved in all honesty. Things are different, and are going to look and feel different between us, but it’s all for the better.” Gill said.
“ I’m telling you Kohri, you and Gill just need to join Owen and I when we take the girls out again.” Luke grunted as they hauled the mattress in.
Gill and Owen both snorted at this. That answered the question of what they had been bickering about going out the door a moment ago. Kohri did not want to feed the flames of the rumor mill that high and she would be hesitant to put it out there so blatantly.
“ The answer is not right now, Luke. Not with my court date this close. I’m in the home stretch. Just wait for that, would you?” she growled out irritably. She pinned Luke against the wall for a second in retaliation, smiling all the while. There, she had gotten a little of her own back.
“ So what you’re saying is that you two are going to announce it then?” Luke teased with a grunt, still sandwiched between the wall and the mattress. He was still smiling as broadly as he was when he had first started in on her a few minutes ago. He hurriedly slipped out when Kohri dropped the mattress to get him and he laughed as he shot across the room.
Gill sighed heavily as he rolled his eyes, and he quickly caught Kohri by her waist as she passed by close enough in her effort to get at Luke. “ He’s doing it on purpose you realize.” he told her as he held her against him tightly.
“ Doesn’t matter, I’m still gonna knock his damn block off!” she snarled. She struggled to free herself, but Gill had her good and tight. She looked over her shoulder with a glare that clearly said to release her and he shook his head.
“ Dude, they’ve already mastered the telepathy that occurs between couples.” Luke said none too silently to Owen, nudging him with an elbow.
Gill and Kohri shared another silent exchange and Gill smirked as he let her go, clearly saying ‘Go get ‘im.’. Kohri’s smile was almost savage as she vaulted herself over the table to get to Luke and the young carpenter tore out the house.
“ I was smart enough not say anything this time.” Owen chuckled as he looked over to Gill who shrugged nonchalantly as they heard Luke scream when Kohri managed to catch him. “ But he’s not wrong either.”
“ I know he’s not, but Kohri can only handle so much right now. She’s extremely anxious. It’s like she’s in a state of constant fight or flight reactions. Thankfully, she’s in the fight mode.” Gill told him. His brow arched in curiosity when they came out of the house.
In that short time, Kohri had trussed Luke up like a pig. The sight before them was all it took and both Owen and Gill collapsed into guffaws at the sight. Kohri was smiling smugly as she dusted off her hands. “ Be lucky I haven’t purchased a camera from Simon yet.” she said, looking extremely pleased with herself.
“ Okay, Kohri! Uncle! I’m sorry!” he called out to her retreating back. Kohri was heading inside. “ Uh, Kohri, where are you going?”
“ To call your dad about bringing over the camera. Now that I think about it, I owe you for the photo you took of me a few months back. Then I’m going to Simon’s to get it developed and I’m hanging it up in the living room.” she replied with a grin. Owen and Gill were still laughing their asses off, probably renewed because of the exchange that just took place, and grinned. “ Do you guys think we can get him set up on a lean-too?”
“ Goddess, Kohri that’s brilliant.” Owen wheezed as he got to his feet. “ C’mon Gill. Let’s set that up so it’s ready for when Dale gets here.” He reached out to help the other man up and they went to the side of the house to gather the wood needed.
Luke groaned and he thunked his head against the grass a bit. He wasn’t going to live this one down.

Gill was still in a fit of giggles as he and Kohri made their way back to the town square. They had even had enough time to take the camera over to Simon’s shop to get the photo developed and framed. Kohri was serious about hanging it up. It was so close to closing time that Kohri would have to pick it up tomorrow. Simon would open up long enough to let her do that much. “ Remind me to never piss you off, not to that extent at least.” he finally said as they reached the top of the stairs.
“ Noted, but I’ll have other ways of getting you back I’m sure.” Kohri replied with a wide grin. She felt bad for waking Darren up so soon, but the town was pretty much empty as people either went home or to the bar. Now was the perfect time to have Darren make his rainbow.
Gill smirked at this. He had a few ideas himself that he could use as payback later on.
Kohri sighed as she raised her watering can and she sprinkled the flower again. She didn’t jump this time as Darren popped up, sputtering. “ I’m sorry Darren, but we have all your ingredients.” she said apologetically.
Darren smiled at Kohri and Gill at that statement and went over to the bag and looked inside of it. “ That’s amazing, you do have all of them! Alright! Just stand back and watch you two!” He clapped his hands and the bag disappeared, and all five items lined up in front of him. A small breeze circled them all, and both adults swore they could hear a flute playing. “ Grilled purple yam, and carp so blue. Mix, mix, mix. Mix, mix, mix! Yummy herb fish, so lovely and green! Mix, mix, mix. Mix, mix, mix! Some common, yellow shells. Mix, mix, mix. Mix, mix, mix! And last an apple, so very red. Mix, mix, mix!” Darren sang along to the music as each ingredient floated up above him.
Kohri and Gill watched in amazement as the little sprite danced, twirling each of the items with him as they layered and compacted together. A little cake had formed, all the colors of the rainbow.
“ The song is sung, and the rainbow done, Mix, mix, mix!” Darren finished and his magic sparked up from his hands as he threw them into the air. The little cake floated higher, spreading and lengthening, until it stretched across the water towards the Gull Islands. “ Taa daa! We’re done! Now you can use the rainbow bridge, well almost.” he exclaimed, looking at Kohri. Darren threw his hands up again and a little green badge appeared before her. “ There you go Kohri. That badge is proof that you’re a friend of the harvest sprites. It only works for my rainbow though.”
“ Thank you Darren. You said Collin was over there, right?” she said kindly.
Darren nodded and he yawned again. “ I had just enough for that. I’m gonna go to sleep again. Thank you Kohri.” the little green sprite said sweetly before laying back down once more.
Kohri’s eyes were alight as she looked at the bridge. “ Do you wanna?” she asked excitedly.
Gill looked nervously at the rainbow and then over to Kohri. “ How do we know it’ll hold us?”
“ It’s magic, Gill. I’m sure that we’ll be fine.” Kohri said excitedly as she pulled Gill along by the hand. Instead of walking up onto the rainbow, they went through it and instantly appeared on the other side. Kohri’s eyes were alight with excitement as she looked around. “ It’s teleportation! Gill we teleported from Waffle Island!” she squealed excitedly.
Gill was relieved that they didn’t have to actually walk up and over the rainbows to get to the other end of it. “ That was pretty cool…” he admitted. It was quickly growing dark though and his brow furrowed. They hadn’t even gotten anything done in her lab today. “ I got the feeling that setting up your lab just went to the back burner.”
“ It’s alright. Between the two of us, how hard is it going to be go get these rainbows done?” Kohri asked.
Kohri refused to go back to her house until she had spoken to Ben, her argument being that he was the closest to her home. Once she had the recipe, her gaze looked over to Gill excitedly. It was another one that she had everything for. Gill put his foot down on them making any other rainbows that night however, citing that one was already going to cause a ruckus at tomorrow’s festival.
“ Not only that Kohri, but I’m hungry and tired. I don’t even know how you have so much energy left.” he said with a small yawn. It was nearing eight in the evening and they hadn’t even eaten supper yet.
Kohri’s stomach rumbled at the same time and she smiled. “ Okay then Gill. Let’s head back home and we’ll have supper. You can shower first.” she agreed.

Kohri was all smiles as she looked around at all the stalls set up for the Art Festival. All the natives were indeed exclaiming about the rainbow’s sudden appearance after fifteen years. She could hear Hanna across the way happily talking about how the windmill was finally turning again. The winds hadn’t been strong enough to really turn it lately, and now it was going at such a good clip that it was calming the currents again. Gill wasn’t too far off either, as he was looking at some of the pieces for sale at another booth. He was close enough to call over though, and that was good enough for Kohri.
The skin on the back of her neck tingled and a ominous chill raced up and down her spine. Kohri covertly looked around, hoping to see why she was feeling a disturbance in the force. She froze as she met a set of green eyes across the way, and her blood ran cold. She knew that gaze. It hadn’t even been a full year since she had seen it last, but she knew those cold, merciless eyes. Her eyes went wide in terror as the gaze she was connected to smiled menacingly. Oh sweet goddess in her tree, he was here!
Wren Matthews was on Waffle Island.
“ Kohri!” Owen hissed, stepping in front of her and blocking her view. “ Chick, I’ve been trying to get through to you for a solid minute. You went pale and you…”
“ He’s here!” she whispered, terrified. “ He’s here and he saw me!” Kohri roughly shoved Owen out of the way, looking around to where she was positive she had locked gazes with that bastard, but he was gone.
“ Gill!” Owen hollered, and he gently grabbed Kohri by her arm. “ Get her somewhere safe, just do not, I repeat, do not take her home. I’m going to talk to your dad about making sure all the tourists leave tonight.”
Gill took Kohri’s hand in his as she babbled incoherently. “ What happened?” he asked Owen in a low voice. He already knew he had to get Kohri away from the crowd. She was on the verge of a full break in front of all these people.
“ She said she saw him .” was all Owen had to say.
Gill’s gaze narrowed and he nodded. “ Kohri, come on.” he told her gently. He put his arm over her shoulder and he felt hers cross his back as he began leading her towards Darren’s tree. There was one place that they could go that only they had access to. He felt his skin crawl for a moment, and Gill looked to his right with a narrowed gaze.
A tall young man with raven black hair and piercing green eyes was looking at the two of them. The look on his face blackened when he saw how protectively Gill was holding Kohri to him, but he smirked after a moment.
‘You’re dead…’ he mouthed from across the crowd.
Gill’s gaze narrowed defiantly and he smirked as he and Kohri passed behind the trunk of Darren’s tree and out of sight. He then lead Kohri over to the rainbow and he pulled her through with him.

Wren had come to Waffle Island because he had heard interesting things about the festivals that they put on. He was relatively impressed with the craftsmanship of the items for sale. He had been pleasantly surprised to see Kohri in the crowd. It was possible that she had come there just to check out the wares, the same as he had. A woman like Kohri wouldn’t ever be caught in a podunk little ghost town like this. She was used to the finer things in life after all.
All he wanted was to find a way to steal her away from the festivities and finish what they had started in her bedroom all those months ago. There was no Burdock Phelps to save her now. Her mother wasn’t there to die for her. He would be able to defile that sweet little body all he wanted. He didn’t even care about killing her. Once he was done with her, she’d drop the case for good.
Kohri must have sensed him thinking about what he wanted to do to her, because her gaze had met his from across the way. Wren had gotten an instant erection when he saw the recognition, then the fear in her eyes. Oh, that sweet, sweet fear. When the shopkeeper had gotten in front of her, he moved out of sight, but only just enough so that he could keep an eye on her. If Kohri could think she was safe after all, possibly just hallucinating, it would lull her into a sense of security that he would utterly annihilate once he abducted her.
It was possible Kohri came over to Waffle Island a lot, as she was speaking with the shopkeep as if she knew him well. Wren’s gaze narrowed. He’d kill anyone that posed a chance of even bedding her. He was not going to allow anyone else but him to be the first to learn the pleasures of her body. It relaxed after a moment. Their body language toward one another wasn’t that in sync.
The man the shopkeep called over however was a completely different story. Kohri instantly, though subconsciously, reacted to his proximity, drawing closer to him for comfort. She was still looking around, trying to find him and Wren smirked. They were so much sweeter to pierce when they were aghast like this. The blonde man gently wrapped his arm over Kohri’s shoulders as he began to usher her away from the crowd, and Wren stepped out of his hiding spot to watch where they were going.
Wren was extremely pissed when he saw Kohri’s arm around his back, her head nestled into his shoulder as if she belonged beside him. She didn’t. She was his and she knew it. She’d pay dearly if she had let someone else fuck her before he had his chance to pop that cherry.
The man looked over at him directly, as if he had sensed Wren’s displeasure at the sight of them and their gazes were locked. This man knew who he was, meaning it was possible he was part of Muffin’s team in keeping Kohri safe. The defiance in that steel blue gaze was pissing him off, as was the protective way he was holding Kohri to him.
Wren smirked. “ You’re dead…” he mouthed. He didn’t care if he hadn’t touched Kohri intimately or not. He was someone she went to for comfort, for safety. He wouldn’t stand to have anyone as a potential rival where she was concerned.
The blonde man only smirked as he guided Kohri behind the large tree near the rainbow, and Wren walked around to see if he could get a better vantage point. Dear god, he hoped she was balling her eyes out in sheer terror now. He scowled when he realized that the only way to get a better vantage point was to go around the other way towards the tree itself. All the stalls were blocking it.
Wren made his way through the crowd as quickly as he dared, as he didn’t want to tip anyone one off that he was currently on the hunt for some pussy. Finally, he was free to walk over to the tree and confusion crossed his face when he saw that the area was devoid of the two. His eyes had not left the tree at all and there was no way they could have gone that he wouldn’t have seen them.
Where the hell had they gone?!

The minute they touched down on the Gull Islands, Gill pulled Kohri against him as she began sobbing for all she was worth. “ You’re safe Kohri…” he whispered. “ He can’t come here. Only we can.”
Kohri looked up at him after a moment, finally taking in their surroundings. She hadn’t even realized that Gill had pulled her through the rainbow bridge. Her mind had locked down in fear the minute she realized that Wren was at the festival. “ Gull Islands?” she whimpered at first. Sure enough, Waffle Island was in the very far distance. Wren couldn’t get to her here.
“ Yes, Kohri. I pulled you through the rainbow. I’m going to get a letter over to Amelia tomorrow. I need his picture so that Pascal can refuse him service next time. As he’s currently the prime suspect of a high level murder investigation, Pascal can refuse him service and he can’t be sued.” Gill told her, planning three steps ahead already.
He seriously hoped that they were able to get all the tourists off the island before Wren could start poking around.

Owen had that covered, though it took pulling Kathy in on it too. Because of the expansion they were starting Monday with Dale, Owen and Ramsey had a spare key to Kohri’s home. He had sent Kathy on Taloolah to grab his parents photos, and some candid pictures of both of them just to be on the safe side. Together, they made the illusion that it was their home and not Kohri’s.
It hadn’t been a moment too soon as they heard a knock on the door and Owen opened the door, making it look as if he was giving Kathy the bedroom eyes. “ That’s prolly Luke, honey. He’ll understand.” he said as he opened the door. He feigned surprise, as he knew someone had followed him here from the festival. “ Oh...uh, Kath, you may wanna get dressed after all. I think one of the tourists got lost.”
Wren looked around the home from the door, noting the books that covered the shelves, and all the flora. The woman that crossed into view was buttoning up her blouse and wearing a very swishy skirt. Large glasses sat on her nose, bring her green eyes to instant focus. That answered who all the books belonged to. I have to be sure. I know for a fact that Kohri would have something for her parents in plain sight... Wren thought before his gaze settled on a hutch on the far wall, but the pictures there were not Burdock and Damiana Phelps. Photos of the two people abounded all over the house.
“ I’m sorry to interrupt.” Wren purred as his gaze settled lasciviously on Kathy. She was pretty enough in a nerdy kind of way. He’d bone her, but Wren didn’t stand a chance at getting to her past this large oaf. Not only that, it was the shopkeep from the festival. “ I had heard a friend of mine had moved here to Waffle Island. I thought this would have been her home.”
“ You must have heard wrong then, friend. There haven’t been any new arrivals on Waffle Island in seven years, and she died five years ago.” Owen told him. He bristled when he saw this bastard blatantly lusting after Kathy in front of him, but he kept his tone even. It wouldn’t do to tip their hand.
Wren’s gaze met Owen’s again and he smiled. “ You were just speaking with her earlier. Do you know where she lives?”
“ I’ve been talking with a lot of people all morning friend. You’re gonna have to be more specific than that.” Owen told him. “ We may as well get back to the festival Kath. I daresay we’re gonna have to wait until all the festivities are done.”
“ The young lady with the brown hair braided down her back.” Wren told him. “ Big, blue eyes, a little on the short side?” He didn’t know if she was going by a different name. Hopefully this dumb rock would give him some insight.
“ Oh. You mean Melissa? Why didn’t you say so? Last I heard she’s been traveling a lot, not staying to any one place. She does like to come to the festivals though. She’s the reason we’re together.” Owen said with a grin.
Kathy nodded meekly, though it wasn’t forced. She did not like the feeling this guy was giving off. “ She’s such a sweetheart. It’s such a shame we only get to see her once or twice every couple months.” she said softly.
Oh yeah, the books are all hers. Wren thought, as his gaze swept up and down her body again.
Damn, he was going to have to find someone to give him release after all.
“ So why’s Melissa on the move so much? She doesn’t really get into it too much.” Owen asked.
“ Her parents passed away about a year ago.” Wren said sympathetically, pouring on the grief to give him the appearance of a caring friend. “ She just up and disappeared about nine months ago, no word on where she was going. It was only coincidence that I spotted her at the festival looking through some of the wares there. You’re selling furniture, right?”
Owen nodded. “ Sure am. Made everything myself.”
“ It’s actually pretty good. It’s rustic, and it looks like it’ll last a lifetime.” Wren said honestly. He was truly impressed with the craftsmanship of all the wares there. “ Maybe I can buy a piece or two?”
“ It depends on which ones. Most of the larger sets have been purchased already.” Owen told him. This wasn’t a lie either. Most of the matching sets were already bought and paid for. Every cent was going towards the engagement ring that he was going to have Mira make for Kathy.
“ That’s a shame. I would have liked to purchase the black set.” Wren said, smirking all the while, thinking of how the sofa would have gotten used. He turned to Owen as the festival came back into sight. “ Well, I thank you kindly for indulging my curiosity, sir. Maybe next year you can hold one of those sets for me?”
“ We’ll see. It’s normally first come first serve. You’re welcome, though. Enjoy the rest of the festivities.” Owen told him and he and Kathy watched Wren saunter off towards the stairs. He needed to go talk to Pascal next.
“ By the goddess…” Kathy breathed out tremulously once the raven haired man was out of sight. She was holding as tight to Owen as she possibly could. “ He’s pure evil, Owen.”
Owen could only nod curtly. He was watching Wren like a hawk. Hopefully they had fooled him completely. “ Thank goodness you and Kohri are roughly the same size. I’m sorry I had to put you through that.” he said softly.
“ Kohri’s our friend. What you told me makes sense though, seeing him for myself. He laid it on too thickly when talking about her parents. The look in his eyes was what had me terrified though. It’s like they were dead, Owen.” Kathy said. “ Goddess...I hope he doesn’t come back next month for the Starry night or the New Years. He’s going to be looking for her if that’s the case.”
Owen shook his head. If he knew Gill as well as he did, the deputy mayor already had a contingency plan in place. “ He won’t. I know Gill well enough that he’s not going to allow that bastard to set foot on Waffle Island again. I need to go find the mayor. All the tourists need to leave tonight, and we have to come up with an excuse.”
“ I can help you with that.” Ramsey said as he walked behind Owen. He had heard enough to pique his interest, but he needed to know why Owen would be talking about a complete stranger like that. It wasn’t like his nephew to be that way after all. “ What happened?”
Owen looked down at Ramsey, then to the town square again. He needed his uncle’s help. He wasn’t going to let that man pose a risk to Kohri or anyone else on Waffle Island if he could help it. “ That man that just left me and Kath? He’s after Kohri. She’s in witness protection because he killed her parents. He spotted her during the festival and if you ask me, it’s clear he means to finish what he started.”
Ramsey’s eyes narrowed. “ I see. Like I said, I’ve got the perfect excuse, though it would mean shutting down the festival early. It’s clear to me though that we need to have a island wide meeting though so that we can better protect Kohri, just in case. Where is she now?”
Owen shook his head. “ I don’t know to be honest. I had Gill take her away from it all and I don’t know where they went. Last I saw they were by Darren’s tree, but I lost track when Kathy and I had to make it look like we were the ones living in Kohri’s house.” he told his uncle earnestly.
Ramsey’s brow arched even as he smiled. Darren’s tree? So the appearance of the rainbow wasn’t a coincidence. “ Good job, Owen. I think I know where they’re at. I’ll go get them myself once we clear the island.”

Hamilton took to the stage, looking harried. “ Excuse me everyone! I’m sorry, but I have to cut today’s festivities short! Our local blacksmith told me there’s been a gaseous sulfur leak in the mines and today’s wind could very well send it this way. I need to ask all of you to please make your way over to the ferries in an orderly fashion. Only the residents can stay and we will be taking refuge over in the Brownie ranch district for the time being.” Hamilton said over the microphone. His nerves were shot, not because of having to cut the festival off, but because of what Owen had told him. Worse yet, Gill and Kohri were nowhere to be found.
Ramsey seem assured that they were completely safe however. Well, they’d find out in a few hours once all the tourists were off the island.

Gill groaned as someone shook him, and he shrugged the hand on his shoulder off. It returned with a vengeance and his eyes opened in a panic. Kohri had cried herself out earlier, though Gill hadn’t told her that Wren had undoubtedly made a connection between them. She was wrapped tightly in his embrace and she hadn’t roused yet. Thank goodness, because both of them going into a panic wasn’t going to do any good.
They were the only ones who could get to the Gull Islands through the rainbow bridge.
“ Get up Gill. We’re having a town wide meeting in the inn and you two have to be there.” came Ramsey’s voice.
Gill bolted up, looking at the blacksmith as if he were a ghost. “ How did you even know where we were, Ramsey?” he asked, completely stunned.
Kohri was sitting up, rubbing her eyes tiredly. “ Boss?”
“ C’mon shortstack. Let’s head back town. I’m sure you’re both hungry.” he told her with a gentle smile. He looked over to Gill, his coal eyes twinkling in mirth. “ As for how I knew, Gill. I’m old, not stupid. I knew, deep down, that Darren’s rainbow appearing wasn’t just coincidence. Do you think you two are the only ones with sprite badges on the island?”
“ You can still see the sprites?” Gill asked as he got to his feet. He leaned down to help Kohri to hers, and she was staring at Ramsey like he had sprouted a second head.
Ramsey shook his head in negation. He needed to explain this now before they returned. “ No, it’s not a common thing to be able to still see them into adulthood. You, Jill, and Kohri seem to be the exception to the rule. I still have all my badges however. Those never leave you no matter how old you get. Not all of the adults my ages got badges when we were children though. I got mine because I saved Alan from the river one afternoon when I was about six. Like you, I used to play with the sprites and I kept to myself a bit. Back to the matter at hand though. We were able to empty the island of everyone but the residents under the guise of an evacuation.” he said, and his gaze settled on Kohri. It was full of sympathy. “ Owen had to clue me into what was going on, shortstack. But from here we have to tell everyone. We can’t have it slipping that you live here if he does manage to make it here for the next festival. You’re one of us now, Kohri, and rest assured that we will protect you as fiercely as a dragon guards its treasure.”
Kohri’s eyes glistened with tears. “ I…” she began, but words failed her. “ What if everyone starts treating me differently? I’m not made of glass. I came to Waffle Island to continue my life, not stop it. I’m still me.”
“ You’re not made of glass, so don’t count on me bein’ any nicer.” Ramsey snorted, though he smirked. The picture they had taken of Luke had already made its around the island and had been a great source of mirth all day. “ Besides, just promise them the Lucky Luke Special. That’ll get on the straight and narrow.”
Gill’s mouth quirked up before he started laughing. “ That’s a brilliant name for it.” he guffawed. “ I’m going to have Mira make that into a placard for the frame.”
“ I already beat ya to it.” Ramsey told him with a grin. “ Owen’s hung it up in your home already for that matter, Kohri. Let me get you caught up to speed while we go to the inn.”

Food was set before them the instant they sat down at the last table with any seats. Owen and Luke were sitting there as well, which helped to bolster Kohri’s confidence about all of this. Almost everyone that had a booth, with the exception of Bo and Owen, were complaining that they had lost business.
Finally having had enough, Gill jumped to his feet. He didn’t care if his food got cold at this point. “ Would all of you have rather lost just a little bit of revenue, or would you have rather that we lost one of our neighbors?” he called out over the room. “ Didn’t you find it odd that Kohri and I were the last to arrive?” Mutterings followed that statement, all of them uncomfortable.
Good, they had every right to feel that way.
“ Kohri didn’t come here because of the ranching brochure my father sent out. Not totally anyway. She’s currently in witness protection because she’s the only surviving witness to her parents murders. She made the choice to come to Waffle Island, not the agents handling her case, but her. At today’s festival, she saw the man that murdered her family, who tried to have her killed to shut her up. We owe to her to help keep her safe. Not because she’s in danger, but because she’s one of us. As far as I’m concerned, she always has been and always will be one of us.” Gill said, looking around the room at all the shocked faces. “ Only a handful of us knew, and some were brought in on a need to know basis. Now that the elephant is no longer in the room, here’s what we know. The man is question is a tall man, roughly Luke’s height with short black hair, deeply tan complexion, and green eyes. His name is Wren Matthews. Ladies, do not let yourselves be alone with him if you can help it.” He saw Kathy’s hand raised to speak. She was seated near her father. “ Yes Kathy?”
“ I’m just vouching for the not being alone with him bit. Seriously, if Owen hadn’t been there I have no doubt he would have tried something. We have to find a way to keep him from coming back Gill.” Kathy said.
“ I’ve already got that covered. I’m going to send some correspondence to Kohri’s case manager tomorrow. We’re going to get him blacklisted from any port because it’s a flight risk. Because he is the leading suspect in the murder case, Pascal, you can refuse him service. My aim is to have that happen for every boat possible from here on. But if by some way he manages to weasel his way back, we need to be prepared. The next tourist heavy festival is going to be the Starry night. Ramsey filled me in that Owen might have thrown him off the scent of her living here, but that she only comes back around the festivals. Owen? Would you mind?” Gill could see a lot of nervous glances being cast over to Kohri, and it was making her uncomfortable in turn. “ Hold that thought Owen. Kohri, would you like to say something first?”
Kohri sighed heavily as she joined Gill on the second landing. She had never like public speaking, but these weren’t strangers. These people were her neighbors and friends. “ Just because my skeletons are being aired out doesn’t mean I’m not the person you all have gotten to know since March. That hasn’t changed. Please, don’t treat me with kid gloves. I’m an adult, I am more than capable of holding my own. If you don’t believe me…” Kohri smirked as she looked over at her friends seated at the table. “...Ask Luke.”
Luke groaned in annoyance as he sank into his seat while the room erupted into laughter. He had been the butt of everyone’s jokes today.
Kohri smiled as the tension in the room eased and Gill’s hand settled on her shoulder. She looked over it to him and he was smiling himself. That had been brilliantly timed after all and Gill ushered Kohri back down to her seat with Owen and Luke.
“ Now that we’ve cracked the ice all over again, let’s get down to business.” Gill announced as the laughter died down.
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Restoring Faith