Free Hellebore’s Holiday by Viola Grace Page B

his trunk and handed it over. “I will keep her keys to get her car moving. No sense in damaging her vehicle if we can just drive it onto the truck.”
    Doc nodded. “I will get back to our guest. I can’t believe that she just got tossed in here with us.”
    “Don’t scare her. This one could be a good addition if she is as stuck as the rest of us.”
    “I hope for her sake that it isn’t the case. We know why we are here. Don’t forget that.”
    Officer Neer nodded and got into his car. “I am hoping my time is almost up, Doc.”
    “I know. We will know in a few days.” Doc waved him off and returned to the aide station. His own sentence had taken four centuries to date. He wasn’t expecting to get out anytime soon.
    Inside the station, he looked around for his guest. She was humming in that hypnotic voice of hers and still in the bathroom. “I brought your bag in if you care to change shirts.”
    She laughed and opened the door. Her white shirt was transparent with moisture and he couldn’t help staring. She was wearing lingerie under that shirt with little roses on it. His mind began counting them, and when she grabbed her bag and pulled it away, closing the door again, he shook himself out of his fixation.
    Her hair was in a tight tail, but the blood red was an amazing colour when coupled with her pale, pearly skin and bright blue eyes. She reminded him of the tropical fish of his mother’s home.
     
    * * * *
     
    Hellebore tried to get the pink out of her cheeks while she stripped off the lace camisole and replaced it with another and a button-down shirt. It was warm here, but the Doc’s fixation on her torso made her want to cover up.
    She exited the bathroom with her parka folded over and wadded through the handles. “Where am I?”
    “Don’t you know?” He sat at the receptionist’s desk and twirled around slowly.
    She blinked and narrowed her eyes at him. “I just suffered a head injury. I am dazed and confused.”
    “It was just a nick.”
    “I was seeing multiples of everything. It was a full-on concussion with a three-inch laceration. Just because you healed it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.” She put her hands on her hips awkwardly, her bag banging against her thigh.
    “So, you know what I am. What are you?”
    She blinked. “I am a tourist who was supposed to be on a vacation to get away from the demands on my life so that I could figure out what I wanted to do. That is what I am.”
    “And aside from that?”
    “A singer. Nothing more.”
    “Your blood is full of magic.”
    “Is it?” she batted her lashes. “Where can I go to arrange to have my car towed?”
    “Officer Neer is taking care of that. He is getting the car to the garage for repairs. I am going to escort you to the inn where Irgano will take care of your needs. He is a competent innkeeper, and everyone in our little community comes to the inn for drinks every evening. A little bit of community spirit.”
    She smiled tightly. “Well then, point me toward the inn and I will be out of your hair.”
    Doc Larsen got to his feet and walked to the door. “This way, Miss Anders.”
    “Just call me Hellebore, or Hells.” She sighed. Bells was reserved for friends and family.
    “Hells is not a name that suits you.”
    “You haven’t seen me on my bike.”
    “Bike?”
    “I normally ride a motorcycle when the weather allows it.”
    “Ah.” He smiled, “Well, I guess I should show you to the inn.”
    “There is only one?”
    He chuckled. “Right, you have not seen the town. Well, that will be remedied immediately. Come with me.” Doc Larsen reached for the door.
    Hellebore followed with the perky trot of curiosity.
    Drops of blood marked the path from the now-missing car to the clinic door. “I hope it rains soon. I would hate for my blood to be at your door all week.”
    “It will disappear soon enough.”
    The sun was warm and the air was dry with only a hint of a body of water a few miles away. She