Long Snows Moon Read Online Free Page A

to explore the store. Jameson watched as
she discovered the aisle with wonderful smelling herbs, candles and
incense, medicine pouches, crystals and books.
    “I make those candles and dry and pack the
herbs myself.”
    Jameson grabbed a heavy-duty flashlight from
behind the counter. “Why don’t you go upstairs and rest? I will be
back before you know it.”
    Moon obeyed. She trotted up the stairs and
hopped onto the couch. Jameson looked up at her.
    “Thank you for bringing her back.”
    I promised I would, it just took longer than
I hoped. She is difficult to train. She clouds her mind with dirty
water.
    “I will help her,” Jameson said.
    Thank you, Raven Song.
     

Chapter Five
     
    Jameson went out the
back door and tried to ignore the owl. She followed the path
between the store and the greenhouse into the woods. The wind died
down and as had the flurries. She trained her flashlight ahead and
traversed the well-worn path.
    She hiked the trail countless times with
Berry armed with her camera and ready to shoot. The two would wait
until a rabbit or a raccoon or maybe a coyote would appear, so
Jameson could snap the photos she would paint later. As a rule,
Berry chased off her subjects by barking or leaping out from her
hiding spot to scare Jameson.
    Jameson smiled at the memory but the sudden
pain swept the grin from her face. The tears she held back earlier
now flowed like a sudden summer shower. She caught her breath as if
punched in the stomach. The thought of Berry made Jameson drop to
her knees. A small sob escaped her and she doubled over on the
ground. She saw her mother’s face. It was a stranger’s face, stern,
and surreal with her head resting upon a ridiculous satin
pillow.
    It was unusual timing but her grief bounded
into the boxing ring. After five years of suppression, Jameson was
in for a fight. Uppercut: Berry getting shot and the snow growing
red beneath her. Left hook: Finding her mother dead in her bed,
looking mystical in the candle’s glow. Right cross: Her mother’s
casket as it lowered into the earth and the sound of Jameson
tossing in the three ears of corn. Bang bang bang. Three bangs like
the sound of the three shots that killed Berry.
    Jameson clutched her heart. She was down for
the count. “Why? Why now, why now?” she sobbed.
    The answer came to her in a Doc Jo Jo
wisdomism.
    If you refuse to change, the world will
change you anyway. Clean house and assess your belongings , keep what you need and toss out the rest . Regret and
guilt are wasteful, clutter. Refresh yourself. It is time
for renewal.
    Jameson heard this, not with her ears, but
with her being. “I guess that was a long time coming,” Jameson whispered. She knew her sorrow sprung from the
hope.
    Jameson composed herself and continued her
quest through the woods to find Moon’s owner. She touched the
locket around her neck. It was a matter of time until they would
meet again.
    Jameson spied something on the trail ahead
and picked it up. She smiled, knowing she was going in the right
direction.
    Her raven landed on an erratic branch. It
bent and bowed under the bird’s weight.
    There is no hurry. She has much to
experience yet.
    “You watched the entire episode?”
    Facilitated and observed.
    “Tell me what you’ve seen.”
    Close your eyes and I will show you.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Oddly, she was calm
in the face of danger. Devon’s life did not flash before her as she
heard it did in times of peril, instead it was her future she
considered now. Would she live to see her next birthday? It would
be her first birthday as a single woman in ten years. He wasted all of her twenties with their sham of a marriage. Devon had
been optimistic about her future of freedom. Now that freedom was
tenuous at best.
    She waved her monogrammed hankie. One of the
dozen Trevor gave her last Christmas. Perhaps the bear would
retreat if she waved a white flag of surrender. Maybe the creature
would even let her live by virtue she was a