Raining Fools (Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast Book 2) Read online

  Castle Library Publishing

  Raining Fools

  Copyright 2016 by Jackie Castle

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

  Find out more about the author at Jackie Castle’s Story World,

  To keep updated on new releases, sign up for the Castle’s Story World Newsletter

  Or email her at: [email protected]

  Cover art created by Castle Creations

  Edited by Fix it or Nix it

  Castle’s Other Works:

  From The White Road Chronicles:

  Illuminated

  Luminosity

  Emanate

  Radiance

  Ignited

  ~*~

  From The White Road Tales Novellas

  Captured

  Stolen

  Ransom

  ~*~

  For Young Readers: The Sentinels Archives: Through the Portal

  ~*~

  Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast Romance Series:

  Snow Belle

  Secretly In Love (novella)

  Raining Fools

  Dedication:

  To my critique partners Marji Laine and Patricia Carroll. Bless you both for your honest words and encouragement. Appreciate all your help in making my stories come more alive.

  To Grandma. Thanks for teaching me that giving up isn’t an option. God never gives up on us and only He knows when enough is enough.

  Raining Fools

  Ethan and Haley are working hard to turn their grand ideas into a reality. Some of the Madison Creek council members, interested in helping fund Ethan’s plan, challenge him to create a video of his violin music. Ethan calls on the two people who matter most in his life to help start his recording studio.

  Bekka Winters hung up the phone. Ethan, her brother, needed her help filming a music video for his new music production studio. She stared at her already packed bags. Why not? She’d just graduated from college and didn’t exactly have a job to go to. Besides, a music video might look good on her resume when she looked for real work.

  Stephen Gaines couldn’t believe Ethan had called him after their last blow up. They’d been music partners once. Stephen had ruined that. It was his expertise to wreck relationships especially those he had with women. Fortunately, Ethan didn’t know about him and Bekka. She was the one woman that had broken through to the deep parts of his heart. If only… how many times had he said that in the past? A fresh start is just what he needed.

  Bekka’smind bubbled with ideas for Ethan’s studio. Not to mention she couldn’t wait to see Ethan and Haley, the woman who’d captured her brother’s heart. But when she pulled into the drive and saw the familiar fancy car that Stephen drove, her heart dropped. There was no way she’d let him back into her life.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication:

  Table of Contents

  Prelude

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Epilogue

  More from Madison Creek

  About the Author

  Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast

  Book Two

  Raining Fools

  Even the darkness will not be dark to you;

  The night will shine like the day,

  For darkness is as light to you.

  Psalm 139:12 (NIV)

  Prelude

  Haley Madison shook out her arms, rolled her shoulders, and then popped her neck. The movement caused her ice crystal crown to tilt slightly off kilter. She quickly righted it, hoping Bossy Bekka hadn’t noticed. The odd headdress was made from plastic icicles and silver pipe cleaners they’d found in a box of Christmas decorations.

  “Haley,” Bekka barked while she adjusted her camera. “You are not to look at me or my camera while I’m filming. Got it?”

  Ethan Winters’ big sissy sure was persnickety. They looked like twins, with their straight dark brown hair and trim builds, though she was a year older.

  Haley kept her thoughts to herself. “Okay. I’m ready. Let’s do this before I get frostbite on my pinky toes. Can’t feel them no more.” The thin slippers were already soaked through from the dew covered ground. Haley had wanted to wait until the day’s temps warmed up to make this video, but Bekka insisted they take advantage of the natural fog to add what she called “ambiance.” Whatever that was.

  Bekka shot her a warning look, but just like her brother, it was emphasized with a crooked grin she fought to rein in. “Listen, it’s exactly like we practiced. Chin up. Back straight. Remember, you are a queen. A faerie enchantress. A—”

  Haley held up her hands. “Hold up. I’m no wild child. Anymore. I’m a good girl.”

  Bekka’s hand rubbed her forehead as if she were starting to get a headache. “Not what I meant. Haven’t you ever seen the Hobbit movies? Or Narnia?”

  What kind of language was this Yankee chick speaking? She slowly shook her head until she realized those were probably the fantasy shows Ethan enjoyed watching when it was his turn to pick out something for the Sunday Siesta Movie Night. Usually, she dozed through those. Just like he dozed when she picked out Pretty Woman or Pride and Prejudice.

  Haley walked in a circle, waving her hands as if she were trying to dry her nails, which were sparkling and white. Strange. Shimmering ribbons hung from the skirt of her white dress, an old-fashioned bridal gown they found at the resale shop. Who wore such get-ups? “I’m so out of my element here.”

  “Well, I’m sorry we couldn’t throw in a few tumbleweeds and rattle snakes, dear. This is a different kind of story.” Bekka also had some strange garb she wore to make the film. A vest, almost like rock climbers wore with straps and hooks, where she’d secured her lights and handheld recorders. Three different types of cameras hung off her shoulders. She tucked a strange light in an umbrella down the back of her vest.

  Haley blinked when the bright beam hit her face. “You’re gonna blind me with that.”

  “You won’t be looking at it. You pretend I’m not here.”

  “How’m I supposed to do that? You’ll be barking orders at me while I go along. An’ you better make sure I don’t trip over anything.”

  “I’ve cleared your path. You’ll be fine. All I’m asking you to do is walk toward the music when Ethan starts to play his violin. So come on, Haley, you can do this. Forget yourself for a moment. Role play. Haven’t you ever pretended to be someone else?”

  Actually, she hadn’t. Sometimes she’d wanted to be someone else, but she’d never pretended to be
anything but her ol’ self. Her ol’ ridiculous self, like that friend of Ethan’s, Stephen Gaines, called her when he’d thought she wasn’t in earshot.

  Oh, she’d heard him, all the same.

  “Can’t we get on with this? I have guests arriving soon. And I’m seriously freezing here.” Haley shuffled her feet, hoping if she kept moving they’d not freeze to the damp ground. The day would turn out pleasant enough. Last she checked, the early May morning was an arctic forty-two degrees.

  “Really? It’s pleasant to me.” Bekka made some adjustments to her camera.

  “I’m not part Eskimo, like you. I’ve haven’t felt truly warm since I moved up here last September.”

  Bekka spoke into her phone to Stephen. They’d both set their cells on speaker. Through Bekka’s came the sweet sound of Ethan’s Wilhelm violin as he warmed up through his practice chords. He waited just over the rise from her. She was to stroll through the misty woods, searching for her lover, his music drawing her. Haley loved his fiddle playing, but really, where did they get this elf stuff?

  Haley couldn’t deny that Ethan’s music did have a way of speaking to her. Sometimes they’d sit outside on the porch swing late at night, and he’d play for her. Those were her best nights here in the nether regions of Michigan.

  She missed the Texas warmth and ruggedness. But she adored her family’s land and Michigan’s beauty. And she loved her handsome Yankee.

  “Okay, Ice Queenie,” Bekka snapped her fingers, bringing Haley to the present. “Are you with me? Your king will start playing in a minute. I want you to walk, slowly, along that narrow path through the trees and go find him.”

  Haley nodded, blowing out a long breath. Why was she as skittish as a jack rabbit next to a highway?

  “Forget me. Forget you are making a video. It’s just you, the music, and the man you love calling for you to come find him.”

  Oh, that she could get into. She grinned and nodded again.

  “No smiles. This is serious business. Got it?”

  Another nod. Droopy mouth, but not gaping. Got it.

  Bekka aimed the recorder, her hand in the air. “Okay, and we’re on.”

  Haley took a step forward, caught the hem of the silky dress, and nearly pitched forward.

  “It’s okay,” Bekka’s voice became less snappish and more soothing. “You can hold the front of the skirt up a little. Keep walking.”

  Ethan’s music bounced off the thick woods and for a moment Haley wondered how she would ever find him in this pea soup fog. But this was what they wanted, didn’t they? For her to search. To yearn to find her love. What she yearned for was some nice wooly socks tucked into her ropers.

  “Good, Haley. You’re doing great, honey. Keep going. Chin up and back straight. Regal. That’s it.”

  How was she supposed to forget Beks was there if she didn’t stop bossing her?

  The music grew louder as she went. Ethan played an unusual haunting melody, something he’d written himself. She hadn’t been able to see what they’d done to him as far as dress and makeup went. Bekka wanted to keep them apart so that when they met in the woods, it would be for the first time and they could capture the emotions on film.

  Bekka had painted her eyes a dark purplish blue and her lips blood red. Her face was practically white like porcelain except for the bit of rouge darkening her cheeks. She couldn’t imagine what they’d done to her handsome Yank. If they made him look as weird, the only emotion they’d get from her would be a scream of fright.

  She continued wandering past the budding beech trees and tall pines. Every once in a while, Bekka told her to pause, look around, then continue. Even though he didn’t have the accompanying instruments he usually had when he played, the music filled her jeweled pointed ears and reverberated through her core. She hugged her arms around herself to stop the shivers his eerie melody and the cool May morning caused.

  “Good,” Bekka whispered, reminding Haley she was still following along. “Perfect. Keep going. You’re doing great. He’s just a few feet ahead.”

  Haley finally topped the rise of a small hill and gasped. Stephen had positioned his friend in a small clearing of trees. The morning sun filtered down on him, casting Ethan, whose back was to her, in an unearthly glow. His hair shimmered in the light as he continued to play. She moved forward, curious about this…creature-person playing below. Was it even her Ethan anymore?

  As if on cue, the music intensified. His bow flew over the strings as he swayed and spun, lost in his music. A small smile tugged at her ruby red lips. Yes, that was definitely her Ethan. When he practiced, he often lost himself completely to the melody. He’d tell her that in those moments, everything faded away leaving only him, the song, and God.

  “Keep going.” Bekka urged.

  Haley breathed out a long breath, her heart quickening. She really wanted to be with him, knowing he’d warm her up real fast. Her steps quickened for a moment before she remembered she was supposed to be taking this slow.

  As she neared, coming up from behind, she saw that his head was tilted back so the beams of light fell full on his face. She caught a flash of sparkle and wondered again what she might see when she finally reached his side. But as she stepped into the clearing, stretching her hand toward the elfin king violinist, Stephen pointed to the left. “Now.”

  Ethan spun away from her. Haley’s fingers squeezed shut, grasping nothing but air. He’d spun in such a way his back still remained to her.

  “Now, Haley,” Bekka prompted. “Just like we practiced.”

  Haley spun in the opposite direction, the gossamer dress whipping around her slender form, her arms sweeping out to help her keep her balance. For a moment they circled around each other like opposing cogs in a machine. He never lost a note, his movements smooth, almost fluid, so lost was he in playing. Haley closed her eyes and let the music fill her. So beautiful. A bit of a lilting Irish rhythm, before transforming into a somber interval.

  “Reeeady,” Stephan directed. He and Bekka each moved into position. “You’re going to meet in three, spin once more, two and one.”

  When she opened her eyes, she was staring directly up into the brilliant grays of her Ethan, but not. They’d outlined his stormy eyes with dark liner and green shadows. His brown hair that normally hung in long waves over his collar and into his eyes was highlighted with streaks of silver. She hoped that wasn’t permanent, but she liked the way the sunlight danced around his face from the strands of silvery beads and feathers woven into his locks.

  His gaze seemed just as startled as hers. Her arm slid around his waist. He continued to play but leaned forward until their painted lips were a mere inch apart. Oh, but she wanted to kiss him. He gave her a wink while his back was to the camera, then spun away.

  Well, now she wanted to kiss him even more. Blast this role playing stuff! Easy to get carried away when pretending, wasn’t it?

  “Focus, Haley.” Bekka coaxed. “We’re almost there. Somber face. Pout. That’s it.”

  Hard not to pout when she was watching her guy move just out of her reach with that playful smile of his. And that same wink and grin that had won her over the first day they’d met.

  “Arms up, like I showed you, Haley. That’s it.” Bekka moved toward Stephen, and they accidentally bumped into each other. A look passed between the two of them, even a little more smoldering than the one passing between her and the elfin king.

  “Don’t look at the camera!” Bekka hissed.

  Haley almost scolded back, telling them to focus, but didn’t dare break out of character now. She did not want to start all over again from the beginning. One take, they’d agreed. Keep it raw, which was the reason she and Ethan hadn’t seen each other in costume before they started filming.

  Ethan’s bow flew, coming up to the last bit of his song. She spun first one way, then turned and spun the other, thanking the Lord she didn’t grow dizzy and fall on her face. Ethan circled around her as he played, reminding her of how the
devious characters often moved in kid’s movies, bent at the knees, hunched over, movements wide and exaggerated. They were to continue the circling and finally move in together… He hit the last note when they came face-to-face once again. The hand holding his bow swept up and then around her waist and pulled her right up against his body. She slid her arms around his neck, and her fingers found their favorite place, locked into the hair at the nape of his neck. His face lowered in, and Haley knew she was going to kiss him no matter what the script called for.

  Ethan seemed to have the same idea. His lips formed the words, “So beautiful, my Haley.” Before his mouth pressed into hers.

  “Very nice. Cut.” Stephen called out.

  They didn’t bother to cut.

  “Oh, brother.” Stephen whipped up a handful of pine needles and dead leaves and threw them over their heads. “We might need to get a bucket of water to get those two apart.”

  The flash of a camera went off around them. “Ah, cut them a break.” Bekka laughed, the snapping of her camera continuing as she circled. “They’re cute and actually kind of hot, if you want to know.”

  That remark caused a reaction from Ethan who finally broke their kiss. “I don’t know how to feel about my sister saying such a thing.” He kicked at some of the dead foliage, but it didn’t fly very far.

  Haley stood back, watching the three old friends jostling with each other. Her hands covered her mouth that still burned from Ethan’s kiss. Oh, but she loved that violin playing guy of hers, and there was no pretending about that.

  As she watched Bekka and Stephan compare video shots, she couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t some kind of underlying kindling sending up sparks behind the mask of a childhood friendship.

  If there was, neither seemed willing to act on their feelings. Was Haley seeing what she thought she was seeing? Or had she simply got caught up in the silly role playing?