Summer Romance (Harbor Moon) Read online

  Harbor Moon

  Summer Romance

  T.L. Mitchell

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Celeris Publishing

  USA

  Copyright © 2010 by T.L. Mitchell

  ISBN-13: 9781937629526

  ISBN-10: 193762952X

  Third Edition Celeris Publishing, March 2013

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.

  Prologue

  My name is Deanna Lansford, and there is one thing for certain in my life, I’m average. I’m sixteen and I find life more challenging every day. This summer is no different. My father, a surgeon, took a job at Lakeview Hospital, in the small town of Twin Harbor, Michigan. When he mentioned small town, my heart dropped.

  On the positive side, our summer vacation is staying the same. We will spend a week at Leech Lake, where my father will fish with his camping buddies. Mom will meet with the other women and cook. Hopefully, I will see some of my summer friends from last year.

  In spite of myself, I’m looking forward to the camping trip. At least it will add some excitement to my ordinarily average life.

  Summer is always the worst for me. As an only child, I always have to find something to do to entertain myself. When the week of vacation is over, Dad will begin work at the hospital. I will be left to help Mom unpack the house and then maybe I can find some time to read. Maybe I can check out the local library. I wonder what life will be like in Two Harbors. From what I’ve heard there is no crime, no drugs, and no teen clubs. Sounds like Dullsville to me.

  My dad, David Lansford, is a pretty good dad. Most people say I look more like him than my mother, which is kind of funny since I’m adopted. He’s kind of short with sandy brown hair and not what you would call the picture of fitness. He’s not overweight or anything, just average. Sometimes I look back at pictures of him when he and mom got married. He hasn’t changed much except for that little bit of extra weight.

  Sandy, my mom, is actually about the same height as my dad. I think she’s five-seven, so dad must be about five-eight. Anyway, she has dark brown hair and brown eyes. Mom is very attractive, at least we think so. She’s slender has a beautiful oval face with a warm and motherly smile. She doesn’t dress too fancy, but she always looks nice. I think the best word to describe her is classy.

  I twirled a piece of hair around my finger and looked at it. I’m not crazy about my blondish-brown hair color, but I do like my eyes. They are this really cool silvery blue, but that’s about all that makes me worth looking at. I’m an average height and average weight. Yep, just about everything about me is average. Then we got to the campground…

  Chapter 1

  We arrived at Leech Lake around 7:00 p.m., giving us about an hour and forty-five minutes before the sun set. Dad drove the same old motor home, and I wondered if we were even going to make it this time. Dad sort of swapped for it from one of his patients. It wasn’t that bad I guess, just had some minor engine problems every now and then. Personally, I think Dad put more money into the old bucket than it was worth, but he loved it.

  The two hundred twenty-one acre lake was just like I remembered it, nothing had really changed. The water still smelled fishy and the air from the forest was still cool. Even the fish still made the tiny plop sounds in the lake. I guess this was when Dad became all excited. It was all he could do to contain himself from rushing out into the middle of the lake. But all in all it was very peaceful and beautiful.

  Dad pulled the camper up to the camping sight and he and Mom started setting things up for the night. Of course I helped set out the table and the camping equipment. I had to admit, going camping in an RV had its advantages over camping in tents.

  Our usual camping neighbors hadn’t arrived. They would be here tomorrow. So it left Dad plenty of time to unravel his fishing gear, and try out his new rod and reel. Dad swore to us that he would catch the “BIG ONE” this year. Mom and I knew better, but agreed with him wholeheartedly.

  After an evening of eating hamburgers and hotdogs cooked on the grill, Mom and Dad settled in their lawn chairs by the lake. There wasn’t much to do so I did a little reading.

  I’d just gotten deep into the chapter when I heard voices outside the camper. Out of curiosity, I put the book down and peered through the blinds. It was a local park ranger. I could tell from the hat he was wearing. Before I could make it out the door he was gone.

  “So what did he want?” I asked.

  “Oh the park ranger? He’s new here, Bill Matthews. He just wanted to stop by and introduce himself. Also make sure we keep all food and trash picked up immediately. He said one of the other campers said they had seen some wolves and bears nearby on the trails,” Dad said.

  Mom of course backed him with her stern voice. “Yes, and that means no venturing off by yourself.”

  “Okay,” was all I could think of to say. “Wolves? There haven’t been any wolves in this area since we’ve been coming here.”

  “Well, apparently there are now. So let’s just take the man’s advice and be careful…okay?” Dad made me promise.

  “Okay.” I replied and turned to go back to my reading. Nothing like becoming absorbed in a good book to take the boredom away.

  That night, everything was pretty quiet, except for the over abundance of frogs croaking loudly around the lake. Mom and Dad were in the back, sound asleep. Dad’s snoring, loud enough to wake the dead, kept me awake. So I closed my eyes and focused on other sounds of the night, trying to ignore the wood sawing machine in the back of the RV.

  At first, I thought I was dreaming when I heard it, a high pitch howl. The sound rose in pitch and flowed down to a low growl. My eyes flew open. Was that what a wolf sounded like? I had never seen a wolf before, at least not close up. I thought about some of the romance stories I’d read about vampires and werewolves. Were there really people out there that could change into wolves? As absurd as it sounded, I wanted to believe it could happen.

  Maybe I’d read too many books where the author painted beautiful pictures of paranormal romances with vampires and shape-shifters. Maybe I needed something exciting in my normally boring life. Still, the legends of werewolves had to start from some aspect of truth. They always did. I knew most of the werewolf legends and they were portrayed as evil creatures turning into monsters under a full moon. Of course, most of these stories were created by great story tellers with vivid imaginations. Oh well, it would still be interesting to meet someone who actually could turn into a wolf. Maybe they weren’t all evil.

  I heard the sound again. This time the growls were louder, more fierce. I wanted so badly to go and investigate, to rid myself of this insane curiosity. I guess my over active imagination resulting from such a boring life had finally driven me to the brink of insanity. But deep down inside, I dreamed of meeting some handsome young man that would sweep me off my feet. I just wanted him to love me forever, even if he was a vampire or werewolf. I didn’t care. He just had to be hot.

  I laughed and even to myself I sounded delusional. The reality of that happening was really non-existent. For some reason, I wasn’t attractive enough for the boys at my school. No one ever asked me out on a date. I learned to live with it as a part of my dull life. Deanna Langford, average high school girl; that was me. If I consider the possibility that the town of Two Harbors consisted of a
grand population of 3,287 people, that’s what my dad told me. He also said the student population was 700. Well, do the math. My options were going to be limited to say the least. I could dream about it though. That’s why I love to read. The books helped create a fantasy world for me to escape my ordinarily dull life.

  The night grew silent. The howling stopped, and my dad sounded like he hit a knot in the tree he was sawing. I turned over on my bed and pulled the cover tight around my neck. It was going to take some relaxation techniques to fall asleep tonight. Hopefully, tomorrow would be a brighter day.

  CHAPTER 2

  Well as far as boredom went, today topped the charts. Dad went fishing, while Mom went to the little grocery store around the corner to pick up a few things. I spent time writing my friends letters of how wonderful the same old scenery was here at the campsite. No more news to report. After the letters were written and stamped, I wanted to drop them off at the camping post just a mile back down the road. At least I would have something to do, like ride my bike for a change.

  Dad had warned me to stay close to the campsite because of the wolves. No problem, I could follow the main road back and not go on the trails. How much trouble could I get into there? It was time to let Dad know my plans, so I pulled my cell phone out and gave him a call.

  “Hello?”

  “Any luck out there?” I knew he didn’t catch anything on the first day.

  “No nothing yet, but the day’s still young. Did your mom leave to get the fish fry?”

  “Yeah, she left about 20 minutes ago. Dad?”

  “Yeah Honey?”

  “I wrote some letters to my friends and I’m going to ride down on my bike to mail them.”

  “Okay, but stay off the trails and on the main road. Remember what the Park Ranger told us yesterday about the wolves?”

  “Yes Dad. No problem. I’ll be careful.”

  The weather was nice and there was plenty of shade along the main road. I made it to the camp post site in no time flat. The post site was a log cabin where we checked in upon our arrival. I pulled my bike up to the curb and leaned it against the side of the building.

  Clutching the letters I followed the concrete walkway to the front door and walked inside. It was just as I remembered. It smelled like wood and had fishing gear, odds and ends, and plenty of snack foods for sale. They even had a refrigerator installed for eggs, milk and the most important camping staple, beer.

  “Good morning Mrs. Grishman,” I greeted the older grey haired woman behind the counter, stocking donuts.

  Her head popped up and a smile graced her lips. Her aging eyes twinkled with delight when she saw me.

  “Well good morning! Deanna isn’t it?”

  “Yes Ma’am. I’ve got a few letters to mail.”

  “Why sure, I’ll take care of those for you. How are your parent’s doing? I wasn’t here when you arrived the other day.”

  “They’re fine. Dad’s out on the boat trying to catch the big one,” I said sarcastically bringing out a laugh from the both of us.

  “Well,” she chuckled. “He’d be the first.”

  I handed her my mail. “Thanks, Mrs. Grishman.”

  “Tell your parents hello for me.”

  I turned and headed out of the store, glancing over my shoulder. “I will.”

  When I turned, the jingle from the bell on the front door didn’t warn me in time. I ran into something that felt like a brick wall. I staggered backward and looked up into the eyes of the most handsome guy I had ever seen. He was at least six foot tall, dark hair and almost coal black eyes. From the feel of his body, he was pure muscle. I caught a quick breath. My eyes lowered to the floor. “I’m sorry,” I muttered sheepishly.

  “Nice.” He breathed.

  I wasn’t sure if he meant it sarcastically or not, but I didn’t want to stick around to find out. I rudely shoved past him and out the front door.

  “Hey!” the male voice called out behind me. I turned to see him following behind me.

  “Wait! You forgot something!”

  “What?” There wasn’t anything I had forgotten.

  “I need to get your license plate or at least a name so I can file a police report on the hit and run.” The right eyebrow rose while his lips twitched fighting back a smile.

  My face burned from the rush of blood. Oh my God, he was flirting with me.

  “I said I was sorry,” I replied bashfully.

  “I still didn’t get that name.” He flashed me a toothy smile, one that made me want to melt into the grass beneath my sneakers.

  My eyelids fluttered. “Deanna Lansford.”

  He moved closer extending his hand. “Well Miss Lansford, my name is Eric. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  I couldn’t hold back the giggle. He had to be seventeen, eighteen at the most and he talked like an old man. “Nice to meet you, Eric.”

  “How long are you going to be here?”

  “About a week.”

  “Great. Nice meeting you.” He smiled broadly and turned away to go back into the store.

  A little shocked and confused, I tried to set the thought aside, but it wouldn’t rest. How could I get that dreamy hunk out of my mind? Maybe this wasn’t going to be a bad summer after all. I smiled as I got back on my bike.

  When I returned to the campsite Mom was talking with the Blankenships, one of our camping neighbors. Jenny Blankenship, their daughter, waved her hand cheerfully when she saw me pull up.

  “Deanna!” She squeaked in a high pitched voice.

  Jenny reminded me of myself, in a lot of ways. She too had the same issue with boys. We never really could figure out if the age thing had anything to do with it. Mom always told me that girls mature faster than boys. Yeah, I believe that. The immature boys at the high school proved to be true, not to mention the ones here at the campsite.

  Within only a few minutes, Jenny reminded me how cruel the boys were around here. One of them actually chased her around with a large frog. These guys just didn’t quit! The Blankenships hadn’t been there more than a half an hour and already Jenny was the center of foul play. I suppose luck kept me from those unfortunate events. I cringed at the thought of what they would do to me.

  Still, I wondered about this new guy Eric. Would he be as cruel? Anything was possible, so it was best I keep my guard up just in case.

  That night there were no more wolves howling, but I had the strangest dream about wolves. Maybe it was related to the howling from the night before and all the talk about wolves at the campground, I don’t know, but it was so weird.

  When the dream started I was walking along the campsite trail at night. The trail was barely lit by the moon. The woods surrounding me remained dark and gloomy. A mist from the lake flowed silently through the woods, lingering softly against the thick green foliage.

  Somewhere in the distance I heard a wolf howl, sorrowful wails penetrating the night’s thick air. Moving forward, I entered the woods and followed the sound. It didn’t take long before I saw the large black wolf. He turned toward me, staring at me with those yellow eyes. Chills swept over me when his lips curled over his teeth. A low growl emanated from his throat.

  Suddenly, a bow and arrow appeared in my hands. Aiming for the wolf, I raised my arms to send the arrow of death into the beast. It was just something I knew I had to do. Before I could release the arrow, the wolf bolted. Immediately I followed. I became the hunter and the wolf my prey.

  Chapter 3

  It was the Fourth of July, the day where everyone came together to share in a family style picnic, bonfire and fireworks. Dad and Mr. Blankenship were on the boat fishing, of course, while Mom and Jennifer’s mother worked on the picnic foods.

  Jennifer and I had our little girl talk about boys and caught up on all the internet gossip with our laptops. Not to mention the number of texts from her friends. In a way I envied her. She had so many friends. My texting consisted of Grandma and my dad. He would send me pictures of each fish he c
aught. Real cool, Dad!

  “You look tired,” Jennifer told me.

  For some reason that I couldn’t explain, I didn’t want to discuss with my crazy dream of hunting a wolf with Jennifer, so I said, “Yeah, I didn’t sleep very good. My dad snores.” We laughed. I chalked the dream up to my subconscious processing what the Park Ranger mentioned about wolves and bears. However, I did mention Eric.

  “You know, this might be a good sign,” Jennifer said.

  My fingers drummed on the side of my diet drink can. “Oh yeah, as if someone like him would be interested in someone like me,” I huffed.

  Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Really? You actually think you’re that bad? Deanna, apparently you haven’t taken a good look at yourself in the mirror.”

  I stared at her, one eyebrow raised.

  “Okay,” she snorted. “So you’re not a cheerleader or the most popular girl in school, but you got some sex appeal. Your eyes are to die for. I wish my brown peepers were that color. With a little make up those puppies would pop!”

  I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Then I confessed, “Okay, let’s just say I might be interested in this smokin’ hot guy. I’ve never even kissed a boy before!”

  Adding to my humiliation, Jennifer laughed.

  “Okay, so you’re laughing. I suppose you’ve kissed plenty of guys,” I sneered.

  Jennifer’s eyes twinkled. “I’m sorry. The look on your face was funny. Okay, so I have kissed a few guys. There’s nothing to it.”

  “I hate to embarrass myself,” I admitted reluctantly.

  “You’re not going to embarrass yourself. Trust me! Mr. Hottie probably has you on the top of his To Be Kissed List!”

  “Jennifer, you’re sick…you know this right?” I raised my eyebrows and coughed out a laugh.