He stepped from my dreams
Mark Stewart
Synopsis: After slipping overboard from her father’s expensive yacht, Elizabeth makes it to a small island. She wakes to a man storming up the beach. He’s not happy and orders her off the island. Elizabeth soon discovers his secret of why he wants to be alone.
Copyright: He stepped from my dreams. 2011 Mark Stewart. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author. This story is fictitious and a product of the author’s imagination. Resemblance to any actual person living or dead is purely coincidental
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This E book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This E book can be shared with other people, but can’t be sold or made into another form without consent from the author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
ELIZABETH SQUINTED in the bright sunlight. She slowly curled her fingers in the sand. “I’m alive,” she whispered. “I’m alive.” She struggled to a sitting position and looked around.
“Hey you, sitting on the sand, get off my island.”
The girl turned her throbbing head in the direction of the voice. She could vaguely make out the figure of a man. He wore a deep frown under sand coloured eyebrows. He was storming up the beach towards her. She gave a lazy smirk at the man’s bright red shirt flapping in the cool breeze.
“Get off my island,” called the man, pointing at the water’s edge. The man abruptly stopped and towered over the girl. His short shadow plunged her face into shade. Elizabeth sensed his aggression as he hovered over her like a cloud. “Get off my island,” the man hissed for the third time. “You are trespassing on private property.”
His words washed about Elizabeth’s brain like they were in a washing machine. Her ears filled with her heartbeat.
“You are poisoning my island. Kindly remove one’s-self.”
“Gee you’re rude.”
“How did you get here?”
“I could say the same.”
“Girlie, do not argue.”
Elizabeth clapped a sandy hand over her mouth to muffle her giggling. She rose to her feet and stood in front of the man, swaying.
“Why are you giggling?”
Elizabeth looked deep into the man’s striking blue eyes. Her heart fluttered and her knees buckled. She felt the first pangs of love. “Your choice of words.”
“You snobby little brat. What do you know about English? And look at you, prancing around my island with no clothes on.”
“I’m not a snobby little brat. I’m not prancing around, I was sitting, and further more I have clothes on.”
The man snickered. “You call that, that flimsy piece of material clothing?”
Elizabeth used all her strength to place both hands on her hips, only to have them slip off. “Yes I do. This dress is the cutting edge of fashion.”
“I know about fashion. What is liked today is hated tomorrow.”
“I can’t see a house, where do you live?” said the girl looking around. “All I see are sand dunes and wild grass.”
The man pointed a long piano finger behind him. “Over that sand hill.”
“Want to show me?”
“No,” he snapped.
“I’m Elizabeth Macomb. You are?”
“No one important. Furthermore it is none of your business, Beth.”
Elizabeth succeeded in placing trembling hands on her hips. “That’s not my name.”
“On my island I do and say what I like.” The man glanced about him. “I cannot see your boat. Who brought you here?”
Beth lowered her gaze and watched loose sand move around her feet. “I was washed overboard last night from my stepfather’s yacht.”
“Judging by what you are wearing, I deduce your stepfather owns a large expensive yacht.”
Beth smiled. “It’s thirty five metres long.”
“I repeat what I said before.”
“And that is?”
“You are a snotty little rich.”
“Hey, I’m not. Besides, you called me a snobby little.”
“Brat,” cut in the man. “You are a frustrating little child.”
“I’m not a child. I’m 19 and 4 months. How old are you?”
“Twenty, if you really must know. Excuse me I have things to do. You have poisoned my mind with your beauty long enough. You have permission to stay on the beach. Your stepfather, if he’s looking for you, will not be far away.”
The man turned sharply on his heels and stormed up the beach in large hurried strides.
Elizabeth had to scurry to keep up. “Hey, don’t leave. My stepfather didn’t know I was on his yacht. I stowed away hoping to see the new millennium in by kissing a stranger. Every night I dream a rich bachelor will carry me off into the sunset.”
“Child’s romantic nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense, and what’s the stuff you picked up?”
“Nothing. My things do not concern you.”
“Doesn’t look like nothing. Stop walking so fast, I’ve a headache.”
The man smirked and without breaking stride said. “No doubt from too much champagne.”
Beth caught up to the mystery man at a door resting against a sand hill. “You live here? Underground?”
The man turned and grinned at Beth’s puzzled look. “I built my house in a natural valley between two sand hills then covered the roof with sand.”
Beth followed the man inside, waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness and gasped. “I love this place. Everything’s neat and tidy. Table, chair, door, closet, a man’s castle, but barren of a woman’s touch.”
The stranger watched Beth as she skimmed her gaze around the room. “If you are thirsty there is fresh water in the bucket on your left.”
“What’s in the closet?” asked Beth, moving towards a small door on her right.
“Do not open that door. The closet does not concern you.”
“Either it’s your treasure, or you cleaned up and threw everything inside because you knew I’d come back here.”
“You couldn’t be more further from the truth. I like my privacy. Do not even think about opening that closet door.”
Beth reached out her hand and curled her long thin fingers around the small door handle. The closet door easily swung open. “Oops,” she said in a sigh as she poked her head through the door. “Hey I love your treasure. You own amazing paintings. The way the artist lets the brush flow over the canvas and the colours that the artist used are excellent.” She twisted her head and stared at the stranger. His eyes caused electricity to flow into her spirit.
“Those paintings are all rejects,” he said.
Beth’s jaw dropped open. “They’re perfect. Look, the artist has initialed each one. MC.” She looked into the man’s blue eyes. “No, you can’t be, surely not. You are. I can tell by the way your lips curl upwards at the ends. You’re Miles Churchill the famous painter aren’t you?”
“Yes. I hid those paintings. They are embarrassing.”
“I disagree. They’re perfect. I know my knowledge of painting is limited, but I believe if you try and sell these you’d get a fortune.”
“What would you know about the art world?”
“I’m studying to be a painter at Uni.” Beth looked over the top of the painting and spied a door. “Miles, what’s behind that door?”
“Do not go in there.”
She didn’t listen and rushed the door and used an enticing voice. “You want to give me a guided tour of the bedroom. Come on, don’t be shy, I won’t bite.”
“I do not believe in jumping into bed with just any woman.”
“Me too.” Beth’s shoulders sagged slightly then she brightened. “You believe in love at first sight?”
“No.”
“Don’t you get lonely? For a woman I mean?”
Miles stepped up to Beth and parted her sand covered blonde hair from her young face. He smiled for the first time. “Sometimes,” he whispered, and gently touched her cheek with his fingers.
She smiled and snuggled her head into his hand. “How do you cope?”
“Come, I will show you.”
Miles took Beth’s hand and led her along a narrow sandy track. By the time they reached the plateau on the next sand hill, Miles had a grin reaching from ear to ear.
“This plateau is the islands highest point. This is my island’s secret. I knew when I found this place I had to own her.”
Beth stood and stared out over the land and the water. The sea breeze blew warmly across her face. She gently squeezed Miles’ hand. “The view, it’s magnificent,” she puffed. “It takes your breath away.”
“You can see three hundred and sixty degrees of ocean. Up to now the view was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. To me the ocean had great colours, and radiated beauty and warmth. But now, when I look into your eyes the view of the ocean has grown cloudy and cold.”
“What do you mean?” asked Beth, struggling to peel her gaze from the view.
“Beth, you have not heard a word I have said.”
“Miles, you have a helicopter.”
“You are good at changing the subject. Come, I will fly you home.”
For the next two weeks Beth watched the sky. She saw the helicopter long before she heard it and ran to her stepfather’s private airstrip. She watched the helicopter land and, beaming, rushed the pilot’s door before the blades had slowed. She yelled over the helicopter’s reverberating throb.
“It’s great to see you, but I thought you loved solitude.”
Miles climbed from the helicopter and looked deep into Beth’s eyes. “Thanks to you I sold a painting from my closet today for twenty thousand dollars. Beth, I spent the money on a gift for you.” He knelt on one knee and looked up into the girl’s deep brown eyes.
“What on earth are you up to?”
“I know we met only two weeks ago, but inside I feel like I have known you for years. I do believe in love at first sight.” Miles produced the gift and thrust it upwards. “Beth, will you marry me? If you say yes, then both of us will be lonely no longer.”
Beth frowned and reached out her hand to open the red velvet box. For a long time she didn’t reply.
Miles lowered his gaze and stood. “I can tell your answer is no?” He turned to leave.
“No,” said Beth, forcefully.
Miles turned and faced the girl. “I’m confused over your answer.”
Beth smiled. “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I will marry you.”
Miles stretched out his arms and swept her into a bear hug. Their lips melted together as they embraced.
Beth suddenly pulled back. She clutched at his hand. Her words came as a whisper. “Miles, my dream has come true.”
Miles grinned back and said. “Both our dreams have come true.”
Dear reader,
thank you for reading my short story ‘He stepped from my dreams.’ I do hope you enjoyed it. Any feedback is gratefully accepted. The information you, the reader give, helps me to become a more professional author.
My novels and short stories are based on the Australian culture. Some of the spelling is Australian. Thanks for your understanding.
Again thank you for your support, for without you, the reader, I wouldn’t have anyone to read my work.
Mark Stewart
Email: mark_stewart777@hotmail.com
www.markstewart.com.au
Other novels I have written in the way of romance are: Kiss on the bridge. The perfect gift: Legendary blue diamond. Due out 10th April 2012. A vampire romance is the blood red rose and the tainted rose will follow shortly.
Crime novels: Fire Games/ publish America. Heart of a spider and I know your secret.
Children: A Troglian knows and Luke’s cubby house. Malcolm’s cubby house is completely different/ publish America.
Smashwords has various short stories.
Below is the opening page of my novels in order that I have listed them:
Synopsis: Kiss on the bridge. Adventure romance. Available Smashwords.
How would you react if a tall handsome stranger came up to you on new-years-eve and asked for a kiss?
Kiss on the bridge is set in the year 1974. Cyclone Tracy made land fall in Darwin on 25th December 1974 at 9:55am desecrating Darwin. After Tracy had swept the state there was nothing left except this story. Out of the ruins love sparked and mushroomed between Anneli and Wade. They were destined to meet and tell their story for decades to come.
Synopsis: The Perfect Gift. Adventure romance. Available Smashwords.
Naomi is twenty-six and doesn’t like the way all men mistreat her. She decides a change is needed and applies to be a jillaroo on a cattle station named the Oasis. Its location is in outback Australia. She meets a cowboy, Trent, who is a rodeo champion. They agree on a bet. Eventually both want out, but neither wants to be first.
Through a series of adventures that stretch from the city, to a fast flowing river in the outback where Trent must save Naomi from drowning, love germinates in the middle of a storm.
In her heart, Naomi is a woman who adores the city’s nightlife, but as the sun sets on each day, the Australian outback is enticing and the excitement of the city fades. Then she inadvertently saves the Oasis.
Love is growing, then Brandt; Naomi’s obsessive ex-boyfriend tracks her down. Can Trent save her one last time?
Synopsis: Legendary Blue Diamond. Adventure romance. Available April 20th 2012
HISTORIANS AND researchers say the birth of the legendary blue diamond originated when the earth was being born. Some say the legend commenced at the union between a man who had skin, the colour of the night sky and a woman who had skin the colour of the sun. Rumour has it that the diamond was no larger than a single carrot. Lately there have been whispers that the deep blue coloured diamond was reported to be in excess of nine carrots possibly even ten or higher. What I believe isn’t important, though I assume it lays somewhere in between. There’s been bush talk from the Australian Kimberley’s to Melbourne; whosoever touches the blue stone will die, for it is cursed by God. I believe it is due to man’s greed and the blood that drips from his hands is the truth behind the cursed stone.
I have extensively researched a great number of books on the subject looking for a start date to the authenticity of the legend. I think I may have uncovered the actual events, but I have no way of proving if the facts are correct. I have been able to ascertain the legend was born around the mid 1800’s AD when the State bank of Victoria was in its infancy. A gold prospector unearthed the diamond. In days he had sold it. The buyer was a man in charge of the bank. The diamond was indeed dark blue in colour, but definitely a one off, stroke of luck find. One cold dark night a bushranger, his brother and a third man came into a small town searching for the blue diamond. They never found it. The banker was tortured for the information of the stone’s where-a-bouts. He took the knowledge of its existence to his grave. Of late a possible theory has been circulating that the man’s wife has it in her possession. How she escaped from being murdered was any one’s guess.
If you ask me, do I believe in the story, I’ll answer you truthfully. I know it only to be a legend.
Synopsis: Blood Red Rose. Vampire adventure romance. Available on Smashwords.
“You can’t force me to drink that, I’m innocent,” yelled Haleton. “Rose-a-lee what have you done?”
There was no reply.
William Haleton is a normal man looking for love and the good life then the council of four modifies his DNA and uses him as a guinea pig. They transform him into a vampire. Pleading his innocence falls on deaf ears.
Haleton is hungry for the next evil soul, but deep down he has a burning desire for the love of a girl. Her blood is sweet and hypnotic. Her genetic makeup is his perfect match.
Being transported again through time is not an option.
The clock is ticking.
Haleton will do anything to stay by Amber’s side, but is it possible for her to love him? Can Craig Benyon, Amber’s close friend, be trusted? After all he loves her as much as William Haleton.
If an antidote to the vampire’s curse is found in time, will it be successful, or is everything Haleton going through part of the vampire curse?
Synopsis: Fire Games. Crime. First book in the series. Available only from publish America.
Detective Alan Kendal puts his life on the line to outplay the psychotic arsonist known as Patrick.
Detective Kendal is ordered to team up with Detective Claire Ambroso, whom he’s known since school, but she carries a secret and he has a grey past. Which one will come forward to haunt first? Kendal grows suspicious of his new partner when she aims her gun directly at him and pulls the trigger. What’s her motive? Is she Patrick’s accomplice? If not, who is?
How can Patrick always be one step ahead? Does Kendal have enough time to rescue his kidnapped twelve-year-old daughter, Tegan, before Patrick’s fiery finale?
Synopsis: Heart of a spider. Crime. Second book in the series. Available Smashwords.
Detective Kendal is on the trail of a patient who has escaped the mental institution and wants to sever Kendal’s life line. The chase is complicated by the visitation of a ghost and the appearance of a supposed vigilante.
Kendal doesn’t believe in ghosts, but finds himself having a conversation as he stares at one. His partner, Claire Ambroso has to fight for her life when Kendal is told to meet GP at the wharf when the moon is at the highest point in the night sky.
Confusion sets in at a local supermarket when a robbery goes wrong and someone in Kendal’s family is shot.
The trap is set for the person who masterminded the escape and a final shoot out at the hospital reveals amazing results that astounds even Kendal.
Synopsis: I know your secret. Crime. Third book in the series. Available Smashwords.
Everyone has a secret. Some people take theirs to the grave. Some hold their desires inside for a lifetime. Some stew on their secret all their life, and then they get revenge.
I know your secret is a suspenseful crime novel. Melbourne homicide detective Alan James Kendal and his partner Detective Claire Ambroso have to locate a missing teenage girl. The case hots up when he is introduced to a medium. She seems to hold all the knowledge of the case except a few minor details, like, why did Kendal find an empty bullet shell that had a note inside that read, ‘I was paid to miss.’