Witch Reborn Box Set: Books 1-3: Includes Gemstone Coven Holiday Shorts 1 & 2

by Belinda White

  The plan was forming in my head, even as I pulled out of the Golden Daze’s driveway. The first thing I needed to know was whether or not Ashley’s accident had truly been an accident. There were a lot of places I could go to try to reason that out, but I might as well start with the main question I wanted answered.

  If the accident had been on the Wind’s Crossing side of things, I could put my mind more at ease. I know Orville doesn’t take his job lightly. If he said it was an accident, then I’d go with that. As long as he gave me his word he checked into all angles of the thing. Which, knowing Orville, wouldn’t be an issue. So, to save myself time and effort, I rang him.

  “Hey, Opal. Everything cool?”

  I didn’t make a habit of bothering him at work, so he had good reason to ask. “Everything’s fine, Orville. I just had a quick question for you. That accident where Ashley Connor died. Was that in Wind’s Crossing, or the next county over?”

  There was a brief moment of silence from his end of the phone. “Why do I suspect that is anything but a quick question, Opal?” Another pause. “Did you find something in that journal that I should know about?”

  I grunted. “You answer my question, and then maybe I’ll answer yours, sheriff.”

  A long drawn out breath came through the phone. “Fine. No, the accident wasn’t in my jurisdiction. So no, more to the point, I wasn’t the investigating officer on the scene.”

  That’s what I’d been afraid of. But a promise was a promise. “Well, it was a quick question, you have to give me that. But yes, the reason behind it might not be so quick to answer. I’m really starting to wonder if that was a simple drunk driving accident. I’ve just finished speaking to someone who feels very strongly that it wasn’t.”

  “And the journals?”

  “Nothing concrete. But the one thing they don’t mention is getting a visit from Ashley. I’m thinking they hid her visit from Malcolm. And if Maude would hide her visit... well, would she be willing to take things a step further and take care of the problem once and for all?”

  “You’re talking a pretty drastic step there, Opal.”

  “I am. But we’re also talking about a pretty drastic amount of money too.”

  “Granted.”

  “So, I’m thinking maybe it all boils down to just how much you trust the investigating sheriff. Is he as good as you are?” I already knew the answer to that one. No one was as good as he was. He knew that, too, even if he didn’t like to admit it.

  The silence was longer this time. In a way, that gave me the answer I was looking for right there.

  “Let’s just say that Sheriff Menard and I have different ways of doing things and leave it at that.”

  Huh. Like that was gonna happen. “Do you think he gave the accident a fair investigation?”

  That darn silence again. I was getting a real bad feeling about this.

  “Look, Opal, I’ve already got to worry about one Ravenswind out doing investigations that should be left to the law. I don’t need another one. Especially if that one is you.”

  “You know you kind of answered my question, right?”

  “Yeah. I never could lie to you. Even when I really, really want to.”

  “That’s a good thing, Sheriff Orville Taylor. Truth is a mighty important quality in a man, you know. A woman too, for that matter.”

  “Would it make you feel better if I called over to Menard’s office and asked a few questions?”

  I thought about it. “Not really. If he didn’t investigate the accident when it happened, why would he start now?” In fact, it might be decidedly better to keep him entirely out of the loop. I didn’t want to have to worry about the man doing something to cover his tracks. Like hiding evidence or something.

  “Well, say the word, and I’ll make the call. It’s legally out of my jurisdiction, so there isn’t much else I can help you with, I’m afraid. We’ll have to rely on what they covered in the newspapers. And that’s a risky proposition at the best of times.”

  “Still don’t seem right to leave it as an accident without looking into it, though, does it? Not with what we know now, anyway.”

  “I’ll give you that. But if you start asking questions, Opal, please tone them down and be nice. I don’t want to walk into your shop someday and see you on the floor. I just don’t think I could take it. And if this is all tied together, like you think it is...”

  “I’ll be careful, Orville. I give you my word as a Ravenswind.”

  “Actually, it’s that Ravenswind part of things that keeps me worried most of the time. Why, oh why, couldn’t I have fallen in love with an ordinary, everyday kind of woman? No, I had to fall for the High Priestess of the Gemstone Coven.”

  Now the silence came from my end. We’d never actually came right out and said the whole “L” word before. That was big.

  “Uh-oh. Did I mess up the order of things somehow? I kind of figured by now you’d know the state of my feelings toward you.” He hesitated. “But don’t feel like you have to say it back. I didn’t mean to put that kind of pressure on you. I’m okay with the way things are... for now.”

  That for now kind of had me worried. Things were the way they were for a very good reason. I couldn’t see that reason changing anytime soon.

  “But while I have you on the phone, I do have one other, very important thing to tell you. And a follow-up question to ask.”

  I swallowed. I was starting to think maybe calling him hadn’t been such a great idea. “Oh?”

  “Yes. I just heard from the coroner’s office. Vince died of massive blunt force trauma. At least the ax wasn’t involved as far as we can tell. And I’m pretty sure that would be easy enough for the coroner to figure out.”

  “And?”

  “And while examining the body, the coroner noted that the man had the worst case of hemorrhoids he’d ever seen. Said they were so bad, they’d probably put pictures of them in a medical journal.” He paused ever so slightly. “Don’t suppose there might be something you’d want to tell me right about now?”

  “Well, let’s just say a High Priestess of the Gemstone Coven has to look after her reputation and leave it at that.”

  “Kind of thought that would be your answer.” A chuckle came over the phone. “I take it you’ve gotten a bit more specific on your Karma spells?”

  “It seemed prudent after the whole Valerie thing.”

  “Yeah, good call. As bad as they were, I’ve never known hemorrhoids to kill a man. Take care, Opal.”

  And while I was still debating whether to end the call with declaring my love for him, too, he hung up. Probably just as well.

  Chapter 14

  There was one stop I desperately wanted to make on the way home. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind of stop one could really do with a baby in hand. So, home it was. I’d have to double back. Might not be the most efficient use of time, but it was what it was.

  By the time we pulled up at the farmhouse, Kimberly’s car was already parked out back, and I could hear Mason and Nancy playing up on the second-floor balcony. I knew they needed some time outdoors, even in the winter, but I didn’t want them to come down with colds, either.

  “Hey you two, don’t stay out too long, you hear me?” I called up to them.

  Nancy’s face popped over the banister railing. “We won’t. Five more minutes and we’ll be in, promise.”

  I’ll admit it made me wonder what they were doing up there. I trusted Nancy, but a ten-year-old witch could get herself into a lot of trouble pretty darn quickly. Nancy might not be an elemental, but then again, she just might. There was power in that girl. I just hadn’t quite figured out her focus yet. I was rather hesitant to help such a young witch figure something like that out. It was kind of like pouring gasoline on a fire.

  Ten years old was far too young for a blazing flame. I was speaking from experience here. My younger self had been far too impatient to receive my magical inheritance. It had caused my mother, Goddess love
her, a whole lot of grief. Not something I wanted a repeat of. Especially as I’d now be wearing my mother’s shoes.

  I dropped baby Pearl off with Kimberly and went up to check on them. It wasn’t like me to do that, but my current train of thoughts had me a little concerned.

  I shouldn’t have been. Yes, the kids were playing with magic, but not the real kind. They were testing out a trick from the old magic kit. Made sense that they were doing it outside when I got close enough to get a whiff.

  “What the devil is that stuff?”

  “Mostly vinegar, but I think maybe it got a little old,” Mason said, waving his hand in front of his nose.

  Nancy blushed. “Sorry, Auntie. I should have known better than to open such an old bottle inside. We’re trying to air it out.” She ducked her head. “Sorry about letting out the heat.”

  I grunted. “Better to let out a little heat, if it takes the smell with it.” I glanced around. “Did you put the cap back on the bottle?”

  She nodded. “As fast as I could. But when that smell hit me, I kinda freaked out and spilled a little.”

  “Well, don’t freeze your bums out here. Come on back inside. Leave the doors and windows open for a bit, and you can both play in Mason’s room, or come downstairs until it clears out. Give it a little time, then you’ll need to scrub out the spot you spilled it on. I’d say best to use some of the special cleaner I keep in my cupboard for that.” That stuff could take out the worst of smells. “Just don’t use too much of it. A tablespoon full on a sponge should do the trick.”

  With the kids taken care of, I made my way thankfully back down into the warm, clean-smelling air of downstairs. I pulled the door shut to Kimberly’s apartment as I passed. No sense in stinking up her place, too.

  “What have the kids gotten into now?”

  I laughed. “Let’s just say bottles in old magic kits are best left unopened. You might not want to go upstairs for a bit.”

  She nodded. “I thought I caught a whiff of something foul.”

  I shrugged. “These things happen. Can’t really blame the kids for this one.”

  Kimberly smiled at me. “You’re a much more relaxed person than I ever would have thought, Opal Ravenswind.”

  “Just don’t go telling people that, okay? I kind of like my reputation of being a hard-nosed witch.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.”

  “Did you have a chance to get your running done?”

  “Yup. Things are now in the works. I’m not ready to talk about it yet, though.” She hesitated. “I hope that doesn’t bother you.”

  “Not at all. When you are willing and wanting to talk, Goddess willing, I’ll still be here to talk to.” I glanced over at baby Pearl sitting happily in her swing. “Would you mind keeping an eye on things here while I make another run of my own? Shouldn’t be gone more than a couple of hours. And I’d be willing to spring for dinner delivery, so you wouldn’t even have to cook.”

  “Well, this is turning out to be a good day all around then. I’ll man the fort here. You do what you need to do.” She leaned over closer to me and sniffed. “But you might want to change clothes before you go.”

  She wasn’t wrong.

  I PULLED INTO THE SMALL tavern’s parking lot. My timing was good. I’d managed to make it back up the hill before happy hour. It was a close call, though. I’d be wanting to get in and out as quick as I could. Bars just weren’t my thing.

  It’s possible that Ashley had visited the much nicer tavern in the main town, but somehow I was betting this was where she had stopped. It helped that it was right at the halfway point between Wind’s Crossing proper and the Golden Daze. To my mind, that would make it the perfect spot to stop and try to clear one’s head before heading to your temporary home away from home.

  I’d know soon enough if my thinking was right.

  The back wall by the door was filled with hooks to hang your coat on. Only a few of them were taken. Not that I had to use that as a way to judge the crowd. There were only two people sitting at the bar, and one man and woman sitting at a table eating.

  I have to admit the food smelled amazing. Maybe I was missing out on not frequenting places like this. I could go for a dinner plate sized tenderloin and onion rings right about now. And was that... a fried veggie platter? Oh, I was so ordering one of those!

  I hesitated for a moment. It would be easier to just take a seat at a table and have the waitress come to me. But the one I really wanted to talk to was the bartender. At least for starters. Besides, I didn’t want to give them the idea that I’d be sticking around to eat here. I definitely wanted my food to go.

  The stools were high, but I perched myself on one as daintily as I could. The bartender, a young bearded man with tattoos from shoulders to fingertips, grinned at me.

  “How can I help you, Ma’am?” It wasn’t hard to hear the laughter at the back of his voice.

  “How does one go about ordering around here? I’d love a takeout of two of your tenderloins and two of the fried veggie baskets.” I’d have to remember to call Kimberly and stop her from adding our dinners to the delivery order. Although, most likely, she’d be ordering pizza, and it never hurt to have leftover pizza in the fridge. Somehow, it never lasted for more than a day with kids in the house.

  “I can help you with that.” He jotted something down on an order pad and handed it off to a waitress. “Now what can I do about your thirst?”

  The devil in me wanted to do something outrageous. Like order one of those ultra-naughty sounding drinks. I knew the names of them from reading. Unfortunately, what I didn’t know was what was in the darn things. My luck it would be Tequila or something hard like that. And I had the drive home to think of.

  “Plain coke would be fine.”

  “Color me surprised,” he said, grinning to take the sting out. “I hope you don’t mind, but you don’t come into places like this much, do you?”

  I arched an eyebrow at him. “And you don’t get tipped much, do you?”

  “Ouch.” His grin never faltered though. “I deserved that. But you have to admit, you don’t exactly look like our normal clientele, right?”

  I glanced around. Jeans, tee-shirts, and flannel shirts all over the place. Well, except for the bartender, who chose to show off his muscular tatted arms in a tank top. Working at a bar must be hot work. Then I glanced down at my simple black dress with a gold cinched belt, covered with a simple, but I like to think stylish, gray overcoat. I’d chosen to keep the coat with me for a speedier exit. That was before I had smelled the food.

  “I suppose you do have a point there.”

  He nodded to the back wall. “You can hang your coat if you like. The food will take a bit.”

  I drew the coat closer to me. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

  He shrugged, then popped the top on a clear glass bottle of Coke and handed it to me. “Here you go. If there’s anything else you need, just say the word. My name is Gray, by the way.”

  His smile was starting to be a tad infectious. I found myself smiling back. “Thank you, Gray. My name is Opal. Nice to meet you.”

  One hand flew to his chest, and he staggered back a foot in mock shock. “It can’t be! Please tell me you’re the infamous Opal Ravenswind I’ve been hearing so much about, and you will make my entire year!”

  My smile turned a little crooked. “Don’t you mean to say famous rather than infamous?”

  He just grinned at me and leaned in. “My words stand.” His voice lowered, and he glanced around us. No one was paying us or our conversation much mind. Or at least they were trying very hard to make it seem that way, anyway. “Are you really that Opal?”

  I straightened the tiniest bit on the stool. Not that I’m in the habit of slouching, mind you. “I am. And I’d be interested in hearing exactly what it is you’ve heard about me, but I have a few questions for you first, if you don’t mind.”

  Gray stood back up and wiped the bar in front of me to give
him an excuse to still be standing there. “Shoot away, I’m a pretty open guy.”

  “How long have you been working here?”

  He thought for a minute. “About a year and a half now. Started out as a cook, if you can believe it. Turns out, I have a better gift at tending bar.”

  “I can see that.” I hesitated. “Were you working the bar last spring? Well, late winter actually. Around the first of March?”

  His eyes narrowed, getting a knowing look to them. Once more he leaned in, this time lowering his voice even more. I’d chosen the end stool for more than just one reason. It should be hard for the other patrons to hear us as long as we kept it down. The jukebox music would cover us pretty well.

  “Is this about that Connor woman?”

  I tilted my head at him. “You’ve got a good brain in that head of yours, Gray. It is, indeed. Were you working that night?”

  He nodded, and for the first time, his smile slipped. “I was.” He glanced nervously behind him. “And I read the papers the next morning too. The headline about her being drunk and driving? She sure as shootin’ wasn’t drunk when she left here. She had one drink. One, and she ate an order of fries while she drank it too. She was stone-cold sober when she left. I’d swear to it.”

  “I’m going to read between the lines here and say you don’t think her driving off the road was an accident?”

  Gray glanced behind him again. Then he pulled off a sheet from the order book and scribbled something on the back of it before handing it to me. “I’ve said all I have to say.” Then he whispered. “Here.”

  The paper had a phone number on it, and I could take a hint. I didn’t protest when he moved down the bar to tend to the other folk. The place started filling in with people, and as soon as my food came out, I paid my bill and left.

  Gray got a pretty darn good tip too.