Ribbing and Runes
Page 19
Who tried a man’s fate to switch
Her punishment set
To Ireland she must get
But better than feathers and pitch!
From Cork city, I got a bus, though I vowed to come back and explore the pretty city when I was settled. Finally, jet-lagged and travel-weary, I arrived in my new home. The town of Ballydehag.
The bus let me off in front of Finnegan’s Grocery. As the curly-haired driver retrieved my two heavy suitcases from the storage compartment underneath the bus, I thanked him. He replied, “Good luck to you, ma’am.”
There’s a way of wishing a person luck that sounds like you actually wish them good things, and then there’s a way of wishing a person good luck that sounds more like, “What on earth have you done?”
I was wondering what on earth I’d done, too, but I was here, now. I pulled my phone out with the address of my new home and then stared vaguely about me. I had no idea where I was, except that this was clearly the main street of a pretty Irish village. The street was lined with shops. A couple of old men in caps sat outside a coffee shop regarding me. I wondered if the arrival of the bus from Cork was a big event. And didn’t that say a lot about how exciting this town was?
I couldn’t think of anything else to do but go into Finnegan’s and hope whoever worked there might know Rose Cottage.
I didn’t think my suitcases would even fit through the narrow front door of the shop, and besides, this didn’t look like much of a high-crime area, so I pushed my two cases up against the white plaster wall and walked in.
It was like stepping into the past. Narrow rows with shelves of groceries stretched from ceiling to floor and seemed to contain everything from eggs to pest-control products.
I heard voices and turned to the right and the only checkout. A plump woman with curly gray hair stood behind the counter. She wore a green cardigan with the sleeves rolled up her wrists and all the mother-of-pearl buttons done up. The edge of the sweater was scalloped, and the collar of a crisp, white blouse framed her face. She was gossiping with two customers who stood on the opposite side of the counter. “Hello?” I interrupted.
The three stopped talking and all turned to stare at me. I smiled brightly and tried to look nonthreatening. “I’m wondering if you can help me. Do you have the number of a taxi?”
They all looked at each other as though they had never heard the word taxi before. “A taxicab?” I tried again. “I’m trying to get to a place called Rose Cottage. Do you know where that is?”
The man, tall and thin with pale blue eyes, looked as though a great puzzle had been solved. “Rose Cottage. Ah.” He nodded. The other two nodded as well.
There was silence. Me again? “Could you direct me to Rose Cottage? I have two suitcases outside. I was hoping to get a cab to take me there.”
The man scratched his head. “I could fetch me wheelbarrow.”
The woman behind the counter shook her head at him. “A wheelbarrow. Honestly. I can drive you around, love. It’s not far. Danny, you come and stand behind this counter, and if anyone wants to buy anything, you just write down what it is, or they can wait until I get back. I won’t be a minute.”
Was this woman actually going to leave her post to drive a complete stranger? “I don’t want to take you away from your work,” I stammered.
“Oh, it’s no trouble. And you’ve chosen a good time. We’re not very busy.”
Danny looked quite pleased to walk behind the counter and stand there very importantly. He began tidying up open packs of chocolate bars as though he owned the place.
“I’m Kathleen McGinnis,” said the woman who’d come from behind the cash desk. I warmed to her immediately, but I’d warm to anyone who was willing to drive me to my new home. “And you must be Quinn Callahan.”
I did a double take. “You knew I was coming?”
“I’ve been on the lookout for you.”
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Also by Nancy Warren
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The Great Witches Baking Show
The Great Witches Baking Show - Book 1
Baker’s Coven - Book 2
A Rolling Scone - Book 3
A Bundt Instrument - Book 4
Blood, Sweat and Tiers - Book 5
Crumbs and Misdemeanors - Book 6
A Cream of Passion - Book 7
Gingerdead House - A Holiday Whodunnit
The Great Witches Baking Show Boxed Set: Books 1-3
Vampire Book Club
Crossing the Lines - Prequel
The Vampire Book Club - Book 1
Chapter and Curse - Book 2
A Spelling Mistake - Book 3
Vampire Knitting Club
Tangles and Treasons - a free prequel for Nancy’s newsletter subscribers
The Vampire Knitting Club - Book 1
Stitches and Witches - Book 2
Crochet and Cauldrons - Book 3
Stockings and Spells - Book 4
Purls and Potions - Book 5
Fair Isle and Fortunes - Book 6
Lace and Lies - Book 7
Bobbles and Broomsticks - Book 8
Popcorn and Poltergeists - Book 9
Garters and Gargoyles - Book 10
Diamonds and Daggers - Book 11
Herringbones and Hexes - Book 12
Ribbing and Runes - Book 13
Cat’s Paws and Curses - A Holiday Whodunnit
Vampire Knitting Club Boxed Set: Books 1-3
Vampire Knitting Club Boxed Set: Books 4-6
Toni Diamond Mysteries
Toni is a successful saleswoman for Lady Bianca Cosmetics in this series of humorous cozy mysteries.
Frosted Shadow - Book 1
Ultimate Concealer - Book 2
Midnight Shimmer - Book 3
A Diamond Choker For Christmas - A Holiday Whodunnit
The Almost Wives Club
An enchanted wedding dress is a matchmaker in this series of romantic comedies where five runaway brides find out who the best men really are!
The Almost Wives Club: Kate - Book 1
Second Hand Bride - Book 2
Bridesmaid for Hire - Book 3
The Wedding Flight - Book 4
If the Dress Fits - Book 5
Take a Chance series
Meet the Chance family, a cobbled together family of eleven kids who are all grown up and finding their ways in life and love.
Kiss a Girl in the Rain - Book 1
Iris in Bloom - Book 2
Blueprint for a Kiss - Book 3
Every Rose - Book 4
Love to Go - Book 5
The Sheriff's Sweet Surrender - Book 6
The Daisy Game - Book 7
Chance Encounter - Prequel
Take a Chance Box Set - Prequel and Books 1-3
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Death of a Flapper - Book 1
About the Author
Nancy Warren is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than 70 novels. She’s originally from Vancouver, Canada, though she tends to wander and has lived in England, Italy and California at various times. While living in Oxford she dreamed up The Vampire Knitting Club. Favorite moments include being the answer to a crossword puzzle clue in Canada’s National Post newspaper, being featured on the front page of the New York Times when her book Speed Dating launched Harlequin’s NASCAR series, and being nominated three times for Romance Writers of America’s RITA award. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. She’s an avid hiker, loves chocolate and most of all, loves to hear from readers!
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Ribbing and Runes, Vampire Knitting Club Book 13, Copyright © 2021 by Nancy Warren
Cover Design by Lou Harper of Cover Affairs
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ISBN: ebook 978-1-990210-09-9
ISBN: print 978-1-990210-08-2
Ambleside Publishing