Whispering Pines Mysteries Box Set 3

by Shawn McGuire

“Walkabout?” Rosalyn echoed.

  “Yes. For to explore area. He likes this.”

  I held my hand level with my shoulder. “His head comes to about here. Dark fur on top, lighter on the bottom. Yellow demon eyes.”

  Igor chuckled at me. “You joke. He is not so tall. There is no need for fear, Sheriff. Farkas will not hurt you.”

  “Farkas?”

  “Name means he who is like wolf.”

  I blinked at him. “Isn’t that a little redundant?”

  He laughed again. “Britta likes name. She choose names for all animals.” He turned and walked away. “Do not worry, Sheriff O’Shea. Farkas will stay away.” He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Unless he is hungry.”

  Rosalyn side-stepped closer to me and grabbed my arm. I hip bumped her away. Igor looked very pleased with himself, and I assumed he was joking, but we couldn’t always tell with him. We wandered off and found Morgan by the Lotions and Potions table.

  “Did you give Igor sex rocks?” Rosalyn asked her.

  She put a hand over her heart. “Did I what?”

  I explained, “He seems to think the rose and clear quartz crystals will act as an aphrodisiac.” When she didn’t deny it, I gasped. “Will they?”

  “State of mind,” Morgan began, “is a powerful force.”

  I arched an eyebrow at her. Naughty witchy.

  “Is there something I can help you two find?”

  “What’s bath milk?” I asked.

  “Milk bath,” she corrected. “Milk softens and conditions the skin. The addition of other ingredients makes for a truly indulgent experience. Oats, for example, will soothe a sunburn, heat rash, or other skin irritations. Lavender is perfect before bed for its relaxation qualities. Some prefer to add liquid milk directly to their bathwater. I concoct a powdered milk version that doesn’t require refrigeration.”

  “We heard you whipped up a new batch.” Rosalyn looked around the Lotions and Potions table for the magical mixture.

  “I’m storing it in the altar room and selling only small amounts at a time. We’ll run out before everyone gets some otherwise. The mid-winter energy blend has been quite popular over the years, and I always end up making multiple batches.”

  “What’s in it?” I asked.

  “To a base of powdered milk, cornstarch, and finely ground oatmeal, I add nutmeg, cinnamon, and a bit of ginger.”

  “Sounds like tea,” I noted. “It also sounds like my bath might make me hungry.”

  “Speaking of tea,” Morgan informed, “I have two varieties that will help with the seasonal effects of darkness. The first is for a positive mental outlook and includes lemon balm, St. John’s wort flowers and leaves, Linden flowers and leaves, oat tops, and spearmint. The other is a refreshing, energizing blend of mint, lemon verbena, and grapefruit peel.”

  “I want it all,” Rosalyn announced. “Both teas, the milk bath, and a crystal.”

  Morgan led us to her crystal corner. “Is there a specific issue you’d like the crystal to help you with?”

  Rosalyn looked at me and sighed. “Loneliness. I’m going to miss you all and this place like crazy when I leave.”

  I placed a hand on Rozzie’s back. “We’ll miss you too.”

  Morgan studied the shelf and chose a golden stone with reddish-brown streaks. “Rutilated quartz. Not only will it help with loneliness, it will clarify your life path.”

  “Perfect.” Rosalyn held her hand out for the stone. “Considering I’m graduating in less than five months, I’ll take all the help I can get choosing a path.”

  “Carry it in your pocket, tuck it into your bra, or wear it in a mesh bag around your neck.” Morgan pointed out a variety of bags on strings near the crystal and stone display. “You could also place it on your desk to help with focus.”

  While Rosalyn made three slow laps around the shop, Morgan got canisters of milk bath for us. By the time my sister had everything her heart could desire laid out on the counter, most of the customers had left.

  “Where did everyone go? How long have we been in here?” I checked my watch and groaned. “It’s quarter after one. Can we please have lunch now? I only had peanut butter toast and coffee for breakfast this morning. And that scone Honey gave me wore off as fast as I ate it.”

  “Yes, we can go eat now.” Roz looked at Morgan, Briar, and Willow while River rang up her items. “Would you all like to come with us?”

  They agreed they would. River swiped Rosalyn’s credit card, which had to be nearing its limit after this purchase, checked out the remaining customers, and then we all crossed the commons to Grapes, Grains, and Grub. Like Shoppe Mystique had been, the pub was also packed. Every table in the main room was full, and no one was at the host station. I was seriously going to pass out from hunger if I didn’t eat soon.

  Rosalyn glanced around, presumably for a free table, and after a few seconds, Maeve came our way from the back of the dining room. She glanced at Rosalyn, gave a crisp shake of her head, and in a voice that seemed louder than necessary called out, “Jayne’s here.”

  On cue, Tripp appeared pushing a wheeled cart with a giant yellow star on it. Then all the patrons stood, and everyone hollered, “Surprise!”

  Chapter 5

  What was going on? What surprise? The look on my face must have registered both of those questions and a few more running through my head. Like why was everyone here? And what was that giant star on the cart?

  Tripp came up to my side, took one of my hands in his, and raised it to his mouth for a kiss. “Happy birthday, babe.”

  “Birthday?” I echoed. “What day is it?”

  Rosalyn laughed. “It’s January seventeenth.”

  I reviewed the calendar in my head. I was fairly certain it was Thursday because the shops were open. They weren’t open yesterday but were the day before, which was Tuesday and not Sunday. I think. I was too hungry to figure it out so looked to Tripp for confirmation.

  He nodded. “It is.”

  I needed a routine. Something to keep me in touch with the days of the week at minimum, like doing laundry on Monday and spending all day Wednesday in my she loft. I scanned the crowd of people standing around us, everyone grinning at me and waiting for me to react.

  Not knowing what else to say, I blurted, “It’s my birthday,” and they all cheered. A few, like Ruby and Honey, actually started crying. Of course, they always wore their emotions big and bold for the whole world to see.

  As various villagers came up to hug me or shake my hand, I heard Rosalyn ask Maeve, “Can I use your phone? I need to make a quick call, and mine is at Pine Time.”

  I couldn’t remember the last time Rosalyn had voluntarily left her phone anywhere. She had been here a long time. The lack of coverage in the village made the technology unusable unless they were connected to wifi, so only tourists bothered carrying cell phones. Well, and me because sometimes I needed to take pictures for law enforcement reasons.

  “You can use the one in my office,” Maeve told her. “Go on back to the kitchen. It’s on the far wall straight across from the door.”

  Roz thanked her and skipped off.

  Maeve turned and took me by the elbow, leading me away from my flock of fans to a table in the center of the room near the back. Tripp, Briar, Morgan, and River followed. “Have a seat. We have food like you wouldn’t believe. Plenty to drink. And cake.”

  I laughed. “Sounds like a party.”

  To my left, Reeva emerged from the crowd to explain, “Tripp made the cake.”

  “He what?” I spun away from Maeve and rushed back to the cart he’d been pushing. It wasn’t just a star. It was a sheriff’s star complete with seven points. There were little 3D figures scattered across it. Tiny pine trees, a little Westie dog, and a miniature collection of the tools I carried in my cargo pants pockets. A Triple Moon Goddess symbol signified both the village and my friends here. To one side, he made a small version of the lake with a kayak in the middle and a fire in a lit
tle fire pit by the shore. “What’s this?” I pointed out two little Adirondack chairs with tiny people sitting in them next to the fire.

  Tripp pushed his shoulders back and grinned. “That’s us relaxing by the lake.”

  My heart expanded. “I thought so. And this?”

  I bent to inspect what looked to be a pile of suitcases.

  “That represents Rosalyn in particular, your family in general.”

  Perfect. He’d included everything that was special to me both here and in my other life. “You made all of this?”

  “With Reeva’s help.” He gave her an appreciative nod. “That’s why I’ve been spending so much time at Hearth & Cauldron this week. I couldn’t have done this at home unless I hid it in an empty room. And I needed help with the modeling chocolate sculptures, anyway.”

  I turned to Reeva with a smile of thanks.

  She placed a hand over her heart. “We all wanted to express our gratitude for all that you’ve done for us and the village since you got here. What better way than to celebrate your birthday with you.”

  Tripp helped me to stand on a chair so everyone could see me.

  “Thank you all,” I called out, “not only for this party but for welcoming me into the village the way you have. This is truly where I’m meant to be. I love it and all of you with all my heart.”

  Ruby let out a gasping sob. “Oh, good Goddess. You’ve got me blubbering.”

  “Everyone,” I added, “please, eat.”

  They all made a beeline for the buffet table but insisted I go first. Since this was a community gathering, everyone brought something to share, which meant there was a ton of food. I filled one plate with various meats, pastas, and casseroles and another with side dishes.

  Tripp eyed my plates. His mouth turned in a grin, but he didn’t say anything. He was used to my eat when I could because I didn’t know when the next meal would come style of eating. I learned this the hard way while working as a patrol officer for the Madison Police Department. I also learned to carry snacks in my squad car.

  Rosalyn returned from the kitchen, took one look at the plates before me, and gasped. “Holy moly, woman. Are you seriously going to eat all that?”

  “And cake,” I confirmed. “I’ve been begging you for the last hour to . . .” I let the statement die and narrowed my eyes at her. “You were stalling.”

  “I wanted everything I bought,” she insisted, “but only needed ten minutes in Shoppe Mystique.”

  Honey stood behind me and gave my shoulders a squeeze. “The vacuum sealing of the scones and cookies was a last-minute thought.” To Roz, she added, “Let me know if that works. I’ve never wrapped pastries that way before.”

  “If it does, you can ship more to me.” Rosalyn nodded eagerly and shoved a spoonful of tater tot hotdish into her mouth. The casserole was far from gourmet and looked questionable but tasted surprisingly satisfying.

  Once we’d all eaten our fill, leaving room for cake and ice cream, Briar cleared her throat to get our attention. “We have a gift for you.”

  “Oh,” I objected, “you didn’t have to get me anything.”

  “We made it,” Morgan explained. “Each of us had a role, infusing it with love and good intentions.”

  River got up from the table and went behind the bar at the back of the room. He returned with a six-foot-long stick that forked into two six-inch-long branches at the top.

  “It’s not a stick,” Morgan scolded, reading my mind. “A staff, or stang in this instance because of the fork on top, is a powerful tool. As you have learned at the grounding sessions at Unity, trees connect us to the earth and the underworld with their strong, deep roots. Their reaching branches also connect us to the sky and the heavens. The straight line of the stang’s main trunk represents a strong spine or the ability to stand tall against all you encounter.”

  “Traditionally,” Briar added, “ash wood is used. We chose hawthorn because it is a sturdy wood that also serves as a guardian and protector. Just as do you, dear Sheriff.”

  The more they explained their gift, the more emotional I became. First, a grounding ceremony where I imagine roots growing from me and making me feel secure, and now this.

  “Reeva,” Briar continued, “has the healthiest and most beautiful hawthorn tree in the village. We asked her permission to harvest a branch. She agreed as long as the tree agreed.”

  “You asked the tree if you could take one of its branches?” Rosalyn asked with a laugh.

  “We didn’t have to,” Morgan told her. “By the time we had crossed Reeva’s property, this branch lay at the base of the tree.”

  “The tree readily offered a piece of itself for you.” Briar smiled as though nothing could have been more perfect. “After giving thanks for the gift, we allowed the branch to dry. Then River took over.”

  He gave a slow nod. “I rounded and smoothed the ends and then burned the symbols into the knob at the top.”

  A closer inspection showed small pentacles, stars, crescent moons, pine trees, a candle with a flame, and wavy lines.

  “Do the lines represent water?” I asked them.

  “They do,” Morgan agreed. “All the elements are there for you to draw strength from. The feather stands for air.”

  I turned the stang until I saw it. “That’s what that is. A Triple Moon Goddess too? I thought only the Wiccans around here were allowed to display that symbol.”

  Morgan touched the tri-moon pendant that was always at her neck and winked. “We took a vote and decided it was okay for you. Once River finished with the symbols, Mama and I polished it until it gleamed.”

  “Keep it near you,” Briar instructed. “Let it remind you of how strong you are and how you are surrounded by those who love you dearly.”

  “I love the symbolism,” I told them. “And the effort you three took to create it means so much.” I placed a hand over my heart. “I’ve got the perfect place for it.”

  “Your loft?” Morgan asked.

  “Right next to Durga. Another symbol of strength.”

  Another gift that took great effort was the cake Tripp made. Not only was it cute to look at, it was delicious. He went with a moist dark chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream and crushed Oreos between the layers.

  “Oreos in a cake is pure genius,” I mumbled through a mouthful. “Seriously, this is fantastic.”

  He kissed the tip of my nose and winked. “I know what you like. I’ve got something else for you later.”

  While he accepted praise for his sweet creation, and after my heart rate returned to normal, I made the rounds to chat with the villagers. Every one of them gave me a gift. Some smaller, some larger. Some physical gifts, others simple spoken wishes. All greatly appreciated. And all more traditional than the stang. Traditional for Whispering Pines, at least. There were a lot of snack foods and beverages, hand-knit scarves and mittens, plenty of books, and a thoughtful line of credit at The Twisty Skein from Ruby. There were also candles, boxes of incense, and crystals of assorted varieties. I’d be well-fed, well-read, mellow, and well-protected for my next year. I couldn’t think of anything better.

  As the party started to wind down, I went to the center of the room and was about to give a final thanks for coming speech when voices rose from a corner at the front of the pub.

  Abner and Gail Kramer were sitting with Benji and Bee Wallace. Bee had her foot wrapped and elevated with an ice pack draped over it. While Bee and Gail chatted with each other, Abner and Benji were causing a commotion.

  Abner pointed an accusatory finger at Benji. “I told you to stay away. I just got the place.”

  Benji swatted a hand at him. “You’ve had the thing for weeks. You had your alone time with it.”

  “It’s my shanty, you disrespectful old cuss!”

  “Disrespectful?” Benji countered. “You’re a greedy old fart who never shares with anyone.”

  Abner shifted to the edge of his chair and leaned closer to his supposed friend.
“I don’t have to share. You take what you want from me.”

  “Exactly.” Benji threw his hands in the air. “So what’s the problem?”

  “The problem is, I told you to stay out. You’re trespassing. You know how I think we should handle trespassers?” Abner made a finger gun and jabbed it into Benji’s chest.

  I took two steps toward them.

  “Let it go,” Tripp murmured, grabbing me by the shoulders.

  “Abner just threatened him.”

  “That’s just how these two are. They go at each other all the time.”

  True. Abner and Benji were the grumpiest of grumpy old men. Well, Benji was when he was with Abner. Otherwise he was the sweetest guy you’d ever want to hang out with. He had a story, or made one up, for practically every occasion. Abner, on the other hand, was always grumpy. Although I suspected it was part of his schtick and that he was a marshmallow in private.

  “Look at Gail and Bee,” Tripp pushed. “They’re chatting away like nothing is out of the ordinary.”

  That convinced me. “You’re right. Nothing to see there.”

  The Inn’s owner Laurel came up to us. “Happy birthday, Jayne. Such a great gathering.” Before I could agree that it was, she informed me, “I’ve been watching the temperature. Not that I want to break up the festivities, everyone’s having such a good time, but it’s dropped another degree out there. One more and we’ll be at freezing.”

  Eagle-eye Laurel was such a caretaker. If anyone could be named Village Mother, it would be her.

  “No sense risking anyone’s safety,” I agreed. “There are a few more people I was hoping to chat with before we head out, though.”

  “I’ll start spreading the cautionary word,” Tripp volunteered. “Those who live further out might want to think of leaving soon.”

  Laurel blinked at him. “It’s Whispering Pines. Everyone lives far out.”

  “I meant Igor and Britta in particular. It’s quite a trek up to the circus. Blind Willie would be another one.”

  Laurel shook her head. “I haven’t seen Willie.”

  “That’s because,” Maeve cut in, “he’s like a wild animal. He can sense when bad weather is coming and hunkers down. I’ll have my staff start wrapping up the food. That’s always a subtle signal that it’s time to leave.”