Coon Hollow Coven Tales 1-3

by Marsha A. Moore

  His butterfly kisses covered her mouth, and she leaned closer, tasting his lips. For a moment, she wondered if the tingles and heat she felt were from the moonstone. After a few more kisses, she decided it wasn’t important to determine the source of this magic. It was wonderful.

  Chapter Fifteen: The Phonograph

  Jancie watched the clock during the last hour of her work day at the bank. She arranged and rearranged her desk, closed out one of the clerks registers early, and assigned the teller some busywork. Any way to speed the end-of-day routine.

  At precisely five o’clock, Jancie stepped out of her office, purse in hand. No stops for errands tonight, she drove straight home. On her way from the garage, two bright yellow mums newly opened since lunchtime caught her attention. She kneeled in the grass to marvel at the blooms and to redefine Vika’s protection symbols in the soil. Jancie filled her nose with the mums’ autumn scent and headed inside to the kitchen. After a simple dinner of leftovers, she proceeded to the bedroom and hurriedly stripped off her plain business dress. While waiting for the shower to heat, she glanced at the outfit she’d deliberated over last night before bed. The dark green pencil jeans and flowing cream-colored peasant top would do well.

  Thirty minutes later, Jancie perched on a living room chair and twisted her mother’s ring on her finger, her usual nervous habit. Touching the ring jolted her. Her thoughts filled with Rowe, she’d forgotten to worry about attacks from Adara. Either the ring protected Jancie or the coven leader hadn’t bothered.

  Unable to sit still, Jancie jumped up and checked her hair in a wall mirror, fluffing curls set by the curling iron. The doorbell rang, and she spun around. The moonstone resting against her chest flashed a brilliant blue, and she opened the door with a smile.

  Rowe returned her smile and scanned her body. “You look pretty.” Pleasant tingles followed the path of his gaze.

  “Thanks. You too.” More casual than usual, he wore gray pleated and cuffed trousers and a black dress shirt open at the neck. His hair hung loose in layers that kissed his jaw-line and dropped just past his shoulders. “Let me get my purse,” she murmured and disappeared inside.

  A moment later, she appeared on the front porch beside him, and they walked to his roadster. “I can’t put this car away for the season yet. I’m not ready for winter’s long, lonely days.”

  “I understand. I had lots of hard days last winter.” She slid onto the bench seat.

  Once they were out of town and Rowe didn’t need to shift, he inched his hand over to take hold of hers. “How was work? Did you see Adara or did anything odd happening?”

  “No. Nothing. The typical boring day at work.”

  “You’re a manager, aren’t you?” He shot her a grin. “That doesn’t sound boring.” He asked her more about her job, which she gladly answered.

  His exotic work with magic intrigued Jancie, and she inquired about his council work. In order to learn details of his parents’ projects while on the council, Rowe had contacted a couple members and done some research.

  “I also visited Mom today.” Excited, she squeezed his hand.

  “At the cemetery?” He gave her a quizzical look.

  “No. I went home at lunch and talked to her at our garden. I know she can feel me there, and it just feels closer in a happy way. She and I can move on together there. At her grave, I only feel hollow and empty.” She turned more towards him. “I told Mom that you and I were going to spend time together tonight. The cool thing is that when I came home two yellow mums were newly open.”

  He glanced and her and smiled. “A sign.”

  She nodded. “Yes. I’m sure it is. Or I hope anyway. One flower for each of us.”

  “What does your dad think of us being together?”

  She gazed across the horizon in front of them. “I haven’t told him. He never wants me to be around witches. Really paranoid something bad will happen to me and very controlling. I’m old enough to decide what’s best for me.”

  “It’s too bad he feels that way.” Lines formed across Rowe’s brow. “I don’t know of anyone really hurt by coven folk. Maybe a prank or two if some teens poke into where we don’t want them. Has he always been this way?”

  “Yes. But more as I got older, high school and after.” Jancie fidgeted with the hem of her blouse, not wanting to talk more about her father.

  “I’ll be careful what I say if I happen to run into him then.”

  She nodded but added nothing, hoping the topic would die.

  Silence settled in the car. Jancie regretted having to reveal her dad’s disapproval so soon, fearing it might turn this wonderful man away. Budding relationships were fragile, and she hoped to hold onto this one. Compared to Harley, Rowe was mature, intelligent, responsible, and deeply caring. It was hard to believe he was only three years older than Harley. But at least dating Harley helped her discover what she didn’t want. And Rowe was nothing like Harley.

  “Jancie, are you afraid of being around witches?” Rowe’s voice held a deeper tone.

  “No. Not with you.” She squirmed in her seat. “I don’t know if I can answer for every witch. But Cerise seemed very nice. My great aunt Starla isn’t afraid of witches. She’s the one who encouraged me to find you, to help me connect with Mom.”

  “Really?” He tilted his head and glanced at Jancie. “How did she learn about the legend? It’s not talked about much, even in the coven.”

  “She read about it in an old diary written by my great grandmother. She wanted her deceased husband to see their new baby, and she asked the moonstone witch to tell the tale.”

  Rowe’s eyes widened.

  “It opened for her, and she saw her husband.”

  “Really?” Rowe pulled onto his driveway and faced Jancie with a wide smile. “Then what I said about inheritance is right. You do have a connection to the moonstone through your family. I’ll have to share this with Vika.”

  “I wonder if this information will help her answer how faeries ended up in Mom’s garden.”

  “Oh, I expect so.” He leapt out of the car and led Jancie inside.

  After saying hello to what seemed like a hundred animated relations welcoming her, Jancie slipped into the parlor to see the sunset shine through the ornate leaded glass windows. Angled sunshine streamed through a clearing in the trees in front of the house onto the thick glass. Amber, pink, and purple light swirled across the walls like a giant kaleidoscope.

  Rowe came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “My mother loved these windows. She’d sit in here after dinner with her tea.”

  “Look at the shapes the light makes. Some look like animals.” Jancie pointed above where the wingchair occupied by Tilly’s spirit sat. “There’s a horse. And a hawk.”

  “And you have my mother’s eye.” He leaned over her shoulder, his cheek next to hers. “She found those animals too, as well as many other Coon Hollow critters.”

  Jancie sniffed the air. “I smell jasmine.”

  “You do?” Rowe stood taller and inhaled deeply. “I don’t smell it. Only your sweet perfume, like honeysuckle. Jasmine was my mother’s favorite scent. You seem very in tune to my mother. It’s no wonder I like you so much.”

  Jancie lifted her face higher. “It’s gone now. Do you think that’s a sign her spirit is trying to return?”

  “I was thinking that exact thing. I sure hope so.” He released her and stepped to a side table where he opened a large wooden box about twenty inches square and half as high. Inlay decorated the lid that he unlatched from the lower portion.

  Jancie drew nearer. The bottom half of the box housed a record player. She’d seen similar vintage devices in antique stores.

  Rowe turned a hand crank on the side several times and placed the needle arm on the outside edge of the vinyl record as wide as a Frisbee. As music peppered with static began to play, he turned to her and extended a hand. “Would you like to dance?”

  “Umm.” She took his hand but hesi
tated. “I don’t know how to dance to this.”

  “A slow, easy foxtrot.” He placed his other hand at the back of her waist. “Follow me and move your feet from side to side.”

  She glanced down hoping not to step on his toes. But with one look into his eyes, she gave up worrying about her feet since her whole body seemed to glide on air.

  A male crooner’s voice sang, “How much do I love you?”

  With Rowe’s hand firm at her back, he swept her with him in a smooth circle.

  “How deep is the ocean? How high is the sun? That’s how much I love you, now and forever.” The fluid voice and orchestra music swirled around them.

  “Some of these old tunes are the best for dancing close,” Rowe pulled her to him and whispered in her ear.

  “Mmm. Very romantic.” She leaned in and extended her forearm higher onto his shoulder.

  He danced them around the parlor’s perimeter, in and out of the twirling sunset reflections.

  Feeling like a fairytale princess, Jancie relaxed into his arms and hoped the music would never end.

  After a few more times circling the grand room, the music faded, and their feet shuffled in smaller steps. Their bodies barely moving, Rowe held her closer.

  Pressed tight against his chest, Jancie felt delirious. Her head rested on his shoulder. No pleasant feeling she could remember compared to this.

  The phonograph needle proclaimed the end of the record with a loud cyclic hiss of static. Their cheeks brushed, and Rowe’s mouth covered hers in a deep, passionate kiss. Heat rushed into Jancie’s head, and her whole body floated.

  They clung together. Jancie imagined if she let go, the amazing dream would end. Life had never been about happiness like this. When she paused to take a breath, he tasted her lips with soft kisses. She held tighter to his shoulders with both arms. If she could be just a little closer, maybe the dream wouldn’t end.

  In response, Rowe ravaged her mouth with a probing kiss until he gasped for air, his cheek pressed against hers. “You’re the one the moonstone meant for me. I feel so alive with you.”

  “I’ve never felt this happy.” She beamed a smile over his shoulder. The sunset had given way to hazy purple shades of dusk. Stillness fell over the room, making Jancie feel like she and Rowe were the only two people for miles. Eyes closed, she inhaled the woodsy scent of his cologne and ran her fingers along the firm edges of his shoulder muscles.

  Moving her hand around the back of his neck, a jolt of pain shot through her chest. “Something’s wrong.” She stepped back and clamped her hand to the moonstone that flashed wildly. Her hand jerked free. “It’s burning me.”

  “What==” Rowe filled his hand with blue light and reached for the locket.

  Not waiting, Jancie tried to lift if off by the chain, but the locket clung to her chest.

  His magic encased the reactive stone, but he also failed to remove it. “I don’t understand.”

  Jancie leaned against the massive wing chair, which reached out and cupped her waist. “It’s not burning me now with your magic around it.” She ran a hand across her forehead to wipe away sweat forming along her brow. “I’m so hot, and my hands are clammy.”

  Rowe took her arm and led her to a loveseat. “This isn’t supposed to happen. You should be able to take it off now. Once both people have their grief eased through the moonstone, the gem goes dormant. It’s then removed and stored for the next coven member who faces a loss.”

  A knock sounded at the front door, and he gestured for Jancie to remain where she was in a dark corner of the room. He lifted the arm of the record player and hurried to the door after a second and louder rap.

  From where she sat, Jancie heard a woman’s voice, shrill and patronizing. “Too busy to open the door tonight?”

  “Working on ideas I have for the council.” Rowe gave an immediate and calm response. “I’ve decided to accept your offer of a position. Thank you.”

  Jancie scooted to the loveseat’s other end to be better hidden in the corner in case the leader stepped farther into the house.

  “Oh, how wonderful,” Adara cooed. “I’m so glad you reconsidered. It will be my pleasure to have your company at my beck and call.”

  A reflection of red shined at Jancie from one of the parlor’s angled French doors. She swallowed hard and hoped the corner shadows kept the woman from seeing her in turn.

  “And what, may I ask, made you change your mind?” The red glow enlarged, and Jancie held her breath.

  “I was impressed by how well you orchestrated the carnival.” Rowe’s voice grew louder. “I have new admiration for your talents and wanted to work with you.”

  “Indeed,” the leader replied with an assertive tone. “I do agree that we will work fabulously together.”

  “Then I’ll look forward to the meeting tomorrow evening.” Rowe’s speech was matter-of-fact and clipped.

  “Yes.” Adara trailed her affirmative response as if she wasn’t ready to leave. “I sense a change in the energy of your house. I’m not a great animator like you. Have the spirits of your parents returned?”

  “Not yet.” Rowe hesitated. “But I expect them any day.”

  The red reflection filled the entire door. Jancie trembled and held her mother’s ring out in front of her like a shield.

  “Still something is decidedly different and adversarial.”

  “You must be sensing Maeira, the barn owl familiar.” Rowe spoke loud and fast. “I’ve been nursing her the past few days after an injury.”

  “You’re always the tender heart, Rowe. See that you extend some of that care to your leader.” Adara laughed. “Oh, and the clean-up crew found this bracelet in your carnival tent. Perhaps you know who the owner is and can return it?”

  Jancie clamped a hand over her mouth. Oh no! She has Rachelle’s bracelet. Can she use it to work evil?

  “Umm. No,” Rowe stammered. “But I’ll be glad to keep it in case the owner tries to find me to retrieve it.”

  “That’s why we have a lost and found at the main gate,” Adara said with a silky smooth voice. “It’s open once a week. She can find it there. I’ll look forward to seeing you in council tomorrow night.”

  Footsteps clicked on the hardwood. “See you then,” Rowe replied. The door closed, and the house fell quiet.

  Rowe entered the parlor with a solemn face.

  Jancie let out a loud sigh. “She’s gone?”

  He nodded and sank down beside her. “She wanted me to know she has your friend Rachelle’s bracelet. And I’m sure she has no intention of placing it in the lost and found.”

  “Can she use it to hurt Rachelle?” Jancie clutched his thigh.

  He rubbed a hand over hers. “Yes, she can.”

  “Will you be okay in that council with her?” She searched his eyes.

  “Yes.” He moved his hand away and forced a grin. “I can take care of myself. I’m more worried about you and Rachelle. I need to get you out of here. You’re safer at home.”

  “Did Adara know I was here?”

  “Something was here that she didn’t like, but how much she knew I couldn’t tell.” Rowe clenched a fist. “She makes an art of deception.”

  Jancie held up her mother’s ring. “I saw Adara’s red reflection in the glass door coming closer. I used this as a shield.”

  “Vika does good work.” Rowe took hold of her ringed hand. “That might have confused her sensing abilities.”

  “Let’s hope.” She rubbed his finger with her thumb.

  “I wonder why she’s so interested in when my parents’ spirits will return. I’ll ask my friend Logan who works with the elderly or Keir who’s a seer. They both know more about the spirit world.”

  Jancie glanced down at the moonstone. Rowe’s blue magic had reduced to a slight halo, and she touched a fingertip to the gem. “It’s cool again and white.” She tried to lift the chain, but it clung to her neck.

  He ran a finger over its surface. “Hmm. You still can’t
take the moonstone off. It connected you to your mother, and you’ve eased my grief. The enchantment should release you now. I’ll ask Vika about it. That hot flaring event. It’s almost like—”

  “Adara triggered it.” Jancie finished his sentence. “How is she connected to the moonstone?”

  A shiver shot through Rowe. “There’s too much happening I don’t understand. And it’s not good.” He stood and offered her a hand. “Let’s get you home. Do you feel okay?”

  “Yes, fine.” She stood, trying to catch his gaze to learn more about his thoughts.

  Rowe backed the black sedan out of the garage and put the sportier roadster away. “No one will be looking for me in this car tonight.”

  They drove in silence. Jancie touched the moonstone wondering what it still wanted from her and why Adara was able to trigger it.

  In Jancie’s driveway, Rowe sat rigid, hands clamped on the wheel, and faced Jancie. His jaw clenched, he wore a determined expression, but sadness spilled from his eyes. “Jancie, I’ve involved you in too much danger. Your bargain with me through the moonstone is fulfilled.”

  Jancie’s lower lip quivered anticipating what he was about to say. “It doesn’t need to be.”

  He didn’t move a muscle. “I cannot in good conscience continue to put you at risk for my selfish pleasure to have you in my life. Adara is too dangerous for you to face.”

  “No. There’ll be a way.” She couldn’t believe her dream was shifting into a nightmare this fast. It didn’t seem real.

  “I promised to keep you safe, and I will honor that with my life. Call me at any time you are in danger. Don’t worry. I’ll work to get the moonstone off of you. I’ll get Vika’s help.” He took a deep breath. “Part of my pledge means I can’t have any connection romantically to you in the future.”

  “No. Please. No,” she begged. A painful twist formed in her stomach.

  “I’m sorry.” A tear leaked from his eye. “It has to be this way.”

  Her eyes brimming with moisture, Jancie fumbled to find the door handle and stumble into her house. At the front window, she clutched the knot in her stomach and watched his headlights back out and fade away.