by Amy Boyles
“It was that matchmaker,” Emily was saying. “You have to fire her and tell Thorne what she’s done.”
“I will,” Mayor Dixon said calmly. “Just tell me everything.”
As Emily started to talk, I watched Thorne. He looked as concerned as I was. It was the same dilemma; would the mayor’s life be in danger if we showed up?
“Let me see if I can call Thorne,” Winnifred said. “My phone’s in the kitchen.”
Thorne pointed two fingers at me and then to the floor, which I assumed meant stay where I was.
I would. Sort of.
Thorne disappeared down the stairwell. The mayor shrieked, it sounded like wood splintered and then Emily’s voice, much deeper, filled the house.
“Make one move, vampire, and I’ll kill her,” Emily said.
Oh great, Thorne’s plan hadn’t gone the way he wanted. I stepped slowly down the stairs and peered into the living room.
Emily’s back was to me. She stood tall, in Bigfoot form. She had one hand on the mayor’s neck. Thorne stared her down, his fingers flexing as if he wanted to wring her throat.
“And I thought I’d just be dealing with a meddlesome matchmaker,” she said. “But it looks like now things have gotten complicated.”
“But why, Emily?” the mayor croaked. “Why are you doing this?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I told you my family had been cursed but I didn’t say how. I’m a Bigfoot. It’s my curse. But I’m blessed in that my magic lets me make other Bigfoots. And I need a mate.”
She kept talking. “At first I thought Langdon would make a good mate, so I turned him into a Bigfoot but he was stupid. Then Langdon threatened to tell others what I had done—he was unstable, so I killed him.”
I cringed. Emily really had some issues.
But me thinking about Emily wasn’t going to stop the madness in front of me. If Thorne moved, Emily would crush the mayor’s throat.
He might be a vampire, and a killer at that, but I didn’t think Thorne wanted the mayor to die.
I could help. I had some power, even though it was waning. But I didn’t really know how to wield it, so what good was I? I glanced to my right. There sat a heavy silver candelabra. If I could pick it up and smash it over Emily’s head, that would help.
Of course, Emily was also eight feet tall now. Not exactly a featherweight opponent.
Right as I was trying to figure out a way to help the mayor, a squealing pig ran from the kitchen into the living room.
“What in the…?” Emily said, distracted.
Pig ran between her legs. Emily whirled around. I picked up the candelabra and smashed it against her face.
Emily dropped the mayor, and quick as lightning, Thorne had the howling Bigfoot wrestled to the ground.
A second later, half a dozen law enforcement officers crashed into the house, helping Thorne handcuff Emily and make sure the mayor was okay.
A little while later I stood outside, the warm summer air sending the smell of flowering gardenias up my nose.
Mayor Winnifred Dixon shot me a weary smile. I crossed to her and wrapped an arm over her shoulder. “If you’d wanted me to matchmake Bigfoot, why didn’t you just say so?”
She laughed.
Pig ran up to me, snorting happily. I scooped her into my arms and gave the swine a squeeze. “You did good, Pig.”
Mama rushed in with Rose following behind her. “Charming, are you okay?”
I nodded. “I’m fine, and thank y’all. If you hadn’t sent Pig in to rescue us, I’m not sure what would’ve happened.”
“What are mothers for?” Mama ran her hands over me to make sure I was telling the truth and wasn’t really hurt. “But in the forest, how’d you get away from the creature?”
A whimsical smile danced on my lips. “Why, magic of course.”
Mama’s eyebrow practically coiled around her nose it arched so dramatically. “You used the magic?”
“Yep, I used the magic. Granted, I didn’t exactly know what I was doing, but it worked out okay.”
“Charming…”
“Don’t worry,” I said soothingly. “I know you’re worried about the prophecy. I won’t do anything to mess up magic for the rest of the world.”
She glared at me.
“I promise.”
“Pig,” Aunt Rose declared. “You saved the day.”
I handed Pig to Rose, who pulled a chocolate bar from her pocket and gave it to the snorting animal. “Yep. Looks like she’s a great addition to our little gang.”
Broom swiveled around impatiently. I laughed. “You too, Broom. No one’s forgetting about you.”
Broom dipped into a bow.
“Miss Calhoun!”
My breath caught in my throat at the sight of Jimmy running toward me. He wasn’t a Bigfoot anymore, he was human, and someone had been kind enough to find clothes for him. They were a bit big, the shirt hanging off his shoulders and the pants rolled up to the ankles, but Jimmy was safe.
I rushed over and threw my arms around his neck. “Jimmy! You’re okay.”
“Thanks to you, Miss Calhoun.”
My hands slid down his arms as we parted. I gripped his hands and smiled so wide my face nearly cracked in two. “Jimmy, I’m so sorry all of this happened.”
He raked his fingers through his wavy brown hair. “None of this is your fault. I’m sorry I let you down.”
I stared at him, shocked he would say such a thing. “You didn’t let me down. I let you down by sending you to a town where you were turned into Bigfoot and placed under a spell that could’ve killed you.”
He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. I went sticking my nose in places and then got spelled by Emily. I’m just glad y’all caught her.”
I cocked my head at an angle that suggested I was confused, which I was. “But how’d you change back?”
“Emily changed me. She didn’t want to, but your mom shoved a mandrake root in her hand and told her to do it.”
I glanced at my mother and shot her a look of appreciation that she didn’t see. My mother, for all her quirks and pompous attitude, had saved the day.
“Jimmy, first thing in the morning, why don’t you go home? I’ll work on this project here.”
Excitement radiated across his face. “You mean it, Miss Calhoun?”
“I sure do.”
I gave Jimmy another hug before he walked back to the medical truck.
A dark shadow stretched across the pavement beside me. I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.
“You did well tonight,” Thorne admitted.
I cocked my chin at him in arrogance. “Was that so hard?”
Mischief danced in his silvery eyes. “Was what so hard?”
“Admitting I helped and that I can be of service?”
“Yes.”
We stared at each other before we each cracked a smile. Thorne chuckled and I swear it was one of the most pleasant sounds I’d ever heard.
What was wrong with me? Vampires weren’t pleasant.
“Thank you for your help. So, I guess you’ll be leaving town soon?”
“Does the thought excite you?” I said.
His voice deepened. Our gazes locked, and a sliver of energy zipped straight to my stomach. “You have no idea what excites me.”
For some reason I had the idea he was suggesting something to do with me. The air thickened with tension. I cleared my throat and looked away.
“No, I won’t be leaving.” I took a step forward and leaned so close my lips nearly grazed his throat. I whispered, “And you have no idea what excites me, either.”
I retreated a step, threw him a wink and walked back to my family, who were ready to go home.
TWENTY-FOUR
The police released Cap the next day. I had my next move all planned out and had convinced Belinda to quench the mandrake spell.
“I don’t understand why I need to be here, Charming,” the mayor huffed.
I tap
ped a pen on my matchmaking folder. “Just you wait. There’s something I want you to witness.”
Belinda stood by the tavern doors. She worried her lips nervously.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered. “Just hold on.”
“What is?” Mayor Winnifred Dixon asked.
“All of it. This town, if I’m right.”
She blotted a handkerchief over her throat. “Right about what?”
The doors opened, and Cap strode out. “This,” I said.
He took one look at Belinda, and his face filled with longing and want. My heart lurched for them. At the same moment my heart leaped to my gizzard, Cap took two long strides toward Belinda, wove his fingers through her dark hair, dipped her down and gave her the kiss to end all kisses.
“What is that?” the mayor said.
A light haloed Belinda and Cap. The ground rumbled, and it was like the energy emanating from them was washing the town clean. The grime faded, the kudzu receded and Witch's Forge opened to the public once more.
I pointed at Cap and Belinda. “That is the solution to your problems. I don’t know if Witch's Forge is back to normal, but I have a feeling the falls have opened and now you can get regular folks in here again. But first”—I pointed a finger at her—“you’ve got to dispel that horrible law that witches and wizards of different magics can’t marry. They need to marry. The blight on this town was caused by too much magical inbreeding.”
The mayor’s jaw dropped. She raised her hand, and a sheet of paper appeared in front of her.
She jumped back, screaming, “Ah!”
I smirked. “Not used to your magic doing what you ask, are you?”
“No, I’m not.” She stared at the piece of paper. “This is the law that our founding fathers created.”
I clapped a hand on her shoulder. “With all due respect, the founding fathers were wrong. Witches need to marry wizards of different magic. It’s important.”
Mayor Dixon stared at the paper before taking it in her fingers and ripping it apart.
“From now on,” the mayor proclaimed, “everyone can marry whoever they want.” She quickly turned to me, fear in her eyes. “But you’re not finished here yet, are you, Charming? You’re still under contract.”
I smiled. “Don’t you worry, Mayor. When I arrived, I thought this was the worst hillbilly town I’d ever stepped foot in.” My gaze landed on Thorne, who studied me before turning away. “But now I think it’s A-okay.”
“Well done, Charming. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a town to ready.” The mayor walked off, clapping. “Attention, everyone, Witch's Forge is now open for business. Tourists—humans are coming. We must be ready.”
I crossed my arms and smiled, delighted in my handiwork.
“Charming.” My mother popped up beside me. “Looks like you’ve done well.”
I squeezed her arm. “Great. Now you can leave and return to your life. I’m sure there’s a Nepalese village in need of your training.”
She shook her head. “Oh no. I’m staying. Remember, the prophecy.”
I clicked my tongue. “Right.”
“I won’t leave until you do.”
Great.
Rose walked up with Pig on a leash. “Charming, what you’ve done here is great. Now if y’all don’t mind, Pig and I are hungry. I’ve got a meal back at the house. Anyone care to join me?”
I wrapped my arm over her shoulder. “I’d love to.”
We started to walk away when someone calling my name, again, caught my attention.
“Charming!”
Kimberly ran up to me. She clasped my hands. “Charming, the train is arriving. I just got an alert.”
I quirked a brow. “An alert?”
Her cheeks crimsoned. “I have one of my cousins on lookout. Do you think my soul mate is on it?”
I glanced at my file folder. “I’m not sure. Maybe we should check it out.”
Kimberly clapped. “I’m so excited. Let’s go meet my soul mate!”
I straightened and threw my head back. “Lead the way, Kimberly. Take me to the train station.”
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<<<<>>>>
THANK Y’ALL!
Thank you so much for reading DEADLY SPELLS AND A SOUTHERN BELLE. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review.
Charming’s adventures continue in CURSED BRIDES AND ALIBIS. Will Charming and Thorne get together or continue to hate one another? Will great-aunt Rose keep feeding Pig chocolate? And what about the prophecy? What will happen? Keep reading to follow Charming as she maneuvers life in Witch’s Forge. Order HERE.
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If you haven’t read any of my other series, consider picking up SPELLS AND SPIRITS, a cozy mystery sampler. It’s full of laughs and zany characters that you’re going to love! You can order it HERE.
And…I love to hear from you! Please feel free to drop me a line anytime. You can email me [email protected].
Also by Amy Boyles
SWEET TEA WITCH MYSTERIES
SOUTHERN MAGIC
SOUTHERN SPELLS
SOUTHERN MYTHS
SOUTHERN SORCERY
SOUTHERN CURSES
SOUTHERN KARMA
SOUTHERN MAGIC THANKSGIVING
SOUTHERN MAGIC CHRISTMAS
SOUTHERN POTIONS
SOUTHERN FORTUNES
SOUTHERN HAUNTINGS
SOUTHERN WANDS
* * *
SOUTHERN GHOST WRANGLER MYSTERIES
SOUL FOOD SPIRITS
HONEYSUCKLE HAUNTING
THE GHOST WHO ATE GRITS
BACKWOODS BANSHEE
* * *
BLESS YOUR WITCH SERIES
SCARED WITCHLESS
KISS MY WITCH
QUEEN WITCH
QUIT YOUR WITCHIN'
FOR WITCH'S SAKE
DON'T GIVE A WITCH
WITCH MY GRITS
FRIED GREEN WITCH
SOUTHERN WITCHING
Y’ALL WITCHES
HOLD YOUR WITCHES
* * *
SOUTHERN SINGLE MOM PARANORMAL MYSTERIES
The Witch’s Handbook to Hunting Vampires
The Witch’s Handbook to Catching Werewolves
The Witch’s Handbook to Trapping Demons
About the Author
Hey, I’m Amy,
I write books for folks who crave laugh-out-loud paranormal mysteries. I help bring humor into readers’ lives. I’ve got a Pharm D in pharmacy, a BA in Creative Writing and a Masters in Life.
And when I’m not writing or chasing around two small children (one of which is four going on thirteen), I can be found antique shopping for a great deal, getting my roots touched up (because that’s an every four week job) and figuring out when I can get back to Disney World.
If you’re dying to know more about my wacky life, here are three things you don’t know about me.
—In college I spent a semester at Marvel Comics working in the X-Men office.
—I worked at Carnegie Hall.
—I grew up in a barbecue restaurant—literally. My parents owned one.
If you want to reach out to me—and I love to hear from readers—you can email me at [email protected].
Happy reading!