by Tonya Kappes
ACharming
Cure
Magical Cures Mystery Series
Book two
Also by Tonya Kappes
Women’s Fiction
Carpe Bead ‘em
Anthologies
Something Spooky This Way Comes
Believe Christmas Anthology
Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series
Splitsville.com (Book One)
Magical Cures Mystery Series
A Charming Crime
A Charming Cure
Grandberry Falls Series
The Ladybug Jinx
Happy New Life
A Superstitious Christmas
Never Tell Your Dreams
A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series
A Bead of Doubt
Non-Fiction
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the permission in writing from the author or publisher.
Edition: September 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Tonya Kappes
All rights reserved
Cover Artist: Laura Morrigan
www.lauramorrigan.com
License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the publisher and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
What others are saying about Author Tonya Kappes
“Full of wit, humor and colorful characters, Tonya Kappes delivers a fun, fast-paced story that will leave you hooked!” Bestselling Author, Jane Porter
“Fun, fresh, and flirty, Carpe Bead ’Em is the perfect read on a hot summer day. Tonya Kappes’ voice shines in her debut novel.” Author Heather Webber
“I loved how Tonya Kappes was able to bring her characters to life.” Coffee Table Reviews
With laugh out loud scenes and can't put it down suspense A Charming Crime is the perfect read for summer you get a little bit of everything but romance. Forgetthehousework blog
"This book was fun, entertaining and good to the last page. Who knew reading auras could get Olivia in so much trouble? Sit back, smile and cozy up to Splitsville.com, where Olivia does the dumping for you. There's heap loads of humor, a dose of magical realism, sprinkles of romance, and mystery when someone ends up dead!" Author Lisa Lim
“This book was funny and clever with a unique premise. I truly couldn't put it down.” Author Diane Majeske
“I loved this book. Grandberry Falls is my kind of town and I for one would love to live there and get to know all the local folks. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read the next book about Grandberry Falls by Tonya Kappes. I have added Tonya Kappes as one of my new favorite authors.” Jean Segal
“This was the first of a great new fantasy series. I got to discover things right along with her, which I loved. As the mystery unfolded, and June learned more and more about herself, the fantasy world that Kappes introduced came to life. This is definitely one series that will be on my To Be Read list as subsequent books come out.” author Andrea Buginsky
Dedication and Acknowledgments
I want to thank every single member of the Tonya Kappes Street Team! They are a group of readers who have stood by me and supported me. Readers are so important to me and I’m honored that at the end of the day they take the time to escape into my imaginative world. You guys rock!! AND I love you to death!
And to reader and friend, Amy Becker for winning the contest to name a character in A Charming Cure Name the Character contest. Raven is the perfect name for this new character in The Magical Cures Series.
Thank you, Judy Beatty, for turning my work into a polished work. Your talent is greatly amazing.
Of course a big magical hugs to my guys, Eddy, Jack, Austin, and Brady. They never complained once when we had take-out for the tenth day in a row while I completed this novel.
Chapter One
“Bubble, bubble.” My hands hovered over the copper cauldron, I leaned back. It was the first time I had ever used it and was a little unsure of the effects. If something was going to fly out, I didn’t want it to hit me. Plus, I didn’t want the fertility potion I was making to hit me. My fertility was fine exactly the way it was . . .non-existent. A puff of relief escaped my lips when nothing out of the ordinary happened, causing my blunt bangs to fly up in the air.
I stood up straighter, pulled down the edges of my jean jacket and picked up the Magical Cures Book. Little did I realize that when my mother, Darla, left me the book in her last will and testament, it would teach me who I really was.
Slowly, I opened the leather bound book and found my page. I held it up to my nose. With a deep inhale, and with a bee fertility cure in mind, cinnamon, sage, yellow jasmine and Marsh tea took over my senses. I sat the book down next to the cauldron and placed my hands back over it.
Nothing happened so I continued. This time I spoke a little louder, “Bubble, bubble. Clear the bee’s troubles. Let the bee’s create honey, to keep bringing Petunia more money.”
Steam flew upward as I pinched off different ingredients and tossed them in the simmering pot. Petunia peeked around the partition, making me a little nervous.
Originally, I had the cauldron in the back of A Charming Cure, but I didn’t like going in the back and leaving the shop unattended. So, I had the counter made taller and a partition to block off any and all magic happening behind it.
I ducked as a mini-tornado whirled and churned like mad over the steam. Carefully, I reached over and threw in a dash of Marigold just like the instruction in the Magical Cures book said to do. Only it didn’t say throw, it said to gently stir.
As soon as the Marigold flakes hit the bubbling water, sparks flew up, stopping the cylinder from twirling. The cauldron shut off, letting me know the bee-pollen potion was finished.
Petunia stepped back from the partition.
“Scardy-cat.” I smiled and picked up the ladle, stirring the mixture and making sure it was the right consistency.
“I’ll take licks and rubs over that any day,” she chimed from the other side of the partition, referring to her four-legged creatures.
She owned Gollybee Pet Store a few shops down. Every shop owner in Whispering Falls had a psychic ability with a magical twist. The entire village was magical.
To an outsider, Whispering Falls, Kentucky was just a tiny town with a population of five hundred, set in the foothills of a few mountains. Most people that visited our little village didn’t know how special we really were, but they felt the magic while they were here, which was why they continued to come back for more.
Meow, meow. Mr. Prince Charming ran over and created figure eights around her ankles. You could always tell when my cat liked you. He would do his signature figure eight move.
The bell above the door dinged, letting me know that my first customer of the day was here. I glanced up at the clock. There was still five minutes until A Charming Cure opened, but I would never turn someone away that needed a cure for whatever ailed them.
“Good morning, Mr. Prince Charming.” In one quick move, Petunia picked up the cat. Her hazel eyes narrowed and focu
sed on the customer. Petunia pushed the stick back in place that was falling out of her makeshift up-do she had created with her long, brown hair. She always had some sort of nature hanging around in there. Sometimes it was a small creature, but today it was a twig. Petunia’s gift was being able to communicate with animals and Mr. Prince Charming loved her.
“I’ll be right with you.” I popped my head around the partition and stared at the woman dressed in all black. I tucked my black bob haircut behind my ear, and pushed my blunt bangs to the side to get a better look. She didn’t look like one of my usual customers.
Without acknowledging me or without a word, the woman’s long, thin hand stretched out and retrieved a homeopathic bottle from the round, tiered table that sat just inside the door.
Hiss, hiss. Mr. Prince Charming had jumped out of Petunia’s arms and stood at attention facing the customer. He was never good at disguising his dislikes either.
“Mr. Prince Charming!” I whistled him over, and he came running behind the counter. “I’m so sorry. I’ll be right with you.”
Quickly I grabbed the glass bottle that looked like a stack of lifesavers. The rainbow-inspired bottle lit up when I touched it, letting me know it was the perfect match for the bee pollen. I put a small funnel in the mouth of the bottle. I scooped the potion in the ladle and carefully poured it into the funnel. Slowly, the potion dripped into the bottle. I twisted the lid on securely and waited until it was ready.
Meow, meow. Mr. Prince Charming jumped up and landed next to the box of Ding Dongs.
“You know exactly what I need.” Carefully, I unwrapped the foil and took a big bite of what I considered to be real magic. The chocolate treat was magic to my soul. The best comfort food—ever! My go-to when I became stressed. And, for some odd reason, the new customer seemed to put my intuition on high alert.
That was my psychic gift. I didn’t have anything cool like the mediums, palm readers, and tarot readers of the village. But, my intuition had never failed me, so I guess it was a good gift to have, even though I sometimes wish I could turn a few people into ants or fleas.
I pinched a small piece off and fed it to him. I’d always heard chocolate wasn’t good for animals, but fifteen years of eating Ding Dongs hadn’t hurt him yet. He’d never been to the veterinarian. I tried taking him a few times in Locust Grove, Kentucky, where we lived before we moved to Whispering Falls, but somehow he’d end up disappearing right before my eyes. Finally, I gave up.
The bee pollen glowed in the rainbow bottle. It was ready.
“All done.” I held the bottle in the palm of my hand and walked out from behind the partition. “Just add a few drops to the hive and you’ll be buzzing with babies in no time. Pun intended.” A big smile crept up on my face.
I was the youngest and newest spiritualist in the community and I was sure they still didn’t know how to take the Samantha Stevens wannabe.
Petunia didn’t smile at my joke. She took the bottle, but never took her eyes off the customer who continued to pick up my bottles while curling her nose.
The customer had picked up the lime green potion bottle that was sitting on the corner shelf closest to the door. Tapping the bottle with her red-tipped fingernail, her eyebrows raised.
“Do I know you?” There was something familiar about her. At least that was what my intuition told me, and it wasn’t in favor of her. Before I gave her a not-so-nice potion, say a potion that would turn her hiccups into a croaking frog or her negative attitude into one of giving, I needed to know her answer.
It was only a few weeks or so ago that I moved to Whispering Falls, Kentucky, took over Darla’s, my deceased mom’s, homeopathic shop, and made it my own. After the initial shock from learning that my father had psychic abilities as a healer by using cures, I’d became excited to learn that I too had inherited the psychic gene. A Charming Cure had taken off.
Not only was I dishing up the best homeopathic cure, I was also giving a little extra dose of magic in each potion. Also, I had a knack for knowing what else someone needed in their life. A little extra dose of love or a little financial help didn’t hurt anyone. My intuition never let me down.
Hiss, Hiss. Mr. Prince Charming, my cat, darted out from the counter. Hiss, Hiss. He pawed the air with his back arched and his teeth gnashing toward the woman.
“Oh, shut up!” She drew her black cloak around her as if she was shielding an attack from Mr. Prince Charming. “I should’ve squashed you when you were a kitten. I had plenty of opportunities when I fed you.”
“Are you his owner?” No way! There was no way I was going to give Mr. Prince Charming back to his original owner. Especially someone that seemed to be as nasty as her. “I’ve taken really good care of him over the last fifteen years. I’d be happy to pay you for him.”
Mr. Prince Charming was unlike any other stray cat in Locust Grove, the town I grew up in before I moved to Whispering Falls. There were a lot of stray cats. He showed up on my porch on what-so-happened-to-be my tenth birthday. He had on a faded collar with a tiny turtle charm dangling off it. The turtle had one green emerald stone for an eye and the other one missing. I didn’t care. It was beautiful.
Oscar, my childhood best friend and now Whispering Falls sheriff, had asked around if the cat belonged to anyone. No one claimed him, and he just continued to hang around. Darla didn’t mind, so he stayed. I got him a new collar and kept the charm for myself.
“Want him back?” She threw her head back letting out a full cackle that rattled the bottles on the shelf. “Oh, no. I don’t want him back. I’m here to collect you.” The woman raised her voice. Petunia rushed between us and came nose to nose with her. The scary woman continued, “She has no choice. She must leave right now!”
“Take me?” My mouth dried, and I gasped for air. Water filled my eyes. “Take me where?”
Petunia turned toward me, embracing me. She whispered in my ear, “its okay, June.”
“What is okay?” The room spun around me. Things definitely weren’t okay.
“This is your Great Aunt Helena,” Petunia whispered as if it was going to ease the blow. “She’s the Dean at Hidden Hall A Spiritualist University. The school for people like . . . us.” She fanned her hands in the air.
“School? Hidden Hall? ” This really shouldn’t have come as a surprise because Whispering Falls was definitely full of them, but I never thought I’d be going back to school, especially to hone my magical skills. “Listen, I’m not college material.”
Didn’t they realize that I went straight out of high school, selling Darla’s potions at a flea market? Far from going to college.
Mewwwl, Mewwl, Mr. Prince Charming cried, and hung his head. His tail was not wagging as it normally did.
“I told you to shut-up. You know the rules!” A spark shot from Helena’s eyes. “Quite frankly, I’m surprised you they let you stay here. What good were you? You let the killer live right across the street!”
Hiss, hiss. Mr. Prince Charming batted at the woman, claws out and ready to slash.
“What is going on here?” A clap of thunder gave way to an all out downpour outside just as the door opened and Isadora Solstice bolted in. Her hot pink A-line skirt swayed with each step she took in her pointy-toed black, laced-up boots. She stopped when she saw Aunt Helena. She folded her arms and spoke lightly, “Helena, we’ve been expecting you.”
“We have?” My hands balled up into fists and dangled at my side. I certainly had not been expecting anyone. Especially a long lost member of my family.
Helena pointed at Mr. Prince Charming and scowled, “He is your fairy god-cat, who was supposed to take care of you. And all he did was get you in a lot of hot water. Mr. Prince Charming my ass.”
“I . . . I,” I stammered. The room spun faster. A Ding Dong would taste good. I reached for the counter. Instead of grabbing one, I grabbed the edge of the counter and held on for dear life.
Petunia grabbed Mr. Prince Charming. “He did a fine job. He gave y
ou all those charms to protect and guide you. See.” She touched my wrist.
She was right. Mr. Prince Charming did steal several charms from Belle’s Baubles in Whispering Falls, but Belle claimed they were presents from her. If I thought back a little more, Mr. Prince Charming was always around when I found myself in hot water, even was I was a kid. Memories whipped around my head like the small funnel clouds do when I mix a cure.
Everything started to add up. Mr. Prince Charming really had been watching over me all these years.
“June.” Izzy put her hands on my shoulders. “Remember how good souls come back as animals?”
I nodded, my mind cloudy.
“Well, your father couldn’t come back as an animal because he was married to your mom, a mortal. But, your grandparents were pillars of the village so we were delighted when they appointed a fairy god-cat to watch over you. You know, in case something happened to your parents.” She picked him up and stroked his back. White fur flew everywhere.
Helena swooped across the floor and created a breeze when her cloak wrapped around her. She stopped in front of me. I pushed my blunt black bangs out of my eyes. She obviously had more magic in her one pinky than I had in my entire shop. Now she had the type of magic I wished I had. Not just a little dab of this or a dollop of that.
“It’s time, June.” She held her hand out for me to take. “I’m here to collect my niece.”
I reached out, but hesitated. This was all still new to me and I had learned to just believe in what went on around me in Whispering Falls. I pulled my hand back.
“I’m not joking, June.” A spark flew from her finger. “It’s time to go.”
Chapter Two
No one seemed to want to argue with Helena but me. Mr. Prince Charming seemed to be stunned. He sat motionless in front of the shop door, no dragging tail, no figure-eights… just staring at her.