Swan with the Wind (Bought-the-Farm Mystery Book 9)
Page 24
“Reunions will be easier soon,” Janelle said. “Because I’m moving home.”
“Home!” Jilly blurted the word. “To Wyldwood Springs?”
“Home to the old house. It’s time for Mom to let me take up the baton. Diplomacy isn’t her strong suit, and I’m hoping I can settle a few things in the community.”
Jilly reached across what had been a huge divide and squeezed her cousin’s arm. “It would be good to have you so close. Maybe Gran can come back, too. Eventually.”
Janelle deflated behind the wheel. “It would take better negotiation skills than mine.”
“Give it time,” Jilly said. “And be super careful. Will your mom agree?”
“I’m going to suggest she take over managing the Briars. That way we’ve got things covered at both ends. It won’t be easy, but I’m ready to try.” Turning under the big wooden duck at the waterfowl refuge, she added, “I’ve spent ten years training for this. The only thing I need is—”
Keats gave a jubilant bark.
“Exactly, Keats. My dream dog. I’m going to find her on the drive back. I feel it in my bones.”
“Don’t discount a cat,” Jilly said. “There’s nothing more comforting than a nice purr.”
“Except possibly a handsome cop,” I said, watching Asher help Bridie out of the truck with a courtly little bow. He left Edna to descend on her own, likely knowing she’d chew off his arm if he’d tried.
“Sounds like you two have it all laid out for me,” Janelle said, putting the car in park. “I’ll do my best to make you proud.”
“Make yourself proud,” I said, getting out of the car. “And your mystical Belgian shepherd. Although I’d keep an open mind about the breed. Think longer and lower.”
Keats gave a sneeze of laughter, so maybe he shared my hunch.
Janelle left me to open the rear passenger door for the swan and I expected to lift him down. Instead, he jumped out and waddled ahead with Keats circling in wide arcs behind him. Eventually Zeus turned and let out a hiss and Keats fell back.
We followed the path past several ponds, each with its pair of resident swans. I was beginning to wonder if we’d missed our turnoff when Zeus started running. His wings spread, with their missing feathers visible like broken teeth in an old comb. They couldn’t achieve liftoff, but they did propel him forward to a pond where a lone swan floated. One by one, grey cygnets popped out from under her feathers.
“I hope she takes him back,” I said. “Amos told me even a week can turn committed mates into strangers and enemies.”
“Not these two,” Jilly said. “They’re madly in love.”
The evidence came as soon as Zeus hit the water. He turned from awkward to graceful in an instant. They circled each other for a moment before practically merging into one being as their necks intertwined. It was one of the most touching, romantic things I had ever seen, and tears rolled down my face.
A loud sniff behind me told me I wasn’t the only one crying, and when I finally looked away from the snowy pair and their family, Asher was wiping his eyes on his uniform sleeve.
He glanced at Bridie and after she nodded, dropped suddenly to one knee on the grass at Jilly’s feet. Her hands clasped and then covered her mouth. Good thing her green eyes were dancing or we might have been worried about the outcome.
If I knew my brother, he’d probably prepared an elaborate proposal on the drive down. But the ring box he pulled out of his pocket was from Haute Baubles. Bridie had ordered it while we were still in Clarington and had it delivered, just in case.
“Jilly,” he said, “I thought long and hard and—”
“Asher?” Edna said. “We talked about this. Brevity is a valuable trait, both in good times and an apocalypse.”
“Right. Yes, Miss Evans.” He gave his head a shake. “Jilly Blackwood, it would be my honor to serve and protect you for the rest of our days.”
“In sickness and in health,” Bridie added.
“In barns and bunkers,” I said.
“Till death do you part,” Edna said.
“With all the magic love can bring,” Janelle finished.
Keats threw back his muzzle and offered a jubilant, “Roo-roo-roo.”
It was a sound I’d never heard from him before and we all laughed. Then we circled the happy couple.
“Did I miss the answer?” Edna said. “Did she say yes?”
“Yes!” Jilly said, competing with another joyful howl from Keats.
After a few minutes, I left the celebration and walked to the edge of the pond again to watch Zeus and Hera swimming side by side with a trail of babies behind them. They turned to face me with eyes that were still sharp but warmer than cold beads.
“You’re welcome at Runaway Farm when your feathers grow back,” I said. “I’m building a pond with plenty of room for a running takeoff.”
Keats grumbled a rebuke for ruining a fine moment with talk of bringing more water into our lives.
A few moments later, Asher cleared his throat and I turned. “Congratulations, brother. You’ve won a great prize.”
“It pays to aim high,” he said, grinning. “I was never afraid to bat out of my league. Mom probably made a better man out of me than Dad would have if he’d stayed.”
The word “dad” didn’t nauseate me like it did a month ago. “Calvin isn’t so bad,” I said. “I understand why you kept in touch with him.”
His bright blue eyes dropped to the grass. “I’m sorry about keeping that a secret, especially from you. I couldn’t explain why, even to myself. It had something to do with Jilly.”
“Jilly? How so?”
“I knew I wanted to spend my life with her since the day we met. That got me thinking about family and roots, and what I wanted for my own children someday. So when Dad came calling, I opened the door too fast without thinking about the rest of you.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “We’re all changing, right? Let’s just swim with the current and not against it.”
The famous Asher Galloway smile competed with the swans for brilliance. “Any chance you’d be my best man?” he said.
“Give that job to Kellan, because I’m casting myself as maid of honor.”
“Hopefully everything at the farm will settle down before the wedding,” he said. “I couldn’t believe someone would try to seize Clippers in broad daylight.”
“Seize Clippers? What are you talking about?”
His smiled vanished behind a cloud. “I figured someone told you.”
“Thank goodness I can count on you when my deputies keep me in the dark. Tell me now.”
“I only know that someone walked off with him and faced the fight of their life from Cori and a pig poker. Edna was beside herself that we’d left already. There was a lot of talk of explosives on the way down that I can’t unhear.”
Turning, I said, “We’ve got to get back. I can’t believe Kellan didn’t tell me.”
“He didn’t want to distract you at a critical time,” Asher said. “Besides, Cori and Gertie are standing watch twenty-four seven. Another day or two won’t make a difference there, but it will for Jilly and her family here.”
One look at Bridie, Janelle and Jilly walking arm in arm along the path, surrounded by bright sun, blue water and multicolored birds, made me reconsider.
“You’re right, brother,” I said. “She deserves to savor this moment. I’ll stick to hassling everyone online. There’s a security feed so I can stand watch, too.” I looked down at Keats. “That’ll teach us never to leave the farm again.”
“There’s something else,” he said. “Teri Mason called me to say her mom wants to speak to you as soon as you’re back. It’s urgent.”
“Teri’s mom? Asher, she’s basically been unconscious for years. We’ve never met.”
He squirmed, as if his uniform had gotten itchy. “I know. But that’s what Teri said, and it’s supposedly, well… life and death.”
“Huh. Okay then. It’s go
od to know things won’t be boring when we get home.”
“There’s a wedding to plan, too,” he said, smiling again.
“I’ve got a grand idea for that,” I said. “And then you can drive down here for your honeymoon.”
“Sounds like I could earn a few extra bucks bounty-hunting pythons,” he said. “I can handle snakes.”
“Tell that to your beautiful bride,” I said.
“Why ruin a great moment?” He tossed me a grin before heading back to Jilly.
I sat down on the grass, even though it was speckled with bird poop, and Keats climbed into my lap. He mumbled as I rubbed his ears. “You’re right, buddy. Vacations aren’t for sissies. It’s time for us to get back to work.”
Have you joined Ellen Riggs’ author newsletter? You’ll receive two stories free, including The Cat and the Riddle, which is EXCLUSIVE to subscribers. The story takes place after Swine and Punishment and sets the stage for a future novel. Don’t miss out! Plus, of course you’ll see some great photos of my adorable dogs.
Do you want to join Janelle and her grandmother on a magical adventure to find the dog of her dreams? Read on!
Rescuing this sassy dachshund would be a lot easier if he were still alive.
Janelle Brighton is not a witch, although she knows a thing or two about magic. For starters, she can see ghosts, or at least one. She can read minds, at least some. And she can zap people with a little energy burst that scrambles their brains, at least for a while. But she’s not very good at any of it. She’s either a late bloomer, as her grandmother says, or a dud bud.
That’s why it comes as a shock when a jewelry store heist and a murder in Gran’s community also reveal a plot against Janelle’s life. Someone desperately wants to prevent her from heading back home to Wyldwood Springs to face the ghosts of her past.
Luckily, the ghost of her present—a cocky, chatty dachshund named Mr. Bixby—holds the key to at least one mystery. And if they can rescue each other before the killer rids the world of this slightly underrated non-witch, they may just be a match for magical threats to come.
Join Janelle Brighton in this short prequel that begins the Mystic Mutts Mysteries series, a paranormal cozy mystery featuring a saucy dachshund, several ghosts and murders to solve.
I Want You to Haunt Me is available now!
Jilly’s Spring Fever Asparagus Gruyere Tart
1 lb thin asparagus, trimmed
1 pkg all-butter puff pastry, thawed
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1½ cup shredded Gruyere cheese
½ tsp cracked pepper
1 egg
1 tbsp milk
Instructions
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Steam asparagus about 3 minutes till tender-crisp. Chill in cold water and pat dry.
Unroll each pastry sheet onto prepared pan. Spread evenly with mustard, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange asparagus side by side, alternating ends, on top of mustard. Sprinkle with cheese and pepper.
Beat egg with milk in a small bowl, and then brush over pastry border.
Bake in 450-degree oven for 16 minutes, rotating and switching pans half-way through, till cheese is bubbly and pastry puffed and golden.
Cut each into six pieces and serve warm or cool, while accepting accolades for a deceptively simple treat.
More Books by Ellen Riggs
“Bought-the-Farm” Cozy Mystery Series
A Dog with Two Tales (prequel)
Dogcatcher in the Rye
Dark Side of the Moo
A Streak of Bad Cluck
Till the Cat Lady Sings
Alpaca Lies
Twas the Bite Before Christmas
Swine and Punishment
The Cat and the Riddle (Newsletter Exclusive)
Don’t Rock the Goat
Swan with the Wind
How to Get a Neigh with Murder
Tweet Revenge
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“Mystic Mutt Mysteries” Paranormal Cozy Series
I Want You to Haunt Me (prequel)
You Can’t Always Get What You Haunt
Books by Ellen Riggs and Sandy Rideout
Dog Town Series
Ready or Not in Dog Town Prequel
Bitter and Sweet in Dog Town Labor Day
A Match Made in Dog Town Thanksgiving
Lost and Found in Dog Town Christmas
Calm and Bright in Dog Town Christmas
Tried and True in Dog Town New Year’s
Yours and Mine in Dog Town Valentine’s Day
Nine Lives in Dog Town Easter
Great and Small in Dog Town Memorial Day
Bold and Blue in Dog Town Independence Day
Better or Worse in Dog Town Labor Day
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Dog Town Boxed Sets
Mischief in Dog Town – Books 1-3
Mischief in Dog Town – Books 4-7
Mischief in Dog Town – Books 8-10