by K. A. Fox
“Yeah, I guess. When the singer is really good.”
“What you feel on those occasions is real especially if the singer is someone like Angus.”
“Or you.” This was Cal’s quiet contribution to the conversation. I would have kicked him right then if I could.
“Wait, what? You can do that too?” Torren asked, his voice hesitant now. I had been trying to alleviate some of his fear around me, and it felt like I’d been making progress. Two steps forward, one step back. As Angus would say, we all end up in Hell either way.
I sighed. “Yes, Torren, I can do that too.” I felt my next words deserved special emphasis. “If I want to. Which is why I don’t sing around anyone anymore. It’s too easy to lose myself to the music and I don’t want to spell anyone by mistake.”
“Another reason you live way out here?” he asked.
“Exactly. I even work from home. It keeps me from endangering other people.” I swallowed against the guilt lodged in my throat, purposely not mentioning my call to his office or the information I’d gotten from Tausha.
This seemed to reassure him. He leaned back against the seat, his eyes looking out the window before they met mine in the mirror. He had a lopsided grin on his face and he seemed relieved. “So, tell me more about the Succubus.”
Callum laughed in the front seat beside me and I joined in. I let Cal take over the history lesson and concentrated on getting us all to town in one piece.
Rolling into Hazelwood, I realized this was the first time I’d come into town this many times in such a short period. My last visit was the only time I hadn’t arrived alone. Now, not only was I not alone, but I had another man with me and we were going to be moving his luggage out of the hotel and into my vehicle. People were going to notice.
The red brick of the Hazelwood Bed & Breakfast towered up above us, the turrets reminding me of my favorite fairy tales. The front rose up almost three stories and the black slate of the roof glistened when the sun hit it. Walking up the wide front stairs, I let my hand glide along the cold wrought iron railing, loving the intricate design built into this practical piece. Always well kept and welcoming, it was no surprise business was thriving for Donna Kay. The fact that she had a full salon always working for her in the back only added to her success.
When we entered the front doors, Donna Kay swept toward our little group. Even Moose, in his Yorkie form and decked out in his purple leash, benefited from the kind smile of the owner. Her short honey brown hair was perfectly done with no hint of gray, making it hard to place her age. Judging by the look in her keen eyes, she was dying to pull me aside and get the story behind my entourage.
“Delaney,” she said, reaching out to grab my hands but then stopping herself with visible effort. She was a hugger. It made me appreciate her restraint even more. “It’s so good to see you. You almost never come to town and now it’s twice in two weeks. When will I get to work on your gorgeous hair? I can see you’re letting it grow, but we could find time to clean it up for you.”
All during this, she was guiding us toward the front desk, where one of her new employees was laying out paperwork for signatures and a bill to be paid. The guys followed behind us, Cal still managing to look distractingly masculine even as he held the sparkly leash attached to Moose. We were a sight, I’m sure.
“Mr. Bishop, we just have a couple things for you to sign and then I’ve got some people ready to help you with your things. I take it you’ll be staying out at Delaney’s place?” Damn, the woman should be a private investigator with her nose for news and her willingness to dig until she found answers. I think it was only her bone deep kindness that kept her from unleashing that skill on the world.
Torren signed the bill and we made sure everything was paid up. Donna Kay kept talking, her gentle voice a calming bit of background noise, until it was time to get Torren’s luggage loaded. She fluttered her hand toward the grand staircase, giving Torren and Callum a pointed look. “I’ve got my nephew up there waiting to help you bring down the luggage. Go on up with your key and he’ll help you bring everything down. Please make sure you call him James. He gets real stubborn if you try to call him Jimmy or anything like that.”
Cal and Torren looked dazedly at her and I had to wonder if this was Donna Kay’s magic power. Her conversation drew you in with little bits of information, but the whole time she was observing and assessing. Fluttering her hands, she got the men moving up the stairs, Moose being transferred over to an excited young girl whose sole job was to take care of the puppy guests. She pulled Moose out to the back yard for a little walk, and just like that, I was left alone with Donna Kay.
“Well young lady, you look like you’ve been through the wash a few times lately.” She led me toward the sitting room, windows letting in the streaming fall light. “Miss Tilly called right after I hung up with you. Said you needed reminding that she’s waiting to meet your men. All of them, she said. She was very specific.”
I didn’t even question how Miss Tilly had known I was going to be in town or muster an ounce of surprise. I rested my head in one hand for a moment. I had forgotten. With everything else going on, it had simply slipped my mind.
“Since you’re in town, there’s no time like the present. I got the sense there was something pressing she wanted to talk with you about. And them. I’ve got those little cakes she likes, so I wrapped some up for you to take over to her after we’re done here. A sort of peace offering, you know. I’ve found a little sugar always makes things better.” She reached out to pat my hand, but stopped herself again, her fingers curling into a fist. Her energy was bright and constant, and I had to wonder if the woman ever slept. She was always like this, any time we encountered each other.
“Now, do you have everything you need to take care of your guests? I know Ernie would be happy to deliver things out there from the grocery store but if he’s not available, you can always call here and I’ll have James pick it up and bring it on out to you.”
“I think we’ll manage. I don’t want to trouble any of you.”
“No trouble at all sweetie. We take care of each other around here. You know that.” Her words warmed me, filling a small hole inside that I hadn’t realized was empty.
“If you know of anyone in town who has a bed I could buy, that would save me a trip to Omaha. I’ve got a small room I’ve been using for storage, but we’re going to move things around so Torren’s not stuck sleeping on the couch.”
“Oh, so you’re using all the bedrooms out there then,” Donna said, her voice betraying no hint of curiosity. I’d seen the light in her eyes before she’d turned her head, so I knew she’d been wondering if one of the men was sharing a room with me.
“Yep. We’re a full house now. I feel bad that Torren’s going to be in such a small room, but it’s better than not having a bed at all.”
She laughed softly and nodded. “Course it is. It just so happens that I have a spare bed that I’ve never needed to use. I was going to set up a small single in one of the back turret rooms but ended up using it as my closet. So many shoes and purses I don’t know when I’ll ever use them all. The bed frame and the mattress have been in the storage room the last year or so. Never been used. The mattress is still wrapped up in the plastic.”
“Oh, Donna Kay. Thank you.” I tried not to gush but it was such a relief to have this small worry solved for me. “How much do you want for it?”
“How about one-fifty?” she asked. “That way, I feel like I’m getting something for it and you feel like I’m not just giving it to you. We’re both happy.”
“Okay, if you’re really sure that’s enough.”
“Absolutely. It’ll be nice to have space in that storage room again too. I’ll have James bring it out to your house later on. That should give you plenty of time to visit with Miss Tilly and take care of that.”
I sighed. Something told me that conversation wasn’t going to be an easy one. But it ha
d to be done.
“Thank you. I really do appreciate it. I’ll just give him the cash when he drops it off.”
“Perfect. And I’ll make sure he knows to help carry it in and set it up. Full service.” Her attention turned to the stairs behind me. “Oh good. Here come your young men. And your dog. Perfect timing.”
We all filed out the front doors and down to the SUV. Torren had more things than I’d expected him to have. We managed to fit everything into the rear cargo area without too much trouble, and I thanked Donna Kay again as we began piling into the vehicle.
“Don’t you worry about it. Now, go take care of your business with Miss Tilly. James will be out to your house later on.”
I nodded and waved goodbye, then climbed into the driver’s seat. As I shut the door, Cal said, “What business with Miss Tilly is she talking about?”
I wanted to groan but suppressed it. “Miss Tilly wants to meet all three of you,” I answered, looking back at Moose to make sure he understood he was included in this. “I guess there are things she wants to discuss with us.”
Cal nodded, understanding, but Torren was clearly in the dark. “Who’s Miss Tilly and why do we care if she wants to talk with us?”
I sighed. “Miss Tilly is a very important person. She knows things and sometimes, she shares that knowledge with the people who need it. Think of her as the matriarch of this entire town. Everyone here listens to what she says and she’s very highly respected. Listen to what she says, and if she asks you a question, answer it. Honestly. If you try to lie, she’ll know, so don’t even bother.”
His only response was a loud sigh as he leaned back in his seat. Buckling up, I started the car and headed straight to Miss Tilly’s. Somehow a wrapped plate of sweet cakes had found its way into the car with us and was sitting on the center console between the front seats. I hadn’t seen anyone sneak those in but was glad they had. Hopefully, it would be exactly the peace offering I needed it to be.
Chapter Twenty·Seven
We were all silent on the short drive to The Hedgerow. As I parked, I tried to calm my frantic heart rate. Somehow, I knew what Miss Tilly had to tell us was not good news. I fought to corral my mind and keep it from wandering when it had no clue where to go, but it was hard. There was nothing else I could do but walk in and find out what she knew.
Anywhere else, most people would have wondered about the strange group we made. Two big men, a dog and me, walking into an herbal store that sold soaps and teas and any natural remedies you might need. But the people who lived in Hazelwood were different. This was just another day and we were just like everyone else, going to Miss Tilly when we needed help. Or when she called on us to show up.
Pulling open the door, the chimes rang as they always did but this time the heavy scent of crushed rose petals greeted me as well. I was surprised to see a law enforcement officer talking with Miss Tilly in the back of the store. A young woman with bright blonde hair approached me immediately, a warm smile on her face.
“Hello, I’m Aften, Miss Tilly’s granddaughter. She’s busy with someone right now. Is there something I can help you find?”
“Sorry, but no. Thank you though. We were at Donna Kay’s and she said Miss Tilly asked us to stop by. We’ll come back later. It’s no problem.”
She put a hand out. “No, I think you should stay. You’re Delaney, aren’t you?”
I glanced up at her, surprised by the foggy sound of her voice and saw that her eyes were unfocused. It was just for a moment, then they cleared, and her gaze was bright and direct again. “That’s right. I’m Laney. Do you want us to wait outside?”
Aften shook her head, glancing back at where her grandmother stood. “No, she’s finishing up now. We’ve had lots of things to do. Storm’s a ’coming.” The way she said that made me think she’d heard it a lot lately, probably from Miss Tilly herself.
I could see the officer was making her goodbyes. Miss Tilly walked with her to where we were clustered, the men standing carefully, trying not to knock anything over. Moose seemed to be the most comfortable of all of us, sitting on the cool wood floor, his tongue out in a friendly way.
“Girl,” said Miss Tilly, as she reached us. “It’s about time. You made me remind you, but you’re here now. So, we forgive and forget.”
“Ms. Murphy?” asked the officer.
I studied the woman standing in front of me, carrying the weight of her uniform and gear with an easy grace that impressed me. Her thick black hair was pulled into a twist at the back and her mocha skin glowed even in the store’s dim light. She was striking, an obvious strength running through her you couldn’t miss.
“Yes. It’s nice to meet you.”
With a kind smile, she said, “I’m Lana. Lana Kingston. Nice to meet you as well.”
“Oh, I recognize your name. You’re the Washington County Sheriff, aren’t you? I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Oh no, I’m pretty sure Miss Tilly was done with me. She knew you were coming by and we just had a few things to discuss.” Turning away from me slightly, she nodded respectfully to the older woman. “Thank you again for the information, Miss Tilly. I’ll make sure my deputies know what to watch for.” Her attention on me again, she said, “And Ms. Murphy. If you need anything out at your property, don’t hesitate to call. I can have a deputy swing by anytime.”
I smiled a thank you, then waited as she left the store before taking a deep breath and returning my focus to the reason we’d come here. “These cakes are for you Miss Tilly. Donna Kay told us they’re your favorites.”
The old lady grinned and clapped her hands like a young girl. “Oh, that one. She knows the way to ease things for everyone. She’s buttering me up.” She winked at me. “And it’s working. Aften, some plates please.”
We followed Miss Tilly over to the corner I’d joined her in the last time we’d talked. She had some small chairs pulled up to accompany the two upholstered ones that normally sat there. She’d obviously been expecting us. Holding her hands out, she said, “Everyone sit. No time to waste on being polite so we’ll have to eat while we plan.”
As we all took a seat, Miss Tilly pointing me to the upholstered chair next to hers, I had the distinct feeling I wouldn’t like what was coming. If she was taking it so seriously that we couldn’t sip some tea and discuss it in what she considered to be a civilized manner, we were in trouble.
Aften brought plates and began serving up the small cakes, passing them around to everyone. She then stood behind her grandmother’s chair, clearly planning to listen in on everything we said.
Miss Tilly saw me notice Aften behind her and reached up to grasp her granddaughter’s hand. “Aften is learning the Way now. She’ll be taking over for me when it’s time.” She let her steely gaze rest on each of us, before continuing. “Now, there is evil coming here. I’ve felt it for a while, but it’s close and we have taken steps to protect our town. Aften and I blessed the Stones that surround this place, so evil will not be able to enter. But outside of town, where you live, Girl, that will fall outside the circle. You’ve set your Stones?”
I nodded. “I have. Recharged them before we left to come here. Cal and Moose checked for any weak spots as well. That’s really just for the house. We have some smaller protections around the fence line and the garage, but there’s too much land to try to circle right now.”
She agreed with me. “Yes, the Stones we have were set long ago and built up over time. Even when I lived in your house, there was no need to weave the spells around all the acres.”
“Why was the Sheriff here?” Cal asked.
“Oh, I told her what to prepare for. She needs to be on guard, and so does everyone she works with. She will lead, they will follow.”
Torren’s voice was coated with disbelief. “The Sheriff believed it when you told her that something bad was on its way and is mustering the troops?”
I tried to warn him with my eyes,
knowing that his tone would not sit well with Miss Tilly. And it didn’t.
“You are being rude, Boy. I don’t allow rudeness here. That is your warning, the only one I will give. Now, be quiet and listen.” Her voice was cold, her back straight and her eyes not leaving his. “This is my place and you will offer respect.”
She turned back to the rest of us and I swear I heard a small sigh of relief from Aften that matched mine. I’d tried to tell Torren that Miss Tilly was not to be trifled with, but some people have to learn things on their own.
“The Stones are strong and will prevent this evil from entering our town. But you have to be prepared to face what comes.” She turned her head to focus on me. “I have seen this is coming for you, Girl, filled with hate and anger. It knows you.”
I didn’t have an answer to that. Whatever was coming, how it knew me, I didn’t understand yet, but I would do all I could to face it.
“We will warn our people and they will be watching. If they see anything, we will spread the word.”
I started to ask a question, but she held her hand up sternly, silencing me. Her focus was locked on Callum, intensely surveying him before she spoke.
“You are a warrior, that is easily seen. There is more within you, but it’s cloudy.” She waved her hands quickly, as if trying to clear the air before her, but then shook her head in disappointment. “You’ve saved her once already, but I feel you won’t be able to save her in the end. She must make that choice for herself.”
Her gaze shifted to Torren, now obediently silent. “You came here for your own reasons, now you’re stuck. And you haven’t been honest. The shadows don’t hide your heart as they do his,” she said, inclining her head back toward Cal. “Your intentions are good, but they can easily go wrong. Be careful.”
Hearing this made me think of Angus and his fondness for reminding me of where all my good intentions were likely to end up.