Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“That sounds like your perfect night. Only thing that will make it better is filling out adoption applications for the nearby animal shelters.”
“Ohhh, now you’re talking my language.”
“Hey, sis,” Harrison answers on the first ring. He must be in the car again to answer so soon. “What’s up?”
“Right now, nothing and it’s glorious.” I lean back against Mystery’s stall wall, stretching my legs out in front of me. I brought everyone in for grain and am enjoying just sitting in the barn watching them eat. “And next weekend is good for that double date if it works for you guys.”
“Yeah. I’ll double check with Saanvi, but it should work. You, uh, killed the ghost? Is that the right thing to say?”
I laugh. “Banish is correct, I think. And yeah. I did. All in a day’s work, ya know, solving like thirteen cold cases.” I recap everything that happened, imagining my brother’s shocked expression as I talk.
“What if it was a person? Like…if someone else decided to carry on his life’s work.”
“Well, then that means I didn’t get the bad guy.” I shake my head, forgetting he can’t see me. “Stuart was able to leave the house and physically attack me. If he could do that, he could do it to others. Others who don’t have the actual power to fight him.”
“Yeah. Good point. You gonna take it easy for a while now?”
“That’s my plan. I might have found a small hunter/jumper show only two hours from here I want to take Sundance to at the end of the month.”
“You said showing gave you anxiety?”
“It does, but damn, Sundance is a talented jumper. No offense to you, Mystery,” I tell my horse and choose not to try to explain to Harrison why my Arabian—who I love to fucking death, don’t get me wrong—can’t fairly compete in the jumper ring against bit warmbloods and thoroughbreds.
We talk a bit longer and I was right; Harry left work and is on his way to Saanvi’s. I set my phone down next to me and close my eyes, feeling calm and happy. My phone buzzes with a text from Rene.
Rene: Okay, so don’t laugh, but that gathering looks pretty fun.
Me: Are you at your store?
Rene: Yeah. I can hear the music from inside. Want to check it out with me?
Me: I’m already in sweatpants
Rene: omg just change! LOL I’ll order veggie tacos for us
Me: You had me at tacos. Give me like fifteen minutes to get dressed and then I’ll meet you at the store.
Rene: Yay! See ya soon!!
“Well, guys, looks like it’s extra hay for you tonight.” I say and get up, double checking that water buckets are full and the stalls are locked. I toss everyone two extra flakes of hay and go inside. Harrison’s words about someone carrying on the legacy nag at me, and I send a group text to both Sam and Julia.
Me: You guys need to teach me how to do this so I can stop bugging you about it, but if you could run a background check on Ariana McMillian (age 43) from Columbus OH, I would forever grateful
I hit send and go inside, not expecting a response from either of them right away, but Sam texts me back before I even get upstairs.
Sam: I got it. Yumi and I are running checks on a few others right now so we’re already in the program. I’ll get this to you in an hour or so.
Me: Thanks so much. I’m sure it’ll come back with nothing, but you know me. Just want to be sure.
“It will be nothing,” I tell myself, annoyed I let Harry get into my head that easily. Now…what exactly should I wear to this Wicca Gathering?
“You were right. This is pretty damn fun.” I put my straw to my lips and take a drink of some sort of “goddess cocktail” that tastes a lot like a watery vodka tonic spiked with cranberry juice.
“Right?” Rene loops her arm through mine. “They might not be your kind of witch, but the vibe here is perfect.”
“It is,” I say as I look around. The turnout to this event was huge and it’s just like Rene said. No one here can cast a real spell, but they do know the basics. And it’s nice to be around a whole group of people who respect the dead, know the value of the elements, and don’t judge any of us for believing what we believe.
We walk around, visiting some of the different booths. I buy half a dozen new sage smudge sticks since I used all mine clearing out my house. Rene gets a few crystals and we’re both tempted to buy “fairy-inspired” dresses until we see the price tags. I choke down the rest of my drink and then we both get spiced ciders and cinnamon rolls and go to a table to eat them.