Page 66 of Fresh Old Bounties

“Is it done?” Shane asked.

“Yes.” Moving the kit’s instructions to the middle of the counter, I placed the strip by the color chart. From barely pink to fiery red. Weak to strong.

Immense relief filled me. No super-secret late blooming power. I was still me.

Dru made a sound of aggravation. “Waste of time.”

“We should do another,” Alex suggested, sounding quite disappointed.

“Not going to help,” muttered one of the stools.

Shane immediately snapped to attention, his single-eyed gaze scanning our surroundings. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” Ian said firmly, and proceeded to shoo everyone out of the room, the building, and, hopefully, the rest of my week.

Smiling at the faintly pink strip of paper, I cleaned up, chastised Bagley, and met Ian in the hallway, Fluffy trotting by my side.

For a moment there, the universe had threatened to upend itself. Beyond me losing the shop. Beyond failing my duties. Even beyond being unable to clear up Grandma’s legacy.

But then it had righted itself again, reminding me that anything could be achieved by the strength of one’s will, not power.

My smile broadened. Happiness filled my chest like a sudden explosion of blossoms.

I was still me.

SIXTEEN

Ian went out to take the dogs for a short walk and returned with a couple of drinks and a large pizza. My stomach growled at the sight, the burrito long forgotten.

I’d cleaned the kitchen and returned Grandma’s spellbook upstairs while Ian was out, so we made ourselves comfortable on the backyard chairs, eating the pizza in the ambient light coming from the hallway.

“Thank you,” I said. I took a good bite of the slice of cheese and pepperoni and it absolutely melted in my mouth. Olmeda might be known for its fried chicken, but its pizza was the pinnacle of perfection.

Ian nodded and took a swig of his beer. He looked delectable as he relaxed on the camping chair, his face upturned toward the sky.

I followed his gaze. The city lights were too strong to show much, but as I waited, pinpricks of light began peeking out here and there. Watching the stars together made for an easy, intimate atmosphere. Same spot, same position as my earlier girls’ night, yet so different.

I would never admit it to the girls, but I think I rather liked this one better. Especially with Fluffy sleeping on my foot and Rufus keeping sentinel by Ian’s side as he petted him absentmindedly.

Cozy.

Perfect.

“Grandma wasn’t evil,” I said.

“I believe you.”

Fluffy yipped sleepily, adding her support.

Rufus said nothing, which I understood—he was a suspicious sort like his owner, so he likely also subscribed to everyone is a suspect.

“Why now?” I asked, returning to the question that had been bugging me since I’d seen Ian’s ex-partner’s folder. “Why wait twenty years?”

“Remember, it might be unrelated.”

“Not likely.”

“But not impossible. Someone looking for Duncan’s files might have nothing to do with the spellbook. And both might have nothing to do with the bounty related to your grandmother.”

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