Page 21 of Witch Bound and Down

He was right. As entertaining as it was to watch Sage verbally spar with Sheriff Lawman, they needed to get back on the road. Snowman was making good time toward their rendezvous point, and they couldn't afford to fall too far behind their thirty-six hour deadline.

"Back exit?" she whispered.

"Back exit."

They stood up slowly, trying to look casual, but Sheriff Lawman's attention snapped back to them immediately.

"Oh no, you don't." He started toward them again, but this time the truck stop's protections activated in earnest.

The floor beneath his feet turned slippery as ice, sending him sliding into the federal agent. The werewolves' table suddenly sprouted legs and scuttled out of the way. The centaur's chair grew roots and anchored itself to the floor. Even the pie in Hazel's abandoned plate began to glow ominously.

"Run," Sage called out cheerfully. "I'll hold them off."

Bullseye grabbed Hazel's hand and they bolted for the back exit, dodging sliding law enforcement officers and animated furniture. Behind them, Sage was laughing with pure delight as her truck stop's defenses turned the simple arrest attempt into supernatural slapstick.

They burst through the back door into the cool desert night and didn't stop running until they reached the Trans Am. Bullseye had the engine started before Hazel even got her door closed.

"That," she panted, "was amazing."

"That was terrifying," Bullseye corrected, but he was grinning as he peeled out of the parking lot. "Sage is absolutely insane."

"Completely. Isn't she wonderful?"

"Wonderful is one word for it," Hopper muttered. "Completely unhinged is another. Though I have to admit, watching that bear slip around on enchanted ice was pretty satisfying."

They were back on the open road, the truck stop's neon glow shrinking in the rearview mirror, before either of them spoke again.

"So," Hazel said finally, "Mike Stevens?"

"It was the first thing that came to mind," Bullseye replied sheepishly. "What about Hannah the nature photographer?"

"Hey, I actually do know something about wildflower photography. I took a class once." She paused. "We made a pretty good team back there."

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. "We did."

The CB radio crackled to life. "Breaker one-nine, this is Moondog calling Bullseye. You copy, good buddy?"

Bullseye grabbed the radio. "Go ahead, Moondog."

"Just wanted to give you a heads up—that Smokey bear is madder than a wet cat. Word is, he's calling in every favor he's got to track you down. You might want to find yourself a real good hiding spot."

"Roger that, Moondog. Much obliged."

"No problem. Oh, and Bullseye? That little lady of yours sure knows how to make an exit. Half the county's still talking about the frog show."

Hazel felt heat rise in her cheeks. "Little lady?"

"You're famous," Bullseye said with amusement. "The mysterious runaway bride who turned a wedding into a supernatural circus."

"Great. Just what I always wanted—to be known for magical property damage."

"Could be worse," Hopper pointed out. "You could be known for marrying Smokie and his teddy bear. At least magical property damage has some style to it."

The CB radio crackled again, this time with a familiar voice. "Breaker one-nine, this is Snowman calling Bullseye. Do you copy?"

"Go ahead, Snowman," Bullseye replied.

"Just wanted to update you on my status. I'm making good time on I-40, should hit our delivery point right on schedule. How's your situation?"

---