Page 78 of Lion's Share
Ben and I hadn’t seen any more carvings on the trees, so whoever had been causing the vandalism seemed to have left the area. We’d speculated that the unknown vandal might have been part of Rosenthal’s team, but since she wasn’t around to ask, for the time, we just had to be glad that the forest was now being left alone.
Around six-thirty, people began heading over to the auditorium at City Hall for the vote count. Unlike Linda’s emergency meetings, this gathering had an almost festive air. Someone had strung lights around the entrance to the auditorium, and the historical preservation society had set up a table with homemade cookies and cider.
Ben and I found seats toward the back, close enough to hear everything but far enough from the front to avoid being conspicuous. I spotted familiar faces throughout the crowd — the Hendersons, looking more relaxed than I’d seen them in months; Hope Hayakawa, who waved when she saw me; Tory Beacham, taking a break from manning the historical society’s cookie table; even Agent Morse, who, in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, her straight blonde hair loose on her shoulders, looked utterly unlike herself.
Eliza appeared in the auditorium a little after seven, beaming as Mayor Tillman — who seemed genuinely relieved to be handing over the reins — stepped up to announce the results.
“With all precincts reporting,” Tillman said, his voice carrying clearly across the crowd, “Elizabeth Cartwright has been elected mayor of Silver Hollow with seventy-three percent of the vote.”
The cheers were deafening. I found myself grinning as I applauded — not just because Eliza had won, but because the margin was so decisive. That kind of victory pretty much ensured that we wouldn’t have to worry about any more fear-mongering and false promises from people who didn’t know what the hell they were talking about.
I noticed that Linda Fields was notably absent from the celebration.
Eliza took the small stage, her face glowing with genuine happiness and determination. “Thank you all so much,” she said once the applause died down. “I know these past few months have been challenging for our community, but tonight proves that Silver Hollow knows how to come together when it matters.”
More applause, and I experienced a warm glow within that had nothing to do with my supernatural abilities. This was what Silver Hollow was supposed to be — a place where neighbors looked out for each other, where local leadership actually meant something.
Where the ordinary magic of small-town life could flourish alongside the more extraordinary magic hidden in our forest.
“My first priority,” Eliza continued, “will be working with PG&E to ensure our power grid remains stable. I’m happy to report that the recent issues appear to have resolved themselves, but we’ll do whatever we can to prevent future problems.”
I exchanged a glance with Ben. Eliza didn’t know the real reason the power problems had stopped — and she never could — but her plan to keep an eye on things was sound. If the portal’s energy patterns shifted again, we’d need early warning.
After this announcement, people got up from their seats and milled around, congratulating Eliza and discussing plans for the future. I noticed Agent Morse making her way over to us and tensed slightly, but her expression was friendly enough.
“Sidney, Ben,” she said in an undertone when she reached us. The use of our first names told me this wasn’t an official visit…not that I couldn’t have already guessed that from the way she was dressed. “I’d say that was a decisive victory.”
“Seventy-three percent sends a pretty clear message,” Ben agreed.
“True.” Rebecca Morse glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then continued in an even lower voice. “I wanted you to know that the final report on Silver Hollow concluded that the electromagnetic anomalies were caused by previously unknown geological processes that have since stabilized.”
“And Dr. Rosenthal?” I asked.
“Has been reassigned to a desk job in Washington.” Morse’s small, slightly wicked smile told me she was all too happy about that reassignment.
It was as if someone had just lifted a twenty-pound weight off my shoulders. Clearly, Dr. Rosenthal wasn’t going to be a problem anymore…or at least, not for the foreseeable future.
“What about you?” Ben asked. “Still with the Bureau?”
“For now,” Agent Morse replied. “But I’m taking an extended leave — my vacation time has been piling up for years.” Her gaze moved to me. “If you ever need help again, I hope you’ll consider me an ally.”
I didn’t need to read her mind to recognize the sincerity in her voice. It seemed I’d gained more than just a guardian’s power from this whole experience. Now I also had an unexpected friend within the federal government itself.
“Thank you,” I said simply. “I’ll remember that.”
Morse nodded and melted back into the crowd, leaving Ben and me to absorb what she’d just offered.
“Well,” he said quietly, “that’s one more piece of good news.”
Later that evening, we made our way back to my house, taking a long, wandering route through the forest. Fairy-bell flowers along the trail glowed with their gentle bioluminescence and helped to guide us. Everything felt peaceful and balanced in a way it hadn’t for months.
“So,” Ben said as we paused on my front porch, “what happens now? Think you’ll reopen the pet store tomorrow?”
“Definitely,” I replied. “But I’ve also been thinking about what I can do to finish my degree. Hope Hayakawa told me she’d be willing to help me put in the final clinical hours I’m missing, so if I can convince my advisors at UC Davis that working with her would fulfill that part of the program, maybe there’s still a way I can make it work.”
I’d been putting off thinking about long-term plans while we dealt with one crisis after another, but with everything apparently stabilized for now, it felt safe to start looking toward the future again.
“That sounds perfect,” Ben said, settling beside me as we sat down on the porch steps. “A veterinarian who understands both ordinary and extraordinary animals would be pretty valuable around here.”
