Southern Belles and Spells Matchmaker Mysteries

by Amy Boyles

  I bristled. “Hey, I’m not the one who’s hard to deal with. You’re bullheaded, incredibly rude, and you run with a pack of vampires.”

  “And our nice moment faded,” Thorne teased. “It was wishful thinking to hope it would last.”

  “Why would you hope it would last?” I said. “It’s not as if we’re friends.”

  “No,” he said coldly, and that shield returned to his eyes. “It’s not.”

  The song ended, and Thorne dropped my hand, giving me a half bow. “Thank you for the dance.”

  He turned and walked away, leaving me feeling like I’d done something wrong. I brushed the feeling off. Thorne wasn’t hurt by my we’re-not-friends comment. There was no way.

  But why had he asked me to dance?

  Okay, before I jumped down the rabbit hole of overanalyzing a man’s motivation to death, I shook it off.

  “Welcome,” came an announcement over a microphone. I peered across the dance floor to find Mayor Dixon had taken the small stage.

  Magical lightning bugs danced around her head, illuminating her with their glowing tails.

  The mayor smiled. “Thank y’all so much for coming out to meet the newest arrival to our town, Reese Baylor. But I believe we also have a few other visitors. Would Mr. Dash Borden raise his hand?”

  With Kimberly Peterson at his side, Dash Borden smiled and waved to the crowd. Several folks clapped.

  “Mr. Borden is visiting town as he’s looking to invest in our little Witch’s Forge. Let’s make him feel welcome, shall we?”

  More clapping.

  “I’d also like to welcome Mr. Rots Smythe. He’s here conducting some research. Mr. Smythe, please raise your hand.”

  My gaze drifted around the room until I saw the fur coat–clad man—the mystery man who seemed to always be yelling at someone. He stood by a snack table, stuffing his mouth full of crackers. At the mention of his name, he hunched his shoulders and smirked, giving only a pathetic, wimpy wave.

  Rots Smythe? More like Rotten Smith if you asked me.

  But anyway.

  The mayor laughed nervously. “Anyway, I’d like for our guest of honor to say a few words. Would Reese please step up here and take my place at the podium?”

  The crowd erupted into energetic applause once more. Mayor Dixon smiled brightly and clapped, waiting for Reese to appear. The applause died, but Reese wasn’t on the stage.

  The mayor peered into the crowd. “Does anyone know where Reese is? Jamison?”

  Jamison stepped forward. “She was right here a minute ago.”

  Enthusiasm boomed from Winnifred’s voice. “Well, let’s try that again. Will Reese please join us up here?”

  Once again more applause followed her announcement, but as the applause waned, there still wasn’t any sign of Reese.

  Until someone screamed.

  My gut clenched, and I instinctively took off in the direction of the sound. I followed it through the gardens, stopping at the display of gigantic Venus flytraps.

  Sprawled out beneath the plants lay the blonde woman I had seen earlier with Jamison. Her face was blanched, and sightless eyes stared toward the heavens.

  Jamison appeared and threw himself at the woman’s feet. “Reese! No! It can’t be!”

  He shook the woman and started CPR, but I could tell that it wasn’t going to work. She was dead—quite dead.

  Thorne appeared and started pushing people away, telling them to stand back.

  “We were going to be married,” Jamison howled. “She was going to be my bride!”

  See? I knew they’d end up married.

  I grimaced, not only at his pain, since I’d matched him, but because of something else—the woman they were all calling Reese wasn’t Reese at all. Her features were all wrong—a large nose, she was larger boned and her hair, which could easily be bleached from brown, was coarse and straight.

  No, she wasn’t Reese.

  The dead woman was an imposter.

  Chapter 4

  “That’s not Reese Baylor.”

  I’d pulled Thorne aside, and as much as I hated to have to talk to him privately, especially after he’d basically ditched me on the dance floor, the police chief needed to hear what I had to say.

  He arched a perfect brow. “What do you mean?”

  Temptation to spit out a smart remark sparked on the tip of my tongue, but I held back. This was not the time to let my personal irritation with Thorne get in the way of the truth.

  “That’s not her.” I pulled a file folder from my purse. Yes, I was always on the job. So much so that I often carried folders of soul mates, or possible soul mates, in my bag.

  I opened the folder and tapped the picture secured with a paper clip. “Not her.”

  Thorne peered at the image and then at the body of the dead woman.

  Jamison was off to the side, sitting slumped, his hands cradling his hanging head. I wanted to console him, but to be honest, in this moment I didn’t know how.

  What tactic was I supposed to use to explain that this woman wasn’t his soul mate and did he happen to know who she really was?

  I hated to break his heart that way. But if this wasn’t Reese, then where was she?

  Thorne pointed to the body. “Who is that?”

  I shook my head. “No idea.”

  He scratched his chin in thought. “And where’s Reese?”

  “Better yet,” my mother said, butting in, “what killed that woman? There’s not a mark on her.”

  “I’m pretty sure it was magic,” Rose said with authority. “Only magic can kill without leaving a scratch.”

  I shook my head. “Pretty sure heart attack, stroke, aneurysm—those things can kill without leaving a scratch as well.”

  Rose shook her head. “It must just be awful being human and having to worry about silent killers like those.”

  I pointed to the body. “It must be awful being a witch and worrying about someone spelling you to death.”

  Thorne’s face reddened. “As much as I enjoy the Calhoun family helping with a police investigation, I would prefer if you ladies would stay back. I need to figure out what’s going on.”

  Thorne closed my folder and tapped it. “Can I keep this?”

  I folded my arms. “Are you asking or taking?”

  “I’m asking, but if you say no, I’ll still take it.”

  I scoffed. “Then I guess it doesn’t matter what I say.”

  “It matters.”

  Not from where I was standing, but whatever. “Just take it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Thorne turned to discuss things with his vampire buddies who’d appeared.

  “So I take it that’s not Reese,” my mother said stiffly.

  “You heard our conversation.”

  “Of course we did.” Rose stroked Pig’s head. “Your mother amplified the sound so we’d know what was going on. And you really should try to be nicer to Thorne next time you dance, Charming.”

  My jaw dropped. I whirled on Mama. “Are you kidding?” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “Did y’all spy on us?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Mama snapped. “I would never spy. I only listened to take notes so that I can tell you how to do better next time. I mean, when did you last dance with a man or go out on a date with one?”

  Anger burned slow and bright in my chest. I wanted to scream at my mother and tell her that was completely uncalled for, but then I realized it had been ages since I’d been out with someone—like maybe a year?

  And I hadn’t even liked that guy. Not really. I’d only gone out with him to make my mother happy because she was always bothering me about who I was dating.

  But then the next thought slammed into me like a crashing wave. “We were not dancing because there’s anything between us,” I hissed. “Let’s just get that straight right now. Thorne only asked because he was desperate, and I only said yes because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”

  Mama shot
Rose an eye roll that nearly touched the clouds. Rose rolled her eyes, and I swear Pig did, too.

  “Oh no, I’m not even entertaining this. I’m going to talk to Jamison.”

  I stomped off across the gardens to Jamison. I didn’t even bother to look back to see if my family was following.

  I touched his shoulder. He glanced up, his eyes wet. My heart cracked in two for him. That woman hadn’t been his soul mate, but he didn’t know that.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said.

  He nodded. “I was crazy about her, dudette. I knew we were, like, so meant to be. We were like waves crashing in the ocean, meeting each other and falling into deep, wonderful love.”

  I rubbed my lips together as I thought about how to approach this. “So, Jamison, can you tell me everything that happened at the train station? I never saw Reese there.”

  “I mean, sure.” He slapped the bench beside him, gesturing for me to sit.

  When I was settled, I said, “Take your time.”

  “Well, it was really cool. I was standing there, looking around, and she came up to me and said, ‘Jamison,’ and I said, ‘Reese,’ and she said, ‘Yeah,’ and I was, like, in love from that moment on. I don’t know if that’s what soul mates do to you or what, but it was like this crazy energy was created between us. It was nothing I’d ever experienced before. I don’t think I’ll ever experience it again.”

  I squeezed his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” Then I gently prodded. “So was there anything else that she said?”

  “Dudette, we talked about life and how we were destined to be soul mates. Is that what you mean?”

  No, I mean, did she admit to being someone else?

  Jamison shook his head. “There was one thing that was funny.”

  I perked up. “What was that?”

  “Well, I talked to Reese on the phone right after she boarded the train, and her voice sounded different when she arrived—it was really harsh, like she was a chain-smoker or something. Reese explained that the cabin air had been really dry and that’s what did it. She said once she visited Fire Town, it would be back to normal.”

  Jamison’s words speared my flesh. “You talked to Reese after she’d boarded the train?”

  Emotion flickered in his eyes. “Yeah.”

  If Reese had called him after she’d boarded but no one had seen her since the train had arrived, that gave me hope.

  I catapulted from the bench. “Thank you, Jamison. And everything’s going to be okay.”

  He reached for my hand. “I hope so, dudette.”

  I kissed his cheek. “It will. I promise.”

  With that, I darted across the gardens back to my family.

  Mama took one look at me, and her mouth puckered sourly. “Oh? Are we good enough to talk to again?”

  My gaze darted to where Thorne and his men hovered around the body. He’d tell me to stay out of it if I revealed my theory to him, so I couldn’t tell the vampire—because I couldn’t stay out of this. I had brought Reese to this town. She was my responsibility.

  I ignored my mother’s barb. “We have to get to the Witch’s Forge Express.”

  “And let other people see me with this horrible scarf on my head?” Mother said.

  “Most of the town’s already seen you. I don’t understand why any more would be a problem,” I argued.

  “You wouldn’t understand, Charming. But anyway, why do we have to visit the train?”

  “I don’t know if I can,” Rose said. “Pig’s getting hungry, and I’ve just about run out of chocolate.”

  “You’re going to give that animal serious health problems if you keep feeding her Hershey bars,” I pointed out.

  Rose waved Pig’s little hoof as if she was a baby. “Oh, she doesn’t like Hershey. She prefers Godiva.”

  “Expensive Pig.”

  “Tell me about it. I’m going to have to get a job just to pay for the chocolate. I haven’t worked in years, but I guess if I had to, I could return to my old job.”

  Out of curiosity I asked, “What was that?”

  “I was a roller blade girl at a drive-up burger joint.”

  “In what, 1950?”

  Rose nodded. “How did you know? Did you travel back in time and see me?”

  I waved my hand. Time to regroup and focus. “Y’all, we’ve got to get to that train now.”

  Mama folded her arms. “Why?”

  I gritted my teeth. “Because I think Reese Baylor may still be on it.”

  The Witch’s Forge Express sat dark and silent. Gas lamps lined the platform’s cover, lighting our way.

  I walked up the steps of the first passenger car and tugged the door. “Locked.”

  “It won’t be for long.” Mama clapped her hands, and a ball of water appeared. The water uncurled to form a rope that she tossed at the door handle. With one tug the door slid open.

  Mama pulled the water rope to her, and it formed back into a ball before disappearing. A strand of hair dropped from under her scarf, and she shoved it back into submission.

  “Let’s go,” she commanded.

  She didn’t have to tell me twice. We entered the first car and were met with a row of doors on both sides.

  I hooked my hand on the first handle. “We’ll need to check every one.”

  “Maybe Pig can just smell her out,” Rose said.

  “She’s not a dog,” I argued.

  “Oh, I think Pig can do a lot of things. Can’t you, Pig?”

  Pig snorted happily.

  “I’ll ask her.” Rose placed her wrinkled hands on both knees. “Girl, we need you to sniff out a woman on this train. Can you do it?”

  Pig snorted again and blew out a long breath. I think that meant yes.

  “Okay, start looking.”

  Pig grunted as she pranced down the train car. She shoved her nose in the bottom slit of each door, took a deep inhale and moved on. The swine worked fast. When the scent wasn’t what we were looking for, she shuffled on to the next gap.

  We got through the first passenger car quickly and the second, even faster. I was beginning to wonder if my theory was right or if Pig wasn’t as good at her job as Rose thought.

  I whispered in Rose’s ear. “Do you really think Pig can do this?”

  Rose nodded. “I would think so. She can tell the difference between chocolate and granola by scent, so surely she can find a human.”

  My hopes plummeted. Chocolate and granola would smell completely different. “Anyone can do that, Rose.”

  “Not at twenty feet and under a mason jar, they can’t.”

  “Why would you need to test Pig that way?”

  The sparkle in Rose’s eyes made me wish I hadn’t asked. There was no telling what kind of kooky story would come out of her mouth.

  “Never mind,” I said quickly. “We’ll save it for another time.”

  Mama clutched my arm. “Pig’s got something.”

  My body stilled as Pig scratched at a door. My heart Velcroed itself to my spine, and I felt like this was it—it was now or never. I’d asked Pig to find a woman, and there was hopefully a woman behind that door.

  I inhaled deeply, steeling myself for what I might find. My feet moved on their own as I swept toward the door. I pressed my hands against it and looked at Mama.

  “Would you please do the honors?”

  My mother’s ball of water zipped from her hand. It elongated to a finger, which disappeared inside the lock.

  Snick.

  “Thank you.”

  Mama nodded. “You’re welcome.”

  I grasped the knob and turned it.

  “Just what do y’all think you’re doing here?”

  I bristled at the sound of Thorne’s voice coming from the end of the car.

  I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes, turning to shoot him fiery daggers.

  “We’re looking for the real Reese Baylor,” I snapped.

  He stormed up, his massive frame swallowing the inside of the car. Reall
y, this train was much too small for a vampire as massive as him.

  With vampiric speed, Thorne reached my side in a blink. “Nice trick,” I murmured.

  Anger flared in his eyes. “This is my job—investigating. Yours is matchmaking. You know, bringing people together who love each other. Mine is the dirty, grimy stuff. You shouldn’t be here.”

  “What if she’s in trouble?” I argued. “No one even knows where she is, but Jamison said he spoke to Reese after she’d gotten on the train. What if she never got off?”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Thorne persisted. “Which is why I’m here. Now y’all can just move along.”

  “I’m not moving along.” I stamped my foot. “Pig says there’s someone behind this door, and Reese is my responsibility.”

  “You’re not going in there,” Thorne commanded. “You’re staying out of it.”

  I glared at him. “The heck I am.”

  Without a second thought, I shoved open the door. Mama, right on cue, turned her ball of water into one of light and released it.

  The glowing orb hovered in the air.

  “I’m asking you nicely to get out,” Thorne persisted.

  I ignored him. “Where is she?”

  The room sat bare. The bed lay neatly made, and every surface gleamed.

  “Closet,” I said.

  But Thorne beat me to it. He opened the closet as if this was a competition. The door opened, and his arms jutted out as something fell into them.

  I gasped.

  The ball of light floated over Thorne. The vampire stood, a grim expression on his face as he cradled a body.

  The glow of the ball illuminated the person’s features. Tears filled my eyes as I stared at the flowing brown hair, the delicate features and beautiful face of Reese.

  “It’s her,” I said. “That’s Reese Baylor, and she looks dead, too.”

  Chapter 5

  “She isn’t dead.”

  We hovered inside the train car. Thorne’s hand lay flat on Reese’s neck, checking for a pulse.

  Hope bubbled inside me. “She’s not?”

  He shook his head. “No. We need to get her medical attention.” Thorne pulled a radio from his belt and glared at us. “Will the three of y’all, including your pig, please leave the cabin?”