Hexes and Holly: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery Holiday Anthology

by Tegan Maher

  Nick left to do just that, and I got to work.

  Thirty minutes later, I had everything written down. Matt promised to put the farm into a trust with a Bennett always owning the property. Now that Matt had enough money to maintain the house and land, he wouldn't sell off any more trees either. It was a win-win situation all around.

  “How do you feel?” I asked Mr. Bennett.

  “I don’t know. I sort of like it here,” he replied.

  Nick arrived with Connor at that time.

  “Connor meet Mr. Bennet. Mr. Bennet this is the young man I told you about earlier.” I gave Mr. Bennett a level stare.

  The cowboy cleared his throat. “I’m awful sorry about today. I didn’t mean for Brutus to scare you like that. He gets worked up when I get going, and I guess today I was real wound up.”

  “’Tis okay. My brain was broken anyway. And I got to see Dorothy get married,” Connor said.

  “That’s something,” Mr. Bennett replied. I had no idea if he knew who the Golden Girls were or how the series ended, but that didn’t seem to matter.

  “I guess I better get to gettin’,” Connor said. “Mama’s waiting for me.”

  “Your mama’s in heaven?” Mr. Bennet asked Connor.

  “Sure is. Isn’t yours?” Connor replied.

  Mr. Bennet looked thoughtful. “I suppose she is.”

  “We should go then,” Connor said.

  The surety of his voice was such that Mr. Bennet couldn’t refuse. “Alright. I guess we should.”

  At his suggestion, a sense of peace and warmth washed over the farm. The sky opened above. Golden rays of sunshine poured down. I had to shield my eyes from the reflection off the ice and snow.

  “I guess this is goodbye,” Mr. Bennet said, his dog at his side. The pup no longer looked ragged and fierce. His coat was shiny and his tongue lolled out with excitement.

  Connor waved at us. A child-like grin on his face.

  A second later the light surrounded them and the men and dog were orbs, floating up to heaven.

  “Who would’ve thought it’d be Connor O’Reilly that got Mr. Bennet to cross,” Nick said, standing safely behind me.

  “You know what they say, the Lord works in mysterious ways.”

  “He sure does, babe. He sure does.”

  Want to read more?

  Want more of Claire & Nick?

  Continue the adventure with Book 1 in the Spirited Sweets series: Bittersweet Betrayal: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JN8JMCJ/

  About Stephanie

  I'm a mystery author with a soft spot for romance and humor, too. I love being on the beach, I have a strong affinity for the color pink (especially in diamonds and champagne), and, not to brag, but chocolate and I are in a pretty serious relationship.

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