Dorcas folded her arms and glared at the dragon. “According to what I’ve heard, George has been a problem since he was born. Whether it was nature or nurture, we don’t—”
“I’m ADD!”
“Oh, give it a rest,” Maggie said. “You’re just using that as an excuse to be a pain in the ass. You should be ashamed of yourself. You’ve been scaring people out here for years, haven’t you?”
“It was something to do.” George fiddled with his iPod earphones. “It’s boring out here.”
Maggie blew out a breath. “Cry me a river. What do you expect, a career on Wall Street? You’re a dragon. You’re supposed to…” She turned to Dorcas and Ambrose. “What is he supposed to do?”
“He’s supposed to be the True Guardian of the Whispering Forest,” Dorcas said. “That means he watches out for all the creatures in it, checks if there’s a lightning storm that no trees are smoldering, things like that.”
Maggie glanced back at George. “That’s a wonderful job. You should be so grateful for a job like that.”
“Wait a minute, Dorcas,” Sean said. “How do you know so much about this True Guardian stuff?”
“If there’s a problem with a dragon, as in this case, the wizard world is put in charge of straightening it out.”
Maggie gasped. “Did you say wizard world? So you’re wizards?”
“Technically, Ambrose is the wizard. I’m a witch.”
“Omigod, you put a love spell on us, didn’t you? That’s why we can’t seem to stay away from each other and why we’re constantly—”
“No.” Dorcas shook her head. “We didn’t put a love spell on you. We would never do that. Whatever you’re feeling is real. The wine might have jump-started things a little, but it won’t work unless there’s actual chemistry.”
Sean kept quiet. Obviously they’d put a spell on him in order to turn him into a nerd. He didn’t want to mention that in front of Maggie and risk looking stupid for letting himself get involved in such a crazy thing. Besides, he didn’t want to draw attention to whatever nerdiness he had going on right now.
Everything was starting to make sense. The two people flying over Edith Mae’s house, the incense, the special herbs, even the black cat. He’d heard about such things, but he’d never believed they were real. Unless he was hallucinating, he couldn’t very well doubt it, now.
“Hel-lo, people.” George leaned toward them. “We’re here to talk about the dragon, remember?”
“I do believe that’s right,” Ambrose said. “So let’s talk about you, George. We’re all sick of your behavior and we want it stopped.”
George smirked at him. “Dude, you can’t make me do anything.”
“Want to bet?” Ambrose reached inside his coat and pulled out something that was in two pieces. He screwed it together like a pool cue, but this was no pool cue.
“You totally won’t use that on me. I know about wizards, man. You’re all with harm to none.”
Dorcas stared at her husband. “You made your staff collapsible?”
Ambrose shrugged. “I worked on it this morning. Transports easier this way.” He glanced back at George. “As for that with harm to none vow, yeah, I took it. But that means protecting others from being harmed by the likes of you. Don’t push me, dude.”
Sean wasn’t eager to witness a showdown between a wizard and a dragon. In the movies, that usually turned nasty and flaming stuff flew everywhere. Innocent people could get hurt. “Maybe I’ll just take Maggie and go home,” he said.
Maggie shook her head. “You can go if you want, but I’m staying. I’ll never see something like this again in my lifetime.”
George blew out a series of ragged smoke rings in quick succession. “You won’t use that staff on me, man.”
Ambrose muttered a phrase in Latin and the tip of his staff glowed bright enough to light the entire clearing. “Everyone, get back.”
Sean didn’t need to be told twice. He drew Maggie into the trees. “Don’t be stubborn. This is our chance to leave.”
“No way. I’m staying.”
He sighed. “All righty, then. Me, too, I guess.”
“But don’t you think this is fascinating?”
“I’m too busy dealing with the adrenaline rush. I thought we’d both end up dead.”
She nestled her head against his shoulder. “You were really brave.”
“I was really scared shitless.”
“That’s what bravery is—being scared shitless and doing it anyway.”
He thought about that and felt sort of proud of himself. “Thanks. So were you scared shitless, too?”
“At first I was. But when he threatened to kill you, I just got mad.”
“Huh.” He liked thinking of her going into a rage on his behalf. He also liked standing here with his arm around her. There was nothing sexual or suggestive going on, just two people holding each other.
Even with an impending wizard/dragon battle, he wouldn’t trade places with anyone in the world. Something warm and intense made his chest tighten up. He’d never felt anything quite like it, but he had a pretty good idea what it was.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As unsettling as this whole episode had been, Maggie had never felt as secure as she did standing in the protective circle of Sean’s arm. She marveled that he’d been willing to give his life to save her. Equally significant, she’d been willing to challenge the dragon to save him.
Some heavy-duty emotions were rocking and rolling inside of her. She could use some time to sort them out, but time was in short supply right now. And then there was the whole dragon issue. Building a SaveALot next door to George might create some unexpected complications.
Ambrose lifted his staff. “Well, George? Ready to duke it out?”
“Uh, you know what? I was just kidding. Let’s totally forget about it.”
“Oh, no, we won’t,” Dorcas said. “I want your promise right now that you will begin assuming your guardianship of the Whispering Forest.”
George looked uneasy. “Like when? Because I have this hot poker game I have to get back to, and—”
“Immediately!” Ambrose lifted his staff. “Do we understand each other?”
“Sheesh. Yeah, okay! Man, you don’t have to go all postal on me! I’ll do the True Guardian thing.”
“Glad to hear it.” Ambrose lowered his staff and mumbled another Latin phrase. The light winked out.
Dorcas took a deep breath. “Great. We’ll be off, then.”
“Us, too,” Sean said.
Dorcas turned to him. “Why don’t you ride back behind Ambrose on the scooter as far as the rental car? Maggie and I will follow along behind. It’ll give us a chance for some girl talk.”
Maggie was game. She’d never shared any girl talk with a witch. “All right.” She took the car keys out of her coat pocket and handed them to Sean. “You can start the motor and turn on the heat. It’s chilly out here.”
He didn’t seem at all sure about the idea as he glanced from Maggie to Dorcas. “I think maybe—”
“I’d like to talk with Dorcas,” Maggie said.
“Okay, then.” He climbed on the scooter behind Ambrose and the two of them drove out of the clearing with Sabrina sitting proudly in her basket on the back fender.
As Maggie fell into step beside Dorcas, she took a last look behind her. Without Ambrose’s staff to light the clearing, she couldn’t see as well, but it seemed as if George was still sitting there, thinking about things.
Maggie lingered, wondering what would happen next, but Dorcas took her arm and hustled her down the narrow path to the road. “We need to leave him alone and let him show some initiative,” she said.
“What if he doesn’t do as he’s told?” Maggie had to walk fast to keep up. When Dorcas walked, she didn’t piddle around.
“He will, now that Ambrose threatened him with his staff. I was hoping that wouldn’t be necessary and George would develop some internal discipline, but that wasn’t
happening, so external discipline will have to be applied for a while. Ambrose and I will monitor the situation.”
Maggie was puffing, but determined to satisfy her curiosity. “How powerful is that staff Ambrose has?”
“Quite powerful if he keeps it tuned up. Unfortunately, he tends to be lax about that. And I have no idea whether making it collapsible had a negative effect. It’s probably good that it didn’t come to an actual battle with George.”
“Yikes. He could have lost?”
Dorcas nodded. “Maybe. He should have checked with me, but that’s Ambrose for you. Always messing with something.”
“Why did you and Ambrose come to Big Knob?”
“We’ve been assigned to George, but let’s not talk about him. Let’s talk about you.”
“Oh, let’s not.” Maggie gulped for air. “I’m not interesting.”
“From the expression on Sean’s face every time he looks at you, you’re the most interesting person in Big Knob.”
“Which I don’t get.” Maggie skipped to catch up. “No man has ever looked at me like that. I think you enchanted him somehow.” The sound of an engine starting in the distance indicated the guys had reached the car.
“There was no enchantment involved. That’s the real deal you’re seeing.” Dorcas stopped and turned to her. “I just wonder what you’re going to do about it.”
Maggie stumbled to a halt and faced her, although the shadows made it impossible to see her expression. “I don’t know. It’s complicated.” Then the car’s headlights flicked on. Although the car was still quite a ways down the road, Maggie could see a little better in the glow of those lights.
“I have a suggestion.” Dorcas’s eyes looked like amber jewels.
As Maggie gazed into them, she had no trouble believing that Dorcas was a witch. “I’m listening.”
“This may sound counter-intuitive, but don’t go home with him tonight.”
Disappointment washed over Maggie at the thought. She hadn’t realized how much she’d looked forward to spending another night with Sean. “Why not?”
“I think you know.”
She did. Another night in Sean’s bed would be wonderful but distracting. She needed time to consider her options without the powerful influence of that strong physical attraction.
She gazed at Dorcas. “Do you have a magic wand?”
“I do, but I didn’t bring it.”
“Isn’t that a don’t leave home without it kind of thing?”
Dorcas shook her head. “Half the time it gets in the way. I either poke myself or jab someone else. Try carrying an eighteen-inch stick around with you and you’d see what I mean.”
“I suppose. It’s just that it would come in handy about now.”
“Why’s that?”
“You could make me disappear.”
Dorcas laughed. “Oh, no. That’s the chicken way out. You need to face him and resist the temptation. Don’t worry. You’re up to it.”
“Guess I’ll have to be.” Maggie sighed. “So, if you had your magic wand, could you make me disappear?”
“Maybe, but it’s not my specialty, so I never guarantee something like that. Sometimes there are glitches.”
“Glitches? Like what?”
Dorcas waved a hand in the air. “It’s not important. We should probably go.” She started toward the car.
Maggie hurried after her. “Do you fly on a broom?”
“On occasion.”
“That’s wild. Do you have a cauldron?”
“Yes.”
“Dorcas, I would love to see those things before I leave. I know you have to keep everything hush-hush. I mean, I can just imagine the reaction if anyone else in Big Knob finds out about you and Ambrose, and the dragon and stuff, but I promise not to say a word.”
Dorcas glanced over her shoulder. “Then come to dinner tomorrow night. I’ll invite Sean, too.”
“I, ah, don’t know if I’ll be here or not.” She couldn’t plan beyond her appointment with Harold Pierpont.
“Then you can let me know.”
“You’ll know as soon as I do.” Maggie would love to believe that she’d enjoy a cozy dinner with Dorcas and Ambrose tomorrow night, but she didn’t think the chances were very good.
* * *
Maggie hadn’t said much as she drove the rental car along the dirt road toward the main road. Sean hoped that was because she was concentrating on not hitting any ruts.
When they reached the paved road, she put on the brakes and turned to him. “I’m going to spend tonight over at Madeline’s instead of staying with you.”
He took the announcement like a blow to the stomach. He’d lost her. She wanted her space so she could rededicate herself to the SaveALot cause. She was choosing her job over him.
Well, if that’s the way she wanted it, then he had some thinking to do, too. Maybe it was better that she’d tipped her hand now, so that he could decide what to do. After all, he now had the resources to outbid her.
“Then you might as well take me to my truck,” he said.
She gazed out the windshield at the deserted road. “I can do that.” She sounded unhappy about her decision.
“Hey, don’t do this to yourself. If you want to come home with me, I promise not to discuss real estate.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” She swallowed. “But I need some time to figure things out.”
So she hadn’t decided what to do, yet. His impulse was to unbuckle his seat belt, reach across the console and try to convince her to spend the night with him. Given her past response to him, he had a fair chance of succeeding.
But that wouldn’t be treating her with the respect she deserved. Although it killed him to keep his hands to himself, he did. “Okay,” he said.
She took a shaky breath. “Okay. Tell me where to find your truck.”
He directed her to the dirt road where he’d hidden it. “Just stop here. I’ll walk in.”
She pulled the car over and gave him a tiny smile. “Watch out for dragons.”
He managed to dredge up a smile in return. “Right.” He longed to lean over and kiss her, but he’d never be able to leave it at that. “I’ll probably show up tomorrow morning.”
“I know.”
He opened the car door, which turned on the interior light. “See you then.”
“Sean, thank you for…everything.”
He glanced back at her. It might be a trick of the light, but her eyes were sort of sparkly, like she might be about to cry. His heart wrenched, but he had no idea how to comfort her. She really did have to figure this out on her own, and so did he.
“Same here,” he said. Well, if that wasn’t romantic. But if he said anything more, she might think he was trying to influence her decision. He was determined not to do that. “Bye.” Climbing out of the car, he closed the door.
He stood there a minute feeling the ache of loneliness as he’d never felt it before. Then he gave the door a couple of little taps, and she stepped on the gas.
Swinging the car into a U-turn, she headed back in the direction of town. He watched until he could no longer see the car’s tail lights. There was a very good chance he’d have to learn to live without her. At the moment, it seemed impossible.
* * *
Maggie arrived at the property by nine forty-five, halfway expecting Sean to be there, too. Her suitcase and laptop were in the back of the car. No matter what, she wasn’t spending another night in Madeline and Abe’s sauna of a house.
This morning she’d stopped by the Hob Knob and picked up coffee for herself, Sean, Denise and Harold Pierpont. Despite the obvious conflicts, they could all be civilized about this. She also needed the caffeine after spending a sleepless night at Madeline’s.
She’d like to blame that on where Madeline and Abe set the thermostat, but she wouldn’t have slept no matter what the temperature had been. Today was too important. And after turning the problem over in her head until she was dizzy, she sti
ll wasn’t sure what to do.
Gray clouds had rolled in again, and wind buffeted the car as she sat in the driveway, waiting. A loose shutter banged on the old Victorian. Clouds like that in Chicago meant snow was on the way.
From here she could see the corner window in the parlor that would be the perfect place for a Christmas tree. She pictured the tree decorated with multi-colored lights and delicate glass balls, while snow piled up around the house and a thick layer settled on the roof like vanilla frosting.
The postcard image created such a peaceful feeling that she finally had to break out the coffee so she wouldn’t fall asleep. She’d finished hers by the time Denise showed up at ten. Getting out of her car, she carried the cardboard tray of coffee cups over to Denise’s car and climbed in.
Denise accepted the coffee with thanks and took off the lid to blow on it. “No sign of old Mr. Pierpont, I see.”
“Not so far. Sean said he’d probably drive over, too.”
Denise sipped her coffee. “You do realize he’s got enough money now to make a real run at this thing.”
“So I guessed.” Maggie gazed over at the Whispering Forest where it bordered the property. She wondered what Denise would think if she knew that a dragon had been living in those woods for years. A dragon could seriously affect property values in Big Knob.
Last night seemed like a weird dream, but Maggie didn’t doubt that it had happened. She’d never forget the moment when Sean had challenged George with nothing more than a pointed stick. Heroes didn’t come much braver than that.
“Of course it’s still possible that Pierpont got his geriatric self lost on the freeway,” Denise said.
Maggie glanced at her. “Did you ever get in touch with him again?”
“Nope. I tried a few more times but he didn’t answer. I guess if he doesn’t show we can drive to Evansville and track him down.”
After all the inner debate and the hours of soul-searching, the decision was easier than Maggie had thought it would be. Maybe it was seeing the Whispering Forest again and being reminded of that moment when Sean had risked his life for her.
Over Hexed: The Hex Series Page 26
