The Dirty Coven

by Lily Harper Hart

  “And how do you suggest doing that?”

  “I don’t know, but we’re going to have to figure it out ... and soon. We might already be out of time.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of, too.”

  5

  Five

  Boone questioned Tyler once the medical examiner arrived to claim the body. He left the techs to work and crossed to the animal paddock. He wasn’t surprised to find the animal trainer standing next to a black horse and giving him a lecture.

  “I think you’re being ridiculous,” he said, hands on hips. “You’re a horse. You’re supposed to want to wear a saddle. Giving people rides is what you do.”

  The horse merely glared at him.

  “I see things are still going well with this hellion Abigail insisted on getting,” Boone noted as he ducked through the fence and moved closer to the vet. He kept a wary eye on Desperado. He’d heard horror stories about the beast and wanted to keep a safe distance between them. “No luck yet, huh?”

  “No, and it’s starting to get frustrating.”

  “You could always sell him. He’s a product of good breeding. Someone would be stupid enough to buy him without realizing he’s incapable of being broken.”

  Tyler’s lips turned down and he immediately started shaking his head. “I can’t do that. Abigail picked him out herself. She was adamant that he would grow into something special.”

  “And she died, which means you’re going to turn that horse into what she wanted no matter what,” Boone surmised. “I get it.”

  “I feel as if I owe it to her. She gave me a job when I was at my lowest. I just ... I’ll make it work.”

  Boone surveyed the man for a long beat and then nodded. “I get it. I loved her, too. She always made me homemade chicken soup when I was sick and she would hand deliver it to me. I mean ... the woman was a saint.”

  “She was.”

  They lapsed into silence for a beat and Boone was the first to break it. “What about Hannah? Is she a saint, too?”

  Amusement flitted through Tyler’s eyes as he turned to watch the woman in question chase her dog down Main Street. Jinx seemed to be the sort of animal that was a lot of work. He was obviously loved, though. Tyler knew he would get up close and personal with the dog before it was all said and done. He hadn’t made a move to look him over yet, though. It seemed invasive.

  “She’s ... a normal woman,” he started absently. “I mean ... she seems nice. I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to her yesterday. The dog and Desperado don’t like each other and had to be separated. Cooper took her for a tour and that’s basically all I saw of her.”

  “She doesn’t look like Abigail.”

  “No. That’s not her fault, though.”

  “I was kind of hoping she would look like Abigail. I miss seeing her face.”

  Tyler sympathetically patted Boone on the shoulder. He and Abigail had been close for years. He heard stories about Boone, who would walk ten miles just to hang out in Casper Creek as a teenager, bonding with Abigail since he arrived years before. He knew Boone was wrecked more than anyone by the woman’s untimely passing.

  “We can’t hold it against Hannah that she doesn’t look like Abigail.” Tyler opted for a pragmatic approach. “She has no control over that. Besides, she was raised away from this life. We have no idea what she knows ... and what she doesn’t know.”

  “Cooper seems to think she knows nothing.”

  “I haven’t spent enough time with her to make a judgment on that.”

  “She’s going to have to know if we expect to move forward.” Boone was grave. “She can’t live in the dark the entire time she’s here.”

  “I would agree with that. The thing is, she’s only been here for fourteen hours. I think it’s a little soon to spring things on her.”

  “Yeah, well ... .” Boone chewed on his bottom lip as he rubbed his neck. He was woken from a deep slumber when Cooper called and didn’t have time to shave before leaving the house. “I need to know what you saw last night. My understanding is that you and Hannah were the only ones here.”

  “That’s true as far as I know,” Tyler confirmed. “I didn’t see her other than when she ran down to her Jeep to grab some belongings. She had the dog with her the entire time. When I was finishing up in the barn, I saw the dog on the balcony. He was just sitting there panting and looking around. I have to think, if he saw someone or something running around, he would’ve alerted.”

  “Not all dogs are aggressive that way.”

  “No, but the dog loves her. He stares at her all the time and wants to be at her side constantly. He might be goofy and lovable, but I’m betting he would give his life to protect her, too. If he sensed a threat, he would’ve barked or something.”

  “That’s a good point.” Tyler flattened his lips as he watched the woman and canine cavort in the street. Jinx looked like he was playing a game, and it was one his mistress didn’t particularly want to participate in right now. “When was the last time you saw Jordan?”

  “It would’ve been during the day.” Tyler turned thoughtful. “I don’t specifically remember seeing him, but we all see each other at some point or other.”

  “Did you see anyone up here that didn’t belong yesterday?”

  “No, and I would’ve noticed. We were all on edge waiting for Hannah to turn up.”

  “That’s what I figured.” Boone rolled his neck until it cracked. “The thing is, someone was up here besides you and Hannah last night. Someone killed Jordan. There’s no way that was an accident.”

  “Cooper said he had marks on his neck.”

  “He does.”

  “We both know what that means.”

  “We know what it should mean,” Boone stressed. “There’s always the possibility that someone tried to hide what happened to Jordan under a paranormal blanket. If we’re looking one way, we can’t see what’s right in front of us when it attacks from the other.”

  “So ... you think someone faked that specific of an attack?”

  “I think it’s possible.”

  “When will you know?”

  “When the medical examiner sends out his report. Until then, we’re going through the motions. I’ll track down Jordan’s family and friends and ask them the normal questions. You guys need to be careful up here, though. If things are about to blow up again ... .”

  “I’ve got it.” Tyler didn’t need to be told what would happen under those circumstances. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

  “I wish I could be so easily swayed.”

  HANNAH SPENT HOURS DOWNTOWN learning the layout of the stores, restaurants, bars, and other businesses. She obviously wasn’t familiar with all the ins and outs, but she felt much more comfortable once she was finished. The dead body still threw her, of course, but since there was nothing she could do about it she opted to push it out of her mind.

  By the middle of the afternoon, she was ready for another adventure. That’s why she sought out Tyler in the barn.

  “Wow. There are a lot more animals here than I realized.” Her forehead wrinkled as she took in the rowdy goats in the corner. They were busy butting each other and generally making a lot of noise. “How come they’re inside rather than outside?”

  “They pretty much do what they want,” Tyler replied, straightening. He’d been replacing a shoe on one of the older horses and was surprised Hannah managed to sneak up on him without making a sound. “Are you comfortable with animals?”

  Hannah gestured toward Jinx, who was watching the goats with fascination. “I’m comfortable with him.”

  “What about other animals?”

  She shrugged, noncommittal. “I always wanted a cat when I was a kid, but my mother wouldn’t allow it.”

  “Allergic?”

  “She claimed my brother was allergic, but I don’t think that’s true.”

  “Well, if you want a cat, we have a fresh litter here in the barn.” He gestured for her to
join him at the far side of the structure. There, behind a bale of hay, lay a tuxedo cat with luminous eyes. The mother had what looked to be six kittens — all of various colors — nursing from her. They were so small they didn’t yet have their eyes open.

  “Oh, look at them.” Hannah brightened considerably at the sight. “How amazing are they?”

  Tyler wasn’t sure how to answer. “They’re cats.” He watched Jinx with wary eyes as the dog approached the cat. He seemed to sense that the mother wanted nothing more than to claw his eyes out because the dog wisely backed away. “I bet Jinx will be friends with the cats when they get older.”

  “He’s gentle,” Hannah offered. “Well ... for the most part. Sometimes he doesn’t realize how big he is. He would never purposely hurt anyone, though.”

  “He’s a good boy, isn’t he?” Tyler smiled at the dog as he moved closer. “You should get me his vet records so I can keep up on whatever vaccinations he’s due for and check on him regularly.”

  “I have those in my car. I thought I would have to find another vet in a nearby town or something. I guess it’s convenient that you’re here.”

  “Definitely.” Tyler held out his hand so Jinx could sniff it. Apparently the dog was perfectly happy with what he found because he started wagging his tail and rubbed himself against the man’s knees. “He’s friendly, huh?”

  “He is,” Hannah agreed, straightening. “He loves people. He has a lot of energy. I think this place is going to be good for him. Once he gets used to it he’ll be able to run around some. I didn’t have much room in my old apartment for him. I was starting to worry that he wasn’t getting enough exercise. This will be much better for him.”

  “And you?”

  Hannah held out her hands, unsure what to say. “I guess I’m still trying to figure that out. Finding a body the first morning didn’t help matters.”

  “I can see that. Still, this is a beautiful place. Your grandmother loved it a great deal.”

  “And everyone loved her.”

  “They did. There’s no getting around that. Abigail was beloved by everyone who ever met her.”

  “What can you tell me about her? I just mean ... well ... I never got to meet her. I’m sad about that.”

  “She was a spitfire,” Tyler offered. “She had more energy than three people half her age. She liked working during the performances — she would jump around from place to place because she had so much fun — and she loved interacting with the tourists. She also swore like a sailor and was not someone you would want to have as an enemy.”

  “That sounds ... interesting.” Hannah moved to the fence that separated the pig area. “I was hoping to take a look around, maybe have a walk. I notice there’s a creek down the way. I thought I might take Jinx down there. I just wanted to make sure that was okay.”

  “You’re the boss,” Tyler reminded her.

  “I am but ... I don’t want to break any unsaid rules. I would really prefer not being the sort of person who does obnoxious things without even realizing it.”

  “Ah.” Tyler’s smile was small but heartfelt. “You should be fine walking down there. Just be careful of snakes. They mind their own business, but I worry Jinx might want to take one on if he perceives it as a threat. Also, don’t cross the creek.”

  “How come?”

  “How come what?”

  “How come I can’t cross the creek?”

  Tyler kept his face neutral, but just barely. “Because you’re not familiar with the area yet and I don’t want you getting lost. It’s easy to get yourself turned around if you don’t have the creek as a marker. I’m sure Cooper will be willing to take you for a tour — or even me, if you’re willing to get on a horse — in a few days. We really can’t leave the grounds given everything that’s going on right now, though.”

  “Oh.” Hannah felt like a dolt. “That makes sense. I won’t cross the creek. I just want to look around.”

  “Have fun. I’m sure the rest of the staff will show up eventually. Boone was making noise about questioning them before they arrived on the scene because it’s easier to keep things straight that way. They’ll be here eventually, though.”

  “I’m looking forward to meeting them, although ... I can’t even really remember the names of the people I met yesterday. Their faces are all a blur.”

  “You’ll figure it out eventually.”

  “I hope so.”

  IT ONLY TOOK HANNAH ten minutes to walk to the creek. To her, it looked like a fun place to spend an afternoon. She could imagine herself bringing Jinx to the water’s edge for a picnic and enjoying the afternoon with a good book.

  That reverie was interrupted when she thought she saw a hint of movement out of her left eye. When she turned, she found nothing there except the faint impression of what she convinced herself was a snake print. After that, no matter how she chided herself otherwise, she was bound and determined a snake was on the loose and watched the ground carefully. It made her tense.

  For his part, Jinx was having none of it. He was in a great mood as he splashed in the water and happily yapped at the ducks as they floated by. The ducks looked more annoyed than afraid and Hannah was certain there would be something of a standoff between her friend and the neighborhood fowl before it was all said and done. It didn’t look to be happening today, though, so she took to walking the shore of the creek so she could get a better look at the water inhabitants.

  After a bit, she took off her shoes and braved the water. It was warmer than she expected, which was welcome, but she remained vigilant against potential animal hazards as she splashed next to Jinx. He’d given up chasing the ducks — who were nasty and pecked at him if he got too close — and happily romped after frogs. He’d yet to catch one but that didn’t mean he wasn’t enjoying the effort.

  Hannah sloshed through the water, her pants rolled up so they were above her knees, and relished the feeling of the sun on her face as she inhaled fresh air that was seemingly free of pollution. It was a beautiful moment, quiet and serene.

  And then Hannah was bombarded by the same feeling from the night before, as if someone was watching her, and she swiveled quickly. At first she didn’t see anything. Jinx was still chasing frogs to her left. To her right, though, she was convinced someone was spying on her. She narrowed her eyes as she looked for a hint of movement. Ultimately, though, the movement didn’t come from below. It came from above.

  A shadow — one Hannah didn’t even realize belonged to a person — shifted at a certain point. That forced Hannah to adjust her gaze, up to the top of a small cliff that overlooked the creek on the other side. There, three women stood on the stone edifice and watched her.

  Hannah’s throat went dry as surprise coursed through her. She hadn’t been expecting visitors so she was naturally confused by their sudden appearance. Her initial instinct was that they worked for her grandmother and were curious about her. They probably thought they could get a look without Hannah being aware. Because she understood the instinct, Hannah offered up a friendly wave.

  The women didn’t wave back.

  That’s when Hannah noticed something odd about them. They weren’t dressed in Western garb. She had no idea how authentic the costumes at Casper Creek were, but clearly the outfits worn by the women — peasant blouses that hung off the shoulders revealing a lack of bras and buckskin pants and skirts — were not normal attire for the tourist town. That meant the women weren’t workers. They were something else.

  “Um ... hello?” Hannah felt off her game as she met the woman in the middle’s gaze. She was pretty, long white hair that looked wind-tossed and exotic. She had high cheekbones and deep green eyes. She also had a disgusted look on her face that caused Hannah’s anxiety to hop. “I’m Hannah Hickok. Um ... my grandmother left me Casper Creek in her will so I just moved here. Are you locals?”

  The women didn’t answer. Instead, they turned on their heels and walked away from the small cliff’s sheer edge. Even though
it was a rude reaction, Hannah couldn’t help feeling relieved. She didn’t want to keep talking to women who wanted nothing to do with her. It was uncomfortable.

  “That was weird, huh?” She focused on Jinx, who was busy staring into a clump of marsh reeds. He either hadn’t noticed the women earlier or didn’t feel they were worth his time. Whatever was hiding in the reeds clearly had his attention, though. “What are you looking at?”

  Hannah sloshed forward in the water, not stopping until she reached the dog’s side. She was annoyed that he couldn’t be bothered to alert her to the presence of strangers ... especially given the fact that they were in a new environment. She would’ve thought he’d be hyper-aware. Instead, he was too busy chasing frogs and ducks to even give a little bark to let her know she was being watched.

  “I’m thinking we should take you to classes so you’ll be a better watchdog,” she grumbled as she peered into the reeds. “I mean ... seriously. Don’t you think that you should at least protect me a little?”

  Jinx didn’t respond. Instead, his ears raised as he pawed the water excitedly.

  “Let me guess, you’re chasing frogs, huh?”

  “Not frogs,” a voice said, causing Hannah to jolt.

  It happened fast. Hannah made out the brief outline of a woman. She stood in the middle of the reeds and grinned. The thing is, she was ethereal. Hannah could see right through her. That meant that she was a ... um ... something else.

  In her haste to get away, surprise coursing through her, Hannah tripped over her own feet and smacked hard into a rock. The blow was to her head and it jarred her with enough force that she saw stars.

  In her head, which hurt terribly, she knew she had to stay on her feet. She couldn’t, though. Her body didn’t want to cooperate. Without the strength to fight it, she slipped into the water. She barely registered when the slowly-rushing water covered her face ... and dragged her under. She was already too far gone to do a thing about it.