She walked to the picture and reached out to touch it. “I will get you justice.”
When she returned to the people dancing by the fire, a feeling of happiness hanging in the air washed over her. She closed her eyes and let the music speak to her. She swayed slowly at first, maneuvering in and out of the crowd comprised of both couples and single dancers like herself. Even though she felt eyes on her, she didn't pay them any mind. She also felt Lewis in her mind. He danced with her thoughts. She welcomed his mental hug and returned it as she shared the moment with him.
She relaxed so deeply, it startled her when a hand reached out, taking hers.
“May I?”
She opened her eyes to see Sheriff Curtis standing in front of her, and flashed him a warm smile. “Delighted.”
He gave a slight bow and pulled her closer to him. He put an arm around her waist and held her hand as they danced. His eyes seemed dark and full of what she took for judgment as he looked at her. “I understand you've been trying your hand at my job,” he said in her ear, so she could hear him over the music.
She looked at him, puzzled.
“Got calls from Mike, who was upset about you disrupting him at work, and a colleague at the prison. I should have told him to deny your request.”
Her mouth opened. “On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that you need not worry your sweet little heart over killers. Leave that to me. I will make an arrest very soon.”
At first, the whole 'sweet little heart' remark offended her, but then the arrest news struck her and she sucked in a breath. “An arrest. Really”
He smiled and his eyes softened. When he smiled, she could see why both Mel and Kathy seemed to have eyes for him. “Really, I won't suffer a murderer in my town.”
“Who?” She looked around. The thought of her killer at the celebration for Lizzy made Gwen feel dizzy. She tightened her grip on his hand.
“That, dear, is why you leave such matters to those with harder nerves. I won't be making any statements until the arrest is made. You wouldn't want them to walk on some sort of procedural misstep, now would you?” His tone removed any admiration she just felt for the man.
“Yes, I may need to sit down.” She wrapped her arm around his and let him lead her to a chair.
Once she sat down, things started to seem more stable.
“You need a drink? Water or something?” He tried to be soothing but missed the mark.
“No, it just startled me to think they, her killer, could be here with us.”
“It's always who you least expect.” He looked across the lake and his voice sounded as if his mind already drifted to something more important than her.
She creased her brows. “That's not helpful to think about.”
He chuckled softly. “I guess not, that may be why I always let my deputy handle delivering fragile news.”
While she agreed with him, she did feel better. His bedside manner and its awful inappropriateness actually eased her nerves. “I'm alright now, thank you, Sheriff. I'm glad you are getting closer to closing this.”
“Sheriff, everything okay?” Sebastian walked up. His eyes searched Gwen's face for the answer.
“Yeah, little lady got overwhelmed is all.” Curtis looked past Sebastian as he spoke.
Gwen couldn't control her wrinkled nose or the rise of her lip on one side.
Only Sebastian noticed.
Curtis stared back at something by the fire.
Sebastian winked at her and looked over toward the fire, but didn't see anything that looked off. People danced and seemed happy, as they should. “I've got the little lady under control if you want to get back to the party,” Sebastian said.
Curtis nodded and walked off.
They both looked at each other with smiles that indicated laughs brewed just under the surface.
Sebastian walked over and took her hands, helping her stand. The air between them grew heavy and they locked eyes. There was no one there, no music, no sadness, just each other. Their hands laced together and the connection seemed deeper than merely holding hands.
Sebastian released her hands and put one of his on the small of her back. He knew the time to explore those attractions would come later. “Would you honor this old man with the last dance, little lady?”
“If you never call me that again,” she said, as they walked back to the fire.
Once she was in his arms, the comfort she always got from him mingled with the attraction she often felt when they spent a moment too close to each other. She thought he noticed it as well, since they both seemed to pull away when it happened.
“Is that magic?” she whispered in his ear.
The sound of her sweet voice and the heat of her breath against his skin made him have to concentrate on not missing a beat.
“Magical, but not magic.” He tried not to nuzzle noticeably as he spoke.
She sighed and rested her head on his chest as the song continued.
It ended too soon for either of them. Someone with a question about where to plug in something wrangled Sebastian away almost as soon as the song finished.
As the night wore on, the crowd thinned. Gwen watched as the last of the people there ate and chatted. She smiled when she saw Mel walking over.
“You want help loading your truck, sweetie? There are so many leftovers too. I'll load them in my van, but I'm going to follow you home and leave them with you. You won't have to worry with cooking for ages.”
“Thank you, I'm alone here, so if you want to take most of the leftovers to the soup kitchen, that would make Lizzy happy,” Gwen said, as she thought about all that food and how much would spoil if she kept it.
Mel started to tear up. “You are so much like her, sweet Gwen. Come tell me what you can manage honey,” she said, and they walked together to the food tables.
Gwen picked a few days’ worth of meals and some deserts, all of which she put in the cab of her truck. She helped Mel load her van with the rest.
Most of the crowd left, all stopping to hug Gwen and remind her to come to this or that in town as soon as she felt up to it. Kathy and the Yartist group stayed after everyone, helping pick up trash and fold tables and chairs.
With everything sorted, Gwen thanked them and promised to see them on Wednesday.
“You could bring your neighbor,” Trisha said, watching Sebastian as he helped with the last of the loading of things into trucks and trailers.
Kathy laughed, and Pam and Pat agreed.
“I don't think he knits,” Gwen said and smiled at them.
“I'll bet he would if you were teaching,” Kathy said, looking to Gwen.
“Her?” Pat asked, and laughed. “He's old enough to be her grandfather. I'll teach him.”
Pam laughed. “I don't think I could hold my needles still if he was around.”
Kathy laughed hysterically. “I don't think any of us could, even Gwen,” she managed to say between laughs.
Sebastian walked up smiling. “Ladies, what have I missed?”
Suddenly everyone stopped laughing and turned several shades of red.
He cocked his head and looked to Kathy who shrugged.
“These lovely ladies were just discussing knitting needles,” Gwen said, hardly able to contain her laughter.
“Needles?” He looked puzzled.
“Needles,” Kathy said, and then laughed again.
They all laughed, even Trisha, and Gwen felt the last of her anxiety about fitting in wash away.
Once everyone left, Gwen stood at the fire, and looked out over the lake. She felt Sebastian as he came up and stood beside her. His hand laced in hers. Lewis appeared at her other side, also lacing his hand in hers. They both allowed her to feel sadness as they made a combined effort to shield what she sent out from being picked up by other creatures.
Gwen sobbed. As she became lost in grief, the winds howled in agony. Lewis was surprised by the amount of power that surged from her. When her tears fl
owed, snow was carried on the howling winds, and Sebastian wrapped her in warmth.
They let her express her grief until she had no more tears and the snow and winds died down.
Lewis gathered her in his arms and Sebastian drove them in her truck back to her house where they sat by her while she drifted off, exhausted. Sebastian and Lewis both felt the weight of the implications of her ability to summon not one but two elements simultaneously.
Chapter Twelve
“C ompany,” Lewis said, and started out of the room.
Gwen sipped her coffee and looked at Lewis through sore, puffy eyes.
Once alone, she stood and stretched before making her way to the door.
She opened it just as Curtis was about to knock.
His face was emotionless. “You look awful. Can I come in?”
She ran her fingers through her hair. His usual charmless self, she thought. “Yesterday was a hard day. What's going on?” She looked at him with a puzzled and somewhat annoyed expression.
He frowned at her as she stood blocking the door. “I wanted to get here and talk to you before…” He paused and looked toward the driveway. “I've made an arrest.”
“You did?” She started to step back.
The sound of tires fighting against the gravel and snow drew her attention. Gwen watched as Trisha parked, flung opened her car door, and hurried toward them.
Curtis made a slight growling sound. “I hoped she wouldn't…” he started to say as Trisha stepped up.
She stood in the small space between them. “Gwen, you tell him he is wrong.” Trisha sobbed. Her eyes, usually made up in bright but perfectly applied makeup were bare, pink, and puffy, much worse than Gwen's.
Gwen stepped back to let them both inside. “Come in, I'll make coffee.”
Curtis looked at her, almost showing an emotion. “Trisha, you shouldn't be here.”
Gwen pulled her in, waited for him to step inside, and shut the door. “It's freezing, go sit by the fire. Do you want coffee?”
Trisha nodded and walked over to the fire.
Curtis took off his hat and followed Gwen to the kitchen. “I tried to get here sooner.” He took the cup she offered, and sipped it slowly. “I can make her leave if you would like.”
“Make her leave? What is going on?” she asked, as she poured out the other two coffees. She lifted her cup, inhaled it and sighed, content for a moment.
“I was trying to tell you. We arrested Mike this morning.”
Gwen sat her cup down without taking a sip. The coffee spilled a little on the counter. “Mike?” She walked over and got a rag. “Mike?” She swept the rag over the small spot repeatedly. “The librarian, Mike, Trisha's boy?”
“It is always the quiet ones.” He shook his head as he stared off at the cabinets.
“But that can't be right. Why would he?” Her hand held the rag as she wiped mindlessly. “I didn't get the feeling he would hurt anyone.”
He turned his head sharply. “I follow facts Miss Hensley, not feelings.”
“Facts? What facts?”
“I can't discuss all that with you. You know that.” The look he gave her said he found her question ridiculous.
Gwen got the impression he found everyone below him. “Poor Trisha,” she whispered and picked up the cups.
She walked out, set them on the table and hugged Trisha. She didn't know his facts, but Mike as a killer didn't feel right.
Curtis must have missed something.
Trisha clearly lived for her child and Gwen felt her heart break to see her such a mess.
“You tell him Gwen. My baby couldn't, he just couldn't. Curtis, you screwed up.” She looked at him with hate.
“Have your coffee,” Gwen said gently. She helped Trisha to sit down.
“I'm sorry, Trisha. I told you, you should be arranging a lawyer not harassing Miss Hensley.”
“She's not harassing me,” Gwen said. She tried hard not to take a defiant stance. Sheriff or not, he sure did grate her the wrong way.
Trisha finished her coffee and stood to leave. “I'm sorry. I need to go,” she said, sobbed a little, and made her way for the door.
Gwen followed her out. She lingered on the porch concerned and watched as Trisha got in her car. Once she pulled off she turned to Curtis. “Will she be okay, you think?”
“Yes. She is a stronger woman than you would think. You should come inside, it's cold.” He put his hand on the door and waited for her to do what he said.
She slowly stepped inside and looked at him while she tried to let it sink in. “Mike? Because Lizzy wouldn't help him with his silly history? That doesn't seem like murder motive.” Gwen's brows furrowed and she sat down on the couch.
“I can't say ma'am. What do you imagine might be a good reason?”
“Well none I guess, but certainly something more than that. You have something more than that on him, don't you?”
“Do you need me to call someone for you?” He took the last sip of his coffee while he scanned the room as if looking for a crime clue somewhere.
She wondered if he always looked for out of place things. It unnerved her. “Can I see him?” She looked up at him and waited for an answer.
His face hardened even more as he shook his head slowly. “Mike? No, you may not.”
She rubbed her head at the temples. Yes, he had been the only person to say a bad word about Lizzy, but it didn't seem that extreme. She ignored the sheriff and pulled out her phone. After getting no answer she left a message for Sebastian.
Curtis eyed her, then frowned. “You going to be okay? I do have work to do.”
She nodded and stood to walk him out. “Curtis, Sheriff,” she said, as he started down the steps.
He slid his hat on and turned around. “Ma'am.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded and walked to his car.
As soon as she shut the door, Lewis walked in and held her. “It's over.” He felt her relax a little in his arms and hoped they would enjoy smoother days now.
She looked up at him. “I'm not sure. It feels wrong. I didn't get that from Mike. I just don't think he is the one.”
“Gwen, don't look for reasons to be sad. Lizzy will have justice now. We should celebrate.”
Gwen let it go. She knew Lewis wouldn't understand her gut feeling any better than Curtis. A nagging in her mind said something seemed too easy, and wrong about Mike. She would keep digging, but do it in a way that Lewis or Curtis didn't give her any grief. If her instincts proved right, when it came time to charge Mike, they would fail and need new people to look for. Maybe she could find answers before then.
Lewis followed her around for most of the day as she puzzled over things in her head. She used the nervous energy to unpack everything still in suitcases, and to make some changes to the kitchen.
Could the family history Mike worked on really link William and Mike? Due to his young age, Mike could not have committed both murders, but something in her gut said they were linked.
When the liaison called with news of her approval as a visitor for the junkie, Lenny, she decided she still wanted to go. She wanted to be close to the man and decide for herself if he killed William, or if they got that one wrong too.
Visitations took place on Mondays or Fridays so she arranged to go out Monday.
“Why are you still going there?” Lewis asked, after she hung up.
She turned to see him perched close by. “You eavesdropping on me?”
“I don't see what good that will do is all.”
“Lewis I just need to. Can't you understand that?”
“No, but I will support you, my witch.”
She jerked her head back and looked at him through pinched eyes. “That was awful agreeable for you.”
“Yes well, you have enough ugliness to deal with. I won't be adding to it.”
That made her wrinkle her features even more. “Stop drinking the Kool-Aid.”
“You need to work on you
r facial expressions. Especially if you are going to be Miss Socialite. You can't run around wrinkling your nose at everyone.”
She laughed. “I probably need to work on my habit of saying what need not be said immediately after meeting someone as well.”
“Did you want to learn some new magic?”
“Lewis, you are scaring me now.” She gave him a puzzled look. “Seriously.”
He thought a lot about how to make the transition smoothly, but now he doubted his approach. He spent so long convincing her not to practice magic that no matter what he did, it wouldn't come off naturally. “Yes, seriously. It is why I am here.”
Rather than let the opportunity pass, she decided to go upstairs with him and worry about his motivations later.
He taught her how to focus her attention and work with intent. It surprised him how easily her desires became reality. He didn't plan to teach her anything elemental without Sebastian there to help mask it, especially since Gwen altered the environment on whim. He could only speculate on what she could do with full intent and instruction.
The thought of her linked with Sebastian, even for a second, made him feel bitterness, but he pushed it aside. If Sebastian could help keep her safe and keep his secrets too, then he would have to give on that, temporarily. Even now he could feel the heat of the talisman as it fought off Fannie.
“Let's break,” he said. “You need to eat. I need to think about what's next. There will be some things I will need Sebastian here for.”
“Sebastian?”
“Just for added precaution.”
She looked at him, opened her mouth and then closed it. “Okay, Lewis.” She walked out and started something to eat, Lewis stayed close. “I need to call him. I forgot all about Mike. Sebastian will be happy to hear they made an arrest.”
She called and left a message that she needed to talk to him in person.
“You know he never answers his calls during the day. I swear he is some sort of CIA agent or something,” she said.
Or something, Lewis thought, but smiled at her and watched as she cooked. They went back upstairs to work on some protection circles.
Sebastian called, agreeing to come over, so they wrapped up their practice and cleared the room.
Blessedly Bound Page 9
