“The warding’s a band-aid.”
“Well, it’s a very good one,” Wilson said. “And since October’s here, we have enough space to put up a maze, decorate with some pumpkins, and sell some candy corn-themed drinks.”
“You want to invite people here?”
“Not today. Or tomorrow.” He held up his hand, staving off judgment. “But eventually. We have to prep and trust that Rae’s team will have it figured out once the season starts. Because once they leave, we shouldn’t be playing catch-up.”
“Fair.”
“And for my last trick.”
“Quick question: why didn’t you tell me all of this before I called all those credit companies?”
“The money would have been preferred.”
I laughed but nodded. “Hear, hear.”
“But since our backs are against the wall, I think you should take those requests for riding lessons.”
I frowned. “I’m not interested in teaching.”
“Because of the human element, I know.” He gestured toward the ceiling. “But you’re getting better with them every day. I see you; you can talk to people. And they like talking to you.”
I adjusted in my chair, trying to embrace the compliment without giving into the knee-jerk desire to toss it aside.
“You’re going to tell them to leave.” Wilson held up a finger, counting. “We’re going to hire a couple of people in town to help clean up and mend some fences. I’ll pick up a couple of students for tutoring. And then?—”
“I’ll make a flyer at the library for riding lessons,” I finished with a slow nod. “I saw a bulletin board there and the Rainwoods…tolerate me. I don’t think they’d mind if I asked to hang a flyer.”
Wilson’s smile grew. “There we go.”
“I can do this.” I nodded to myself, even though my stomach twisted.
“Hey.” Rae’s voice made me nearly knock over my soda. She looked up from her phone at the clinking of the glass onthe table. The air smelled of the oat milk soap she’d picked up from Rainwood’s. It’d mixed with her natural scent, creating something that encapsulated Elmwood and her.
“How’s my rancher?” She asked me the same question every morning since our day on the canoe. Rae wanted an honest answer. There was nothing too small to share; that much she’d always promised along with her undivided attention.
There was a lump in my throat, placed there by her sweet smile. We hadn’t talked in terms of us. Hadn’t talked much outside of a couple of debriefs and small Magic sessions.
But we caught each other in the moments when I wasn’t busy with the horses, or she wasn’t building whatever it was I couldn’t see in the barn. We’d find excuses to take breaks on the porch together. Find reasons to stand closer and for the backs of our hands to brush. Even the hem of her pants pressed against mine elicited a flurry of desire that left me breathless.
“I’m…” My hesitance washed away Rae’s smile.
I shook my head, trying to show that this had nothing to do with the paranormal. “Could we talk on the porch?”
The others were in the hall upstairs. I couldn’t explain the need for them to leave to all of them at once. Letting down one person face-to-face was more than enough disappointment for one day.
Rae followed me outside without a word. The second I closed the door behind us, she pressed her hand to my elbow. My worn plaid shirt did nothing to stave off the cold of the morning or the fire of her touch.
“Have you seen something? Heard anything?” She scanned my face for something amiss.
I stared back, trying to ignore the need to lean in a littlecloser. She was the first to do it, though. Not with romantic intent in mind, unfortunately. No, Rae cupped my chin and gently tilted my head up. I struggled to swallow as she inspected every inch of my face.
“You’re warm,” she murmured, frowning.
“It’s because you’re touching me,” I whispered.
She nudged my head back to its neutral position but didn’t let go. “That’s all?”
