Page 10 of Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop

Her eyes glinted slightly even now, but she was too polished to let her anger show while we were around other people. So she simply nodded and smiled. “You’re quite the gentleman. Thank you!” She might have said more, but just then, a family with three kids came up, and she had to turn her attention to them.

“I’ve got to get back to my dad,” Asher said. “But I was wondering…” He… Was he blushing? “I have to head back to Utah tomorrow, but I was wondering if I might sign up for a riding lesson sometime when I come back.”

I tried to keep my professional smile and not to giggle. “Sure.” I pulled a business card out of my pocket. But instead of taking the card, he made a face.

“Actually… I was wondering if I could just text the teacher.” He pulled his phone out. “But I’d have to get her number first.”

“Do you insist on getting all your teachers’ numbers?” I asked. But as I did, I pulled my own phone out as well.

He met my gaze unabashedly. “Only the pretty ones.”

Oh, this man was good.

Hardly able to believe what was happening, I gave him my phone number and told him how to spell my name. And as soon as he and his father walked away, I got a text:

Hey, Ella. This is Asher Kentworthy. I hope you enjoy your book, and I can’t wait to get that lesson when I come back.

Then and there, I decided that whatever fit Casey was about to pitch would be worth getting his number. It had been a long time since any decent man had asked for my contact information–with the exception of the guy at the DMV, who I’d thought was flirting with me but was really just asking for my information to put into his computer.

To my relief, though, Casey didn’t get a chance to protest my slacking off that morning because we had enough customers to keep us busy until lunch. And we were still busy when I told Casey that if I didn’t go to the bathroom soon, we were going to have a real emergency on our hands. She rolled her eyes, but she did let me go, promising to watch the small children who were around the horses in my absence.

The bathrooms were all the way across the field on the other side of the park. It was a nice walk, as it gave me the chance to see other stalls and to wave at friends as they passed by. On my way back, however, I was accosted by Miss Margaret as I walked by her stall.

I loved Miss Margaret’s stall. She brought a collection of summer reads that she carefully curated every year as well as some classics, children’s books, and new releases. She and Belle had gotten setting up their temporary rolling bookshelves down to a fine art, which meant their set-ups and take-downs before and after events were always finished in under an hour. The books were sheltered by a cheerful yellow tent cover, and they always had drinks and snacks to sell as well. There was hardly a time when the stall wasn’t full of people. Which is probably why Miss Margaret thought it was safe to grab my arm and yank me behind the stall, where we’d be hidden from my stepmother’s view.

“Did that vixen really take credit for your work ethic?” she demanded.

“Hi to you, too, Miss Margaret,” I said, rubbing my arm. “And how did you hear about that?”

“Asher told me.” She shook her head with a scowl, then huffed. “Did you at least read the book I gave you?”

“Actually, yes. And I do have a question about it.” But before I could ask, a customer found us and began to ask Miss Margaret questions about a rom-com she was interested in.

“I have to go,” Miss Margaret said after she answered the woman’s questions. “But don’t think I’m finished with you yet, young lady! We have talking to do!” And with that, she was gone.

5

My Horses

Iwas about ready to drop by the time we finally got home that night. But I had to unload and groom the horses before I could go inside, so on the fuel of a protein bar and the rest of my very cold coffee, I did somehow succeed.

It was nearly ten by the time I made my way in and opened the freezer to look for something to eat. The market had been a success, I reminded myself. We’d gotten several new riders signed up for lessons. It should be enough, I reasoned, to make my next request of Casey reasonable. It was a request I’d needed to make for a long time, but I’d lacked the courage to actually make it. But the flash in Asher’s eyes at my stepmother’s behavior that morning had awakened something inside of me, and I knew that I couldn’t delay any longer.

Well, maybe it could wait a few minutes. As I microwaved a frozen egg and sausage sandwich, I could hear that Casey was on the phone in the next room.

“...And we’ll be getting at least three new boarders next week,” she was saying. “Two pleasure horses and one performance. Yes. That’s right. I’ll update all the insurance forms once they finish filling out all the paperwork. Okay, thanks. Goodbye.”

If I hadn’t already been planning on having a serious conversation with her, that overheard phone conversation would have prompted me to make one. As it was, I had to work hard to make my voice casual when Casey joined me in the kitchen a few minutes later.

“So, we’re getting some new boarders?” I asked.

Casey poured herself a cup of decaf coffee. “I’m as surprised as you are. But the family is new to town, and they need a place ready as soon as the horses arrive next week.”

My heart sped in my chest as I drew ‌a breath for my next words. “So I’ll be getting a raise then?”

Casey put her cup down and stared at me blankly.

“The last time we spoke,” I pressed, “you said you’d give me a raise if we got a significant new source of income.” I shrugged. “Not only did we get new riders today, but we got new horses too.”