Page 11 of Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop

“Ella,” Casey said, looking down at her coffee with a frown. “You said you wanted me to help pay for your college. Why do you think I’m working so hard to get new clients?”

“I’m only taking one or two courses per semester,” I pointed out. “And you’ve only paid for my books once.”

Casey huffed and shook her head, running a perfectly manicured hand through her hair as though I’d just asked her for the world. “Fine. I’ll consider it.” She met my gaze and held it. “But it will probably have to come out of Derrick or his daughter’s hours instead.”

I stared at her, anger coalescing in my stomach. This was it. This was her punishment for flirting with Asher this morning while I was working.

And yet, it was still somehow even more than that. It was her way of herding me exactly to the place where she wanted me to be.

I whirled around and strode out of the kitchen, doing my best not to let angry tears fall on the way to my room.

And I hated it.

I hated it because I knew that she knew that she had me by the leash. As much as I might want to quit and leave the cursed woman behind, she had my horses.

Well, to be specific, she had my parents’ horses. And I loved them fiercely. Because when I was with my horses, it was a little like being near my parents again. We’d raised most of them since they were foals. Even most of our boarders had been living in our stalls since my parents were alive. And I knew without a doubt that if I left, my stepmother would hire the cheapest, least qualified stablehand she could find. She’d probably let Derrick and Brianna go too so she could find cheap labor to replace them as well.

The truth was that if I left, there was no guarantee these horses would be well cared for. I’d learned that the hard way when I’d gone to summer camp as a teen one year, and we’d nearly lost a horse in my absence.

I was stuck. I knew it, and Casey knew it. And there was no way to get out.

6

An Autumn Blush

On Monday, I woke up with a rock of dread sitting in my stomach, and it stayed there as I did my best to eat breakfast and then headed out to the stable.

Much to my relief, Derrick was scheduled to work that morning. If he hadn’t been, I might have gone crazy having to wait to apologize in person. So when he walked through the barn doors that morning, his usual smile on his face, it was all I could do to return it.

“Good morning, Miss Ella,” he called in his sing-song way. “How was the market yesterday?” Derrick couldn’t make do on just the pay from the stables, unfortunately. Casey wouldn’t give him enough hours. So when he wasn’t at the ranch, he worked at the local hardware store as well.

“The market was… interesting,” I said, thinking briefly on how it had felt to have Asher’s attention. “Look, Derrick, I think I messed up, and I’m not sure what Casey’s going to do about it.”

Derrick put down his broom and came to stand in front of me. Unable to meet his gaze, I looked down. As soon as I did, I felt the gentle pressure of his hand on my shoulder. I knew he meant it to comfort me. But as it reminded me of my dad, it only made my throat grow thicker.

“What’s wrong, Ella?” he asked, his voice kind. “What happened?”

I shook my head before clearing my throat. “I… I asked Casey for more pay. I know I shouldn’t have, but–”

“What do you mean you shouldn’t have?”

Surprised at his outburst, I finally met his gaze. “What?”

He snorted. “You do know that the work you do here would require a much higher paycheck anywhere else, yes?”

I shrugged. “I work hard for the ranch because I love it. But… look, that’s not the point. The point is that when I asked her for more pay, she said it was going to come out of your hours. Or Brianna’s.” My eyes stung as I looked into his, hoping he would forgive me. “I never meant–”

“Ella, I say this not as an employee, but as your father’s best friend. No, don’t look down. Look at me, honey.” His voice was sharp now, as it had that dad quality, and his brown eyes were narrowed on my face. “The only reason we’ve stayed so long was for your sake.”

I blinked at him, unable to form words. He and his daughter had remained under Casey’s employment… for me?

“When your dad died,” he went on, “I promised myself that I would watch out for you. It’s what your dad would have done for Brianna if I had been the one to go. And I know that because he told me so the day she was born. So I don’t want to hear any apologies, young lady! We can leave anytime we want to. But you…” His voice cracked, and he straightened, dropping his hand as he swallowed hard. “Your parents loved this place. But they never meant it to be a prison.”

Before I could answer, Casey stuck her head around the corner, and I jumped slightly. How much of our conversation had she heard?

“Ella, your riders are here,” she called.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I called back, willing my voice not to shake.