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Silas didn’t have any love for Non-Springers, as a whole. Their presence meant Springers had to hide their abilities, which was annoying. And if heaven forbid those without magic found out what was going on all around them, their reactions varied from horror to sick fascination to jealousy. There were a few exceptions, of course, there always were, but still…

Jenna’s reasoning seemed to be motivated by more than a simple dislike. Non-Springers would weaken the spell, she said. She’d grudgingly decided to allow a few to stay, specifically those who were married to Springers, knew their secrets, and — most importantly — were carrying Springer babies. Marnie Maxwell and Cindy Benedict, in particular. Everyone else had to go. He hadn’t known Cindy was pregnant until Jenna told him.

He still wasn’t sure why Jenna had chosen him to run Gabi out of town. She knew he was in favor of isolation, but there was no way for her to be certain he’d cooperate. Maybe she’d come to him because he led such a solitary life. If he was going to tell anyone it would probably be one of the dogs, who’d keep his secrets well as they always had. Maybe she thought she could charm him into doing as she asked. Jenna had always been able to get men to do what she wanted them to do.

For the past week he’d considered his options. He could do as Jenna asked or he could flat-out refuse. He could go to Clint and spill the beans about his ex’s return and her plans. She’d begged him not to, had said Clint would interfere. Still, Clint was a friend, and one way or another they were going to have to talk.

Maybe he’d make a decision this afternoon, after he allowed Gabi to cut his hair. He wanted to size her up, get a better feel for her before he made up his mind.

Brigadoon. He’d been tempted by the idea over the years, and he wasn’t the only one. But truth be told, wishing for something that didn’t seem possible was very different from making it happen. Did he really want to be cut off from the world, along with the rest of the town and the people in it?

Gabi was very pretty, delicate in a way that might appeal to a man’s protective nature. There was something about her…

It was just as well that their date had been a bust. For the past several years, Silas’s romantic relationships had been short-lived, carefully planned, and always took place away from Mystic Springs. He planned to stay single, so taking up with a woman from town could lead to all sorts of complications.

Why would he even entertain the idea of a permanent relationship with a woman? With the animals he cared for he always knew what they were thinking, what they needed, what they wanted. With women? Nada. God, it was frustrating.

He’d been keeping his distance from the pretty Non-Springer for months, or trying to, but that was about to change. Maybe if he spent a little time with her he’d come up with a way to ease her out of town. Or else he’d decide it was right that she be allowed to stay, Jenna whatever-her-name-was-now be damned.

His place, home and work, spread out over more than six acres of land. Surrounded by woods, and yet not too far from town for his two-legged customers, he was situated almost an equal distance from the end of Main Street and the river.

A bit farther to the south was where the springs for which this town was named were located. Most of the animals he cared for, trained, and eventually found homes for, were drawn to those springs and instinctively drank from the clear water there. For a while the magic that infused the town affected the animals. They didn’t develop abilities any more than a human who drank the spring water would, they remained ordinary in most ways, but the energy they experienced for weeks after was enough to drive any living being over the edge.

Wild animals were not as affected by the spring water as those who’d been domesticated. Like the Springers many of them had been born here, and the water was a part of them in a way that could not be explained. They were at home in this forest; it was theirs as much as it was his. Silas helped when he could, if his help was needed, but for the most part he left the wild ones alone.

The dogs needed him. They needed an outlet; they needed a purpose.

So Silas and the dogs ran. To town, through town, through the woods. He trained some of them, those who displayed an affinity, in a field he’d designed for that purpose. There they practiced agility, grew stronger, and learned to obey commands. All the dogs occasionally howled at night, chased rabbits and squirrels in their dreams when they did sleep, and they followed him.

He was their alpha. Without him they would’ve terrorized the town until the effects of the springs wore off. He knew what they needed, what they felt, what he could do to help them. The smarter dogs were trained and sold to police departments across the Southeast. While the larger departments had resources for more traditionally trained search and rescue or drug sniffing dogs, the smaller towns and counties were often strapped for cash. Silas always managed to provide what they needed at a reasonable price.

His part-time helper, Damian Tucker, wanted to learn as much as he could about caring for and training the dogs. The lanky, always-happy kid was barely twenty years old, and possessed no magical abilities where animals were concerned. Still, he did have a natural gift, with the dogs in particular. Poor Damian was mildly allergic to cats and deathly afraid of birds. His mother was a witch and his father could manipulate fire and water, but Damian wasn’t particularly powerful when it came to his inherited abilities. He did have a real love for animals. Silas could appreciate that. There were times he needed the help. He never stayed away from home very long, but his work did require the occasional overnight trip.

At least, for now.

Silas suspected that one day Damian would leave Mystic Springs and set up as a dog trainer out in the world. At least, that seemed to be part of the plan. If Jenna had her way, Damian wasn’t going anywhere.

Some of the animals Silas took in simply needed a home, and he took care of them, too. They weren’t strong enough or smart enough to be trained as a police or service animal. Because he knew what they needed he was able to place them carefully. An older couple for a dog who needed peace and loving companionship after years of abuse, a family for a young pup who wanted only to play and be boisterously loved.

And then there was Judge, who was reluctant to leave even though he’d been here longer than most. Judge had shown up almost a year ago, to the day. Plenty of police departments would love to have a bloodhound, but until Judge was ready to leave he was welcome to stay.

What Judge needed, what all these animals needed, was a home.

If Jenna was able to cast her spell, his business would cease to exist. Those from outside would forget him. Gradually or instantaneously? He didn’t know, and didn’t care. Those Non-Springers who’d be scared or prodded out of town over the next couple of weeks would forget, too. He wondered if they’d have a hole in their memory, a touch of amnesia, or if some false memory of their time here would fill in the blanks.

Would the effect be like that of amnesia punch? Would those outside Mystic Springs feel dazed for a while after the place ceased to exist for the rest of the world?

Not his problem.

When all the dogs had been fed and watered, Silas got them settled in their pen and headed back to town. The trip was just long enough that he drove if the weather was bad or if he’d already made a couple of trips that day. The weather today was nice, too nice for him to think about staying inside, or driving when he could enjoy the walk. Judge stayed with him, because the dog had insisted and Silas could see no reason not to let the bloodhound tag along. It would give him something to talk about while Gabi cut his hair.

Judge seemed as excited as he had more than a year ago, when he’d first shown up at Silas’s place. The effects of the springs had worn off long ago, so what had the bloodhound so wound up?

“What is it with you and Gabi Lawson?”

Judge’s response was the canine equivalent of a harrumph, which made Silas laugh a little as he entered downtown Mystic Springs and stepped onto the sidewalk.

Not many people were out and about this time of day. The lunch rush at the café was over. School had not yet been dismissed.