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Still, I had to admit that I was relieved to see her looking more like herself again. I much preferred her arguing with me to seeing her frightened and crying.

"You're an impossible woman, Celeste Kinderson," I grumbled, finally releasing her from my embrace. "I swear, I have never met anyone so determined to contradict every word I say!"

"Well, maybe you should stop saying things that need contradicting," she replied, giving me a rather cheeky look.

I made an irritated sound, but I couldn't help feeling a little amused in spite of myself. Damn it all, the woman was beginning to get under my skin, and I didn't like it one bit!

But at least she was safe.

"Well, I don't know what my boss thought, hearing me screaming like that," she said, looking down at the little device she still held in one hand. "But I guess I'm not going in to work today."

"Your boss?" I repeated, frowning. "Is that the woman you were speaking to on that ridiculous little telephone of yours?"

"Yes, that's Angie," she said, making a face. "And believe me, she's not going to be happy about this. I was supposed to give a big presentation this morning and now I've missed it."

"Well, if she values her presentation more than your life, then perhaps you ought to find yourself another employer!" I said sternly. "No decent person would expect you to risk being eaten by a troll simply to satisfy some ridiculous work obligation!"

"Angie probably would," Celeste muttered. Then she sighed and looked down at her phone again. "And my battery's dead now, so I can't even call her back to explain."

I had no idea what she meant by a dead battery, but I supposed it had something to do with the workings of that strange little device. Frankly, I was beginning to think that the modern world was far too complicated for its own good.

"Well, there's nothing to be done about it now," I told her. "Why don't you come back to the manor and get dressed? Then you can make a trip into town for breakfast and have a talk with Goody Albright."

"Breakfast?" she repeated, looking suddenly interested. "Oh my God, that sounds wonderful. I didn't even realize how hungry I was until you mentioned it."

"Alas, I have nothing to offer in the way of provisions here," I admitted grudgingly. "Ghosts don't need to eat, so I haven't had any real food in the place for years. But The Red Lion Inn serves an excellent breakfast, or at least it did when I was last able to visit it. I imagine Goody Albright can arrange something suitable for you."

Celeste nodded, looking a little more cheerful.

"All right. That sounds like a plan," she said. "Maybe Goody Albright can help me figure out how to get back home, too."

"Perhaps," I said, though I had my doubts. I had a feeling Cordelia hadn't brought Celeste to Hidden Hollow simply to send her back again the next morning. But I didn't think it wise to mention that just then, especially when she was finally beginning to calm down.

"I'll give you some money to buy yourself food," I told her. "I have funds put away in the house which should be more than sufficient for your needs. But you have to promise to go straight to town and stay inside the protective bubble. I will not have you wandering off into the Northern Woods again, is that understood?"

She made a face.

"Yes, Sir," she said, giving me a little mock salute. "Anything else, Your Majesty? Would you like me to promise not to talk to strangers or accept candy from men in white vans?"

I frowned at her.

"What in the devil are you talking about now?" I demanded. "What men? What vans? And why would anyone be offering you sweets in the middle of the forest?"

"Never mind," she said, laughing a little. "It's just something people say where I come from."

"Well, the people where you come from seem to say a great many nonsensical things!" I grumbled. "Honestly, I don't know how anyone manages to get through a single day in your world without getting themselves killed!"

"Oh, we manage somehow," she assured me, sounding entirely too amused by my confusion. "Come on, let's get back to your house. I'm freezing out here and I really want to get some breakfast."

I looked down at her bare legs and feet and felt another surge of irritation. The foolish woman really ought to have known better than to come running outside dressed like that!

But then I remembered how she'd trembled in my arms and how frightened she'd been when the troll appeared, and my anger softened again.

"Very well," I said gruffly. "Come along, then. And do try to keep up, woman. I haven't got all day!"

"There's that line again," she remarked, giving me a sideways look as we started back towards the manor. "You really ought to come up with some new material, Garrik. Especially considering that you've got nothing but time on your hands."

I made a low growling sound in my throat, which only seemed to amuse her more. Damnation, but she was an infuriating woman!