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“The full jar is a better value.”
“That’s okay, I need them for a pretty small space.” I bought a bag of ten of the candles that were designed to balance your energy for a more even mood. I figured that encouraging romance with this bunch would be asking for trouble.
When I got home, Owen was out in the horse pasture, having what looked like a deep conversation with Daisy. “I swear, you’re like something out of a Disney movie with all your animal friends,” I said as I approached them. “When the little birds come sit on your shoulder and bring you news, I’m out of here.”
“She was looking at me over the fence like she was sad and lonely.”
I laughed and patted Daisy on the neck. “Meet the only horse I know of who can make puppy-dog eyes. She’s basically an overgrown dog. I’m not sure she realizes she’s a horse. How’d you learn to be so good with animals? Is that a magic thing?”
“I’ve never been that great with people. Animals are usually easier. As far as I know, it has nothing to do with magic. Well, except for the dragons. That was magic, and I didn’t plan for that spell to have that effect.”
“You also have that crazy Granny–taming ability. Speaking of Granny, did you get what you needed?”
“Oh yeah, a whole notebook full. I’ll spend the afternoon cross-referencing what she told me with some of my materials, and then tonight we can go out on a little diplomatic mission. Is there any news on our magical visitors?”
I told him what I’d seen. “So far, it seems like they’re sticking to downtown, so you should be safe out here. Maybe I could find you a hat and dark glasses as a disguise.”
“I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”
“Just making the offer. While you’re doing your research this afternoon, I think I’ll help Nita at the motel.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Well, there’s the spying potential, and then there’s this.” I raised the bag of candles. “Take a whiff and see if they affect you even when they aren’t burning.” I opened the bag and he leaned over it, then recoiled instantly with a shudder. “Now, is that because of the magic, or because they smell nasty?”
He sneezed. “Both.”
“Good,” I said with a grin. “I thought they’d be a nice touch for our guests’ rooms. Anything to throw them off balance. Now, have you had lunch yet?”
We were in the middle of making sandwiches when Mom got back. “Something really odd is going on downtown, and don’t tell me I’m imagining things,” she said as she came into the kitchen.
Oops. Owen and I shared a guilty look. I’d been so distracted by finding out that Dean and Granny were magical and Teddy was immune, that Idris had his geek brigade gathering, and that Owen was here without permission that I’d managed to forget that Mom was still immune and not in on the secret. She’d have seen all the nonsense on the square. “Nita said some really odd people had checked into the motel,” I said. “She thinks it’s a rock band hiding out here to write songs for an album.”
“I’m not sure we want that sort of people in this town. I bet they brought their drugs with them.” She was still grumbling as she went up the stairs.
“We’ll have to be careful if we want to keep her out of things,” Owen said.
I sighed. “I know. I’d assign one of the guys to look out for her, but I’m running out of brothers. And to think, I always thought I had too many of them.”
The problem soon resolved itself when Granny showed up with an armload of books and family photo albums. “These may be of help to you,” she said to Owen. She put the books on the kitchen table, then handed Owen a bottle full of murky liquid. “I also made you a potion. It’s a recipe I got from my Gran. Best thing for restoring you after a lot of magic. You need to be careful about that in these parts. You can wear yourself out real fast.” She settled in at the table, making herself at home, and I knew that Mom wouldn’t stand a chance of getting away for the rest of the afternoon. Granny was better than a prison warden.
I felt like a chicken leaving Owen to deal with Granny alone, but they seemed to be getting along fine, so I didn’t feel too bad about heading over to the motel. My main worry was that Granny might accidentally poison him with her magical home remedies while I was gone.
“You said you needed housekeeping help?” I said to Nita when I got there. Then I noticed the new decor in the lobby. The faded prints of local sights from an old chamber of commerce calendar were gone, replaced by framed album covers. Bright fringed throws covered the vinyl lobby chairs.
“Oh, bless you!” Nita said. “The housekeeper I did have quit this morning. She said she wasn’t coming back until these guys left.”
“Why? What did they do?”
She waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. “I’m not entirely sure, but I got the impression there was some kind of harassment going on. You know rock and rollers. I hate to make you face all that, but it seems like most of them are out for the afternoon.”
“I’m sure I can cope.” I gestured around the lobby. “I see you’re already carrying out your new theme.”
“Yeah, great, huh? Oh, and come look at this.” She gestured me back behind the desk and pulled up some files on her computer. “I took these pictures Monday afternoon. He must have gone out for a long walk because he came straggling back later that day. Look at that thing he’s wearing around his neck. It’s not big enough to be proper bling, but it’s too big to be a good man necklace.”
I bent over and squinted at the photo of a tired, sweaty Idris as she enlarged the picture on the screen.
His shirt was unbuttoned almost to his waist, which was not a pretty sight, and he had a medallion of some sort hanging on a leather cord around his neck. “There’s no telling what it is,” I said, wishing we could zoom in more and see if there was writing on it, but I knew it would only get fuzzy if we tried to enlarge the picture any more.
