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“I guess that’s our invitation.” Robin blew out a heavy breath.
Tessa glanced down at the gas gauge and clenched her teeth. “Guess so.” Arthur, where did you send us to this time?
Barnyard smells drifted on the hot desert air and chickens clucked from somewhere in the backyard when Tessa cautiously opened the door to the truck.
“Well come on in. I’ve been waiting for you all day.” The woman stood on the porch with the rifle resting against her side.
Tessa slid down with Mason and Emily clinging to her shirt. Moose bounded out after them, sniffing the ground with determination as the exotic scents filled his nose and his tail wagged in the air. Robin stood close to their backs as she closed the door behind her. Flies swarmed around them, knotting themselves in Tessa’s eyelashes as she blinked. A whiny bray sounded from the side of the house near the chipped black rain barrel.
“I thought I told you all to get out of here.” The woman clapped her wrinkled hands together with an earsplitting crack and a pack of three animals regarded her with mild curiosity as their ears twitched.
“Don’t make me use this again, you overgrown rats.” The woman glared at the beasts as she reached for her rifle.
“Are those donkeys?” Robin whispered.
“I think they call them burros.” Tessa pulled on Moose’s leash as he stepped in front of her warning the large animals away with a low growl and raised hackles. The pack of burros turned their attention to Old Blue and slowly pushed forward, hoping for a handout from the newcomers. Moose turned tail and slipped behind Tessa’s legs to wait with the kids and growl from back there. The lead burro nuzzled Tessa’s shirt as it sniffed for a bite to eat.
“I don’t have anything for you, buddy.” Tessa chuckled as she scratched behind its dusty ear. The burro gave her a final sniff and looked back to the front porch, running a tongue over its yellowed teeth, before following the others with a huff.
“Stay gone this time,” the woman barked at the burros as they continued down the trail.
“Can we ride them?” Mason asked, his eyes wide in amazement.
“Not today.” Tessa shook her head and Moose retook the lead position, nose to the ground as he pulled her toward the house. Yeah. You’re a real tough guy.
“Sit,” Tessa commanded when they reached the porch. Moose’s butt dropped to the dirt and his tail created dust clouds as he thumped it against the earth in anticipation of meeting a new friend.
“Are you looking for a handout too?” The woman’s brown eyes softened as she looked to the dog.
“No ma’am,” Tessa answered, standing back and eyeing the woman cautiously. “I can trade some food for the gas and then we’ll be out of your hair.”
“You must be Tessa.” The woman straightened her shoulders. “Sally said you were a pretty, little thing, but she must not remember how short she really is.” Tessa’s cheeks flushed, but the woman turned before she could reply. “Come on inside and we’ll get you settled in for the night.”
Tessa glanced over her shoulder to Robin who stood in the yard holding the kids’ hands and shaking her head.
“Are you coming in or what? Daylight is fading and I still have chores to do.” The woman held the screen door open. Moose gladly accepted the invitation and pulled Tessa up the steps.
She blinked in the darkened front room of the house allowing her eyes to adjust in the weak light that filtered in through the heavy curtains. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling rafters over the seating area in front of a wood stove. The house smelled of old smoke and earthy clay. A large kitchen took up the majority of the main room and a pitch-black hallway led to somewhere in the back. There were teacups and glasses with candles on every available surface, balanced precariously on ledges and stacked on end tables.
Tessa hesitated with one foot over the threshold as Moose sniffed the house with his tail wagging. “It’s probably best if I don’t bring the kids in here. You have a lot of fragile things.” And you might actually be a witch.
“Sally said you were stubborn too.” The woman planted her hands on her hips as she surveyed her domain. “There’s nothing in here that can’t be fixed. Now hurry up and get your stuff. We have work to do.”
“Okay.” Tessa nodded. The mention of work cast out all doubt. From the looks of things, the woman was alone and if she needed help in exchange for the gas, Tessa was more than happy to give it. “What do you need us to do, Miss…”
“Agnes.” She smiled, spreading her arms out wide with her solid muscles stretching the thin fabric of the t-shirt. “Drop your bags in the room down the hall and then meet me out back.”
“What are your mom instincts telling you right now?” Robin asked as she put her duffle bag on the twin trundle bed in the spare room. Porcelain dolls crowded the old dresser, watching them with glass eyes.
“Look Mom, my bed has wheels.” Emily laughed as she pulled out the twin mattress on the floor and pushed it back in.
“Do I have to sleep with her?” Mason groaned, staring at the creepy dolls.
“I want Robin to sleep with me.” Emily’s bottom lip quivered.
“I think that will be alright,” Robin said. Tessa eyed the small bed and turned to visually measure Robin from head to toe. It was going to be a tight squeeze for all of them and was probably a good idea that she get stuck with the little one.
“Alright guys, let’s go help.” Tessa turned to the door with a motivated clap.
“Mom instinct?” Robin pleaded as a whisper while the kids raced ahead of them down the hall, barely avoiding the shelf at the end. The glass jars seemed to sway in the commotion they left behind.
“I don’t know.” Tessa shrugged. How dangerous could one old woman be? Even if she was a certified witch. “Moose seems okay with Agnes and I trust his instinct. Maybe not his bravery, but his senses haven’t led me wrong yet.”
