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“Not today, you won’t.” Hope set the lotion bottle on the counter and lifted her hands to her head. She pressed two fingers to each temple and squinted in their direction. The three spun around and scurried out the door like rats. Hope laughed so hard that she had to lean against the counter for support. Her unhinged cackle nearly sounded like a witch’s. “Did you see how fast they ran? Such simpletons.”
Finley returned the leather book to the shelf before heading to the counter. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at his mother. “You pulled a Sheldon Cooper,” he said.
She grinned at him like a lunatic. God, he adored this woman. “Unlike Leonard, those idiots actually think I can make their brains explode.”
Finley resisted the urge to laugh with her because he feared the situation was more dire than she realized. “I’m not sure antagonizing them is the right thing to do. Playing into their beliefs that you’re a witch could be very dangerous, Mama.”
She batted away the notion like a pesky fly. “Those morons don’t know what to do with a woman who refuses to cower to their demands. The white-haired guy is supposed to be their fearless leader, Samuel Jeremiah, but he was the first one out the door. Sure, they’ll regroup and return, but I’ll be ready when they do.” She reached down and lifted a massive Super Soaker water gun from behind the counter. “I’ve added lots of lemongrass oil in here. It keeps the mosquitos away, so why not try it on the human soul suckers too?”
Finley groaned and shook his head. “Does Gary know they’re harassing you?” Surely his stepfather would’ve implored her to use caution when dealing with any type of fanatic.
Hope smiled at hearing her husband’s name. “Who do you think went to the superstore down the highway to buy this water gun?” Finley groaned, and she reached over the counter to cover his hand. “And he installed a security system with interior and exterior cameras.” She pointed to a device mounted near the ceiling in the room’s corner. “Picks up the entire shop. I have one in the back and at each entrance. I’m not taking their threats lightly, but I’m not backing down either.”
Finley leaned across the counter and kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you more.” She handed him the bottle of lotion, and he read the label. Beast Tamer.
“I’d hate to know what you’d call the lube you wanted to whip up for me.” She started to reply, but Finley held up his hand. “No, I would really hate to know.”
Hope waggled her eyebrows. “Since you brought it up…”
“No,” Finley replied, shaking his head furiously. “It was an accident. My bad.” He picked up the lotion and turned to leave, but she placed a hand on his forearm to stop him.
“Fin, I’ve met someone special.”
“Does Gary know?”
“Ha, ha, ha,” she said dryly. “Gary picked him out.”
Finley shoved the forefinger of his free hand into his ear. “Lalalalalala. I don’t want to know what you guys get up to,” he said. “You’re consenting adults.”
Hope pinched Finley’s arm through his flannel shirt until he unplugged his ear. “Don’t be an idiot. The guy isn’t for us, silly. He’s for you.”
“Huh-uh,” Fin said, pulling free of her embrace. “I’m on hiatus, remember?”
“Your pissy, uptight attitude makes it hard to forget. I’d like to remind you that you’re on a break from bad boys who break your heart.”Not bad. Just broken.“You said nothing about good guys. They need nurturing too.”
“I don’t know, Mama.”
She smiled sympathetically. “I hate to see you so unhappy, sweetheart. Just think about it, okay?”
Fuck, he was lonely. Would it be so bad to go on a date with a man? Even if he didn’t feel a romantic spark, he always had room for another friend. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
Hope’s smile was immediate and huge. Finley playfully lifted his hand to shield his eyes from its blinding light, but seeing her happy lifted his spirit. He gave her another kiss before heading toward the door.
“Monkey Grease,” she called out before he could reach for the handle. “You know, to spank the—”
“Got it,” Finley said. “I knew exactly what you meant. No explanation needed.”
She laughed at his discomfort. “It’s already on track to become my best seller.”
Finley groaned and fled through the door almost as fast as the cult members had.
The truck slowed and turned into a driveway. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as Cash drove toward an ornate gate that opened when he pushed a button on his visor. Beyond the black iron, a lane disappeared into a forest of ponderosa pines and blue spruces. The rich greens and silvery blues formed a tapestry of vibrant color that stirred something deep in Kieran’s soul.
He’d grown up near a farming community in Ohio, but the land was flat and underwhelming. Kieran’s bus ride west had revealed similar topography, so he’d never really associated mountains and forestry with agriculture. “There’s a ranch back here somewhere?” Kieran asked, hoping his accelerated pulse didn’t reflect in his voice.
“Redemption Ridge comprises forty-five hundred acres,” Cash replied proudly. “We only farm a third of the land. Hay and hops are our only field crops, but we also have impressive grapevines and beehives.”
