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“She’ll need more in that case,” Nana Pratt said. “What’s in the jar won’t be enough.”
I was itching to tell them to be quiet, but I didn’t want to speak to them in front of Kelsey. I had an inherent distrust of witches, and the Bridgers were no exception.
“I can do the honors if you like,” Kelsey offered.
“I’ll take care of it, thanks.”
“Let us know if you need anything else. We’re always happy to serve new customers.” She spun around and hopped down the steps. “I’m jealous of your moat, by the way. Now our pond seems inadequate.”
“It’s going to require a lot of maintenance,” I said. “I’m wondering if I should fill it in with dirt.”
She looked back at me. “Oh, don’t do that. In a town like this, it’ll be worth having.” She crossed the small bridge and sailed through the gate with a childlike spring to her step.
I retreated into the house to add the final ingredient to the mixture.
Nana Pratt held a hand over her eyes. “I can’t watch.”
“Then don’t. You shouldn’t even be in the house. You didn’t ask permission.” I used the tip of a clean knife to pierce my skin. Blood bubbled to the surface, and I dripped it into the jar.
“Nothing happened,” Ray said.
“Nothing’s supposed to happen. I need to dump it by the gate. The ward will follow the property line automatically.”
“That’s a neat trick.” Ray sounded remarkably underwhelmed for a man with no knowledge of magic until now.
“How do you know it works?” Nana Pratt asked. “Maybe it’s like the Emperor’s New Clothes.”
I bit back a smile. “Were you this suspicious of people when you were alive?”
“You can’t trust a redhead,” Nana Pratt said. “It’s a known fact. No soul.”
“I can tell you for a fact that they do have souls.”
I carried the jar outside and poured the mixture along the entrance in front of the gate.
“Can we test it?” Ray asked.
“No.”
“Call Steven. He’s probably only halfway home. Offer to fix him a meal.”
I put my hands on my hips to emphasize my statement. “Stop trying to make Steven and I happen.”
Nana Pratt harrumphed. “He’s a fine young man.”
“I agree, but he’s not the fine young man for me.”
The elderly ghost folded her arms in a huff. “You don’t think he’s good enough for you.”
“It isn’t that.” At all. Quite the opposite, in fact. “Steven deserves to settle down with a lovely woman who’s as normal as they come, not one who speaks to the dead.”
“I think it would be nice to have a granddaughter-in-law who could pass along messages to him,” Nana Pratt said. “Very convenient.”
“So, this is about you, not about Steven,” Ray said, mildly amused.
Nana Pratt tightened the belt around her robe. “You know what? You’re right. He’s a wonderful young man, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my grandson, but you need somebody who can meet you where you are. I see that now.”
I disagreed. I didn’t need somebody to meet me anywhere. I didn’t need anybody at all.
