Wayward Secrets, page 24
I held my breath, waiting for him to blast me with objections. Instead, he seemed to consider it. Because ultimately, Flavia was his mother, and no matter how nasty she may be, every kid wants their mother’s love.
Rosalyn pressed a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “I say, you done good, sis. I sure wouldn’t have wanted to make that decision.”
Reed’s anger, over everything, seemed to be fading. “I know there are things to take care of at the station—”
“Take the rest of the day off,” I ordered. “There are some things we need to discuss, but that can wait until tomorrow. By then, Flavia will be locked in the unchurch. I’m going to find Mr. Powell and have him get his crew on those changes right away.”
“I’ll go with him.” Rosalyn gazed up at Reed. “If you want me to.”
He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.
“I’m guessing that’s a yes,” Tripp observed.
“Walk with me to the station?” I asked.
“I have to. My truck is still in the parking lot.”
We walked around to the front of The Inn. The commons was bustling with happy tourists who had no idea what had been going on with those of us who lived here. As it should be. They were here for fun and didn’t need to see the dark side of Whispering Pines. Hopefully, now that the Big Bad had been dealt with, they could visit here without the worry of becoming the village’s next victim.
Halfway down the Fairy Path, we came to Reeva and Ruby standing between their two shops. Before I could say a word, Reeva stated, “I understand and support your decision. Like I said, since we were kids, I tried and tried to help Flavia. I failed with every attempt. In fact, I usually made things worse, so your way is worth a shot.”
“It’s her last shot,” I noted. “If this doesn’t help her change—”
“Do you think that’s possible?” Ruby interrupted. “That people who are that broken can change?”
Honestly, I didn’t hold out much hope. “I guess that’s up to Flavia and divine intervention. What about the coven, Reeva? Is there anything you all can do?”
“We’ve been trying,” Reeva answered. “We’ve lit candles and incense and stated our hopes for her during our full moon gatherings. I do the same every day in my altar room at home. You’re aware that there aren’t that many laws when it comes to Wicca.”
“Harm no one,” I stated.
“That’s the big one,” Reeva agreed. “And Flavia has all but obliterated it. There’s not a lot anyone can do when karma takes over.”
“The ultimate enforcer,” Tripp mused and grinned.
Reeva’s brow wrinkled at his grin. “What are you thinking?”
“That you’re sort of like the sheriff of the village’s Wiccan community. Jayne deals with legal problems. As High Priestess, you deal with magic violations.”
From the way Reeva smiled back at him, I’d say he hit the bullseye with that.
“You just need a star,” I quipped and thought of Morgan’s Triple Moon Goddess necklace. The one handed down from Dulcie to Briar to Morgan. All of them had been the High Priestess at one point. “Or a pentacle in this case.”
Then I glanced at the Triple Moon Goddess pendant with the gorgeous gray moonstone Morgan had placed around Reeva’s neck when she named her the new High Priestess.
Reeva’s fingers played with the pendant, and she gave me a knowing smile. “I’m covered. Oh, I also wanted to thank you for sending Keiko my way. You seemed concerned that her connection to Yasmine would be a problem for me. Not only is Keiko a lovely girl and a hard worker, she may help answer a few questions I still have about my daughter.”
“That’s great, Reeva. You deserve a little peace.”
Tripp squeezed my hand as we walked away. “Good job. You’re coming up with all the right answers lately.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Arden agreed to stay at Pine Time for one more night.
“We need to reward her with something special,” I told Tripp on the way to the Barlow cottage. “I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her these past couple of days.”
Tripp nodded from the passenger seat of the Tahoe. “Agreed. Maybe a weekend getaway.”
“Oh, good idea. I know she likes gardening, wine, and books. I’ll search for something like that.”
We pulled up to the Barlows’ at the stroke of ten, as requested, with a sack containing everything on Morgan’s list: the poppets and black salt she had us make to protect ourselves against Flavia’s negative magic. We were also to bring robes from Gran’s stash in the armoire in my loft.
“Shortly after you arrived in the village, Jayne,” Morgan began once we were inside, “I took you to a coven gathering at the Meditation Circle. Do you remember?”
“How could I forget?” I replied. “Not only was that my first glimpse at the inner workings of Wicca, it was the night Flavia threw fire at me.”
“Do you also recall that I encouraged you to take a salt bath that night?” she asked.
“I do. I told you there was no way I was getting naked in your house. You had me smudge myself instead.”
She smiled. “I hope you are comfortable enough with me now to perform the full ritual.”
She led us to their bathroom. Like that night last year, dozens of lit candles illuminated the space. The black clawfoot tub with silver feet had tempted me before. It looked equally inviting now. Two loofas and a small vessel of salt sat on a small table.
“I’d like you both to perform the cleansing ritual.”
Tripp’s head tilted to the side. “Not sure we can fit in there at the same time.”
“Sassy,” Morgan replied with an approving little growl. “One at a time will be fine. You can help each other, however.”
“Don’t know that I need help, but I won’t object if Jayne wants to scrub me with a loofa.” He rotated his shoulder and lifted it fully overhead. “I don’t know what you put in that poultice, other than magic, but my shoulder’s good as new.”
Morgan returned to the ritual instructions. “You made the poppets and salt together to protect the home you both share. Performing this cleansing as a couple will echo that so you can move forward from this troubling experience.”
“Troubling,” Tripp echoed with a little laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”
I smacked him with the back of my hand. “Will you be serious?”
He looked down like a scolded little boy. “Sorry.”
“As you bathe,” Morgan continued, “focus on washing away any final negativity Flavia brought into your lives. Think of how you want your lives to proceed.”
“No more attitude,” Tripp promised. “I like this idea.”
As the tub filled with steamy water, we sprinkled four scoops of the salts mixed with dried herbs and flowers into the stream. One at a time, we soaked up to our necks, meditated for a few minutes on how we wanted our lives to move forward now that Flavia wasn’t a problem anymore, and then helped each other scrub away the negativity. Finally, we rubbed calming oil into our skin and dressed in the robes.
Before going to the Meditation Circle, we smudged Meeka.
“She has also suffered at Flavia’s hands,” Briar reminded us, “and should also be freed from the negativity.”
I’d seen Morgan and Briar in robes plenty of times. River in his black leather duster jacket was the closest I’d ever seen him in a robe. Tonight, he wore a black velvet robe with a blood-red satin lining. It suited him perfectly. We couldn’t help but laugh at the tiny red and purple robes on the twins.
At the Meditation Circle, the full coven, less Flavia but including Keiko, was waiting for us.
“We entered the new moon phase last night,” High Priestess Reeva announced, “but we are still within the window. This gathering is to help not only Jayne and Tripp rid themselves of the negative events of this year, but to help all of us and the entire village of Whispering Pines move past the darkness that has plagued us for so many years.”
As before, we each wrote our intentions for the next cycle on pieces of parchment. Some read what they’d written aloud. Others read them to themselves as the coven members focused positive thoughts their way. Once read, the papers were either tossed in the fire, buried in the earth, torn into pieces and offered to the wind, or saved to give to the lake later. Tripp buried his page, and as before, I intended to offer mine to Lucy Lake. Before reopening the circle, Morgan told us to toss the poppets and black salt into the pit.
When we did, the flames immediately engulfed the items as though starving. They flared with their new fuel and then died down again when there was nothing but ashes left.
“With that,” Morgan announced, a smile turning her lips, “you are free of Flavia Reed.”
I trusted her, but only time would prove that to me.
We thanked the coven for allowing us to attend their gathering and returned to our vehicles. I held tight to Morgan, Briar, and River in turn. The three people who were as much family to me as Tripp and my blood kin were.
“What would I ever do without you three?” I asked before we left.
“Thank the Goddess,” Morgan replied, “you’ll never have to find out.”
Back home, Pine Time was dark except for the emergency exit lights. We found Arden dozing in her favorite chair next to the fireplace. Tripp woke her gently and told her she could go home.
“You may not want to hear it,” she told me before she left, “but I’m not sure I agree with your choice of prisons for Flavia.”
“You’re not the only one,” I replied, unaffected. “No matter what sentence I imposed, someone would be upset with me.”
I’d heard many impassioned pleas from the crew at The Busted Knuckle when I stopped there after the sentencing. No one felt Flavia should have gotten a lighter sentence. They just didn’t want her in the village any longer. A few felt I’d been too hard on Brady. Others felt I was far too lenient. I assured them I’d meant what I said. If he got himself together, he’d be welcome back in a year. If he needed a little longer, his cottage would still be there for him whenever he was worthy of being a villager again.
Still dressed in our robes, Tripp and I climbed up the ladder to our rooftop. Our happy place.
He cracked open two Spotted Cows, handed a bottle to me, and toasted, “To our future.”
“I’ll gladly drink to that.”
We sat in comfortable silence and stared up at the dark sky that was absolutely bursting with stars.
Tripp pointed to a spot on the horizon. “A shooting star. Make a wish.”
“I don’t need to. I’ve got everything I want or need.”
“There’s one thing I want.” He squeezed his eyes shut, and his lips moved silently. Then he peeked at me. “Maybe two.” He took hold of my zipper pull and slid it down a few inches. “What are you wearing under that robe?”
I pulled it back up and purred, “Nothing. I’ll show you in a minute. First, I need to tell you about another decision I made.”
He pouted but only a little. “Another decision?”
“This is the big one. The one we’ve been tossing around for months.” I turned to face him on the loveseat. “The one that will change everything again.”
He turned to face me, too, and pushed my hair over my shoulder. “And?”
“I talked to River, and he fully supports it. Tomorrow I’m going to hand over the keys to the station, my office, and the Tahoe to Reed.”
“You’re stepping down.” His smile couldn’t have been bigger. They probably heard his whoop of glee clear up at the circus. “Reed will be our new sheriff, hey?”
“He’s ready. I knew it without a doubt today when he stood in the doorway for the entire sentencing. I really didn’t expect him to stay. Cybil was right, he’s come a long way. Jagger will be a great deputy. Once he’s fully trained, River will allow them to bring on a third to help during tourist season. I might need to assist with a few things until then.”
“You stepping in now and then as a consultant, I can handle. The question is, can you handle running the B&B full time? Won’t that be a little boring for you?”
I paused before replying. “Remember how I floated around in the kayak the other day?”
He nodded.
“I lay down and stared up into the sky and tried to figure out what to do about Flavia. Over the treetops, I saw the unchurch tower. That’s when I first thought about putting her there. When I was ready to paddle back to shore, I thought of the night you brought me out there.”
“I asked if your Gran, your parents, your work, and your home were all sitting on opposite shores, which one would you choose.”
“Right. Gran and my parents are off the list, so I only had those two to choose from.” I shrugged and placed my hand on his gorgeous face. “Not a very hard choice.”
“You chose home.”
I moved closer to him and draped a leg over his. “I chose you. You happen to come with a home I like very much. The moment I saw you tied to that chair in the cabin, I knew my answer. It was hard at times, but you supported me for the past year as I did what I needed to do for the village. Not sure I could have done this without you.”
“Sure you could have. Because you, Jayne O’Shea, are amazing.”
I brushed a kiss across his mouth. “I’m excited to move forward with a life that involves only us. For now.”
“Excited about running the B&B for now or excited that it’s only us for now? Plus Meeka.”
I understood what he was getting at. We’d have that conversation at some point, but not right now.
“Believe it or not, Mr. Bennett, I have plans. Figure I’ll take some cooking lessons from Reeva. Learn how to garden from the Barlows. Sign up for time on Ruby’s loom and make some placemats.”
“Going to turn into a regular domestic goddess, are you?”
“We never know what the future will bring, but as long as I’m heading there with you, it’ll be golden.”
“That’s beautiful, babe, but doesn’t really answer my question. After the non-stop past year, can you handle a more low-key lifestyle?”
“We live in Whispering Pines, Wisconsin, babe,” I reminded him while unzipping my robe. “I can’t believe things will remain low key for long.”
Thank you so much for reading WAYWARD SECRETS!
You can find a link to the next book in this series or any of my other books on the next page.
Or in my store.
***
The best way to get other updates from me and find out when my new books are set to release is to sign up to receive my emails.
If you haven’t done that already, click here. I’ll also send you MISSING & GONE, a FREE Whispering Pines short story.
***
Finally, please consider joining my private Facebook group, The Villagers of Whispering Pines, for village chat. I also have a discussion group where you’re able to talk about anything in any of my books . . . even if it’s a spoiler.
Also by Shawn McGuire
WHISPERING PINES Mystery Series
Missing & Gone (prequel novella)
Family Secrets, book 1
Kept Secrets, book 2
Original Secrets, book 3
Hidden Secrets, book 4
Rival Secrets, book 5
Veiled Secrets, book 6
Silent Secrets, book 7
Merciful Secrets, book 8
Justified Secrets, book 9
Secret of Her Own (novella)
Protected Secrets, book 10
Burning Secrets, book 11
Blind Secrets, book 12
Wayward Secrets, book 13
HEARTH & CAULDRON Mystery Series
(A Whispering Pines Series)
Hearth & Cauldron, book 1
Hearth & Hedge, book 2
Hearth Baked, book 3
Hearth Fire, book 4
WHISPERING PINES Holiday Novellas
Secret of the Season
Secret of the Yuletide Crafter
Secret of the Holiday Traveler
Secret of the Winter Woodsman
GEMI KITTREDGE Mystery Series
One of Her Own, book 1
Out of Her League, book 2
THE WISH MAKERS Fantasy Series
Sticks and Stones, book 1
Break My Bones, book 2
Never Hurt Me, book 3
Had a Great Fall, book 4
Back Together Again, book 5
About the Author
Suspense and fantasy author Shawn McGuire loves creating characters and places her fans want to return to again and again. She started writing after seeing the first Star Wars movie (that’s episode IV) as a kid. She couldn’t wait for the next installment to come out so wrote her own. Sadly, those notebooks are long lost, but her desire to tell a tale is as strong now as it was then. She lives in Wisconsin near the beautiful Mississippi River and when not writing or reading, she might be baking, gardening, crafting, going for a long walk, or nibbling really dark chocolate.
Copyright © 2022 by Shawn McGuire
ISBN: 978-1-963255-16-4
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Shawn McGuire, Wayward Secrets
