Page 25 of Mystery in the Mountains

Asher just stood there and pinned her with a look before turning on his heel and heading out.

Sunny closed her eyes. It was what she deserved . . . better than she deserved if she was being honest.

Sunny bit her lip and looked at the worn living room carpet.

“Hey,” Abe said from the doorway. She looked up at him, and there was more softness in his eyes than she was used to. “The way I see it, you’re family. We welcome you back. Give him some time to come around.”

She nodded.

Abe walked into the dining room carefully around the mess. He came back carrying a box and put it in front of her. “Are these the boxes you need to go through?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

He nodded. “I’m going to call Julie, then we’ll get to work.”

By the time he left, Asher was already working, carrying out broken spindles and bringing in lumber.

The Black brothers got to work, and she did the same. She went through another box of papers to the sound of hammers and saws, and it was oddly comforting.

About an hour later, the two masculine voices outside were joined by a feminine one.

She moved to stand and hobbled her way out to the porch. Asher was at the back of the truck, working a saw, while Abe was talking to the new waitress at the cafe with a smile she’d never seen.

Then the woman turned and looked at her with a big smile and waved before heading over to her. Next thing Sunny knew, she was opening the door, inviting her in.

“Hi, I’m Sunny. I believe we met briefly at the diner.”

“We did. I’m Julie.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. I heard you took a nasty tumble this morning.”

“It wasn’t too bad . . . but yeah.”

“Well, I brought a salve to help with swelling and some willow bark extract for the pain.”

“Willow bark extract?” Sunny asked, smiling.

“Yeah, it was in Abe’s mother’s grimoire. I’ve found it very useful.”

“Oh, it is,” Sunny said, taking the vial from her. “I’m prone to hurting myself. I grew up on this stuff.”

“You grew up with them, didn’t you?” Julie asked as she came and sat by Sunny.

“Yeah, we go way back. My mom was best friends with Asher’s mom, and from what I can tell, you know about the mountain?” she asked carefully.

“Are you asking if I know about magic?”

Sunny nodded.

“Then, yes. I found out in October when I got here, and Bridget and Abe helped to keep me safe from a warlock.”

Sunny’s mouth fell open. “There was a warlock in the Hollow?”

Julie nodded. “Oh yeah, I don’t know if you knew Dale down at the motel on the edge of town. He was a warlock, and apparently, he knew I was a witch before I did. Luckily, Bridget found me, and being who she is, she already knew Abe was my mate, and both of them kept me safe and took care of him. Well, I guess the woods took care of you, but I’m sure you know all about that.”

The nervous energy Julie spoke with wasn’t lost on Sunny, but she seemed nice—which was good because if she could fix things with Asher, it meant she would probably be spending lots of time with her.

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