Page 86 of Mystery in the Mountains

Although there was more concern than fury behind it, those two emotions seemed to cause the same reaction out of Esther Black.

Esther had always been one of Sunny’s best friends, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t also a little terrified of her.

But Ruby didn’t even seem to notice as she shrugged and picked up her burger.

“Ye know,” Bridget said, breaking the tension. “I must say it’s good to be in a coven again.”

All eyes turned to look at her, some surprised, others confused. No one expected that, but when did Bridget ever say things people expected?

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been around so many magical people all at once. It feels good, no?”

Sunny looked over at Asher, who flashed her a small smile.

It was true. There was a coven here, and there hadn’t been one since the night of the accident. That had to mean something. And if there was a coven here . . . Maybe she could tell them about some of the crazy dreams and visions she’d been having. That was part of being in a community, especially one with magic.

As dinner wound down, Asher stood and cleared the plates.

“Let me help,” Sunny said.

“No, we got it,” Abe said, standing to help Asher. “Don’t we, Ruby?”

“Yes, Uncle Abe.”

“Let’s go, Peanut. I’ll wash, you dry,” Asher said, ruffling her hair.

Things had been so intense with Asher since her return she had almost forgotten the peacemaking role he played so well in their family. He made life easier with his gentleness, although the night before, he’d been anything but gentle. Just the thought of that was enough to redden Sunny’s cheeks.

Asher, sensing her emotions, looked over at her, cocking a fucking sexy eyebrow, and she glared at him.

“Did you have some questions for Bridget?” he asked.

“Yes! I did!” Sunny turned to Bridget, whose interest had piqued, but Bridget was also right. This was a coven if she wanted it to be. “Do you all want to come up into my dad’s office. I have some questions.”

“Lead the way, my dear,” Bridget said, standing from the table.

Sunny led Bridget, Julie, and Esther inside. “His office is upstairs.” The three women followed her up the stairs. “Oh, Esther.” She turned at the top. “I feel like I should give you a heads-up. When my dad died, he was working hard to try and figure out the car accident. He never believed that they ran off the road swerving to miss a deer.”

“No one believed that,” Esther said coolly.

“I know . . . but there are some pictures and other stuff . . . I just wanted to tell you in case you didn’t want to see things like that.”

“I appreciate it, but if you think he has new information, I think I need to know.”

“Okay,” Sunny said as she headed down the hall.

When they reached the door, she put her hand on the doorknob and couldn’t help the zip of nerves that shot up her spine.

This was a lot. This was bringing these women she respected into the mind of a man who was not well at the end of things. All these things had brought her life crashing down around her years ago.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself against those nerves and opened the door. She turned the knob, and it creaked.

They all entered the space, and she waited for them to take it all in.

The look on Julie’s face was of cautious concern, whereas the look on Esther’s face was murderous . . . which tracked.

“Well, would ye look at all this?” Bridget said as she inspected the board. “Yer father certainly was a busy man.”

“One thing that is mildly concerning is this man,” she said, pointing to the center of the board. “Bradford Wilkes. He’s the suit who was in town a few weeks ago. He made me an offer on the house. I think he’s trying to get the land. And it looks like he was trying to get it before.”

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