Page 46 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

“Are they authentic?” asked Kate.

“They appear so, don’t they, but no, authentic gowns likely wouldn’t hold up through time. Beautiful reproductions, aren’t they? A few years back we had a reenactment celebration, and these were left over. They were originally purchased from a clothier in Williamsburg, Virginia. They do such lovely work down there. I usually keep these costumes tucked away up at Hopewell Manor, but I brought them down just today since it was my turn to man the thrift store. I thought I’d put them up for sale instead of keeping them tucked away. Besides, I need to start clearing out all the non-period items for Hopewell Manor’s makeover. Malory will be starting to get it ready for tours in the next few months. What do you think? Would you like to try these on?”

When Rory angled Kate and pointed out a dressing room, she took both gowns and practically skipped her way over to try them on. First she selected the solid sage-green saving for last the replica of what she had witnessed Prudence Worthy wearing. The green gown, while lovely, was a little tight in the sleeves. As she felt a slight tug in the shoulders, Kate was concerned it might rip. She didn’t want to damage it, so she swapped it out for the blue-and-white-striped gown.

Holding her breath as she slid it over her head, she let out a relieved sigh when it fell comfortably over her shoulders and down, the full skirt swirling about her legs. As she set about lacing it up, she knew it would be ideal.

When Marjorie called through the dressing room door to ask if she needed help with the laces, Kate let her in and together they made the dress fit her perfectly.

When she stepped out to show Rory, she couldn’t believe it: he was garbed as a colonial soldier with a tricorn hat. Shiny brass buttons ran down the coat, and Kate laughed at his very authentic-looking shoes as he stepped lively for her benefit.

He grinned. “Wait, you need a mobcap.” He plucked one from a hat rack and tossed it to her. Kate quickly wound her hair up in a loose bun to go underneath.

Marjorie clapped her hands.

“You two are stunning. Let me ring it all up for you.”

When Kate changed back into her modern jeans and tee, she felt a little sad. She couldn’t wait for Halloween night.

Chapter Nineteen

Walking back withKate as the shadows lengthened, Rory felt his skin tingle and not in a good way. Choosing costumes with Kate had been fun, but while he was carrying their packages as they made their way along Endeavor Street to Hazard, he just couldn’t shake the sense that they were being watched.

He glanced back over his shoulder. They weren’t alone on the street. A half-dozen people spilled out of a blue minivan. Laughing, they paired off to stroll toward the local bar, Toby and Mac’s, for happy hour. He spotted a few folks headed into the local grocery mart on the corner: a dad with two young boys still in their soccer gear, and a twenty-something woman in business clothes, clearly stopping in on her way home from work. None of them paid him or Kate any mind. So why did he feel as if he were on display?

Wait. Just there, out of the corner of his eye, for a split second he sawher. Just for an instant, his stalker gazed at him. He shuddered in reflex, and she was gone.

Had he imagined her?

Was he just paranoid?

No. No way. He knew deep down it was her.

But how?

He shook his head and began to doubt himself. Hehadto be imagining her here. He had been so careful to leave no indication of where he was going. The only people who knew where he’d gone were his bandmates and Nolan.

No one else from his life had any clue about Hazard. He’d kept his origins a secret from his fans. Oh, sure, he had a bio with his “history,” detailing which bands had given him his start and all that. But in all his public information, Hazard appeared nowhere as his hometown. He didn’t even claim to be from Rhode Island. He let anyone who hadn’t known him in his youth believe he was from New York City, with its hustle and bustle and bright lights and energy. It suited his image. Big city boy in a big city band. Much better than rock star from Podunk nowhere.

He was just being paranoid because it was October, and everyone was putting out their creepy decorations. He’d had such a great day that he kept expecting the spider to drop. But then that tingling started again. He spun around quickly and thought he saw stalker-girl disappear into the maple trees on the green. The wind had kicked up and the spindly branches waved against the darkening sky as leaves floated down.

Kate stopped, and he halted when he realized she wasn’t beside him. She gave him a raised eyebrow look. “You okay? You keep looking back. You’re not doubting your costume choice, are you? We could go back. I know I saw a Captain America shield.” He heard the teasing lilt in her voice.

“You think of me as a superhero?” He stood a little taller and preened, turning to show off a regal profile.

“Kate laughed. “I don’t know, hmm,” she said, tilting her head and holding up a finger as if in thought. “You know, there was also a donkey costume on the back shelf. I’m sure of it.”

“Ah, thank you so very much. So, I’m either a superhero or an ass, is that it?”

“Donkey,” she said primly, with a grin.

“Uh-huh, guess I better stick with my American Rebel garb.”

“So you’re not a soldier boy, but a rebel?”

“Well, yeah. But you knew that, didn’t you?” Even while bantering, his mind was weighing his options. Should he leave Kate and go investigate? And what if he did come face-to-face with his stalker? That was the last thing he wanted. Still, he needed to know if he was being followed, because he wasn’t certain she was harmless. All he knew was that she was determined.

But Kate was laughing, and he owed it to her to pay attention. He would simply need to call QHM Rep Management when they got back to the inn. See how it was all going. See if they had a line on who his stalker was.

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