Chapter 19
“Fire’s looking good. It should take the chill off,” Grandad said, coming into the room and blowing on his hands. Snow had steadily fallen all day. Pretty to look at, but not to stand still in for very long, especially since a brittle wind chased around the ranch. A cloudless night added to the chill.
“Thanks, Grandad. We can always count on you.” Penny kissed his weathered cheek.
“Man problems?” he asked with a hopeful twinkle in his eye. Three had tried to set his granddaughters up with every single man in the farming and ranching community between the ages of twenty-five and forty. He’d even suggested a few women, but the sisters had assured him that wasn’t necessary.
“Shoo, Three”—Nanna gave him a gentle shove—“she won’t talk if you’re here.” Grandad sighed and muttered under his breath about bossy women as he walked down the hallway to their small office.
“Spill,” Harper said.
“I’m annoyed and Bash is mad at me and annoyed that I’m annoyed.”
“Yeah, that’s clear as mud.”
“Start at the beginning.” Nanna said, handing her a cup of homemade hot chocolate and adding a generous glug of Irish cream liqueur.
“A volunteer at the rescue center called and asked if I’d like to get drinks with her and a few others. Casual, low-key, pretty chill, right? Do you know what the first thought was that went through my mind?”
“What to wear?” Maggie asked.
“No. I’d better check with Bash.” Penny scowled.
“Nothing wrong with that.” Nanna said.
“Everything is wrong with that. That’s something a girlfriend would do.”
“But aren’t you?” Nanna looked confused.
“We haven’t labeled it, even though we agreed to be exclusive.”
“You’re exclusive?” Harper asked, sharing a look with Maggie. “Label or not, sounds like you’re dating, which makes you his girlfriend.”
“I’m my own woman. Not some half of a couple.”
“Looks like a duck. Walks like a duck. Quacks like a duck. It’s a duck.” Nanna said, annoying Penny.
“I see why you’re annoyed, but why is Bash mad and annoyed?” Harper asked. Leave it to her sister, the reporter, to remember all the details and have follow-up questions.
“He’s mad that I didn’t check with him first since we’re running out of time before the extended road trip,” Penny said, dropping her voice, imitating him. She even pulled her eyebrows together. “I didn’t know helping him would be this demanding.”
“And he’s annoyed?” Harper asked.
“Because I’m annoyed at myself for thinking that I should check with him first.”
“Face it, you are your own woman, but helping someone”—Nanna used air quotes—“usually means coordinating and making time for the other person.” Nanna patted Penny’s shoulder.
“So, he’s right? I should have checked with him first?”
“I don’t think you’d be so upset if he wasn’t.”
“How’d you get so smart?” Penny grumbled, not liking the truth as it stared her in the face. She liked Bash Vetter too much, and she wanted the girlfriend label.
“She’s not,” Elspeth said from a corner of the room. “Mom’s forgetting that you’re a serial dater who’s never met a man more interesting than a good book. Her philosophy is perfect for Maggie, maybe even Harper, but not for you. You’re an independent woman and a witch whose coven is here.” She moved to the center of the room, commanding everyone’s attention, even Nanna’s.
“You’ve done the work of multiple people this holiday season, because you’ve practiced, and your skills are more powerful.”
“Or she’s motivated to finish early so she can see Bash.” Maggie said, surprising everyone. She rarely voiced an opinion. Penny couldn’t look at Elspeth for fear she’d see the truth on Penny’s face.
She had practiced more, but it was out of fear, not desire. Penny was stronger, but she could only read Bash infrequently, and only when he was upset.
“No,” Elspeth snapped. “She’s stronger because she’s committed to her practice and the coven. Penny knows she’s strongest here.” The temperature in the room dropped and Elspeth stood taller. She’d never seen Elspeth so protective, and she’d never seen her argue with Nanna. Now wasn’t the time to contradict her aunt, her mentor, and her business partner. Now was the time to play nice.
“Elspeth is right,” Penny said, moving toward Nanna. “I am stronger. I can do more than two magics at once. Last week, I ran the payroll, unpacked a few boxes, and placed an order for spring children’s books. Don’t worry, Elspeth, we’d closed, and I’d locked the office door. I wouldn’t have been able to do all that a few months ago. And George doesn’t ignore me like he used to.”
“And that’s a good thing?” Harper asked.
“It helps that he’s jealous of Lucas,” Maggie said.
“Don’t spoil this for me,” Penny said, sticking her tongue out at her sisters, causing Nanna to chuckle.
“As long as you’re happy, that’s all any of us want.” Nanna gave Penny a reassuring side hug, but her eyes were intent on Elspeth, who raised her chin, looking even more regal.
Penny’s mom and Nanna rarely interfered with the coven. They watched from the sidelines and supported the girls, but occasionally they butted heads with Elspeth. Alison and Nanna argued they were women first, witches second. Elspeth argued the two were intertwined and could not be separated, and if the gift wasn’t used and recharged, it would wither.
When the girls were children, Alison had wanted them to go to camp, but Elspeth had said no. Four had intervened between his wife and sister, and had brokered a deal where they could go, but it couldn’t be during a full moon. The compromise had morphed into a rule, impacting sleepovers and dates, only to explode when Harper started her college search.
Elspeth had insisted she stay local and attend either Cascade University or Valley Community College. She’d lost, predicting all sorts of dire consequences like headaches, endless colds, and hair loss. But headstrong Harper had proven Elspeth wrong. She’d thrived at the University of Oregon. Because of Harper’s success, Penny was sure she’d have Elspeth’s blessing when it was her turn. Wrong. Elspeth had been furious. To appease her aunt and thaw family tensions, Penny abandoned her scholarship at Claremont College and had followed Harper’s footsteps to Eugene. Maggie’s choice had been an easy one, Valley Community College and its culinary program.
Maggie clapped her hands, saying, “Let’s get this going. Temperature’s dropping, and I have a stack of paperwork to sort before Jack shows up in the morning. And unlike some people, I can’t multitask.”
“You could if you practiced,” Elspeth said as they donned hats and mittens for the short trek to the fire pit. Nanna hugged them goodnight, reminding them to come back in for a cup of tea if they wanted.
They followed Elspeth single file like ducks following their mother. She tossed a few more logs on the fire and Maggie muttered, “There goes my evening.”
Elspeth blew on the fire, and the flames grew, catching the new wood. She smiled. “I just thought we could use more warmth.” She circled her arm overhead and the smoke drifted up. The women tugged off their hats and mittens and Elspeth held hands with Harper and Penny. Maggie stood between her sisters.
“Wait,” Penny said, unzipping her jacket and tossing it to the side. She wore a tank top underneath. Higher skin exposure meant more moon-glow absorption. In the summer, after the ritual they often slept outdoors on cots, wearing shorts and tank tops. Maggie and Elspeth charmed the area to keep it free of bugs. Tonight, the heat from the fire gave a subtle warmth, and Elspeth lessened the breeze. I’ll survive, Penny thought as she slipped her hands back into her fellow witches’.
Elspeth gave thanks to Mother Earth and the Universe for all they’d provided since the last full moon. She thanked them for blessing Maggie with the gift of healing so she could ease Penny’s ankle pain and further her recovery. On Barbara’s behalf, she also thanked them for Maggie’s intervention and help with the new sheep, Mac and Beth, to integrate into their new life at Thistlestone.
She thanked them for Penny’s increasing powers and dedication. Penny tried to ignore the subtle jab.
Elspeth thanked them for keeping Harper safe and blessing her with the ability to find the truth. She also noted Harper’s improved skills and her newfound ease with her practice. Penny seconded that. It was nice to see Harper magicking without narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips. Until recently, she’d always looked slightly constipated while practicing.
After the thanks, it was quiet devotional time. Their monthly ritual wasn’t that different from what they’d experienced at church, other than the lack of music and the passing of the donation plate.
Penny shivered violently and Elspeth squeezed her hand, whispering, “A few more minutes to carry us through the holiday season and into the new year.” Penny gritted her teeth, finding little comfort knowing her sisters would drag her frozen body back to the farmhouse and not abandon her to the coyotes like a frozen pot roast.
Elspeth raised her arms up and everyone followed. “Next year will bring great changes for all of you if you stay focused on your responsibilities and your place in the coven. We each have our role and we are bound together. If one of us falters, we all falter. Strong powers can’t overcome weak commitment. Our commitment to each other and the coven is the greatest commitment we can make.” She ended their moon bathing with a hug circle, whispering, “I can always count on you,” when she reached Penny.
Penny usually basked in Elspeth’s praise, but tonight it pissed her off. It felt like Elspeth’s group rah-rah message was cloaked with messages aimed at her. To warn her and keep her in line. Harper and Maggie linked their arms through Penny’s as they walked toward their cars, leaving Elspeth alone to finish, as they usually did.
“The only motivational dribble missing from it was the classic we’re only as strong as our weakest link,” Harper said.
“Which is my job, so don’t be taking it.” Maggie hip-checked Penny and Harper did the same, turning their middle sister into a human pinball game. “You okay?”
“So, I wasn’t imagining the passive aggressive digs?” Penny asked.
“No. Any idea what you did to tick her off? Usually you’re teacher’s pet,” Harper said.
“I don’t want to be.”
“Liar,” Maggie teased. “You love it, and that’s okay because it takes us out of her crosshairs.”
“Really?” Penny knew Mediocre Maggie was happiest out of the spotlight, but Harper loved being the center of attention.
“It’s true.” Harper linked their pinkies together. “But until this blows over or you figure it out, lie low.”
“Hard to go dark or off the grid when I work with her every day. This is so unfair.” Penny kicked her car tire and then swore as pain shot through her toe. “A little relief would be nice,” she said through gritted teeth, hopping on her good foot and glaring at Maggie.
“I can’t cure stupid,” Maggie said, but she yanked off her mitten and placed her hand on top of Penny’s boot. The pain eased, but Penny’s foul mood didn’t.
“Go home and go to bed. Nothing good ever happens when you get this mad,” Harper said, infuriating Penny as she unlocked her car.
“Are you now going to tell me what to do?” she asked Maggie.
“Nope. But call me if you need to talk or if ice cream’s involved. Remember, you’re a grown-ass woman, and you can do what you want.” Unfortunately, what Penny wanted to do was a bad idea, which made doing it all the better.