Chapter 7
I saw him again today! I am in love!
Is it wrong of me to be happy that his mother has needed my healing these past few months? I hate that she is still feeling so poorly, but every time he comes to me, I am filled with a luminous joy.
I want to shout my love to the world, but the mood in town is fraught as villagers accuse each other of witchcraft based on nothing more than a hysteria sweeping through the population.
Caleb is worried about me, as wisewomen seemed to be targeted for making tonics and infusions that are science, not witchcraft. That matters naught when someone is accused.
Present Day
Clouds scuttled over the moon, darkening the walkway, obscuring the path across the street as Zane walked back to the inn.
The bell over the door jingled as he entered the lobby, a large smile on his face.
He had wanted to kiss her so badly all night. Because he’d been keeping thing from her, things that would matter, he had held off. But she’d taken the decision from him, much to his pleasure.
He hadn’t felt this good in a long time. His chest was light, his confusion about his place in the world dulled.
Only a single light illuminated the lobby, casting a welcoming glow. “You’re out late.”
Zane nearly jumped out of his skin. Ms. Williams. “Jeez. You startled me.”
“Have a good time?” It was more of an accusation than a friendly inquiry by the local innkeeper.
“Yeah.” Zane felt defensive.
“Get your business done?”
“I’m close.”
“Then you’ll be leaving?”
“Do you want me to leave?” Zane was trying to understand the subtext here, and he wasn’t in the mood for innuendo and coded messages.
“Just curious.”
“It’s good that you’re protective.” Zane told her, thinking about the true reason he was here. “She’s lucky to have you.”
Tasha Williams looked out for her friend. That was excellent.
“Damn straight. I’m lucky to have her, too.”
Zane said goodnight and headed to his room.
His earlier good mood had cracks. He’d had an amazing time, but now he needed to review the footage he’d taken and then call his sister.
He had texted the videos to Abby right after they left the Briggs house.
“What took you so long! I've been waiting to hear from you.”
Zane sighed and dropped onto the queen bed. He'd cracked the window open so he could hear the waves hitting the shore. “I just wanted to review the footage again before we talked.”
“For three hours?” she cried.
“Let it go, Abs.”
“I watched the videos. Were you with that girl?”
“She's hardly a girl.”
“Who is she? What's her name? What does she do?”
“The woman at the Historical Society said she had to be the one to show me the property. So I had her show me the property. She owns the bookstore in town.”
“You didn't tell me her name.”
He hesitated. “Mercy Finch Costa.”
Silence.
“Mercy Finch?” Abby's voice rose.
All those good feelings he'd had while hanging with Mercy at the bar settled like a rock in his stomach. “I know.”
“She's related?”
“I would guess so. I don't know exactly how. I didn't ask.”
“She’s going to hate us when she finds out.”
“Let's focus on the house.”
They went through the footage videos one by one. “So where do you think she hid the bag?”
“I don't know. It could be anywhere,” Zane said. “Could be under the floorboards. Could be behind a brick in the fireplace. The only place I know it isn't is the ceiling because the joists are exposed.”
“Is there an attic?”
“No.”
“You need to get back in there.”
“I can hardly go in with a crowbar and start breaking open the house. We need to buy it first.”
“Okay, so then let's buy it.”
“My plan tomorrow is to go figure out who actually owns the house.” Eleanor Vane had been extremely vague.
“What do you mean?”
“The owner is an LLC, and the only person who seems to know anything is the woman who runs the historical society. How are you feeling?”
“As big as a house.” Abby sighed. “Better now that I know we're close.”
He gentled his voice. “It may not be there, you know. You have to prepare for that possibility.”
“You're right, I know. But just you being there has reduced my anxiety. You're the best brother in the whole world.”
“Thanks, Abs.”
“You need to stay away from that Mercy Finch. Hasn't our family already caused her family enough trauma? We're supposed to be righting the wrongs, not making it worse.”
He didn’t correct her. He needed to remember that his Mercy was related to Mercy Finch. “Night, Abs.”
Zane lay on the bed and listened to the shush of the waves on the shore. All his earlier pleasure at the evening had dissolved under a load of guilt and remorse. Tonight had been fun, but it couldn't happen again.
He knew he should stay away from Mercy. But he wasn’t sure he could.