Chapter 4 Coco
Coco
Mystic Meadows began as a lumbering community, but when industry died, the founders needed a way to revitalize it. Just as they erected new buildings, the first unicorns arrived.
The creatures had power—could heal, imbue you with love, all of it. Unicorns became big industry for one farmer, giving him a monopoly. With unicorns came tourists, people willing to pay hand over fist to see the majestic no-longer-fairy-tale creatures.
A few years later, the first piggycorns appeared. But they arrived as the magic waned, as unicorns started being born without power.
All of this magic, we discovered recently, is tied to a plant—starfizz berries. Growing them reactivated long-dormant ley lines just like the ones that run directly under the Maddoxes’ resort.
But no amount of starfizz berries could fix this situation, because these lines are buried under concrete, not sitting flush with the soil.
This is about my town thriving. The piggycorns finally received magic, and I’ll be damned before I let everything return to the way it was. When grime covered the buildings on Main Street and before . . . before I, the current I—the one who can see ley lines—existed.
Even if I can’t tell anyone that I do.
I storm over to my car and spot Isaac from Sparkle Bar opening his lunch box.
He gives me a thousand-watt grin. “Hey, Coco. What’s up?”
“I’m shutting the place down.” I open my trunk and push aside a tire-inflation kit, an emergency battery charger, a severe-weather poncho, and a flare gun, until I finally find it.
I grab the tape and slam the lid. If Stone Maddox won’t listen to me, then maybe this will get his attention.
Isaac cocks his head in confusion. “You’re doing what?”
“Shutting it down.” I grab the stack of paper from the ground where I put it, and show him the first page and my signature. “Right here. I signed right there, and I’ll be filing this today.”
He takes the paper in his free hand and shakes his head. “Why?”
“Ask your boss.”
He eyes what’s in my hand. “What are you doing with police tape?”
“Making sure my filing is obeyed.”
“With that,” he deadpans.
“With this,” I confirm, even though he looks at it and me like we’re both whack-job crazy. Well, maybe I am, but I’m determined to do this job right. “If you’ll excuse me . . .”
I march across the construction site, minus hard hat, which is violating all kinds of rules, and head straight to the resort, picking my way over huge clumps of red dirt as I go.
When I reach the interior, Ron looks up in surprise. He stops talking with some of the guys and scratches his chin as I wind the Do Not Cross tape around one of the beams and walk it to the end of the building.
“Sorry to tell you this, boys, but we’re shutting her down. Better pack up for the day. There’s nothing else to be done here.” When they don’t move, I say again, “Grab your tools and head home before I call the police and have y’all escorted off.”
Can I actually do that? Will the police do that? People in this town love Pane Maddox—like, they really love Pane Maddox. He’s a hero for not only saving his wife’s farm but also for helping Mystic Meadows reclaim its magic.
If he knew the materials he and his brother are using will destroy the magic again, then he would absolutely approve of my drastic measures.
Right?
I tell myself this as I wind the tape around another beam. Ron still gapes at me.
“What are you waiting for, Ron? You’d better get going before you’re arrested. You’ll have hell to pay with Jennifer if you wind up booked down at the station.”
Jennifer takes no shits, and if the fear bulging in his eyes is any indication, he’s terrified of her. “You heard the lady. Let’s go, guys.”
A thrill of satisfaction zings up my spine. It quickly evaporates when I spot Stone Maddox exit his trailer just as the men pile into trucks and cars and leave for the day.
His gaze whips around until it finds me. The confusion in his eyes quickly dissolves into a What the hell? expression as he takes in the police tape.
His face changes again, and this time he’s pissed.
Which means I’d better hurry.
“What are you doing?” he demands. He breaks the tape and throws it on the ground. “This is crime scene tape. It’s for the police.”
“You will tie that back,” I snap.
“I will not.” He gestures toward the trucks driving off. “Did you tell my men to leave? You have no right!”
He storms over as I finish securing tape to the last beam. “I have every right!” I shout. “You’re going to ruin this town. I’m filing paperwork today. By tomorrow, you’ll be served with papers that say unless you comply, you may not build on this land.”
“Unless I comply?” He shakes his head. “Lady, you cannot shut this down. You have no authority. You’re supposed to show up, tick some boxes, and leave. End of story. That’s all there is to it.”
The nerve of this man! “You know what?”
“What?” he shouts, his face inches from mine.
“You don’t deserve that lambicorn.”
His expression pinches in confusion. “What?”
I point behind him, to the creature who has followed him outside. The poor baby bleats pathetically. “The lambicorn. You know, the small, innocent being who thinks you’re its mother? Well, you would make the worst mother in the world.”
His face changes then, shifting from its slow-boiling fury to a cold, icy mask.
When he speaks next, his tone makes me feel like I’m being erased. “Get off my site. Take your police tape and leave.”
“Fine by me.”
“Good!”
I grab the roll of tape, and even though I’m doing everything to calm my inner turmoil, power builds, ley lines throb red, and the tape bursts into flames.
I screech and drop it to the ground. I stomp on the flames until they’re out, hoping Stone didn’t see.
“Are you an arsonist, too?” he accuses.
“No, I am not an arsonist.” I snatch the tape from the ground.
“Then why was it on fire?”
“The sun . . . did something.” The tips of my fingers are singed, and I blow on them.
“It’s cloudy,” he corrects.
“It spontaneously combusted!”
As I walk away, he shouts, “Don’t ever show your face here again, or I’ll make sure you’re fired!”
My stomach plummets. This is the job I was meant for. No one else can do it, and I’ve completely screwed up.
I want to burst into tears.
No. I will not cry. I won’t be overlooked.
There’s only one thing that can make this better, and that’s where I’m headed now.