Chapter 9
Hunter sat in a chair on the back porch of Noel and Drew’s farmhouse. It was a beautiful property out on the edge of town near the Townsend family home. He sucked in a deep breath, appreciating the clean summer scent, and then let it out slowly, grateful for the peace that had washed over him.
The triplets were playing in the yard with Poppy, Noel and Drew’s daughter, who was a couple years older than them.
Buffy and Xena, the two shih tzu fluffballs from the same litter that had been adopted by Noel and Faith, were chasing the younger girls around the yard.
The triplets had insisted on bringing Xena so that the pups could have some playtime when he’d told them they were spending the afternoon with Drew.
It was a bit of a zoo, but Hunter didn’t mind. He was happy to have his mind on something other than the attack the day before.
Drew took the seat next to him and handed him a beer. It was a lager from the Townsend family brewery.
“Thanks,” Hunter said, giving his brother-in-law a grateful smile.
“After the last twenty-four hours, I figured we could both use a cold one.” Drew tapped his bottle to Hunter’s and then took a long swig.
“Where are Zoey, Daisy, and Olive?” Hunter asked.
“Inside, watching Project Runway. You’d think I’d ordered them to do manual labor when I suggested they come outside for a bit,” he said with a chuckle. “Teenagers, man. I don’t get wanting to be in front of a television on a day like today, but to each their own, right?”
Hunter had to agree. Even though it was July, it was the perfect weather. Midseventies with a very slight breeze. It was the type of afternoon one usually savored. “They’ll grow out of it… eventually,” he said.
“Seems like forever.” Drew grinned.
“They’re good kids,” Hunter said, feeling protective after the day before.
Drew sobered, “The best, actually.”
They really were, too. All three of the teenagers had plenty of interests. Zoey gave her all to the theater, Olive was actively working on a singing career, and Daisy had recently started taking pottery classes. None of them were couch potatoes or troublemakers, which they were all grateful for.
“Noel called,” Drew said.
Hunter looked over at him. “And?”
“It appears the Townsend sisters are headed for mani-pedis. They’ll be a few more hours still.”
“Good. Faith needs something to help her relax,” Hunter said. “Any word on the paranormal investigation at the spa?”
“I’m told there aren’t any sinister ghosts and they didn’t find evidence of any curses or spells.”
“You don’t look surprised,” Hunter said, eyeing his brother-in-law. “Is the crew that checks for that stuff really that good?” He knew they’d done a preliminary investigation last night.
“No, not always. Not the local agents anyway, but I called in someone I know from the Magical Task Force last night. She’s never been wrong before.”
“You didn’t tell Faith that?” Hunter asked, wondering why.
“No. I was going to, but she was dead on her feet, so I just let her know we didn’t find anything and sent her home. I’ll tell her today after the ladies are done pampering themselves.”
“Thanks.”
The pair sat in comfortable silence as they watched their kids scream with delight and run around the yard. It all seemed so normal. So right.
Or it did until there was a scream from inside the house.
Both Drew and Hunter shot out of their chairs and ran into the house.
“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!” Daisy cried from where she was sprawled on the floor.
“Oh my gosh, Daisy. I’m so sorry!” Zoey said, kneeling beside her, her hands hovering over her cousin’s ankle as if she wanted to touch but was afraid to.
“What happened?” Drew demanded as he rushed to his daughter’s side.
“Zoey tripped her,” Olive said.
“Not on purpose!” Zoey cried. “We both got up at the same time, and I accidentally tripped her.”
“More like shoved,” Daisy grumped.
“Well, not exactly,” Olive chimed in. “It was more like Zoey’s feet slipped out from under her and she was going down. Instead of bracing herself on the chair, she used Daisy, and Daisy tripped over the coffee table.”
“However it happened, I got tackled,” Daisy said. Her eyes were glassy, and when she tried to get her feet under her, she cried out, “I can’t get up!”
Drew quickly swooped in and picked her up. He gently set her on the couch and then, very tenderly, he checked out her ankle, gingerly pressing his fingers to the outside of her foot.
Daisy hissed in pain.
Both of the other girls flinched. Hunter put an arm around their shoulders and pulled them in. “I’m sure she’s going to be all right,” he reassured them. “If it’s more than a minor twist, I’m sure Drew will take her to the healer.”
Zoey pressed into him, her face scrunched up in distress. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
The door swung open and the room filled with joyful chatter as the Townsend sisters filed in.
Everyone else was silent.
“Hey. Why’s everyone so glum?” Noel asked.
Faith frowned. “And where are the triplets?”
“Outside with Poppy,” Hunter said, ready to kick himself. They were six-year-olds, and even though they were with their cousin Poppy, she was only eight. It was a recipe for disaster. “Sorry. Daisy got hurt, and Drew and I just ran in here.”
“I’ll go keep an eye on them,” Yvette said. She glanced at Daisy and frowned. “Someone get her some ice. That’s got to be painful.”
“It is!” the teenager wailed.
“I’ll get it,” Faith said as Noel rushed to her daughter’s side.
Olive went to stand with Abby and bit down on her bottom lip as she watched Daisy.
After Faith brought back an ice pack, Hunter quickly filled her and Abby in on the accident.
“Poor baby,” Faith said as she moved to sit on the coffee table next to Daisy. “I bet your dad needs to get you to a healer. That ankle is already blowing up.”
“But I don’t want to go to the healer,” Daisy whined. “They always make me drink gross potions.”
Abby let out a mock gasp of offense. “Gross? Potions aren’t gross. They are healing, which is the entire point.”
“They’re gross, Mom,” Olive said, shaking her head. “Even the ones you make. Sorry.”
“That was rude,” Abby muttered.
“Gross or not,” Drew said. “Your aunt is right. You need a healer before that ankle swells to the size of a basketball.”
“Okay, it’s time to go so that Drew and Noel can take Daisy to the healer,” Hunter said. “I’ll go pack up the triplets. Zoey, do you want to ride with me or Faith?”
“Faith,” she said.
“Okay.” Hunter gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll get the girls and Xena and meet you at home.” He turned to Drew. “Do you want us to take Poppy home with us? She can stay as long as you need to get Daisy’s ankle treated.”
“That would be great,” Drew said. “Thanks, man. We’ll call you when we know something.”
Faith squeezed Hunter’s hand as he brushed past her, and while he was glad his wife got to spend a little bit of time pampering herself, he was more than ready to be home with her and his kids where they could all relax and recharge. “See ya soon.”
“You can count on it,” she said.