“Sorry.”Liam scraped his hands across his face and tried to focus.“If we could get my wallet, I could use my credit card for vehicle hire.”
“Me too?”Jamie asked.
“If that’s what you want, lad,” Hedrek said without hesitation.
“We need to earn as much money as we can,” Liam said, thinking aloud.“If the hunters stick around, leaving could get tricky.They might block roads or step things up, acting like they’ve got the law behind them.Now that they’ve seen a big cat, they’ll double down on catching the Beast of Bodmin.”
“Makes sense,” Jago said.“What’ll bring in the most profit?”
“You should make more of the hearts—they’re easy to transport,” Liam said.“And I think mugs with a Beast logo would sell well.”
The Teague men gaped at him before Callan burst out laughing.
“Really?”Hedrek asked.
“Yeah.The deal with the lemonade seller works well, and we’re low on mugs.I think Beast of Bodmin ones would sell fast.”
Hedrek tapped his chin.“How many should we make?”
“Fifty to a hundred,” Liam said.“More if possible.”
“You won’t be able to carry them,” Hedrek said.
“I’ll make as many trips as it takes,” Liam said.“Just focus on the hearts and mugs.Jamie and I can carry back whatever fits.”
Hedrek moved to the doorway and studied the horizon.“Rain’s coming.Stay until tonight.It’ll ease off to a drizzle, and if we’re lucky, it might keep the hunters inside.Now—are either of you any good at drawing?”
“Not me.”Liam grimaced.“I can’t even manage a stick figure.”
“I can,” Jamie said.
“Excellent.Help Kitto.Liam, you look like you need a break.”
“My brain feels like it’s on fire.”
“Not surprised.Jago said you hit a rock—there’s a decent lump on your temple.If you can’t sleep, come sit with me while I work on the mugs,” Hedrek said.
“Um, I have an idea,” Jamie said.“It’s not legal, but it might work.”
Hedrek’s brows rose.“Breaking the law is never a good idea.”
“Let’s listen to Jamie’s idea,” Liam said, his vision wavering.
“The smugglers,” Jamie said.“If we pay them, they might drop us off further up the coast.From another town, it’d be easier to grab a van.”
Hedrek tilted his head, his feline features tightening in thought.Liam waited for him to speak, considering it a solid plan—if they could rely on the smugglers.
“Jamie, lad, that could do the trick.Think they’re trustworthy?”
“No,” Jamie said without hesitation, “but they might do it for the money.”
“How much would they charge?And who would we approach?”Liam asked, trying to think past the throb in his brain.
“If they catch on you’re desperate, they’ll jack up the price.They’ll want to know why you’re trying to bail.”
“Let’s keep this idea for later.We need to make money first, whether we pay them to take us up the coast or walk to get a van,” Liam said.
“There’s another way to make cash,” Jamie said.“One of their ships got hit by a freak wave and lost four crew.That’s what I argued with my dad about.He’s on that crew and wants me to join the smugglers.The pay’s good—as long as you don’t get caught.”
