As I traveled down the winding mountain road, a car veered over into my lane. It wasn't a big lane to begin with so sometimes things like that happened, especially if the other driver was unfamiliar with the area. I had to swerve to avoid it though.
I tried to correct my swerve, but my tires were too far over the line and I was fighting to stay on the road. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled with the truck. I couldn't keep it where it needed to be though, not without losing a wheel or something. The whole thing ended up rolling off the embankment. I was able to correct at the last moment so I was basically just off roading down the side of the mountain - that was covered in trees.
All I had to do was not hit one.
Chapter Seven
Emma
We all held our breath when we opened the door and Buster stepped out. There was a part of me that just kept thinking back to the creepy letters I’d been receiving in Mystic Hollow. Someone knew what I’d done to my ex and his mistress. And if I couldn’t get this right, I knew trouble was headed for me.
Whether it was because that creepy person would hurt me, some supernatural police were going to come for me, or if the actual human police would find enough to throw me in the slammer, I didn’t know. Either way, I really needed to find them. I just hoped Buster was as good at tracking as Beth had claimed he was.
“Anything?” I asked, as Buster slowly inched toward my backyard.
Patience, human.Buster’s voice sounded in my head. Beth had worked some magic when we came out so that Buster could talk to us without anyone else seeing it. The last thing we needed was the neighbors calling the police.
Beth touched my shoulder and shook her head.
Okay, I could be quiet. I was a quiet person. I didn’t need to babble and fill the space with noise just because I felt like I was losing my head, maybe had a crazy stalker, and most definitely was on the radar of the police. Yeah, I could be—
They were here. Their magical scent is all over the place.Buster shook his head and sneezed.It’s overpowering.
“Can you track it?” Beth asked.
Buster sniffed and gave her a haughty look.Of course. I’m the best.
“He really is,” Beth said, giving him a smile. “He’s a better tracker than lions and bears.”
Those giant jerks are nothing compared to me.Buster said, with a haughty swish of his tail.
Beth looked at us and winked.
Buster started sniffing around the garden, starting at the door, and moving through the array of beautiful plants.
I couldn’t help myself. I took a deep breath. A light breeze moved through the different plants and flowers, and the big trees gave the whole place some shade. In the background, I could still hear my little fountain by the pond going. The garden didn’t feel like the house did. It felt like something that belonged to me and me alone. Rick had never cared so long as the front yard was green and mowed I could do whatever I wanted back there.
I’d long ago turned our backyard into an oasis. It was the place that I let all the creative energy I couldn’t use while spending the majority of my time on Rick’s business. When Travis was younger, that extra energy had gone to him. But since he’d needed me less, this garden had become a special place just for me.
Rick had hated being back there, so I’d made it my own. A little pond, beautiful flowers everywhere. The scent of lavender wafting from the flowers I let grow wild and the splash of the fish in the pond. Yes, some of my plants were looking worse for the wear since I’d been gone, and weeds had definitely sprung up all over the place, but Travis had been kind enough to try to keep it all in decent shape when he could get away from classes.
Man, I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve that kid.
But overall, as I watched Buster try to pick his way through the chaos, my gaze picked out more and more changes since I’d been here last. Everything needed pruning and the patches of grass, which I normally kept trimmed and neat, were wild. No doubt the yard was full of mice and snakes.
And hopefully, frogs. Or, rather, toads.
This way,Buster said. He had his nose to the ground and his tail swished back and forth as he weaved to and fro through the flowers and shrubs.Nope,he eventually said, sitting back on his haunches.Not here.
“Where, then?” I asked.
Buster looked out the gate.That way.
They were somewhere in the neighborhood? Maybe further?
I sighed. “I was afraid of that. They could’ve gotten anywhere in the weeks I’ve been gone.”
With a big inhale, our feline helper shook his head.No, the smell is too fresh. They’ve been keeping to this area, and they’re together.
