“Yes, Norma Ray.”
Malene rose and took Rufus by the arm. “Now that you’re the new spell hunter, you can start by rounding up some spells for us. What I wouldn’t give for a good old-fashioned wrinkle remover. Do you think we could go search for one of those?”
Wait a minute. Malene was just going to take Rufus and leave? Like, she was going to take him spell hunting?
They were just accepting him without knowing anything about his past. Malene had welcomed Rufus into Peachwood with open arms, not bothering to wait and make sure that he wasn’t a homicidal maniac before she got to know him.
I couldn’t help but gape openly at them. Rufus glanced at me, and my gaze darted away.
He stopped walking. “If you’d rather I help you at the barn, I’d be glad to.”
I shook my head. “No, don’t bother. Go and spell hunt. See if you can find Malene what it is she needs.”
He gave me a smile full of regret but let Malene drag him toward the door.
Norma Ray patted my shoulder. “Don’t you worry about John. Malene will take good care of him.”
I bristled. “I’m not worried about him.”
Norma Ray gave me a sympathetic smile. “Are you sure about that? ’Cause it seems to me that I’ve seen that look of longing before, but only when someone fancies someone else.”
Whatever the look was, I made sure it disappeared from my face. “That’s not it. Y’all don’t know anything about him. John could be a serial killer. He’s a stranger.”
Norma Ray smiled tenderly. “I remember that once upon a time you were a stranger, too. If it hadn’t been for Malene and a few others who accepted you right off the bat, you never would have made Peachwood your home.”
Drat. “Well, of course you’re right, but…”
“But nothing, honey. We all need a friend, especially those of us who may be lost.”
With that, Norma Ray followed Malene and Urleen out the front door, leaving me standing alone, wondering who exactly was the bad guy in the coffee shop—Rufus or me and my ingrained prejudice?
Chapter 21
Liam’s crew showed up at the barn, sans Liam. I spent the day directing the men on what to focus on, and by the end of the day the kitchen was starting to take shape.
Needless to say, things were moving along at a clipped pace.
By the time my day was over, I was spent, exhausted. I gathered Lady, who looked just as tired as me, and headed home.
When we reached my house, I ate another piece of cake (yes, I live on sugar; there is nothing wrong with that), showered and slipped on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. About five minutes later my doorbell rang.
When I answered it, Malene stood in the frame, her glasses glinting in my porch light.
“How’d the spell hunting go?” I asked.
She scowled. “Can’t you tell? Look at my face.”
I peered closer. “Oh yes, I see that many of the lines are gone.”
“You can’t tell, can you?”
I really hated to tell her that I couldn’t, so I kept my mouth shut. “Yes, you have less lines than normally.”
“That spell needed a turbo boost to it, but I didn’t have the shark teeth powder to add so I had to settle.”
“But at least you found it. That’s good, right?”
She rubbed her chin. “That fella John is gonna be a great spell hunter. Just what we need around here.”
