She props her arm on the door and rests her temple on her fist. “Just because you can’t hold magic in your hand—just because you can’tbuyit—that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”
“Oh, I could buy it.”
She snorts. “You can’t buy the magic in my land.”
“People would pay a lot for it, especially since it appears to be the only magic around. At least, from what you’re saying. And that’s,why?”
“First of all, not selling,” she snaps. “Secondly, I think the reason why my property still has some power is because the ley lines are so close by. And third, seeing a unicorn—a real one, one with power—is an experience.”
I quirk a brow. “I thought you said they don’t exist.”
“There may be one or two left.”
We reach a stoplight and I take the opportunity to turn to her. “How so? Tell me, Miss Wadley, how is seeing a unicorn an experience like no other?”
She thinks about this, tapping a finger against her phone as she figures out a way to explain it. “You know how piggycorns are just cute?”
“No, I don’t.” The light turns green, and I rip my gaze from her back to the windshield. “Explain this mystery.”
Rowe shakes her head in annoyance. “Theyarecute. It’s just that your cute button is broken.”
I scowl. “Mycutebutton?”
“Yeah, the button inside a person that makes you want to watch adorable animal videos and say things like,Ah, that’s so cute. Now I want a sugar glider.”
“I don’t have that.”
“No kidding. Anyway, where piggycorns are cute, seeing a unicorn for the first time is mind-blowing, to put it mildly. There’s something ethereal about looking into the eyes of such a mystical creature and wondering if you’re worthy of it.”
“Worthyof it?”
“Yeah, to stand in front of it and feel its power, or be healed if the creature thinks you’re deserving. There are a few that can do that. But those are rare, and they don’t just heal anyone—and before you ask, you can’t take some of their DNA, spin it down, and extract the gift from them, either. In case you were thinking of doing that.”
As if.“Why would I do that?”
“Obviously because you’re rich and money corrupts.”
This is news to me. “Money would make me want to map a unicorn’s DNA?”
“Yes.”
“Huh. I’m not only rich, I’m also an evil scientist.”
“You see how this goes.” Our gazes lock, and for a brief second a smile flickers on her lips before she turns it into a frown. “But anyway,that in a nutshell should answer your question about the tourists and why they fizzle out in the fall and are pretty lacking in the summer, too.”
It did, and a plan begins to slowly form in my mind.
But first things first. I need supplies if we’re going to make Wadley Farms a business that has a chance at surviving.
And that’s what I’m concentrating on as we pull into a parking spot in front of Mystic Meadows Hardware.
“Do you want me to come inside?” Rowe squeaks as if she’s hoping I’ll forget she exists. “Need any help?”
I smirk. “No.” My gaze drills into her. “I don’t need any help.”
She’s not even looking up from her phone. “Let me know how it goes. Coleman Barrier can be kind of a human splinter, so watch out.”
I lean in to her. She glances up, her eyes widen, and she sinks deeper into the valley between the seat and the door.
