But we are not through.
I tap the top page of the bundle of sheets I’m still holding and tell Stone Maddox in the most determined voice I can muster, “Unless you change the materials you’re using, I’m shutting construction of the resort down—indefinitely.”
Chapter 4
Coco
Mystic Meadows began as a lumbering community, but when industry died, the founders needed a way to revitalize it. Just as they erected new buildings, the first unicorns arrived.
The creatures had power—could heal, imbue you with love, all of it. Unicorns became big industry for one farmer, giving him a monopoly. With unicorns came tourists, people willing to pay hand over fist to see the majestic no-longer-fairy-tale creatures.
A few years later, the first piggycorns appeared. But they arrived as the magic waned, as unicorns started being bornwithoutpower.
All of this magic, we discovered recently, is tied to a plant—starfizz berries. Growing them reactivated long-dormant ley lines just like the ones that run directly under the Maddoxes’ resort.
But no amount of starfizz berries could fix this situation, because these lines are buried under concrete, not sitting flush with the soil.
This is about my town thriving. The piggycornsfinallyreceived magic, and I’ll be damned before I let everything return to the way it was. When grime covered the buildings on Main Street and before ... before I, the current I—the one who can see ley lines—existed.
Even if I can’t tell anyone that I do.
I storm over to my car and spot Isaac from Sparkle Bar opening his lunch box.
He gives me a thousand-watt grin. “Hey, Coco. What’s up?”
“I’m shutting the place down.” I open my trunk and push aside a tire-inflation kit, an emergency battery charger, a severe-weather poncho, and a flare gun, until I finally find it.
I grab the tape and slam the lid. If Stone Maddox won’t listen to me, then maybe this will get his attention.
Isaac cocks his head in confusion. “You’re doing what?”
“Shutting it down.” I grab the stack of paper from the ground where I put it, and show him the first page and my signature. “Right here. I signed right there, and I’ll be filing this today.”
He takes the paper in his free hand and shakes his head. “Why?”
“Ask your boss.”
He eyes what’s in my hand. “What are you doing with police tape?”
“Making sure my filing is obeyed.”
“With that,” he deadpans.
“With this,” I confirm, even though he looks at it and me like we’re both whack-job crazy. Well, maybe I am, but I’m determined to do this job right. “If you’ll excuse me ...”
I march across the construction site, minus hard hat, which is violating all kinds of rules, and head straight to the resort, picking my way over huge clumps of red dirt as I go.
When I reach the interior, Ron looks up in surprise. He stops talking with some of the guys and scratches his chin as I wind theDo Not Crosstape around one of the beams and walk it to the end of the building.
“Sorry to tell you this, boys, but we’re shutting her down. Better pack up for the day. There’s nothing else to be done here.” When they don’t move, I say again, “Grab your tools and head home before I call the police and have y’all escorted off.”
Can I actually do that?Willthe police do that? People in this town love Pane Maddox—like, theyreallylove Pane Maddox. He’s a hero fornot only saving his wife’s farm but also for helping Mystic Meadows reclaim its magic.
If he knew the materials he and his brother are using will destroy the magic again, then he would absolutely approve of my drastic measures.
Right?
I tell myself this as I wind the tape around another beam. Ron still gapes at me.
