“Oh. Do they still make wine at all here?”
“No.”
“Who’s tending the grapes?”
“A neighbor. She farms them in exchange for the yield.”
“She wouldn’t if she knew there were grape dragons,” Lavender says.
“Good thing we have a new dragon slayer then.” I wince as the words leave my mouth and wait for theCricket, don’t encourage herthat doesn’t come.
Heath’s not looking at me. Just walking along with us, hands in his pockets, staring straight ahead.
I’m on his left, so I can’t see his black eye.
It’s almost like this is a normal stroll with a neighbor on a pretty summer morning.
“Aunt Pip found dragons in the fireplace yesterday, but Mabel told us we needed to set traps instead of climbing in to get them ourselves,” Lavender says.
Heath’s lips twitch, and I can’t tell if it’s amusement or irritation.
“Is Aunt Pip a dragon slayer too?” I ask.
“She’s retired, so she’s just a spotter now. Olivia! Olivia, look! Cricket’s alive! The dragons didn’t get her!”
Olivia looks up from her spot on the porch steps. She has an identical mug to the one Heath left with me this morning, and she seems to be taking in the morning. “Well, hello there,” she says to me with a warm smile that lights her dark brown eyes. “You’re just in time for a honey puff pancake if you’re feeling up to breakfast.”
“I love honey puff pancake,” Lavender shrieks. “Bye, Daddy. I love you. I’m going to get more dragon-slayer fuel.”
She hugs him, then dashes up the stairs. “Mabel? Ginny? Aunt Pip? Did any dragons fraternize you yesterday?”
Mabel’s voice floats through the open window. “You mean terrorize?”
“Yep!”
Their voices fade.
“I’ll be back around one,” Heath says to Olivia.
“Take your time. We’ve got her.”
He glances at me. “Cricket. Enjoy your day.”
“Thank you. For—for everything.”
Am I wincing at seeing the purplish bruise still lingering under his eye?
Yep.
But he just nods and turns back the way he came.
He’ll get to the house, climb up in his truck, and leave, just like he has every day since Monday.
Not that I’ve been watching.
It’s more that I’m easily distracted by noises.
“How about you?” Olivia rises, still smiling warmly at me. “Would you like a honey puff pancake?”
