Page 22 of Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop

“Casey!” I snapped. “Really?”

She didn’t even look up as she worked, but I saw her smile, her red lipstick glinting in the light.

“You wanted more money. I just solved your problem by giving you more hours.” She finally looked up, and her eyes glittered. “I thought you’d be relieved.”

“You cancelled my class!” My voice was rising to a ridiculously high pitch, but I was too angry to care. “Do you know how hard it was to get into that class?”

She rolled her eyes and started shoveling again. “So now you’ll have even more time to enroll for the next semester. Congratulations.”

“Casey! What you did was illegal!”

She huffed, and finally, her smile disappeared. “So what are you going to do about it? Do you have a lawyer on standby? Are you going to sue me for the ranch your father left in my care?” She shrugged. “You were obviously taking on too much, so I lightened your load for you. Skipping a single eight-week course isn’t going to derail your graduation.” She waved a hand at me. “And if you don’t want my help, don’t leave your password book out on your desk. It’s too easy to find.”

“Casey, I’ve been working on this degree for five years! I started straight out of high school, and at this rate, I might graduate by the time I’m twenty-five!”

“And I missed the part where that’s my problem. Like I said, I just created the time and opportunity for you to get in more work. More work means more pay, and more pay means more classes.” She handed me the shovel. “So I suggest you take advantage of it.” Then, without another word, she walked away.

I was still so angry that by the time I got into bed that night, I nearly skipped looking at Margaret’s book. As much as I might wish it were, my life wasn’t a story, and I didn’t really feel like working on the mystery that was Margaret’s possible magic.

To make things worse, Asher hadn’t responded to my last text. Not that he was obligated to. But it really would have been nice to have a friend just then.

A friend. Margaret was my friend. Or rather, she was more of a protector of sorts. And Casey hated Margaret. Which meant Casey would hate my book if she knew I had it.

Which meant, tired as I was, I was going to look at that book.

Throwing open my bedside table’s drawer, I yanked the book out and pulled it open. And froze briefly once again.

Sure enough, another spread had been added, complete with pictures on both pages.

No matter how hard she worked, her family was never pleased. Her sisters were allowed to play all day while the girl was forced to clean the floors, the dishes, the linens, and even the fireplace, until her cheeks became covered in soot day in and day out. And Ella longed for the days of her family. She also longed for someone as kind and thoughtful as the prince had been when she’d met him on the road.

But the prince was gone, and the girl was left alone.

I frowned down at the words. “That’s hardly comforting,” I murmured, turning the page. As usual, the next page was blank. Which meant that I was stuck with a story as depressing as my life.

A knock sounded on my door. I was about to yell at whoever it was to go away, but then the door opened, and Jaelyne padded inside, her fancy pink leopard pajamas shining in the yellow light of my lamp.

“Hey, kiddo,” I said, forcing a smile. As furious as I was with Casey right now, Jaelyne didn’t deserve my wrath. “What’s up?”

“I heard you and Mom fighting today,” Jaelyne said, curling up at the foot of my bed. “I was coming home from Mary’s house.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t meant for you.” I leaned forward and ruffled her hair. “It never is, you know.”

She nodded but didn’t smile. “Does this mean you won’t be riding in the parade this week?”

I stared at her. The Pumpkin Festival Parade was an annual event in our town. I’d ridden one of our horses in it every year since I was four. “Why would you think that?” I asked.

Jaelyne shrugged. “Mom was hoping you’d be so mad you’d drop out. She wants Harper to ride in it this year.”

Another wave of anger washed over me. So, she was trying to take that from me now as well, was she?

The parade was not only an annual event, but riding in it was considered a prestigious honor. Our whole family had once ridden every year, but after Mom had died, it had just been Dad and me. And then, after my father’s death, the mayor had infuriated my stepmother by personally requesting that I continue on in my parents’ place.

“Is that what you want?” I asked, suddenly curious. Jaelyne wasn’t always predictable. She loved her mom, and she thought Harper was cool, but for some reason now and then, she sided with me.

And sure enough, she shook her head. “It’s what you did with your dad before he died.” She let out a deep sigh. “If my dad did that with me before he died, I would want to keep doing it too. But he stays away from us as much as possible. Probably because of how much he and my mom used to fight.”

My throat grew suddenly thick, and I reached out and put my hand on her knee. “Don’t worry about that,” I said, trying not to let her see how affected I’d been by her empathy. “I’m going to ride.” I winked. “And I’ll even have you help me look fabulous before I do.”