Chapter 3
The next morning, Chatan moved around the kitchen helping Loretta make breakfast. He really wanted to head over to Jacinda’s room and see if she were awake.
Loretta cleared her throat. “She’s the one who got away from Mason?”
He nodded, placing his aunt’s homemade biscuits into the oven. “She is. Stopped the van somehow, burned the hell out of Mason. Not sure how she got away considering the cuffs are supposed to suppress magic.”
“Impressive, though if she’s been on her own as long as she claims, she may have learned other skills to ensure her safety. But what is she running from?”
“I plan to find out, if I can get her to open up.”
Loretta turned to him, a smile on her lips. “You like her?”
He couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face. “She’s beautiful and intriguing. I want to dig into her secrets and crack her walls.”
“She didn’t tell you much, did she?”
His nose flared. “Hardly anything, other than her age.”
One brow arched. “You know, David put in a police report. He claims a Wendy Naughton who matches her description robbed the diner. Mason says she attacked him with a brand, though can’t explain how she got the metal so hot so fast. How can you be sure she told you her real name and age?”
“How’d you find that out?”
“Chrissy was working the late shift when they brought Mason in. Josephine showed up sometime later, which is the first time she’s been seen out in months.” Loretta leaned against the counter. “How can you be sure what Jacinda told you is the truth?”
“My senses.” He tapped his nose. But more than that, he felt it in his soul. “She’s here for a purpose, and all she would say is that her father had visited long ago.”
“Hmm, interesting. We don’t get many visitors who aren’t friends of someone here or family.”
“She said he had friends who are no longer around.”
“Not who?” she prodded.
“Didn’t want to pry. I want her to open up to me, but if I push, she’s going to shut me down. If I take the time to get to know her, she’ll eventually tell me.”
She laughed softly. “Patience has never been your virtue.”
“Nope, but most women want the same things. She doesn’t.”
“Good luck. But keep an eye on her. You know the guys from Saint Morton will come looking sooner or later. Probably before Mason’s well enough to come searching himself.”
“Another reason I want to stick by her side.” Not to mention, the more he talked to Eddie and Jackie, the more he realized he needed to find his other half. Could Jacinda be the one? He wasn’t sure, but there certainly was a spark between them, and he planned to find out where they could go.
“Well, bring her over. I want a better look at her.”
“As long as she didn’t sneak out.”
Loretta giggled. “Think she would have?”
“She doesn’t seem keen on taking help. So, I need to convince her.” He ducked out the door before his aunt could comment.
* * * *
After a shower and transmuting her clothes, Jacinda braided her hair, then started for the door. The knock startled her once again and she had to close her eyes and breathe deep to calm her racing heart.
Chatan was a temptation best avoided. And she didn’t fully realize that until he left and she couldn’t stop thinking about him. If she didn’t feel the sense of urgency to solve the riddles her father left, she would have left in the night. Instead, she tried to get out early enough she could sneak away without his knowledge.
She moved to the window and peeked out.
Too late.
Chatan’s ebony hair blew in the wind, his attention on the door, his hands in his pockets.
She was stuck. Unless she went out the back window.
He knocked again.
Oh, whatever. How much harm could come from spending a few hours with him? Besides, he may be able to help her find what she needed to without wandering around aimlessly, hoping to get lucky. Everything she wanted to find had to be off the beaten path, and she doubted she could find a map of the area.
She unhooked the chain and threw the lock.
Chatan smiled when she opened the door. “Hey, Jacinda. Hungry?”
“I am, but I’m going to pick something up at the store.”
“You would only offend Loretta,” he murmured. “Come to breakfast.”
“Why?”
“Because we don’t get a lot of visitors and she loves to feed guests.”
She chewed her lip for a moment and he watched her, his eyes glued to her, begging her to agree.
How close did she really want to get to these people? He wanted to make her feel welcome, but why? Jacinda couldn’t help being leery, especially with an asshole in the next town trying to abduct her the night before. Whose side would Chatan choose? Or Loretta? Was she really safe in Wanatoga?
“Please, Jacinda,” Chatan murmured. “She’ll give me hell for a year if you don’t come over. She’s prepared a feast.”
How was she supposed to refuse without looking like she was hiding something? She sighed. “Sure, we’ll do breakfast, but if I’m horribly aggravating or boring, you can ditch me. Honest, I can find my way around if need be.” And she had to bite her tongue to stop giving him every excuse not to help. He was offering, she wasn’t begging, and this would all go faster if she sucked it up and took his help for what it was.
“You are neither boring nor aggravating, though you may start to get on my nerves if you don’t stop putting yourself down.”
So, he was going to play it that way? Plastering a smile on her lips, she locked her room and turned around to find him a mere inch from her. “Lead the way.”
He looped his arm through hers and brought her down the trail he took the night before.
She pulled him to a stop as they cleared the trees and stepped into a garden full of life and color.
“This is beautiful.” Not to mention magical. Earth magic hummed around her. The power had built up, the plants and trees flourished, small animals gathered at the nearest tree, watching her.
Okay, that was eerie. Usually they would run.
“They like you.” He glanced over.
One corner of her mouth tipped up. “Don’t tell me you’ve named them all.”
He shook his head. “Oh no. They come and go. Come on, breakfast is ready.”
She let him lead her into the back door, right into the kitchen that was full of food that smelled wonderful.
“Sleep well, Jacinda?” Loretta asked.
“Yes, and good morning, Loretta. Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome, today and every day. I have a bad habit of fixing too much food.”
Jacinda glanced at the table and giggled. “I’ll do what I can, but I’ll warn you, I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“Well, you certainly won’t go hungry as long as you’re here. Sit, fix a plate.”
And somehow, Jacinda already felt welcome. She couldn’t remember feeling so at home, not since her father died, and she’d been too little to recall much.