“Excuse me,” Cora called from her place hanging from the trees. Her ankles ached but not as badly as her wrists. The two men had built a fire near her right foot, and she worried that it might light the leaves beneath her. “Excuse me?”

The hatless man looked up at her. A jug he’d been drinking from sat by his feet. The fire illuminated the whiskers on his face, casting him in a terrifying light. This part of the forest was dark, and she had no clue what time it was.

“There has been a big mistake. I’m not a MacGregor. Listen to me. Do I sound like a MacGregor?” Cora tried to smile. It was difficult when a second set of eyes turned up to look at her.

Seconds ticked by like minutes. Suddenly, both men burst into laughter.

“She thought that would work,” the hat man said.

“Mama was right. Warlocks aren’t worth the magick they steal,” the hatless one answered.

“I’m not a warlock,” Cora insisted.

The men laughed harder.

“Fine. I’m a great and powerful warlock, and I’m giving you the chance to release me.” Cora struggled against the vines. Her hands had gone numb. “If you don’t, you’ll be sorry. If you do, I’ll be forgiving.”

“Warlock magick can’t break mountain magick.” Mr. Hatless spat at the ground under her feet.

“Fine. Will you at least tell me your names?” Cora asked.

“Hatfield,” the man without a hat answered, and this is my brother, “McCoy.”

“Seriously?” Cora questioned before she could stop herself. She wasn’t exactly in a position to challenge them.

“Mama always said she likes a good fight.” McCoy snickered as he grabbed his jug to take a drink. When he finished, he held it up to her. “Drink?”

“Moonshine?” Cora asked.

McCoy shook his head. “Water.”

“Really?” She didn’t hide her surprise. That was too bad. A couple of shots of moonshine and maybe she could pass out and not remember she was hanging above a fire.

Hatfield jumped up and became animated as he said, “You think we’re all just backward drunk mountain idiots, missin’ teeth, livin’ in a shack, chewin’ tabbaci, datin’ our sister, scared of the outside world, don’t you?”

“No?” A breeze hit her body, and she swayed.

“Well, datin’ the sister part is true.” McCoy gave a lopsided grin.

Hatfield slapped his leg as he laughed, doubling over. “Look at her face. She believed you.”

“I don’t think that,” Cora said.

“I’ll have you know I went to college and even graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science.” Hatfield pointed up at her. “Bet you didn’t see that one coming.”

Cora kept her mouth shut. He was right. By the looks of him, she wouldn’t have guessed that. Then again, she wasn’t bound to think too highly of the people who had her tied up, let alone contemplate their educational history.

“Why do you always have something to prove? Who cares what a MacGregor thinks about us?” McCoy shook his head as if disappointed in his brother.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Hatfield ordered.

“I can’t help it my face is this handsome,” McCoy taunted. “Don’t be jealous.”

“We’ll see how handsome it is when I get done with it.” Hatfield lunged at his brother and they began wrestling. They rolled out of her eye line but she could hear them.

Cora used all her strength to try to pull free. She thrashed in the air.

The scuffle instantly stopped.

“What was that?” Hatfield asked.

“Someone’s coming.” McCoy came back into view, dusting leaves off his disheveled clothing.

The sound of footsteps was unmistakable. They were on MacGregor land. Was Euann looking for her?

“Help,” she yelled.

The footsteps stopped.

“Help!”

The steps started up again. Euann ran past along a narrow path, not seeing her.

“Euann,” she called out. “Euann, I’m here.”

It was then she realized the two below her were quiet. How could Euann miss the fire?

“Euann?” she whispered.

Laughing sounded beneath her.

“Euann,” Hatfield yelled, mocking her.

“Euann,” McCoy added.

They both screamed, flailing their arms and jumping up and down.

A tear slipped down Cora’s cheek. Magick somehow created a barrier. Euann couldn’t find her. His footsteps faded. She really was in trouble.