Paradise Lots 5 Setting the Wards
Meeting the Man of the Woods
When Marie-Ann got back to Paradise Lots, her daughters and other employees were waiting for her. Their mood was not good.
“We don’t want her here,” Shirlene said. “She thinks she’s better than us.”
“Things go to shit when she’s around,” Marlene said. “Who knows what she’s brought back here?”
“She knocked up? We gonna have to babysit for her?”
More complaints and concerns, some simple sibling rivalry, as Lurleen was the eldest, and she’d had the temerity to leave—acting above her raising, someone said.
When everyone had said their piece, even Mac and Shorty, Marie-Ann took her place at the register.
“Lurleen’s family.” Marie-Ann stated the facts. “She is not pregnant, though she does have some health problems. For the time being, she is staying with Bridget Ballew.”
A murmur of “the witch” went around the room.
“Best place for her,” someone muttered.
“Now, what we need to watch for,” Marie-Ann said, catching each one’s eye, “is her ex, Dean. He is not allowed on the property under any circumstances. Call the sheriff if necessary. I’ve sworn out a warrant on him.”
More muttering.
“Cain’t we just shoot him?” Mac asked. “Save everyone a lotta trouble if we’d done it years ago.”
“Won’t help. He’s a shifter, a coyote.”
That shut them up.
“We’ve seen real coyotes around here for a couple of years now,” Marie Ann said, “but we’re in no danger from them. I’m setting wards for the other kind. Follow your protocols. Don’t sneak people in on the side.”
She glared at Mac and Shorty.
“I will be walking the boundaries today, resetting the wards.” Marie-Ann picked up a sack from beneath the table. “If you need to go into town, wear your amulets, and clear yourself before you come back in. Meanwhile, get some breakfast, and get some sleep.”
Shorty went to the kitchen and fired up the grill. He started breakfast while the women helped themselves to coffee.
Marie-Ann still heard some grumbling, not at all unusual any morning. It had been slow last night, so they’d had plenty of time to grouse among themselves.
None of them objected to the life they had, and it wasn’t that they couldn’t leave at any time. She had no hold on them, and they could work for their father instead, or be brave and leave the county, as Lurleen had.
Marie-Ann trudged out to the Paradise Lots sign. She had several rune stones there and a concrete flamingo she called Pinky.
Setting her bag down, she reached in for a charged infusion to rub over the stones, telling them how much she appreciated their holding the space for her and her daughters to be safe.
She told them about Dean, about the coyote-shifters and other things that might want to come in to hurt them.
For Pinky, she had a special infusion with essence of camellia, rose, rose hips, red clover, and wolfsbane. Carefully, she put on her rubber gloves and painted the infusion over the concrete bird, so as not to get any of it on her skin.
As she worked, she became aware of someone watching her from the nearby trees.
She didn’t feel any bad intent, so she finished the job, packing the infusion away along with the paintbrush, and the gloves.
When she turned, she saw a large man, shaggy-haired, wearing a tunic of leaves and vines, with tanned skin and intense green eyes.
The Man of the Forest beckoned to her.
She set down her tools and came closer to him, but not into the trees.
“What is this spell you are working?” he asked. “You use wolfbane. I do not want my animals harmed by this.”
“It is not for your animals, not even the coyotes.” she said, bowing her head respectfully. “It is for shifters I fear are coming here. I put it only on Pinky, not on the ground.”
“You are protecting only the gate?” He poked his chin toward the sign.
“No, I will walk the bounds. I would appreciate your assistance.” She held out her empty hands. “What can I offer you in exchange?”
He could get anything he wanted from nature, but he wanted nothing from civilization.
He cocked his head, assessing her. “I want to meet with your eldest daughter, whom I hear has returned.”
“I cannot promise that without asking her.” Marie-Ann shrugged.
He crossed his powerful arms. “Ask her. Or I can go to the witch and ask for her there.”
“What do you want with her?”
“To renew our acquaintance.” He smiled, his teeth white, his canines long. “I have missed her very much.”