that's all."
It was another of the hereditary talents of the Cassidy clan. Mystics, ones who heard the heartbeat of the stones under their feet. It fit - the old magics had heralded her arrival. "Well then, Cassidy Farrell, a very special welcome to Fisher's Cove. We've witches aplenty here - and a village well tolerant of our magics."
And no witch who listened to the rocks had possibly come here by accident.
Moira cradled her tea, very well pleased.
Chapter 7
Cass made her way down the path onto the beach under gloomy skies that matched her sulky mood, mind full of restlessness.
Nan would have said that was just reward for anyone foolish enough to sweet talk her way into Aaron's leftover Thai curry for breakfast. Cass didn't care - the curry had been divine, and it wasn't spices that were riling her. She wasn't one who built up to a storm fast - but this one had been growing ever since she'd sent foot in Fisher's Cove.
She glared in the general direction of the rocks under her feet. "Not very informative, were you?" Landed her smack in the middle of a village full of witches without so much as a warning. Witches and a man with dark, craggy eyes and an angel of a daughter.
They'd invaded her sleep and her peace.
It felt like a high-stakes poker game with destiny - and she wasn't impressed. This was her time to relax. Rejuvenate. Sleep without dreaming of men with stories written into the lines of their faces.
The rocks ignored her defiance. She imagined destiny did as well.
Cass walked out toward the water, the wind blowing icy mist into her face. Perhaps, on a shore far away, Nan did the same, called by the magic that joined them.
She'd never felt like a witch, really. Her hands lacked Nan's talent for healing, and she'd never felt a desire to learn of the plants or remedies. Music had danced in her soul, not the hereditary powers that ran through family trees all over Ireland. They weren't spoken of overmuch - but everyone knew they were there.
And in the case of Nan Cassidy, it was hard to miss. Day and night, there were always people traipsing into her living room with some ailment or another - and most left better off than they'd come.
Nan just called herself a healer woman. Which fooled no one and placated those who found the old ways distressing.
Having the occasional chat with a rock didn't distress anyone.
Cass bent down, a glint of red catching her eye, and came back up with a piece of glass, worn by the rocks and sea and time. A broken shard once, or a bottle carelessly tossed overboard. She stroked it gently with her finger. "And look at you now. All lovely and weathered and ready to turn into something I can send back to Nan."
Healer women usually loved green. Nan had always adored the bright and fiery reds that clashed desperately with her hair.
Cass tucked it into her pocket. Dave had said Aaron's wife made jewelry - perhaps she could be talked into hanging it on a pretty chain or something.
"Careful," said a boy's voice behind her. "The waves can be sneaky at this time of year."
She turned, keeping one eye on the water. "I grew up near the ocean. It's not going to get a chance to grab me."
He looked at her seriously a moment longer and then nodded. "Okay. Sometimes the people who stay at the inn are kinda dumb, so we try to take care of them."
Anyone who didn't keep an eye out for rogue winter waves was more than kinda dumb. "I'm Cass - what's your name?"
The boy flushed. "Sorry, I should have said that first. I'm Kevin. I was looking for my brother."
The beach seemed pretty barren of life, other than the two of them. "Unless he takes winter swims, I don't think he's out here."
"He hasn't yet this year." Kevin seemed skeptical that trend would continue. "But he still manages to find plenty of trouble. Mom says he got the family rapscallion gene."
That was a big word for a kid. "And which genes did you get?"
He looked out at the water and shrugged, suddenly diffident. "The ones that like to read and stuff."
Something tugged at Cass's heart - she'd been the kid who hid in a room and played her violin for hours. And took long walks on the cliffs talking to herself. "I like to read too."
His smile was oddly appealing.