think demonstrates merit. Then we’ll establish a court calendar based on the particulars and my estimation as to how much time to allot for each.”
“Sounds reasonable. As to where, I was thinking the study I’d planned in my cottage would be a good place to work on magistratey things.”
“Well, in that case, we’ll wait to deliver the files until tomorrow, when your study is ready to receive.” I smiled at the idea of that and found myself eager to see what sorts of things would come before me as magistrate of the Hallowstide Court Meet. “By the way.” He waved toward the dogs. “Aisling is about ready to whelp. Have you given more thought to claiming one of the pups?”
“You said one or two.”
With a delighted laugh, he said, “Indeed I did. Angus and Aisling will be so pleased to have two of their offspring just across the way.”
“Not so fast. I didn’t say two. Definitely. But I was wondering. Is it possible to have, um, ‘dogs’ and sheep?”
“Oh, yes. Border Collies were bred to be shepherd assistants.”
Rolling my eyes like a teenager in the full bloom of snark, I said, “I know. It’s not the Border Collie side of their nature that concerns me.”
“Your dogs will do as you please, Rita. If you tell them to leave the sheep alone, and give them enough to eat, there’ll be no cause for worry.”
“How do you keep Angus and Aisling from leaving your property? They could easily jump your little fence.”
“Certainly they could, but they wouldn’t unless Ivy or I was in danger.”
“That’s comforting.” He nodded. “Would my pups be happy staying inside at night?”
“Your pups will never be happier than when they’re close to you. That’s the way of it.”
“So, you’re giving me first pick then?”
“I cannot agree to that.”
“You can’t not agree to that,” I said, imagining somebody else walking away carrying the most precious magical puppy. Or puppies. “You work for me. Right?”
“Already wearing that hat, are you?”
“The privilege hat? No. I’m teasing.” But after another minute I said, “Have you given first choice to someone else?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Aisling.”
“Aisling?”
“She already knows which pups are yours.”
“She does?”
I looked at Aisling, who showed me a comical one ear up, one ear down trick.
I was practically whistling when I arrived at the Hallows for lunch. We were having chicken enchiladas with verde sauce and white cheese. I knew I was about to have the pleasure of making Tex-Mex converts of some of the lucky residents of Hallow Hill. That is if Olivia managed her usual prize-winning performance.
I’d asked her earlier to arrange a four o’clock tea for John David Weir and myself in the kitchen with the door to the shop left open. I’d also requested that she hang around the house while he was visiting. Maybe watch TV in my bedroom or whatever.
There was a part of me that supposed he wouldn’t try to bite me with Maggie, Dolan, and Olivia within earshot. The other parts of me thought the idea of that was stupid. If he’d wanted to bite me, he could’ve done so with no muss, fuss, no witnesses the night before.
As predicted, my lunch guests gushed and asked if they could come back and have that for lunch every day. Olivia no longer blushed and looked down when people complimented her cooking. She smiled, glanced at faces and, any day now, she was going to bring the house down by opening her mouth and vocalizing a “Thank you.”
I asked Esmerelda to stay behind for a few minutes to have a look at our mystery ‘thing’. She stopped at the threshold of the workroom door, about ten feet away from where the statue sat on the center table. She seemed disinclined to venture closer.
“I’m taking the fact that you’ve stopped at the door to mean you agree with Maggie and Dolan. That the thing is up to no good.”
“You need to get it out of here. And you need to find out who sent it.”
“The first thing might be easier than the second. I’m going to see if John David will take it and devise a containment. Maggie suggested a cellar of salt?”
Esmerelda nodded enthusiastically. “Excellent plan. Would he do that for us?”
“We’ll see. If he does, I hope people will be nicer to him.”
Pulling back, Esmerelda said, “Have people been hostile to him?”
“Perhaps not ‘hostile’. My understanding is that people have excluded him and made him feel unwelcome.” Esmerelda appeared to be giving that thought. “So, as I said,