Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,10

apology, but she didn’t want to start a fight at the beginning of their stay. A fight would ruin her chances of getting to L.A.

“That’s ancient history.” Keelie knew it wasn’t, but she didn’t want to talk about it any more. “Why are we staying in the forest? Is there a campground there? A civilized one?” She quelled the whine that threatened to creep into her voice.

“There is a campground. Our work is in the forest, and we need to stay close to the trees.” Grandmother slowed as they reached the main road. Keelie could see Sean and several of his elven jousters, waiting outside a roomy timber building with a peaked roof pitched high and a heart-shaped sign swinging above the front. Heartwood.

She gave Sean a dirty look and smiled at the other elves as she ran inside. “Grandmother, look at all this room. I can set up the shop any way I want.”

Grandmother followed, looking up at the rafters and checking out the little storage area in the back. “I suppose you can do whatever you like. It’s not our main mission here.”

Keelie returned to the front of the store, which was open to the street and had a long counter. She would put Dad’s dollhouses here. They’d sold very well at the Wildewood Faire and she didn’t know why he hid them in the back.

The next hours were spent moving back and forth from the trailer in the parking lot to the Heartwood shop, as Sean and several jousters carried Dad’s furniture. The jousters left to care for their horses, but Sean stayed to help Keelie and Grandmother move the merchandise around until they were pleased with the effect.

Grandmother was impressed by Keelie’s eye for display, and Keelie didn’t admit that she’d just copied the way the furniture was arranged at the High Mountain Faire in Colorado. If Sean remembered the way the shop had been laid out there, he didn’t give it away.

“I can’t believe we’re done.” Grandmother pushed a strand of silver hair from her forehead. “We’ll have plenty of time to clean up before dinner.”

Dinner? That would likely be bread and cheese, since Keelie wanted to sleep for a couple of days. But she waved at her grandmother and continued to unpack the business gear that went behind the massive counter. She ran across the velvet bag she’d jammed in at the last moment, filled with extra rose quartz charms. Just in case. She pulled a couple out and put them in her pocket.

Keelie worked steadily until Sean wandered over. He was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt emblazoned with the Silver Bough logo. He rubbed sweat from his face with his forearm. “It gets hot fast when you’re working hard.”

“I appreciate your help. I know Grandmother kind of forced you to do it, but we couldn’t have unpacked everything ourselves.”

Sean reached down and grabbed the bottom of his sweatshirt, then pulled it off in a single move. As the sweatshirt came off, it dragged up the T-shirt he wore underneath, giving Keelie a view of smooth skin over tight abs. She gripped her pen tighter.

“I didn’t do it for your grandmother.” He shook his hair. “I did it for you.”

“Thanks.” Keelie’s voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

Sean ran a hand along the countertop. “When I do this, I feel a kind of buzzing, but the wood doesn’t speak to me as it does to you.”

Keelie swallowed, recovering her composure. “Dad says that all elves feel magic, but only tree shepherds hear the trees.”

“You’re more than elf. You’re part fae, too, so you’re different.”

“That’s me.” Keelie spoke lightly, but inwardly cringed. She’d been “different” all of her life, everywhere she went. She changed the subject. “I love the shop’s location, right off the main road. Everyone will have to walk by here when they enter the faire.” She leaned over to straighten the staplers, receipt books, and the credit card machine on the shelf under the counter.

“Better call it the festival,” Sean advised. “They’re sensitive about it. It’s highbrow literature here, you know, not just Ren Faire hijinks.” He winked at her. “Your father will do good business here.” He leaned over the counter, his face close to hers as she straightened.

Keelie didn’t move, hoping he wouldn’t either. “That’s why he let me come with Grandmother. We’ll do okay.”

“Better than okay.” His eyes were on her lips. “You know that there’s nothing between Risa and me.”

“Prove it.” She lifted her chin a tiny bit,

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