Witching Time (The Wild Hunt #14) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,25
honey.”
Raj was sitting on a bench that they had pulled over to the table so he could avoid trying to fit himself into a chair. The cards were laid out, and judging by the pile of potato chips in front of Raj, he had been winning.
He flashed me a self-satisfied grin. “Raj is winning. Raj is wiping both of them out.”
“That’s great, buddy, but Raj needs to make sure that he doesn’t get overconfident. Raj needs to remain sneaky and alert if he wants to be a poker pro.” I gave him a hug. “I’ll put away the groceries.”
As I began stowing the pastries and vegetables, Raj meandered into the kitchen, his nose in the air, wriggling as quick as a rabbit’s. “Raj smells cookies.”
“Yes, and croissants and pie too.” I glanced down at him where he stood by my side, gazing wistfully at the bags. “Does Raj want a cookie?”
“Raj can’t have treats. Raj is still being punished for taking a bath.”
I stared at him, sighing. “Well, if Raj promises on his honor to be good and obey the rules, he can have two cookies.”
“Raj promises!” He squirmed like a happy little kid as I handed him two chocolate chip cookies and shooed him out of the kitchen.
Holding a cookie between my teeth, I finished unloading the last bag, just as Kipa brought in the sacks with the honey and preserves in them.
“You bought out the fair. How was it? Did you have fun?” he asked.
I frowned, finishing the cookie before speaking. “Wait till we’re done putting everything away and then I’ll tell both you and Curikan what happened.” I put away the honey and jams.
“Where do you want me to put the pumpkins?” Curikan called from the front door.
“Set them against the dining room wall, if you would. I’ll carve them later, but for now, they can stay there.” I wrapped my arm around Kipa’s waist and we returned to the dining room, where Raj was sitting on the bench, looking guilty. The pile of chips was gone from in front of him.
“Raj ate his winnings,” he said. “Is that bad?”
Curikan laughed. “If they had been real poker chips, yes. You would have a nasty bellyache. But no, that’s fine. Listen, let’s wrap up the game for the night. We can play again tomorrow if you like.”
Raj jumped off the bench while Curikan arranged the pumpkins where I asked him to, and Kipa folded the cards back together. I took off my boots and shrugged out of my jacket, making certain that both the wards and the security system were set. We gathered in the living room, Raj curling up on the ottoman next to Curikan. He had taken a real shine to my father.
“So, a thing happened while I was out there at Dream Circle Farms,” I said. I told them everything that had happened. “I’m pretty sure it was a woman’s ghost. Though I doubt it was what called to Dray while he was out in the fields, I can’t think that the farm is all that safe.”
Kipa shook his head. “You want me to come with you tomorrow? I can take a look around while you’re reading the cards.”
I nodded. “I think that might be a good idea. Da, do you mind hanging out here with Raj?”
I felt so guilty about not being able to spend the day with him, but he didn’t dare come with me. The fair would have a lot of people milling about, including children, and he’d be bound to cross paths with someone more than once. It was just a logistical probability. And even if only ten minutes had passed since they first saw him, the second time would be tragic. And that was a risk neither he nor I were willing to take.
“The fair’s only through Sunday, right?”
I shook my head. “It’s all week long, but I’m only going to read the cards Saturday and Sunday. I won’t be there the rest of the week. I think Llew has hired someone to man the booth during the week, and Jordan—Llew’s husband—is sending one of his baristas to set up a coffee and pastry booth there.”
“Well, I plan on being here for at least a week, so no worries. I’ll spend the day mending anything around the house that you need fixed, and Raj and I will have a fine time together, won’t we, Raj?” Curikan reached down and patted Raj’s head.