“You’re fired.”
He turned his back on the stunned driver and stalked over to Sassy and Grim.
Burke dogged his heels. “I’m telling you, this weren’t my fault. One second everything’s fine. The next thing I know, the damn Cat’s out of control.” He turned his pleading gaze on Sassy. “You gotta believe me, miss. There was nothing I could do. It’s like that loader was possessed.”
Oh, Sassy believed him. She believed him all right. A whiff of evil still lingered in the air.
Eddie Furr slunk out of the crowd. “The loader was possessed. The mill is cursed.”
Houston threw his hard hat on the ground. “That’s it. I’ve had enough of this mumbo jumbo. Get your things, Furr. You’re fired, too.”
Furr’s eyes widened. “What? But that ain’t fair. I ain’t done nothing.”
“You’re a troublemaker. Spreading stories about ghosts and curses and keeping the men on edge. I’ve had a belly full of it.”
Sassy understood Houston’s frustration, but jobs were hard to come by in Hannah. And although Mr. Houston didn’t believe in ghosts or curses, Sassy knew that both were real. She was also certain the log spill had been no accident.
“Mr. Houston,” she said. “Perhaps you should—”
Her words were swallowed by Furr’s protests and the uneasy grumblings of the men.
“Patience,” Grim said in a low voice. “Think you it wise to do this now?”
Sassy hesitated. Grim had a point. Undermining Houston in front of his men would be a mistake. Better to talk to him tomorrow, after he cooled off.
Cussing and complaining, Burke and Furr pushed through the group of men and left.
Houston rolled his shoulders and glared at the rest of the workers. “Anybody else got something smart to say? No? Then quit standing around with your thumbs up your asses and get to work. We got a yard to clear.”
Houston gave Sassy the once-over. “You all right, Miss Peterson? Must’ve scared you half to death to see your friend Taryn in danger like that. Good thing I pulled her out of the way.”
“Yes, indeed.” Taryn strolled up to them. “I am greatly in your debt, Mr. Houston.”
“Nah. Always happy to help a lady in distress.” Houston paused to bellow at a heavyset man in a baseball cap. “Get away from that Cat, Percy. Nobody touches it until a mechanic goes over it with a fine tooth comb.”
“Thank you for showing us the mill, Mr. Houston.” Grim shook the manager’s hand. “It has been most enlightening, but it is time Sassy and I were going.”
“I’ll be back in the morning,” Sassy said. Houston’s face clouded up and she added, “I plan to stay in the office. I want to take a look at the books and the computer. Get my bearings.”
Away from the noise of the saws and the smell of sliced wood and sawdust; out of Houston’s way.
Houston grunted. “That ’ud be all right, I guess. I got no patience for paperwork or computers. Rather be working the plant. We need someone to take care of orders. It’s more than Lucy can handle.”
“Creamy,” Sassy said.
Tomorrow she would use her charm to convince Houston to rehire those men. Furr couldn’t help it if he saw ghosts. And that log loader hadn’t malfunctioned because of anything Burke did or didn’t do.
No, dear old Aunt Susan was behind the accident and the other troubles at the mill, too. She was trying to run Sassy off. Sassy felt it in her bones. They’d see about that. Susan Harwood wasn’t the only demonoid in town. She’d met her match in Sassy.
Houston strode away, barking orders this way and that.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Sassy rounded on Grim.
“What’s going on here? Why does Houston think Taryn saved him? And what do you mean I enjoyed the tour? You weren’t here.”
“Taryn adjusted his memory,” Grim said. “Houston thinks you were not in danger. He also thinks he rescued Taryn and that I arrived with you.”
Sassy stared at him. “She what?”
“She adjusted his memory,” Grim said. “Mortals sometimes see things they should not, so we adjust their memories. Else we would be in violation of the Directive against Conspicuousness.”
“That’s horrible.”
Taryn arched a brow at Sassy. “Before you judge, think but a moment. Memories had to be altered after your fairy fit.”
Sassy’s cheeks grew hot. “I didn’t realize—I guess I didn’t think—” She lifted her chin. “I don’t care. It’s wrong.”
“We will discuss the philosophical and moral implications of our ability to your heart’s content, if you so desire,” Grim said. “Later. After we depart