sorcerers to come up with something that would protect their clan from the Fair Dryad. Maybe they did exactly that—literally. Maybe these witches and sorcerers—whoever they were—used their magic to find out what would protect only the Braxtons and no one else. Maybe the solution they came up with doesn’t work on anyone else.”
“Now, you tell me!” Wyatt barked. “Why didn’t you tell me before I smeared myself with that foul shit?”
“I’m just saying,” Elise told him. “You’re firstborn of the Charmain Clan—traditionally bitter enemies of the Braxtons. They might have found a dryad repellent that wouldn’t work on their enemies—or better yet, one that would make their enemies more vulnerable to the Dryad if they ever found out about it.”
“You’re right, Elise,” Edwina added. “It’s the perfect solution when you think about it.”
“It isn’t the perfect solution for us, though, is it?” Holly remarked. “If it doesn’t work, we’re just as sunk as before.”
Garret turned to Audrey. “Is that true? Did your clan hire these witches to come up with something that would only work on your own clan?”
“How could I possibly know that when I wasn’t around back then?” Audrey returned. “You all keep talking about me like I’m out to get you. I risked my sorry-ass life telling you about that tincture. My life is forfeit for me telling you. Don’t forget that.”
“Unless that’s the whole reason you told us,” Wyatt countered. “If it is designed to weaken us against the Dryad, no one would punish you for telling us. Maybe you think telling us will get you back in Henry’s good books.”
Audrey looked away again. “Nothing I can say will convince you.”
“Forget it, all of you.” Holly strode to the living room and picked up her jacket. “We’re going to Witch River Bridge today, so let’s get rolling. Standing around arguing won’t help anybody. Come on, Audrey. You’re coming with us.”
Wyatt froze. “You’re not going to bring her, are you?”
“She can’t stay here. The Braxtons would come back and find her.”
“What do you think you’re going to do if they come for her at the Bridge?” Garret asked. “Fight them off?”
“They might think twice about snatching her if all the rest of us are around.” She headed for the deck. “Come on.”
She walked away toward the barn. Wyatt watched her out of sight and then shook his head. “It’s all a grand experiment. That’s all it is. We’re experimenting with our lives.”
Garret migrated to his side and murmured in his ear. “I don’t mind experimenting with your life and mine. I just wish we could do this without experimenting with Holly and the baby, too.”
The two men gazed through the double doors as Holly drove Johnny’s truck into the yard. She parked beyond the deck and waved them toward her.
“She does seem in an awful hurry to get us all killed,” Wyatt muttered back.
“She just wants to get this conflict with the Dryad out in the open.” Edwina strode past them and crossed the deck to the truck.
“I don’t blame her, actually,” Elise interjected. “If it works or not, I’d rather find out now than put it off.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Garret returned. “The Dryad isn’t after you.”
“She isn’t after you, either,” Elise countered. “She’s after the baby. She doesn’t care about anything else.”
Holly cracked the driver’s door and called up the steps. “Are we going or not?”
The three friends left the house. They and Audrey and the witches loaded into the truck. Garret pried the driver’s door wider. “Move over, baby. I’m driving.”
“I do know how to drive, you know.” Holly shuffled along the seat while Edwina got in on her other side.
Garret said nothing. Wyatt climbed into the bed with the others. No one said anything driving back to Witch River Bridge.
When he got out on the bank, Wyatt sidled over to Holly. “Tell one of us if you start to experience anything out of the ordinary.”
She nodded. “I definitely will. I don’t want to get punched again.”
Wyatt didn’t want to take his eyes off her, but his gaze skipped toward the water anyway. He scanned the far horizon, but he didn’t see anything dangerous there.
“Can you feel anything?” Holly murmured in his ear. “Do you feel the Dryad trying to get hold of you? Can you feel anything at all?”
He shook his head. “I don’t feel anything—nothing at all.” He glanced at her. “Do you?”
She shook her head, too. She squinted across the river to the opposite shore. Something unseen separated