All the Pretty Witches (A Hannah Hickok Witchy Mystery Book 6) Page 10

  “What is Child Protective Services?”

  Worried that Boone might actually try to harm Bettina, Hannah smoothly slipped between them and adopted a pragmatic expression. “In our time, the government has a special unit that is supposed to ensure the safety of children,” she explained. “In cases like this, the state could step in and demand that Angel be remanded into their custody. Since you’re inside Angel, that would put a crimp in our plans.”

  “I’m more powerful than them.”

  “Yes, but if you attack, the state could send police officers to Casper Creek and cut us off from the property.”

  “I’m more powerful than them, too.”

  Frustration bubbled up and it took everything Hannah had not to explode. “Just act like you’re concerned,” she snapped. “I’ll handle the question about Angel’s parents. Just ... cry a lot. Look frightened. Don’t say too much because you’ll screw us all if you do.”

  Bettina nodded. “Fine. You understand this world better than me.”

  “Not always,” Hannah muttered under her breath.

  “You’re an interesting individual,” Bettina noted as they crowded into the elevator. Thankfully, nobody else was trying to go up at the exact time they took ownership of the small space. “You’re more powerful than all those you surround yourself with — including that white-haired harlot who hangs out by the creek — and yet you feel emotions keenly. Why do you think that is?”

  Hannah was thrown by the question. “I ... you ... .” She glanced at Boone for help.

  “Don’t ask me to talk to her,” he grumbled. “She pushes every button I have. You’ve already held on longer than I would’ve managed.”

  Because she knew that was true, Hannah took a deep breath and fixed Bettina with a quelling stare. “You look at being human as a weakness. I happen to know that emotions, love and understanding, are strengths. They’re better than magic. I love the people I’ve surrounded myself with. They make me stronger.”

  “The people in my world made me weaker. Both of my parents, no matter how they feigned strength, were really scared children inside.”

  Hannah folded her arms over her chest as they moved between floors. “Do you miss them?”

  “No.”

  “Did you ever miss them?”

  “I ... don’t understand the question.”

  Boone rolled his eyes and shook his head. “It’s like dealing with a robot.”

  Hannah didn’t disagree. There was nothing they could do about that now, though. “You were born human. Once, you were more than a witch. Your mother died at the hands of magic and your father emotionally abused you and treated you as property.”

  “Back then women were property.”

  “And yet you somehow avoided the trappings of the time,” Hannah pointed out. “You were never forced to marry, and you were allowed to run your father’s holdings. He used your powers for his own benefit, but you were hardly his slave.”

  “That’s because he knew we were more powerful than him. We could’ve killed him if we wanted.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “Because the officials from town would’ve questioned his disappearance and perhaps tried to take the land from us. We were more powerful than them, but if they all banded together and caught us unaware, who knows, they might’ve been able to eventually kill us.”

  “Well, it’s kind of the same thing here,” Hannah said. “We need to keep attention off us until we’ve handled the situation with Amelia. That means you have to pretend you’re Angel.”

  Bettina shrugged. “Fair enough. It shouldn’t be that difficult to pull off.”

  Hannah wasn’t so sure. Still, she was hopeful when Bettina’s shoulders slouched and she automatically managed to work up some tears as they rounded the corner that led to the nurse’s station outside of the room that housed Angel’s parents. There, Dr. Lance Archibald stood with a nurse and looked over a chart. He raised his head at the sound of footsteps offering up a grim smile when he realized who was visiting.

  “Well, you are still alive after all,” Archibald said as he regarded Angel. “I was starting to worry.”

  “You needn’t worry,” Bettina replied, slow tears sliding down her cheeks. “I’ve been well taken care of. Sheriff Boone has treated me like his own daughter while I’ve been staying at his house.”

  “Yes, well ... .” Archibald shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable. “I would’ve thought our fine sheriff would’ve brought you for a visit sooner. Your parents are still very sick.”

  Bettina nodded in understanding. “They’re unconscious.”

  “They are,” Archibald agreed. “The accident hurt them badly.”

  “They’ll get better.” Bettina phrased it as a statement, not a question, and it was enough to have Hannah’s stomach churning.

  “She’s been a little confused,” Hannah volunteered, drawing Archibald’s eyes to her. “The accident traumatized her. We have her speaking to a specialist.” She hesitated and then barreled forward. “She’s afraid to visit her parents too often because she’s convinced she’ll walk in one day and you won’t let her leave. She doesn’t understand that she managed to recover and her parents did not.”

  “Oh.” Sympathy washed over Archibald’s features. “I hadn’t considered that. If you’re having trouble understanding why you weren’t injured as gravely as your parents, you can ask me any questions you need answered. There are no stupid questions and I’m here to provide whatever reassurance you might need.”

  Bettina blinked several times in rapid succession. “They’ll recover.”

  Hannah chewed on her bottom lip as Archibald motioned for Boone to join him in front of the hospital room. She wisely stayed behind with Bettina as the two men bent their heads together and talked.

  “Are we done here?” Bettina asked.

  “No.” Hannah made a face. “You didn’t do what we told you to do.”

  “I cried.”

  “Yes, but ... just ... shut up.” Hannah held up her hand. “You must’ve had human emotions at some point. The fact that you can’t tap into them now gives me a migraine.”

  “Human emotions never did anything for me but cause pain. If I hadn’t embraced my emotions for so long, I would’ve understood that the way to end the torment for both my sister and me all those years ago was death. It was human emotions that kept me from embracing that destiny.”

  Hannah thought she should argue the point but had no idea how. “Well ... now you know.”

  Boone was alone when he returned. “The doctor says that Angel needs a psych evaluation,” he said grimly. “He thinks she’s emotionally detached and perhaps a bit loony.”

  “Well, he’s not wrong,” Hannah said. “Can you put him off?”

  “He’s giving us three days. He says it’s likely Angel is in shock, hopeful that she’ll come out of it on her own, but resigned to calling in for extra help if she doesn’t get it together.”

  “Three days?” Hannah was appalled. “I don’t think that’s going to be enough time.”

  “Then we need to take Amelia down faster than we envisioned. I don’t think we can drag this out much longer.”

  “That’s possible,” Bettina offered. “Hannah is stronger than I initially thought. Our shared blood gives us the upper hand. You don’t need to fret, Sheriff. I can end this within three days. Then Angel will return to her parents and you ... can keep wearing these unbreathable fabrics and doing whatever it is that you do.”

  Boone stared at her for a long beat. “What a strange and generous offer,” he said finally.

  Bettina smiled. “See, I’m getting better at being human.”

  “You’re ... something,” he said. “You’re absolutely something.”

  10

  Ten

  Bettina acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, which served to irritate Hannah over the course of the drive back to Casper Creek. Boone didn’t say a single word until
they were exiting his police issue vehicle, and then he called out to the ancient witch, waiting until Hannah was well on her way to the saloon and wouldn’t hear him, to express his opinion.

  “Don’t try recruiting Hannah to your cause,” he ordered.

  Bettina arched an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.” Boone refused to back down even though he inherently knew that Bettina had the power to smite him where he stood. He felt what he had to say was more important than her potential anger.

  “I don’t believe I asked your opinion.” Bettina was haughty. “Hannah’s involvement in our cause is necessary. It’s not a choice.”

  “Don’t try recruiting her,” Boone repeated. “She’s not some toy that you can play with. She’s a good girl. I won’t let you hurt her.”

  The gleam in Bettina’s eyes could’ve been taken multiple ways. “She’s not your child.”

  “She might as well be. They’re all my children here. Cooper, Tyler ... Hannah. I will take care of them.”

  “And how do you think you’ll take me on?”

  “However I need to. Just ... don’t hurt Hannah. I see it when you look at her. I’ve seen my share of sociopaths throughout the years. That’s what you are.”

  Bettina snorted. “You don’t have any idea who it is you’re dealing with.”

  “And I don’t care. Stay away from Hannah.”

  “So ... you want Amelia to carry out her plan? Do you realize the harm she could do to your precious children if she’s allowed to win?”

  “I don’t want her to win. I just don’t want you to win either. I don’t think you’re any better than her.”

  “Your mind is too feeble to understand what my sister is capable of.”

  “I think your problem is that I understand more than you would like. I don’t trust you. I’m not going to suddenly start simply because you point your finger at somebody else and say they’re somehow worse.

  “It’s like politics,” he continued. “When one candidate does something wrong and the supporters immediately point at another candidate and say he did something else equally bad. That doesn’t make what the first one did any less bad.

  “You might be better than your sister on a sliding scale, but that’s only because that consciousness shifting thing you did made you so. I don’t trust you. Stay away from Hannah.”

  Bettina was quiet for a beat, her gaze intense, and then she shrugged. “You’re allowed to feel how you want to feel. You’re wrong, though. In this particular case, I really am your best option.”

  “I guess that remains to be seen.” Boone started moving toward the saloon before he tossed one final comment over his shoulder. “I’ll be watching you.”

  “Perhaps I’ll be watching you, too.”

  “You would be wise to do that.”

  HANNAH HEADED STRAIGHT FOR COOPER when she walked through the saloon doors. Lindy was finishing up her shift, wiping down the counters and chairs, and she appeared amused when Hannah immediately began doting on her boyfriend.

  “How are you feeling?”

  Cooper managed to contain his eye roll, but just barely. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “Aren’t you always the one who says that love makes that statement obsolete?”

  “I’m fairly certain I’ve never said anything of the sort.”

  “Right.” She dropped a kiss on top of his head. “We got pizza for everybody. Boone is bringing it in.” She glanced over her shoulder and frowned when she realized the sheriff hadn’t yet entered the building. “I thought he was right behind me.”

  Tyler moved to the doors and peered out. “He’s coming.”

  Hannah nodded, secretly relieved. The way Boone had been eyeing Bettina in the rearview mirror during their drive back had made her nervous. It was obvious he didn’t trust the newcomer. Hannah couldn’t blame him.

  “Where’s Lindsey?” she asked, glancing around.

  “She’s upstairs, worrywart,” Cooper said on a laugh. “She needed to wash her hands and go to the bathroom. Since the town is basically deserted at this time, I told her to head upstairs. She has Jinx with her.”

  Hannah pursed her lips. “I’ll just bet that Jinx is suckering treats out of her.”

  “I’m sure that’s true, too. It’s fine. It’s not as if Jinx is fat.”

  “He got a good workout today, too,” Tyler offered. “He and the goats waged war on each other all day.”

  “I hope he won,” Boone announced as he strolled through the swinging doors with the pizzas. “We got all the works,” he said as he deposited the stack of boxes on the table. “There are wings, breadsticks, those cookie things, and even salad in there for the health conscious.”

  “I don’t believe any of us would fall into that category,” Tyler said dryly.

  “Probably not.” Boone scanned the saloon. “Where’s Lindsey?”

  “Upstairs,” Hannah replied. “I already checked. I’m guessing she’s feeding Jinx snacks.”

  “Ah.” Boone grinned. “She’s always wanted a dog. I didn’t think it was a good idea when she was younger because I worked odd hours and I couldn’t expect a babysitter to take care of a dog. She’s old enough now, though, and seeing her with Jinx makes me think a dog might be a good idea.”

  “What happens when she goes to college?” Cooper queried. “Who is going to take care of the dog then?”

  “I’ll bring it up here and have Tyler watch it all day when I’m at work.”

  Cooper smirked. “Good plan.”

  “I’m fine with that,” Tyler said. “I happen to love dogs. I’ve been thinking about getting one for myself.”

  “You have?” Hannah cocked her head. “Jinx might like that. You should get a female so he can have a girlfriend.”

  “I’ll adopt from the shelter and play it by ear,” Tyler replied. “I think I’ll wait until ... well, at least a few weeks.” He didn’t say what he was really thinking, that adding another animal to the mix when things were in a state of upheaval at Casper Creek was a bad idea. Given the fact that Lindy was still loitering around, he didn’t think it was a good idea.

  Understanding his reticence to talk freely, Hannah fixed her attention on the bartender. “Would you like to join us for dinner?” She felt the need to make the invitation even though she wasn’t in the mood to have to watch what she said for an additional hour.

  “It’s a sweet offer — and I’ll definitely take you up on it one day — but I should get going,” Lindy replied. “I’ve got a mountain of laundry to catch up on.”

  “Laundry is the worst.” Hannah rubbed her neck and regarded the woman. She felt an apology was in order for running out of the building as she had earlier in the day. She wasn’t certain how to explain herself, though.

  As if reading her mind, Cooper made a small throat-clearing sound. “I explained to Lindy that you heard me cursing out back when I tripped and hurt my shoulder,” he volunteered. “She was extremely understanding.”

  “Oh.” Hannah nodded. “That alley is a veritable death trap. I think we need to spend a day out there clearing all the pallets and stuff and making sure there’s a clear walkway.”

  “I think that’s a fabulous idea,” Cooper agreed, not missing a beat. “That’s a job for when it’s not too hot, though. There’s not a lot of airflow through that area and you’ll burn up right quick if you’re not careful.”

  “We’ll add it to the schedule.”

  Lindy glanced between faces, a question on the tip of her tongue. Ultimately, she shook her head and dropped the rag she was using in the laundry basket behind the bar. “Well, I should get going.”

  “How did your day go?” Hannah suddenly found she was anxious. “You’re not going to quit, are you?”

  Amusement flitted through the depths of Lindy’s eyes. “I happen to really like it out here. You don’t have to worry about me quitting on the second day. That’s not how I roll.”

  “I kno
w. I just ... stuck you with a lot of the work today.”

  “You’re the boss. I believe that’s your prerogative.”

  “Yes, well ... .”

  Tyler chuckled at Hannah’s guilty expression. “You’re horrible at being the boss, which makes you a great boss. You’re the type of person who doesn’t want to stick people with work you wouldn’t willingly do yourself.”

  “She is a great boss,” Cooper agreed, squeezing her knee before leaning over to kiss her cheek. “She’s also an anxiety-ridden mess when it comes to doling out orders. Hopefully she’ll get used to it at some point.”

  “I happen to think she’s perfect,” Lindy said as she untied her apron. “I like a boss who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.”

  “I think she’s perfect, too.” Cooper rubbed his cheek against Hannah’s and grinned. “She should be studied she’s so perfect.”

  “Oh, geez.” Boone’s eye roll was pronounced. “Come on, Lindy. I’ll walk you to your car. You two had better be over this cuddling thing when I get back. You’ll give me indigestion if you’re not careful.”

  “We’ll work on it,” Hannah promised.

  “No, we won’t,” Cooper countered. “I happen to love a good cuddle.”

  “Yup.” Boone shook his head. “It’s going to be an acid reflux kind of night. Who doesn’t love that?”

  DINNER WAS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH, mostly because nobody wanted to talk about serious things with Lindsey present. Once Boone packed her and the leftovers up to take home, Tyler drifted back toward the barn, leaving Hannah and Cooper to walk Jinx before locking up.

  Once they were upstairs, Hannah insisted Cooper strip down so she could look him over. He had a few new bruises from his altercation with Carl, but nothing too worrisome.

  “I’m fine,” Cooper reassured her as she checked a purple discoloration on his knee. “I really need you not to spend all your time worrying about me.”

  Hannah was only partially placated. “You have no idea how terrified I was to see you on the ground in the alley. I thought—” She couldn’t finish the sentence. It was too terrible to consider.