Shanna Swendson - Don't Hex with Texas

“Yes, ma’am,” Dean stammered. “I mean, I’d like to, but I’m not sure I can, not without getting caught. They’ve got better patrols now, and it was almost a fluke that I was able to do it in the first place.”

“Well, if you did it, then maybe it’s right for you to get caught. Better to be caught bringing things back, even if you have to go in during business hours with a box full of stolen goods, than to be caught with the loot in your house or on your wife’s wrist. You’ll not be able to prosper until this wrong is set right.”

Dean groaned. “Oh no; Sherri. I’ll never get those things away from her. And for once I was able to make her happy.” Apparently, he hadn’t heard a thing I’d said earlier. I suspected he was the one who was reluctant to return the goods, and Sherri was a convenient excuse.

A shriek from the back door proved me right. “Dean Chandler, are you in here?” Sherri then stomped into the kitchen, her hair wild and her eyes blazing. “Just what, exactly, do you think you’ve been up to?”

He took a step away from her, only to realize he’d returned himself to Granny’s cane range, so he took another step sideways. “Up to what, honey?” he asked, so cool and innocent that butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

“‘Up to what?’” she mocked, her voice going up nearly an octave. “What have you got yourself mixed up in, huh? And don’t play innocent with me. I know you’re up to something.”

Dean’s innocent expression faltered for a split second, but then he was back to his usual cocky grin.

“Mind letting me in on what you know, darlin’?”

She raised her arm, showing a bare wrist. “I went to the jewelry store to get my new bracelet appraised, and guess what? They said it was stolen property. I told them someone had given it to me as a gift and turned it over to them.”

“Wow, it really was stolen?” he asked, still maintaining the illusion of innocence. Granny leaned forward so she could reach him with her cane and gave him a good whack with it. “Ow!” he protested. “Okay, I got the stuff from a guy I know. I didn’t know it was stolen, but I’ll give it all back, I promise.”

Normally, that was the point when Sherri melted, apologized for ever doubting him, and started calling him disgusting pet names like “snoogie woogums” while the rest of us tried not to throw up.

This time, though, she tossed her hair back and said, “You’d better. I’m going to stay at Mom’s for a few days, and when I come back, all that stuff better be out of my house, or I’ll be packing up my things and leaving for good.” With that, she turned and marched out of the kitchen, letting the back door slam behind her and leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

“I don’t think Sherri will mind if you give the stuff back,” I said, breaking the silence before it got creepy.

“I guess not,” Dean agreed, looking sheepish.

The coffeemaker stopped, and Owen, who was wisely staying out of the family discussion, found a mug and poured a cup for Granny. “I might be able to help return the goods,” he said. “The magic is easy enough for me, and with Sam’s help, we can hide the activity from the patrols for long enough to get in and out.”

“I’ll help, too,” Teddy said. “I’m not sure what I can do other than stand lookout, but I think I ought to be there.”

“You just want to watch and see how it works,” I said.

“Well, yeah.”

I looked to Owen, who shrugged. “We may need all the lookouts we can get.”

Granny fixed Dean with a steely glare. “So you will make proper restitution?”

He looked like a ten-year-old who’d been caught stealing candy. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And you won’t use your power for nefarious purposes in the future?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Good. We’ll deal with your criminal nature once you’ve taken care of this.” She turned to Teddy.

“You’ll have to see to it that he behaves. He can’t pull a fast one on you.”

Teddy grinned. As the next-to-youngest in the family and the youngest boy, being asked to play watchdog on his older brother was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “I’ll watch him like a hawk.”

“What’ll you be watching, Teddy?” Mom asked as she came through the back door with an armload of groceries.

His mouth hung open, and he looked so guilty I was amazed she didn’t notice. “I, uh, was talking about the next time Molly and Frank ask Beth and me to watch Davy. He gets into everything if you don’t watch him.”

She shook her head wearily as she put the grocery bags on the counter. “I swear, that child. If Molly would learn to say no and set some limits, it would do him a world of good. Now, boys, there are some more groceries outside you could carry in.”

Dean, Teddy, and Owen moved to head for the back door, but Mom stopped Owen. “You’re company. We won’t put you to work.” She flashed him a flirtatious smile. “That will have to wait for your next visit. By then, you’ll count as family.”

“I’ll look forward to that, then.” He turned to me and said, “Katie, weren’t you going to show me that thing today?”

I wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but I knew an escape plan when I heard one. “Oh yeah, that thing I was going to show you. How long until dinner, Mom?”

“At least a couple of hours.”

“That should be plenty of time if we head out now. We’ll be back in time for dinner.” We passed the boys on the back steps as they came up with arms loaded with grocery bags. When we were out of earshot, I asked, “The thing?”

“I thought we’d pay a visit to our friend.”

“Ah yes, the town welcoming committee should be there to greet him.”

“I’ve been in Texas a few days, so I think I’m getting the hang of this southern hospitality. I’d feel bad if someone didn’t welcome him to town.”

We took his rental car and drove to the motel. “His car’s parked in front of his room,” I said. “So he’s probably still here.”

“That’s good. I think we need to have a chat with him.”

“You think he’ll let us in the door?”

“He will if he doesn’t know it’s us.”

“You might need to hide us in general. Nita’s probably still staking out his room with a digital camera from the lobby window.”

“Why would she do that?”

“I might have given her the impression that he was the lead singer of an up-and-coming rock band.”

We got out of the car, and I noticed that the door to the housekeeping closet was slightly ajar. I stepped in, grabbed an armload of towels, and said, “We could be housekeeping.”

“Good idea.”

On the way to Idris’s room, Owen whispered something under his breath. I felt the tingle of magic building around us and wondered what we looked like. At a nod from Owen, I rapped on the door and called out, “Housekeeping!”

I held my breath while we waited for a response. After nearly a minute, I knocked again and jiggled the door handle. Then, finally, Idris opened the door a crack. “What is it?” he snapped.

“Fresh towels,” I said, barging forward, Owen in my wake. Idris stepped reluctantly out of our way.

He had a laptop computer, a cell phone, and a bunch of papers spread out on the bed, along with a Texas map. When we were well inside the room, the door abruptly slammed shut, even though no one touched it, and I felt the magic surrounding us fade away.

“You!” Idris cried out, staring in shock at Owen. I dropped the pile of towels on the foot of the bed, and he turned to notice me. “You, too! What are you doing here?”

Owen and I looked at each other. This wasn’t quite the reaction we’d been expecting. I’d thought he’d be lying in wait for us, ready to pounce if we didn’t get to him first. “You mean, in this room or here, in this town?” I asked.