As promised, here’s the second snippet from Witchstorm Rising. It’s a continuation from the first snippet. A reminder, this is the draft version. There’s a possibility that this will not appear as currently written in the published version. Also, all the usual disclaimers and protections apply. (I hate saying that, but there are some folks out there who think anything they see on the internet belongs to them.) With that out of the way, here’s the opening of Witchstorm Rising, the next installment in the Eerie Side of the Tracks series.
“Perhaps we should talk about what’s bothering both of us then.” Serena stood and crossed the room. For a long moment, she stared out the window overlooking the training area where her ranch manager worked one of the yearlings. “I don’t think we can ignore our concerns that trouble is about to come to town again.”
“Agreed. But what can we do? We don’t know what the trouble is or who’s behind it.”
“That’s been the problem for the last several years.” She turned back. “No, that’s been the problem for as long as I can remember. I simply didn’t realize it.”
“We didn’t realize it,” Judith corrected. “If we’re being honest, we have to admit that our mothers didn’t realize it either. There’s enough evidence to suggest this has been a long game for someone, possibly your former brother-in-law and others. So don’t you dare try to take responsibility for everything that’s happened.” She pinned Serena with a glance that all but dared her to argue.
“I can’t help but blame myself, Judith. I missed so much, so many signs of trouble.”
She bit back a flare of anger. They’d all missed those signs. Something Serena knew, if she’d just let herself admit it.
“You listen to me, Serena Duchamp. You are not responsible for what happened. You have dedicated your life to helping protect Mossy Creek and everyone who lives here. You stepped in when your mother could no longer lead the Guardians and you sacrificed more than anyone, even me, knows by doing so. I’m not about to let you blame yourself for things we all missed.”
Serena chuckled, surprising her.
“You sound just like your mother, may she rest easy now.” She made her way back to the sofa and took her seat. “But I do bear some of the blame, Judith. I missed the signs when Maddy started acting unlike herself. I should have recognized how similar they were to what I went through when Carson used his potions and abilities to attempt to roll me.”
“If you’re going to blame yourself for that, then you’d better be ready to tell Peggy and Mary Kate you blame them as well.” It might be harsh, but Judith wasn’t going to let Serena go down the blame road. Not now and not ever. “Remember this as well. You knew what we needed to do to break Roben’s hold over Maddy. You were able to give us the information we needed to stop Benjamin Luíseach before he could hurt anyone else, even after he’d attacked here and you had your heart attack.”
She waited, giving Serena a chance to consider what she said. When Serena nodded once, she relaxed. At least that was one hurdle she managed to avoid. But there was still something bothering the woman and it was time to find out what.
Judith leaned back and sipped her now lukewarm coffee. Then she rested the saucer on her knee. Ready or not, she couldn’t delay any longer.
“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, care to tell me what’s really on your mind?” Might as well get right to the point.
“Let’s go outside. I feel the need for some fresh air.”
After a quick stop by the kitchen where they traded china cups and saucers for mugs of fresh coffee, they settled at one of the tables on the back deck. For a few minutes, they sat in companionable silence, watching the dogs play in the yard while some of the yearlings raced around the nearest pasture. Judith waited, knowing Serena would explain what worried her when she was ready.
“Judith, I’m worried.” She continued looking out over the fields.
“About?”
“The coming trouble.”
“I won’t deny that I’m not as well, but what has you worried right now?”
“The Guardians.” Serena lifted a hand to stop Judith from saying anything. “You know I trust you. I trust all of them. But you are the only one with more than a year or so in the role. Yes, I’ve trained Amy most of her life, but I never thought she’d have to step in this soon. Nor did I expect Quinn, so new to her abilities, to step up. She’s still coming to terms with being an Other. Then there’s Jax. She has the talent, the power, and the ability. But I worry she will revert to her role as the Rogue if she feels it will help protect everyone. That’s one thing, one of many, none of them can do. The Guardians need to work together. They are stronger together, as you know.”
“And you need to trust them. You trained all of them. They understand their roles and they are as determined to protect Mossy Creek and everyone living here as you are.”
“But?”
“But they don’t have the years of working together that you, Pat and I had. We’re lucky they are willing to listen o me and you know they listen to you. But they have to find their own way, just as we did when we first became Guardians. I pray they have the time and I fear they don’t.”
“There’s still a piece on this chessboard of ours still in play, Judith.”
She blew out a breath. Part of her expected this. Still, did they have the right to ask?
“Are you sure?”
Serena shook her head. “No. That’s why I haven’t contacted her before now.”
“Serena.” Judith heard the uncertainty in her voice.
“I know, Judith, but I don’t see any other option. My only concern is if she’ll agree to come back.”
Judith nodded, unhappy with the thought of asking. Mossy Creek had not been kind to her before she left. No, that wasn’t true. There were a few who lived here who weren’t good to her. Unfortunately, they’d had the power to make her life miserable. It could have been much worse, but it had been bad enough. That was why, when she left town so many years ago, she and Serena promised themselves they would not ask her to return unless there was no other option.
“You know better than that, Serena. She’ll come if you ask her to.”
Maybe.
She wouldn’t blame her if she refused.
“I’ll email her. I’d appreciate it if you would check it before I send it.”
“Of course.”
“Let’s go inside. I think I need my laptop for this.”
Serena climbed to her feet. She moved slowly, once again reminding Judith her friend was no longer as young as she’d once been. Of course, Judith thought, neither am I. But seeing Serena showing her age worried her. Perhaps Serena hadn’t recovered as fully as she thought.
“What are you going to say?” She asked as Serena settled at the antique desk in the woman’s study.
“I’m going to tell her there’s trouble and ask her to come home. I don’t know how much the girls have told her about what’s been happening.” She glanced at Judith, waiting.
“I know they talk regularly, but I doubt they’ve told her more than the basics about what’s happened. Otherwise, she’d have come back by now.”
Serena sighed. “They still try to protect one another.”
“They were good friends growing up and still are.”
But was that enough?
More importantly, would they be strong enough to face what was coming?
This is not the final version. There may be spelling, punctuation and/or grammar errors that will be corrected before publication. Look for the next snippet on Friday.
The image was created using Gemini.