Witcher Upper Read online

  Chapter 23

  Peachwood did not take the information that Shane Prader had murdered Sadie March well. They shook their heads, wondering how such a nice man had swindled all of them into thinking he was a saint.

  Hannah, Sadie’s mother, had gotten justice—which in the end was what mattered. I also discovered that Liam hadn’t been talking to Sykes Laffoon about Sadie at all.

  “I was trying to get him to let go of the business,” Liam explained to me a few days later. “But he wouldn’t do it.”

  “What was Sykes referring to when he mentioned getting rid of her?”

  Liam snickered. “Oh, he meant some racing dogs that he’d once had.”

  I shook my head. “Weird.”

  It was the last day of the renovation, and we were just about finished. After Sadie’s funeral, Liam had thrown himself into the project, and I had finished up buying all the rest of the supplies with lines of credit from the town shops. Once this was over and Dooley paid us, I’d be back on even ground—not rich but not in debt.

  Well, I wouldn’t have a company because I simply didn’t have the money that Sykes needed, and I wasn’t going to borrow any more. I stared at the gorgeous barn that we had fixed up and was proud of myself. It would be my last project as Magical Renovations, but that was okay. I had a future. I just wasn’t sure what it was yet.

  A truck rumbled up. Liam and I turned to see Dooley and Dottie arrive.

  Liam gave me a wide smile. “You ready for this?”

  “I sure am.”

  We took Dooley and Dottie (who gave me another bag of peaches—boy, I loved that woman) on a tour of their new house barn. They had glossy countertops, a huge fireplace, lots of cabin-type furnishings with antler chandeliers and a huge deer head that Dooley had harvested on one of his hunts.

  “It turned out good,” I said to Dooley.

  “Kid,” Dooley said harshly, his eyes shining. He didn’t speak for a moment, and I worried that he would tell me it was horrible. “Kid,” he started again, “you did great.”

  He wrapped me into a huge hug, and this was what was all about—giving people a home that they could love.

  Dottie openly cried. “I never thought I’d love it so much.”

  I hugged her, too. “You’ve made me proud.”

  Dooley handed me a check, and it was exactly enough to cover expenses but nothing extra.

  That was okay with me, like I said.

  While they explored their new home, Liam walked me outside.

  An old Range Rover arrived. I glanced at Liam. “Are you expecting anyone?”

  He shook his head.

  Through the windshield I saw Rufus. I hadn’t seen him since Sadie’s funeral, but Malene had made a point to tell everyone in town that he was the new spell hunter. He’d become sort of a local celebrity.

  Yes, I still had that memory spell hidden, tucked away in my bathroom. No, I hadn’t given it to him. Was it wrong of me? Maybe so, but I wasn’t ready for him to know who he was, and to be honest, I didn’t think he was ready either.

  Trust took time to be earned, y’all. And if you don’t believe me, go tell a complete stranger all your deep dark secrets and see how it feels.

  Not gonna do it, are you? Can’t say I blame you.

  Rufus parked and greeted Liam with a handshake, then turned to me.

  “I’ll go check on Dooley,” Liam said.

  Which left me alone with Rufus. “You got some wheels,” I said.

  He hiked a shoulder to his ear. “I did. I’ll be needing them, and I also got my own place.”

  “You’re not staying at the bed and breakfast anymore?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  I nodded appreciatively. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. Today’s the day I’m supposed to pay Sykes, and I don’t have it.”

  Rufus’s eyes widened. “Look, about that—”

  A rumbling cut him off. Over his shoulder, I saw a limousine pull up. “What is this, Grand Central Station?”

  Rufus reached for me. “Listen, Clementine, there’s something I have to tell you.”

  I waved him off. “Let me deal with this first.”

  The limo ground to a stop beside us, and the door opened. Sykes stuck out his head. “Well, hello, Clementine.” His gaze cut to Rufus. “John.”

  Rufus nodded. I threw my shoulders back, my spine taut. “Sykes, listen, I know why you’re here, and I’m just going to tell you—I don’t have the money. I don’t have the twenty thousand. You’ll have to take the business, but I’m afraid you won’t get anything out of it.”

  Sykes smiled, his lips winding all the way to his ears, I swear. “I won’t be taking your business.”

  “What?”

  He handed me the contract that Sadie had signed with him. “It’s yours. The company belongs to you.”

  I was so confused. “But how? Why?”

  Sykes nodded to Rufus. “We have a new spell hunter who’s going to help us out. He is working off your debt.”

  “What?” I whirled on Rufus. “You’re what?”

  “I was going to tell you,” he murmured.

  “You can’t do that.” He couldn’t. Rufus couldn’t save my business. It wasn’t his job to do that. Maybe something inside him remembered what had happened and this was his way of making up for a past that he didn’t recall but perhaps felt deep in his heart.

  From inside the cab, I heard Georgie say, “Break time.”

  “Have a good day,” Sykes said. “We’re off the clock.”

  The limo rolled away, and I glared fireballs at Rufus. “Why are you working for them? What if they want the bad spells?”

  He shook his head. “First, I told them that I wouldn’t search for anything sinister. Secondly, you’ve done a lot for me. Thirdly—”

  “Is that a word?” I joked.

  He smiled. “It is now. I may need help finding some of the spells. You can see them, too. A part-time partner might not be a bad idea.”

  A smile slowly coiled on my face. I had to admit, this would give me the opportunity to keep an eye on him, find out if Rufus would return to his old ways. When the time came, I would give him the spell.

  I promise.

  Rufus pointed to the barn. “Is it done?”

  “It is. Want to see it?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  He stared at me, those long lashes of his irksome, but the puppy-dog gaze under them made my heart soften.

  Maybe Rufus and I could become friends. Perhaps this was the start of a new beginning for both of us.

  “Come on.” I tugged him toward the barn. “Let me show you around.”

  By the time I reached home, I was beat. I threw open the door, kicked off my shoes and called to Lady.

  “I’m home!”

  Not hearing anything, I entered the kitchen.

  It took a moment to register the broken glass on the floor. I padded over and realized that the mason jar holding the talking spell had shattered.

  My gaze darted around the room, searching for the spell, but it wasn’t in sight.

  Just then, the sound of Lady’s collar jingling came from behind me. I turned around and Lady yawned. She must’ve just woken from a nap.

  Knowing she wouldn’t answer, I jokingly said, “Do you know what happened in here? And have you seen a glowing orb?”

  Lady shot me a guilty look before opening her mouth. “It’s my fault, Clementine. I banged up against the table, and the jar fell. Then I ate that ball stuck inside it. It was tasty.”

  My jaw hit the floor. Holy crap, y’all. Lady could talk. I had the feeling that a whole bunch of stuff was about to change in Peachwood.

  Thank y’all so much for reading WITCHER UPPER. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review.

  Clem and Rufus’s story continues in RENOVATION SPELL. Will Clem give him the spell she’s hiding? Will Lady continue her talking spree? Order RENOVATION SPELL now so that you don’t m
iss out on one minute of fun.

  Extra Stuff

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  And…I love to hear from you! Please feel free to drop me a line anytime. You can email me [email protected].

  Also by Amy Boyles

  SERIES READING ORDER

  * * *

  A MAGICAL RENOVATION MYSERY

  WITCHER UPPER

  RENOVATION SPELL

  * * *

  LOST SOUTHERN MAGIC

  (Sweet Tea Witches, Southern Belles and Spells, Southern Ghost Wrangles and Bless Your Witch Crossover)

  THE GOLD TOUCH THAT WENT CATTYWAMPUS

  THE YELLOW-BELLIED SCAREDY CAT

  A MESS OF SIRENS

  KNEE-HIGH TO A THIEF

  * * *

  BELLES AND SPELLS MATCHMAKER MYSTERY

  DEADLY SPELLS AND A SOUTHERN BELLE

  CURSED BRIDES AND ALIBIS

  MAGICAL DAMES AND DATING GAMES

  SOME PIG AND A MUMMY DIG

  * * *

  SWEET TEA WITCH MYSTERIES

  SOUTHERN MAGIC

  SOUTHERN SPELLS

  SOUTHERN MYTHS

  SOUTHERN SORCERY

  SOUTHERN CURSES

  SOUTHERN KARMA

  SOUTHERN MAGIC THANKSGIVING

  SOUTHERN MAGIC CHRISTMAS

  SOUTHERN POTIONS

  SOUTHERN FORTUNES

  SOUTHERN HAUNTINGS

  SOUTHERN WANDS

  SOUTHERN CONJURING

  SOUTHERN WISHES

  SOUTHERN DREAMS

  SOUTHERN MAGIC WEDDING

  * * *

  SOUTHERN GHOST WRANGLER MYSTERIES

  SOUL FOOD SPIRITS

  HONEYSUCKLE HAUNTING

  THE GHOST WHO ATE GRITS (Crossover with Pepper and Axel from Sweet Tea Witches)

  BACKWOODS BANSHEE

  * * *

  BLESS YOUR WITCH SERIES

  SCARED WITCHLESS

  KISS MY WITCH

  QUEEN WITCH

  QUIT YOUR WITCHIN'

  FOR WITCH'S SAKE

  DON'T GIVE A WITCH

  WITCH MY GRITS

  FRIED GREEN WITCH

  SOUTHERN WITCHING

  Y’ALL WITCHES

  HOLD YOUR WITCHES

  * * *

  SOUTHERN SINGLE MOM PARANORMAL MYSTERIES

  The Witch’s Handbook to Hunting Vampires

  The Witch’s Handbook to Catching Werewolves

  The Witch’s Handbook to Trapping Demons

  About the Author

  Hey, I’m Amy,

  I write books for folks who crave laugh-out-loud paranormal mysteries. I help bring humor into readers’ lives. I’ve got a Pharm D in pharmacy, a BA in Creative Writing and a Masters in Life.

  And when I’m not writing or chasing around two small children (one of which is four going on thirteen), I can be found antique shopping for a great deal, getting my roots touched up (because that’s an every four week job) and figuring out when I can get back to Disney World.

  If you’re dying to know more about my wacky life, here are three things you don’t know about me.

  —In college I spent a semester at Marvel Comics working in the X-Men office.

  —I worked at Carnegie Hall.

  —I grew up in a barbecue restaurant—literally. My parents owned one.

  If you want to reach out to me—and I love to hear from readers—you can email me at [email protected].

  Happy reading!