Page 10 of Live Love Lasso

“Not there, honey. We live way on the outskirts of town, but we’ve been here since the Gulch was a teeny little slip of a haven. Everyone in town knows us, and we make a point to know everyone. So, here we are!” She throws both hands up as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Merit,” the pink-winged pixie jerks a thumb at the other female, “and I’m Bryony.”

I reach a hand out, having gotten past my initial shock. “Nice to meet you ladies. I’m Lemon…Knox.” Damn, I’m gonna have to work hard to remember not to include my last name.

Both pixies cock their heads to the side, eyeing me until discomfort begins to spread down the back of my neck.

I wave at the interior of the cottage. “Well, I’d better get my things put away. Can you recommend a good spot for dinner since I’m new to town and don’t have groceries yet?”

Merit laughs. “Oh, we put a few little things in the fridge for you, as well. But Betty’s Burger Bar makes a mean burger. Then, of course, Lizard Lick Saloon has tons of great food. If you want fancy, you can go out to the wraith property, but that’s quite a ride from here. Alternatively, you could come to our place, if you like!”

I’m not sure I’ve got enough energy for this amount of exuberance, and I’m in desperate need of a shower, so I beg leave of the two elderly pixie women.

They step onto the porch and smile again. “Welcome to Pine Gulch, Lemon. Holler at us if you need anything at all.”

I promise I will, but I stand on the porch and watch them go just in case they are, in fact, weirdos. One can never be too careful as a single gal living alone. Although they were both pretty old and delicate-looking. I’m relatively certain I could take them in a fight. Once they disappear from view, I go into the cottage and look around.

The main room’s adorable with a kitchen in the back right corner and a little sitting area occupying the lefthand side. A kitchen table separates the two functional spaces. Walking through it, I find the bedroom on the opposite side of the kitchen wall. It’s all old but clean and cozy-looking.

Lotsa ruffles. It’s not my usual vibe, but I can get down with something new for the short time I’ll be here.

Flopping onto the bed, I stare up at a whitewashed wooden ceiling. “Hey, cottage,” I say with a little wave. “I’m Lemon, and you’re adorable.”

A teeny little creak must be her way of saying hello right back.

The day hits me like a ton of bricks as I lie there and ponder my welcome at Glimmer all the way through meeting that dark elf dude.

I’m blessed with a ridiculously happy disposition, usually. But as I stare up at the quiet ceiling, I wonder if I’m going to be able to find the silver lining in anything about this place…

Lemon

It takes me a few hours to unpack my things and shower. I worked myself into a lather about everything that happened and crashed out for a few minutes under the hot water. Thankfully, the water pressure was good, and I sorted myself out after a quick little cry of frustration.

Now I’m staring in the mirror, arranging my blonde waves as I consider dinner. Remembering Shadow referenced Amadala writing something for me, I poke around in the boot box. A stapled packet rests beneath the sparkly boots.

Smiling as I think about Amadala pulling this together with less than a day’s notice, I withdraw the packet. It starts with a letter about how much she loves me and how she knows I'll get to come home soon because I’m a badass. That part brings tears to my eyes. What follows is two pages of her thoughts on every spot she’s been to in downtown, plus a little history of the town itself, including info about the abandoned Keeper’s mansion and Mabel the train.

She suggests I hit up Betty’s Burger Bar for a great dinner since the Gulch doesn’t have any blood banks—not quite enough vampires here, I suppose. But, according to Amadala’s document, a couple of the restaurants have vampire-themed drinks on their menus plus a killer pumpkin mead she swears is better than anything in the city.

Pfft. I’ll believe that when I see it. I can admit to being a mead snob.

I ponder calling Shadow, but decide I’ll put the boots on later and do a little fashion show for her. Per usual, she’ll be up until all hours of the night, so I can ring her when I get back.

Changing into my only pair of jeans, a cute spaghetti-strap top with a bow on the front and some strappy heels, I check out my reflection one more time before grabbing my wallet and heading out. It’s not horribly late, but the sun’s already setting over the horizon. I wave to the abandoned Keeper’s house as I pass her, but she only creaks and groans in response.

“I see you,” I say with a laugh. “I’m gonna break through that prickly exterior.” I toss my hair over my shoulder when she shimmies the wrought iron fence in a slightly menacing manner. She doesn’t scare me, though. Some of the prickliest folks I’ve ever met were real sweethearts on the inside. They just needed to get to know me.

Ultimately, I decide that heading back to Whiskey Business feels pretty safe. Hopefully Oz will still be there, and I might even get a few more rounds of karaoke in.

When I get there, Oz is nowhere to be seen, but a human-looking woman with long blue hair in double space buns waves at me from behind the bar. “You Lemon?”

Shocked that she’d ask, I nod as I slip onto a barstool and set my clutch down.

She’s darling, an upturned nose and pale blue freckles. A witch, I’d guess, messing with her natural coloring to make it match her hair. That’s cute as hells.

“I’m Bluebell,” she says. “Oz told me he thought you might be back. He’s working a shift over at the dance hall, which, if you haven’t seen that yet…it’s a good time.”

I shake my head. “Dance hall sounds great, to be honest. Is it…line dancing?” I gulp. I can’t say I’ve ever learned anything about line dancing.