Page 18 of Live Love Lasso

Rygold’s dark brows lift, and he gives me a look.

I lift both palms. “I don’t think she had anything to do with this. At least part of her story has been confirmed by both Oz and Bluebell. Plus, she was the one who let us know about the moose.”

“Sounds like I might need to help you,” Rygold says on a heavy sigh. “Damnit, I was hoping to go back to my place and sleep for a week. Got a run-in coming soon with the fuckin’ Sidewinders, and I need all the rest I can get.”

I shoot him a wry look. “I wouldn’t mind your help here, but if you need to rest up to deal with those dickheads, be my guest. Pretty sure they’ve taken a half dozen cattle this month although I couldn’t prove it without going out there. I’ve got this, probably.”

Rygold grumbles under his breath but shakes his head. “Been sleeping more than I ought to, I suppose. I’ll stick around to meet this new girl.” He glances at Mykel. “Anything else you’ve noticed weird about your cattle?”

Mykel waves around. “Ain’t this weird enough, Sheriff?”

We let out matching sighs.

Yeah. This is really fucking weird.

Lemon

When I get back to Glimmer, Letitia stands in the doorway with both hands tucked into the wide sleeves of her kimono-style robe. “Kind of you to return to us,” she says coldly. “My office please, Miss Denton.”

Holding back a sigh, I trail her through the halls and down through the potion floor, back up into her office.

“Close the door behind you,” she says when I enter.

I do as she said and then stand there, waiting to see what she wants. Nothing good, it seems.

She crosses the room and sits gracefully in a black velvet chair, glaring daggers at me. “It seems my plan to relegate you to cleaning duties isn’t exactly what your father had in mind. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to have you working on a few custom potions under my express supervision. You’re not to craft anything other than what I tell you, but I’ll teach you a little of what makes me such a renowned potioneer.” She smiles, but it makes her look like a snake. “Once you’ve mastered enough for your father to take you off my hands, I’ll send you home.”

Relief and dismay flood me in equal measure. I don’t want to get any closer to her than I have to, but if it means taking steps to get home, I’m in. Nice as Oz is, I’ve got to get out of Pine Gulch as fast as I can. Gods know I don’t need to end up in some Wild West prison for a crime I didn’t commit. Not to mention I don’t need a criminal file at monster headquarters. The gods know I am not made for a stint in Belcastle Prison. I’m quite certain they don’t even have hairdressers there.

I nod. “Thank you, Letitia.”

“Mistress,” she corrects with a simpering smile. “Mistress is the correct title for what I am to you, starting now. You may leave early; you’re no longer needed today. But tomorrow we’ll begin.”

Confusion reigns, but I nod and leave her office as quietly as I can. The mean girl from the front desk glares at me, but I pay her no mind as I leave Glimmer. My mind spins around what just happened. I’m generally a positive person. I get underestimated a lot because of that.

But right now? I’m struggling to find something positive in any of this.

Across the street, the ancient pixie twins stand. Merit holds an open umbrella over their heads. They seem to be debating something but look up when I appear across the street.

“Hello, dearie!” Merit waves with her free hand. She loops it through her sister’s elbow and drags the other pixie across the street, coming my way. They stop in front of me with matching grins. “Lemon, honey, how are you finding Pine Gulch so far?”

I hold back a groan. “Lovely,” is all I can manage.

Merit’s big smile falls. “I imagine it’s quite the change for a city girl such as yourself. You came from Rainbow in New York…right?”

I think back to how someone mentioned they’d uncover my entire past, and I grimace. I don’t need my last name bringing me any bad press out here. I’m getting plenty of that on my own.

Bryony rubs her sister’s withered hand. “Okay, well, you absolutely cannot miss the flea market tomorrow. There’ll be a band, dancing and then, of course, you can take a tour around the gourd and pumpkin garden. Have you seen those yet?”

I cock my head to the side. “Can’t say that I have.”

Merit scoffs. “You haven’t started the scavenger hunt, have you?”

I groan. With all the dramatics, I’d forgotten about the get-to-know-PG scavenger hunt.

“I’ll start tomorrow,” I promise. Pretty sure I’ve got the welcome book lying around my cottage somewhere. Maybe it’ll even be fun.

I can take Letitia’s offer at face value. I can learn more about my temporary home. Not to mention the more monsters who see me, the more folks to corroborate my alibi if Furyon tries to blame me for any other crimes. I’m going to drag Oz with me.