Page 119 of Trick or Tease

I caught sight of movement in one of the upper windows. It startled me. I knew it was probably just the mechanical figures, but for a moment it looked almost real. Maybe Samuel’s ghost approved of my decision to tear up that contract.

We wound our way down the back road toward the wooded section, and I slowed the tractor to the perfect speed for Tyler’s performance. Right on cue, Tyler appeared on his horse, the black cloak billowing dramatically behind him as he rode parallel to our trailer.

That was a damn good idea.

I couldn’t wait to see what we could all come up with for the following year. Next season was going to be ten times better.

45

SABRINA

The rest of the night went off without a hitch, which was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because everyone deserved to end the season on a high note. A curse because it meant I had to keep smiling and pretending everything was fine when all I wanted to do was go home and scream into my pillow.

Being spooky helped get me back in the spirit of the evening. Hexing people and cackling when needed. It was fun. More fun than I should have had. It was more like a farewell performance. It didn’t matter how good or bad I did because it would be the last time.

Anytime I thought about Garrett’s asshole behavior, I got pissed. Really pissed. There was no point in yelling at him. He clearly didn’t have a conscience. And I refused to let him see me get upset. He didn’t get to have the satisfaction of pissing me off or hurting my feelings. I hoped he was gone by tomorrow morning. He could take his money and run.

Part of me worried I might be thinking about myself. Billy was going to be very wealthy, and by default, Lucy would as well. They were going to move away and have a fabulous life somewhere else. Garrett was going back to the city.

And I was going to be here living next to whatever monstrosity the new owners of the farm decided to build. Everyone got something out of the deal except me.

I was going to lose everything.

My best friends. My job. Everything.

And oh yeah, the guy I had kind of fallen for.

I threw myself into cleanup duty, figuring physical work might help burn off some of the anger still coursing through my veins. By the time the last family packed up and headed home, I was exhausted in the best possible way. It was the kind of tired that came from honest work and a job well done.

Something Garrett wouldn’t know anything about. Putting on a fancy suit and going into a courtroom wasn’t exactly labor-intensive work.

I found myself helping Granny Mae pack up her candy station, loading empty trays and leftover napkins into boxes while she counted her earnings for what had to be the tenth time that night.

“Nearly double what we made yesterday,” she announced with satisfaction. “Not bad for an old woman selling her goodies.”

“Not bad at all,” I agreed with a forced smile. Granny didn’t deserve to deal with my mood. “You were a hit. Half the kids came back for seconds.”

She beamed at me. “You know what the best part was? Seeing all those families having such a good time. That little girl in the princess costume must have told me six times that this was the best Halloween ever.”

I managed a genuine smile at that. “That’s what it’s all about.”

“You bet it is,” Granny said, then studied my face with those sharp eyes that missed nothing. “Though you don’t look like someone who just pulled off the event of the season. What’s got you looking like you swallowed a lemon?”

Before I could deflect, Lucy appeared at my elbow, practically vibrating with excitement. Her fairy wings were slightly crooked and there was hay in her hair, but she looked happier than I’d seen her all week.

“There you are!” she said, grabbing my arm. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Why?”

“Did you hear what happened with Garrett and his boss?” I wasn’t sure why she was smiling.

“Yes,” I said and shoved more stuff into the box with too much force. I was being rude. I should be happy for her. “Sounds like a great deal.”

“Deal.” She laughed. “It was incredible!”

I kept my expression carefully neutral. “I was there for part of it. I had stuff to get to and left before anyone signed anything.”

“Signed? What? No. Did you see him rip up the contract? Right in that asshole’s face!” Lucy’s eyes were shining. “And then he told him to get off the property, and Ron slipped in the horse crap! It was so funny I almost peed my pants.”