A Magical Portent: Eerie Side of the Tracks, #4

By Ellie Ferguson and Amanda S. Green

Storm clouds gather. An unknown danger nears, one that may spell the end of Mossy Creek, TX, and all those who live there. Dr. Jax Powell and her best friends, her sisters from other misters, are determined to do whatever it takes to protect their town and loved ones. Each of them, once considered the town's wayward children, have returned home. All but one: Magdalena "Maddy" Reyes. It isn't that she's refused to return to Mossy Creek. Far from it. She appears to have dropped off the face of the Earth—or at least from the streets of Dublin. Can they find Maddy and save their town or is it already too late?

 

A Magical Portent is novella-length story that follows Rogue's Magic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hunter's Moon Press
• Release date: Sep 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781949901351

Book preview

1

Four thirty-seven. Too damned early to be awake. Not that it seemed to matter. Every day for the last week, I’d awakened at the exact same time and with the exact same feeling of foreboding. Something was wrong. I felt it in my bones.

Unfortunately, I didn’t know what that something was.

Even so, I had a good guess. More than that, it was time to do something about it. One way or the other, it was time to deal with at least one of my concerns. Maybe then I’d be able to get more than a couple of hours sleep at night.

The storm door closed softly behind me as I stepped onto the back deck a little later. As it did, I lifted my face and inhaled, taking in all the scents of the early morning. A hint of rain on the air, the flowers from the bed at the edge of the deck, even the funk from where Fenris, my German shepherd, had done his morning business. All that, along with the usual morning sounds, felt as normal as the cold nose pressing against my palm as Fenris demanded attention.

I know, buddy. It’s too early for either of us to be up.

I sipped from my oversized mug of coffee and leaned against the railing at the edge of the deck. It really was too early for any normal person to be up. Of course, no one ever accused me of being normal. Nor were these normal times. I couldn’t shake the feeling that danger neared.

Who am I kidding? That feeling had been my constant companion for the last several months. Making matters worse, it intensified with each passing day. The only thing that kept me from going off the deep end was an accompanying feeling that we still had time before that danger finally arrived.

That meant I needed to find the source of this new concern. What the hell was my subconscious trying to tell me, and why couldn’t it just come out and say it?

I stood there, sipping coffee and watching the sun edge ever closer to the horizon. Soft yellows and reds began to light the morning sky. Birds sang in the trees. Soon, the crew would arrive to continue construction on my clinic less than a mile away. Normal events for what should be a normal morning.

So why did I have the feeling this was anything but a normal morning?

Fenris whined and pressed his head against my leg. Balancing my mug on the rail, I bent and scratched between the shepherd’s ears.

Sorry, buddy. I didn’t mean to worry you. I straightened and, instead of reaching for my mug, I pulled my cellphone from my hip pocket.

I knew the answer before I unlocked the phone. Still, I hoped. Every day for the last week, I’d sent either an email or a text to Maddy. Some days I sent a combination of the three. Last night, her mother told me she’d left Maddy yet another voicemail. I didn’t need to ask if Annie and Quinn had tried contacting her. They had, and with the same result—or, more accurately, the same lack of a result.

Not a single one of us had heard back from her.

And that, I realized, was why I stood outside before dawn instead of snuggling up in bed with the man I’d soon be marrying.

Damn it, Maddy, what’s going on?

In the almost three months I’d been back in Mossy Creek, that was one of the questions I asked most often. Magdalena Ruiz, Maddy to her friends, knew something was very wrong here. She knew because her mother told her. I told her. Hell, I could name a handful of others who told her. Still, Maddy refused to come home. Even when Annie’s son was kidnapped, she stayed away. That wasn’t the Maddy we knew. Something was going on with her and I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach it was related to the troubles that seemed to plague Mossy Creek these last few years.

The real problem, at least right now, was not knowing if she was in danger or if she was part of the danger coming and that was tearing me apart.

I am and always have been Mossy Creek’s rogue, the one who protected her friends and loved ones. I didn’t like not knowing what was going on with Maddy. Worse, I hated feeling helpless.

And it was time to put an end to it and find out what the hell was going on.

I checked the time. Almost six. That put the time in Dublin, the last location I had on Maddy, at almost noon. Maybe I’d get lucky and she’d actually respond this time. If not. . . I’d cross that proverbial bridge when I got there.

Hey, Mads. Quinn’s b’day is coming up. Having surprise party to celebrate. Planned for the 23rd. Can you come?

I hit send and waited until the app confirmed the message had been sent. Then I slid the phone back in my pocket. As I did, I thought about my schedule for the next week or so. It was busy, between keeping an eye on the construction at the clinic, work, and then there were the hours spent each day with Miss Serena, Dr. Pat, and Judith. We were working to not only strengthen the wards protecting the town but also to strengthen our ties to one another. For the first time in several decades, Mossy Creek had four guardians and I prayed we were enough to protect the town and everyone in it from the danger we felt approaching.

A few minutes later, the opening strains of Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire sounded. I smiled slightly and wondered if she’d see the humor of the ringtone or kill me should she find out about it. Quinn was a fire elemental and the song seemed appropriate to my warped sense of humor. Then I sobered. Hoping Quinn calling this early in the morning meant she’d finally heard from Maddy and not something else, I pulled out my phone and answered.

What’s up, Quinn?

Any word?

Damn it. She hadn’t heard from Maddy either.

No. I just sent her a text about your birthday coming up. You aren’t supposed to know, but we’re throwing you a surprise party.

She groaned, and I grinned. Quinn was a lot like me, especially when it came to surprises. We hate them. A surprise means we aren’t in control and that’s something we both despise, if for different reasons.

No surprises and no party, she said firmly.

I chuckled softly. Trust me, it’s a ruse. Well, maybe not, but she didn’t have to know. I just figured that was one of the few things Maddy couldn’t ignore.

And?

Nothing so far, but it’s only been a few minutes since I sent the text. Still, she should have responded. I was getting seriously worried, not to mention pissed. So, why are you up so early?

Now Quinn snorted. It’s not early. Your goddaughter believes in making sure the entire household is up and about in plenty of time to get her to school.

And? I prompted.

I figured it was time for the four of us to get together to figure out what to do about Maddy. Mom told me last night that Dr. Pat is really worried about her.

I blew out a breath. Dr. Pat was more than worried. She was scared, and that was what prompted my latest text to her daughter. But Quinn was right. It was time for the two of us, as well as Annie Grissom Caldwell and Meg Sheridan Grissom, to figure out how to respond to the continued cold shoulder from our friend.

All right. When and where?

Annie’s office this afternoon around three? Mom’s going to pick Ali and Robbie up at school. Mary Kate is looking after the twins.

Sounds good. I’d have to rearrange my schedule some, but this was important.

See you then. She paused. Will you let me know if you hear from Maddy?

I will. Promise.

We said our goodbyes and ended the call. I looked at my phone for a moment, trying to will Maddy to call, text, something.

C’mon, Maddy. What’s going on? I looked to the east, worry once again weighing me down.

Damn it, Mads. I swear I’ll book a flight to Dublin and drag your ass home if you don’t answer me this time.

Knowing I couldn’t will her to respond, I turned and went inside. Early as it was, I might as well change and get in a run. Maybe that would help settle my mind enough for me to get some work done.

2

Y ou’re sure?

Stupid question. Of course, she was sure. The fact both Quinn and her sister Ciara nodded, their expressions grim, confirmed it.

Yeah, we are.

Quinn stood and walked across Annie’s office to stare out the window. As she did, I realized for the first time how tired she looked. No, how tired they all looked. Were they having as much trouble sleeping as I was? Damn it, Maddy had a lot to answer for.

I pulled in a favor from a friend of mine who’s currently on assignment in Dublin. Maddy’s there. Ciara paused and frowned. Perhaps I ought to say there’s no record of her leaving the country.

My contact isn’t quite as highly placed as Ciara’s. Quinn turned back and smiled, mischief briefly shining in her eyes. Their jobs were a point of good-natured contention between the two of them. Quinn worked for the DEA and Ciara was one of the few female Texas Rangers. Both were firmly convinced their respective agency was the best. They did confirm Maddy’s still in Dublin. She’s going to work, but that’s about all. They said they feel something’s wrong because there’s been a change in her behavior and activities over the last several months. But they’ve found nothing solid to explain it and can’t without doing a deeper dig. I won’t ask them to do that. Not without more information that will cover their ass and mine.

What do you mean, change in habit? Annie leaned forward, elbows on her desktop, her expression worried.

"My contact’s had eyes on her the last week or so. Not all the time, but often enough to get a feel for her schedule. She leaves for work early, usually before seven, and stays until six or so. Then she goes directly to her hotel. No stops along the way. No going back out after she’s there unless it is on business. Then she’s usually dressed for a night at a good restaurant or private party. There’s been