Spellbound Falls [5] For the Love of Magic by Janet Chapman

they’re sixteen.”
    “Yeah, which is why Greylen and Jack had to sit Niall down and explain modern courtship. Anyway, Duncan asked Alec if he wanted the job, but my very wise boyfriend said he was perfectly happy being a ski bum seven months of the year and a supportive husband and doting daddy the other five.”
    “I hope you realize what a lucky woman you are, Caro.”
    “Really? I prefer to see myself as smart.”
    “Yes, I definitely meant
smart
.” Rana finally came to the end of the camp road. “I’ve reached town, so I’m going to hang up and pay attention to traffic.”
    “Spellbound has traffic at eight thirty on a Monday morning during mud season?”
    “
Geriatric
traffic. Apparently the grange ladies are also meeting this morning to discuss their summer project.”
    A soft groan came through the earpiece. “Any idea what they’re planning to spring on the poor townspeople this year?”
    “When I was in the Trading Post Friday afternoon, Ezra mentioned that Janice Crupp asked him to keep an eye out for any storefronts coming up for rent that would be appropriate for a historical museum.”
    “But
you’re
trying to find a building in town. And Spellbound needs a women’s clinic a lot more than it needs a museum.”
    Rana turned at the sound of a racing engine to see Christina Richie peering over the steering wheel of the fast-approaching red sedan, even as she recognized Janice Crupp in the passenger’s seat beside her. “Preserving a town’s history is also important,” she said as she scurried into the church’s driveway.
    “What’s that noise? Are you already nearing the waterfall or is that a . . .”
    Rana lost the last of Carolina’s words when the car suddenly gained speed as it passed by, just as she also spotted a pickup with three women in the front seat crossing the bridge from the opposite direction—both vehicles apparently headed for the one remaining parking space across from the Drunken Moose.
    “Mom!” Carolina shouted over the screech of the pickup braking to a halt when Christina Richie shot into the space ahead of it.
    “I’m okay,” she assured her daughter, only to gasp when the victorious car’s right front tire hit the remains of an old snowbank, driving the sedan’s nose into the air before finally rocking to a halt at a precarious angle.
    “Sweet Athena, what’s going on?”
    “Two vehicles, one parking space, and some very determined women,” Rana said, only to give a squeak and bolt for the closest storefront when the thwarted pickup suddenly shot toward the church’s driveway. “Don’t worry, Caro,” she said dryly. “I definitely won’t be purchasing a motorcycle.”
    “Walking doesn’t appear to be any safer. I guess you really do need a police chief, if for no other reason than to write traffic tickets.”
    “I hope he has balls of brass if he intends to ticket the grange ladies.”
    “Mother!”
    “Because the driver of the losing vehicle just got out and shot Christina Richie a very unladylike gesture. Bye, baby. I’ll give you a call this evening and bring you up to speed on our progress.”
    “Okay. Tell everyone I said hi and that I’ll see them in a couple of weeks.”
    “I will. You give Alec my love. Oh, and be a dear, would you, and tell him I was able to fill his request and that it will be here in plenty of time.”
    “What request? And in time for what? Mom, what are you and Alec up to?” Carolina asked when Rana said nothing.
    Rana pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “Bye, daughter. Take good care of my grandchild,” she said, hitting the END button.
    • • •
    Joining the small gathering of women sitting at the window table overlooking the Bottomless Sea, Rana shed her jacket and sat down to an interesting conversation.
    “Mac told me it’s nothing to worry about,” her daughter-in-law, Olivia, said to Duncan’s wife, Peg. “And until I see otherwise, I have to agree with him.”
    “But you have