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Asher rubbed her hand with his thumb. Her gaze flicked up to him, and the corner of her lip turned up in a weak smile.

“What do you think it means?” asked Abe.

If anyone here would have answers, it would be Bridget.

“I’m not yet sure, but I do remember the ramblings of that awful warlock before he died. I can’t say if they are involved yet. It very well could just be the coal company come a-knocking again. Protecting this mountain is a full-time job. Both the forces of magic and man have always been after it.”

Asher let out a long breath. Generations of his family had lived right here, protecting it. But one thing he never understood was: “What exactly are we protecting?”

Abe’s head snapped over to him. “We protect the mountain,” he said in a deep rumble.

“I know we protect the mountain, but why? Haven’t you ever wondered what we are protecting?”

Abe narrowed his eyes. “No.”

“Well, good for you, but I have. . . . I’m not saying I won’t. I’m not even saying I don’t want to. I’m just asking why?”

Bridget cocked her head, taking him in. “I don’t actually know. Yer mother never told me.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Abe said, like he had the authority to stop Asher’s questions.

“Why? Don’t you want to know?”

“It won’t change anything.”

“I’m not saying it will. I just think that, maybe if we understood it more, we could better protect it and the magic it holds.”

Bridget took a deep breath, and a calm seemed to come over them.

Damn, Bridget is good.

“Well, it looks like we have a few things to figure out. No good can come from the old coal company sniffing around again, so we need to put a stop to that. And while both of ye do a good job protecting this mountain, there’s no harm in learning what exactly it is ye’re protecting.”

“How long are you staying?” Julie asked.

“Oh . . . I think I’ll be around for a while. There are a few fairs I’ll want to make stops in, but if no one minds, I’ll make Hecate’s Hollow my home for a while. Do ye know of Hecate?”

Julie shook her head.

“Hecate, the maiden, mother and crone and the goddess of the crossroads. She protects boundaries. Her magic calls to witches everywhere. There is a reason this town was named Hecate’s Hollow. I think if we find that out, we might be able to find out more of what kind of magic this mountain holds.”

“Abe, my mom wants to talk to you,” Ruby called down the stairs.

The chair scraped against the floor as Abe stood and walked over to the phone.

Sunny looked over at Asher and smiled.

That did settle his soul, but he couldn’t help but feel like they were on a precipice of something. He wasn’t sure what yet, but the return of Sunny and the suit was unsettling.

Ruby came down the stairs with her dark curls and a grin. “Julie, can we have ice cream?”

“Is your homework done?”

“Yeah, I just have to practice piano.”

“Okay, I just bought some mint chocolate chip. How does that sound?”

“Perfect!”