Page 24 of Cadenbury Town Does Halloween

Kean pulls the young woman back, who still has hold of the dog’s collar.

“Let me take the dog,” Adhan says, letting go of the rail and Kean’s hand and bending down to pick the dog up.

He turns around and hands the dog through the rail to Jude.

Kean turns to the young woman. “Let’s help you up.”

“Thanks, sorry you both got wet, but thanks for your help.”

“No problem,” and with that Kean helps the young woman up the rails and Cam helps her over.

I watch Adhan and Kean climb back up and over the rail.

The dog is safely on its lead and looking wet but with a smile on its face, as if knowing it’s now safe.

“Thank you so much for your help,” the lady says. “She somehow slipped her lead, saw the open gate and jumped on the ledge and into the water.”

“Then she panicked when she realised how strong the undercurrent was and how deep the water was,” the young lady added. “Thanks for helping, I was trying not to fall in, but I couldn’t not help her.”

“We all would have done the same. I’m glad we could help though,” Kean says.

After pretty much all of us patted the dog, we head back to where we left our supplies and finished packing up. I dry Adhan and see Tie has dried Kean

“So that was eventful.” Sal says from beside us. “We probably should have dried that young woman.”

“And how would we explain that?” I say.

“Magic?” Sal replies grinning.

I snort out a laugh and we all head for the cars.

We arrive homea few hours later and Ma and Pa turn up, bringing a birthday cake and presents for Temp. He stammers out a thank you and hugs the stuffing out of both of them.

All in all, spinster troll aside and a drowning dog, we had a really fun day. That’s not to say I ever want to put my hand in a bait bag or actually try crabbing, but it was fun.

CHAPTER 12

Sunday morning arrives and it is peeing down, not just raining but the heaviest of heavy rain.

“Do we have to call the BBQ off?” Nora asks generally.

“Not if the witches here don’t mind creating a large marquee for the garden,” Adhan says.

“Pretty sure we might need space heaters as well to keep the damp off and flooring so no one is knee-deep in mud,” Temp says. “We can get on with creating everything needed after breakfast.”

“Can I help?” Nora asks.

“I’m sure we can find something for you to do,” Temp tells her.

Nora beams. “Thank you, Temp.”

“I can help as well,” Justice says. “I’m sure I can create killer space heaters or some such things.”

We all laugh at that. I love the way Justice can laugh at himself now. Plus the fact that no one can bespell him into turning bad again. I did wonder how going bad would affect him, but probably through Alfred’s love and our friendship, he’s fine.

I’m working at the bookshop this morning, Alfred is working this afternoon and closing and Pa has the day off. Truthfully I’m glad to be out of the rain. I know the others will be creating a tent and space heaters, but it’s still wet, so very wet. Still, it will be nice to see Madam Cleo and the others again.

The shop is quiet for the moment, so I walk into the tearoom. There are a few people sat having what looks like an informal meeting. I say informal as we don’t usually have meetings on a Sunday. I was surprised when I first started working at the bookshop, how many meetings were held here, both in the meeting rooms upstairs and the teashop.