Spellbound Falls [5] For the Love of Magic by Janet Chapman Read Free Book Online Page A

through the earpiece. “Please tell me you’re not walking up Whisper Mountain.”
    “No, I’m walking to town.”
    “But you told me the house you bought is two miles down the camp road.”
    “A mere stroll, even by today’s standards.”
    “And here I thought I’ve been setting a good example for you to be a modern woman. You need to buy a vehicle, Mom, and have Nicholas teach you to drive. Just make sure you buy a truck, not a motorcycle.”
    Rana lost her smile. “Now who’s acting overprotective? And for your information, I am quite capable of teaching myself to drive the pickup I
already
purchased. And I might also buy a motorcycle, as I imagine it can’t be any more difficult to handle than a thousand-pound horse.”
    “Horses don’t go a hundred miles an hour.” The earpiece suddenly went silent, and then Carolina said, “I’m sorry. But in my defense, I can’t stop picturing the motorcycle that came racing up the TarStone road last week while I was having lunch with Alec’s mom on the ski lodge deck. Sadie choked on her salad and I nearly fell off my chair when the guy took off his helmet and we realized it was Daddy.”
    It was Rana’s turn to sigh. “I can’t decide if he bought that motorcycle hoping to impress me or if he’s trying to recapture his youth.”
    “He certainly impressed the MacKeage elders. Greylen and Morgan and Callum all rushed out to the parking lot to admire Dad’s new toy, and Alec told me that now his father and Greylen are talking about getting one. Um, Mom? I know you said it’s none of my business, but is the real reason you won’t tell me why you left Daddy because you’re afraid of upsetting me? Maude assures me that just because you had a difficult time in childbirth, it doesn’t mean I will.”
    “Oh, honey, you are the least fragile woman I know.”
    “Then why won’t you tell me what’s going on between you two?”
    “Because it’s none of your business. So,” she continued, deciding to change the subject, “have you lovebirds found a place in Spellbound to rent while you build your summer home?”
    “Ah . . . not exactly.” Rana stopped walking when she heard her daughter take a deep breath. “Alec got a good deal on a speedboat from a dealer here in Pine Creek,” Carolina rushed on, “so we’ve decided to live at the building site instead of running the length of the fiord every day.”
    “Caro, you’re seven and a half months pregnant.”
    “So which is it, Mom? Am I fragile or strong?”
    “It’s not that you
can’t
camp out in the wilderness, but rather why would you want to? What’s the point of living in this wonderful century if you’re going to cook over a campfire and traipse to a privy every time the baby kicks your bladder?”
    “Having the
choice
is the point. And besides, I have some pretty fond memories of camping out with Alec.”
    “And after the baby arrives,” Rana whispered so she wouldn’t shout, “are you planning to continue living in a lean-to with a newborn?”
    “We’ll be fine, Mom. So why are you going to town?”
    Rana took a calming breath and started walking again, deciding Carolina had inherited her stubbornness from Titus. Because considering how hard their daughter had fought to live in this century, only to ironically
choose
to forego indoor plumbing every summer, the girl was also determined to remain Alec’s
girlfriend
right up to her due date. Rana wondered if Alec ever questioned his decision to save “Jane Smith” from her abductors eighteen months ago.
    “Mom?”
    It took Rana a moment to remember the question. “The ladies are meeting at The Bottoms Up to discuss our progress on the clinic and women’s shelter.”
    “You’re meeting in a bar?”
    “It’s closed at this hour, Caro. Vanetta suggested we meet there instead of at the Drunken Moose because of the breakfast rush hour.”
    “Ski season is winding down here, so you can expect me to be a more active member of your