Free Protected by Stone (A Paranormal Romance Novel) by Cynthia Brint Page B

like this.” He  seemed to realize how awkward the air felt. “Ahem. Anyway. Let me just look over this quickly. I don't imagine there'll be any issues, you seem to be listed as both executor, and the only recipient.”
    Nodding, I folded my hands into the sleeves of my sweater. Between what Dirk had said, and what Franz was saying now, it was becoming clear why everyone in town was staring at me. They must have realized I'm Tessa's granddaughter, I do look a lot like her when she was near my age. And... I'm guessing people here didn't like her very much.
    Did they know, or suspect, she was a witch? Is that all it takes to be scared of me?
    Thinking about how I'd reacted so poorly to Grault and his claims, my stomach lurched.
    People either don't believe it, or they do and think the worst. That must be it.
    Knowing I had acted no better towards my strange new tenants didn't assuage my guilt.
    “Well,” Franz said, breaking into my brooding thoughts. “This all looks fine. Let me grab a copy of the deed, and we can get this signed and sorted.”
    “Alright.” I watched him leave, heard him talking briefly to Debra. I could see their shapes through the foggy glass, and by the sound of things, was sure they were digging through filing cabinets.
    True to his word, Franz was back quickly. “This should do it. Just, ah, sign down here... and here...” Wherever he pointed, I scrawled my messy signature. I felt relief when I saw his was just as cramped. The final step was a nice big stamp, an action Franz did with ceremonial delight. “I like that part,” he explained with a self-conscious smile.
    Collecting my copy of everything, I buried it deep in my purse. “So that's it?”
    “That's it,” he agreed, watching me while I stood fluidly. Again, his palm reached for me. That time, when we shook, I noted he was less sweaty. “Welcome to Barrow Village, Miss Blooms.” He considered his next words, taking long enough to make me ponder how genuine he was being. “I hope you like it here.”
    My fingers drifted from his. “You know, I do too. Thanks, Mr. Firth.”
    “If that's all you need, I can show you out.”
    “Actually,” I said, digging into my bag again. “Do you write money orders here?”
    My question had thrown him off, it took him some time to fight around his tongue. “Oh. Uh. Yes, of course, I can do that for you. I tend to handle all paperwork, legal or otherwise. They don't need more than just me here, as you can imagine, I'm sure—ah.” He paused in his rambling. “How much do you need it for?”
    I unfolded the bills to show him. “I'll need an envelope to send it in, as well.”
    Franz did it all, quick to exchange my money for the official slip of paper. “Could I ask who you'd be sending so much money to?”
    I scribbled down the address carefully. “Just squaring away a debt. Good day, Mr. Firth.”
    Outside, the world felt brighter. It was with some private pleasure that I slipped the envelope into the mail box.
    I hoped Miss Tanner would get it promptly.
    ****
    F or the third time, I squinted at Grault's neat writing. Then, up at the wall of fruit in front of me. “What the hell,” I whispered to myself, “does he expect me to do with this?”
    He'd written down a number of items, but most notably was the number beside each of them. Three containers of eggs, ten pounds of bacon, six chickens—and a single duck—does he actually expect me to carry all of this back?
    And what the hell is a capon!? I've never heard of that before!
    I rested my forehead on the cool glass of the meat chiller. If this was the first hint of my duties as a caretaker, I didn't feel optimistic about what else was coming.
    “Farra?” Swinging around, I found Dr. Colton standing beside me in the grocery store. He looked perfectly surprised to see me. “So you decided to stay, then.”
    “How could you tell?” I asked, looking for the answer in his calm face.
    He tucked his thumbs into his belt loops.