Free spies and spells 02 - betting off dead by tonya kappes Page B

asked.
    “Money. At least a million. That’s the first installment to be let into the betting arena. I’ve already met with Forest and given him the money. We’ve sort of become friends and as a couple we are going to go out to dinner with them tonight.” Mick sucked in a big inhale.
    “Tonight?” I asked. “But I have to go to a meeting to help clear my mom’s name with the historical society because she planted bushes along the walk in front of the house.” Tonight was the night they were going to discuss Mom’s bushes.
    “Not tonight you aren’t. Your mom is a big girl. She can take up for herself.” He opened the door and got out before I could protest.
    He waved a hand when Forest called out his name. He walked over and helped me out of the driver’s seat.
    “Your little lady doesn’t let you drive this fancy car?” Forest had high-tailed it over to us before we could shut the driver’s door.
    Mick put his arm around me and snugged me tight. In a normal situation it might’ve felt good, but this just felt all sorts of ick in my bones.
    “She likes it fast.” Mick winked. “Just like we like our horses and money.”
    “Whooo weeee.” Forest high-fived Mick, nearly making me nauseous. “Gorgeous horses and fast women are exactly what we like in Kentucky.” He patted Mick on the back. “Where are my manners?” he asked himself. “I’m Forest Tucker and that there is my wife Riley.” He waved her over.
    She tilted her head in the air and lifted her chin in acknowledgment. She plucked another flute of champagne off the tray and was now double fisted.
    “You must be Maggie.” She handed me the flute. “I’ve heard so much about you and Mitch.”
    “Mick.” I corrected her.
    “Mick.” Her eyes lowered and salivated over my ring. “Cheers.” She smiled.
    “Cheers.” I held the flute to the side and let the clink of the glasses chime before taking a sip. As it touched my lips, the champagne changed to apple cider. It was way too early in the morning for me to be drinking and I wasn’t much of a champagne person. Give me my bourbon any day, but not any hour.
    “Shall we?” Forest gestured for us to walk ahead of him.
    I looked over my shoulder when I felt the pendant warm to my skin. Forest was taking his leisurely time taking a walk around Vinnie.
    Maggie , Vinnie’s voice popped in my head. I don’t like this guy or his wife. You stay on high alert. And you have to go to the meeting tonight.
    I ran my finger along the stone to let Vinnie know that I had gotten his message loud and clear and that I too had a bad feeling about this whole situation, which frightened me and excited me at the same time.
    It was upon me and I knew it. My two worlds had fully collided and my life’s journey had been revealed.
    “I, Maggie Park, take the oath of my life’s journey and keep my witchy powers a secret for all good,” I whispered out into the air. “For the love of family, coven and thyself.”

Chapter Seven
     
    The auction was nothing like I had expected. I was expecting us to go into a fancy room where they paraded the horse in front of us and we held up paddles as the auctioneer rattled off the amounts like they did at the Keeneland horse sales up in Lexington.
    After we’d introduced ourselves to a few people, Ranger ushered everyone into the barn. As we walked past him, he handed me a clipboard. The piece of paper had a stall number, the horse’s name along with all of the stats, which were: breed, farm, lineage and any sort of awards associated with the stud from which the horse had come from. I noticed all the horses where male.
    The smell of old leather saddles, manure and hay sprinkled the air. There were three stalls on each side. Mick and I worked in sync. I followed what the women were doing as he mimicked what the men were doing. The men went up to the stall first. They walked in, walked to each side of the horse before starting the ritual all over, this time running a