Free Tressa's Treasures (The King's Jewel Book 1) by Belinda M Gordon

that he would.
    Happiness glowed from his dark chocolate eyes. "Well, if I'm being honest, Matt found it."
    "Where? How?" I stumbled on my words. How had these pebbles from the Otherworld come to be on a mountain in Pennsylvania?
    "He found them in a stream created by the spring runoff coming down the mountain." He shook his head as if he didn't believe it himself. "I come here after over fifteen years of searching, and in a couple of weeks: success. It's incredible."
    Yes, I said to myself, it certainly is. Somebody must have placed them there, but who? Mamó couldn't have, at least not recently. Shamus? She could have asked him to do it for her. My grandfather might have done so many years ago, but that seemed improbable.
    I didn't understand what my grandmother was trying to do by bringing Alexander to Pine Ridge. Would she have gone to such lengths just to get her friend's grandson close? That didn't seem like her, though.
    "Does this mean you're done? That your treasure hunt is over now that you found the stones?"
    "Hell no. There's still a lot to do. These stones were lying on the surface. I need to find the source, and finding the source is just the beginning. Then the real science begins."
    I smiled genuinely at his enthusiasm, though his words filled me with dread.
    "So now what?"
    "Well, first I need to go back and read more of your grandfather's journals."
    A frightened gasp from the other side of the store interrupted our conversation. Something outside the window had startled Holly, who stumbled backwards. Matt grabbed her elbow to steady her.
    Alexander and I couldn't see what was outside from our vantage point. Alexander rushed out the door while I went to the window to get a look. I made a cursory glance and saw nothing.
    "Holly, what's wrong?" I asked.
    "Nothing. I'm fine. I'm just being silly. I thought something was out there," she said sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle everyone."
    "Was that the ex?" Matt asked angrily. "Has he been harassing you?"
    Alexander came back in as Matt asked his question. He nodded his head, answering him when Holly hesitated.
    "He’s just checking up on me," Holly said, falling back into old habits. "He wants to be sure I'm okay. I was just startled to see a face in the window, that's all. Let's drop it, can we?"
    Alexander gathered up his bits of stone. I encouraged him to let me know if he found any more, and the two men said their goodbyes.
    When they left, I turned on Holly.
    "Tell me what's going on with Fred," I demanded.
    "It's nothing. Really."
    I didn't respond; arms crossed, I stood and waited for more. Eventually she sighed and continued.
    "He's called a couple of times to tell me I should come home. Uses every reason in the book. He says I owe it to the baby, that I should try again for the baby's sake."
    "Does Eileen know about this?"
    "He calls me on my cell, but she knows."
    I relaxed a bit, knowing Eileen would keep things under control. She wouldn't let Fred manipulate Holly.
    Holly's voice interrupted my thoughts.
    "I keep seeing him checking me out through the window. It spooks me every time. He told me he wants to be sure I'm okay. I don’t know why he doesn't act like an adult and just come in and ask..."
    I bit my tongue to keep from answering. Fred would never come into the store again.
     
    ALEXANDER
    I fought the urge to push Shamus aside and rush past him as I followed him through the foyer to the porch at the back of the house.
    Shamus stopped when we reached the porch. He turned and faced me, blocking the doorway and giving me a measured look.
    "I'm not leaving until I speak to her, so you might as well let me in."
    "Not if I think you mean her harm," Shamus said, squaring his shoulders and standing as tall as his five-foot frame allowed.
    I had to give him credit for standing up to a man so much bigger than he was. It made me realize how angry I was, and how that came across to him: as a threat. I relaxed my free hand, which was in a