Free One Potion in the Grave: A Magic Potion Mystery by Heather Blake Page B

Louisa up, and her mask slipped as she stared at me. “You should be more careful.”
    “As should you,” I countered. “Tripping over invisible obstacles and such.”
    One of her perfectly plucked eyebrows lifted as she glared. There was nothing but steel magnolia in her countenance, and I suddenly wondered who was really in charge of this family.
    They had already proven that they’d go to great lengths to protect each other—and apparently if Louisa was willing to steal that envelope, she had chosen shielding her husband over outing him for his affair. I couldn’tunderstand that depth of loyalty after being betrayed and had to wonder if it was more a matter of preserving the family name for the sake of her children than anything else.
    “Now, now,” Hazel said, rushing over. “All’s well. There, there,” she clucked, awkwardly pushing Cassandra’s wheelchair away from the table, which Dylan put back in place.
    Landry gave his mother’s cheek a quick peck and said, “I have a bit of a headache. I’m going to rest for a few minutes.” He headed for the stairs.
    A bit was an understatement. His head was pounding. I didn’t offer him a headache potion, though it would have cured him in an instant. I wasn’t feeling too friendly toward this family right now.
    I needed to get out of this house. My ability to block energy, even while grasping my locket, was fading.
Headaches, pounding hearts, excitement, anxiety, fear, happiness, love, maliciousness . . .
It was too much. I’d planned to wait for Katie Sue, but surely she could find her way across the street on her own.
    Earl said, “I should be getting back to my route.” He tipped his hat. “Y’all have a good day. Try to stay out of trouble, Miss Hazel.” He winked at her, and she giggled.
    I urged him to hurry. To get that envelope far away from here. As he started for the door, I kept a close watch on Louisa to make sure she didn’t have any more
accidents
. She had her hands on her pearls and determined eyes on Earl.
    Anger. Boredom. Frustration.
Infatuation. Stress. Hatred.
    Dizzy, I swayed. My palms turned clammy, and I feltthe color drain from my face. I was losing control and had to get away before I was completely overwhelmed with the energy in the room. Dylan leaned and whispered in my ear, “Are you okay, Carly?”
    I shook my head and said softly, “I need to leave.”
    Loudly, he announced, “I’ll be in touch. Carly and I are going to head out now, too.”
    I said, “You’ll send Kathryn over to my place, Aunt Hazel?” I suddenly worried about Katie Sue’s change of address and her note to Jamie Lynn—but Hazel would know to send Jamie Lynn across the street if Katie Sue didn’t reach her first.
    Patting my hand, concern filled Hazel’s eyes. She knew what was happening—she’d seen it before. “Sure thing, sugar. Hurry on your way now.”
    Dylan put an arm around me. My head buzzed and I felt queasy—and I still had to make my way through the crowd of reporters. I braced myself as best I could. But as Earl held the door open for us, a shotgun blasted the air, shattering the last threads of my control.

Chapter Seven
    I hit the floor with a bone-jarring
whump
after having been tackled by Dylan. Energy swirled around me, flooding my senses. Tears leaked from my tightly closed eyes as I tried to fight against the waves. I was drowning.
    Confusion. Stomach hurting. Pounding pulse. Fear. Head aching. Hopelessness. Infatuation. Happiness. Knee hurting. Jealousy. Annoyance.
    Warmth settled on my cheek—Dylan’s hand. “It’s okay, Care Bear. Look at me.”
    “I—I can’t.”
    “Come on now,” he said, his lips so close to my ear that his breath stirred my hair. “What kind of quitter attitude is that?”
    Quitter? Did he just call me a quitter?
Oh hell no.
I cracked open an eye.
    “That’s my girl. Now the other one. Look at me, come on.”
    His face was blurry through the haze of my tears, but I could still see