GhostlyPersuasion by Dena Garson

forget.”
    “I’m sure you didn’t.”
    “It wasn’t until some time later that I learned the mill
owner had been a troll.”
    “Wow. You’re serious.”
    “Of course.”
    Katie fell silent as she absorbed the story. She barely
noticed the path they followed and didn’t realize the dark forest was now
behind them.
    Finally Seamus spoke up. “Riona’s cottage is just over that
hill.” He stopped where the path made a sharp turn to the right and pointed
across the meadow that lay before them. “We’ll have to find our own way from
here.”
    “I thought you said it was safe as long as we stayed on the
path. Why are we stepping off?”
    “As we passed the forest, that’s true. This continues on to
Kilmorny, but the way we’re going, once we cross through the wards we’ll be on
protected land.”
    “Protected? Protected by whom?”
    “By the women who have aided and protected this land and the
people on it for hundreds of years.”
    “Riona?”
    He nodded. “And those who came before her.”
    Seamus stepped off the path then turned and waited for her.
    Katie hesitated long enough to debate her choices. She
shrugged inwardly. In for a penny, in for a pound. As soon as her foot sank
into the grass she heard a buzzing in her ears and all the hair on her arms stood
on end. The feeling only lasted a few seconds but troubled her.
    “Why do I feel like I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole?” she
asked when she reached Seamus.
    He looked at the ground around her feet. “The rabbit hole?”
    “ Alice in Wonderland ?”
    Seamus’ expression remained unchanged.
    “It’s a book.” She waved away the thought. “Never mind. So
where are we going?”
    “This way.”
    Katie followed Seamus through the meadow and over one small
hill. It was an easy hike despite the damp grass they were marching through.
Clouds kept the temperature down, so even after walking what felt like more
than a mile, she wasn’t sweating.
    Finally she saw a small house in the distance. “Is that it?”
Katie asked.
    “That’s the cottage.”
    As they got closer Katie noticed smoke coming from the
chimney. A warm fire and a cup of coffee sounded really good.
    “Do you think she will be able to tell me more about my
mother’s family?”
    “There is only one way to find out.”
    A woman came out of the cottage. She watched them for a
moment then walked to the gate of the short fence that surrounded the area in
front.
    “Is that Riona?” Katie asked.
    “It is.”
    Katie’s heart beat heavily in her chest.
    “Worry not, Little Katie. She will like you.”
    “I’m not worried.”
    “You are. I can tell.”
    Katie looked at Seamus questioningly.
    “As soon as you saw Riona, your hands curled and you started
fidgeting with the ring on your thumb.”
    She opened her mouth to deny what he said but realized it
was pointless and settled for a noncommittal grunt.
    “I’m willing to bet your heart is beating faster too.” He
looked at her with a mischievous leer. “It’s too bad I can’t stick my hand
under your shirt to find out.”
    Katie’s eyes widened and she stumbled over something.
    “Ooooh, you are a devil, aren’t you?” she asked when she
regained her footing.
    “Not at all.”
    “Harrumph.”
    “It took your mind off meeting Riona, didn’t it?”
    Katie tried to hold back the smile that played about her
lips. “Maybe.”
    “I bet it did,” he teased.
    “Even if it did, I wouldn’t admit it to you.”
    They bantered back and forth until they reached the yard.
    “Good morning,” the woman called out in greeting.
    “Good morning. Are you Riona?”
    “Some know me by that name.”
    Katie pasted a smile on her face and approached the gate.
Riona was of similar build to herself. Average height, perhaps an inch taller
than Katie. Her hair was darker than Katie’s with coppery strands. Even though
Riona tied it at the back of her neck, Katie could tell it was long and
somewhat wavy, like hers.
    Katie extended her