He grabbed my notebook and pen and went straight to work, outlining a plan in his textbook-perfect handwriting. “See, we find something he can’t resist that he’s sure to try to get into, then magically ward it. That should intrigue him enough to stop and study it. I doubt they’ve yet covered wards, so he won’t know what’s going on. Then we can grab him. He’ll probably try using magic to defend himself, but it won’t work on you, and I can deflect it. He’ll think he’s outclassed and outnumbered.”
He looked up at me and grinned. “See, this is why I need you around. You make me think better.”
Then he blushed furiously and looked back down at the notebook. “Well, most of the time. When you’re not in immediate danger.”
At least he’d acknowledged that he needed me, even if he’d felt the need to throw in the part about me in danger. That’s what had tripped us up the last time, and I didn’t like the reminder. “Then maybe we should just lock me up in a bank vault, and you can come visit me when you need to brainstorm.”
He completely missed my sarcasm in his excitement. “That’s it exactly! You know he’ll want to hit the bank. Emptying the safe would be the ultimate magical robber challenge. I should ward the bank.
I’ll do it tonight, while he’s still probably recovering from last night’s activities and before he hits again. If I’m tired from what little I did, I’m sure he’s exhausted from making all those windows disappear.”
“Looks like another night without much sleep for us.” And it looked like we’d be spending more time alone together after dark. That was a big bonus.
Since we had our work out of the way, I would have thought we had the rest of the day after we finished lunch free for sightseeing or even just spending time together and really catching up, but Owen wanted to go back to town and check out the bank and surrounding area. I hoped that meant he wanted to get his work taken care of so he could focus on me, but I was afraid he just wanted to get back to New York.
We got home in plenty of time to help Mom prepare the huge feast. She’d already fried chicken, had chicken and dumplings stewing, and there was a roast in the oven. She set us to work snapping beans while she made a pie. Granny came over an hour early with a tuna salad. “Because it’s healthy to have salad with your meal,” she said, and Mom shot us a pleading look.
“Granny, Owen was fascinated with some of the local history. You’ve lived here a long time. I’m sure you have stories,” I said, moving her out of the kitchen and into the living room, where she regaled him with tales I was sure were mostly fictional, but still interesting, or would have been if I hadn’t heard them dozens of times. They were new to Owen, though, and he seemed to be paying attention, even taking mental notes whenever she lapsed into Lucky Charms land and started talking about things like the wee folk. He seemed determined not to let himself go off duty.
Then the rest of the clan started arriving, and the usual Chandler family chaos ensued. Beth and Teddy got there first. Beth greeted Owen with a kiss on the cheek, which momentarily flustered him.
“How are you enjoying your visit?” she asked him.
“I really like Texas,” he said. “I’m enjoying the open spaces.”
“Very diplomatic,” she said with a laugh. “I guess the family can be a little overwhelming. I find them overwhelming, and I went to school with Teddy and Katie, so they weren’t strangers to me.”
That got him even more flustered. “That’s—that’s not what I meant…”
She turned to me. “Katie, he really is the cutest thing. I think I approve.” The only thing that saved Owen from dying of embarrassment on the spot was Lucy stretching her arms out toward him and whimpering. She practically wiggled her way out of her mother’s arms, and Owen caught her just in time. “Well, will you look at that,” Beth said, putting her hands on her hips as Lucy contentedly sighed and snuggled against his shoulder. “Katie, sweetie, you may have competition here for your man. Owen, you don’t have to hold her. I’ll take her back.”
“No, this is okay, for a while, I guess.” He looked a little lost, like he wasn’t quite sure what to do.
Teddy clapped him on the back. “I may give my sister credit for thinking for herself, but my daughter doesn’t yet have much life experience, so I’ll be watching you, buddy.”
Beth slipped a burp cloth between Lucy and Owen’s shirt. “She’s teething, so she drools,” she explained. “Let me know when you get tired of holding her, or hand her off to Katie.” Then she darted off to help in the kitchen.