Drake Sisters 01 - Magic in the Wind

work. Rather than you climbing around on the roof, wasting your time when you could be gardening."
    She turned her head slightly to look at Damon. "Mr. Darden is renowned for his garden and flowers. He wins every year at the fair for his hybrids."
    Damon could see shadows in her eyes. He smiled at her, leaned forward to brush a gentle kiss on the top of her head when she turned back to the Dardens. "Lance probably needs the work and you'd be doing him such a favor."

    Mrs. Darden tugged at her husband's hand. “Thank you, Sarah, it's good advice and we'll do that. I've been worrying about Clyde up there on that roof but..." She trailed off.
    "I think you're right, Sarah," Mr. Darden suddenly agreed.
    "I think I'll call Lance straightaway."
    Sarah shrugged with studied casualness but Damon felt her shoulders sag in relief. "I can't wait for the fair this year to see your beautiful entries. I really wanted you to meet Damon Wilder, a friend of mine. He bought the old Hanover place."
    She smiled sweetly at Damon to include him. "I know you're often in the garden and working on your lovely yard—have you noticed any strangers around that were asking questions or making you feel uncomfortable?"
    The Dardens looked at one another. "No, Sarah, I can't say that we have," Mrs. Darden answered, "but then we strictly mind our own business. You know I've always believed in staying out of my neighbors' affairs."
    "It's just that with you working outdoors so much I thought you might be able to keep an eye out for me and give me a call if anything should look suspicious," Sarah said.
    "You can count on us, Sarah," Mr. Darden said. "I just bought myself a new pair of binoculars and sitting on my front porch I have a good view of the entire street!"
    “Thank you, Mr. Darden," Sarah said. “That would be wonderful. We're just on our way to visit Irene and Drew."
    The smile faded from Mrs. Darden's face. "Oh, that's so sad, Sarah, I hope you can help them. When is Libby going to come home? She would be such a help. How's she doing these days?"
    "Libby's overseas right now, Mrs. Darden," Sarah said.
    "She's doing fine. Hopefully she'll be able to get home soon.
    I'll tell her you were inquiring about her."
    "I heard the awful news on Donna," Mrs. Darden continued. "Are these strangers involved in her attack? I heard you shot one of them. I don't believe in violence as a rule, Sarah, now, you know that, but I hope you did enough damage that he'll think twice before he attacks another woman."
    "Donna's going to be fine," Sarah assured her, "and I didn't shoot him."
    Mrs. Darden patted Sarah's shoulder. "It's all right dear, I understand."
    Sarah turned away with a cheery wave. The sisters erupted into wild laughter. Damon shook his head incredulously. "She thinks you shot that man. Even now, with you denying it, she thinks you shot him."
    "True." Sarah pinned him with a steely gaze. "She also believes someone saw me walk on water. Now who could have started that rumor?"
    Hannah tugged at Damon's sleeve in a teasing way, a gesture of affection for her. "That was a good one, Damon, I wish I'd thought of it."
    Kate threw back her head and laughed, her wild mane of hair blowing around her in the light breeze. "That was priceless. And you should hear what they're saying about you. The whisper is, you're some famous wizard Sarah's been studying under."
    "Now really," Sarah objected, "at least they could have said he's been studying under me. I swear chauvinism is still rear-ing its ugly head in this century."
    Damon could feel a glow spreading. He felt a part of their family. He belonged with them, in the midst of their laughter and camaraderie. He didn't feel on the outside looking in, as he had most of his life. Sarah's sisters seem to accept him readily into their lives and even their hearts. Tolerance and acceptance seemed a big part of Sarah's family. It suddenly occurred to him, even with a threat hanging over his head, that he'd spent less time thinking of past trauma and more about the present and future than he had in months.
    "I think I like being thought of as a wizard," Damon mused.
    "Sarah says you're a brain." Kate waved at Jonas Harrington as he cruised by them in his patrol car.
    "What are you doing?" Hannah hissed, smacking Kate's hand down. "Don't be nice to that idiot. We should make him drive into a ditch or something."
    "Don't you dare," Sarah told her sister sternly. "I mean it, Hannah, you can't use our gifts for