cut the engine and silence surrounded them as they drifted into the still waters of the cove. Her heart clenched – just for a moment – as it always did whenever they entered the cove. Whether people would admit it or not, there was powerful magick here. Morgan could feel the weight of it press against her skin as though she was passing through a thin veil of smoke. Steam drifted into the sky from the still waters of the cove and the cliffs hugged the water in an almost perfect half-circle. A sandy beach stretched at the base of the cliffs, looking for all the world like the perfect picnic spot. Instead, it lay empty, the waves lapping gently against the golden sand.
Morgan hefted the bag and spoke loudly, her words echoing back to her from the cliff walls. "We would like to offer you these gifts as a sign of our respect for your waters. We promise not to harm the cove, nor are we here for unworthy purposes." Morgan never repeated the same words when she entered the cove, but the intent was the same.
We mean no harm.
We respect these sacred waters.
With those words, she tossed the bag into the water and it disappeared into the depths with a soft little plop.
"Let's check the pots," Flynn said and Morgan pulled herself away from the front of the boat.
It was time for work.
Hours later, Morgan stretched her back while looking at the pile of baskets in the back of the boat. The baskets had been teeming with large lobsters when they'd pulled them from the water and Flynn had been delighted with the haul. All in all, it had been a peaceful, if not busy, day. Flynn and Morgan typically worked in silence, with Flynn humming along to the music from the small radio in the dash. Morgan didn't mind the physical labor as it left her alone with her thoughts.
And, lately, she'd been thinking a lot about the managerial position that Aislinn had been nudging her towards at the gallery.
It wasn't that she didn't want to take it – she'd do anything for Aislinn. It was just that the old insecurities that had plagued her since childhood had crept up, making her question her ability to do the job well. She'd rather not take the job than fail Aislinn in any way.
Reaching a decision, even though it made her a little sad, had her slumping down in the seat next to Flynn and letting out a small sigh.
Flynn cast her a quick glance. "How are things at the gallery?"
Morgan sliced a glance at him. "Sure and I could swear that Cait was the one with the mind-reading powers, not yourself," she said, smiling up at him.
Flynn raised an eyebrow at her and smiled. "Work on your mind?"
"Aye, Aislinn wants me to manage the store."
"Well, that's a wonderful opportunity. It will allow Aislinn more time to paint and it's clear you've an eye for what you're doing."
Morgan angled her head at Flynn as the shoreline whipped past them.
"How so?"
"And weren't you the one responsible for the fancy design at her showing? What about the way the shop's been rearranged or how Aislinn's now selling prints of her work around the world? Surely that wasn't all Aislinn's work?"
Morgan couldn't help but smile at his words.
"I suppose that I've had a bit of a hand in that," she said.
"I'd say. Listen, I love Aislinn but she isn't the most business-minded. Half the time she closes the gallery on a whim to go painting."
"Which I've put my foot down about," Morgan said firmly.
"See? You'll do just fine."
"I don't know," Morgan said softly, shrugging her shoulders.
"Are you worried about quitting this job?"
"I don't want to lose it or leave you hanging," Morgan said on a rush of words. "You took a chance on me when nobody else would and it means the world to me."
Flynn slowed the boat to a crawl and turned to look at her.
"I won't be upset if you take the job. You deserve it."
"But, what will you do about going into the cove? Nobody else can do that with you."
"I've been doing it for years prior to you coming here," Flynn pointed out gently.
"Well, what
Morgan hefted the bag and spoke loudly, her words echoing back to her from the cliff walls. "We would like to offer you these gifts as a sign of our respect for your waters. We promise not to harm the cove, nor are we here for unworthy purposes." Morgan never repeated the same words when she entered the cove, but the intent was the same.
We mean no harm.
We respect these sacred waters.
With those words, she tossed the bag into the water and it disappeared into the depths with a soft little plop.
"Let's check the pots," Flynn said and Morgan pulled herself away from the front of the boat.
It was time for work.
Hours later, Morgan stretched her back while looking at the pile of baskets in the back of the boat. The baskets had been teeming with large lobsters when they'd pulled them from the water and Flynn had been delighted with the haul. All in all, it had been a peaceful, if not busy, day. Flynn and Morgan typically worked in silence, with Flynn humming along to the music from the small radio in the dash. Morgan didn't mind the physical labor as it left her alone with her thoughts.
And, lately, she'd been thinking a lot about the managerial position that Aislinn had been nudging her towards at the gallery.
It wasn't that she didn't want to take it – she'd do anything for Aislinn. It was just that the old insecurities that had plagued her since childhood had crept up, making her question her ability to do the job well. She'd rather not take the job than fail Aislinn in any way.
Reaching a decision, even though it made her a little sad, had her slumping down in the seat next to Flynn and letting out a small sigh.
Flynn cast her a quick glance. "How are things at the gallery?"
Morgan sliced a glance at him. "Sure and I could swear that Cait was the one with the mind-reading powers, not yourself," she said, smiling up at him.
Flynn raised an eyebrow at her and smiled. "Work on your mind?"
"Aye, Aislinn wants me to manage the store."
"Well, that's a wonderful opportunity. It will allow Aislinn more time to paint and it's clear you've an eye for what you're doing."
Morgan angled her head at Flynn as the shoreline whipped past them.
"How so?"
"And weren't you the one responsible for the fancy design at her showing? What about the way the shop's been rearranged or how Aislinn's now selling prints of her work around the world? Surely that wasn't all Aislinn's work?"
Morgan couldn't help but smile at his words.
"I suppose that I've had a bit of a hand in that," she said.
"I'd say. Listen, I love Aislinn but she isn't the most business-minded. Half the time she closes the gallery on a whim to go painting."
"Which I've put my foot down about," Morgan said firmly.
"See? You'll do just fine."
"I don't know," Morgan said softly, shrugging her shoulders.
"Are you worried about quitting this job?"
"I don't want to lose it or leave you hanging," Morgan said on a rush of words. "You took a chance on me when nobody else would and it means the world to me."
Flynn slowed the boat to a crawl and turned to look at her.
"I won't be upset if you take the job. You deserve it."
"But, what will you do about going into the cove? Nobody else can do that with you."
"I've been doing it for years prior to you coming here," Flynn pointed out gently.
"Well, what
Similar Books
My Zombie Summer (Book 1): The Undead Road
David Powers King
Lost Cause
John Wilson
Good Together
C. J. Carmichael
The Blue Executions
George Norris
A Wedding for Julia
Vannetta Chapman
Danger Close
Charlie Flowers
Three’s a Clan
Roxy Mews
His Unbearable Desire 2
Elena Stone
The Legacy of Hope House
Dilys Xavier
The Lady Elizabeth
Alison Weir