Drinks and Sinkholes by S. Usher Evans

Author:S. Usher Evans [Evans, S. Usher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sun's Golden Ray Publishing

Chapter Thirteen

Bev awoke the next morning and sped through her chores. She was running low on hay for the horses, and the kitchen wasn't nearly as clean as Wim McKee would've expected, but she wanted to get down to business. She hadn't the foggiest idea how she was going to find a book on magic, let alone find it without Max the librarian noticing. A clever spy, she certainly was not.

Once the clock struck ten, she left the inn and walked toward the library. She paced around the town square, stopping to examine the sinkhole there and trying to appear as if she wasn't searching for the librarian.

Max didn't seem to be on his stool, but that didn't mean he wasn't around. She winced as the bell jingled above her head and held her breath. But she didn't hear the librarian, nor did he call out in greeting, so she silently closed the door behind her.

She crossed the room in three steps and scanned the spines of the books just behind his counter. Almanacs from years ago. Not useful. So she walked to the shelf just behind it, finding more almanacs. Her pulse spiking, she crossed the room and found mundane books on gardening, pottery, and other homemaking skills.

"Bev! I didn't hear you come in!"

She went stick straight as Max emerged from the back office with a smile.

"Hey, Max," she said, hoping she didn't sound guilty. "Good to see you again."

"And you, as well. Are you here to return that encyclopedia? No need for you to hang onto it if the gnomes are gone."

"Uh." Bev had completely forgotten about it. "I'll bring it to you soon. I'm actually here in search of something…else." She turned to the stacks, needing to buy some time. "Allen Mackey asked me to find some recipe books," she said, thinking quickly. "Would you have any around?"

"You know, I just might." He held up one finger with a smile. "Give me a minute to search."

Once he was gone, Bev exhaled and briskly walked through the stacks. She found one or two shelves of nonfiction, but even that wasn't what she was looking for. Then, as she crossed the center aisle, she paused and stared at the back of the library where a half-open door led to Max's office.

Magic was a taboo subject, so if one were looking for a book about said subject, perhaps it wouldn't be out in the main stacks but back in the librarian's office under lock and key. Slowly, she began to walk toward the door when Max appeared out of nowhere.

"There you are!" he announced cheerfully. "I found a couple options for you. This one is more about cooking, so I don't think Mr. Mackey will be able to use it, but these two are about baking." He brightened. "I tell you, I'm looking forward to those scrumptious muffins once again. It's been ages since he's made a good batch!"

"Agreed," Bev said with a nervous smile as she took the two books on baking.

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