Spells and Spaniels by Christine Pope

Author:Christine Pope [Pope, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub

As I’d thought, business picked up after lunch, and Sage and I were kept occupied by waiting on customers, explaining the contents of the various elixirs and tonics and what they could do for a person. Through all this, Milo behaved himself very well, and stayed on his bed in the back corner of the shop when it became apparent the small space couldn’t accommodate that many patrons and a dog underfoot as well.

I’d taken him for a walk at lunch when I went out to grab sandwiches for Sage and me, so I knew he should be all right until I was able to take a break sometime in the middle of the afternoon. In fact, I’d told him as much and he seemed to accept the situation, although he didn’t look too thrilled at the realization that he’d have stay out of the way for a few more hours.

His droopy expression made me feel a bit guilty, although I told myself the dog was much safer here with me, and that he would have been even more bored at the house. At least here he had people around and got to go on a walk, while if he’d stayed behind he would have had to hold it for much longer, since my home didn’t have a doggie door.

“Do you have anything for insomnia?” a man asked, someone who’d just walked in.

“Sure,” I said, assuming the usual cheery smile I wore when working with customers. “Do you have trouble falling asleep, or do you wake up in the middle of the night?”

“Falling asleep,” the man said promptly.

He looked as though he was probably about ten years or so older than I, with medium brown hair and hazel eyes. Something about him seemed vaguely familiar, although I was pretty sure I’d never seen him before. But then, I occasionally had that feeling of déjà vu when customers came in, just because people weren’t as unique as they liked to think they were, and it wasn’t that uncommon to run across a person who reminded me of someone else.

And since this man seemed fairly average — middle height and build, attractive in an unassuming sort of way — I could see why I might think I’d seen him somewhere before.

“I have just the thing for you,” I said, and turned so I could pull a bottle down from the shelf behind me. “All you have to do is put four or five drops in a glass of water and drink it right before you go to sleep. Works like a charm.”

Which was only the truth. Like many of my elixirs, the “Fast Sleep” potion had a small enchantment placed on it, this one to ensure quick, restful sleep, so even the worst case of insomnia was no match for it.

“I’ll take one,” the man said, and then glanced behind him at the racks of dried herbal mixtures and the small display of scented candles. “Mind if I browse a bit?”

“Take all the time you need,” I told him as I set his sleep potion off to one side.

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