Spells & Wishes & Gun (Spells and Wishes Book 1) by Martha Carr & Michael Anderle

Author:Martha Carr & Michael Anderle [Carr, Martha & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2023-10-28T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

As the sun set, Charlotte, Cat, and Sir Thomas left the busy fish market.

The air was sharp with the scents of fresh catch and sea salt, while the clatter of crates and the animated haggling of vendors created a symphony of everyday life. Gulls circled overhead, their cries blending with the market’s uproar.

The cobblestone beneath their feet was slick from the vendors’ attempts to clean the areas around their stalls and stubborn fish scales.

The trio’s attention was drawn toward one man who stood in stark contrast to the bustling market scene. He was garbed in a cowboy outfit, with a wide-brimmed hat atop his head adorned with a feather so vibrant it could have been plucked from a tropical bird's tail.

His duster, a shade of brown that hinted at many years of hard use, cascaded down to his worn leather boots, which had the look of countless miles walked and stories untold. A scruffy beard, sun-bleached and wind-torn, framed his face, hiding the lines of age and experience.

Despite his rugged exterior, his eyes held an unquenchable fire that flickered with knowledge and wisdom.

Intrigued, Charlotte moved closer, her curiosity piqued by the man's unconventional attire.

He tipped his hat in a gentlemanly fashion, unveiling a crown of matted hair. "Howdy, ma'am. The name's Benny," he announced. “Not often one notices a fairy godmother while strolling around.”

His voice rolled off his tongue like molasses, rich and smooth, tinged with an accent that evaded her understanding. It was a song from the Old West, laced with a hint of the exotic.

At his mention of her identity, Charlotte's eyes widened, and she glanced at Sir Thomas, who mirrored her surprise.

She had been careful, or so they thought, blending into the human world. Benny's laughter was deep and hearty, bouncing off the surrounding buildings. "Let's just say I have a knack for recognizing magical folk. I am an alchemist, banished from EverAfter for my...interesting experiments," he confessed, his eyes twinkling mischievously under the brim of his hat.

Charlotte shared a look with Sir Thomas, the busy street noises fading as they focused on this peculiar character. He was an enigma wrapped in the guise of a cowboy.

Sir Thomas quipped, "You know, Benny, you don’t blend in with that get-up. Did you think Cincinnati was having a cowboy convention?"

Benny's grin was infectious, his white teeth a blazing arc against his tanned skin. "I reckon the folks around here find it as charming as you do," he retorted.

Watching their exchange, Charlotte found herself smiling. It was rare to see Sir Thomas so entertained by someone else's eccentricities.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows as Sir Thomas pressed for more details. "Well, Benny, you've certainly piqued our interest. How did a brilliant alchemist from EverAfter find his way to Cincinnati, of all places?"

Leaning against a weathered post, Benny's eyes glazed over, the memories of his past surfacing like ripples in a pond. "Well, it all started with my fascination with transmutation. You know, turning one thing into another," he began, his voice a deep drawl that echoed the stories of old.

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