Shadows of the Redwood

“Why can’t I sit up front?” Risa’s whine was like a dentist’s drill. She was dressed in a Juliet City Shakespeare Festival T-shirt and a pair of Laurie’s jeans.

It had taken forever to get organized, so it was evening before they were finally ready to drive to Los Angeles. Keelie proposed they drive all night, taking turns behind the wheel of Laurie’s car. That left the whole next day free for L.A., then they would turn around and drive straight back.

Obviously, Risa would do no driving, and Keelie wished she would shut up.

She glanced into the back seat and saw that Laurie was rolling her window down, probably preparing to throw the elf girl out. Keelie was in the front passenger seat, and Sean was driving. It had been like a desperate game of musical chairs as they’d jockeyed for spots. After Laurie had decided to let Sean drive, Keelie knocked Risa aside as she quickly jumped into the front seat next to him. Knot hopped in next to her, further infuriating the elf girl, who ended up stuck in the back with Laurie. At one point, Knot was in the driver’s seat. That was so not going to happen.

“I’m totally happy back here,” Laurie called out as they bumped down the road. “I’m going to get some sleep. If I had a hammer, I’d make sure Risa did, too.”

Knot was now sitting in the front seat between Keelie and Sean, the air from the vent blowing his fur. He rode sitting up, eyes closed as if meditating.

“Risa, put your seat belt back on,” Sean said, eyes on the rearview mirror. He was a good driver, and Keelie relaxed after she realized that they were not going to all die before they got to the highway. He wore a Silver Bough shirt, jeans, and leather jacket. He looked good. Real good.

“I’m going to die back here.”

If Risa kept up the annoying whine, she might vanish on the road to L.A., Keelie decided.

They stopped for a snack at a burrito stand on the side of the road. Despite Keelie’s efforts, Knot snagged a burrito from their picnic table and wolfed it down. They’d all pay for that, Keelie knew. The gasbag kitty would be at poisonous levels.

The road down to L.A. was mostly arid, with ocean and sand and palisades on one side, and rock and gorse and hills on the other. Risa didn’t like it, and even Sean looked uneasy at the lack of trees and greenery. No elves here, Keelie thought. And that’s probably exactly why Mom had chosen to live here.

They neared Los Angeles as the sun was rising, and Sean pulled over at a restaurant. Everyone piled out to wash their faces, eat breakfast, and brush their teeth. Laurie decided to drive the rest of the way, and Sean gave Keelie the evil eye (or was it the “save me!” eye) as he climbed into the back with Risa. Keelie gritted her teeth as Risa cooed, but she wanted to have a front-seat view of her old hometown.

Laurie drove confidently, making Keelie jealous as she smoothly negotiated the crowded freeway and streets like a pro.

“Want to see our old school?”

“Why?” Risa sounded bored. “Let’s just get this errand done, okay?”

Keelie glared at her, then smiled at Laurie, who was grinning as she drove. “You know I want to go by there.”

“We can’t let anyone see me because I’m skipping, but we can look.”

“What’s ‘skipping’?” Sean asked from the back seat.

“That means not going to school when you’re supposed to,” Keelie explained.

“Lord Elianard would come to my house to find me if I did that. And my father would never allow it,” Risa said.

Sean nodded. “We studied when it was time to study.”

“Understood. There are no elf slackers. But here, a bus comes to pick you up at your home and take you to the school building, and there you spend the day working, and in the afternoon the bus takes you back home.”

Sean and Risa looked interested at this insight into human life. As Laurie turned into the street that went by the back of Baywood Academy, they leaned forward to look. Laurie pulled over and they got out.

The soccer fields were in back, separated from the street by a row of slender Bradford Pear trees, now in full stinky bloom. Dozens of girls in burgundy shorts and dark blue T-shirts with the gold Baywood logo were playing soccer. They laughed and talked, and occasional blasts of the referee’s whistle split the air.

Keelie’s surge of nostalgia at the familiar sounds and smells was marred because she also heard the thoughts of the trees. She knew now that the Bradford Pears were watered too little and their roots were shallow, planted by landscapers looking for an inexpensive solution.

We need water.

I’ll try and find you water, she promised.

Although sad for the trees, Keelie was also annoyed. She couldn’t enjoy her moment of remembrance of her life that once was without it being invaded by the needs of the now.

“Why did we stop? There’s nothing interesting here, just a bunch of girls playing a game. We could have stopped in the garlic fields. That was interesting, but no, you all said it was stinky and just farms.” Risa crossed her arms and stalked back to the car.

Sean didn’t say anything, but Keelie could tell he didn’t see the point of stopping here, either.

“I’m sorry if it’s boring,” Keelie said. “I had some really good times here.”

“It’s good to remember,” Sean said. “Did you wear one of those outfits to play?”

“No, I ran track. My shorts were shorter.”

His eyebrows rose. She left him to think about that.

Laurie was back behind the wheel. “I don’t want to be seen. Hurry up.”

A moment later they were back on the road, this time passing through neighborhoods and shopping areas that were familiar to Keelie. Here was where Mom’s chiropractor’s office was, and there her dentist. They passed the organic supermarket, and the nail salon Mom visited every week. Now they were in Hancock Park.

Laurie turned onto Citrus Avenue, then slowed the car down and pulled up in front of the house. A “sold” sign was slapped across the red and white real estate sign.

“We’re here.” Laurie said in a soft voice.

Knot hopped up on the seat back and climbed onto Keelie’s shoulders, then walked down into her lap and sat with his paw on the door handle.

Laurie stared at him. “Look, he’s giving you kitty love.”

“He’s being a pain in the hiney.”

Keelie looked out the car window at the house, which seemed like a vision from another lifetime. She didn’t know if she could go inside. It might hurt to make the memories more real. It was like her heart breaking into shards of glass, again.

She breathed in, trying to still the grief washing over her in waves. “I can do this,” she said, as if the words would be a life preserver in the crush of emotions.

Laurie reached over and placed her hand on Keelie’s shoulder. “That’s why I’m here. We don’t have to go in until you’re ready. Want to get a coffee at the mall?”

Keelie exhaled. “I need to do this. The sooner the better.” Looking at the “sold” sign, Keelie realized that soon a new family would grow up here. The story of Mom and Keelie as a family was over. Now, it was Keelie and Dad. It was a new chapter, but she wanted one more chance to see the backstory of her life.

Risa was fascinated. “So few trees, but the gardens are beautiful.”

“People pay a lot of money for their landscaping,” Keelie agreed. Her mother had probably chosen this neighborhood because there were so few trees here. There were trees on the other side of Citrus Avenue, but here there were none. Her house was a sparkling white Mediterranean with a bay window in the front. Colorful landscaping decorated the sides of the house, and over the roof she saw the tops of three palms that were actually a block away.

Sean and Risa jumped out. Keelie sat still for a moment, savoring the view of the small neat yard, with its river-rock borders and the flagstone path that led to the back, and the round-topped front door with the little window.

She opened the car door and Knot stretched. He dug his back claws deep into Keelie’s thigh as he propelled himself out the door like an acrobat. He landed on the ground with a thud.

Stupid cat!

Somewhere nearby someone was mowing their lawn, probably Mr. Heidelman, who cut his lawn at odd hours, even at midnight. It had driven Mom crazy. “Who does yard work at midnight? You’d think we had vampires in our neighborhood.”

Keelie wondered if Mom had known about Uncle Dariel. There were so many things Mom had never told her, and now she would never know Mom’s side of the story.

Knot sat on the front walkway and meowed. He looked directly at her as if saying, “Come on.”

Years of memories rolled through Keelie’s mind. They were running into one another, a cluttered collage of film clips from her life: trick-or-treating on Halloween, Chrismases with artificial trees, Thanksgivings, even just bringing in the groceries—the years were heaped on one another.

Keelie wanted to relive them all, capture them in a locket and keep them with her. When she walked out of this house today for the last time, would she lose them?

The others were already trying the locked door and looking through the windows when she got slowly out of the car. Would she feel her mother here?

The solitary orange tree next door sang a song of welcome, and her nose burned with tears. When had she heard this familiar song? Had the trees always sung for her and she just hadn’t heard them? Aching with memory, Keelie went to join her friends.

Yes, I’m back, she told the tree.

She would say goodbye, then leave forever.

The key was in the lock, but Keelie couldn’t make herself turn it. Laurie stood beside her, hands on her hips. She studied Keelie with concern in her eyes. “You ready to do this?”

Risa stared at them from behind Laurie, frowning.

Warm fur rubbed up against her leg. Knot meowed, then reached up and impatiently tapped the doorknob.

She felt Sean’s strong hand at her waist. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he whispered, “but we’re here for you.”

Keelie nodded. She turned the key in the lock.

Knot rose up on his paws and pushed the door open a crack, then squeezed in, marching past Keelie. He stopped and sat down in the middle of the living room. Sunlight streamed onto the hardwood floors. Knot sat in the center of a warm patch of light, his fur shining with an orange glow. He turned his green eyes toward her and blinked, as if saying, “Well, what now?”

Keelie’s feet were frozen to the welcome mat. She couldn’t move. If Mom were here, she would’ve been insulted that the cat had forged his way ahead of her. Mom liked to be first, and she wanted Keelie to be just like her. She would’ve told Keelie to walk inside and do what she had to do. She could almost hear her using that lawyer voice. The one she used when they’d argue and she was tired of debating the subject. Keelie squared her shoulders.

Knot meowed. The front door creaked open wider and Keelie looked around her home for the first time in almost a year. It was empty. The polished tile floors of the sun room on the other side of the hall gleamed, and the walls smelled slightly of fresh paint. She didn’t know what she’d expected to see. Certainly not Grandmother Jo’s dark red velvet settee, or the pegged shelf where they’d hung sun hats, umbrellas, and tote bags. Those were all in storage. She glanced at Sean, hoping he hadn’t noticed her disappointment. They’d come all this way for a mere real estate tour.

Sean’s mouth turned up a little in the corners and he pretended to be very interested in the landscaping out front.

Laurie grabbed Risa’s elbow and dragged her away.

“What are you doing? I want to see what all the fuss is about. Is there a treasure inside?”

“Shut up and help me identify these plants.”

It was apparently the right thing to say to Risa, because the girl fell silent.

Grateful, Keelie stepped into the house alone. The Talbot and Talbot letter crackled in her pocket, where she’d tucked it in case anyone asked who they were and why they were here. She could hear Risa and Laurie’s voices moving toward the back yard.

The house was very still, as if it had been waiting for her. She tiptoed into the living room, which seemed huge without the furniture that had filled it. The floor was a little dented where the piano had pounded flat its rectangular shape.

This was where they’d argued about the belly button ring. Mom had been sorting through files on the table, her lips thin from keeping in her anger. Keelie had felt triumphant when she’d seen how mad Mom was. She’d keep it up until she got her way.

Keelie closed her eyes, feeling like Knot, who closed his eyes as if he wanted to be someplace else. Suddenly, everything came back to her clearly, so real she could hear Mom’s voice as if she was standing right next to her, as if Keelie could reach out and touch her. The smell of paint faded, overlaid with the scent of Mom’s bath gel and the morning’s toast and strong coffee.

“Keelie, we’ll talk about this tonight.” Mom’s dark hair was brushed up and held with an elegant clip. She wore her favorite black business suit, with a white silk blouse and a Chinese scarf. She pushed papers into her leather briefcase haphazardly.

“Mom, everyone is getting pierced. I’m not a baby.”

“Keelie, you’re not getting your navel pierced, and that’s final.” She hurried to the door and held it open, waving at the Lexus idling in their driveway. “Your carpool is here. Get your bookbag, don’t make them wait.”

Keelie snatched up her backpack, narrowly missing a Waterford vase as she swung it onto her shoulder. She was going to be the only girl at the pool party without body jewelry. Everyone would stare and look at her pityingly for having such a bitchy mom. She sighed, hating the quavery feeling in her lungs. She was not going to cry.

“I love you, darling.”

“Well, I hate you.”

Mom sighed. “No you don’t. You’re just mad. Come on. I’m going to be late for my plane. Maybe we can eat at Luna tonight when I get home.”

She’d never come home.

A sick feeling burned through Keelie. I didn’t mean it, Mom. I didn’t hate you. I love you!

Dad said that Mom hadn’t taken her seriously, but it was the last thing she’d ever said to her mother.

Knot scooted past her, tail held high. Sean turned to look at the kitchen as Knot ducked into her old bedroom.

Ugh. Keelie followed Knot, anxious to prevent a cat accident. Knot was not above using a nice new carpet as his personal toilet, and the house belonged to someone else now.

“Come back here, Knot. Use the garden.”

Her bedroom was empty. For a moment Keelie just stood, staring at the neutral paint on the walls. She blinked back tears. She would not let this get to her. She had a new life now. She thought of her room in Oregon, of the four-poster bed with its twisty carved posts, and the window with a view of the forest. She thought of the fish kite that dangled in the hallway, twirling slowly. That was home now. This—she pictured a home office. Or a nursery. That was it. She felt better thinking that her old room would belong to a baby. The crib could go there, against the wall, and a rocking chair by the window …

She opened the closet door. A rod, a shelf. No cat. Keelie walked quickly from room to room, looking for Knot, but he’d vanished. Sean was in the front room, but the rest of the house was empty.

Just as well. She walked toward Mom’s room. As long as the house was here, Keelie had held out hope that Mom would come back, even though the logical part of her brain said it was impossible. She had seen a lot of magic, but none that brought back the dead. She’d come here partly to prove to herself that Mom wasn’t coming back.

Knot came trotting toward her, tail swishing. “Where were you, bad kitty? You stick close, okay?”

She went into Mom’s bedroom with Knot at her side. Also empty, of course. Empty, yet full of Mom. The walls were painted a soft peach, Mom’s favorite color. They hadn’t been repainted, and her almond and rose smell filled the room as if she’d just left. If only she could come back for a goodbye, for one last hug and kiss.

Tears sprang to Keelie’s eyes, and then trailed wet and warm down her cheek.

Knot leaned against her leg, stuck to her like crazy glue. He purred, but it was a different kind of purr, a warm soothing rhythm like a furry blanket of sound that wrapped her in comfort. She felt the tension in her body slowly release. The empty room didn’t contain her mother. Mom was in her memories … mornings in bed reading stories, playing games on weekends. Mom teaching her about makeup. She smiled, remembering the happy discoveries they’d made shopping. Those thoughts were locked away in her heart and mind. She never thought she could remember that happiness without hurting, but she could.

She looked down at Knot, and he blinked up at her, showing fang in a kitty grin. Keelie didn’t know if he’d used magic on her, but she gave him a slight nod of appreciation.

She had another reason for coming in here, too. She opened the door to the walk-in closet. It was almost as big as Dad’s Swiss Miss Chalet (she’d gained an appreciation for small spaces since sleeping in that tiny camper). Kneeling in front of the metal furnace grate on the wall, Keelie pressed the upper right-hand screw that seemed to hold it in place. The grate clicked open, revealing that it was a door. Inside was a safe. Talbot and Talbot knew nothing about this, and Keelie’s hand trembled as she reached for the knob.

She knew the combination. It was the same one that Mom had used for everything from bike locks to her ATM card. Her photos and journals were inside, and just maybe, an explanation of why she kept Keelie away from Dad, why she’d lied about Keelie’s “tree allergy.”

The combination lock sprang open. Keelie felt a tickling wind pass her, coming from the safe. She’d broken a magical ward. Bits of it still fluttered around like a spider web that had been torn. Keelie detected a strange coldness, too. Dark magic had been used here.

She stared disbelievingly at the inside of the open safe. It was empty. She reached into its depths and felt around. Nothing. As she pulled her arm out, a torn piece of paper fluttered to the ground. She picked it up and turned it over.

It was thick and stiff like a piece of parchment from the charm book. Keelie could see images of a fairy spell forming on the page. What had been in the safe, that this charm had been tucked in there to keep it secure?

Suddenly, Keelie sensed eyes watching her from the window. She turned her head slowly. Something had moved, but she saw only the black shadows under the green branches of the shrub outside. Then the darkness shifted, and the sun glinted briefly on a pattern of red and green diamonds. Her blood chilled.

Knot leaped up and ran to the window, hissing. Keelie watched, astonished, as he pulled himself up to the window to look out and grew larger, until he was the size of a bobcat. This was new.

Whatever Knot saw outside made his green eyes glow. He pushed away from the window and ran from the room, still growing.

Keelie ran after him, down the hall, through the kitchen, then to the French doors leading to the back yard, which were opened wide.

Knot was now the size of a small cheetah. He bolted outside, Keelie close behind him.

Laurie and Risa were sitting on a stone bench, Laurie’s eyes were glazed as Risa explained about the plant she held. She screamed as newly huge Knot ran through the bushes that grew at the property line. Keelie pushed her way through the bushes too, following Knot as he ran across the street and down the sidewalk to the corner, then right into the park. Darn cat was going to get shot, or lost, or captured, and it was his fault for using magic in the middle of a city.

He disappeared behind a concrete building that housed the restrooms, still intent on what he was chasing. A single frantic jingle sounded through the bushes on the other side.

I wouldn’t follow him, if I were you.

Keelie stopped. The big tree in the middle of the park had spoken to her. She spun around and stood before the great California live oak.

The tree pushed its face outward through its trunk. It was lined with wrinkles.

“Who are you?”

The name is Morgan Freeman.

“Like the film star?” Something was familiar about this tree’s voice. “You used to talk to me when I was a little girl and tell me stories when I played in this park.” She’d forgotten until now. Her mother had told her that she was imagining things.

I’m glad to see you broke through your Mother’s spells to remember me.

Keelie reeled back in shock, her runaway cat forgotten. “Mom used magic on me?”

Yes, she did. The tree leaned to one side, bark cracking like whips as it stretched.

Keelie didn’t want to believe what the tree had said. She looked down at the page in her hand, but she knew deep down that the tree was telling the truth. “She used fairy magic.”

She wanted to protect you from those who would claim you and your magic, Keelie.

“She kept me from Dad.”

She was afraid. She loved you. Sometimes fear clouds judgment.

Keelie pointed back to the house. “Did you see someone break into my house and take something from there?”

The tree looked over at Keelie’s house. There was a storm the other night. I didn’t see what had entered your house, but I sensed an Under-the-Hill creature.

“Under-the-Hill?” Keelie shivered.

Be careful, Keelie, for even in the Redwood Forest, evil spreads its shadow.

“What do you know about that?” Keelie asked.

I can say no more. I’ve said too much already. May you grow many rings, the tree said. His face dissolved back into the bark.

Keelie felt a block of magic surround the tree like a shield. This conversation was definitely over.

“You know you’d better listen to him,” said a voice low to the ground.

She glanced down, startled, into the sharp-eared face of a grinning coyote.

“What are you, the L.A. version of the White Rabbit?” Keelie had spent her fifteen years living here with no wildlife interaction, and all of a sudden she was talking to coyotes and trees.

Someone shouted out her name. Keelie looked up the street in the direction of her house. Laurie was running toward her. Keelie turned back to the talking coyote, but he had disappeared. Just like Knot. She rubbed her temple with her left hand as she examined the parchment still clutched in her right.

She was still stunned at the revelation that Mom had used magic to block her memory. This thought was disturbing on so many levels. It would take Keelie a long, long time to sort through it. Had Mom used magic books? Since Mom was half fae, she could have—but then why keep her father out of her life, if magic wasn’t objectionable?

Keelie lifted the parchment up to the sunlight, trying to figure out what it was.

Laurie finally reached her. “I checked through the house for you. It’s so creepy and empty. It got really cold, like something was watching me, and Sean is going nuts. He’s stalking the neighborhood like an escapee from the Lord of the Rings funny farm. Somebody is going to call the police.”

Keelie held up her hands. “Stop talking. Where is Sean now, and where’s Risa?”

“He said to pick him up at the end of the street. Risa is sitting in the car and refuses to get out. She’s saying something about dark fairy magic. She looks sick, kind of green around the gills.”

“Elves don’t have gills, sprites do,” Keelie said absently, putting the parchment into her pocket. “Let’s go rescue Sean and Risa. Elves can’t tolerate urban environments for long.”

“What were you doing down here at the park?” Laurie asked. “Remember when we used to play here, and bring books and picnics?”

“Yeah, it was fun. That tree just talked to me.” Keelie motioned with her head in the direction of the tree.

Understanding lit up Laurie’s face. “Ah!” Then her forehead furrowed. “Did it talk to you when we were little?”

“Apparently, but I didn’t remember until just now.” Keelie didn’t want to go into the whole Mom-using-magic thing.

Knot came dashing up to Keelie. He’d returned to his normal size, but his eyes were dilated, his fur mussed, and he meowed angrily.

Laurie’s eyebrows rose. “What’s wrong with him? He’s acting weird even for Knot.”

This wasn’t weird. This was agitated. Keelie wondered if it was really Peascod that Knot had chased away from the house. “Kitty, you need a cup of catnip tea. The good stuff that makes you drool in the corner.”

The temperature in the park had suddenly dropped several degrees, and a cold wind kicked up. Maybe Risa’s claim about dark fairy magic wasn’t too far off the mark.

Laurie was trying to act calm and collected like she wasn’t concerned about anything, but Keelie knew her friend was worried. Truth be told, Keelie was, too. The trip to the old house had revealed more questions than answers.

“Storm must be blowing in. Let’s go and get a latte at the mall. I think I could use a coffee,” Keelie suggested.

“Sounds good to me.” Laurie turned and walked down the street, back to the car. Knot surveyed the terrain like a tiger scrutinizing his territory for enemies.

Keelie looked in the same direction, and swore she saw a skinny, ugly dog watching her from the bushes. It seemed to be the coyote. A flash of dull gold fur disappeared into the greenery. Knot growled.

“Come on. I’ll buy you a tall cream.”

Knot swiveled his head up to stare at Keelie. He blinked and his eyes dilated. All of a sudden, he reached out, wrapped his paws around her ankle, and bit her. His fangs sank deep into her skin.

“Ow! Let go, you crazy cat.”

He did, and ran after Laurie like a spineless wuss not brave enough to face the consequences of his insane action, which was an angry Keelie.

“You have cat litter for brain cells.” She loped after him. “Get back here, you psycho horror-movie excuse for a cat. A coyote would make a better guardian than you.”

There was a tingle in the air, followed by a zingy harp sound. Keelie spun around, expecting to see an elf girl playing a harp. No one was there. Nothing. Still, there was a feeling of magic in the air, and suddenly she wanted to leave.

Two ladies in jogging suits watched with baffled expressions as she hobbled to the car. Knot was nowhere in sight. Laurie was waiting for her. She put on her sunglasses, shaking her head, and opened the car door.

Just then Sean rounded Mr. Heildelman’s bushes and came to Keelie’s side. He clasped her upper arm as he scanned the street. “Are you okay? Did you see anything strange?”

“Nothing’s normal anymore, but I’m fine, thanks.” Keelie forced a smile. “We’re going to grab a coffee at the mall.” She looked at her old house once more. “Did you lock everything up?”

“Yes. Are you sure you’re done here?”

Keelie bit her lip, then released it. Mom had always told her not to bite her lip. “I’m done.”

Sean pulled Keelie into a hug, surprising her. “I’m going to keep you safe,” he whispered.

Keelie’s legs became boneless. She pulled away from Sean and they grinned at each other. His eyes were bright.

Laurie gave a thumbs-up. From inside the car, Risa scowled and punched the back seat with closed fists.

Sean opened the passenger-side door. “Milady.” Knot jumped in, his big orange butt taking up the entire seat.

Laurie shook her head. “You two, let’s get going. I need a coffee.” She climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Move over.” Sean leaned down and glowered at Knot.

“Knot, you can sit with me, my love,” Risa said.

Knot scooted over and Keelie sat down next to him. He narrowed his green eyes as he looked her up and down, as if he was thinking that maybe she should ride on the hood.

As Sean walked around the front of the BMW, Laurie gazed down at Knot. “Is Keelie mean to you?”

Risa tipped forward, her hands on the back of the seat. “She’s mean to him. She calls him Snotball.”

Knot placed his paw on Laurie’s leg as if confirming that what Risa said was true: Yes, she’s so mean to me. You should try living with her.

Sean got into the back and closed the door. Keelie pulled the seat belt around her body. “He bit me.”

“It was a love bite. Cats bite you as a token of their affection.” Laurie cranked the car.

“You can forget the milk.” Keelie glared down at the cat, who looked ahead.

Risa patted Knot on the head. “I’ll buy you some cream.”

Keelie snorted. “Let’s go get that coffee.”

In the mall parking lot, Laurie held her designer bag open. “Knot can ride inside like those little yappy dogs do.”

“How are you going to keep him inside the bag?” Keelie asked. “We can’t handcuff or tape him down.”

Glaring at Keelie, Knot sank his claws deeper into the seat upholstery, refusing to be manhandled into the pocketbook.

Risa leaned over and scratched him under the chin. “If the kitty gets into the bag, then he gets his milk-milk.”

“Milk-milk?” Keelie nearly gagged.

Sean was out of the car. “Ladies, we need to make this a short trip. Last night, I told Lady Keliatiel and Sir Davey I’d make sure you got home safe and sound.”

With a nod to Sean, Knot stepped into Laurie’s bag with his tail held high. He stuck his furry head out and blinked his eyes at Keelie.

Laurie lifted the pocketbook and gave it to Keelie, her face red from straining. “See, no prob, but you can carry your cat.”

“Let me,” Sean reached for the bag, but Knot growled in protest.

“No, he’ll bite you,” Keelie took the bag from Laurie.

Knot purred. Keelie wondered if he was kneading his paws like a superhappy kitten. What was he doing to Laurie’s stuff? She wouldn’t think about that.

At the mall, once her refuge of happiness and retail adventures, Keelie shuddered at the alien artificiality of the stores. Laurie chattered on and on about which stores had the best sales. “We need to find La Jolie Rouge.”

Knot traveled contentedly in the bag like a pampered lap dog. The bag straps dug into Keelie’s shoulder, and she was sure that she’d have rub on some Achy Bones Salve once she was back from this shopping trip.

Inside Starbucks, Laurie continued to prattle as they waited in line to get their coffee. Keelie was so tired that she couldn’t focus on Laurie’s words. Of course, Laurie was talking non-stop and Keelie had had an emotional afternoon.

She definitely needed a coffee to help her reenergize. Maybe six shots of espresso would do the trick. It had to have been going back to the house. Who wouldn’t be wiped after an emotional experience like that?

A huge bump appeared on the side of the bag and then rolled around, accompanied by loud purring. It made the buckles and pockets pop and rattle. Knot must be doing somersaults inside. Two girls behind Keelie stared at the bag strangely. She grinned.

A pop hit jingled from inside the bag.

“Keelie, hand me my phone, would you?” Laurie was almost at the counter.

Keelie stared at the heaving bag. She was already limping. What would happen if she stuck her hand in there? She’d return to the redwoods in an ambulance, thanks to Knot her so-called guardian. “Why don’t you let your voicemail catch that?”

The phone abruptly stopped ringing. “Meow?”

Luckily, Laurie didn’t hear that, thank the tree rings. Keelie wondered who Knot was talking to.

The Starbucks barista was a bored, purple-haired girl. She acted like she didn’t want to be there.

“We’d like two coffees,” Laurie told her.

The top of the purse opened and Laurie’s Vera Bradley wallet poked out. Keelie took it. “Do you want a shot in your cream?” she whispered into the bag.

The girls waiting for their coffees stared wide-eyed. Keelie grinned at them. “Just kidding.”

Laurie took her wallet. “What do you guys want?” she asked Sean and Risa, who seemed confused by the menu.

“What do you suggest?” Sean asked.

“Coffee is good.” Laurie didn’t sound sarcastic.

“I’ll have green tea,” said Risa. “What is venti?”

“Big.” The bored barista swiped Laurie’s debit card down the register’s side.

Keelie placed the bag on a nearby chair. “I’ll have a venti latte with six shots, and an espresso con panna.”

The purple-haired girl’s eyes widened. “Six shots?”

Laurie’s mouth dropped open, but she recovered. “That’s what I heard, too.”

“Okay.” The purple-haired girl shook her head as she rang up the order.

They got their drinks and went to the atrium by the food court. Keelie sat down near a small, flowering pear tree and felt a smidge better. She took the lid off the espresso con panna (a shot of strong espresso poured over a mound of whipped cream) and put the little cup on the floor under the table. Knot squeezed himself out of the bag and dropped to the floor.

Risa and Laurie scooted their chairs close so that their legs hid the slurping feline.

Keelie stuck her head under the table. “Behave yourself.”

He blinked, his eyes round and sweetly innocent, like an animated cartoon. Keelie didn’t believe him for a second. “I’ll be watching.”

Knot went back to lapping his supercharged whipped cream with a loud licky-lick sound.

Keelie drank her rocket-fuel latte, hoping the caffeine would infuse her with more energy. Instead, she was beginning to feel more drained. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. She had to keep her act together. Sean opened the lid of his coffee and sniffed the steam that floated out.

“This is the energy nectar you are always praising. Starbucks. It has an elvish name.” He held his cup up and then took a sip.

“You can’t tell me you haven’t had coffee before,” Keelie said, disbelieving.

“I didn’t say that. It’s just that I prefer tea. However, this was a trip for me to find out more about you. I was curious. And I wanted to drink coffee like you,” he said.

Keelie smiled into her coffee. “You are so sweet.”

Women of all ages shot admiring glances Sean’s way. Sean noticed, then looked at Keelie and rolled his eyes. She laughed. She did wonder if people thought that Sean and Risa were a couple, because they looked more like a matched pair than she and Sean did. Jealousy stung her heart with short little jabs. It was still like having a nest of bees inside her whenever she thought about them together. Of course, Sean was eighty years old, a fact she tried hard to forget. He’d probably had lots of relationships, but she wasn’t ready to know the truth. One day they would have that conversation, but until then, until she was ready, she could pretend he was her age.

Laurie stared at the purple-haired barista. “That girl needs an attitude adjustment. She needs to read the manual on customer service.”

A branch from the pear tree beside Keelie tapped her on the shoulder.

Hey, you. What are you?

Keelie closed her eyes. She just wished she could get a break from trees.

I’m a tree shepherdess.

I’ve never heard of one of those. Are you from the nursery?

No. I’m from the Dread Forest.

But you’re human. You grew up in a forest? I’ve never met a human who grew up in a forest. I would love to see a forest. I hate being stuck in this pot all the time. The people that take care of us aren’t very nice. They forget about me. Sometimes I get so thirsty that my leaves fall off.

I didn’t grow up in a forest. I grew up in Los Angeles, but I live in the Dread Forest.

The tree bent down closer to Keelie and sniffed.

Laurie’s eyes widened in surprise. She obviously could see the tree bending and moving around. Sean arched an eyebrow.

Risa’s eyes were riveted on Knot. “Is that eye shadow on your toes?”

Will you stop it? People are going to notice. Keelie looked around, but only a couple of children were pointing at the swaying tree.

The tree sniffed again. I smell magic on you. Can you make my pot bigger?

Trees can’t smell magic.

I can. He seemed offended. Sometimes I smell a different kind of magic on some humans who come in here. And I smell it on the gobblers, but your magic is different. You have fairy magic. The tree’s voice was accusing, as if having fairy magic was a bad thing. Guess it depended on what kind of fairy.

Gobblers? What are gobblers?

They’re the ugly fairies, and they’re not friends of the trees. You’re not a gobbler, are you? They like to steal sap.

Keelie had no idea what a gobbler was. She felt sorry for this tree with his tight-fitting planter.

Suddenly a horrendous smell filled the air. Keelie recognized it, and jumped up as Knot vaulted onto the planter’s edge and made an experimental dig with one paw.

There’s a fair-fair-fairy. The tree swooned, and fell over with a loud crash. Everyone in the food court leaped up and looked toward them.

“Are you okay?” the woman behind the counter of the Chinese restaurant yelled.

“Fine,” Laurie said. “We’re okay. Is anybody a lawyer?”

Knot had landed on his feet and bolted toward an exit. Keelie rounded the overturned planter and looked down at the tree, its branches splayed out on the atrium’s tile floor.

Are you okay?

Silence.

Knot’s loud meow echoed down the hall.

“The milk must not have agreed with him. You know, he may be lactose-intolerant,” Laurie suggested.

A lactose-intolerant fairy. That figured.

“Knot, wait for me.” Risa pushed her chair backwards and raced after him.

People in the food court were looking, pointing, and whispering.

Sean stood up. “I’d better keep an eye on her. She’s not familiar with the ways of the human world, and she could get into trouble.”

Keelie wanted to protest, but she had to agree with Sean. Knot and Risa on the loose in L.A.? Not a good thing.

The people in the food court resumed eating, but they kept staring at Keelie as if she’d been the one causing all the problems. Or as if she was paid entertainment.

She should be used to it, after all the numerous jobs she’d had at the Wildewood Faire. She hadn’t been good at those, either, and people had stared after every disaster.

“Sit down, Keelie, people are looking.” Laurie tried to look nonchalant as she sipped her drink.

“I hope they get this poor tree a new planter. He’s outgrown this one,” Keelie said loudly. She yanked on its slim trunk and the crumbly earth ball held by its roots popped out. His branches drooped and several leaves skittered across the floor as if it was autumn. Some of the nearby people nodded sympathetically.

Keelie stared down at the root ball. If the tree had been watered regularly, it would have been impossible to pull out. And the root ball was big, too. The tree’s roots had been cramped, with no room to grow. It was like having a person’s feet crammed into too-small shoes. She had to do something.

As two big security guards rushed forward, Keelie pointed to the tree. “You really need to talk to the company that takes care of your plants. That tree could’ve collapsed on me. I could be suffering from a concussion, and you’re darn lucky I’m not.”

One of the beefy security guards, whose nameplate said “Dan,” looked uncomfortable. “Yes ma’am. Are you okay?”

“Who takes care of your trees?” Keelie demanded.

“We’re not sure.” The two guys exchanged I-dunno-do-you-know? looks.

The tree was beginning to come back to consciousness. Huh!

“I’m taking it with me as evidence,” Keelie said.

The other security guard, with “Don” on his name tag, scratched his head. “I don’t know if you can do that.”

“Do you have a larger container and fresh clean soil?” Keelie asked, using her best lawyer voice.

Laurie crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, do you?”

Tweedle Dan and Tweedle Don shook their heads.

“I’m going to take this tree, and consider yourselves lucky I don’t sue the mall.” Keelie said.

“We need to talk to our boss,” Tweedle Don replied.

“Go talk to him,” Keelie said. “I need some answers.”

“Okay!” They both left.

Once the guards were out of sight, Keelie motioned to Laurie. “Come on, we’re getting out of here.” She grabbed the tree by its slender trunk. “Help me carry this.”

Laurie grabbed a leafy branch. “Is this like shoplifting, or more like a PETA rescue, only with trees?”

“We’ll figure it out later. Walk faster.” The two girls scooted through the mall and wrestled the tree up the escalator and out the front door. Few people gave them more than a glance.

“L.A. is so blasé about everything,” Keelie observed. “We could have been leading an elephant around in here and no one would notice.”

They found Sean, Risa, and Knot standing on a four-foot-square patch of grass in front of the mall. All three were avoiding a corner of the patch. Knot looked relieved to see them.

“Time to go,” Laurie said. Sean grabbed the tree trunk, freeing Laurie to search for her car keys.

They ran to the car, the branches sticking up over their heads as if they were smuggling giant broccoli. Knot was leading the way.

“I can’t believe we’re tree-napping. What if those two guards put two and two together and come after us?” Laurie asked.

“That’s why we need to get out of here,” Keelie replied. She had no idea what she was going to do with the pear tree. She needed to plant him somewhere safe, with lots of tree company.

When they reached the car, an out-of-breath Risa was holding her side. “I thought we were going shopping at La Jolie Rouge? Now you two are stealing a tree. We just left a forest filled with trees. We live in a forest. Can’t you get enough?”

Sean’s face was serious. “Come on. I’ve had enough of the mall.”

“Thank you.” Keelie’s eyes held Sean’s.

“We’ll talk about this later,” he said firmly.

Laurie pressed her key remote and the BMW doors clicked open. She tossed Keelie the keys. Knot hopped into the front seat, yowling loudly as if saying, “Hurry, hurry.” The tree was too big to fit into the back seat of the car with Risa and Sean, so it would have to ride in the trunk.

Keelie could see Tweedle Don and Tweedle Dan surveying the parking lot. They were scratching their heads and talking into their remote control walkie-talkies like they were calling for reinforcements.

Like Sean, Keelie’d had enough of the mall. “We need to go.”

The tree was fully conscious. What are you trying to do? Kill me? Take me back. I’m going to tell the gobblers about you.

Laurie pointed. “The security guards have found us.” She hopped into the car while Keelie cranked the engine. Sean lowered one of the back seats, then angled the tree in, so that the branches were in the back seat and the root ball was in the trunk. He slammed the trunk door closed, then he and Risa opened the back doors and fought the branches to find a seat.

Keelie pulled out of the parking space. Looking in the driver’s side mirror, she saw Tweedle Dan and Tweedle Don gesturing wildly at the BMW.

Oh, Great Sylvus, my planter is gone. My roots will wither away and die without soil. I’m going to die. The tree’s voice penetrated the cab of the car, but Keelie was the only one who could hear him. Lucky her.

You’re not going to die. Keelie tried to send soothing green thoughts to the tree, but they were rejected.

I’m going to die. I’m going to die.

We’re saving you. Keelie was getting irritated with this ungrateful tree.

The gobblers were right about fairies. They’re all bad. They’ll find you, and you’ll be sorry.

Keelie drove slowly through the crowded parking lot

“Hurry it up. Once we get on the expressway, they’ll lose us,” Laurie said. “Only you would come to L.A. and steal a tree.”

“I couldn’t leave him there with an overturned tiny planter. His root system didn’t have any room to grow,” Keelie insisted.

Risa leaned forward. “See, your friend agrees with me. You’re surrounded by trees. Why rescue this one?”

Keelie ignored her. She glanced into the rearview mirror.

Sean rested his head against the back of the seat and closed his eyes as if he was wishing himself anywhere but here.

As they drove past a huge SUV with tinted windows, Keelie felt a sudden wash of dark power come over her, similar to what she’d experienced in the redwoods. The sharp pain pierced her forehead. “Ow!”

“What’s wrong, Keelie?” Laurie asked. Knot hissed and scrambled into the back seat, climbing onto the car’s rear deck to look out the windshield. Sean’s eyes opened wide and he too turned to look back at the SUV.

Risa hugged herself. “I don’t feel well.”

Overcoming her pain, Keelie felt a primal urge to get out of the parking lot. “I think the quickest way out of here is to take the access road and then follow the state road to Baywood Academy.”

“We’re going back to that boring place?” Risa whined.

“I’m going to plant the tree there.”

Laurie rolled her eyes. “You need to turn right. “

“No I don’t,” Keelie answered.

“When we get to the red light, stay on the access road and merge onto the expressway. That’s the fastest route there.”

Keelie slammed on the brakes. “The expressway! I can’t drive on the expressway.” She was as panicked as the tree in the trunk.

I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die, the tree wailed in Keelie’s mind.

“Don’t slam on the brakes. Go. Go. Go.” Laurie motioned with her hands. Cars were honking behind them.

“We’ll just have to go a mile on the expressway, then you’ll take the exit. No big deal. That’ll take us to Baywood Academy. We can stop there and I can drive.”

I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die.

“Shut up,” Keelie shouted loudly.

“What?” Laurie looked at Keelie in shock.

Keelie pushed on the accelerator. “I’m talking to the tree.”

Somebody in a Jeep drove around them, giving them the finger as they passed.

“People in L.A. are so rude.” Keelie drove on. “Maybe we can find some planters at the school,

“What are we going to do? Repot the bush?” Risa didn’t seem concerned.

Sean didn’t say anything. He had his hand across his face now. He was pale and had dark circles under his eyes. He needed to get out of the city.

Laurie turned around and glared at Risa. “I can’t believe we stole a tree out of the mall. I’ll never be able to show my face there again. And they’re having a really great sale at American Eagle.”

I’m not a bush, I’m a tree. And I’m going to die if I have to live outside.

You will not. You’ll survive and thrive in the earth. Lots of sunshine.

You’d think the brat mall tree would be grateful at being saved from a lifetime of being inside the mall.

The tree started making weeping noises in her head, and Keelie felt a surge of sympathy for the little guy. It’ll be okay.

As she merged onto the expressway, she hoped she was right.

Keelie stroked the pear tree’s smooth trunk. She’d propped him against a friendly willow so that he could soak his roots in the creek that flowed through the rear of the school property. The tree was finally calming down.

Sean sat on the bank next to it and watched the kids playing on the school’s fields. “Soccer seems to be a fun game.”

“Only if you’re not forced to play it.”

Laurie and Risa had gone to the local Orchard Supply Hardware store to buy a shovel, leaving Keelie and Sean to babysit the tree.

Knot chased a butterfly over some rocks in the creek. “Don’t get wet, kitty,” Keelie warned him. “Laurie doesn’t want to drive around with a soggy cat.” There was a splash and an angry yowl. Knot never listened.

Philia, the willow, was crooning to the little tree in a sweet motherly tone. He’s barely older than an acorn.

Keelie patted the pear tree’s trunk. I think he’ll be happy here.

The little tree showed Keelie his face, snub-nose and little eyes pushing through its bark. Thank you, tree shepherdess.

You’re welcome. A dark blur whizzed by, followed by two others. Knot froze, intent on their movement. Feithid daoine. Keelie grinned at the bug fairies.

“Well, well, isn’t this a lovely little scene,” a voice said nearby.

Startled, Keelie looked up. It was the coyote, facing her from the opposite bank. His gold and brown fur almost blended with the woods.

Sean jumped up. “Is that a wolf?”

“No, just a coyote. They’re like rats, shaped like dogs.” Keelie glared at the coyote.

“I’ve never seen a talking rat. Or a talking wolf.” Sean stared at the coyote. “But that’s not a natural being. I smell fae.”

“You catch on quickly.” A breeze blew and the coyote turned to face it, laughing as the wind ruffled his fur.

“I saw you at the park,” Keelie said. “You didn’t talk then.”

“Nice park. Nice old tree. He’s been filling me in on you.” The coyote yawned, showing sharp canine teeth.

Knot bolted up beside Keelie and shook his fur off. Water droplets sprinkled her. He glared at the coyote.

“Yeah, well, that’s one reason why I’m here. I’ve been sent to keep an eye on you, too,” the coyote told Keelie.

Knot hissed.

The coyote’s ears moved forward. “He’s not happy. Competition for your affections, plus he thinks he should be your only guardian.”

Sean laughed.

Keelie looked from Knot to the coyote. “I don’t think you’re my type.”

“You’ll grow to like me. Chicks dig boys on the wild side.” The coyote wiggled his ears like he thought he was being sexy or something.

“Who sent you?”

The coyote scratched an ear with his hind foot. “Let’s just say you have friends in high places.”

“You’re a fairy, right?”

“You got it, Einstein.”

Knot hissed. “Yeow poser.”

Keelie stared down at Knot. “Wow, you must really hate him. I like him better already.”

Knot ignored her and washed his butt.

“I don’t know what you need to plant a tree,” Laurie said, as she arrived carrying a shovel, a watering can, and a bag of plant food. Her hair was disheveled and she had a smudge of dirt on her nose. “I’ve never been in a hardware store before, but since I’ll be banned from the mall for stealing a bush, I might as well get used to roughing it.”

Risa was dragging a huge bag of potting soil, and Sean hurried to help her. Risa glared at Laurie. “I told her we needed manure, but she said not in her BMW.”

Laurie stared at Keelie, at the tree, at a wet Knot, and then across the creek at the coyote. She froze.

“Hello, there,” the coyote said in a deeper voice. He stood up and paced back and forth.

“A coyote! Holy cow, they carry rabies. Get behind me.” Laurie dropped the watering can and the bag and held the shovel like a baseball bat. “Just let him come over here. I’ll bean him all the way to Wilshire Boulevard.”

Keelie couldn’t help but smile as it dawned on Laurie that she’d heard the coyote talk.

“Did he just speak to me?”

Keelie nodded. “He’s a fairy.”

“Being your friend keeps getting weirder and weirder.” Laurie lowered the shovel. Risa came to stand next to her.

“The coyote spoke?” Risa stared at him. “Do all coyotes speak here?”

Keelie ignored them and stood up. “What about me? My life keeps getting weirder and weirder.”

Knot grinned up at Keelie, then began washing his tail.

“Forget the coyote. Let’s plant this tree.” Keelie reached for the shovel.

“What are you doing with a coyote?” Laurie couldn’t seem to take here eyes off of him.

“I’m Keelie’s new guardian.”

Knot stopped washing his tail and hissed.

“No you’re not,” Keelie said. Risa took the shovel from Keelie and started to dig, laughing and ignoring all of them.

Laurie looked confused. “You have two guardians. Why do you need two guardians?”

“See, she has accepted the fact that I’m a talking coyote and that I’m your guardian,” the coyote said, peering at Keelie with disapproval.

“What’s your name?”

“Just call me Coyote. It’ll make life easier.”

“Like some cartoon character?” Keelie asked.

“I like it. It’s basic.” Coyote smiled, his shiny sharp teeth bright in the sun.

I’m ready to go into the earth. You’re right, I like it here. The pear tree rustled its branches.

“Grab that sack of dirt and rip it open,” Risa told Laurie.

“But he’ll die. Oh, you mean the potting soil, not the coyote!” Laurie laughed.

Keelie rolled her eyes, forgetting her promise to Grandmother, and helped them pull the tree out of the creek. Risa carefully arranged its roots around the deep hole and then they poured dirt into it, patting the soil, tucking him in. Laurie filled the watering can three times to make sure he had enough water, and then they were done.

The little tree sighed with relief. He reached out to Keelie with his branches and she accepted his prickly hug. He hugged Risa and Laurie, too.

You two take care of each other.

We will. Philia sent waves of green to Keelie.

Coyote hopped over the rocks, avoiding getting his feet wet.

“You did a good thing, kid, rescuing that tree. He’ll have a good life here. Before, the odds were stacked against him, being in that mall and with the …” He seemed hesitant to continue.

“And with the—what?”

“Just that the mall attracts unsavory types.”

Sean sauntered across the lawn. “Finished here? I cleaned out the car.”

“You made Sean clean your car?” Keelie couldn’t believe it.

“Duh,” Laurie said. “You should see all the dirt that your pet tree left in the trunk. It was disgusting. We could have planted crops back there.”

“Actually, no,” Risa said. “Crops require sunlight, although you might have planted mushrooms under certain conditions.”

Laurie stared at Risa as if she’d just landed her spaceship. “I’ll keep that in mind for the next time we kidnap a tree.”

The minute the BMW’s doors opened, Knot jumped into the back seat, followed by Coyote.

“Oh no,” Laurie said. “I draw the line. He smells like a dumpster.”

Coyote grinned. “The best meals are those that are tossed out. People have no appreciation for aged meat.” Sean made a face and Risa looked queasy.

Keelie sighed. “I’ll sit next to him.”

“Hope you have your shots,” Laurie said.

Risa was torn between grabbing the front seat and sitting in the back, but finally the lure of Knot’s company won out. She sat next to Keelie. Sean took the front passenger seat.

“You really are, um, fragrant,” Keelie told Coyote. “You’re also bigger than I thought you were. Can you scooch over?”

“I don’t want to muss my tail. I have it just right,” he said. He looked out the window. “Are we going to the forest now?”

“I certainly hope so,” Sean answered fervently.

Keelie understood. She, too, couldn’t wait to return to the redwoods. She’d never thought she would want to leave Los Angeles, but this wasn’t her home anymore.

Sean closed his eyes and was soon fast asleep. Knot crawled up onto the rear deck and curled up. Laurie turned onto the L.A. freeway.

“I think it’s faster going up the coast road.” Coyote pointed his ears forward.

“The day I take driving directions from a coyote is the day I see a unicorn,” Laurie declared.

“Well, we know that ain’t going to happen,” Keelie muttered.

“I heard that.” Laurie drove on, but then took the next exit and they made their way to the coast road.

Keelie smiled. It was funny seeing Laurie arguing with a coyote.

“How about we stop at In-N-Out Burger?” Keelie hadn’t had one of their burgers in a year.

“They have great dumpsters.” Coyote licked his black, doglike lips.

“Eww!” Laurie and Keelie said in unison.

The coyote turned his golden eyes to Keelie. “Listen, it’s not like I can drive through and ask for a burger. A coyote has got to do what a coyote has to do to get a bite in this town.”

Keelie had never thought about how hard it was for a coyote, or any animal, to exist in an urban environment. She didn’t want to ask him about what else he did for survival in L.A.

“I like In-N-Out dumpsters,” Coyote was saying. “It’s a part of life. But if you really want to show a lady a good time, you’ll take her to Beverly Hills—Wolfgang Puck’s garbage cans. Delicious.”

“How about we drive through and buy you a real burger?” Keelie suggested. “Let’s skip the dumpster diving.”

“You’re kidding me? Right?”

Laurie nodded. “I think it’s a great idea.”

Coyote laid his paw on her shoulder. “Can we get fries?”

“Sure.” Laurie glanced dubiously at the paw.

Knot snorted, as if disgusted.

At the drive-through window, Keelie got another surprise. Coyote knew how to read. And now she wondered if Knot could, too, because the two animals stared intently out the window at the menu board. Knot would meow, and Coyote would say, “Large or small?”

Risa was the only one baffled by the menu. They ended up with many white bags full of food, and stopped at a sandy-beach overlook to eat. The wind was blowing steadily from the Pacific and the waves sparkled in the sun.

The elves looked healthier here, and more alert the farther they got from the city. Keelie felt better too. There was something about the concrete and steel that had sapped her energy.

After they resumed their trip north, the elves slept deeply. Keelie didn’t mind letting Sean ride with Risa in back, because they were both out of it. Coyote had curled up on the floorboard, too, and Knot was in his spot on the rear deck.

The miles went by as Keelie and Laurie talked about school and plans for the future. When Coyote woke up, Keelie listened to Laurie and Coyote talk about all the cool places to hang out in Los Angeles. Coyote and Laurie had even attended some of the same concerts.

Keelie accepted this as part of her strange new reality. She wondered what it would take to really startle her.

She glanced into the back seat at Sean, who still slept. She knew he had been wiped out, but she figured he could join the conversation. She had been thinking about how their relationship had heated up. Where were they headed? They had years ahead of them. Of course, Sean was ridiculously older than she was, even though he acted as if he were her age.

But. She turned her head and studied the long blond lashes resting against his cheeks. Asleep, and so handsome. Her heart quivered as if it had been shot by Cupid. She had no idea what her own lifespan would be. Would she be like Dad and live hundreds of years, or like Mom, who never made it to forty? That was her last thought before she fell asleep.

When she woke up, something was licking her eyelids. Before she opened them, she grabbed for the psycho feline. She was going to strangle him, but he was gone before she could wrap her hands around his neck.

“You two have a very strange relationship, even for the fairy world,” Coyote commented, sounding like a nature-show narrator.

Keelie bolted upright. A big orange furry butt was climbing back into the back seat for sanctuary. She leaned back. “You’d better stay up there.”

Laurie looked in the rearview mirror. “Is Keelie being mean to the sweet kitty cat?” Purring filled the car.

Sean was awake, and watching her. He reached out for her hand. He turned it around and kissed her wrist. It was such an intimate touch, even in a crowded car. In that second, Keelie’s world narrowed to a sharp focus on just Sean and herself. Her stomach churned like white water in a rapidly flowing river.

He held her hand for a while, as if he had to feel her pulse and know how fast her heart was beating. She felt lonely when at last he released her and she turned back to face the road.

Knot and Coyote watched them closely.

They passed the Redwood Forest park entrance just before sunrise. Coyote lifted his head. “Let me out here.”

“Why?” Keelie asked. They’d already dropped Sean off at the stables, so he could check on the jousters and the horses.

“I want to investigate.” Coyote lifted his nose and sniffed. “I sense a familiar magic.”

“What if people see you?” Keelie was concerned about his safety in the woods. She liked Coyote. Knot meowed darkly from the backseat.

“I’ll be safe. I’ve been living in L.A. Nobody saw me there.” Coyote lowered his eyelids, as if he didn’t want to reveal too much of himself.

Keelie opened the door and Coyote slipped out. “Be careful.” She watched him disappear into the deep green forest.

In the festival parking lot, a hairy fairy stood in front of Sir Davey’s RV. Keelie relaxed and smiled. It was Sir Davey, except he was wearing gauzy blue fairy wings that twinkled in the sunlight. He motioned for Laurie and Keelie to come inside. Risa dragged along in their wake, Knot strolling beside her.

Sir Davey held open the door of the luxurious motorhome. “Ladies!”

Keelie pointed toward his back. “Very fashionable!”

He shrugged. “I just got back from the costume shop. If you ask me, I think they bought them at the local discount store.”

Risa grimaced as she joined them and studied Sir Davey. “Your wings are prettier than mine. That’s not fair. I’m going to register a complaint.”

“Talk to the costume shop,” Sir Davey suggested.

“I will. If I’d known that I had to go back there, I would’ve gotten out with Sean.” Risa twirled on her heels, but then pirouetted around like she’d suddenly remembered something. She looked down at Knot, who was enjoying the fresh morning air. “Are you coming?”

He bolted inside the RV.

Shaking her head, Risa stomped off in the direction of the Globe theater.

Sir Davey arched an eyebrow and smiled mischievously. “Problems with the lovebirds?”

“I think the feelings only run one way.” Keelie gazed in the direction of the RV door. “In fact, I’m worried about Knot. He seems stressed.”

“How so?” Sir Davey asked.

“His fur is all mussed up. He’s not being himself.” How did you describe a cat not acting like a cat? It could be that Knot was stressed out about Coyote showing up, too.

“Maybe he needs a nap, and being away from Risa will do him a world of good. As long as he sticks by you and does his guardian duties, then I say he’ll be fine,” Sir Davey said. “Some days we handle stress better than others.”

Laurie walked up the RV steps, yawning. “That nap idea sounds great.” She yawned again. Sir Davey and Keelie followed her.

“Your grandmother wanted you two to stay around here, rather than go to the elf village. She wants you to help with some tree shepherd stuff while she’s busy with the play. Her performance as Queen Elizabeth has impressed everyone.”

Keelie rolled her eyes. Great, her grandmother would win a Ren Faire Oscar for her supposed acting ability. What everyone didn’t know was that she was like that all the time. A grump. An imperious grump.

As she shoved her hands into her pockets, Keelie felt the parchment. She pulled it out and looked at it.

“What can you tell me about this, Sir Davey? It was inside my mother’s safe at our old house, but everything else was missing, and there was some kind of spell on it.”

Frowning, Sir Davey took it. He held it up to the light. “It’s not parchment.” He sniffed it and nibbled an edge. “Not vellum, either. It doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen.”

He waved his hand over it, closing his eyes and making a strange humming sound. Keelie hadn’t seen him do this before. Maybe it was a new way of doing a magical analysis. Finally, Sir Davey opened his eyes. He shook his head. “If it’s associated with magic, it’s not Earth-based magic. If it’s fairy magic, then stay away from it, Keelie lass. You’ve messed with that once, and it changed you.”

Keelie took the scrap of paper from him. She rubbed it between her fingers, remembering the fairy spell that had briefly appeared when she first held it. It wouldn’t take a giant mental leap to think that Mom had used fairy magic, given her fairy blood. Of course, anyone who’d known Mom would have denied it. Keelie remembered how her mom had tried to scour anything magical or fantastical from their lives. The only toy that Keelie ever really played with were her My Little Ponies. The beautiful wooden toys that Dad sent her were special treats; Mom always gave Keelie nonfiction books and toys that had educational value.

Keelie studied the paper scrap. She had to know what this was from. The more she learned about her Mom, the less she really knew her.

“Why don’t you call your father?” Sir Davey suggested. “The cell phone is on my dresser. Let him know what you’ve been up to. I need to run to Admin,” he added. “They’ve received a delivery from my brother in Arkansas.”

Keelie went back to the bedroom to get the phone, and was not surprised to see the movie The Two Towers playing on the big-screen television mounted at the foot of Sir Davey’s bed. Saruman was commanding the Uruk-hai to destroy the humans. Something about Saruman reminded Keelie of Bloodroot. It could possibly be that the tree was a lot like a wizard. She took the iPhone from its charging cradle and went back to the front of the RV.

Laurie had crawled onto the couch and pulled a quilt over herself. Knot sat in the window looking out into the parking lot. She knew something wasn’t right about him.

“Are you waiting for your girlfriend?” she asked.

He didn’t turn around. She reached out to pet him and he moved his head so she couldn’t touch him.

“Are you mad about Coyote?”

Knot wouldn’t look at her.

“You’re my guardian. He’s just a friend.” She didn’t like having Knot upset with her.

His tail twitched angrily.

“Maybe you could use the extra help.” Keelie had to be honest with him. “I feel like you’ve been preoccupied ever since we came here. And I don’t trust the redwoods.”

Knot turned and stared at her. Keelie reached out to pet him and he snagged her arms with his claws.

Keelie disengaged them and rubbed her arms. “Good. Glad to know we have an understanding. If you’re stressed, I can make you some catnip tea.”

Knot gave a slight nod.

“Okay, I’ll make you a cup.” She put water on to boil and rooted in the cupboards until she found a baggie of catnip. She wanted to hear Dad’s voice, but first, she’d call the person who knew the most about fairy magic.