Spirit Magic Read online

“We’ll do that,” she said. “I’ll put away the whisky truffles and go to see the brandy man. I’ve spoken to him on the phone and he’s interested in the raspberry brandy syrup.” She paused. “Then there is a Christmas pudding truffle and Katie wants to make chocolate stars and Santas filled with jelly for some reason.”

  “Mmm, that is something to send me to sleep a happy man. Christmas pudding truffles.”

  There were no more messages on the phone, no trouble with Crystal, and in the morning they set off in separate vehicles to work. Sam still had the truck, and the wood from the castle was still in the trunk of his car at the yard.

  Halfway through the morning, Branston and Merle arrived to find out if anything else had happened, and Magda asked Rula to go and see if Mikey was up for a séance in his shop. He came in with Rula and asked what they wanted to do.

  “Merle’s the expert,” Magda said, looking at the ranch owner.

  “After you close, we could meet up and see if the Viking comes when we call. I would like to find out why he’s sad as well as angry and why he doesn’t want to go back to Scotland.”

  “We can take chairs in from here,” Magda told them, and they agreed to meet at seven in the evening. Rula handed Mikey his usual hot chocolate in a take-out mug. Merle asked Josh how he liked the job, and he said it was good.

  “Have you felt a spirit around the place?” she asked him, and the others all looked at her in surprise.

  “I sometimes feel things like Aunt Merle does,” he said apologetically. “I don’t want to interfere with anything in the café.”

  “Well, have you felt anything?” Magda asked and he looked at his aunt. She nodded at him to go on.

  “It’s outside, not inside where there is activity, but I don’t know anything more than that,” he said.

  “Can he come outside with me?” Merle asked Magda, and she said that she was coming as well. In fact, Rita was left zooming around on her own as the rest of them trooped around the back.

  “I hadn’t looked around here since Mikey started to make the climbing wall. He’s done it in the evenings when the customers have gone,” Magda said.

  “It actually looks quite natural even though it’s not really rock,” Katie said and ran her hand over it.

  “The mechanism for lowering down is hidden at the side,” Mikey added. He grinned at them, and with the agility of a gymnast, swung himself up to the top in seconds before coming down smoothly at the side.

  “Wow,” Rula said. “That looked easy, but I bet it takes years of practice.”

  Merle had stood with her hand on the rock and told them that she knew the Viking had been there but wasn’t around anymore.

  “Maybe he’ll arrive tonight,” Magda remarked, and asked Josh if he wanted to be there as well. The newest staff member shook his head and grinned.

  “Got a hot date, sorry.”

  “I’ve never done anything like a seance before,” Mikey told them. “You’ll have to keep me on course.”

  “We basically make it up as we go along,” Merle answered and gave a mischievous smile. “Rula can hold your hand.”

  “Now that sounds more like it,” Mikey said and gave Rula a friendly push causing her to look vaguely embarrassed. “Best get back to the shop. See you tonight.”

  The rest of them went back into the café and Magda told Rita to take a break after holding the fort.

  “We’ll see you later,” Merle said. “I had best do some work as well. I wish I knew what this warrior was sad about.”

  “Maybe we will find out tonight,” Magda added as Branston and Merle left for the ranch. She called Sam and brought him up to date about the rock face and Josh. Then the café and the truffle making took up all their time and energy. Even if Utric had stood in the kitchen, they wouldn’t have had time to look at him.

  Magda picked up some food on the way home, fed the cats, and tidied the place up by the time Sam arrived. He picked her up and swung her around, and then when she was safely back on the ground, he wrapped her in his arms and claimed her lips with his own. When she was finally allowed to breathe, Magda asked why he was so cheerful.

  Sam laughed and said that it had been a hard day on the building site, and it was just knowing that she was waiting that made the day brighter.

  “You sure know how to charm a girl,” she laughed, “but you do need a shower. Half the building site is on your clothes.” Then she added that the food would get cold, so he sat and ate with her before going for the shower. During the meal, she told him again about Josh and Mikey going up the rock wall.

  “He climbed up there as if it were a stairway and not a sheer face,” she said. “Then slid down on the sort of pulley thing to get to the ground. I can see why people who climb would enjoy it.”

  “And they’ll be thirsty when they finish and might fancy a chocolate boost.”

  “Might be good for both businesses. I am going to go out and see the brandy man tomorrow.”

  “It never stops,” Sam grinned. “I want to finish this extension we are doing and then make the tree house.”

  “And we will see if Utric appears tonight,” she added as she cleared away the dishes and made sure the cats were safely in the living room. They set off in Magda’s car because Sam was still using the truck, and he said that the wood was still in the trunk of the car at the builder’s yard.

  “No harm to the car and nothing disturbed.”

  They walked into the hiking shop and found most of the others already there.

  “Chairs,” Merle said, and Branston went with Sam to collect some from the café. They arranged them in a circle, and the last to arrive was Declan.

  “Sorry I’m a bit late,” he said. “What are we going to do here?” Mikey wanted to know that as well, and Merle explained about the reaction they got when they were kinder to the Viking. She made them all sit quietly and then called out to Utric to come and talk to them. There was no response but she told them to wait and tried again. Declan said quietly that he was behind Mikey. Mikey visibly jumped and looked over his shoulder.

  “What can you see?” Katie asked Declan and he described the man again but said that he looked calmer.

  “He likes Mikey,” Merle said. “And it is to do with that wall outside.”

  “I can take it down again,” Mikey offered very quickly, and as he said that, the wind whipped around the room and disturbed papers that were lying on the counter surface.

  “No. No. He likes the wall,” Merle said.

  “Like the cliffs of Scotland,” Magda added and asked out loud if Utric had sent the photos. Merle shook her head.

  “He doesn’t know what you mean,” Merle explained. Magda opened her phone and brought up a photo of the cliffs. “He can see it, but there is something troubling about it. I cannot figure out what.”

  “Should we go outside and next to the wall?” Sam wondered.

  “He reacted to that,” Declan observed. “I don’t get thoughts or anything but I can see him quite clearly. He sort of nodded when you mentioned that.”

  “Let’s try,” Branston suggested, and led the way out of the shop and down the alley to the café. Declan laughed when they arrived at the wall and said that Utric was already there.

  “He’s halfway up the wall and looks happy for the first time,” Declan added.

  They stood around in a rough circle and Merle started to ask questions again.

  “I can feel in my head that he loves showing off how good he is at climbing cliffs and walls.”

  “If he went on raiding parties, it would be a useful skill,” Sam observed. “Can some people scale castle walls, Mikey?”

  “One or two could. It’s not easy, but possible. Whereabouts is he, Declan?” Declan pointed to a spot about two thirds of the way up, and Mikey looked at Merle. “Should I climb up there?”

  “Do you feel okay about it?” she questioned, and he said he was at home on a rock face.

  “Just be careful,” Rula warned. “We d
on’t know what he might do.”

  Chapter 8

  Mikey flashed her a quick smile and grabbed handholds on the climbing wall. He moved very quickly up the face of the wall and stopped roughly where he thought that Declan had pointed. Declan called that Utric was just to his left and watching him. Mikey moved along to the end and slid down the rope that was there for the purpose. Declan laughed and said that the expression on Utric’s face was a picture.

  Mikey repeated the maneuver, and the Viking climbed to the very top and stood watching as Mikey descended again then stood back to see what everybody thought.

  Merle had closed her eyes for a lot of the time, and she told them that the feeling she was getting was much more settled.

  “If he’s happy, we can leave him there,” Magda said. “I don’t suppose anyone using the wall would know they were sharing it with a ghost.”

  “There is a bit more to add on to the wall and I’ll do that over the next few days. It means that three or four people could use the climb at the same time.”

  “Let’s have a coffee and see if he comes inside,” Sam suggested, and they headed to the beautiful double doors that had been the original ones. They had been sandblasted and restored and looked lovely.

  “I still cannot believe this place is a reality, you know,” Magda remarked as she opened up and then turned on the coffee machine. They let Rula work her magic on the machine and Katie handed around the drinks.

  “I am seeing the brandy distiller tomorrow. I think he might be interested in making the raspberry brandy for me,” Magda told them. “I might just forget the whisky for the time being and we can do the Christmas pudding ones instead.” She touched her hand to her forehead as the warm breeze made itself felt.

  “He’s come inside,” Merle said as she saw the movement. “Did you feel that, Magda?”

  “Yes, and he isn’t angry,” Magda replied.

  “Apart from giving him a climbing companion in Mikey,” Rula said with a smile. “Do you think—but maybe this is just in my head—he knows that you are not going to use the whisky? Is that part of it?”

  “Shall I see if he reacts if I say I’ll use the whisky?” Magda whispered, and Merle nodded.

  “Maybe I’ll make those whisky truffles after all. It’s a shame to waste the good Scotch whisky,” she said loudly. There was a definite swoosh of a wind rather than a breeze and Magda added that it was Henderson whisky and tartan. The wind swirled around the room and disturbed paper napkins.

  “I’m joking, Utric. I can see that upsets you. There will be no whisky truffles and no tartan at all. Is that better?” The wind subsided and Declan said that there was the faintest outline of the man beside her.

  “Go and climb again. You enjoy that,” Magda added. There were no more disturbances and they finished their drinks in peace.

  “Well, we know more than we did before,” Branston said. “We know he’s an excellent climber and loves it.”

  “We know he hates whoever took over the castle and the area after the Vikings left,” Sam joined in as well.

  “And I still think he’s very attached to that piece of wood. That is how he came here in the first place,” Magda added.

  “So, do we leave him to enjoy the climbing wall and hope he settles down, or do we try and send him back to Scotland?” Rula queried, and there was a gush of cold air from the door.

  “Definitely doesn’t want to go back,” Mikey remarked.

  “I think we leave it and see what happens,” Sam suggested. “It might all settle down.”

  “And we have a tree house to organize,” Declan said and stood up to go. “I’ll call you about times to meet up and load my truck with the wooden frame and tools. I’ve put the base together to save time.”

  “I have the camping gear,” Sam added, and Magda said that she supposed that meant she was taking food and drink.

  “I’ll share that with you,” Katie told her. “I really just need my camera and a sketch pad.”

  “Enjoy yourselves,” Merle said as she and Branston left. Mikey offered to help Rula clear away the cups, and she gave him a smile and accepted the offer. Katie said her car was just at the end of the alley and went off to drive home. Magda looked at Sam with a smile and asked Rula if she would lock up.

  “I’ll stay and make sure she gets home safe,” Mikey answered for Rula, as Sam and Magda walked away hand in hand. Outside, Magda took one last look at the climbing wall.

  “Good night, Utric,” she called, but there was no reply.

  The cats were overjoyed to have Magda and Sam back in the house. They ate treats and settled into purring loudly. There were no pictures on the cell phone and no disturbances of any sort.

  “I cannot believe that all is quiet,” Magda said. “Maybe we can relax and forget spooky things and psychic cats for once.”

  “Tell me,” Sam said as they settled together and flicked on a quiet program on the television, “exactly how this wedding is supposed to go.”

  “You go to the chapel and I arrive looking like a vision from a Hollywood movie. You promise to look after me forever, and we all eat at the most expensive restaurant in town.”

  “Okay, smarty. What about invitations and stuff?”

  “I’ll pick those up tomorrow and we can start to write them by hand, when we have a list.” Then she looked at him. “I cannot walk down the aisle by myself. I still miss my mom and dad.”

  “Branston would be flattered if you asked him,” Sam suggested, and she snuggled against him.

  “I like it when you know the right thing to do.”

  “Now that is one change I haven’t gotten used to yet. The self-sufficient Magda letting me be right.”

  “It won’t last. Enjoy it,” she said and pulled out her phone to call Branston. Her cousin was pleased to be asked, and laughed when she said that there would be no Stetson.

  “One more detail taken care of,” she said. “I will finally not be Magda Caraganic. You enjoyed teasing me about my fancy name for all those years.”

  “Better when you are Magda Barnes,” he answered, and ended the conversation by covering her lips with his own. Crystal bumped her head against him and asked to be petted.

  “That cat is jealous of me now,” Magda complained. “The cat treats might be in short supply, madam.” Crystal turned her back and stalked away to the other seat. She relented when it came to snuggling into Magda’s bed.

  “Good morning, Mister Barnes,” Magda said as she called him while she was still in bed. “It was lovely to be spirit-free for a whole night. I think I’ll have another ten minutes in bed.” Sam blew her a kiss down the phone line and set off for work. The cats took the opportunity to snuggle in as well, and then work called and she had to slide out of bed and make a start.

  The café was a delight as usual and there were no signs of any ghostly activity.

  “Morning, Utric, if you are around,” she called out, and Rula laughed as she came in.

  “Caught you talking to a ghost, Magda.”

  “I can forget the ghost to find out what happened after we left last night,” Magda retorted. Rula waved a hand in the air.

  “Nothing. I went home.”

  “Oh, yes. How long have we known each other?” Magda said sarcastically.

  “Okay, Mikey and I went for a drink before we went home.”

  “And?” Magda prompted as Katie joined them.

  “He came back and had a coffee with me and that is definitely all,” Rula told them defiantly.

  “Hmm,” Magda said. “Do you think it is safe to go on this camping trip, Katie? Can they be left alone?” Katie laughed and said she was so looking forward to getting her photos up to date that she would risk it. Rita and Josh arrived and the day swung into action. Magda had made several batches of centers and left Katie to finish the coating.

  “I’m off to see this brandy distillery,” Magda said, slipped on her high heels and brushed her hair. “Shouldn’t be too long.”


  The distillery was quite small and in a modern business park. The man, Karl Perez, was happy to explain that they were a small company, making cognac for a niche market. Despite being a compact setup, Magda was impressed by the technology involved and the gleaming, efficient equipment.

  “This is fantastic,” she told him. “I can make simple brandy liqueur centers, but I’d like to make something different.” She gave him the orange liqueur and the new whisky one to try. “The ones that have a local connection do well and so do the ones with a story to them.”

  “They are very special,” he told her, “but I have eaten them before. My wife buys them—especially the pecan marzipan and the violet cream.”

  “I like it when folks know their truffles. The pecan and marzipan is my fiance’s favorite as well.” She pulled out the recipe that she had printed for the raspberry brandy syrup and asked him what he thought. Karl read it thoroughly and looked at her.

  “You could do it easily in any kitchen but when you came to selling, you would have to guarantee to meet health and safety standards, and that is really difficult.”

  “Oh, I never thought of that. Maybe I should just buy a ready-made liqueur.”

  “On the other hand,” Karl told her, “What if I made the syrup to sell and you used it in the truffles. I am sure we could make it work. It wouldn’t take a lot of my equipment or time. It is mostly waiting for the liquid to mature. That is where it has to be sterile. I could have a possible new product and you could have a unique center.”

  “That would be wonderful. I am going out for two days to look for wild raspberries but if there are no wild ones, we could always bring them in.”

  “The locally sourced ones would be attractive to the customers but we could buy if we had to. I can try the recipe out in the meantime. What do you think?”

  “I think it’s wonderful. Thank you so much,” Magda told him.

  “I’m under instruction from my wife to help you if possible, but it makes business sense as well,” he smiled. Magda felt in the tote bag that she had beside her and produced two boxes of truffles.

  “Please take her these,” she said and handed them over.