Of course, so many things could have changed since that time on the lawn. There was no guarantee whatsoever John Graves would be at the town square, and yet, I had a feeling he would be. There was something in the air. I somehow knew the powers that be were on my side for a change. Maybe it was my reward for telling the truth.

Dog let out a loud caw. “You feel it too, don’t you?” I said, looking up at him on his new perch. I noticed a woman on the other side of the street, trimming some hedges, giving me a suspicious look. She probably didn’t make a habit of talking to crows.

“Good morning, Mrs. Myers!” I called out cheerily.

She held up a hand in greeting but still looked suspicious.

Well, it would take more than suspicious looks to stop me today.

Just before I turned the corner that would take me to the town square, I heard a rumbling noise. A smile spread over my face.

Lawn mower.

Sure enough, there he was. The man I remembered from that day with Adam.

I trotted across the street and stepped up onto the lawn.

Now, how to get his attention? In the past I could have used any number of little spells. A flash of sunlight directed by the snap of my fingers. A gust of wind that would have carried the cap off his head and dropped it at my feet.

But those were no longer options.

The man finished the row, then swung the riding mower back around in my direction. I raised a hand in greeting. I thought he spotted me, but I must have been mistaken because he kept on driving. I walked closer and tried again. Without a doubt he saw me that time, we made eye contact, but he kept on driving. Right past me.

Clearly, not much had changed since he had run Adam and me off the lawn.

Well, I was not about to be run off again. Not today.

I waited until he reached the end of the row and swung the mower back around.

Then I stepped directly in his path.

Chapter 14

Surprise flickered in the eyes of the man driving the lawn mower, but he didn’t stop the engine.

I planted my hands on my hips and leveled my gaze.

If he wanted to play chicken, we’d play chicken.

John Graves rumbled toward me with a mean little glint in his eye, but I was not budging.

No, I was definitely not budging.

The distance between us closed to a few feet.

Still not budging.

The lawn mower barreled, albeit slowly, toward me.

Maybe I was budging?

Just then a blur of black wings flashed between us.

I heard a shout, then the engine died.

“What the heck is the matter with you, bird?” John shouted, watching Dog swoop back up into the trees, sending more leaves tumbling down. “You trying to get us both killed?”