“The first year it did. After that, Angelica paid for fencing which keeps all but the most determined within a specific area.” Adam drove down and around, and they found themselves in the midst of the creation of a medieval village and marketplace.

“How interesting!” As soon as Adam parked beside one of the trucks advertising Ye Olde Festival Awnings, Tents and Paraphernalia, Elle was out of the ATV and rushing toward the oblong arena that occupied the center of the lawn. A corral-style wooden fence surrounded the enclosure, and on one end, a raised dais held seating for the privileged few. There Rune sat on a gilded velvet throne, speaking to Angelica’s assistant, Veda.

In the past, Adam had made it a point to never get anywhere near the festival, a solid decision he wished he had maintained. But after a critical look around, he hurried after Elle. Seeing her here, among strangers, reminded him of the gunshot through Rune’s window and Elle’s close encounter with death. He should never have given her a phone and agreed to her helping Rune in the shop. Yes, she practiced her self-defense, and yes, her memory loss was easing, but her life force burned so brightly she shone like a beacon, and everyone on the grounds noticed. Tools stopped, suspended in midair. Voices calmed. Every eye appreciated her...and Adam knew that attention led to danger.

Someone knew who she was. Someone who wanted to kill her.

So Adam observed which of the men and women stared too long and too fiercely and made mental notes of each one. By the time Elle and Adam made their way to the foot of the dais, Eric was shouting at his crew to return to work and the sounds of hammers and drills once more filled the air.

Veda leaned toward Rune, gesturing at the greenhouse’s shattered window as if her job depended on her righting this wrong. As maybe it did.

“Hi, Rune!” Elle waved at the beleaguered fortune-teller.

Veda straightened up, focused all her concentration on Elle, then in a flurry she ran to the edge of the dais, jumped three feet to the ground and ran up the path toward Angelica’s mansion.

Adam watched her with thoughtful, narrowed eyes. “That young woman should have her blood pressure tested.”

“That young woman should get a less stressful job,” Elle said.

Together, they climbed the dais toward Rune, who was ruddy-cheeked, fiery-eyed and snarling. “Every year it’s the same mad rush to set this thing up, but this year! Adam! Elle! What was I thinking to take this task on again? We’ve got to be ready in three days, and this festival is a train wreck!” Rune waved her arms and spoke in italics.

Elle ached for her. “It’s not so bad. All that has to be done is—”