This is the second book in a serialized story about family and friendships…that also includes a little magic. If you haven’t read the first book, you will find it FREE here.

Maggie McCrae knew her granddaughters were not ready for the legacy she must leave them. The house, the grounds and everything that went with it would now be theirs. She vowed she would do all she could to protect them and hopefully, give them the time they needed to fulfill their destiny. Gabriella and Moira must learn to trust themselves and each other as they discover the true magic of Burrows Bay.

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Read the beginning of The Secret of Burrows Bay right now!

Chapter 1

Jack hung up the phone and hurried towards the parking lot.  Seeing two patrolmen, he said, “Curtis, you and Armstrong follow me out to the MacInnes House.” 

Moira hung up the phone.  “Jack wants us to stay inside until he gets here.”  She looked at Callie.  “Why don’t you go ahead and call Shawn?”

Callie shook her head.  “Let’s wait until Jack gets here.  We’re not sure if there’s other evidence out there and we don’t want to disturb any clues.”

“We can go up to the library and wait,” suggested Gabbi.  “We’ll see anyone coming up the drive but feel a little more protected away from these main floor windows.”

Emma nodded.  “Sounds like a good idea.”

As they entered the library, Callie walked over to the French doors.  “When we get the all clear, I would love to go out on this balcony.  What a view!”

Moira was pacing back and forth, looking out the window that faced the front drive.  Gabbi walked up and laid a hand on her shoulder.  “It’s going to be okay, cuz.  Just sit down and relax.”

“I didn’t even consider the danger before inviting them,” Moira said quietly to Gabbi.  “What was I thinking after Jack told us to be careful?”

Callie came over and looked at Moira closely.  “Whatever it is just tell us.”

“Moira and I were looking for evidence of trespassers in the woods a few days ago,” Gabbi explained.  “We ended up at an abandoned farm, and we reported it as a possible meth lab.”

Callie’s eyes grew large.  “How could you tell?  Did you see them making it?”

“No, the odor,” Gabbi replied.  “I’d noticed it once before in Seattle…right before a place got raided.”

“That was after you ran into us?”  Emma asked.  She turned to Callie.  “I had the kids out for a tour on Saturday.”

Moira continued to pace.  “And with all this going on, it didn’t even occur to me that you two might be in danger.  Jack said they had arrested two of the men, but the third hadn’t been found.” 

She turned and looked out the window, finally seeing Jack’s black sedan drive up.  A patrol car was following him and pulled off by the carriage house.  “I’m going to go down and let them in,” she said, walking out of the library.

“Does she always do that?” asked Emma.

Gabbi looked confused.  “Do what?”

“Take on all the responsibility for a situation.”  Emma smiled.  “She reminds me of Maggie.”

Callie walked out after Moira.  “Well, this isn’t her fault.  It was my idea to have the party.”

Jack got out of the car and told the patrolmen to fan out and look for any other indications that someone had been there or possibly tried to break in.  He took a few pictures of the porch with his phone and a close up of the message.  Then, he walked around searching for any other evidence.  Satisfied that there was nothing else to find, he knocked on the door. 

As Moira opened it, he could see she was upset.  Then, Callie walked up right behind her.  He made a mental note to get the patrolmen to dust for prints on the doorknob, though he doubted they’d find anything helpful. 

“Do you have any idea who might have done this?” Jack asked Moira.

“I thought maybe it had something to do with the meth lab…” Moira began.

Jack shook his head.  “We arrested Amos Parker yesterday afternoon.  He couldn’t be the one responsible for this and the other two men are still in jail.”

Moira let out a sigh of relief.  “I was so concerned I had put Callie and Emma in danger.  I didn’t even think about the possibility that someone might come to the house and do something like this.”

“It was my idea to have the party.”  Callie gave her brother a look.  “Moira was just nice enough to go along with it.”

Jack could tell his sister liked Moira.  She could get very protective while defending a friend.  “Callie, I need to speak to Miss Dunbar alone.” 

We’re back to Miss Dunbar, Moira thought to herself.  Oh well, I can’t really blame him. 

Callie turned back towards the stairs.  “I’m going up to tell Emma we can leave.”

As soon as she was up the stairs, Jack took Moira’s arm and escorted her into the kitchen.  “Jack, I’m sorry…” Moira began. 

Jack shook his head and wrapped his arms around her.  “You scared me.  Don’t do that again.”

“I won’t,” Moira replied as he released her.  “I’m very sorry Callie was here.”

Jack looked into those dark green eyes.  “That’s not the only reason I was worried.  Moira, you make me…”  He stopped for a moment and they just looked at one another.  When they heard the others walking down the stairs, Jack said, “It’s two days until Friday.  Do you have any plans for tonight?”

“No.”  She smiled.  “What did you have in mind?”

Jack glanced towards the stairs.  “I’ll pick you up at six?”

Moira nodded and took a step back as the others walked into the kitchen. 

Gabbi announced, “My father is flying up tonight and staying with us for the next few days.  He’s insisting we need security lights and cameras installed around the estate.”

“A good idea,” agreed Jack.  “I’m going to check on the progress outside.”  He glanced back at Moira, then walked out onto the terrace.

“Well?” Gabbi asked.  “What happened?”

“What do you mean?” Moira asked, innocently.

“Oh, he’s not mad at her,” Gabbi said, looking at Emma and Callie.  “I told you they’d work it out.”

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