Vintage VampireSouthern Relics Cozy Mysteries
Bella Falls
Evermore Press
Copyright © 2020 by Bella Falls
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author, except where permitted by law or for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All Rights Reserved.
Created with Vellum
Contents
Also by Bella Falls
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Hextra Free Stories
Series Order
Series Order
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Bella Falls
Southern Relics Cozy Mysteries
Flea Market Magic
Rags To Witches
Pickup and Pirates
Vintage Vampire
Bargain Haunting
A Southern Charms Cozy Mystery Series
Moonshine & Magic: Book 1
Lemonade & Love Potions: A Cozy Short
Fried Chicken & Fangs: Book 2
Sweet Tea & Spells: Book 3
Barbecue & Brooms: Book 4
Collards & Cauldrons: Book 5
Red Velvet & Reindeer: A Cozy Short
Cornbread & Crossroads: Book 6
Preserves & Premonitions: Book 7
*All audiobooks available are narrated by the wonderful and talented Johanna Parker
For a FREE exclusive copy of the prequel to the Southern Charms series, Chess Pie & Choices, sign up for my newsletter!
Share recipes, talk about Southern Charms and all things cozy mysteries, and connect with me by joining my reader group Southern Charms Cozy Companions!
Chapter One
Sweat trickled down my neck, and strands of my hair stuck like glue to my skin as I assisted Bubba, our newest employee, in securing an old writing desk in the back of one of our business trucks. The humidity hung in the air so thick that I might as well have skipped the shower I took earlier. With all the things we planned to sell tonight, it took longer than usual to load up the truck.
I wiped my face off on the sleeve of my shirt. “I hope this is all. Whew! I’m sweatin’ like a hog!”
“Should I take offense to that?” Deacon snuffled his flat nose at me as he waddled up next to the vehicle.
My cousin used to be one of the biggest players with women I’d ever known until the night he messed with the wrong witch. Somehow, she’d cursed him into the form of a pig, saying he deserved to be what he truly was before she took off forever. Ever since then, none of us had been able to free him from his animal form and return him to normal no matter what we tried. Until tonight.
I moseyed over to the edge of the truck bed and sat down on the opened tailgate, swinging my cowboy boots as I talked to my cousin. “You know I wasn’t talking about you, Deac. Even in that pig form of yours, you gotta feel that it’s hotter than a pepper sprout. If we had a pool out here, it’d be boilin’ by now.”
“That’s what mud’s for. A good wallow will keep me cool most days. Oink. Snort.” My cousin squealed his enthusiasm. “Of course, Dad gave me a good hosing off so I could look good tonight.”
After promising my aunt and uncle that we would put all our focus on finding a cure for Deacon, we’d experienced more frustration than hope. Even with Auggie as the coven’s new librarian, the former professor hadn’t been able to track down an effective spell or magical method to change my cousin back other than to track down the original witch who cast the hex in the first place and convince her to reverse the curse.
“Your skin is practically glowing,” I complimented. “I’ll bet you get lots of attention at the market.”
“It won’t be anything like before,” he grunted.
In his human form, Deacon used to make heads turn wherever he went. Even from his teenage years, men admired him for his strength and women swooned over his devilish good looks.
“Well, your mother and sister have all their fingers and toes crossed for you, and Granny Jo sends you all her love.” The pendant around my neck warmed against my skin. I pulled on the chain to retrieve it with my fingers. “Oh, and Granddad insisted he wanted to come with us. You wanna wear the medallion for good luck?”
My thumb stroked the outline of an elephant on the brass coin that my ancestors had made into a necklace. Because of its magical nature, any of the numerous family ghosts had the ability to occupy the object and “ride” in it, especially if we were doing something related to the family business. Granddad still liked to help find the best bargains when he could.
“Nah, you keep him with you,” Deacon insisted with a grunt. “You’ll feel his influence quicker than my tough hide. And we need all the help we can get.”
A shrill whistle interrupted our conversation, and Uncle Jo waved his hat in the air as he approached.
Bubba came over, checking off a list in a small notepad. “Do you think we’ve got everything we need, Mr. Jewell?”
“Yes,” my father and uncle replied at the same time.
With a snicker, I jumped down from the tailgate. Dad eased himself off the back of the truck with more grace than me. “All the pieces we’re bringing with us are secure. But I don’t think we’ll have enough room for everyone to ride.” He glanced at my cousin.
“That’s okay, we can follow behind in Ol’ Bessie,” I offered, pulling my keys from my pocket. “Give me two ticks and I’ll bring her around.”
Buddy, our resident barn cat, chased after me as I hustled with quick feet to my little cottage situated on the back of our family’s land. Even though the place was small, it possessed the best view of the Bogue Sound and was the perfect size for just me. Plus, it
