“I would have thought the basement in this place would be bigger,” Van said as he looked around the shop front.

“It is. We added this wall to add some storage space and to keep the water pump and stairs leading to the rest of the house hidden from any customers,” I replied.

“Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have the pump closer to where you work?” Van asked.

“Probably, but I didn’t put it down here,” I answered grinning at the man. I shrugged my shoulders. “At least it works and is inside instead of out.”

“Good point,” Van said.

“I’ll be right back. I need to get some water to wash these plants in,” I said opening the door we had put in. I left it open as Van called out.

“What plants do you have for me?”

“Some peppermint leaf, mustard, and greater celandine,” I called back.

“Why those three?” Van asked. I didn’t answer until I returned. “That was fast.”

“The pump works very well,” I shrugged. “All three plants have excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Van watched as I washed my harvest and sat them out to dry.

“How should I use these?” Van asked.

“The celandine I’m going to harvest some of the juice from. Take a cotton cloth and dab some of the juice on it. Wipe that on your infected toes and nails twice a day for a week,” I answered. “Make sure to wash and clean them after 10-20 minutes. Never drink the juice since it is harmful when ingested!”

“Makes sense and I appreciate the warning,” Van replied. I used a towel to pat the harvest dry while he talked. “What about the mustard?”

“I’m going to crush the leaves and seeds. Add them to warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes a day,” I replied as I continued to pat the plants dry.

“Should I use them together?” Van asked.

“Uh… I don’t think it would hurt,” I replied. Van just gave me a questioning look. I shrugged again. “Honestly, I’ve never had to recommend a treatment for your issue.”

Van snorted then smiled. “I appreciate your candor.”

“My parents always told me that honesty was the best policy unless you had a secret that your life depended on,” I replied. Van laughed.

“What about the peppermint?” the hunter asked.

“I’m going to make an oil out of it. I have some in storage that I’ll get you,” I answered. “Just apply a few drops to the infected toenail and rub it in.”

“That works for me,” Van replied. “Doesn’t mustard oil make a good insect repellent?”

“It does,” I agreed. “Want me to make some mustard oil for you too?”

“I do,” Van replied.

“I’ll have to harvest more to do that. I just got enough this morning to make your treatment,” I said. “Mustard oil is also good for your skin and hair.”

“Ha! I don’t have to worry about that,” Van replied. “Now my Meagan, she’ll be interested in that.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Van asked.

“Nothing,” I quickly replied. Van frowned. “It’s just she’s about my age and most girls, ah, women our age care how they look.”

Van chuckled. “That’s true. I wish my daughter could stay a little girl forever, but that just isn’t possible.”

I didn’t say anything in response to that statement. Instead, I said, “I’ll go get you that peppermint oil.”

*

“What do you think about my Jase?” Lily asked Meagan after the girl had talked to Sara for a while. The cougar had shown zero interest in bonding with the human. The feelings Lily was now getting from her human were amusing.

“Why do you ask?” the huntress asked the pixie after taking her gaze off the cougar she wanted to bond with.

“I’m curious,” Lily replied.

“You know what they say curiosity did to the cat, don’t you?” Meagan asked smiling at the pixie.

“I do. And that’s an odd phrase to use considering who you want to bond with,” Lily replied.

“Touché,” Meagan said. “Your Jase is cute and seems nice, but he’s not my type.”

“What is your type then?” Lily asked spinning in place in front of the huntress. “Enquiring minds want to know!”

Meagan laughed. “Where did that come from?”

“It’s ancient slogan,” Lily answered.

“And how do you know?” the huntress asked.

“Pixies know vast amounts of human knowledge and history,” the pixie answered giving the human a nod. Sara growled and chuffed. “Come on Sara! Let me have a few minutes to play with her.”

“Play with me?” Meagan inquired.

“I’m a pixie. It’s what we do,” Lily shrugged.

“Picking on people?”

“Joking and playing pranks,” Lily replied. “We also help those that need or deserve it too.”

“But not everyone?” Meagan asked.

“Nope. Not everyone needs or deserves help,” the pixie answered.

“So, back to your type,” Yam said flying down from the tree she had been in to hover beside Lily. “Do you like girls?”

“What? No!” Meagan exclaimed. “And how many of you can talk?”

“Every pixie. Now, stop trying to change the subject,” Yam replied. Lily laughed.

“Have you seen my father and uncle?” Meagan asked.

“Of course. Most of us have been around Stonecroft for years,” Yam replied. She grinned. “Wait. You like your dad and uncle?”

“No!” Meagan quickly replied. “I just like men as big as they are.”

“That makes sense,” Lily said nodding her head. She was now wearing a long dress and glasses. Her hair was in a bun, and she held a notebook. “You were raised by these two big, strong, and self-sufficient men. Instead of taking cues from your mother, you took your cues growing up from them.”

Meagan stared at the pixie in confusion.

“Hey! Cut out the psychiatrist bit. It’s not funny,” Willow said joining them. She blasted Lily with wind.

“It is funny,” Lily replied once again wearing the dress she had earlier.

“In my professional opinion, you two are both nuts,” Yam said wearing a similar outfit that Lily had just seconds before.

Meagan laughed as the other two pixies turned on Yam and chased her. “Are they always like this?”

Sara chuffed and nodded her head. Meagan’s eyes widened as the cougar got up and walked away. She hadn’t expected the cat to respond to her. “Wait! Come back and we can talk more.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Lily shouted buzzing by the human. “Sara wants to take a nap.”

“Oh,” Meagan muttered. “Guess she isn’t interested in bonding.”

“She’s not,” Lily confirmed. “Though she is willing to help you find another cougar when it’s time for you to bond with a familiar.”