The Haunted_Edit Copy 4-7-17
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“That was so thoughtful!” I was genuinely touched by his<br />
gesture. But not too touched to refrain from corny jokes. I leaned<br />
down and put my ear to the box. “I can’t hear any of them calling.”<br />
“You know, it’s a long walk to Rhodesville from here,” he<br />
threatened with mock severity.<br />
I grinned and surveyed the variety of stones in the box. My<br />
eyes kept coming back to a jagged-looking black piece about an inch<br />
long.<br />
When I picked it up, Tucker glanced over and nodded.<br />
“That’s black tourmaline. It’s supposed to create a powerful<br />
protection against negative energy.”<br />
After another moment or two, I selected another, smaller<br />
stone. This one was smooth and roundish, and it was kind of a<br />
transparent gray-brown color. I was proud to recognize it from the<br />
charts I’d been looking at online. “This is smoky quartz, isn’t it?”<br />
“Yup. It’s funny that your nervous self picked that one out;<br />
it’s supposed to be calming. It’s also good for shielding from<br />
negative energy.”<br />
I replaced the lid on the box of stones and slipped it back<br />
under the seat. <strong>The</strong>n I held one of mine in each hand and sat back.<br />
“Thank you. I really appreciate this.”<br />
“Don’t worry about it. I’d never send you in to any<br />
investigation totally unprepared. When we get there we’re going to<br />
ground ourselves, too.” He looked over my way and smiled again.<br />
“I know you can do this, Chelsea. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t<br />
think you were capable.”<br />
I don’t know if it was his reassuring words, smile, or maybe<br />
even the stones in my hand, but I could feel my nerves calming. My<br />
body was still alert and excited, but the anxiety was definitely<br />
lessening. It felt more like anticipation than terror.<br />
He reached forward and pressed the power button on the<br />
dashboard. Even though I wasn’t a huge classic rock fan, any<br />
musical ignoramus could have recognized the warble of Robert<br />
Plant that emanated from the speakers.<br />
“Is Led Zeppelin always the pre-hunt music?” I asked.<br />
“Only when I feel particularly awesome,” he replied.<br />
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