“Open the box,” she said, the musical tone of her voice ringing in the still summer air. “I put it there for you.”

Kellan heard his brothers behind him, calling his name. “Who are you?”

With a laugh, she came closer and dropped a kiss on his lips. “I’m a dream,” she said. “Close your eyes and I’ll disappear.”

Kellan glanced back to see his brothers quickly approaching, but when he turned to the girl again, she had already run from him. This time, Kellan decided not to follow.

“You’re letting her get away,” Danny called. “Go after her, Kellan.”

“She’s not a fairy,” Kellan said when Danny and Riley reached him. He touched his lips, still warm from her kiss. “She’s just a girl. A silly old girl.”

They watched her retreat together, then Kellan grabbed the tin from beneath Riley’s arm. “Let’s see what’s inside.”

“I thought Danny said it might be cursed.”

“Do you believe everything he says?” Kellan asked. “Riley, sometimes you’re as thick as a post.”

He tugged off the top and peered inside. The tin was filled with a variety of items-a seashell, a few pretty stones, a necklace made of flowers, braided string.

“Aw, it’s nothing but junk,” Riley said.

Danny swore. “I was hoping it might at least be worth a few quid.”

“I think we should bury it again,” Kellan said. If they did, she might come back for it. He could hide in the rocks and watch for her. Catching a fairy was powerful luck, wasn’t it?

“I’m not climbing back down.” Danny started off toward home. “I’m hungry. And Ma will have lunch for us soon.”

Riley followed him, a dejected look on his face. “I thought it would be treasure. I thought we’d be rich.”

Kellan sighed softly, then plopped down onto the grass. Crossing his legs in front of him, he reopened the tin and carefully picked through the contents. There were jeweled buttons and a penny whistle, a scrap of lace and three pieces of butterscotch candy. Why the girl had decided to bury it in the sand, he didn’t know. But he couldn’t help but be intrigued.