A Witch and Her Man (Jeff and Gail) Read Online Free Page B
Author: G.E. Stills
indicated the living room. "Marla used to come over and we'd do them together, but..." she hung her head and paused momentarily as she remembered Marla, tears forming in her eyes. "You aren't Wiccan though and I wouldn't feel comfortable performing one in front of you."
"How long does the ceremony last?"
"About an hour."
"Why don't I go exercise for awhile and take a shower. That should give you the privacy to perform your ceremony. I won't disturb you and you can let me know when you're done."
"Sounds perfect." She smiled and added, "Fresh towels and wash cloths are in the hall closet."
****
Gail cooked a supper of baked fish, steamed vegetables and salad. "I'm afraid this is not really a male cuisine," she apologized.
He laughed, "This is fine. You don't have to make anything special for me."
With supper finished, Gail collected their dishes and put them in the dishwasher. He followed her into the living room and at her indication, seated himself on the couch. Gail turned on the television.
"Tell me a little more about Wicca if you don't feel I'm being too nosy."
Gail turned the television volume down. "What would you like to know?"
"Since I don't know much more about it other than a name, I don't know what to ask. Just tell me what ever you feel comfortable discussing."
"I'll start then by telling you our basic beliefs then. More lemonade?" She asked.
"Not right now, thanks. Go ahead."
Clearing her throat, Gail proceeded to explain. He paid close attention to her words while at the same time studying her.
"And that gives you a little idea of what I'm about," Gail said a few hours later. "Now I think maybe we should turn in. Are you certain you want to sleep on the couch? The bed would be more comfortable."
"Thanks for the offer but I'll be fine," he said.
She slid gracefully from the couch and disappeared down the hall. When she returned, she had a blanket and pillow in her hands. She handed them to him. Gail yawned and stretched. "Goodnight, Jeff. See you in the morning." Padding softly across the floor, Gail went into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Jeff fluffed the pillow and pulled the blanket over him. He lay in the dark thinking of what she had told him. He was just dozing off when a rattle of the front door lock brought him to alert.
In a flash, he was wide-awake and rolled to the floor, drawing his gun from its holster on the coffee table. The door opened and two men stood silhouetted in the doorway.
"Stop right there," he ordered, not knowing who the newcomers were and not wanting to accidentally hurt one of Gail's friends. He could not think of a friend who would come over in the middle of the night unannounced and let themselves in, but the remote possibility did exist. His indecision was answered seconds later when the man in front drew his weapon and fired.
Jeff heard two bullets hit the couch with a thunk where he had been asleep moments before. An instant before he fired back, the man dropped to a crouch and the round missed. The man's partner was not as lucky. The round meant for the lead man struck his chest.
"Oomph," the man grunted in surprise as the round punched him back and sent him tumbling off the steps. Just then, Gail's bedroom door opened. In a voice thick with sleep, she asked, "What was that noise..."
Jeff scrambled to his feet and dashed across the intervening space. He tackled Gail to the floor and covered her body with his own just as two more bullets splintered the bedroom door above.
"Shhh, keep quiet and stay down," Jeff ordered in a low, terse voice
There was a commotion at the front door and the assailant vanished.
"Stay here and keep low," Jeff growled again at the terrified and now fully awake Gail.
He crawled across the floor, grabbed an extra magazine and peeked outside just in time to see two men scrambling into a car. One of the men was
"How long does the ceremony last?"
"About an hour."
"Why don't I go exercise for awhile and take a shower. That should give you the privacy to perform your ceremony. I won't disturb you and you can let me know when you're done."
"Sounds perfect." She smiled and added, "Fresh towels and wash cloths are in the hall closet."
****
Gail cooked a supper of baked fish, steamed vegetables and salad. "I'm afraid this is not really a male cuisine," she apologized.
He laughed, "This is fine. You don't have to make anything special for me."
With supper finished, Gail collected their dishes and put them in the dishwasher. He followed her into the living room and at her indication, seated himself on the couch. Gail turned on the television.
"Tell me a little more about Wicca if you don't feel I'm being too nosy."
Gail turned the television volume down. "What would you like to know?"
"Since I don't know much more about it other than a name, I don't know what to ask. Just tell me what ever you feel comfortable discussing."
"I'll start then by telling you our basic beliefs then. More lemonade?" She asked.
"Not right now, thanks. Go ahead."
Clearing her throat, Gail proceeded to explain. He paid close attention to her words while at the same time studying her.
"And that gives you a little idea of what I'm about," Gail said a few hours later. "Now I think maybe we should turn in. Are you certain you want to sleep on the couch? The bed would be more comfortable."
"Thanks for the offer but I'll be fine," he said.
She slid gracefully from the couch and disappeared down the hall. When she returned, she had a blanket and pillow in her hands. She handed them to him. Gail yawned and stretched. "Goodnight, Jeff. See you in the morning." Padding softly across the floor, Gail went into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Jeff fluffed the pillow and pulled the blanket over him. He lay in the dark thinking of what she had told him. He was just dozing off when a rattle of the front door lock brought him to alert.
In a flash, he was wide-awake and rolled to the floor, drawing his gun from its holster on the coffee table. The door opened and two men stood silhouetted in the doorway.
"Stop right there," he ordered, not knowing who the newcomers were and not wanting to accidentally hurt one of Gail's friends. He could not think of a friend who would come over in the middle of the night unannounced and let themselves in, but the remote possibility did exist. His indecision was answered seconds later when the man in front drew his weapon and fired.
Jeff heard two bullets hit the couch with a thunk where he had been asleep moments before. An instant before he fired back, the man dropped to a crouch and the round missed. The man's partner was not as lucky. The round meant for the lead man struck his chest.
"Oomph," the man grunted in surprise as the round punched him back and sent him tumbling off the steps. Just then, Gail's bedroom door opened. In a voice thick with sleep, she asked, "What was that noise..."
Jeff scrambled to his feet and dashed across the intervening space. He tackled Gail to the floor and covered her body with his own just as two more bullets splintered the bedroom door above.
"Shhh, keep quiet and stay down," Jeff ordered in a low, terse voice
There was a commotion at the front door and the assailant vanished.
"Stay here and keep low," Jeff growled again at the terrified and now fully awake Gail.
He crawled across the floor, grabbed an extra magazine and peeked outside just in time to see two men scrambling into a car. One of the men was
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