Witchdependence Day: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Shorts Book 8) Read Online Free Page A

wag their tails for hours. Speaking of dinner, though, you’re expected to join your mothers at the festival. They’re barbecuing, and I was sent to retrieve you.”
    “You said you came here because you were bored,” Thistle argued.
    “Yes, well, whenever people talk to me for more than a few minutes I get bored,” Aunt Tillie said.
    “I thought we were eating here,” I reminded Thistle. “I thought it was going to be just the two of us.”
    “Attendance is mandatory,” Aunt Tillie said. “That’s why I’m here, too. Trust me. I didn’t want to come into town, but Winnie said if I didn’t she was going to start conducting regular contraband searches of my greenhouse.
    “Now, I’m innocent, but I don’t like my personal space being invaded,” she continued. “She’s such a busybody. I have no idea where she gets that from.”
    Landon scowled. “You’re not fooling anyone,” he said. “I know what you’re doing in that greenhouse.”
    “Oh, please,” Aunt Tillie scoffed. “You only think you know what’s going on in my greenhouse. If you knew the truth you would be amazed.”
    “Yeah, I don’t think ‘amazed’ is the right word,” Landon countered. “Barbecue sounds good to me, though. I’m starving.”
    “You’ll eat anything,” Bay said, linking her fingers with his. “You don’t care whether it’s barbecue or bacon.”
    “Ooh, do you think they’ll have bacon?”
    I watched the couple leave the barn, shifting my eyes to Thistle once they disappeared. “What do you think? We could have dinner with your family and still spend the night here.”
    “I don’t know,” Thistle hedged. “I kind of wanted us to be alone.”
    “I think you should have dinner with the family,” Aunt Tillie countered. “It’s the right thing to do.”
    Thistle narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “Why are you saying that? You don’t want to be there either.”
    “Yes, but at least I’ll have someone to irritate if you put in an appearance,” she replied. “I need to get my thrills somewhere. You’ll do in a pinch.”
    I couldn’t contain my chuckle as Thistle shot her great-aunt a murderous look.
    “You really are a terrible person sometimes,” Thistle said. “You know that, right?”
    Aunt Tillie was unperturbed by Thistle’s tone. “It keeps me young.”

Three
    “ W here’s the bacon ?”
    Landon approached Winnie, Bay’s mother, with a petulant look as he studied the assembled goodies on the picnic table in the middle of Hemlock’s Cove’s town square.
    For her part, the generally amiable woman smacked his hand as he reached for a cookie and shot him a dark look. “Those are for dessert.”
    “I’m hungry,” Landon whined. “Bay has been mean to me all day and I need a cookie to make me feel better.”
    Winnie pressed her lips together as she regarded her daughter’s boyfriend. Even when she acted stern I could tell she liked Landon. He’s too charming to dislike, and the way he dotes on Bay is every mother’s dream. “Fine. You can have one cookie.”
    “Thank you.” Landon snatched two cookies and pretended he didn’t see Winnie’s pointed glare as he handed one to Bay. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.”
    “Yes, but that other stuff you gave her needed penicillin to knock out,” Aunt Tillie interjected, grabbing her own cookie.
    It took everyone a moment to grasp what she was insinuating.
    “Aunt Tillie,” Winnie screeched, disgusted. “Don’t ever say anything like that again! That is your great-niece … and the man who has saved your bacon more times than I can count.”
    “Speaking of bacon … .” Landon was unruffled by Aunt Tillie’s comment.
    “There’s no bacon, Landon,” Winnie said. “Suck it up. Aunt Tillie, apologize to Landon and Bay right now.”
    “I’m truly sorry,” Aunt Tillie replied solemnly. The look on her face reflected sincere contrition, but I knew she had something else behind the look. “I’ve been a terrible