“Oh, we do,” Mom replied. “Tons and tons of fun.”
“I don’t understand,” Connie said. “You thought Marcus – this boy with the long blond hair here – was a murderer?”
“I didn’t,” Thistle replied.
“We thought he was acting funny,” I said. “It turns out he was just trying to get in Thistle’s pants, not kill her.”
Landon squeezed my knee under the table. “Maybe if there’s food in your mouth, you won’t be able to speak?”
I took a big bite of sausage. It couldn’t hurt.
“I want to hear about the naked dancing,” Denny said, his eyes twinkling.
“She was exaggerating,” Mom replied. “We just like to commune with nature from time to time.”
“Naked?”
“Sometimes.”
“What’s that like?”
“It’s totally terrifying,” I said, partially chewed sausage flying out of my mouth.
“Yeah,” Thistle agreed. “Boobs flying this way and that.”
“And you saw this, Landon?”
Landon rubbed his forehead. “I did indeed.”
“What was it like?” Daryl asked.
“Floppy.”
Mom scowled. “Gravity is something every woman fights at a certain time of her life, young man. Bay will be no different.”
“Thanks for the biology lesson.”
“Oh, don’t act like such a prude,” Aunt Tillie said. “Everyone knows you two – you two down there at the end of the table, too – are pawing each other every chance you get. I bet you pawed each other this morning. Am I right?”
I wanted to climb in Floyd’s hole and die. I wanted to take Aunt Tillie with me. “Yep, we totally did it this morning,” I said. “Landon wanted to prove he had a magic penis.”
“I didn’t do it this morning,” Thistle said. “We did it three times last night, though.”
Landon was on his feet. “Okay. This has been a great breakfast.” He grabbed my arm. “We’re going.”
“Where are you going?” Connie asked.
“Bay and Thistle need to get some rest,” Landon replied. “They’re seriously sleep deprived – and talking crazy.”
“From all the sex?” Daryl asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
“Sure,” Landon said, motioning to Marcus before reaching over and grabbing me by the waist. He lifted me up and tossed me over his shoulder. “This has been a great breakfast.”
Marcus didn’t look certain, but he followed Landon’s lead and did the same with Thistle.
Landon paused at the door. “We’ll see everyone tomorrow.”
“I don’t understand; what are you going to be doing all day?” Connie asked.
“I have no idea,” Landon admitted. “I’m sure it’s going to involve two gags, though.”
“Kinky.” Daryl winked.
Twenty
“I’m not going.” I tugged the comforter over my head, burrowing beneath it in an attempt to ward off the new day.
“You’re going.” I couldn’t see Landon’s face, but I could picture his expression. It wasn’t pretty.
“I can’t. I can never leave this bed again.”
The side of the mattress dipped down as Landon settled. He tugged at the covers, finally wrenching them from my grip. He looked good in the morning. So good it was almost criminal. “It’s going to be okay.”
“How can you say that? You were there.”
Landon’s mouth tipped into a smile. “I was there. It wasn’t that bad.”
“You’re such a bad liar.”
“It wasn’t great,” Landon conceded. “It certainly wasn’t the end of the world, though. Just think, in a few years, this is going to be a funny story we tell at dinner parties.”
“I’m never telling this story.”
“I bet you never thought you were going to tell the black-bra story – or the skinny-dipping story either.”
It’s a good thing he’s handsome, because his comforting skills are lacking at the most inopportune times.
“Your mother must think I’m a freak.”
Landon leaned back against the pillow, his blue eyes finding mine. “I have a feeling she thinks your whole family is full of freaks.”
“Oh, well, that makes things better.”
Landon chuckled. “I’ve come up with a reasonable excuse for what happened yesterday.”
I screwed my eyes shut. “No you didn’t. There is no reasonable excuse.”
“You haven’t even heard it yet.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“Listen, this is a great idea,” Landon said. “I’m going to tell her you’re a nymphomaniac and you put on that display yesterday because you were mad I wouldn’t spend the day in bed with you and that was your way of blackmailing me into getting what you wanted.”
My mouth dropped open, too many words warring in my mind for one to gain the upper hand and escape first.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Landon said, his eyes twinkling. “This is going to make me look like something of a hero for putting up with you, like I’m some sort of sex god that you can’t get enough of. It’s a cross I’m willing to bear, though.”
“I hate you,” I grumbled.
Landon dropped a kiss on my forehead and got up. “If you don’t get up and get ready, that’s exactly the story I’m telling them.”
I tossed one of the bed pillows at his retreating back. “You’re the devil!”
AN HOUR later, I found myself standing in front of The Overlook waiting for Landon’s family to finish breakfast. My stomach was too unsettled to see everyone over a meal, so I’d begged off and busied myself pulling weeds from the front garden to give myself a sense of purpose. I was still trying to figure out a way to get out of the planned excursion.
“Are you hiding out here?”
Ah, good, the evil aunt had found me despite my best efforts to hide. “Are you proud of yourself?”
Aunt Tillie was standing by the side door eyeing me. Her face was hard to read, but she didn’t look as victorious as she normally would under similar circumstances.
“I didn’t think things would get as bad as they did,” Aunt Tillie admitted.
“Oh, just stop,” I snapped. “You knew what would happen.”
“I didn’t know that would happen,” Aunt Tillie corrected. “I just thought you’d babble some embarrassing stuff about Landon and that would be it.”
“Well, I guess you’re not omnipotent after all,” I said.
“I never said I was omnipotent.”
“You like to pretend, though, don’t you?”
“Sometimes,” she conceded. “I didn’t mean to put you in this position, though. I was just frustrated.”
“Well, join the club.”
“I’m not apologizing for what I did.”
“You never do.”
“I am admitting that … perhaps … now wasn’t the right time for that particular lesson.”
I rolled my eyes. “None of it would’ve been necessary if you had just told the truth from the beginning.”
“There is no truth to tell,” she countered.
I snorted. “Well then, I guess we’re at an impasse.”
“I’m telling you to let this go, Bay.”
I held up my hands in surrender. “You got it.”
Aunt Tillie narrowed her eyes. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Maybe because I learned how to lie and deflect from you,” I suggested.
THE MICHAELS family wanted to go for a daylong horseback ride – complete with a picnic. When Landon suggested it during the run-up of their visit, I’d thought it was a great idea. That was before verbal diarrhea derailed what was already a bumpy get-to-know-you ride.
“I’m not sure how I feel about horses,” Connie said.
“They smell,” Blanche interjected. “I bet they bite, too.”
“They don’t bite,” Daryl argued. “The ones they gav
e us the other day were really gentle and easy to steer.”
“How do we know they have enough horses for us?” Connie asked. She’d opted to ignore yesterday’s breakfast debacle – and Landon’s absence for the rest of the day – but I wasn’t sure why. I had a feeling Earl and Landon had something to do with it.
“Marcus reserved them for us,” I said. “He’s reliable.”
“The boy you thought was a murderer is reliable?”
I sighed. “I overreacted on that front.”
“It seems you’ve overreacted about a lot of things, doesn’t it?”
“Mom,” Landon warned. “We talked about this.”
I knew it!
“Why don’t I go ahead and see about the horses,” I offered, my tone blunted and dull as I fought to keep my temper in check.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Landon agreed. “We have a few things to talk about here. Again.”
I headed toward the stables, finally managing to suck in an even breath when I got inside. I leaned against the wall, thumping my head against the hard surface. Maybe this is all a dream? Maybe I’ll wake up and Landon’s family won’t even have arrived yet?
“That bad?”
Marcus was brushing a brown mare a few stalls down. I could see his grin from here, though.
“Yup.”
“Did Landon tell them the nymphomaniac story?”
“I don’t think so.” Goddess, I hope not.
“I’m sure it will blow over,” Marcus said. “In a couple years you’ll probably think it’s funny.”
“That’s what Landon said,” I replied. “You two didn’t seem to think it was all that funny yesterday.”
“I think I always thought it was funnier than Landon did,” Marcus said. “It wasn’t my family, though.”
I decided to change the subject. “How was Thistle this morning?”
“Steaming mad.”
“Is that different from any other morning?”
“Not really.” Marcus’ smile was warm, his eyes bright.
“You’re good for her,” I said. “You’re really good for her.”
“She’s good for me,” Marcus countered. “She makes me laugh.”
“She’s got a certain … presence,” I agreed.
“You all have a presence,” Marcus laughed. “I like how she’s so different, though. How she doesn’t care what other people think.”
“I think that’s true to an extent,” I said. “I think she cares what you think, though.”
“I like everything she does,” Marcus said, shrugging. “There’s nothing about her I don’t like.”
“You know what, Marcus?”
“What?”
“That’s my favorite thing about you.”
“What is?”
“Your willingness just to let people be who they are.”
“Landon likes you the way you are,” Marcus said. “You shouldn’t worry about things like that.”
“I’m not so sure that’s true.”
“When you and Thistle locked yourselves in the bedroom yesterday, we spent the whole afternoon watching television and talking,” Marcus said.
“You mean you gossiped like school girls,” I teased.
“I guess that’s fair,” Marcus acknowledged. “Anyway, we could hear the two of you in there plotting, and I asked him if he was worried what his mother would think about you after what happened. I would be worried if my mother had been there, so I was kind of curious.”
I tried to act nonchalant. “And what did he say?”
“He said he didn’t care what his mother thought about you.” Marcus’ tone was matter of fact. “He said that he only cares what he feels, and he feels like you’re worth embarrassing breakfasts and busybody aunts. Those were his words, not mine, just FYI.”
I pursed my lips. “You’re a good guy, Marcus.”
“I know.”
“I don’t suppose you have our horses ready? If you told me you were one short, I would love you forever, by the way.”
“They’re all out in the corral,” he said. “I have them all saddled up and ready.”
“Great.”
“You’ll be on a horse,” Marcus reminded me. “You don’t have to ride next to anyone you don’t want to.”
“Mom sent a picnic lunch,” I replied. “I don’t see a way of avoiding that little joyous interlude in a few hours.”
“I guess not,” Marcus said.
“They’re out that way?” I asked, pointing to the far end of the stable.
“Yeah. I’ll go with you and make sure everyone gets settled.”
As we walked toward our destination, a thought occurred to me. “Hey, what time did Clove come in last night? Did you and Landon see her?”
“She didn’t come home last night.”
My heart stuttered. “She didn’t? Do you think something happened to her?”
“I wouldn’t worry,” Marcus said. “I saw her out on the trail to the Dandridge this morning. I have no idea what she was doing out there, but she was fine a few hours ago.”
The Dandridge? Why would she be out there? A sneaking suspicion started boring a hole in my head. Sonofabitch!
Twenty-One
“You seem distracted.”
We’d been riding the horses down the Au Sable Trail for more than an hour, Landon and I leading the way while his family followed.
“Marcus told me something,” I admitted.
“Hey, when I told him I wished you would shave your legs more than twice a week I was just searching for a safe conversation topic.”
“He said Clove never came home last night,” I said, opting to ignore his blathering.
“She didn’t come home the night before either.”
“You don’t find that odd?”
“I think Clove is a grown woman,” Landon said. “Where she chooses to spend her nights isn’t really my business.”
“She’s obviously seeing someone.”
“Does that bother you?”
“That she’s seeing someone? No. That she’s hiding it? You bet.”
Landon sighed. He was used to the Winchester drama. “Who do you think she’s seeing?”
Unfortunately, I had an idea. “Sam Cornell.”
Landon shifted in his saddle. “Why do you say that?”
“Because Marcus saw her walking down the Dandridge trail this morning.”
“Hmm.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“I don’t know what to say,” Landon said.
“You can’t think this is a good idea,” I pressed.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or a bad idea,” Landon said. “It’s obvious she’s lonely, though.”
I glanced at him, his words flooding me with guilt. “What makes you think that?”
“Because you’re always with me, and Thistle is always with Marcus.”
“We still spend time with her,” I protested.
“Not as much as you used to.”
Crap. He was right. “That still doesn’t make hiding her relationship with Sam okay.”
“Maybe she didn’t think you would take it well.”
“Well … that’s just ridiculous,” I sputtered. “I’m taking it fine.”
“Obviously.”
“I hate it when you get like this,” I grumbled.
“No, you hate it when I’m right,” Landon countered.
That, too. I blew out a sigh. “So, what should I do?”
“I think you should let it go until she’s ready to talk to you about it. Let her come to you.”
That wasn’t likely.
“You won’t do that, though,” Landon continued. “So I think you should calm yourself for a few hours before you chase her down and attack her.”
I rolled my tongue in my mouth, pressing it against my upper front teeth. “I do hate it when you’re right.”
“I know.” He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss. “You should get use
d to it, though. It happens every day.”
He’s so full of himself sometimes. I turned my attention to the trail ahead, a hint of movement catching my attention near a clump of bushes about twenty feet in front of us.
“Where do you think we should stop for lunch?”
I kept my eyes trained on the bushes. “What?”
“Are you listening to me?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What did I just say?”
“You said that I’m the best thing that ever happened to you.”
Landon barked out a laugh. “You have the weirdest sense of humor.”
I realized what the movement was. “Landon.”
“I love your sense of humor, don’t get me wrong,” Landon said. “It’s weird, though.”
The swirl of movement, all white and ethereal, was gathering into a shape. “Landon.”
“And I really don’t care if you only want to shave your legs twice a week,” he said. “It’s scratchy, but cute.”
The poltergeist was here. Floyd was here. He was moving this way. “Landon!”
“What?”
“I … .”
The poltergeist moved quickly, faster than the wind, splitting the rows of horses and spooking them in different directions as they scattered to get away from the malevolence they could feel but not see.
Seven horses bolted in seven different directions. My white steed broke into a run, galloping headlong into the thick trees and leaving the Michaels family yelling behind me. I gripped the reins tightly, squeezing my thighs into the horse’s flank as I tried to calm him. “Whoa, Ghost. Whoa!”
Ghost didn’t heed my calls, instead galloping into a heavily-wooded expanse in an effort to put as much distance between him and the poltergeist as possible. I did the only thing I could: I held on.
I leaned over, pressing my body flat against Ghost’s strong neck. I had to make myself as small as possible, because if a tree branch hit me at this speed I could be seriously hurt.
A sudden noise to my right made me start. I glanced over to find the poltergeist zipping along next to us. The white shadow was without defined form, but the swirling clouds almost looked as though they were reflecting a ghostly face. We were moving too fast for me to be sure, though.
I was watching the poltergeist so I didn’t see the danger ahead. That’s probably why, when the tree limb hit me, I didn’t have a chance to fully grasp what was happening.
Something to Witch About (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 5) Page 13
