4 Witching On A Star

by Amanda M. Lee

  “I see you need a lesson, too.”

  “No,” Clove said, panic wracking her voice. “You’re the one who said you have glaucoma. That’s why you need the weed.”

  “What weed?” Sam asked.

  “Let’s not talk about the weed,” Landon said.

  “I agree,” Chief Terry added.

  “Why not?” Aunt Tillie complained. “It’s medicinal.”

  “You have a cop and a FBI agent sitting at the table and you don’t have a prescription for medical marijuana, let alone a license to grow it,” Landon reminded her. “You probably shouldn’t be talking about it.”

  “So?”

  “So, that’s illegal.”

  “Oh, it’s not illegal,” Aunt Tillie scoffed.

  “No, it’s illegal,” Chief Terry affirmed.

  “It’s just a little illegal,” Aunt Tillie said.

  “There’s no such thing as a little illegal,” Landon replied.

  “Let’s talk about something else,” my mom suggested.

  “Yes,” Marnie agreed. “Let’s talk about Sam’s work at the paper,” she suggested.

  “That sounds like a great subject,” my mom agreed, turning to me. “What do you think of it Bay?”

  I glanced down at Sam and Brian at the end of the table. “Let’s go back to talking about the pot.”

  Seventeen

  “There are no words.”

  I glanced over at Landon and smirked. “Dinner wasn’t so funny tonight, huh?”

  “Oh, it was funny,” Landon countered. “Just not funny ha-ha. More like you should all be in straightjackets funny.”

  We were behind The Overlook, on the back patio, after declining dessert. I knew Landon was at his limit where family shenanigans were concerned and I didn’t want him to explode all over my family and the other guests and make things any worse – if that was even possible.

  “I can’t argue with the necessity for straightjackets,” I said calmly. I was still waiting for the storm.

  Landon turned his luminous eyes to me; the bright moon – only a few days from being full – illuminated his handsome features as he considered me under the unearthly glow of the spring night. “You have something you want to tell me?”

  “I do,” I agreed.

  “And what would that be?”

  I glanced behind us, making sure that everyone else was still safely inside, and then turned back to him. “I’m sorry I missed breakfast this morning. Trust me, it wasn’t planned.”

  “So, what happened that made you miss it?”

  I sucked my top lip into my mouth worriedly.

  Landon recognized the gesture for what it was – fear. “If you tell me, it will be over with. Just rip off the Band-Aid.”

  “I saw a ghost.”

  Landon blew out a sigh. “I figured it was something like that when you didn’t want to talk in front of strangers. What kind of ghost?”

  “A little girl,” I replied.

  Landon furrowed his brow – something I would have found adorable under different circumstances – and met my gaze evenly. “A little girl? How did she die?”

  “That’s the thing,” I said. “She said she was on a boat with other kids and that she got sick and fell asleep. Then she woke up by a building by the water.”

  Landing shook his head, considering. “A boat with other kids? I don’t get it.”

  “A boat where a bunch of kids were kept together, under the deck, and barely fed and not really taken care of. The adults, or big people, as she puts it, were mean to them.”

  “Mean how?”

  “She doesn’t go into a lot of detail,” I replied. “She kind of jumps around. I’m trying not to scare her away so I don’t press her too much.”

  “And you saw her where?”

  “Down by a clump of trees by where they’re going to build the greenhouse.”

  “And she just walked up to you and started talking?”

  “No,” I said shortly. “I went to her to make sure I didn’t talk to her until we were in a place where the construction workers couldn’t see us.”

  “Don’t get testy with me, I don’t know how this works,” Landon said irritably. “I’m trying here.”

  “I know,” I adjusted my tone. “It’s just . . . I’m scared.”

  Landon searched my face for an answer to the question but decided to ask the question anyway. “What are you scared of?”

  “I know you don’t like this stuff,” I admitted, turning my face so I wouldn’t have to look into his soulful eyes and see the doubt reflected there. “I don’t want to freak you out.”

  “You think I’m going to be freaked out by a ghost after I saw that big wind monster you guys conjured? I think, if I was going to have a meltdown, that would have been the point.”

  I continued staring out at the night, letting the twinkling stars calm me like they had when I was a child. “I know,” I said finally. “But there’s only so much one person can take and, I guess, I’m scared that the more you learn the more you’re going to realize that we’re just too much work.”

  Landon laughed, a reaction I wasn’t expecting. I turned to him in surprise. Landon reached over and grabbed my wrist, wrapping his hand around it tightly. “These crazy people made you who you are, and I’m fairly happy with the person you are. No one is perfect. This isn’t going to work, though, if you don’t feel you can open up to me.”

  “I know.”

  “So, we’ll take this a step at a time,” Landon said patiently. “Tell me about the little girl. Tell me everything you know about her. Just tell me what’s going on.”

  So, I did just that. I told him about Erika, about the lighthouse and about Sam. When I was done, I watched his face for signs that he would walk away – or explode. Instead, he seemed more intrigued than anything else.

  “So, what do you think?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Is she telling the truth?”

  “Why would she lie?”

  “Okay, maybe telling the truth isn’t the right way to put it,” Landon ceded. “Do you think she is talking about something that happened recently?”

  “That is the question,” I agreed.

  “So, you don’t know?”

  “I honestly don’t.”

  Landon sighed and pulled me towards him, wrapping me in his arms and resting his chin on top of my head. “I don’t know what to do with this,” he admitted. “So, we’re going to go about this the smart way – instead of whatever way you and your cousins usually approach a problem.”

  I raised an eyebrow as I looked up at him. “I wouldn’t put it that way when we’re around Thistle.”

  “I’m not scared of her,” Landon smiled down at me, pressing his lips to my forehead. “She’s going to be distracted the next few days anyway.”

  “How so?”

  “She pissed off your Aunt Tillie; she’s not going to just let that slide.”

  He had a point.

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to try and get a patrol out on the lake to look around and I’m going to see if I can find a missing little girl named Erika. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of them. When I do, I’m going to show you some pictures, and we’re going to go from there.”

  “That sounds very practical,” I said, an idea forming in my mind.

  “Well, that’s how real investigators do things,” Landon said. “I honestly don’t know another way to approach it. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “Thank you,” I murmured, pressing my face into his neck.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “So, you’re not mad?”

  “I’m not mad,” Landon said. “If I’m telling the truth, the things I was imagining the three of you to be up to were a lot worse than what you were really up to.”

  “That sounds a little insulting.”

  “”You’ll live.”

  The patio door opened behind us and
we both swung around to find Clove and Thistle standing there, looking frustrated and exhausted. “Way to start World War III and then run and hide,” Thistle said sarcastically.

  “We had a few things to talk about, and they weren’t really dinner conversation,” I reminded Thistle.

  “I know,” she sighed. “I just know Aunt Tillie is going to do something really mean to me.”

  “Not just you,” I said, glancing over at Clove. “For once, you might not be number one on her list.”

  Clove scowled. “I blame you two.”

  “You always do,” Thistle said.

  “Well, I happen to agree with them,” Landon said, shooting a stern look in Clove’s direction. “For once, they’re being the voices of reason and you’re being the irresponsible one.”

  Clove’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “How can you agree with them?”

  “We don’t know anything about this guy,” Landon said. “If I’ve learned one thing about this family, it’s that you should probably trust your guts. If Bay and Thistle think this guy is acting strange, then he’s probably acting strange.”

  “Bay and Thistle are suspicious of everyone,” Clove pouted. “You should have heard the things they said about you the day we met you.”

  I internally cringed but Landon only tightened his arm around my shoulder. “I was undercover with a group of rude meth heads by a cornfield where a girl was found with her heart ripped out,” Landon replied pragmatically. “You should have all had a bad feeling about me.”

  “But that wasn’t who you really were,” Clove said triumphantly. “You were really a heroic FBI agent who saved our lives.”

  “And you give her a lot of orgasms, so we have to like you for that,” Thistle interjected pointedly.

  Landon flashed a wry smile in Thistle’s direction. “So should Bay and Clove say the same thing to Marcus?”

  “No,” Thistle said hurriedly. “Forget I said anything.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Landon replied smugly.

  “See, Landon knows I’m right,” Clove said.

  “You’re not right.” Thistle reached over and pinched Clove viciously.

  “Ow!”

  “You feel that? Whatever Sam does to you is going to feel a lot worse than that. Don’t forget it.”

  Landon rolled his eyes as Clove smacked Thistle angrily. “Stop pinching me.”

  “Stop acting like an idiot.”

  “Both of you stop it,” Landon said irritably. “If you don’t, I’m going to slap cuffs on both of you.”

  “Bay says that you won’t do that,” Clove replied honestly. “She says you told her those cuffs aren’t for fun.”

  “Yeah, they’re professional tools of the trade and can’t be used for anything but official purposes,” Thistle said snidely.

  Landon colored. “Do you three tell each other everything?”

  “Pretty much,” Thistle said grimly.

  “I need to find some guy friends,” Landon said. “All this female stuff is starting to emasculate me. I need someone to go have a beer with and talk about manly things.”

  “Like what?” Thistle asked curiously. “Shaving? Flexing? Zipping up your pants without clipping anything accidentally?”

  Landon shrugged. “I don’t know. Sports. Politics. Not the nonsense you three are always chatting about. Is that what you think guys really talk about?” Landon rounded on Thistle. “That’s a little stereotypical. That’s like thinking you guys sit around talking about tampons.”

  “We do sit around talking about tampons,” Thistle said dryly. “And cramps. And bloating.”

  Landon looked uncomfortable with the turn in the conversation.

  “Speaking of, we’re almost out,” Clove said.

  “Yeah,” Thistle agreed. “We’re going to need them by the end of the week.”

  Landon frowned. “All of you?”

  “Yup.”

  “I thought that was one of those myths.”

  “What?”

  “That women that live together all sync up together.”

  Thistle patted Landon’s arm, moving past him to the trail that led down to the gatehouse. “Sorry, dude,” she said. “It’s definitely true.”

  Landon’s eyes connected with mine. “Okay, the mere thought of the three of you having PMS together freaks me out more than any ghost ever could.”

  “Be afraid,” I teased him. “Be very afraid.”

  “Oh, trust me. I’m terrified.”

  Eighteen

  Marcus was waiting on the front porch when we got to the guesthouse. He looked relieved when the four of us appeared on the top of the hill.

  “Why didn’t you come up to dinner?” Thistle asked him curiously, greeting him with a kiss.

  “Because I was running late,” Marcus said. “I knew your Aunt Tillie wouldn’t like that.”

  “She wouldn’t have noticed,” Landon said grimly. “She was too busy fighting with every single other person at the table.”

  Marcus didn’t look convinced. “I decided to play it safe.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Landon said, patting Marcus on the shoulder. “You should be happy you missed it. I wish I had.”

  “You and Marcus are friends,” I said suddenly.

  Landon turned to me in surprise. “What?”

  “You said you needed male friends to go have a beer with,” I reminded him. “Marcus hasn’t had dinner. Go to a bar and get dinner and beers with him.”

  “Now?” Landon didn’t look thrilled with the idea. “I had other plans for tonight.”

  “We can do that when you get back,” I brushed off the suggestion. “I need a bath first.”

  Thistle regarded me curiously for a few seconds. I was worried she would argue, but she apparently decided against it. “Actually, I think that’s a really good idea.”

  “You do?” Marcus looked her up and down dubiously.

  “I’m not cooking for you,” Thistle said.

  “I can just make a sandwich or something,” Marcus suggested.

  “We’re out of bread.”

  “Oh.” Marcus looked a little confused. He exchanged a wary glance with Landon. “I can have a bowl of cereal or something.”

  “We’re out of milk,” Clove interjected.

  Landon looked down on me, suspicion etched on his perfect face. “What are you three up to?”

  “Nothing,” I lied. “I just want to take a bath.”

  “And then we’re going to talk about tampons,” Thistle added.

  Marcus coughed loudly, his face reddening at the mere thought of being present for a conversation like that. “I could use a burger,” he said finally.

  Landon shifted his gaze between the three of us. “I could use a beer,” he agreed. “But somehow, I think that something else is going on here.”

  “What?” Clove asked innocently.

  “I have no idea,” Landon admitted. “That’s what’s scary.”

  “I promise, we will be here when you get back,” I said calmly.

  “Is this like when you said you’d see me at breakfast?” Landon asked pointedly.

  “No,” I frowned. “I thought I was doing you a favor.”

  “Let it go, dude,” Thistle said angrily. “She told you what was going on and you said you weren’t mad so don’t be a pain now. You just earned a bunch of points in our book; don’t lose them now.”

  Landon pursed his lips as he met Thistle’s challenging gaze. “I’m going to go,” Landon said finally. “Just know, I know that you guys are up to something. If you’re not here when I get back, I’m going to arrest you all.”

  “On what charge?”

  “Lying to law enforcement.”

  “Is that a real thing?” Thistle asked me suspiciously.

  “I think so,” I admitted.

  Thistle considered the threat. “Well, since we’re not up to something, I guess we don’t have to worry about it.”

  “I guess not,” Landon a
greed. He turned to Marcus. “Let’s go. I could really use that beer after that dinner.”

  “I’ll drive,” Marcus offered.

  “Good, I might want more than one beer.”

  “Hey,” Thistle stopped the two of them before they got into Marcus’ truck. “Stop at the store on your way back.”

  “To get what?” Landon looked tired.

  “Lunch meat, bread and milk,” Thistle said.

  “Fine,” Landon grumbled.

  “Get a box of Tampax while you’re at it,” Thistle shot back.

  Landon froze. “Over my dead body.”

  Thistle raised her eyebrows at Marcus expectantly, but he shook his head furiously. “Absolutely not.”

  “Fine,” Thistle blew out a sigh. “We’ll buy our own tampons.”

  “Awesome,” Landon said, pausing at the passenger door and fixing his gaze on me. “Be good.”

  “We’re always good,” I said.

  Landon shook his head. “Be better than that.”

  “Have fun,” Thistle said brightly.

  Once they were gone Thistle turned to me. “So, what are we really doing?”

  “Having a quick séance.”

  “Why?” Clove whined.

  “I need to check in with Erika and since I can’t exactly call her on my cell, we have to try and call her to us.”

  “You want to see if she found the boat?” Thistle asked.

  “Yeah,” I nodded. “I’m also hoping, if we anchor her and join together, maybe we can boost her memory.”

  “Sounds like a good idea,” Thistle said. “Even if it’s a waste of time, we’ll at least know it’s a waste of time.”

  “It’s dark out,” Clove said.

  “So?” Thistle challenged her. “We’re not even leaving the property.”

  “Fine,” Clove said. “I’m doing this under duress, though.”

  “Fine,” Thistle said, opening the door to the cottage and walking in.

  “I thought we were going to the clearing for a séance?” Clove complained.

  “We need candles,” Thistle reminded her.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  We knew the property well enough that finding our way to the clearing wasn’t difficult. Even though we hadn’t cleaned up all the branches that had fallen during the winter yet, the path to the clearing was relatively free of debris.