The Trouble With Witches by Shirley Damsgaard Read Free Book Online Page A

offered to take Abby and me out to dinner. Still mulling over Abby's impressions, I almost missed the invitation, but Abby's quick response caught my attention.
    I leaned forward from my place in the backseat. "But Abby, what about Queenie and Lady? I don't want to leave them cooped up too long in the room."
    "They'll be fine," she said with a wave of her hand.
    "Okay." I settled back in my seat.
    Rick chose an Olive Garden not too far from our motel. Once seated, we all ordered the fettuccini, and over the breadsticks and salad, Rick kept the conversation going at a steady pace.
    I let the talk buzz around me while I picked at my salad. So many thoughts bounced around in my head that I couldn't focus on one, let alone the subject Rick and Abby discussed. One observation did penetrate my busy brain. Rick hadn't lost any of the easy charm that had made him so popular in Summerset last fall.
    I glanced over at him. He looked good tonight, looked every inch a successful reporter. He'd worn an ivory knit shirt with blue jeans that accentuated his summer tan. And his eyes—they'd been the first thing I noticed about him that day in the library when we met. They hadn't changed. They still had the same sparkle, the same hint of amusement lurking there. Last fall those eyes, in spite of my better judgment, seemed to reach out and pull me in.
    I guess they still did.
    Rooting around in my salad with my fork, I found a tomato and stabbed it. Maybe a little harder than I needed to.
    "What's bothering you, Ophelia?" Rick asked, switching his attention from Abby to me.
    "Nothing's bothering me," I replied, and popped the tomato in my mouth.
    "Oh yeah? You nailed that tomato like you were trying to kill it."
    "Did not," I muttered, with tomato tucked firmly in my cheek.
    "Did, too," Rick shot back, his eyes twinkling.
    "Children, children," Abby interjected with a look of amusement on her face. "Let's not bicker over dinner."
    Rick winked at Abby. "She started it."
    I chewed the tomato and gave Rick a tight smile. "You are
such
a suck-up," I said after swallowing.
    "Only to women as lovely as your grandmother," he said with another wink at Abby.
    "Did I also mention," I said sweetly, "that you're full of—"
    "Ophelia!" Abby's eyes drilled me with a stern look.
    Chastised, I turned back toward Rick. "Okay, okay. I'll be nice."
    Rick's eyes met mine and his mouth twisted in a crooked grin. "Sure it won't kill you?"
    Pushing my plate to the side, I crossed my arms on the table and leaned forward. "You know, Delaney, no matter how hard…" My voice trailed off when Abby laid a hand on my arm. I looked up and saw the waiter standing next to me, holding a plate patiently in one hand. Scooting back in the booth, my eyes downcast, I placed my hands in my lap while he served each of us.
    "Enjoy your dinner," he said brightly, and left.
    Looking up, I saw Rick watching me with that stupid grin still on his face. The rat! After all this time, he still liked to tease me, still get under my skin. He thought the waiter overhearing our exchange was funny. I narrowed my eyes, a sharp retort forming on my tongue, but before I could deliver it, Abby spoke.
    "As interesting as it may be to listen to the two of you argue, I think we have a more important matter at hand," she said, picking up her fork.
    Rick's grin faded, and along with it, his teasing manner. "Brandi," he said shortly. "What happened when you were alone in the library?"
    Abby twirled the fettuccini around her fork. "I feel she's still alive," she said, not really answering Rick's question.
    A look of relief crossed his face. "She's okay?"
    Abby tilted her head to the side. "I didn't say that…" She hesitated, stalling for time in order to decide how much information to give him. "She
is
in some kind of trouble."
    "What kind of trouble?" Rick asked.
    "It's not clear," Abby replied.
    "Look, Rick," I interjected. "I told you these visions aren't very specific at times. We need more information