Free wicked witches 07.5 - christmas witch by Amanda M. Lee

you,” Thistle said, grinning.
    I returned the smile. “Also, I don’t feel like walking,” I said. “If Bernard isn’t nearby we’re going to have to walk back and get the car and … well … nobody wants that.”
    “Then let’s get moving,” Bay said, racing toward my car. “The faster we find Mr. Hill, the faster we save Christmas.”
    “And get our puppy,” Clove said.
    I flicked her ear, causing her to grab it and yelp. “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re not getting a puppy?”
    “Just because you don’t like dogs doesn’t mean we don’t like dogs.”
    “I never said I didn’t like dogs,” I argued. “I said our house already has too many people and you guys are too young to care for a dog.”
    “You don’t know that,” Thistle protested. “We would be excellent pet owners.”
    “You’ll never know unless you let us prove ourselves to you,” Clove added.
    She had a point. Still, I didn’t want a dog. “You’re going to have to get used to the fact that you are not getting a dog for Christmas.”
    “Bah humbug,” Thistle muttered.
    “And don’t you forget it.”
     
    “WELL, he came downtown after he left his house,” I said, wrinkling my nose as I studied the path. Luckily for us, only witches could see the magical line. Downtown bustled with activity, and explaining a glowing trail that popped up out of nowhere wasn’t something I looked forward to tackling.
    “What was he doing?” Clove asked.
    “Do I look omnipotent?”
    “I have no idea what that means, but some people think you look like a hobbit,” Clove replied, not missing a beat.
    I scowled. “You really are turning into a pain like your cousins.”
    “Thank you.”
    After parking my car behind the library, I led the girls downtown so I could study the spell. People waved as they passed, ridiculous smiles on their faces as they wished me “merry Christmas” and “happy holidays.” It would be easier if they bought a clue and didn’t’ talk to me.
    “The trail leads out of town,” Bay said. “That means he ran away and isn’t dead in a ditch somewhere, right?”
    “Probably,” I conceded. “We don’t technically know that he ran away, though. Maybe he had a family emergency or something.”
    “Just because he ran away out of town, that doesn’t mean he’s not dead in a ditch somewhere,” Thistle said.
    “Stop with the ditch!”
    The face Thistle made was comical enough to make me smirk. The girl has star quality sometimes.
    “Wherever Bernard is, he’s not here,” I said.
    “Are we going to go after him?” Bay asked.
    I knew what she was really asking. She wanted to know if laziness would stop me from keeping my promise. “We’re going to follow the trail for as long as we can,” I hedged. “If it goes too far, though … .”
    “We have to turn around because our moms will have a fit and you’ll be in big trouble,” Bay finished. “I get it.”
    “Bay, I’m doing the best I can,” I said. “I … .”
    “Uh-oh.” Clove’s singsong warning drew my attention to the other side of the town square, where Poppy Stevens – Lila’s hand clasped tightly in hers as she dragged her along – was heading in my direction. She appeared to have something on her mind. The closer she got, I realized she appeared to still have something on her lip, too – and it was growing.
    “Well, girls, today is your lucky day,” I said, straightening. “I think you’re going to get another Christmas present.”
    “Are you going to make her strip naked and dance in the town square?” Thistle asked. “That’s what you promised.”
    It was an interesting suggestion. Unfortunately, there were too many people hanging around for me to pull it off and slink away without anyone noticing. “We’re saving that one for the summer, when it’s warmer,” I replied. “We want to make her pay, but we don’t want to kill her with frostbite. That’s an important distinction.”
    “Hurting