Page 49 of All My Witches
“I don’t know,Thistle.” I fought the urge to smirk. “The mysteries of naming children are lost on me. Of course, your name is Thistle … something you keepforgetting.”
“Oh, like Bay isbetter.”
“Bay is much better thanThistle.”
“Barely.”
“Hey, we need to focus on the woman who went over the falls and the fact that we’ve lost our boyfriends,” Clove interjected. “Besides, we all know that Bay and Thistle are stupid names. Clove, on the other hand, is a brilliantname.”
“Don’t make me force you into that mud pit,” I threatened. “I’ll bet that mud is really gross after they’ve been fornicating in it for hours. I’ll still make you eatit.”
Clove made an exaggerated face. “That is the grossest thing you’ve ever said tome.”
“And I stand byit.”
“Will you people stop talking about inane things like names?” Hutch exploded. “My wife just fell over thefalls.”
“What do you care?” Thistle challenged. “You were making time with the hot chick in the mud pit. You obviously didn’t care about yourwife.”
“I’mdead.”
“Are you really?” I wasn’t convinced. “You look fine to me. You’re well enough to get frisky in a mud pit. I’ve never seen a ghost do thatbefore.”
“It’s therapeutic,” Hutch snapped. “It opens up your pores and … otherstuff.”
“Oh, yeah? What were you trying to open up with that chick crawling all overyou?”
“I know!” Clove shot her hand in the air. “I know what he was trying to open withher.”
“We’re not playing a game of perverted Mad Libs here,” Thistle supplied. “We all know what he was trying to open up with thechick.”
“Hey, I don’t need this abuse.” The mud-covered woman scorched Thistle with a dark look. “I’m a goodperson.”
“Yeah, we can tell.” Thistle rolled her eyes. “Why are we still here? We should be moving to another location to find the guys. That’s our primary concern. I say we head back toward that area behind the games and look for anexit.”
“I don’t think we can move to another location,” I admitted. “I don’t think we’re finishedhere.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Because a woman fell over the falls right before the guys disappeared. I’ll bet they’re out there searching for her. Aunt Tillie won’t keep us apart for long – just long enough to torture us. She’ll want us together for whatever else she hasplanned.”
“But how do you know that we’re going to meet back up here?” Clove challenged. “What if we’re supposed to go to anotherlocation?”
“We would have a clue pointing us in that direction if that were the case. She’s been very clear with the clues. We’re not meant to leave justyet.”
“So where do wego?”
I pointed toward the falls. “That way … and I think we’re supposed to take this dude with us.” I turned to find Hutch making out with the woman from the mud pit. She was halfway out and perched on her elbows to make it easier for her to touch tongues with what could only be described as the grossest guy in theuniverse.
“Hey!” I snapped my fingers near Hutch’s ear to get hisattention.
“What?” Hutch’s expression was sour. “What do you want? You’ve done nothing but yammer for the past five minutes and, quite frankly, I’m sick ofit.”
“That’s rich coming from a guy who just watched his wife go over thefalls.”
Hutch blanched. “She was my true heart andsoul.”
“Yeah, you’re doing an admirable job of mourning her,” I drawled. “I’m truly astounded by the depths of your love. In fact … you’re an inspiration to usall.”
