school.’’
‘‘He did?’’ Annie had never noticed anything of the kind.
Gwen laughed. ‘‘Don’t look so shocked. Half the boys in school had a crush on you. You were the—’’
‘‘I’ve decided to add daisies to the bridal bouquet,’’ Melody said. ‘‘I’ve found an arrangement I really like here on page twenty-three. But I want to keep the white roses. They’re the focal point, the serious wedding flowers. The daisies are a dash of whimsy, just like it says here in the catalog.’’
Gwen exchanged a glance with Annie and smiled. ‘‘Sure thing.’’ She walked over to where Melody sat on a stool with the book open on the counter in front of her. ‘‘Adding daisies is a brilliant idea.’’
In that moment, Annie decided she’d missed having a friend like Gwen. In all the years they’d spent together, Gwen had never acted jealous of Annie’s accomplishments and popularity. Annie couldn’t say that about too many people, including her sister. She definitely couldn’t say it about her ex-husband. She wouldn’t be so foolish as to lose touch with Gwen a second time.
Dorcas stood on the front porch and gazed with distaste at the red scooter parked there. Ambrose had bought the stupid thing last winter, and he loved it. Dorcas did not. But their only other mode of transportation was her hand-carved broom, and they didn’t dare ride that in the middle of the day.
They’d scheduled a noon appointment with George in the Whispering Forest as an experiment to find out if the dragon was capable of getting up that early. A Guardian of the Forest had to switch from night to day shifts occasionally to properly patrol the area. George had the habits of a teenager—awake until all hours of the night and asleep most of the day.
Because of that he was useless at daytime patrols, and that had to change or he’d never earn his golden scales. George earning his golden scales was the key to allowing the Lowells to leave Big Knob and return home to Sedona. Dorcas still thought the punishment that had sent them here had been too harsh, but there had been no appeal.
Intent should have counted for something, and she’d meant to help Thaddeus Hedgehump with erectile dysfunction, not cause him more problems. The solution had seemed obvious—bespell Thaddeus so he became aroused at the sight of his wife wearing support hose. Unfortunately, Dorcas had neglected to make the spell specific to his wife’s support hose, and Thaddeus had become a bit of a problem at the Witch and Wizard’s Senior Center.
Dorcas and Ambrose still might have escaped with a slap on the wrist, except that Thaddeus happened to be the Grand High Wizard’s brother-in-law. Banishment to Big Knob had been the sentence, with no reprieve given until they’d rehabilitated George.
George was better, but far from ready to assume his duties. Desperate for a way to keep him awake during the day, Dorcas had promised him a special treat if he’d show up at the clearing by noon. He adored presents, so he might arrive on time.
‘‘Let’s ride!’’ Ambrose strutted out the door wearing his leather motorcycle jacket, leather chaps and a red bandana tied around his head.
Dorcas couldn’t decide which was more embarrassing, the silly little red scooter or Ambrose tricked out like a Hells Angel. ‘‘I think it’s time we bought a car.’’
‘‘Now, that would be ridiculous. We’ve made out fine borrowing Maggie’s when the weather’s bad. We don’t need a car.’’
‘‘If you want to talk about ridiculous—’’
‘‘I don’t. I want to ride over to see George and sell him on the joys of sunshine.’’ He tucked a journal inside his leather jacket and zipped it up.
‘‘What do you have there?’’
‘‘My ammunition. I’ve been collecting quotes from famous people about the value of rising early. I plan to read them to George.’’
Dorcas rolled her eyes. ‘‘Oh, that’ll work.’’
‘‘You have a
‘‘He did?’’ Annie had never noticed anything of the kind.
Gwen laughed. ‘‘Don’t look so shocked. Half the boys in school had a crush on you. You were the—’’
‘‘I’ve decided to add daisies to the bridal bouquet,’’ Melody said. ‘‘I’ve found an arrangement I really like here on page twenty-three. But I want to keep the white roses. They’re the focal point, the serious wedding flowers. The daisies are a dash of whimsy, just like it says here in the catalog.’’
Gwen exchanged a glance with Annie and smiled. ‘‘Sure thing.’’ She walked over to where Melody sat on a stool with the book open on the counter in front of her. ‘‘Adding daisies is a brilliant idea.’’
In that moment, Annie decided she’d missed having a friend like Gwen. In all the years they’d spent together, Gwen had never acted jealous of Annie’s accomplishments and popularity. Annie couldn’t say that about too many people, including her sister. She definitely couldn’t say it about her ex-husband. She wouldn’t be so foolish as to lose touch with Gwen a second time.
Dorcas stood on the front porch and gazed with distaste at the red scooter parked there. Ambrose had bought the stupid thing last winter, and he loved it. Dorcas did not. But their only other mode of transportation was her hand-carved broom, and they didn’t dare ride that in the middle of the day.
They’d scheduled a noon appointment with George in the Whispering Forest as an experiment to find out if the dragon was capable of getting up that early. A Guardian of the Forest had to switch from night to day shifts occasionally to properly patrol the area. George had the habits of a teenager—awake until all hours of the night and asleep most of the day.
Because of that he was useless at daytime patrols, and that had to change or he’d never earn his golden scales. George earning his golden scales was the key to allowing the Lowells to leave Big Knob and return home to Sedona. Dorcas still thought the punishment that had sent them here had been too harsh, but there had been no appeal.
Intent should have counted for something, and she’d meant to help Thaddeus Hedgehump with erectile dysfunction, not cause him more problems. The solution had seemed obvious—bespell Thaddeus so he became aroused at the sight of his wife wearing support hose. Unfortunately, Dorcas had neglected to make the spell specific to his wife’s support hose, and Thaddeus had become a bit of a problem at the Witch and Wizard’s Senior Center.
Dorcas and Ambrose still might have escaped with a slap on the wrist, except that Thaddeus happened to be the Grand High Wizard’s brother-in-law. Banishment to Big Knob had been the sentence, with no reprieve given until they’d rehabilitated George.
George was better, but far from ready to assume his duties. Desperate for a way to keep him awake during the day, Dorcas had promised him a special treat if he’d show up at the clearing by noon. He adored presents, so he might arrive on time.
‘‘Let’s ride!’’ Ambrose strutted out the door wearing his leather motorcycle jacket, leather chaps and a red bandana tied around his head.
Dorcas couldn’t decide which was more embarrassing, the silly little red scooter or Ambrose tricked out like a Hells Angel. ‘‘I think it’s time we bought a car.’’
‘‘Now, that would be ridiculous. We’ve made out fine borrowing Maggie’s when the weather’s bad. We don’t need a car.’’
‘‘If you want to talk about ridiculous—’’
‘‘I don’t. I want to ride over to see George and sell him on the joys of sunshine.’’ He tucked a journal inside his leather jacket and zipped it up.
‘‘What do you have there?’’
‘‘My ammunition. I’ve been collecting quotes from famous people about the value of rising early. I plan to read them to George.’’
Dorcas rolled her eyes. ‘‘Oh, that’ll work.’’
‘‘You have a
Similar Books
