A Witch's Tale Read Online Free PDF

fresh sea-salty breeze greeted Cassie and Mac as they stepped out of the shop. The warm late summer sun cast nourishing rays upon them. Cassie turned her face to the sun. Drawing in a lung full of air, she drank deeply from nature’s gifts. She felt her spirits lifting, allowing her to let go for the moment the unyielding burden that had engulfed her ever since she had opened the door late last night to Sheriff Whitaker’s insistent rapping.
    Becoming one with nature always restored her, she reminded herself when the thought that Mac’s presence might partially explain her sudden surge of happiness. And since the coven’s desperate situation was not likely to dissolve into thin air simply because it was a beautiful day, Cassie realized these warm sensations would be but a transitory respite.
    “Great! Now what do I do?” Mac’s annoyed voice broke into her thoughts. Glancing over her shoulder, she was surprised to see him standing several feet behind her. While the man was quite obviously exasperated, the dog appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself.
    She managed to keep from laughing at the sight the energetic pup and the frustrated man made, but it wasn’t easy. It had taken Sarge less tha n ten seconds to wrap the leash tightly around Mac’s ankles, preventing his new master from taking a single step.
    Barely able to control the upward twitching of her mouth, Cassie eyed the short distance they had traveled. Mac hadn’t exaggerated, she realized. He hadn’t a clue what to do with a dog. She definitely had her work cut out for her!
     
    Mac watched Cassie try to anchor the paper wrapper on her tofu burger before the gusty wind whipped it out of her grasp. Though the wind was a nuisance, he welcomed it, enjoying the way the stiff breeze played with Cassie’s hair.
    Get back to reality , he reprimanded himself, as he pulled his attention away from the beauty that was Cassie. All this was well and good, but it wasn’t getting him much in the way of a story.
    “The talk around town is that you’re one of those so-called Port Bellmont witches,” Mac plunged in with the subject matter that had brought him to Port Bellmont .
    “I am. Does that bother you?” she challenged.
    “Nah, I’ve had my inoculation against witches, werewolves and vampires updated recently.”
    “That’s good. But don’t forget to always wear a solid gold cross when I’m near. And you must get yourself a garlic necklace. You wouldn’t want to take any chances, would you?”
    “So, tell me, now that your secret is out, maybe you’ll answer one burning question for me. Are all witches vegetarians?” Mac asked as he eyed Cassie’s tofu burger. The two sat side by side upon a weathered bench near the end of Port Bellmont’s fishing pier.
    “Of course not. W hat would we do with the meat from all of the animals we sacrifice during our rituals?” she asked, her tone of voice implying that what she said was far too ridiculous to believe.
    Mac’s smile was sardonic. If she had a clue which paper he worked for she’d realize that such a statement could be horribly damning. He could easily visualize the headline a couple of his fellow writers at The Inquisitor would delight in spreading across the front page of their rag - PORT BELLMONT WITCH ADMITS TO HORRIFYING ANIMAL SACRIFICES!
    “Besides, there’s some who would say I’m not a true vegetarian because I eat eggs and dairy products. I just don’t like the idea of some poor animal dying so I can have a hamburger when a tofu burger tastes just as good and is better for me.”
    “So it’s a moral issue with you.”
    “No, it’s a personal issue with me.” She smiled up at him, hoping she hadn’t come across as preaching for her cause. But just the same, it was a cause that was important to her.
    She glanced over at Sarge who happily munched on a chew toy. Cassie had spent nearly an hour teaching Mac how to train the pup to his new leash. She figured the little guy had