Barely Bewitched Read Online Free PDF

brothers’ construction company had built it and they’d kept a key, since taking the paddleboats out at night was just their sort of fun. I reached under and behind the drain and found the tiny magnetic key holder that I’d seen them pull out one night when I’d been along for an after-hours paddleboat ride.
    Once inside the shed, I found the big key for the chains around the paddleboats.
    “You know I got the idea for this from you,” I told Mercutio.
    I went to the back door, which led to the far end of the dock. I flicked off the light and closed the door behind us. “Bryn said you floated down the river on a raft, and that’s how you ended up at his house. I wonder how you came to be in Duvall in the first place though.”
    I unlocked the heavy chain, freeing one boat, then relocked it around the others. Merc and I dropped into the seats of the loose boat, and I uncurled the twine rope that was tied to a silver hook on the back. I wanted to have it ready to tie up to Bryn’s dock when I got there.
    I pedaled, and we backed up with a soft swishing sound. Then I turned the boat and pedaled forward. With the current, we moved quick as fish. We’d had a lot of rain in the past month, and the river was flowing fast.
    We passed mansions. I checked out their beautifully manicured yards, full of big oaks and all kinds of flowering trees, rosebushes, and elegantly plotted patches of fall flowers. Some had statues and fountains. Some had tennis courts and swimming pools.
    “In the summer there’s a net that blocks the boats from getting this far downstream. But the paddleboat rental’s closed now, so we can get through,” I told Merc.
    The property and houses got bigger the farther we went, and the river widened. I heard Cider Falls in the distance. We passed woods again on the right, and I thought we’d reached Bryn’s property. As we whizzed forward, the forest came to an end and gave way to a beautiful lawn. I squinted, looking for his dock. It wasn’t lit, but I could see some light from the outdoor floods bouncing off the reflectors on the side of his speedboat.
    I pedaled toward the dock, which I could finally make out, but the current was dragging us sideways. Fast.
    “Uh-oh.” I gasped.

Chapter 4

    I pedaled hard. “The current’s pulling us, Merc!” I whispered fiercely. We spun and I couldn’t control it. I reversed my pedal ing, and my legs burned. I knew I should’ve spent more time on that darn exercise bike at Georgia’s.
    “You jump and save yourself!” I said.
    Mercutio hopped on the back, then leapt onto Bryn’s dock. I bit my lip, terribly scared. Something jarred the boat, which jerked sideways, ramming into the side of Bryn’s boat. Water sloshed in, wetting my feet and pant legs. I ignored the shock of the cold water and looked over to the dock.
    Mercutio stood on the end, next to the metal hook used to anchor boats. He’d managed to loop the twine from the back of the paddleboat around the hook. Merc held it with his teeth and used his paws to flatten the line to the dock to help secure it.
    “How the heck?” I sputtered, pulling on the rope hand-overhand, dragging myself closer until I could hop onto the dock. I took the twine and secured it, then squatted next to Mercutio and kissed the top of his head.
    “You’re the smartest baby cat I ever heard of. If you decide you want to be famous, just say the word. You could headline in Las Vegas, I swear.”
    All of the sudden a bunch more lights came on. I looked over to where the paddleboat was banging up against Bryn’s more expensive one.
    “You think he heard us crash or you think he’s got the dock rigged with security sensors?”
    Merc stuck his tongue out rhythmically like he was tasting the air. He swatted the space in front of him and hissed softly.
    “Or I guess he might have a protective ward around the property.”
    I heard a dog barking.
    “Uh-oh. Angus! Quick, Merc!” I said, scooping him up. Angus, Bryn’s