wasn’t going to let her get away with treating Colton like this. He’d sent the boy to the shop in the first place. It was his fault it had blown up in his face. Willie took a deep breath and exited the forest-green, four-door, sedan. He crossed the street and made his way over to the shop. He swung open the door, and his heart beat just a little faster.
The chime of the bell above the door sounded, and the woman, Betty, peered up. She was dressed fancy in a flattering dress with a black-and-white, flower pattern. She stood up straight. Her body was rigid. Large, doe-shaped brown eyes narrowed. If looks could kill, he’d be flat on his back right then. Her thin brows came together as she frowned.
“Didn’t your son give you the message?”
“That’s what I’m here about. I don’t appreciate the way you treated Colton. It was unfounded. These youngsters have nothing to do with what went on between Viola and Joseph. He’s the black sheep of our family for a reason. Honor means something to this generation of Edgeworths, and I won’t have you thinking or saying anything differently. A chill crawled up his spine as the temperature in the room dipped well below what it had been seconds before. A violent wind ruffled his hair and pulled at his clothing. “Your hocus pocus don’t scare me none, woman, so you might as well stop showing off,” he spoke above the whoosh of the breeze.
“If you had any sense, it would.”
“Why? What more can you do to me? This curse of yours has been devastating my family for as long as I can remember.
There hasn’t been a female born to the Edgeworths since before Joseph was cursed, and every chance we get at love falls through. That’s a lot of suffering to stomach for people who are innocent. I’ve heard all about the Voiles. You’re white witches with a talent for healing. That means this goes against everything you stand for, so why hold onto the grudge?”
“After what your kin did to Viola—”
“He hurt her pride and left her broke. He didn’t kill her.”
“Excuse me?” Some of the anger in her eyes faded as confusion crept in.
“That curse has killed my wife, my son’s wife, and led my grandson to two divorces. The other two boys are too scared to do much more than casually date. “
She looked a lot less certain, and inside, he smirked. Good. She needed to be taken down a few notches.
“That’s something to think about while you sit up there on your high horse and judge us peasants down here. Last I checked, no one was perfect. I assume that includes witches.”
She pursed her lips, and the air settled around him. “You make a good point.”
“I usually do.”
She scoffed, but since he hadn’t been turned into something reptilian or slimy, he figured he was doing pretty well.
“Perhaps in time, we can reach a truce of some sort. But I don’t want my granddaughter involved in this. She’s not a means to an end or a pawn in some game.”
“That’s not how Colton sees her.” Willie shook his head. “She’s the first woman he’s ever truly taken an interest in. He won’t stop.”
“Then we have nothing to discuss. I’ve seen the damage your family is capable of.”
“Well, we’ll just see about that.” He turned around and walked to the door, ending the conversation. When he tried the knob and found it stuck, he scowled. Willie glanced over his shoulder at a glowering Betty.
“I wasn’t done talking to you.”
“You think real highly of yourself, don’t you?”
“And why shouldn’t I?”
“Because you’re acting like a damn bully. First you come at my grandson like a wailing banshee, and now you’re keeping me in this store against my will.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“No, I’m not. You need to be taken across someone’s knee.”
“How dare you talk to me that way!” She jabbed a finger at him.
“Hey, someone needs to. ‘Cause it looks like you’ve gotten way too big for those tiny britches of
The chime of the bell above the door sounded, and the woman, Betty, peered up. She was dressed fancy in a flattering dress with a black-and-white, flower pattern. She stood up straight. Her body was rigid. Large, doe-shaped brown eyes narrowed. If looks could kill, he’d be flat on his back right then. Her thin brows came together as she frowned.
“Didn’t your son give you the message?”
“That’s what I’m here about. I don’t appreciate the way you treated Colton. It was unfounded. These youngsters have nothing to do with what went on between Viola and Joseph. He’s the black sheep of our family for a reason. Honor means something to this generation of Edgeworths, and I won’t have you thinking or saying anything differently. A chill crawled up his spine as the temperature in the room dipped well below what it had been seconds before. A violent wind ruffled his hair and pulled at his clothing. “Your hocus pocus don’t scare me none, woman, so you might as well stop showing off,” he spoke above the whoosh of the breeze.
“If you had any sense, it would.”
“Why? What more can you do to me? This curse of yours has been devastating my family for as long as I can remember.
There hasn’t been a female born to the Edgeworths since before Joseph was cursed, and every chance we get at love falls through. That’s a lot of suffering to stomach for people who are innocent. I’ve heard all about the Voiles. You’re white witches with a talent for healing. That means this goes against everything you stand for, so why hold onto the grudge?”
“After what your kin did to Viola—”
“He hurt her pride and left her broke. He didn’t kill her.”
“Excuse me?” Some of the anger in her eyes faded as confusion crept in.
“That curse has killed my wife, my son’s wife, and led my grandson to two divorces. The other two boys are too scared to do much more than casually date. “
She looked a lot less certain, and inside, he smirked. Good. She needed to be taken down a few notches.
“That’s something to think about while you sit up there on your high horse and judge us peasants down here. Last I checked, no one was perfect. I assume that includes witches.”
She pursed her lips, and the air settled around him. “You make a good point.”
“I usually do.”
She scoffed, but since he hadn’t been turned into something reptilian or slimy, he figured he was doing pretty well.
“Perhaps in time, we can reach a truce of some sort. But I don’t want my granddaughter involved in this. She’s not a means to an end or a pawn in some game.”
“That’s not how Colton sees her.” Willie shook his head. “She’s the first woman he’s ever truly taken an interest in. He won’t stop.”
“Then we have nothing to discuss. I’ve seen the damage your family is capable of.”
“Well, we’ll just see about that.” He turned around and walked to the door, ending the conversation. When he tried the knob and found it stuck, he scowled. Willie glanced over his shoulder at a glowering Betty.
“I wasn’t done talking to you.”
“You think real highly of yourself, don’t you?”
“And why shouldn’t I?”
“Because you’re acting like a damn bully. First you come at my grandson like a wailing banshee, and now you’re keeping me in this store against my will.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“No, I’m not. You need to be taken across someone’s knee.”
“How dare you talk to me that way!” She jabbed a finger at him.
“Hey, someone needs to. ‘Cause it looks like you’ve gotten way too big for those tiny britches of
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