Ghastly Glass Read Online Free PDF Page A

accomplish. I wanted to be here for the Haunted Village and here I was. Chase closed the door behind us, and I followed him up the winding staircase to the dungeon’s tower.
    The amorous mood had dissipated with the banshee’s wail. We sat around and talked about all the tricks and treats visitors could expect to find and what had been going on during the weeks we’d been apart. I wasn’t mad at Chase for the abrupt change. I felt the same. But I thought we might have to disconnect the banshee if we were ever to be in a romantic mood again.
    “I got something for you!” He jumped up from his chair and went to the table in his cramped kitchen area. It was fine for a man who thought making Pop-Tarts was home cooking. Not being much of a cook myself, I never encouraged him to feel any different. I was excited about the gift. The spontaneity was contagious. What could it be? I’m not much of a jewelry person, but a jeweled dagger with a sheath would be nice. No well-dressed Renaissance lady should be without one.
    The wrapping paper was a brown bag with Ace Hardware printed on one side. He handed me the package then hovered anxiously, waiting for me to open it.
    I smiled and took the pair of elbow-length gloves from the bag.
    “They’re flame retardant. Maybe you won’t get burned so much when you start working with the hot glass. Do you like them? ”
    It wasn’t a jeweled dagger, but Chase’s handsome face looked so worried that I had to love his gift. “They’re wonderful! Exactly what I need. Thank you.” I kissed him slowly and all those warm thoughts that had brought us to the dungeon returned with a vengeance. He picked me up and was heading toward the bed when his radio went off.
    He started to ignore it. I could see him struggling with the decision. Unfortunately, it was one of those stupid radios that starts talking without anyone flipping or pressing anything.
    “Chase, we need you over at the Caravan Stage. We’ve got a group of rowdy young guys on stage with the dancing girls. Chase? Can you hear me? ”
    I looked at him. He looked back at me. It was his job and the Village depended on him. “Don’t worry about it.” I almost meant it. “I should go over and check everything out with Roger before tomorrow anyway. I’ll meet you back here.”
    “I’m sorry.” He kissed me. “I’ll make it up to you. No banshee when we come back.”
    I agreed to that and some pasta from a new restaurant, Polo’s Pasta. We left the dungeon together, splitting up at the tree swing next door, to go our separate ways.
    Life was good. Even the fairies (dressed like wraiths) made for a feeling of happiness. Usually they were the ones wearing less than anyone else. But for Halloween, they were like the rest of us, covered from neck to toe.
    I managed to get past the Three Chocolatiers and Fabulous Funnels without buying anything, even though the scents were wonderful. I waved to one of my previous teachers, Gullah basket weaver Mary Shift. She was sitting on her steps across the way from the Glass Gryphon, a sweetgrass basket balanced on her knees.
    Before I had a chance to go and talk to her, Henry grabbed me and brought me quickly into the glass shop. “There you are! I knew you’d change your mind.” He kind of whirled me into a corner between some glass horses and ships. He put one hand on either side of me and stood there, grinning like the Village idiot.
    “I think you should move,” I told him. “We don’t want to break anything.”
    “That’s what I like, a feisty woman! I couldn’t wait to see you again.”
    I was about to show him what I’d learned in self-defense class a few years back when Roger came into the display area. “Jessie! I’m glad you changed your mind. There’s so much to show you.”
    Henry moved aside but not before his predatory eyes told me we’d be back in the same circumstance again sometime. Bring it on , I mouthed at him before going to join Roger. No way was this