Into the Wildewood Read Online Free PDF Page B

at least buy one of her puppets? I want a shoulder unicorn.” Mom would have bought one for her. She’d loved stuffed animals. Moments later, hot tears rolled down Keelie’s cheeks, as if on autopilot. She hated how she cried without warning.
    Dad pulled a wad of tissues from his pocket and gave them to her. These days he always carried tissues in his pocket for his waterspout daughter.
    “Sorry.” She blew her nose.
    “It’s normal, Keelie. You’re grieving. Three months isn’t that long. You’ve been through a lot since losing her, too.”
    “No kidding. Like finding out I’m not human?” That had been a shocker.
    “Half human,” he corrected. “It might do you a world of good to do something other than hang out at the shop. I’m stuck here, getting ready for opening day and waiting for Scott to arrive, but you’re free. Why don’t you get a job?”
    “I just wanted to hang.”
    “If you had a job working in the Faire, you could earn some pocket money. I saw the shopping gleam in your eyes.”
    “What a coincidence. I was just at Lady Annie’s looking at boots.”
    “You already have your Mom’s and the ones Janice gave you. Why don’t you buy a bow and learn archery?”
    “Archery?” Leave it to an elf to think archery was fun. And he would bring up the fact she already had two pairs of boots. Dad just didn’t get shoes and females. Two pairs weren’t enough.
    “I thought I’d use some of the money Mom left me. And besides, they’re not so expensive.”
    “I’ve seen the price of those boots.” Zeke quirked an eyebrow, as if he thought it was funny that she wanted a pair. “But if you really want them, you can get a job.”
    “I just ordered a pair.” Keelie blew her nose as she said it, trying to disguise the words.
    It didn’t work.
    “I hope you’re joking.” His voice rose to “you’re grounded” volume.
    She couldn’t believe Dad was picking a fight. She was the one who’d lived in close quarters with him and his cat, without a refrigerator and without a bathroom for the past three weeks. She’d pointed out every piercing and tattoo parlor in eight states and Dad had driven past every single shop, eyes looking straight ahead, never once glancing at where she was pointing. She’d earned those boots. “I have ordered them, and Lady Annie has already cut the leather.” Well, she didn’t know if Lady Annie had actually started, but she might have. Too late now.
    “Really.” Dad’s face had paled, but Keelie noticed his neck was beginning to turn green. This was not normal.
    “Are you okay, Dad?”
    “Don’t change the subject.”
    “Fine. It’s my favorite subject right now. I have money in the bank, so what’s the big deal? They’re going to be really great, with leaves and acorns. They’ll go with the shop.” Although she might need to rethink the acorns after this last incident.
    “Keelie, that’s your college money. If you want the boots, you have to work for them.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You heard me. You’re going to work for those boots.”
    Keelie’s mouth dropped open in outrage. “It’s my money. I can do as I please. I’ll call Ms. Talbot, and she’ll tell you that I can spend my money as I see fit.”
    Dad shrugged. “Call her. She’ll tell you that you can’t touch the money until you’re eighteen.”
    Knot abandoned his wild game of acorn hockey and sat down in front of Keelie to wash his butt.
    “Fine. I will call. Mom would’ve let me have them.” The tears were back.
    Dad grabbed the crowbar and pried the lid off a nearby crate with more force than was necessary. The lid went flying and bounced off a post, splintering on the floor. “You’re living with me now. Ms. Finch, the Faire coordinator, has an office in the administrative building. She’s in charge of hiring.”
    Fresh tears made Keelie dab at her eyes, and she blew her nose with the tear-dampened tissue. “You’re kidding, right? You want me to get a