Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie We're In Trouble! (The Toad Witch Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

blanket on the snowy ground. He was bundled in a parka and ski mask, and surrounded by a giant circle of jar candles, pushed into the snow.
    As I got closer, I noticed Gus’s eyes were closed and he was humming and waving his gloved hands.
    “What are you doing?” I asked.
    “Weather magic,” he said, opening one eye. “Either I thaw Grundleshanks out in the house, or I need warm weather.”
    “Wait until summer.”
    “Bite your forked tongue. Patience is not a good color on me. I want that toad bone and I want it now.”
    I sighed. “You do realize that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, right? That’s got to be even more massive when it comes to weather.”
    “Hush, woman. You’re interrupting a genius at work.” He sat up. “Would you tell Michaelangelo his ceiling mural could be mistaken for graffiti? Or DaVinci that his helicopter plans would anger the Gods?”
    I rolled my eyes. “There’s got to be a twelve-step program somewhere to wean you off your ego.” I looked around “Where are the dogs?”
    “They were distracting me. So I took off their ridiculous winter wear and put them in the house. Hats? Really?”
    “I didn’t want their ears to get frostbit.”
    He snorted. “Good thing you’re having a baby or you would totally turn into one of those people who dress up their pets and make them pose for pictures.”
    I debated kicking him. “At least I’m not a public menace. You seriously think it’s a good idea to bring summer into the middle of winter?”
    “If I pull it off, you’ll be the only person in this entire state complaining.”
    Somehow, I had my doubts about that. “Does that mean you were responsible for that freak lightning storm this morning?”
    Gus grinned, pleased with himself. “ See? I knew I could do it.”
    “That was weird,” I admitted, impressed. “Did you see it?”
    “I wish. I was a little preoccupied causing it.”
    “On the other hand, it could have just been an odd coincidence,” I said.
    “No such thing. Meaningless coincidence only happens to mundane humans. That was a talented witch tweaking the threads of Fate, pinging divine synchronicity and bringing serendipity into play. Now move along and let the witch do his work.” He laid down, closed his eyes and returned to his humming.
    I snorted but did what he asked. 
    *     *     *
    I meant to go back outside and check on Gus again, but after spending most of the day cleaning the house, I just wanted to sit and rest for a bit.
    I curled up on the couch, in front of the fireplace. I was so toasty warm and comfortable, that I totally fell asleep reading the latest six-hundred page Stephen King novel.
    I was in the middle of a very weird, icy-cold, watery dream when a loud crash woke me up.
    I jumped up from the couch, my heart thudding. The Dobies, who had been sleeping next to me, immediately alerted.
    While I had been asleep, the fire had gone out and night had fallen. The moonlight coming in through the window highlighted the ghost of my Aunt Tillie. She was sitting in her rocking chair, knitting. The puppies softly growled at her.
    “You may want to go check on that,” Aunt Tillie said, indicating the back door with her head. “Sounds like Captain Sparrow out there, is in trouble.”
     I bolted for the back, pulling on my coat as I ran.
    *     *     *
    When I got outside, the jar candle had sunk into the snow and it looked like the snow was glowing, with merry little flames dancing just under the crystalized surface, in a giant circle.
    But I couldn’t see Gus anywhere.
    “Gus!” I hollered. “Gus!!!”
    There was no response.
    The back yard was still in ritual space. I could feel the energy humming.
    I took me minute to find him. He was sprawled out in the middle of the circle, half-covered by snow, half-covered by a blanket.
    I cut through the circle and rushed to his side.
    He was unconscious and his breathing was shallow.
    Despite his winter