Vesik 3 Winter's Demon Read Online Free PDF Page B

for a water witch. It is natural to pine for your lover.” Mike looked at Sam, and a slow smile crept over his face. “Besides, the water witch did call me when you did not answer her call.”
    I groaned and rubbed my face while Sam laughed outright. “Yeah, anyhow, I’m due for a call today.”
    Sam pulled in to park and turned off the engine. Zola’s Chevy stopped beside us. I stepped out and stretched for a moment, sending a flash of blackness and stars across my vision. Once my eyes started to clear I fumbled for the seat release and shifted it forward so Mike could climb out.
    “A Scarborough Fair,” the demon said with a smile.
    “Not exactly,” I said.
    “A what?” Sam said. “Isn’t that a song?”
    Mike began to explain what the fairs were like in his time: merchants and entertainers gathered from lands far and wide, when spices were valuable enough a pound of cloves could buy a small herd of sheep. I looked over the market. Four rows of white tents lined the parking lot, nestled between two fairly modern brick buildings. I took a deep breath. The scent of rosemary from an herb dealer mingled with hickory smoke, fresh popped kettle corn, and the distant smell of the river.
    “I am seriously hungry,” I said.
    “I am seriously shocked,” Sam said as she rabbit punched me lightly in the arm.
    Mike chuckled and strolled over to a homemade sausage vendor. A huge black smoker built into the back of a trailer sent a steady billowing stream of smoke into the air. The wind shifted toward us and I picked up the pace.
    “Afternoon,” the man beside the smoker said. A heavy flannel shirt hung down over his jeans, the collar obscured at the top by a long and neatly trimmed beard.
    “Hi,” Sam said.
    “Do I smell smoked bologna?” Mike asked.
    The man’s eyes widened a bit before he nodded and smiled. He pulled the top of the smoker up and pointed to four huge links on the leftmost side. “Yes, but I’m surprised you could pick out the scent with all the cooking here today.”
    “I’ll take a link,” Mike said.
    “A whole one?”
    “Indeed sir.”
    “You going to eat all that?” I asked.
    “I’ll let you try a bite. Of course, you’ll probably want one of your own. I tend to work up an appetite battling the forces of evil.”
    Sam snickered and I heard Zola snort from the next stall over. She leaned over to Foster and Aideen, and I assume she relayed Mike’s comment because they both laughed.
    “That looks like some very fresh jerky there too,” Dad said.
    The vendor pulled a strip off and handed it to him. “Enjoy. If you boys, and girl,” he said with a nod to Sam, “are buying a whole link, I’ll pack some more up, no charge.”
    Dad took a bite and nodded. “That’s fantastic. Thank you.”
    We wandered around the market for a few minutes. Sam stopped and bought a set of hand-blown glass earrings and a stuffed toy ferret. I was pretty sure the ferret would end up taunting Vik in some dastardly manner.
    Mike passed out some chunks of his bologna log. It took all of two bites for everyone to become converts to the glory of smoked bologna.
    “Holy crap, that’s good,” I said around a mouthful of soft, smoky, deliciousness.
    “Natural casing,” Dad said. “Adds an extra snap.”
    Sam grimaced and took another bite. “Let’s just say it tastes good. I don’t want to think about the snap.”
    “It is good,” Mike said. “There’s a butcher in Hermann.” He took another bite and swallowed. “He makes black pudding. I think you call it blood sausage. That takes me back,” he said with a smile.
    “Nasty,” Sam said.
    “Whatever, sis. I recall seeing you at a sushi bar one time.”
    “Oh, not this again,” Sam said under her breath.
    You’re scared of a little blood sausage? I’ve seen you take down raw octopus.”
    “That’s different.”
    “No,” Mike said, “That is nasty.”
    We turned the corner and started back up the last row tents, bantering all the way.