The Curse of Dark Root: Part Two (Daughters of Dark Root Book 4) Read Free Page A

her muddy fingers through her short brown hair. “Who said anything about Dark Root? I'm going to Linsburg. There’s a new sports bar called Wings and Wenches.”
    “That's sexist,” Eve said.
    “Didn't you used to work at Hooters?” Ruth Anne teased, pulling a crumpled flyer from her back pocket. “Heck, I guess it’s called Wings and Wrenches. Nascar theme. Too bad.” She frowned and put the flyer away.
    “We're not done until we're home,” Merry interrupted. “Can you two show some respect? We're at a funeral.”
    Ruth Anne scratched her head. “It's a funeral for a ring. I think that falls lower on the totem pole than a funeral for a dead pet frog.”
    “God, Ruth Anne, let it go,” Eve said. “I was five and it was raining. It’s not like you couldn't have waited until the sun came out.”
    “In Dark Root?”
    Merry took a long, patient breath. “This ceremony today is symbolic.”
    “And to give some closure,” Eve agreed. “For all of us.”
    A shadow crossed Ruth Anne’s face. “We all miss Shane. I’m just trying to lighten the mood.” She gazed upwards, stuffing her hands into her pockets. “But I’m running out of things to talk about, since we can’t discuss the weather, romance, or the ‘C’ word anymore.”
    “Ruth Anne!” Merry fixed her blue eyes on her older sister. “Act like a lady.”
    “Why? Ladies have no fun.” She chuckled. “I meant curse .”
    Everyone's eyes fell on me.
    We hadn't talked of “the curse” since Montana's birth. I delivered him and he was beautiful and perfect and that was all that mattered. I stopped viewing the globes then, too.
    In truth, I didn't know if I was still cursed. I'd been sick, tired, feverish, and hysterical, but that could be because I'd given birth and lost Shane. In Dark Root, one witch's curse was another's postpartum depression. I was fighting it, the best I could.
    “So you think you've still got the hex, Maggie?” Ruth Anne asked again.
    I shrugged and collected my tote bag. Merry's car was parked on the side of the road and we began the hike back. “I'd prefer we talk about the weather,” I said over my shoulder.
    “Really?” Ruth Anne asked, jogging to catch up.
    “Yes. I never said we couldn't talk about the weather.”
    “No, but Merry did.”
    “I'm a big girl, Merry. You don't need to protect me. I'm pushing thirty now.”
    “I know. I just wanted everyone to be sensitive to your needs for a while,” Merry said, joining us. She squeezed my shoulder. “You sure you're okay, Maggie? It's okay if you're not okay.”
    “I'm fine.” I lowered my head and lengthened my stride.
    “You should burn something,” Eve said. “Whenever I end a relationship, I usually burn something big. Did Shane own a TV?”
    “She didn't end a relationship,” Merry corrected. “Shane...”
    She couldn't get the word out.
    None of them could. They'd been tiptoeing around “the word” for weeks.
    But I could say it.
    “Died. Shane died. And I don't think burning something will help in this situation. Besides, most of his things have already been burned.” I grimaced, remembering the fire that scorched Dip Stix shortly before he disappeared. A fire of mysterious origins.
    “But he was with another woman at the time,” Eve continued.
    “Now Evie, we don't know why Shane was with Irene,” Merry argued. “Just because they were together doesn't mean anything happened.”
    “They were married,” Eve protested. “And he never told Maggie about it. She should be angry!”
    We reached the car and I stopped, my hand gripping the door handle. “I'm not angry. I'm just... lost.”
    We stood around Merry’s sedan, no one moving to enter. I knew they were trying to help, but the only help for me was time.
    “I'll be fine,” I added for their benefit. “Really.”
    “So,” Ruth Anne said, after an appropriate pause. “If the weather's not off limits anymore, I have a question: Who's glad it stopped raining?” She raised a