A Witchmas Carol by Amanda M. Lee

Author:Amanda M. Lee [Lee, Amanda M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WinchesterShaw Publications
Published: 2017-12-05T06:00:00+00:00

Thistle just gave me her Christmas list. There are more than one-hundred items on it, and she threw in “world peace” at the end. She said if Santa needs to cut he should start at the bottom.

– Twila studying her daughter’s two-page Christmas list

Eleven

Uncle Calvin spent a few more minutes watching Mom bicker with her sisters – cackling like a madman whenever an insult flew through the room – before he reluctantly blew them a kiss and pointed us toward the back hallway.

The kiss was sweet, and even though I was agitated the simple gesture hit me like a fist to the stomach.

“You were their Chief Terry.”

Uncle Calvin flicked his kind eyes to me. “Your grandfather was gone before they had a chance to remember him. They needed a father figure. The Winchester line is full of women. That doesn’t mean men aren’t important.”

“Has it always been females born to the line?” Landon asked, stepping to the side so I could walk into the hallway ahead of him. “Have they ever had sons?”

“I believe some of the earlier generations had sons. In fact, I think the first all-female generation belonged to Ginger and Tillie.”

“And Aunt Willa,” I added, making a face. Aunt Willa was technically only a half-sister – and on my great-grandfather’s side, so it was hardly important – but she’d felt marginalized her entire life and I didn’t want to leave her out of the conversation.

“That’s true, but Willa was something else entirely.”

“We know the truth. Aunt Tillie let it slip when Aunt Willa and Rosemary visited. They were trying to put a claim in on the property and Aunt Tillie let them have it.”

Uncle Calvin was philosophical about the news. “Well, she lasted longer than I thought she would.”

“Probably because we only saw them on very rare occasions while growing up. Once, we went to summer camp and Rosemary came. Other than that I can only remember one or two visits.”

“You went to summer camp?” Uncle Calvin was intrigued. “How did that go?”

“We pretty much stayed to ourselves. We’ve never played well with others.”

“I went to summer camp a couple of times,” Landon noted. “I always liked it. One year we were right next to a girls’ camp, and I was totally popular with all the chicks.” He realized too late what he’d said and adjusted his tone. “Of course, I’m a better man now and only want to be popular with one chick.”

“Very smooth,” I muttered, earning a small pinch to my wrist as we wandered through the hallway that led to the family living quarters. “Where did you go to camp?”

“I don’t really remember. I think once was in this area, though. I would have to ask my mother.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t know,” Landon countered. “I was thinking maybe we could take a mini-vacation and go camping this summer.”

“Where?”

Landon shrugged. “Wherever. I’m not picky. I thought it would be fun to camp out under the stars with you.”

“Or we could carry a sleeping bag to the bluff and get drunk in close proximity to a toilet.

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