Witch in Eclipse (Midlife Spirit Guides 3)(Paranormal Women's Midlife Fiction)

WITCH IN ECLIPSE MIDLIFE SPIRIT GUIDES BOOK THREE WENDY WANG Copyright © 2023 by Wendy Wang All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Created with Vellum CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Epilogue CHAPTER 1 Sarah Jane dug out the last bit of dirt and pasture grass from the circle in the field, then tossed it into the wheelbarrow. She wiped the sweat off her brow with a borrowed handkerchief and leaned on the handle of the shovel to admire the late afternoon’s handiwork. If they weren’t going to use it for a ritual, it would’ve made a perfect space for a garden. Her son Larkin helped them move all the animals to the northern pasture early that morning, then Sarah Jane and her sisters spent most of the afternoon digging. Her sister Cass had removed every sizable rock she found, leaving behind a well-turned, rich dark soil. They didn’t want to give the spell any more ammunition than it already had. Her younger sister Rainey hauled away the wheelbarrow and dumped the last of the dirt in a pile near the fence line. They’d refill the space when they finished. That way, none of the rescue horses, mules, cows, alpacas, or pigs could hurt themselves, tripping over the hole when they released them into the pasture again. Rainey sidled up next to Sarah Jane and threw her arm around her shoulders. “It looks pretty damn good if I do say so myself,” Rainey said. “Hopefully, this time, it’ll work.” Sarah Jane tucked the handkerchief into the back pocket of her jeans. “Goddess willing. We’re running out of safe places.” Rainey nodded and pointed to the sky. “From your lips to her ears.” The two times they had tried to free their mother’s trapped soul from a photograph, they had failed miserably. The first time, every light bulb in Sarah Jane’s house exploded. She and her sister Amy still found tiny shards of glass in the carpet despite vacuuming every day. The second time, the electrical box to Sarah Jane’s house had shorted out. It cost her nearly $5,000 to replace it and some of the wiring that had burned up. She didn’t really have the money, but it had to be done. And at least she didn’t lose her house to a fire. When Rainey suggested they move the ritual site to their grandmother’s farm, where she lived with their Gran, Sarah Jane jumped at the offer. They planned it for the weekend before Ostara, the pagan holiday to welcome spring, and descended on their grandmother’s house on Friday night without spouses, children or significant others. Except for Larkin, Sarah Jane’s seventeen-year-old. “The sun’ll be down in about an hour.” Rainey stared at a round twenty-foot dark-brown patch in the pasture. She sighed. “It’s almost a shame we have to fill it in again. We could use it for bonfires on the holidays.” Susanna stood next to Rainey and tilted her head. “That would be nice, wouldn’t it? We could put a ring of large rocks around it.” Amy moved next to Susanna. “We could add some torches or candle holders at the cardinal points.” Cass looped her arm in Amy’s. “I bet Mama would like that idea.” “I bet she would.” Sarah Jane stared at the dark maw of dirt. A sense of urgency thrummed in her chest. It had to work this time. For some reason that she couldn’t pinpoint, it seemed like time was running out for them to free their mother. “We’ll have to figure it out later,” Rainey said. “I’ve got animals to feed, and I’m sure Gran’s started dinner already.” “Yeah, we should go help her.” Sarah Jane fanned her face with her hand. “Is it me? Or is it hot as hell out here still?” Cass looked at her as if she didn’t understand the words Sarah Jane had just said. “It’s only seventy-five degrees.” “I’ll remind you of that when it’s your turn.” Sarah Jane’s cheeks and chest burned from the inside out. Rainey opened the wide red-and-white door, and the sisters headed toward the barn to put away their tools. “I’m starving.” Susanna hung the wide-tined rake she’d used to level the dirt on a hook. “Feels like I haven’t eaten all day.” Sarah Jane’s stomach growled. “Me, too. I wonder what Gran’s got planned?” “Something good, I’m sure.” Amy put her shovel into a bin. “I should’ve gone in earlier to help.” “I’m sure Gran’s got everything under control.” Rainey tipped one of the wheelbarrows up onto its wheel and leaned it against the wall. Sarah Jane did the same with its twin. “We should still help,” Susanna said. “I know. I didn’t say we wouldn’t help,” Rainey said. “But I’ve got animals to tend to, and I’m as whipped as the rest of you.” A sly grin spread across Cass’s face. “And you’re a terrible cook.” Rainey threw a dirty look at her sister. “Come on now,” Sarah Jane said. “You two stop bickering.” “Fine,” Cass said. “I call first dibs on the shower.” Rainey scowled. “Hey! No fair. I’ve still got an hour’s worth of work left.” Sarah Jane shook her head. Some things never changed, no matter how old they got. “And I think Cass should help you with it.” Sarah Jane used her best mom voice. Cass rolled her eyes. “Whatever, SJ.” “And anyway, I’m