Hell's Belles by Megan Sparks Page B

the Liberty Belles flyers at the same time.”
    â€œI can live with that,” said Dad, lifting the mask and giving her a smile.
    Minutes later, Annie emerged from the little office behind the kitchen wearing the crazy tights, dress, and hat.
    â€œThat’s actually pretty cute,” said Lexie.
    Annie checked her reflection in the glass of the pastry display case and was pleased to see that Lexie was telling the truth. But she still wasn’t thrilled about parading up and down Main Street in costume, no matter how well the dress showed off her legs. Her ankle was well enough that she could manage on one crutch and carry the flyers — Dad’s and hers — in her other hand.
    â€œWell, ‘witch’ me luck,” she said, heading for the door.
    For the next twenty minutes, she stood on the pavement outside Rosie Lee’s feeling like an absolute idiot. Two grade-school boys rode by on bikes and laughed at her.
    â€œDon’t you know Halloween isn’t for two more weeks?” scoffed one.
    â€œOh, shut up or I’ll turn you both into toads!” muttered Annie.
    The boy stuck his tongue out and they rode off, laughing.
    Annie approached a sweet-looking elderly couple who were out for a walk. “Hello there!” she said, handing them a flyer. “You two look like you might enjoy a freshly baked cake and a cup of tea.”
    â€œSounds delightful,” said the old woman.
    Annie opened the door for the couple and they ambled into the shop. She could hear them exclaiming over the delicious aromas as the door swung closed behind them.
    When she turned back to scan the foot traffic on the pavement, a familiar face caught her eye.
    â€œCoach Ritter!” she called, waving.
    The coach was holding the hands of two of the most adorable little kids Annie had ever seen.
    â€œAnnie, how nice to see you.”
    â€œMommy!” cried the older one, a girl, ducking behind her mother. “She’s a witch!”
    Coach laughed. “Don’t be silly, Abigail. It’s only a costume. There’s no such thing as witches.”
    â€œYour mum is right,” said Annie, giving Abigail a big smile. “I’m not a witch, but I am . . . a roller girl!”
    Abigail’s big green eyes lit up. “For real?”
    â€œThis little guy is Brandon,” said Coach Ritter. “Abbey, Brandon, this is my friend Annie. Say hello.”
    â€œHello.”
    â€œHewwo.”
    Annie giggled. “They’re so cute!”
    â€œThanks.” Coach smiled fondly at her two children and tousled their red hair. “They’re also quite a handful. We’ve been shopping all morning, and I’m exhausted.”
    â€œYou know what you need, don’t you?” said Annie, grinning.
    â€œYou mean besides a nanny?”
    â€œHow does a nice hot cup of pumpkin spiced tea and a cinnamon apple muffin sound?”
    Coach smiled. “It sounds incredible.”
    â€œThen follow me!” Annie led her coach straight to the door of Rosie Lee’s.
    Inside, Coach helped the kids off with their jackets and hung them on coat pegs; she lingered there, her eyes flicking over the notices on the bulletin board while Brandon and Abbey ran straight for the pastry display.
    â€œMommy, can I have a cookie?” cried Abbey.
    â€œCupcake!” said Brandon.
    Unfortunately, Dad picked that moment to come out from behind the counter wearing his werewolf mask. Abbey let out a terrified yelp, then ran shrieking to hide behind her mother.
    â€œI’m sorry!” said Dad, quickly tugging off the scary rubber head. “Look, look, it’s only a mask, sweetie. I’m not a monster, I’m just a person!”
    Abbey peeked out from behind Coach Ritter, sniffling, but still didn’t make a move to come out from her hiding place. Brandon, on the other hand, went directly up to Annie’s dad and kicked him soundly in the shin. “You scawwed