Read Online The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry - Free Book Online

Butts. What brings you out so early on this lovely May morning?”
    “I … uh … morning … I … message…” Poor Henry eyed the onlooking females like a cornered mouse might eye a bevy of cats.
    Disgraceful Mary Jane laid her slim white hand on his shoulder. “My, but you are a hard worker. Up before dawn to pitch straw for the cows?”
    “Hay.” This topic of conversation drew nearer to Henry’s expertise. “Milking’s first thing.”
    “How charmingly rustic.” Mary Jane f lashed a dimpled smile at Henry, a caliber of weapon that had brought much stronger men to their knees. “What brings you all this way over to see us this morning?”
    Dull Martha watched Mary Jane perform with something almost like envy. Mary Jane had a knack for saying “to see us” in a way that clearly implied “to see me.” These powers were the reason, Martha felt, Mary Jane was certain to die a duchess.
    Henry Butts swallowed several times until he was ready to give his answer. “I needed to tell you. Last night. Someone. In your garden.”
    Kitty, Mary Jane, Louise, and Elinor exchanged sly smiles. “Indeed,” Smooth Kitty said. “What were you doing in our gardens last night?”
    Henry shook his head adamantly. “Not me,” he said. “I’m not talking about me. Someone else.”
    Disgraceful Mary Jane tapped Henry playfully on his shirt buttons. “But in order to know about it, you must have been in our gardens as well.”
    His violet cheeks went straight to fuchsia. “It was B-Brutus,” he said. “Chasing coneys. I didn’t want his barking to disturb you young ladies.” Henry looked about him for help, and his eyes fell upon less intimidating faces. “Good morning, Miss Roberta, Miss Martha,” he said, nodding and doffing his hat. He suddenly realized he hadn’t removed it as soon as he met the ladies, and thrust the offending headgear behind his back to hide its shame.
    There they stood, six young ladies with shovels behind their backs, and one young man with a hat behind his.
    They looked at one another.
    Henry looked at Brutus, still digging at a furious rate, for which Pocked Louise inwardly blessed him. She wondered if treats and table scraps might induce him to excavate the entire grave.
    “What are you doing?” Henry asked.
    Several voices responded in chorus.
    “Doing?”
    “Doing,” Henry insisted, “with the shovels.”
    “Oh, these,” Mary Jane answered.
    Quick-thinking Kitty supplied an answer. “Digging,” she said.
    “Yes, but why?”
    Once more the answers tumbled out in a simultaneous heap.
    “Exercise,” said Disgraceful Mary Jane.
    “Worms,” said Dour Elinor.
    “Soil research,” said Pocked Louise.
    “Gardening,” said Dear Roberta.
    “Kitty said to,” said Dull Martha.
    The girls exchanged nervous glances. Henry’s brow furrowed in deep concentration.
    “Exactly.” Smooth Kitty nodded.
    Henry Butts blinked. “Exactly what?”
    “Exactly as I said,” she replied. “We’re planting a tree.”
    Henry scratched his scalp. “Did you say that?”
    “Naturally.” Smooth Kitty found Henry Butts to be easy prey. He didn’t even require Disgraceful Mary Jane’s charms to manipulate.
    “Fall’s a better time to plant a tree,” Henry Butts pointed out.
    “I knew we should have consulted with you, Henry.” Disgraceful Mary Jane beamed at him.
    “Nevertheless, we are planting a tree now.” Smooth Kitty laid the matter to rest. “We are planting a cherry tree.”
    This galvanized Henry Butts into excited action. “Then you’ll want manure,” he cried. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with a heaping load.” And, whistling to Brutus, he turned and bolted off down the brambly stretch of Prickwillow Road that connected Saint Etheldreda’s with the Butts Farm.
    “Isn’t that thoughtful of him to fetch us manure?” Dull Martha said wistfully. “He’s a generous person.”
    “Oh, yes.” Disgraceful Mary Jane sneered. “So generous he’s going to bring