The Wizard Returns: Book Three of the Wizard Born Series (50 page)

Three older people chatted amiably on a bench at the edge of the site. One was Uncle Charlie, the ancient Cherokee man Jamie had met while running. Another was Momma Sue, the voodoo queen, dressed in a billowing skirt and a bright orange blouse. The third was Mrs. Malley, the old witch, clear-eyed and jovial. They seemed to be getting along famously, all smiles on their weathered faces. Behind them was an open field, filled with dozens of kids playing tag, including Aiven and the children of some of the volunteers.

Local women in their long dresses prepared food at nearby tables, or bustled about carrying sandwiches and drinks to the working men. The whole setting had a festive air about it, Evelyn thought, especially with the laughter of the children and the buzz of conversations floating through the clear air like flower petals on a stream.

Standing with Evelyn were her sister Connie, Rachel, Mrs. Tully, and another retired woman from church, Sheila Burke, who had just taken the oath that morning.

“Looks like Jamie’s ready for a break,” Connie said, pointing across the grounds.

Jamie walked toward them but slowed for a moment and had a quick laugh with Granddaddy Pete, who carried a box of nails from the rented flatbed truck that was parked nearby.

As Jamie neared them, he called, “Anybody seen Granny Darla?”

“She was with the kids in the field,” Evelyn said, “last I saw.”

Jamie reached the table and Connie handed him a cup of cold lemonade. He took it and wiped the sweat from his forehead with one hand. “Thanks. It’s pretty warm for early May, don’t you think?”

“Feels good to me,” Rachel said, “but I’m sitting down.”

“Fred still with Shira Coy’s family?” Jamie glanced over to where Fred stood with her parents and Melanie in a large group of red-heads. From a distance, it looked like a fire had started in that corner of the construction site. Larry and Lisa were having an animated conversation with Shira’s parents.

“Larry’s determined to prove they’re related,” Rachel said, “whether they are or not.”

“They sure look like it.” Jamie took a big gulp of lemonade and pointed over his shoulder with one thumb at Brinna and John Paul. “Brinna acts like John Paul is going to vanish if she lets him out of her sight.”

Rachel smiled and said, “He asked Carl this morning to let him know when there’s another job opening in the Hendersonville Police Department.”

“I thought he liked Louisiana.”

“He said it would be easier going back and forth from Earth to this world if he lived near us, since you have to make a doorway every time.”

“Sounds like he and Brinna are getting serious,” Connie said. “What do you think of that, Mrs. Tully?”

“’Tis fine with me,” she said with a small shrug. “John Paul seems to be a good man, and she is happy.”

Jamie gestured broadly with one arm at the clamorous scene around them. “So, Mrs. Tully? Is this what a barn raising is like?”

“Somewhat. Seems like nearly half the town is here.” She glanced across the field at the flatbed truck, a stack of new windows and doors still on it. “We’ve never had one of those at a barn raising before, I must say. It caused quite a stir when your father drove it through the magic doorway.”

Jamie chuckled. “Now maybe people will get it when we tell them that this isn’t Earth.”

“Go slow with them, Jamie,” Evelyn said. “Don’t expect them to accept that overnight.”

Jamie turned and regarded the building. “Looks good, doesn’t it? It’s going up fast.” He said to Connie, “I hope you like it. We’re following all your recommendations for the design. One big room and four smaller ones, with a basement for storage.”

“You’re putting in real bathrooms?”

He nodded. “Two. One for boys and one for girls.” A corner of his mouth turned up and he said, “We really appreciate you and Gramma volunteering to teach here, at least until we can get someone else.”

“We’re looking forward to it,” she said with a smile. “It’s going to be interesting.”

Jamie turned to the wiry woman with the iron gray hair who sat near his grandmother. “How about you, Dr. Burke? Are you sure you want to volunteer here? It doesn’t have the conveniences you’re used to.”

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t pass this up for the world. I ran a makeshift clinic in Haiti for a year, and this place is like a paradise compared to that.”

“Good, good.” He took a deep breath and nodded. “Well, we’re going to build your clinic as soon as we finish the school. Won’t be fancy. No x-ray machine or anything like that, but we’ll put up solar panels so you’ll have electric lights and stuff.”

“And a real bathroom?” the woman said.

“Yeah.” Jamie chuckled again. “With living quarters upstairs, like you said.”

“Jamie,” Evelyn said. “I think this is wonderful what you’re doing for these people. I think it’s a good way to use Renn’s money.”

“Me, too, and we’ll have plenty left to do more. Granddaddy Pete is going to invest a big portion of the gold so that we can use the interest to buy supplies for the school and the clinic. I’ll keep the silver to pay for stuff here.”

Connie’s brow furrowed and she turned to Rachel. “I guess we have to sit down and figure out what textbooks we’ll need to start off with.”

“I can help with all of that.”

“Mrs. Tully?” Jamie asked. “Do you think the rich people in the big houses will send their kids to this school?”

“They’d be fools not to. I’ll be sending Aiven here, for certain.”

“So,” Evelyn said to Jamie and gazed at the busy construction site. “Do you still feel like this was why you had to come back to this world? For this school and a clinic?”

“Oh yeah,” he said without hesitation. “Though in a way, I feel like we’re just getting started.”

“Me too, Jamie,” she said with a smile. “Me too.”

About the Author

Geof Johnson lives in Atlanta Georgia with his family, a dog and a cat. He enjoys running, water color painting, and playing guitar a little too loud and a little too much.

You can contact him at:
[email protected]

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