Charles Franklin - Summers Coven

Summer's Coven

A Novel

Charles Franklin

Copyright 2023 Charles Franklin

All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Cover design by: PalaCreative
ASIN: B0BS9Z6863

To Quirt. My big brother, taken way too soon. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you.

Contents

Foreword

This book took me through so many emotions. Like Riley, I lost my brother when he was way too young. Each time Riley envisions Wes, I feel my brother watching over me.

To feel.

To love.

Do not fear the dark, dear child
What can harm you, needs not hide
Do not fear the dark, dear child
Fear what is inside

Charles Franklin

Chapter 1

Tobi

I wonder how it feels for a person to have it all together. Or do those people even exist? My Maw Blanch once told me everyone is fighting their own battle. Sometimes I feel like mine is a war, though.

Paw Pete tells me I should stop my whining and be thankful for all I have. I know hes right. So many nineteen year old girls would have loved to be in my situation. I lived in a nice little farmhouse with animals and a tiny garden Maw Blanch and I tended in the summer of 1991. It wouldnt feed a city, but we took a lot of pride in our potatoes, onions, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash.

I think she enjoyed the time with me, too. Growing up, I spent so much time with my best friendand boyfriend for a short spellRiley, and my Paw Pete. Maw and I never seemed to have much in common, until that garden.

Every morning, wed water and pull weeds. And wed both get so excited when we found a new sprout.

Gardens are good for the soul, she told me one morning while she worked on the cucumber row and I weeded through the squash.

How so? I stood and wiped beads of sweat from my forehead.

Well, to grow something from just a seed. To see it through, and not give up when it gets too dry, or when the weeds try to take over. That nourishes your soul, Tobi. Maw straightened and stretched her back a moment. If youre not careful, you get caught up in all the evil of the world. You forget the good things, like snapping off a cucumber and eating it fresh from the garden.

Id known some of the evil she spoke of. And if it hadnt been for my Paw Pete and Riley, I wouldnt be standing in that garden.

Youre right, Maw. Its easy to get lost in life and forget the simple things.

Maw swatted, as if to knock my words from the air. Simple this isnt simple, hun. This is life. People just always want more, more, more. They go chasing it, and they lose themselves. They drive themselves into an early grave, when happiness is right here with your hands in the dirt. Ill tell you what, Ill never be rich, but Ive got everything Ill ever need right here.

I couldnt help but feel like she was talking about my mama. We hadnt heard from her in months. Not even on my birthday, way back in March. It had been way longer than that since she came through town.

As the years passed, Id almost forgotten I had a mother. Maw Blanch and Paw Pete raised me from the time I was ten years old, and gave me all the love I ever needed. Mama only brought worry and heartache whenever she decided to pop in.

Something else this garden is gonna teach you this summer, Maw said, looking up at the cloudless May sky. Resilience.

How so?

Its going to be a hot summer. And if we dont tend to this garden well enough, well lose it.

No way. Wed spent every morning in that garden since the middle of April, and I wasnt going to see all that work go to waste.

We worked the next hour or so in the garden, then I went down to the barn to tend to the animals. Like every morning, my black and white spotted pig, Turtle, hopped to his feet and did a silly little happy dance.

Heh heh, I heard Paw Pete come into the barn behind me. That ol pig is the only animal Ive ever seen that can dance a jig with his front feet, and the shuffle with his back feet.

I reached through the fence and scratched Turtle on the head. Tell Paw not to laugh at you, boy. Youre just happy to see me, arent you?

Paw walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. Hows my roly poly this mornin?

Ready for a break tomorrow. Thank goodness Sundays are my days off.

A day off, huh? Whats that? Paw gave me a squeeze then snatched a bale of hay off the towering stack in the back of the barn. He carried it to the horse pen and cut the wire, then tossed it over the fence, layer by layer.

I know. I know. Youve never had a day off in your life, right?

Not since Ive been married to your Maw, anyway. He winked. So, I reckon its been whatforty-eight years this July?

Thats a long time, old man. You might want to take a vacation. Somewhere on a beach.

He came back to Turtles pen and leaned on the fence. What on Earth would I do on a beach? Take off my shirt and blind people?

I laughed. No, the beach wasnt the place for someone like Pete Sloan, retired Texas Ranger. He was right where he should be. Just like Maw said. With his hands in the dirt.

She did have everything she could ever need. I grew quite jealous of her as I looked up at my handsome ol grandpa. Where was my Texas Ranger? When was he going to come along and build me a farm to grow old with him on?

Riley was supposed to be him. He wasnt a Texas Ranger, but he was the best man I knew. By far. We were justat a point where we had to regrow some trust. And that might take a while. Or, it might never happen.

Well, Paw, Id love to spend all day soaking up the smell of manure with you, but the cafe calls.

He leaned over and kissed the top of my head. You have a good day, sweetheart. Drive safe.

I always thought of that night when Id go to work. Paw reminded me to be safe, because Id been on my way home when the Merritts took me. I wonder if he thought of it too, since he had to kill them to save me and Riley.

One good thing that came from my kidnapping, was that I met Breanna Foley, orBree, as everyone called her. Wed spent a short time locked in cages a few feet from each other, and Ill always credit her for giving me the courage to escape. Just like Im sure shell always say Im the one who saved her.

Brees dad was an elementary school principal in Bridgeport, and her mama was a teacher. As luck would have it, the year after Bree and I were rescued, her daddy got hired as principal of Minera Springs Elementary, after Mr. Sweet retired.

I tried to go back to work at the Dairy Mart when the doctor released me from the hospital, but there was just something about the memories that place gave me. I had to quit. So, Bree and I talked to Rileys mama and she got us jobs waiting tables with her at the cafe.

Whats even cooler than that, is that shortly after Bree and I started working there, Riley helped his mama buy that cafe.

Now, he was kind of my boss. Which was okay, as long as he didnt act like it.

Good morning, beautiful, Bree said as I slid into the passenger seat of her 89 Honda Accord. I Wanna Dance With Somebody, by Whitney Houston blared on the stereo while Bree bobbed her head from side to side, her long blonde curls bouncing along with the music.