Believe: The Complete Channie Series Read Online Free Page A

eyes shone as she unlocked the door and stepped inside.
    Daddy flipped off the porch light. “I couldn’t convince the owners to keep paying the utility bills on this here place, so keep the lights off and don’t use no appliances; or I’ll give you a switching you won’t forget. See that tree out front? They don’t call it a weeping willow for nothing.”
    Everyone nodded.
    “It’s just as easy to light a candle or a kerosene lamp as it is to flip a switch and a whole lot less expensive. Money don’t grow on trees.”
    Where was the money coming from? Back home, Momma and Abby drove the bus into town once a week to sell eggs. They earned enough cash to buy the things they couldn’t make, shoot or grow, but they hadn’t brought any chickens with them. Daddy’s moonshine brought in a fair amount of cash, but even if he didn’t gamble it away as fast as he got it, Channie doubted he’d make enough money to pay the bills.

    Channie and Abby took the trips back to the park while Momma and Daddy settled in. They sat on picnic tables under the pavilion while the boys played, fought and scared off all the other kids.
    Abby had been in a foul mood ever since they left and Channie was sick of it.
    “What the hell is your problem?”
    “You wouldn’t understand.”
    “I might, if you told me what’s wrong.” Enchantment’s magic grew warm inside Channie’s belly, instinctively rising to the challenge. It softened both her demeanor and tone of voice as it flowed out of her.
    Abby ignored her and stared straight ahead, her depression so deep, Enchantment’s magic had no visible effect on her.
    “Whatever.” Channie hopped off the table, dusted the back of her jeans with her palms and walked towards the baseball field. Five minutes later, she was surrounded by boys. She was flattered, even though she knew it was only because of her name. She probably should have pulled Enchantment’s magic back into her power-well, but it took a considerable amount of energy to restrain it once it was active. Besides, she didn’t want to.
    “Enchantment?” Daddy’s voice startled Channie. She’d been so distracted by the boys she hadn’t felt Daddy sneak up on her.
    He narrowed his eyes and glared at each of the boys. Not a single one of them paid him any attention. They only had eyes for Channie. Daddy leveled his gaze at her and said, “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “Talking?”
    “Go home.”
    “Yes, sir.” 
    Daddy kept his shield up and didn’t say a word as he followed her back to the house. “Get on upstairs. I need to talk to your Momma.”
    “We were just talking. I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
    “Them boys was Empties.”
    “This whole state is nothing but Empties. We can’t avoid them forever. I start school tomorrow. Half the students will be boys.” Channie meant it as a joke, but Daddy didn’t laugh.
    He rubbed his forehead with his fingers and groaned out loud, as if he were in physical pain. “Go to your room, and don’t come out until I call for you.”
    There wasn’t so much as a stick of furniture in Channie’s room. All she had was her pillow case full of books, a couple of blankets and a quilt. She made a little nest for herself and curled up on the floor. She considered casting a listen-up spell on herself, but if Daddy called for her before the lavender scent of Enchantment’s magic dissipated, she’d be in even more trouble for eavesdropping.
    “Channie?” Abby's voice woke her up. “Momma and Daddy wanna see you downstairs.”
    Channie yawned and opened her eyes. Abby was standing in the doorway, a candle in one hand, her flashlight—a birthday gift from Aunt Wisdom—in the other. How long had she been asleep? “Am I in trouble?”
    “I don’t know. They was holed up in their room when me and the trips got back from the park. I ain’t heard no hollering.” Abby tucked her flashlight under her arm to light the candle then squatted down and handed it to