by Kris Kendall
~***~
“Channie?” Aunt Wisdom’s voice drifted through the woods. “Where are you, sweetheart?”
Channie swiped the tears out of her eyes and turned towards the sound of Aunt Wisdom’s voice. She reached out with her magic. “Over here.”
The soft glow of a kerosene lantern wove a trail of light between the trees.
Aunt Wisdom set the lantern on the ground then wrapped her arms around Channie. “He’s not worth it.”
Channie pulled back and frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Aunt Wisdom brushed the hair off Channie’s forehead. “That Feenie boy does not deserve you.”
“What makes you think this is about Hunter?” There was no point denying she was upset, but she might be able to salvage a scrap of pride.
“Well, my first clue was the way you lit up while you were dancing with him.”
“You read my energy field?” Channie pulled away from Aunt Wisdom.
“I didn’t have to. You were glowing like a sky full of lightening bugs.”
Channie buried her face in her hands and groaned. “Everyone knows?” Could this get any more humiliating?
Aunt Wisdom tugged Channie’s hands away from her face. “No one’s judging you, sweetheart. But that Feenie boy didn’t do himself any favors tonight.”
“Why doesn’t Hunter like me the way he likes Lovie Schmidt?”
Aunt Wisdom gripped Channie’s chin between her thumb and index finger then tilted her face up. “You do not want any boy to like you the way they all like Lovie Schmidt.”
“But it hurts.” Channie pressed her hands against her chest, as if that could ease the pain. “It feels like Hunter ripped my heart out and stomped on it.”
Aunt Wisdom hugged her again. “I know baby, I know.” She kissed the top of Channie’s head. “Someday, you’re going to find an honorable man. A man willing to place your happiness above his own. A man willing to sacrifice everything for your benefit. A man willing to lay down his very life, to protect you.”
“Where am I gonna find a man like that?”
“I have no idea.” Aunt Wisdom picked up her lantern then wrapped an arm around Channie’s waist. She guided her back towards the clearing — taking a large detour away from the barn. “But I do know this much … he won’t be from around here.”
Learn more about Charlotte Abel and The Channie Series at: www.CharlotteAbel.com
Enchantment is available now
