The Third Magic by Molly Cochran Read Free Book Online Page A

of some scars he got in the service. You can come, too."
    Gwen ran her hand over her eyes. "Why would I want to do that?"
    "Just so he can meet you, honey." As an afterthought she added, "And you can give him the once-over, too."
    "If I don't like him, will you tell him he can't live here?"
    Ginger hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Sure," she said, taking her daughter's hand. "It's you and me, baby girl."
    "Yeah," Gwen said, feeling her eyes start to fill.
    "What's the matter?" Ginger asked.
    "Nothing." Gwen wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Go ahead and wear the flower," she said softly. "Never can tell when Mr. Right's going to come along."

Chapter Five
    EVERYDAY MIRACLES
    M iller's Creek—that is , the section of the creek that attracted so many visitors—was actually a very short stretch of water. It came up out of the ground just north of the frame house that stood over the buried cup, then meandered for three hundred feet or so before disappearing again, to emerge next as a swamp in the middle of the woods. The house, and consequently the creek, was near a two-lane macadam road that had been known for the past century as Germantown Pike. Across the Pike was a huge parking lot to accommodate all the visitors to the creek. It had been built over a field of wildflowers. Some of the field remained on the far side of the lot. Beyond that lay the town of Dawning Falls proper. The street on the far side of the wildflower field was, in fact, the location of the battered women's shelter which Ginger Ranier and her daughter had visited so often.
    Glancing toward the creek from her place in the long line winding toward it, Ginger unconsciously touched the bruise on her cheek.
    "This way, please," a young volunteer said, urging her along. The volunteer was a pretty young girl Gwen's age. She was actually one of Gwen's classmates, although neither acknowledged the other.
    The volunteers were a big improvement on Zack Diamond's original setup. He had thought only to offer the water to the public; he had not anticipated the huge crowds the water would draw.
    The creek itself had become a muddy, slippery mess almost as soon as the place opened to the public. Now, even though a wooden deck covered the entire area of what had once been the frame house's front lawn and a double rail running the length of the creek had been installed, Miller's Creek was still a problem for the large numbers of disabled persons who visited it.
    For this reason, a bevy of helpers was recruited from local churches, businesses, charities and, during summer months, among the high school population.
    Gwen Ranier was herself one of the volunteers, a fact that astonished most of the administrators at Dawning Falls High. She certainly did not appear to be the sort of student who typically offered her time in community service.
    "Was that one of your friends, dear?" Ginger asked in a voice that approximated what she thought good mothers should sound like.
    Gwen laughed mirthlessly. "Girls like that don't have friends like me."
    "Well, maybe—" her mother began, but she was distracted by John, the man of the moment, who was squeezing her buttock.
    Gwen turned away, disgusted. The man was so recently sobered that he still reeked of alcohol, his hair slicked back after a morning shower, his skin pasty, his eyes red and unused to the early hour. Despite Ginger's rhapsodic enthusiasm for him, Gwen recognized him as the latest in a long string of losers who had come to violate her mother and her home. When he looked back at her, she stuck her finger in her mouth and pantomimed vomiting. He made a face. Gwen gave him the finger and left the line.
    "Don't go, honey," Ginger said. "Please. I want to try the water. It's been here all this time—"
    "Go ahead," Gwen said. "I'll wait for you. Don't lose your place in line."
    Ginger smiled. "Thanks," she said, rushing back to John's side. She tried to put her arm through his, but he shook it off.
    J