Wizard Dawning (The Battle Wizard Saga, No. 1) by C. M. Lance Read Free Book Online Page A

automatically when it reached her planned sell price.
    She smiled contentedly as she picked her coffee mug up and took a sip.
    No one could fault her now for taking over finances after Martin died.
    The town's banker, he'd always handled family finances which included a good size life insurance policy along with instructions for a financial advisor. His idea had been that the insurance, along with selling the farm would allow her to live comfortably.
    She decided instead to take over the finances herself and not to sell the farm and the horses she loved if she didn't have to. She considered taking on boarders. Her reputation as an equestrian and trainer would help. People were always asking for her advice. That wouldn't be necessary now.
    She looked at her online balance. In the year since she took over, she'd more than doubled the insurance money and was on the way to doubling it again.
    She spent two hours a day, four days a week analyzing stocks. Her dedicated work was paying off.
    The outside door opened and Czar trotted in and laid his head on her lap to get his ears rubbed before he sought his place by the fire. Grampa hobbled in, followed by Sig.
    She smiled at the picture her son made. The cold morning air lent a ruddy glow to his light golden skin. He brushed his wavy sable hair out of his eyes. She didn't comment on an overdue haircut. She liked it longer. Like hers, his hair and skin tone evidenced that Vikings raided and interbred with slaves from the Mediterranean. With rangy shoulders, and long arms and legs, he made a fine figure of a man.
    "Mom, did you make anything for lunch or should we scrounge?" Sig asked.
    "There are a couple of ham steaks frying in the pan, German potato salad in the frig, and a green bean casserole on the counter. If you want a ham sandwich, there's ciabatta bread in the keeper."
    "I knew there was a reason I liked staying here," Grampa said as he slapped a ham steak on his plate and spooned up the side dishes. He sat at the kitchen table as she cleared her things out of the way.
    "Why don't you take the rest of the day off," Grampa said to Sig. "You should be weary from the first day's workouts."
    Meredith thought Grampa looked gray and drained.
    "Good idea. I have a study session with my new geology lab partner tomorrow I have to get ready for." Sig said.
    "What happened to your old partner?" she asked.
    "That was freaky. A feral dog pack attacked while he waited for the school bus and tore up his arm and leg. It got all infected and he's in the hospital in critical care."
    "That's terrible. When did it happen?"
    "Three days ago. I haven't been able to visit him because of the infection danger."
    "I wasn't aware that there were any feral dog packs around."
    "No one was and then they couldn't find the dogs after it happened. Since they couldn't find 'em, he has to have rabies shots too."
    "How awful. Who is your new lab partner?"
    "A new girl started school last week and needed AP Geology. Another lab team offered to triple up with her, but after Jason got hurt they put her with me."
    "It's hard to start a new school in the middle of the year. Is she cute?"
    He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. She's from California and came to stay with relatives here. I'm going to help her catch up to where we are,"
    He hadn't had any social much less romantic interests since Martin died. He even quit team sports. Expected to be the starting quarterback and lead scorer on the basketball team, his teammates resented him for quitting.
    Maybe a new girl would shake him out of his slump. He needed to get back into a social life. She would like to have grandchildren some day.
    She glanced at Grampa Thor and he winked at her.
    She frowned at him. "I hope you aren't planning on starting Sig on any more martial arts this time." She said.
    Grampa raised his hands in feigned innocence. "He has plenty of other things to keep him busy now, but haven't I always paid for all his karate, kendo, and fencing lessons?"
    "I