John Ringo - Princess of Wands

And she watched as Coach Sherman fainted.

Barb looked at the note in her hand and nodded.

Barbara,

The time has come to resume God’s work. A ticket has been prepared for you to Chicago. Delta Flight 386 from Jackson to Chicago on Thursday. You must be there, E Nomine.

Augustus

She got out of the Expedition and let Lazarus climb up onto her shoulder, then walked into the house.

Allison was washing the dishes and Brandon was sweeping the kitchen floor as she walked through. She’d never spoken to Allison of the night in the woods nor did she intend to any time soon. And while her face had been covered, her voice was impossible to disguise. Then there was Lazarus.

For whatever reason, the teenager no longer complained about going to church, or even Sunday school. And did her chores with remarkable speed and efficiency. She was even learning to control her temper and manage the younger kids. She was, in other words, trying to be as much like her mother as possible.

Which told Barb all she had to know about that night in the woods.

Mark was parked in front of the TV watching Fox and she sat down, letting Lazarus slip into her lap.

“I hate that cat,” Mark said, glancing over at her and then back at the TV.

“Nonetheless,” Barbara said, smiling faintly, “he is here to stay.”

“He’s spooky,” Mark said, not looking at the black cat calmly watching him from her lap. “I don’t think it’s right for us to have a spooky black cat in the house. The neighbors think it’s funny. And he’s always following you around or hanging on you. He even acts like you. It makes you look like a witch.”

“Mark, I have to go out of town,” Barb said, ignoring the ongoing argument.

“Not that again,” Mark said, angrily, as he turned away from the TV. “It was a complete disaster when you left the last time.”

“Mark, this is the work of the Lord,” Barbara said, quietly but firmly. “I’m going to be leaving on Thursday. I’ll explain to Allison what has to be done in my absence. But I must go.”

“This religion thing is getting out of hand,” Mark snapped. “I go to church, too, you know, but I remember my responsibility to my family! You can’t just go off at a whim. I swear, Barb, sometimes…”

She paused and waited for what the “sometimes” would be, but when it was clear he was finished, she simply nodded.

“I’d better go pack,” she said, standing up.

“That’s it?” Mark said, surprised. “I said I didn’t want you to go!”

“God does,” Barbara replied quietly. “You may be the lord and master of this house. But I am, first and foremost, a Servant of God.”