Sharla Winslowe

by Christy Lake and Misty Dawn

  

Chapter 10. Third Year Summer
Part 25: A new home
Part 26: Some Minor Changes
Part 27: A Flourishing Business

  

This Spring Sharla, forced by circumstance, begins a two-year stint as a "house-sitter" and discovers she has a need for a "staff" to help run and maintain the place while she is busily building her business with a beaver's ferocity and discovers it is pleasant to be without a boyfriend getting underfoot. Naomi continues to advance toward full Shaman status. And Jenny is all but a permanent member of the Burlington Bunch. Andrea has discovered dating is delicious fun.

 

Book 3, Third year Chapter 10 -- Part 25: A new home

Sharla dropped her backpack and duffle on a chair and then went to the kitchen and got herself a big glass of ice water, before slumping into another chair at the breakfast table. Deeply inhaling the aromatic reminder of yesterday evening's baking that teased her appetite awake the psionic glanced at a plate on the sideboard. Huge chocolate chip cookies with double chips! She almost drooled at the thought and momentarily forgot Kevin's increasing insensitive manners and loose tongue.

While they had been in Denver, he had met a reporter and over a brace of beers in a bar one evening, at the man's investigative pumping, had revealed a lot more of his father's business than Sharla deemed prudent. Using her ability, though it was a bit unreliable, she felt the man was not all that trustworthy. She had tried to warn her boyfriend, but he had been on a roll and nearly bragged of some of the local contractor's more shady exploits.

The sumptuous cookies on the counter reminded Sharla that she had a much larger problem than a loud-mouthed beau. In April, Andrea, her youngest sister, who had once been her younger brother, had moved into her room because the ground floor bedroom had been converted to Mom's Business Office.

With a Major in Computer Science and another in Mathematics, Sharla needed a lot of room to spread out her study and reference materiel. Additionally, since the books of "La Caisse" had started being legible again in December, she had made a lot of progress. Sharla desperately needed some place private to set up a working area so she could see if she could do "real" magic.

Both parents and Sharla agreed that an apartment would be very expensive. If she got any farther away from campus, she would need a car to attend classes and getting to work would also be a consideration. Although she had a good weekend job at Turnbulls the expense of a car with its upkeep, and an apartment with its upkeep, would be more than the family could manage at the moment. At present she was sharing Mom's car to take care of the Computer Installation stuff that she could not handle by translocation. .

Breaking her reverie, her Mom suddenly popped into the kitchen "Oh good, you're home. How was your flight?" but before the redhead could answer, the older woman passed along a message, which held promise. "Dad, maybe, has a solution to our space problem, and wanted you to be sure to be at the house for dinner tonight and suggested five o'clock."

Later, Sharla noted Andrea seemed a bit antsy as they all sat down to table and Sharla became a bit nervous when Dad eyed her critically a brief moment.

"Sharla," he said as he began serving the roast, "Jeff Winters, an associate of mine, and his wife are leaving town for a year, perhaps longer."

When he paused for dramatic effect, Sharla asked, "Oh?" She knew both Mr. and Mrs. Winters well. They were regulars at Turnbulls. She wondered if their leaving had something to do with their daughters being killed in a bus accident recently. She looked at her daddy and said, "I wish there was something I could do. Mrs. Winters is so sad these days..."

Dad chuckled and said, "Gotcha!" then went on with his spiel, "In a tragedy best not detailed here, both of their daughters died last month. They feel a need to get away from town for a year or so, but want to preserve their house and are looking for a house sitter. The house sitter would be responsible for forwarding all regular mail weekly, paying utilities and services, using a special bank account, and supervising any maintenance services. The sitter would have complete use of the Guest Bedroom/bath and the rest of the house except for the master and the two girl's bedrooms."

On the other side of the table, Andrea began to giggle uncontrollably.

"Now, Sharla, me pretty, are you the least bit interested in doing something like this?"

Using all the self-control she could summon, the auburn-haired beauty deliberately laid her fork on her napkin, then folded her hands and rested her forehead at the peak as though in deep thought a long moment before looking at her Dad. "Maybe." Then, when she saw his blink of surprise, she sighed, "Gotcha!" then lost it completely and leaped from her chair and threw her arms about his neck and squealed, "Am I interested? Oh, Daddy, thank you! Thank you for thinking of this for me!"

'Well," he chuckled, drawing her squealing down onto his lap, then cuddling her as he would have when she was a toddler, then said, "If you're really interested, you should go see them about seven PM."

Suddenly, with an appalled expression etching her features, Mom sharply rapped the table with a spoon to get the pair's attention. "Such rowdy behavior will not be allowed at my table!" she snapped in haughty tones, suitable only for The Matriarch of a family in high ill humor.

The playfully entwined pair blinked, and then stared at her in disbelief and incomprehension. Mom herself did this sort of nonsense all the time.

Flashing fire, her eyes seized and held her husband's. "You of all people should know better!"

They flicked to her daughter's "And you, my little hellion, are excused."

A long moment passed before mother and wife could contain herself no longer and with a straight face said "Gotcha both... didn't I?"

Andrea, who had been sitting there silently watching in surprise, suddenly chirped, "Score one for Momma! Way to go Moommmmaaaaa!"

The psionic Witch returned to her chair and with a wink stuck her tongue out at her saucy little sister. When the laughter finally died down, Dad gave Sharla the address and phone number of the Winters.

She called and confirmed the address and time, then glanced at her watch. "Isn't Frank taking you out tonight, Sis?"

The perky teen, nodded. "Yes, he wants me to go to see that animated 'Atlantis' with him."

"Well, don't you think you had better be getting ready? Or are you going out wearing your grungies, dude?" The witch purposely used the term dude to remind her sister she was no longer allowed grunge nights out with the boys.

"Yeah, you're right. I do need to go get ready." The ex-boy gave his sister a wistful look and asked, "May I be excused, please?"

"Andrea, I know that you are graduated, and only have to do the ceremonies, but, I still want you in at a decent hour."

"Yes, Daddy...no later that midnight, I promise." The girl bobbed her head and was up and running for the stairs before more could be said.

The redhead watched and chuckled, "Well, with an exit like that to try and follow, I'll just say, I'll be in as soon as I can, Daddy."

"Give them both all my love," said the "Stern Matriarch" with a soft smile.

"I will, Momma," Sharla replied, kissed them both on the cheek and then left with a flurry of swirling skirts amid "Good lucks" flung at her before the front door closed behind her.

Some twenty minutes later Andrea heard the downstairs bell ring and dashed to the mirror. The reflected image betrayed no flaws. Lipstick, crimson and thickly applied, gave her pouting lips a sensual glow, which nearly shouted their usability. Large dark flashing eyes were perfectly enhanced with just the right shades of eye shadows-long lashes batting with plenty of body and dark promise, the whites of her eyes clear, bright and green as polished emeralds. Her Cheeks were silky smooth, with a dusky complexion that was clear but for the inevitable freckles of a fair-skinned blonde who enjoyed too much sunshine.

"Frank better notice me tonight!"

Long, slender delicate fingers dabbed tempting perfume on pulse points, both public and private, and behind pink earlobes as the eyes observed. Andrea pulled the healthy mane of rich, thick blonde hair into a sleek ponytail, experienced hands pulling down a pair of slim curls to play about as errant tresses, and then smoothing the rest into a big red ribbon with bow.

"Too girlish?" she wondered, and then, with a negative shake of her head, left the bow in place.

No, Frank seemed to like the little girl look and Andrea wanted to make the target male happy. It was the only way to get Frank's attention and to hold it. The sight check continued as Andrea looked closely at the skimpy garments that clothed the lithe, well-toned body. They weren't as sleazy as what Jenny might have suggested she wear, that much was for sure. Ghad! The clothes she'd begun to wear! Such smutty things - like those crotchless panties, next-to-nothing garter belts, fishnet stockings and nipple-exposing brassieres. Andrea shuddered at the thought. Since she had become a complete girl, she had become rather conservative.

Maybe I ought to reconsider, thought Andrea.

What looked back in the full-length mirror wasn't too sexy. After all, it was just a simple matching bra and panty set, a pretty, bright blue, French-cut and high on the hips, clinging tightly to her smooth, tight midsection and butt-- simple and perfectly appropriate for a girl of her demeanor. It wasn't like they were even silk or anything - just simple over the counter every day cottons. The bra wasn't some bullet-shape, pushemup device. It wasn't as if Andrea couldn't fill one out, either. That La Cassie had worked its magic and moved all that fat from Andrew's waist to Andrea's boobs and butt, mostly to her butt, which Frank really seemed to enjoy. No, the bra was just a soft blue cotton sling-thing without wiring or teasing lifts. All it did was cover their swollen fullness and keep them from bobbing and swaying too much, give them a little definition and the smallest of shaping lift.

"Oh, alright, I'll give in to it, but just a little!' she promised herself.

Giving in to it meant, in this case, a pair of self-supporting seamed stockings with a sandal foot. Pure Sex! She thought. She knew well the seams racing up the backs of her legs would give them the long, sleek appearance Frank seemed to so prefer. To balance this bit of sexiness, she slipped into a very full, top-of-the-knee-length dark blue denim skirt and a light blue soft chambray shirt with long sleeves and a button-down collar. She left the top three buttons open. With a last glance into the mirror, she snagged her shoulder strap purse and sashayed downstairs to meet the unsuspecting Frank.

Yeah, I think Frank will enjoy the packaging tonight, she thought as she saw his face light up at her approach.

"Li'l buddy, you are one sexy witch!"

"Don't I know it, love," Andrea grinned and wondering if Frank might suspect her new nature, waved bye to her parents as Frank took her arm and headed her out the door. The teen wondered how Sharla was making out as Frank tucked her into the front seat of his new Ford, a graduation gift from his parents. It would be nice to have my own room again...

Across town, arriving just a few minutes early, Sharla turned into a curving driveway and braked to a quiet halt in front of a three-car garage. No way, she was thinking, there must be over an acre of grass in just the front lawn. The woman who opened the door and invited her in was one of her Saturday night regulars at Turnbulls. Once inside, Sharla was pulled into a bear hug.

Sharla's growing empathetic sensitivity told her instantly this woman was heavily burdened, desperately depressed, and yet extremely hopeful.

"Thank you! Thank you for coming over! I hope you will! I hope you will consider our offer!" The woman exclaimed into Sharla's shoulder as they hugged.

Sharla sensed images of the house, college, and town, each image with one or two person shaped black void places in the burden the woman was carrying. The desperation came from an image of the house, college, and town turning into a jail with bars and fences. Hope showed Sharla as a shining angel somehow canceling the prison aspects of the desperation.

The woman released Sharla and stepped back, blushing. "I'm sorry," she stated.

Her Saturday night partner striding in the front door interrupted her.

"Oh, please, don't be."

"Hello Sharla, I'm Jeff," he said, unnecessarily, shaking her hand. "Let me tell you what we want and what we've got." It was so obvious in the tone of his voice that he was torn with anguish and ripped with grief. "If you're interested, you can check things out this evening." It was just as obvious that he truly wanted her to accept his offer. "Tomorrow, you can come back and check out the rest. If you agree, we will sign an official agreement and let you have it." Jeff led the way into the den and opened a wet bar.

Sharla also sensed the man's heavy burden, deep depression, and high hope in Jeff. In him the depression image was of a house being overgrown with running vines and weeds. His hope image showed her in a tutu, a fairy scattering pixie dust and turning the brambles and weeds into flowers, clearing the walks and roads.

"Something to drink?" he asked.

"Some ice water please," Sharla answered, scarcely containing her mirth at the man's image of her. It was so clear she could even see the stars in the pixie's eyes.

"My wife and I are supposed to leave for Houston, Texas the day after tomorrow. I am opening a whole new division down there, and it will take at least two years. We may want to sell the place before we can come back, if we come back." He paused a moment, shook his head as a shudder rippled his body from nose to toes. "Our daughters were going to continue living here while we were gone. But now...umm...well, I've already signed contracts with a landscape service and a cleaning service to keep the place neat inside and out for the next two years."

"You would only be responsible for forwarding all regular mail weekly, paying utilities and services, using a special bank account, and supervising the maintenance services. We would expect you to use the appliances and each of the entertainment systems at least weekly. If something quits, then you would get it fixed. The computer over there," he said pointing to the big screen monitor beside the executive desk located at the end of the den "is connected to an unlimited T1 internet access. You will need to log on at least twice a week and spend at least an hour on the Internet. Each week I want you to print at least 20 pages." He paused with a grin, before continuing "and not more than 2000 pages."

"You would have complete use of the house and yard and the two guest bedroom suites. We just ask that you do not use and do not let any of your guests use our bedroom or the bedrooms belonging to our two girls. Oh yes. There is a complete unfinished basement under the house, unfinished except for the bath/sauna room. The floor and walls are pretty rough. We have just used it for assorted craft and other projects. You could set up your exercise room and a painting studio there without worrying about damaging the floors or the walls. The area under the garage still has a dirt floor. The Landscape Service will maintain the yard and the pool out back. The Janitorial Service that has been working for us for the past year has the extended contract. I expect them to try and change the contract. You might have to set up an alternate house cleaning service."

"Oh, and you would be responsible for reimbursing the household account for any personal long distance calls you might make."

"Will you do it? Can you move in tomorrow?"

She was not touching them. Jeff and his wife were seated on a sofa. She was in an easy chair across the coffee table from them. Their battling depression and hope were battering her like two sets of IMAX surround sound movies being projected on the theater of her mind. Sharla focused on her major difficulty and slowly dampened out the jarring projections from the couple. "I am very interested and willing, but I've got a problem that I can not resolve by tomorrow," she declared.

The pressure on her mind dropped. She continued. "This neighborhood is off the bus routes. I'd take the job now if I had transportation." The burdens, depressions, and hopes warring to overpower her vanished quickly, to be replaced by the springtime freshness of satisfaction and happiness. "With my school expenses, for next year, neither my family nor I can afford another car. I would need one both for school and work if I move here."

"But, didn't I tell you? We got our girls new cars last Easter. You will have to operate them and the SUV that we are leaving here, every week. The run to Turnbulls or the University here in City Bluffs will not be enough. At least once a month you will have to make a highway run, at least as far as Columbus and back."

"As long as you are house sitting, you are also car sitting."

It was hard for Sharla to suppress her glee. Every thing she needed and then some was dropping in her lap. "Yes, of course I'll do it." She replied.

"OK," Jeff Winters said. "I'll pick you up at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning. We will go to my attorney and get all the papers signed so you are officially in charge of the contracts. After that we will go to the bank and get the accounts set up. If you need some help moving, we'll take care of that tomorrow also."

Sharla almost floated home. She wanted to share, but Naomi was concentrating and Jenny was again behind Aunt Sheila's blue wards, so she didn't want to bother her.

*****OoooO*****

As soon as possible the psionic called all of her instructors and left messages on their Voice mail saying that she would be out of class Thursday and maybe Friday because she had some unexpected legal matters to take care of.

On Thursday afternoon, Jeff Winters took her to the Landscaping Service Company and to the Janitorial Service Company. He made it very clear at both places that she was in complete legal control of the contracts. Sharla made arrangements with Mr. Michael Horcutt the landscaping company's operations manager for him, his foreman, and the assistant foreman to meet her on Saturday morning. She could not set up a meeting with the janitorial service people until next Wednesday.

She spent Thursday evening going over the entire estate with both Jeff and his wife. By the time she saw them off on Friday morning before driving to classes, she was certain she had stuck the jackpot.

*****OoooO*****

On Saturday Morning, Sharla met with the Landscaping Company Operations Manager, Foreman, and Assistant Foreman. She had established basic wards around the property Friday evening. With these three to act as escorts for workers, she could really beef up the wards. Energy was not a problem with the big Green Crystal Battery being constantly charged.

She knew of most of the plants identified in the Grimoire as being associated with magic. These landscaping people really knew their plants and the estate. She learned the location of many of the items she though she would need and learned a lot about their life cycles.

Some of the plants were not very healthy and some others were not available, although she was assured they would grow well on the estate. Jumping into the deep end, Sharla asked about getting a special planting or flower bed going for the plants she would need, or need more of. Michael Horcutt, a nice portly older guy had been very nice and figured out that a two foot wide bed on the other side of the patio and along the back of the house would provide all the different exposures the plants she listed needed.

Mr. Horcutt, the Operations Manager, had figured out the probable cost to prepare and border the bed, buy plants or seeds, and the additional cost to maintain the hundred foot long flowerbed. To offset the cost, Sharla requested that instead of using herbicides and pesticides, they identify the problem plants and insects and their proposed solution when the need came up. She would out of other funds either hire them if necessary but she wanted to attempt certain experimental alternative measures first. Mr. Horcutt estimated that the cost of the treatments and chemicals in two months would offset the additional cost to set up the new bed. He had agreed to try her way for two months.

The pride these supervisors demonstrated convinced Sharla that the estate was probably a show place for their services. Sharla understood enough about auras to key the wards to these three individuals. She had it set up so that at any time they wanted to show the property or have someone come do some work, one of the three of them accompany the visitor or worker onto the property. Sharla warned them that anyone who went out onto the street would wander off unless accompanied back in by one of the three. After some discussion, Mr. Horcutt agreed for the company. He said that he would draw up the modification to the contract and have it placed in her mail drop probably Monday night.

Every off day since then, Michael Horcutt walked the estate and then sat for a while in the contemplation garden. Stepping onto the grounds seemed to be stepping into harmony. All the stress, tension, and discord seemed to be absent from the Estate. It seemed that while he was here, he could even think of his ex-wife and not become upset over the loss.

 

Not long after being awarded her divorce, Britney Horcutt, sponsored by her good friend Prudence Blais, had joined the Canyon Coven. Soon after initiation it was discovered she had a real talent for understanding and performing the Ritual of the Goddess. The woman had very soon become quite active in more conventional magic and worked in City Bluffs. It was not long before she was "graduated" from Sheila's coven. She and her roommate had formed the City Bluffs' Rainbow Bridge Coven.

 A large-frame matronly woman with powerful maternal instincts Britney had taken up with a much younger and very well off woman. Sharing a house and getting bored stiff, the divorcee then joined a group of several women working in the hospital. About a year after Britney began taking care of the kids at the hospital and had a positive influence on the children she dealt with. About a year ago she noticed the healing amulet she always wore was constantly warm to the touch. She also realized the patients at "her" hospital were somehow healing at a much faster rate than others.

 

The woman's healing rate, even earlier, though not working at peak efficiency, had been better than average. Since "discovering" he pendant was now somehow charged with healing energy the rate of recovery was superb! Many of the staff working at the Medical Hospital and Trauma Center also worked at the Medical Research Center. Almost everyone had noticed that when they were wearing either Rubies or Sapphires, their patients responded a lot better. Also Patients coming back to the hospital for follow-up checks also seemed to do better...

A sudden ripple of something akin to the discord he never felt here in the contemplation garden drew his mind back to the present. He looked toward the house...

 *****OoooO*****

 The snots! That was the only way Sharla could think of them, from the Janitorial Service had refused to meet on the weekend when Sharla was free. They would only talk to her at the house on their normal scheduled Wednesday and then only during the day.

Having to skip a class to meet with the house cleaning people already had Sharla in an unpleasant frame of mind. Fortunately for them, Sharla had deactivated the wards on the front door, because they came waltzing in a half hour late, like they owned the place. They totally ignored her. She asked the first one she ran into, a scrawny guy, sparse three or four day beard shadow, and unkempt oily hair, wearing a threadbare tee, worse for the wear cutoffs, and run down sneaks without socks, who was in charge, the guy just tilted his head towards the woman just entering the kitchen.

This worthy person grunted, "Get out of here, girl, we got work to do."

Sharla planted herself squarely in front of the woman and said, "You are here to work in my house. I want to know, who, what, when, where, why, and how much. I am responsible for this contract and this house."

The woman put her fingers to her lips and let out a shrill whistle. "Guys, pack up and leave. Little Miss Rich Bitch is interfering with the progress of our work. I have just cancelled the contract. Pack it up. Let's go."

In a normal voice, the woman continued to Sharla. "Missy, thanks for giving us an excuse to cancel the contract. In about a month or month and a half, you can expect us to notify the homeowner that we have not cleaned the place and recommend that he contact an independent inspector to check and see how well you have done."

"When you call us back for a new contract, you will have to pay dearly. Your copy of the cancellation will be sent by registered mail this afternoon."

"Here are your keys. Bye Missy."

*****OoooO*****

 

Part 26: Some Minor Changes

Sharla quietly wandered through the empty house and then went downstairs to the big basement. There, out of sight of the stairs, next to the Bathroom and Sauna was the old kitchen table with several chairs, an end table, and an old recliner. On the end table, along with an assortment of magazines, was an alarm clock set for three-thirty. She figured that the cleaners would normally do their thing and then nap or play cards in the basement until just before the Winters returned home. For some reason they had decided to get greedy.

"Well, I hope the Janitorial Service had fun," Sharla chuckled and settled into the recliner. She called her helpers. Scruffy the Scrubber was first to respond. Practicing visualization, the witch showed Scruffy the Five bedrooms, and then what seemed to Sharla like acres of Carpets, hardwood floors, and Tile Floors. Sharla sorted out what areas had to be cleaned daily. She also identified the areas that needed weekly cleaning. Then she told Scruffy that the Master Bedroom Suite and the two Suites that had belonged to the daughters needed a very thorough cleaning but that it was not a priority.

The Water Swatters were next. They wanted their home, the corral branch to be placed near the swimming pool. Sharla was not sure because of the long cold winter, but the Swatter's were certain. They thought all the windows and bathrooms in this big house would be fun and easy. They also confided in Sharla that they would be able to slip back and help Andrea and Mom.

Arriving back from Denver, two weeks later, Sharla already had enough appointments to fill sixteen-hour days. With Andrea coming over to study La Caisse, and evening long distance sessions with White and Naomi. Kevin would be coming around and although he was generous to a fault, he completely forgot that snacks and drinks had to be purchased, transported and prepared, and then cleaned up. Andrea and Frank were much the same. Although she did have to admit, Andrea was helpful with preparations and clean-up.

Sharla shuffled into the other guest bed room because her sheets needed changing. Inside the closet, she found a pair of three foot high quality ceramic dolls. As soon as she touched the boxes, she realized that they had been purchased as a gag gift that was not presented. Opening the boxes revealed two beautiful dolls wearing fetish French Maid Costumes, one in black and white and the other in royal purple.

Sharla reclined against the head board. The black and white doll was tilted back against her legs. "Ok, Miss Shelly the Maid. I'm going to be too busy to take care of things like the laundry and changing the sheets and towels. That is going to be your job. I do not really care if you use the washing machine, dryer, and iron and ironing board, or if you just do it by energy."

As she was explaining to the doll, just like it was a person, Sharla carefully wove a complex pattern of Green, Red, and Blue energy. Just to keep Things interesting, Sharla structured the energy so that "Shelly the Maid" could move from room to room. A large maid's service cart, like Sharla had seen used in hotels was drafted as the Center of Power for Shelly. One crystal from each of the batteries would be ideal.

Sharla sent her awareness into the earth. She was looking for her cached emeralds. Nothing. She expanded her awareness to also look for rubies and sapphires. Searching a half-spherical underground volume almost five hundred miles in radius repeatedly, she could detect no trace of her three batteries. Then the psionic remembered the emerald of her ring and the small rubies and sapphires of her earrings were linked directly to the batteries.

Adjusting her awareness so she could follow the links to the energy, the thong-clad psionic made another observance sweep. It was a very good thing that the redhead was seated and balanced! When she finally spotted the Blue and Red Blocks under the Hospital and followed the links, they guided her to a location so deep that just a hundred feet deeper, the earth's crust was fluid. There she discovered her green battery, a big mass of perfect emerald crystals, stacked to the size of the University field and track stadium. Now it had a twin and two matching blocks of Sapphire Crystals and two blocks of Ruby Crystals.

Deep inside the many layers of wards, Sharla detected the operations that she had put to work a year ago to construct over charge storage areas. A quick thought caused them to stop making crystals and free one fully charged crystal from each battery. It took a few minutes more to set up a system so that the chargers would not convert matter to magical energy. She instead had them trans-locate the solid matter to the Wash on the Oklahoma property where her Darn Its were dumping the material from their bores.

Last New Year's eve Sharla had drawn on her batteries to avert a disaster. The energy that had released after the danger passed had doubled the amount of "available magic" in the entire world, according to her Native American Spiritual Tutor. He did not know that she had freed the energy and for some reason, she did not want to mention it.

She moved back to her room and watched the sheets and pillow cases float off her bed, become stiff like they had been pressed and then slip back on to the mattress. The towels and carpets from the bathroom floated into the bedroom, seemed to shake themselves severely, and then they gave off a gentle fragrant odor as they drifted back into the bathroom.

In the morning, Sharla did her stretching exercises and watched Shelly the Maid make up the bed. As the last pillow was twitched into place she asked Shelly to draw a bath. As she slipped through her morning stretching exercises, she heard the bath stop. Almost playfully, Sharla giggled. "When you are done here check the other upstairs rooms for whatever laundry and general cleaning and arranging needs doing. If everything is ok, check out the downstairs and the basement, too, please." Sharla snuggled into the tub and noticed that it had the lilac and jasmine scents that she currently found pleasant.

*****OoooO*****

Mr. Horcutt called Miss Winslowe. The crew had identified a type of thistle that was spread by air born seeds and also by root tendrils. Sharla was not familiar with the plant so she gladly took up his offer to lend her some reference materiel and also to immediately show her where the plants were.

Four of the Litter Getters were around the house. They had been run over by heavy vehicles. Two of them had been full at the time and had been badly torn. The other two, though they had been almost empty were not working right. Sharla had procrastinated because she was not sure what she could do for them. Now she had a specific job for each. Making repairs and adjustments, she gave the four of them, now her "Yard Birds," complete charge of collecting unfavorable insects, seeds, and plants and sending them to the Compost stack. They also were in charge of making sure that the recycling compost pile operated at peak efficiency and that the center of the pile did not get hot enough to ignite, but stayed hot enough to stop the insects, seeds, and plants that were translocated there. Additionally they would sort the rich compost out and sift it into the bottom section of the compost pile container. The Yard Birds happily attacked their new chore with eager enthusiasm.

Sharla locked up, reactivated the wards, and hurried to make her next class. With this big house, the Water Swatters would do their thing with dust and dirt on the walls, windows, and fixtures and dump it in Scruffy's converter. Probably she would have to come up with something else to take care of the outside of the house, windows, and gutters. The Getters would do the weeds and insect pests. "It shouldn't be too hard." She mused, "Okay, I've got the room and the privacy to do something to help Naomi. I promised, and now I have a place to do it."

*****OoooO*****

The week Kevin had spent in Colorado on site working with Sharla had not been as much fun as he had hoped. Sharla had been like a possessed person, trying to get everything done. On their return, Kevin discovered that he was a full week behind in his work and had a lot to do because he was supposed to spend the entire month of July as Superintendent Inspector on a joint project in downtown Denver. To get caught up he had worked over and was more than a bit late for their date...

Looking spectacular as always in a simple white peasant blouse and colorful calico skirt, her beau liked because she reminded him of a "Mexican Hat Dancer," Sharla was waiting for Kevin to pick her up at her new digs the day after they returned from Colorado.

He knew he was over two hours late, but he hadn't really given it a thought. The job came first, and hell, she was always there, always waiting for him, whenever he showed up, so he hadn't, as usual, bothered to call and inform her he would be late, again.

The lovely redhead didn't look angry as she let him in, just resigned. "Kevin, you're late...again!"

"I'm sorry," he said without any real conviction. The major portion of his mind was still back at the jobsite, trying to figure out what was the problem that contrary trencher they had needed all day and had to do without.

"You don't make any effort at all, do you?" Sharla said hotly. "You just waltz in at any old hour and expect me to accept it. What did I ever see in you?"

"I said I'm sorry," Kevin replied irritably, "what more do you want?"

"Want? Just what is due me as a friend! A bit of respect! Some courtesey! You've been turning up later and later for weeks! I'm sick and tired of hearing your standard excuse about how you're so needed on that job! Gods and Goddess! Why is it so hard for you to call me when you know you are going to be late?" Kevin smiled and rather belatedly tried to turn on the charm, though clear in his mind was the image of being taunted as 'hen-pecked' by the older men if it was discovered that he had ever called her from work. "Look, you know how I am on the job. After all, I am the boss's son, and the men expect me to coast because of that! I won't be a coaster! I don't get their respect like I do without working for it! You don't realize how hard it is to be a man, do you? There are a million things a guy in my position has to do to be respected."

Sharla was having none of it. "Well, Mister Bosses Brat, you can just go be successful with someone else tonight. I hear Jenny is on the prowl again and I just know she'd love a look inside your boxers! I hear she's working at Turnbulls again!"

"Sharla..."

"No! That's enough! Just get out!"

Smart enough to realize that he had pushed her too far, Kevin simply nodded. If he tried to push it any further she'd likely start throwing things, or worse, casting spells. Shrugging, he said, "fair enough." With that he turned and walked out of the house wondering what Mary Anne would say if he called her. Hell, she had practically begged him to call her any time, the last time he was in to see his dad at the office. With a smile he reached for his cell...

Sharla seethed. She only had herself to blame. In the early days of their relationship Kevin had swept her off her feet. He'd seemed a good catch with a good job and excellent prospects, even if it was working for his dad. He was handsome and spent quite a lot of time in the gym; though the way he hustled on the jobsites he worked, the gym workouts were unnecessary. To add a bit of icing to the cake, he was a good and gently persuasive lover, if a bit kinky about when and where he made love to her at times.

In retrospect that was the problem with Kevin. Really, he only cared about himself... his own needs... "Well, I suppose he has to uphold the male image!" she mused and closed the door. She could see that their break-up had been inevitable.

Sharla pegged to the wide picture window in the spacious living room. Idly fuming, the girl watched the errant Kevin moving along the long curved sidewalk to his car. He didn't even seem to be that bothered that she'd just broken up with him. But then, this wasn't the first time, was it? Heck, he's on the phone already!

Sharla noticed the streaking flame of a shooting star flare briefly against the star-speckled night sky. "Hard to be a man?" she said bitterly. "Dammit! He didn't even kiss me good-bye! Goddess, I wish he did find it hard to be a man!"

"Yikes, if Kevin had shown up on time we would be coming back from dinner and getting ready to receive the crowd. Now I have to do it myself and I have not done any shopping. Maybe Andrea and Frank will be able to pick up something."

While waiting for her guests to arrive, Sharla started sorting through the food and drinks left in the kitchen. The dishwasher was full, so she put it to working.

Sharla wandered through the house and picked up a two foot high overstuffed doll, looking sort of like a well fed Garfield the Cat, except this one was a color match for Sharla's Auburn tresses. The only exceptions other than eyes and nose and nails, were the four white paws, the Red forage cap perched squarely on its head, and a white bib that read Kommissar Kat. Frank had won it for Andrea, but it was too big for her room so she donated it to the Winslowe house and Sharla.

"Well Miss Kitty, you are not a Cat but a Kitten, and you are not involved with the Kommissar but with the Commissary. You, mine fine furry friend, are going to take care of the food and the kitchen. Sharla perched her calico clad behind on a kitchen stool and perched the doll at the end of the breakfast counter. Ok Kitty, Watch and remember. Sharla went through the entire kitchen and inventoried what was and what was not available. She marked down the stuff that would need to be ordered. Six guests were coming over. For an evening next to the pool Sharla wanted several snack items and two types of drink. Never stirring from her stool the talented psionic manipulated her energies and made her refreshments. While she was doing this, she was creating a matrix inside the doll to accomplish the tasks in the future. Since there was a lot more for the Maggie Kitten...

"Hey that seems like a good name! Maggie the Commissary Kitten!" Sharla exclaimed before continuing with her work.

She continued and made sure that Maggie had actually a lot more learning capacity than any of the other Operations. By the time the doorbell rang, Sharla had input a lot of information on snacks and meals and even managed to supervise Maggie into baking some fresh chocolate chip cookies. Sharla knew that Maggie would be able to continue to learn and do a lot more, especially with direct links to the energy resources. To finish her operation, she did away with the forage cap and the bib. She called some silk that had been in storage for over a year from her parents' attic and quickly fashioned a high apron with gathered ruffles around the edge and a big bow in the back. Across the chest she placed the letters Commissary Kitten and in the upper left corner of the apron, embroidered the word "Maggie" in a rich red, matching the doll's fur.

Part 27: A Flourishing Business

Naomi had applied for a communications fellowship. She had also applied for an Archeology Laboratory fellowship, or whatever those work-study jobs were. She'd submitted applications for the two programs knowing that normally only graduate students and a few select seniors were accepted. Actually, Naomi had planned to accompany her Uncle, and Shamanistic mentor, on an extended series of visits during the summer and to complete her Shaman training.

Accountably, Naomi, due to her abilities as well as her previous achievements, was selected for both programs. Since the focus of both programs was the Shaman's Cave development and renewed dig, Naomi discovered that she had two earning fellowships and that both required her presence at the main Shaman's Cave Dig for the summer. A long time after her selection, Naomi learned that several of the essays on Shamanistic Medicine that she had prepared for her uncle as part of her Shaman Training, had been submitted to University Peer Review.

The Faculty had received the annotated articles and had reviewed them all as professional submissions for publication. Naomi's Sharla inspired methodology to "Communicate Positive Healing" struck a positive chord deep in the academic community. Naomi was getting double credit for the summer's work but she often was working late into the night trying to define new communication modules.

Andrea would not be much help. She was scheduled to be working full time as an assistant to the project manager at McFarland's business. Added to that, the University wanted her for the Varsity Swim Team, and had her practicing four times a week.

Just before her graduation ceremony, Andrea pulled a very emotional Sylvia McFarland over to Sharla. Sylvia had just come back from a knock down argument with both of her parents and was now looking for a job that would use her computer training and personal relations skills. Sharla Tentatively hired her for the entire summer, starting the following Monday to Serve as a customer liaison, doing some training and some installation.

Frank, working full time, would be able to carry a lot of the installation follow-ups. David was doing well on the training parts. Sharla had come up with a price list everyone seemed to accept without qualm. To her, she was asking outrageous prices for tech service, training, and support. Sharla's problem was that instead of the "Shrewd Business People" going to the lower cost established computer people, they were demanding her services.

The DarnIts had managed to run continuous holes from one half inch up to an inch and a half diameter, through solid concrete for four of the companies. Sharla only mentioned the entry and exit points. She was super glad that the DarnIts were so helpful about pulling wires into place and also pulling them out. Without her DarnIt's special abilities, the multi turn runs would have been impossible.

Sharla had insisted that each system have phone line access or high-speed access. Most of "Her Customers" opted for getting a commercial T1 line installed. Three of the most distant companies were close enough to the Telephone Switching Office that they could put in DSL. As a result, she was able to check and manage the individual networks from the recently upgraded and slightly "enhanced" system in her new home.

*****OoooO*****

The second week in June, when she accompanied Kevin to Denver, they managed to arrange accommodations at the Running Bear Ranch and Cultural Center. By working a lot of overtime and Sharla sneaking in some assistance from DarnIts, both installations were completed in one week. Sharla was very disappointed because White Running-Bear was going to remain in Mexico the entire month of June. The redhead then returned to City Bluffs to face the empty house alone.

The night air drifted slowly into the girl's new home through the open window above the sprawling landscape below the patio. Sharla stood pensively to one side of the opening; a bright moon displayed her form as a carving of glowing ivory. A cool breeze chilled pert pink nipples, caused them to harden and become long and full. The witch couldn't sleep. Silent as the shadows surrounding her, she moved through the Winters' house, onto the moonlit patio.

A slave to her nocturnal desires, she was alone in the brilliant moonlight. An intimate in a private haven, the red-haired witch sighed and thought of deep sinful passions. Idly, as her hands caressed her firm young body, she indulged, knowing its sweet powers of bliss. Long, slender fingers glided over richly woven spider silk, smoothing the unique garment against her skin, and then upwards to fluff out rich tresses of dark auburn hair normally drawn back into a stark ponytail these days, that tonight flowed like strips of hot oil downwards over her Amazonian shoulders.

Pressing in with her palms against her taut stomach, she let them push upward towards her enticing breasts. Breathing became deeper, hot blood rushed into her longing, lust-erupted nipples. Squeezing, gently at first, then harder, and faster, wanting more, the young psionic massaged her breasts and tilted her smooth face towards the heavens. Opening her sweet lips slowly, she whispered a Spirit Name softly onto the gentle breeze.

Yearning to taste the gifts of flesh that the secret name conjured, she swiftly lowered her body onto an aluminum patio chaise. Tilting her head, she flicked her moistened tongue towards the hard, urgently throbbing nipples. The tip of her pink tongue lunged out and painted the touchy bit of womanhood with a slick blanket of hot saliva. She sucked hard on the firm fleshy feast and moaned in her dreamlike fantasy.

After devouring the fruits of her perfect breasts, followed by a long erogenous moment of erotic ecstasy, she leaned back and gazed up into the late night dark sky, allowed the cool air to play upon her wet stomach and nipples. This sent bolts of blissful lightening streaking up and down her entire body.

Delicate hands and slim fingers knew her curves all too well and they danced against one another performing perfectly in this heavenly ritual of anticipatory bliss. In moments, the young woman moaned and with her soul reached out for the object of her desire, offering herself up as a slave to be used for pure unending pleasures.

Long, shapely "runner's" legs quivered beneath the tips of long, sharp perfectly shaped fingernails. They found the skin smooth and, the muscles firm along the slit just below the point of her arched belly. She squeezed full, pouty flesh and let that hot point it kept hidden go wanting.

The tip of her tongue glided over desirable, natural-red lips. Resting upon a huge satin pillow that cupped her firm form like a strong knowing hand, wanton, brazen in her need, she lifted long silky legs, stretched out dainty feet, the burning muscles in her lithe body demanding total ecstasy.

The silent spirit gazed down upon this Nymph of the Night and clothed her in a milky ray of light and felt her urges. The psionic heart within the moon-bathing beauty pumped harder, surer. It pumped its rich fluid throughout her pulsating body filling every thirsty cell, each one knowing it too would soon experience orgasm with her. Long fingers, slippery with enticing sweat, writhed down her succulent legs heading for a palace within her.

Suddenly, a flash of heat unlike her own body heat moved across her nakedness. She gasped, her shapely legs spreading, her soft, smooth place of feminine desire thrusting outward, and upward, allowing it to breathe and taste the heat of her needful cries. This heat, unlike any she had experience before built slowing in her groin.

The gentle heat flowed over her like some lustful wave of warm crème d' amour. She moaned. Her slippery fingers wouldn't budge. Her entire body ached as it arched up. The super-heated wave grew intense, gripped her plush female flesh with searing fingers of blissful pain. In her heart of hearts, she knew exactly where this incredible sensation came from; she knew her lover, felt the skin on her hot legs and felt her love lips burst with unbearable heat. She and her unseen lover experienced an ultimate togetherness few others could. Finally the heat and lust calmed and her exhausted flesh stilled.

The cool night wind blowing into the young witch's haven tickled the sensitive nymph and she opened glazed, tearing eyes and peered upward towards Sacred Moon. The crisp night breeze lapped at soft breast flesh, weaved over the delicate, delightfully tonsured mons and smooth thighs.

"Thank you, Goddess..." she sighed softly, moved from the open patio into her bedroom, and then found a restful night's sleep therein atop the bedcovers.

 *****OoooO*****

 Gabriel Christian, the tabloid reporter that Kevin had met in Denver heard reports that patients in the City Bluffs Medical Center and the Medical Research Center were healing impossibly fast. Believing there just might be a story there, he managed to get dispatched to investigate. The tip said that a woman, who was said to be a practicing witch, had stated that the hospital was beneficially situated. A review of hospital records for the past two years showed that starting in September a year ago, the response rate for patients being treated had skyrocketed.

 Some of the stories he was reporting were plain ludicrous. Nonetheless, his stories were drawing attention and some of the citizens of the Bluffs were in an uproar over the idea of "witches' working in hospitals as healers. It did not concern them that the women were doing great works and the healing rates at the Hospital, Trauma Center, and the Research center had leaped in the past year. All that concerned them were the images of witches produced by Hollywood.

 The reports concerned the psionic witch, but matters concerning her budding business pressed for her attention.

 

Very heavily into her work Sharla had followed the advice of her councilors and was only taking one summer course. She had David as a full time employee teaching and conducting the follow up visits. Sylvia was doing well in the PR department and Cheryl was her full time office support. Sharla had "borrowed" a computer, a couple of terminals and a printer from Caldwell Enterprises and set it up for David, Sylvia and Cheryl's use.

Sharla was not really certain how it happened but she realized that she had to hire her dad's accounting firm to keep track of business. She had a number of very lucrative service contracts going. Six of her first clients, other than Mr. Caldwell, had decided that they wanted to expand their systems through out all geographically separated branches of their company, much like Mr. Caldwell had done.

When these companies first suggested getting Sharla to expand their computer operations, she had whipped up extended price lists. Sharla wrote letters and explained to each, the need for analysis of the work site, the need for a physical survey, and then the need to obtain hardware and software. Before she sent the letters, Sharla decided that she was politely telling the people "I am good and I do not want your job. I will do your job if you insist, but it is really going to cost you."

By return mail, the potential customers explained that Mr. Caldwell had given them his cost. (He had quoted a number three times what Sharla and Kevin had actually charged him.) Since the potential customers did not have a Kevin Equivalent, they realized that Sharla would have to pick some one out of their company to be the company system manager and administrator, and then train that individual.

Sharla had been very successful in June, and her success was reflected in an abrupt business growth. The redhead realized she would have to rent a building to handle the storage and set up of equipment. Somehow, the assorted businesses had decided to depend on her for all of their equipment and programs. Needing time to find the room to expand, Sharla demanded payment in advance for equipment and programs as a ploy to discourage the businesses, but the checks and orders kept flooding in. Suddenly, as if supplied by Providence itself, a building near perfect for her need became available and she snapped it up. Then the work really began.

*****OoooO*****

On the last day of June, with an idea the "Caldwell Company Wizard" could solve a dilemma perking in his mind; Calvin Caldwell caught up with and chatted with Sharla as she bustled about. "I've been invited to participate in a Military Project... Actually been called in as a special consultant on a classified construction project for the government."

"How does that affect me, Mister C? I'm not into constructions or anything like that."

With a snort and chuckle, the big man with a plan forged ahead, "This project is one I think you have the special equipment to handle. It would be impossible to route those computer lines without some sort of very special tool and we both know it."

The psonic blushed furiously. "Busted, huh?"

The core of Caldwell Construction grinned and nodded.

With a shrug, the witch asked, "What needs done?"

"The Military requires four holes six inches in diameter one half mile long to be bored through a mountain." The man studied her reaction and was surprised to suddenly see an expression of pure interested calculation, where he had expected surprise or mirth. "These holes are to carry high voltage wires and other lines."

"Lining? Insulation?" she asked simply.

The man was simply stunned. She's already planning the bore! They've indicated there's no requirement to line the holes..."

"Mountains are notoriously unstable and..." She said in that almost distract manner she had about her when thinking.

"Sorry," he chuckled. "No requests to guarantee against a 'shear'."

The tone of his sarcasm brought a smile to her full lips.

"No, my dear, all you need do is just cut the holes and pull the wire and do it with as little attention being drawn to the operation as possible."

"Why me, Mister C? A mining company..."

"None of the big mining companies want to touch it, mainly because payment would be made weekly over three years instead of lump sum." The work had to be done without disturbing the environment and the real bottle neck. The Government could not pay for the work when completed. Something about the way the appropriation, the government could pay weekly or monthly over the life of the project, projected for 5 years, but not upon completion of work.

"Huummm..." Sharla saw the potential for a "steady" income and was urged by an inner "sixth" sense to accept the challenge and suggested that she do the job as a service. "If the project engineer will deliver the cables, already spliced, I'll place holes through their mountain, and then as long as the project people pay, I'll maintain the holes and replace wire if it's damaged, at no additional charge."

The man simply continued to stare, uncertain of such impossible self-confidence from one so young. My God, she's already got the holes bored and lines laid!

Sharla did insist that after the initial three year service agreement, that there be a one year minimum Extension of Termination of Service after any major work. She had learned from one of the best how to negotiate such contracts. Going to work with Mister C is one of the best things to ever happen to me, she reminded her self again.

Early the morning of July third, with little warning and only apology, Mr. Caldwell had Sharla accompany him on a fast helicopter ride to the classified construction site. Once they were airborne, he said, the purpose of this visit is for you to view the site and determine if it will be feasible to start construction within a week, and possibility of finishing before the end of the month."

"So, that is the real reason none of the big boys want to tackle this, right, Mister C?"

*****OoooO*****

Sharla had realized early last spring, when prodded by Andrea, that Winslowe Enterprises had a special Quality Control ability that others did not. Sharla could literally go into the circuit boards and the electronics using magic and identify any weak areas. If it was systematic, it was a supplier that she did not want, if it was just a one off, she could fix it. Now with all the parts coming in, Sharla could do a quick check, but the detailed testing would require a lot more capacity.

Just inside the loading dock, the prior occupant had built a heavily insulated room about ten feet by twelve feet with a ten-foot ceiling. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all covered with heavily padded carpet. In addition the walls and ceiling were very well insulated.

An independent wall mounted Air Conditioner and an Air Recirculation System connected by ducts insured that this room could be maintained at a constant temperature and humidity. This, Sharla decided, would be the home base for a new family of gadgets. She left instructions for any shipments of parts to be placed in this room. The stuff on pallets could be moved directly to one side. Smaller boxes could be arranged on the shelves or on the workbench on the other side of the room.

As an experiment, Sharla set the alarm for her new building and then, after making sure she was properly dressed and had her purse with her, translocated to the carpet lined insulated room. She was already calling it the home of her "Byte Biter Family." The building alarm did not react to her translocation so she proceeded to strip to her "Creative Thinking Outfit," heels and thong, and settle into a yoga seat in the middle of the clear carpet. Deep in the throes of inspiration, she visualized Big Daddy Biter as actually being the entire room. Big Daddy's job would be to get into every piece of electronic equipment and check out the billions of connections and pathways to make sure they were ok.

If a minor problem was identified Big Daddy would see if it affected operation and if it did, it would attempt to fix the problem. If the problem was fixed or was not important, Big Daddy was to mark the box with a large Plus Sign. If the area next to the office were not under surveillance, Big Daddy would Trans-locate the box to that area. Items that failed their initial quality check would be marked with a check and transferred to the workbench just out side the Testing room.

There were no Movement sensors directly covering both of those areas, but Sharla wanted to test and see if the displaced air from the translocated boxes would trigger the motion detectors. It did. She was glad she had turned the system off. This told her she would have to replace the motion detector with a combination microwave and infrared sensor for the area in the front of the shop work area.

Although Big Daddy could mark the crates directly, Sharla figured it would be more fitting to provide Big Daddy with hose and a spray nozzle. Sending her awareness skimming across the countryside she went looking for hose and nozzle ideas. In a museum diorama describing the dust bowl period of the United States, she found her inspiration, a gasoline distributor pump with the hose, hand cranked pump, and clear glass reservoir.

Projecting her awareness into landfills, it only took a few seconds to locate a rectangular stainless steel tube about three feet long, a foot wide and about a half foot thick. From another site she translocated a glass twenty liter bottle. The salvage bins near the Caldwell Tool Shops provided Sharla with what could become crank handle, hose and a nozzle.

Giggling as she worked Sharla enjoyed reshaping the jar to resemble the glass tanks of yesteryear. After shaping the stainless steel to resemble the pump body, complete with hose and crank, she played a bit with a variable energy field that would change the color and design on Big Daddy at random times. He could be decorated with the big Texaco Star. In another scheme he could show the Shell Sea Shell. In another he could display the chevron of the Chevron Oil Company. There were many more, literally hundreds of blazons he could display!

Vague ideas about maybe having Big Daddy become a home for the DarnIts and also incorporating storage and power for other computer related tools flickered through the saucy witch's mind. She felt it would be beneficial to get one crystal each from her Green, Red and Blue Energy batteries and stored them, very well shielded, inside Big Daddy.

Each of the three crystals that she installed inside Big Daddy Byte Biter had five times the energy she had freed during her New Years Eve Explosion Suppression. That release of unexpended ward energy had set the Wicca Covens and the North American Shaman council to looking for her.

  

  

  

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