The news crew was heading around the side of the house when Stephanie, Mr. Wilkes, and Rebecca arrived with the horses. They dismounted and passed them off to Freddy.
Mr. Wilkes looked down at Rebecca. “You might want to let your momma do the talking here.”
The reporter met Mrs. Warren, who stood on the side porch steps. The others coming from the barn came up behind the news crew.
“What can I do for you, gentlemen?” Mrs. Warren asked.
A man walked forward with a microphone and motioned to another with a camera. “Mrs. Warren, I’m Dave Jenkins from WRTG news. Can you tell me how this tree appeared so quickly through your porch without making a sound?” The reporter pointed the microphone at Mrs. Warren.
“You first,” she replied calmly.
“I beg your pardon, ma’am?”
“You answer one question for me, and I’ll answer yours,” Mrs. Warren said calmly. “Who was your source?”
The man composed himself and spoke into his microphone. “This story was in the Edenbury Chronicle, ma’am,” he replied.
Mrs. Warren was on to him. “That detail about the sound was not in the newspaper,” she said. “Now, who was your source?”
Dave Jenkins seemed flustered. “I can’t disclose that, ma’am,” he replied.
“Then I would ask that you leave my property.” Mrs. Warren pointed the way out. “If you need help, I’m sure our Sheriff here would be glad to assist you.”
The crew turned to face the others behind them and then headed back to their vans.
—
By lunchtime on Wednesday the picketing in the park was in full swing. One of the parents turned sign-making into an arts and crafts project, and the kids were enjoying making colorful protest signs of all sorts. With the rocks now isolated behind a fence of caution tape, the children were left to long for the forbidden playground from a distance. A contest was to be held later for the most creative protest sign. Entries included FREE the ROCKS, LET ME CLIMB, and We Wanna Rock!“ the latter of which was Father Vance’s favorite. As he sat on his golf cart, he watched protestors go between the picket line and a nearby swing set while he played the drums on the steering wheel. Anne Womack’s cat sat in the passenger seat, licking herself.
“Father Vance, when do you think we’ll be able to play on the rocks again?” Anne stood alongside the cart, petting her cat.
“When we know it’s safe, hopefully,” he replied, sensing that more challenging questions were coming.
“What did you mean on Sunday when you said this was an invitation? Like to a party?” she asked.
“Kind of,” he replied. “But maybe some people want to go to the party, and some don’t, you know?”
“And that’s why they’re fighting over the rocks?”
“And other things, yes,” replied Father Vance.
“Well, I think we should all go to the party,” Anne said as she looked toward the entrance of the town square. “Hey, look, more people for the party!”
The national news vans made a complete trip around the park and stopped in front of the Chronicle office, where Andrea Glenn appeared, smiling like she knew they were coming. Sheriff Stephanie was close behind, with Rebecca in the back of her squad car. They joined Father Vance and Anne while the news crews started setting up their cameras and satellite equipment.
“Who are those people?” Anne asked Rebecca.
“That’s Reporter Dave. He has questions. Wanna go protest?”
The girls ran off to join the picket line while Stephanie moved the cat and reclaimed her seat.
“I see you found some new friends,” Father Vance said as they watched the news crew.
“Mrs. Warren was able to keep them away from Lisa, but we don’t have many options here in a public space.”
“Do we have an official statement?” he asked.
“Evidently, Councilman Thorpe does.”
Mr. Thorpe rushed past them and joined Andrea Glenn in gushing over the first national news crew ever to visit little Edenbury. Reporter Dave Jenkins directed the crew to get the rocks in the background while parents started ushering their children to the other end of the park. A small crowd gathered around Andrea Glenn and Councilman Thorpe. Others remained on the picket line, with their colorful signs bobbing up and down to the tune of, “Hell no, rocks won’t go.”
Zeke and Lucy had seen the vans from the agency office and met Father Vance and Stephanie at the golf cart, well out of range of the reporter. Ironically, the Famous Four were lying low, with no desire for attention.
Before the cameras could even start rolling, Zeke offered a better idea. “You guys want to grab some coffee?”
Without a word, the group climbed aboard the cart, and Father Vance drove off toward the diner. Zeke and Lucy sat in the back, watching as others headed in the opposite direction. Lucy took Zeke’s hand on the seat between them. Her whole world was going in a different direction, and she couldn’t care less.
—
With the media circus fading behind them, Stephanie turned to Father Vance. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem with your professor calling you back after this.”
After brief introductions, the cameras started rolling.
“This is Dave Jenkins, WRTG news, here in Edenbury, Kansas, where according to locals, these massive rocks behind me have appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the town square. I’m here with City Councilman Douglas Thorpe. Mr. Thorpe, do you mean to tell us that these rocks weren’t here just two days ago?”
Councilman Thorpe stammered through the statement he had extracted from his suit pocket. “Yes, as far as we can tell, these dangerous boulders just came out of nowhere and are now threatening our children.”
The reporter tried to hide his confusion. “Sir, you have reason to believe there is something suspicious or dangerous going on here?”
Beaming with pride, Andrea cut him off as Councilman Thorpe searched for something coherent to say. “As I wrote in my recent article in The Edenbury Chronicle, strange acts of nature have been happening here. Our town has a history with the supernatural, but I’m going to get to the bottom of it.” Andrea awkwardly handed the reporter a business card.
“Yes, but how are these things happening, and why are they happening here?” The reporter turned away from Andrea. “Mr. Thorpe, do you care to comment?”
“Well, I’m sure there’s a simple explanation for all of this,” he replied.
“Right, well, we’ll be monitoring the situation here in Edenbury. This is Dave Jenkins, WRTG news. Back to you in the newsroom.” He waited for the man in his ear to tell him they were off the air. “Alright, folks, we’re on to the barn story. Let’s move out.”
Councilman Thorpe followed the reporter to the van, hoping to redeem himself with one last comment. “One more thing; I’ll be facilitating a meeting tonight of the townspeople to discuss the issue, and you’re more than welcome to come to hear—”
“Sir, unless you can assure me there will be trees miraculously appearing or something more exciting at your meeting, we’ll be headed to the next story.”
“You have my number!” Andrea Glenn yelled as she chased after the departing van.
—
With just about the entire town in the park, the Famous Four had Cheryl all to themselves. She greeted them as they entered the diner.
“Mission accomplished.”
“Already?” Zeke asked. “Why am I still surprised at the speed of communication in Edenbury?”
“Andrea came in this morning. She ran out the door after overhearing me talking to the people in the booth next to her about the leftover Warren wood.“
“Great job, Cheryl. Much appreciated,” Zeke said, knowing full well she didn’t want affirmation but an exchange of information. “I suppose you want something from us now?”
Cheryl passed out the coffee cups. “You’re a quick one, Mr. Z. Tell me what I’m missing. I’m stuck in here while everyone else gets to visit magic trees, dance on sinkholes, and climb boulders.”
“The news crew came out to the farm first,” Stephanie offered. “Thankfully, I was there with my father, although Mrs. Warren handled it very well. She dismissed them politely, and I suspect Mr. Clemmons will do the same when they try to go to his house.”
Zeke had spent enough time in the public relations department at the Heathrow corporate office to know how fickle the news networks could be. “If I know the media, there’s always a bigger story to be chased. Hopefully, this will blow over. We can bet that Heathrow will see it, however.”
After Stephanie updated the rest of the group on the horse ride with her father, the subject turned to the town meeting. “I think we all feel it, but how do we convince others that the rocks aren’t out to kill anyone?” she asked.
“Risk and liability aside, fear is going to play a part,” Zeke answered.
“I concur,” Father Vance added. “The town seems evenly split on this, so how we speak to the motives involved will be tricky.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Lucy asked.
“Lucy, I need to spend the afternoon in my library, getting ready for tonight,” said Zeke. “Can I call you at the office if there is anything I need?”
“Of course, but be careful in that dangerous library of yours,” she joked.
“Wait, that’s it!” Stephanie shouted and looked at Zeke. “Strange things only happen at your house when Lucy is there!”
They all sat just looking at each other.
Father Vance broke the awkward silence. “Well, that’s going to be a problem.”
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