after her son. “They’re not into voodoo, are they? I’ve heard about voodoo over in Louisiana.”
Stella chuckled. “They might be, but they’re Cajun. Voodoo is generally connected with African-American Creoles, who are a different group from the Cajuns.”
“Isn’t voodoo mostly found not far from here, in New Orleans?”
“That’s true these days. Voodoo started in Africa, and it migrated to Haiti and Louisiana and other places.”
“I have visions of evil spells and voodoo dolls that look like pin cushions.”
“That’s from the movies, and it’s not completely accurate. Some folks claim voodoo is a religion for the good. They worship saints and an all-powerful god and they do good works in the community, and it’s not just Creole people. Anyone can practice voodoo.”
“So voodoo might be with us now, right here in East Texas?”
“Honey, you can count on it.”
After closing the clinic, Aaron stopped at his car door. I wonder if Wanda is working. She wouldn’t talk to me at her house. Maybe she will at the restaurant.
He drove to Wanda’s diner and spotted her serving a customer. He waited in a corner by the check-in area.
Wanda turned and walked toward the front. She saw Aaron and stopped. “Hello, Doc. Can I seat you for dinner?”
“No, thanks. I came to your house yesterday. You told me you don’t like visitors.”
“As I said, we’re a private family. If my husband or son needs medical help, I have to take them to a hospital where tests can be done. You understand that, don’t you?”
“Sure, I understand, but just because I’m interested as a doctor, what’s wrong with your husband?”
“I don’t know. They think it’s MS or ALS or some such alphabet soup. I have to take total care of him.”
“What about your son?”
“He’s not sick like my husband. He keeps to himself. I take care of him, too.”
“Remember I’m available if you need help, and I won’t charge for the first house call.”
Wanda wagged a finger at Aaron. “Don’t you concern yourself about us. We’ll do just fine.” She whirled around and walked away.
She won’t even let me in the house. Aaron shrugged his shoulders. Who would say no to a free house call?
He started up the Volvo. Maybe Wanda is just ornery, but I have a feeling there’s something else. Marley Brighton is worried about them, too.
He nodded. I’ve got to find out more about that family .
Aaron drove to Grant Belkin’s ranch house. He’d called ahead of time and Grant was waiting for him.
“Come on in,” a voice boomed from the front door.
Aaron stepped through the door into a vestibule with a high ceiling that led to an expansive living room, in the middle of which sat a brown couch with a small coffee table facing a fireplace. No other furniture was in the room.
“No TV,” Aaron said.
“Don’t need much.”
Aaron noticed built-in shelves and cabinets filled with books.
Grant motioned to Aaron. “While it’s still light, let me take you around the ranch.”
He led Aaron to a rear door and out to the back yard.
Aaron walked up to a fence. “You’ve got a garden.”
“My vegetables. They keep me healthy.”
“This is one serious garden.”
Grant pointed out the rows of plants. “My tomato plants.” He moved further along the garden fence. “The peas and okra are doin’ well.”
“Okra. I’ll have to try that.”
“I’ll make you some stewed okra sometime. That’s good eatin’. Good for you, too.”
They walked behind the long garden and climbed into Grant’s pickup truck.
Aaron blotted his forehead with his handkerchief. “Will I get used to this heat?”
“You’re from up north. Your blood’s too thick. It’ll thin out over time.”
Grant started the engine. “Ever been to a rodeo?”
“Never,” Aaron said.
“I’ve got some rodeo tickets for next Saturday. Want to come along?”
“Sure thing. Thanks.”
Aaron admired the orange sunset over the
Stella chuckled. “They might be, but they’re Cajun. Voodoo is generally connected with African-American Creoles, who are a different group from the Cajuns.”
“Isn’t voodoo mostly found not far from here, in New Orleans?”
“That’s true these days. Voodoo started in Africa, and it migrated to Haiti and Louisiana and other places.”
“I have visions of evil spells and voodoo dolls that look like pin cushions.”
“That’s from the movies, and it’s not completely accurate. Some folks claim voodoo is a religion for the good. They worship saints and an all-powerful god and they do good works in the community, and it’s not just Creole people. Anyone can practice voodoo.”
“So voodoo might be with us now, right here in East Texas?”
“Honey, you can count on it.”
After closing the clinic, Aaron stopped at his car door. I wonder if Wanda is working. She wouldn’t talk to me at her house. Maybe she will at the restaurant.
He drove to Wanda’s diner and spotted her serving a customer. He waited in a corner by the check-in area.
Wanda turned and walked toward the front. She saw Aaron and stopped. “Hello, Doc. Can I seat you for dinner?”
“No, thanks. I came to your house yesterday. You told me you don’t like visitors.”
“As I said, we’re a private family. If my husband or son needs medical help, I have to take them to a hospital where tests can be done. You understand that, don’t you?”
“Sure, I understand, but just because I’m interested as a doctor, what’s wrong with your husband?”
“I don’t know. They think it’s MS or ALS or some such alphabet soup. I have to take total care of him.”
“What about your son?”
“He’s not sick like my husband. He keeps to himself. I take care of him, too.”
“Remember I’m available if you need help, and I won’t charge for the first house call.”
Wanda wagged a finger at Aaron. “Don’t you concern yourself about us. We’ll do just fine.” She whirled around and walked away.
She won’t even let me in the house. Aaron shrugged his shoulders. Who would say no to a free house call?
He started up the Volvo. Maybe Wanda is just ornery, but I have a feeling there’s something else. Marley Brighton is worried about them, too.
He nodded. I’ve got to find out more about that family .
Aaron drove to Grant Belkin’s ranch house. He’d called ahead of time and Grant was waiting for him.
“Come on in,” a voice boomed from the front door.
Aaron stepped through the door into a vestibule with a high ceiling that led to an expansive living room, in the middle of which sat a brown couch with a small coffee table facing a fireplace. No other furniture was in the room.
“No TV,” Aaron said.
“Don’t need much.”
Aaron noticed built-in shelves and cabinets filled with books.
Grant motioned to Aaron. “While it’s still light, let me take you around the ranch.”
He led Aaron to a rear door and out to the back yard.
Aaron walked up to a fence. “You’ve got a garden.”
“My vegetables. They keep me healthy.”
“This is one serious garden.”
Grant pointed out the rows of plants. “My tomato plants.” He moved further along the garden fence. “The peas and okra are doin’ well.”
“Okra. I’ll have to try that.”
“I’ll make you some stewed okra sometime. That’s good eatin’. Good for you, too.”
They walked behind the long garden and climbed into Grant’s pickup truck.
Aaron blotted his forehead with his handkerchief. “Will I get used to this heat?”
“You’re from up north. Your blood’s too thick. It’ll thin out over time.”
Grant started the engine. “Ever been to a rodeo?”
“Never,” Aaron said.
“I’ve got some rodeo tickets for next Saturday. Want to come along?”
“Sure thing. Thanks.”
Aaron admired the orange sunset over the
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