"You sure they aren't demons?" Leo whispered as he and Paige talked in the kitchen.
"Not from the looks of things," Paige said. "I don't know what to do. I didn't know we had any relatives in Arkansas."
"Well," said Leo, "Not all your ancestors settled in New England. Some of them settled in what became Virginia. I suppose they could have migrated west over time."
"Listen," said Paige, "Cole and Phoebe went to a movie and should be home soon. Pipers at her club. I think you need to get her back here as quickly as you can and then check these people out. I'll try to keep them occupied while you're doing that."
"Right," said Leo. "If there's any trouble, just call for me."
Leo orbed out of the manor as Paige collected herself. Then she picked up the tray with the coffee on it that she had prepared and returned to the living room. As she entered the living room she noticed all four of her guests staring intently at the television that was now on showing some old movie.
"Lookee here," said Angus Todd noticing that Paige had returned, "y'all gots a box that has movin' pitchers on it."
"Yeah, it's a television," said Paige. "You act like you've never seen one before."
"We ain't," said Cletus. "Back in Myrtle Creek we ain't got none of these new fangled contraptions y'all big city people gots."
"Television has been around for a while," said Paige as she served the coffee. "Something like fifty years or more. It's not exactly new. We get over three hundred channels here."
"Three hunnerd?" questioned Maribelle. "That's a heap of movin' pitchers."
"I heard of it afore," said Angus Todd. "We learned about it in school. Ain't never seen one afore, though."
"You've been to school?" Paige questioned.
"Angus Todd's the edecated one of the family," said Cletus. "Been plumb through the sixth grade. Then his ma took ill and he had to help out on the farm. Never did git back once his ma died."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Paige. "I didn't know."
"Thank ye kindly," said Angus Todd. "Anyways, my teacher in the fifth grade tole us of this here television. Takes the movin' pitchers right out the air. Ain't no one in Myrtle Creek got a television, though. It shore is fancy."
"So, yer name is Matthews," said granny, pulling a large Bible out of her satchel. "Reckon I should update the family tree seeins how we got us a new branch and all. Angus Todd, would you put her name in here fer yer ole' granny?"
"Shore, granny," said Angus Todd taking the Bible from her.
"Well, not exactly a new branch," said Paige. "We had the same mother just different fathers."
"All the same," said granny, "ain't no one never told us about you. Gots to keep the family records up to date."
Paige sat patiently while Angus Todd wrote her name in the Bible. She was fervently wishing that Leo would get back with Piper very soon.
"What do you mean they said they're our cousins?" Piper asked Leo. "We don't have any cousins in Arkansas or anywhere else."
"That may not be completely true," said Leo. "They could be distantly related to you. I'm going to check with the Elders and see if they know anything. But I need to get you back to the manor first just in case this isn't what it appears. Paige may need your help."
"What about Cole and Phoebe?" Piper asked.
"Paige said they went to a movie and should be home soon," said Leo. "We need to get this sorted out and get them out of the manor as quickly as possible. If a demon attacks while they're there it will not only put them at risk but will bring up a whole lot of questions you guys are ready to answer."
"Good idea," said Piper. "Just let me give Jason some last minute instructions and I'll be right with you. It will only take a minute."
"Just don't take too long," said Leo. "We can't waste any more time than necessary."
Leo waited impatiently while Piper went to give her bartender his instructions.
The door to the manor opened and Phoebe and Cole walked inside.
"Paige," Phoebe called into the manor, "why is there a clunker sitting in front of the manor?"
She stopped short when she saw Paige sitting in the living room with the others.
"I reckon you'd be talkin' about our truck," said Cletus. "Been keepin' her running' since 1952. Got it from my pa when he passed over."
"Paige," Phoebe said in barely a whisper with a strange smile on her face, "what's going on?"
"Oh, Phoebe, you're home," said Paige hurrying over to her sister.
"Why are the Beverly Hillbillies in our house?" Phoebe whispered to Paige, still smiling at the group.
"These are our cousins from Arkansas," said Paige. "That's Cletus, his son, Angus Todd, his niece Maribelle, and his mother, Daisy Mae."
"Jes call me granny," said granny. "Everone does."
"Granny?" questioned Phoebe. "Paige, can I speak to you in the kitchen for a minute, please?"
"Sure," said Paige. She turned to the four visitors. "We won't be a minute."
"What do you mean they're our cousins?" Phoebe asked when she, Paige, and Cole were in the kitchen. "We don't have any cousins."
"Apparently we do," said Paige. "Granny's been telling me all about the family history. What she's told me seems to match up with what I all ready know."
"Could they be demons?" questioned Phoebe.
"None that I ever heard of," interjected Cole. "They look and sound like mountain folk. There are some who live so far back in the mountains that they haven't caught up with the rest of the world yet. I doubt any demon would pretend to be some of them."
"Okay," said Phoebe, "so if they aren't demons, who are they?"
"I think they're the real McCoy, if you'll pardon the pun," said Paige. "They said they've just come for a visit to get to know us better."
"What about Piper?" Cole asked. "Someone better let her know what's going on. You know how she's liable to react if she walks in on this cold."
"Leo's all ready doing that," said Paige. "Then he's going to check with the Elders and see if they can tell us anything about them. Until then I suggest we just take them at face value. Leo's going to orb Piper back as soon as he can."
"He'd better," said Phoebe. "We can't risk having them around if a demon attacks. They'd be too many questions we just wouldn't be able to answer."
"Piper should be here soon," said Paige. "I suggest we just go back in there and entertain our company until she gets here. Then we can decide what to do about it."
Not totally convinced but with no other ideas open to them the three went back into the living room to wait for Piper and Leo to return.