"Well, now," said Cletus looking at the check, "with this here check I reckon I kin git us a new water pump fer the truck. I ain't shore the one we gots gonna make it back to Arkansas."
"Cletus," said Cole, "first thing in the morning I'll take you out and you can buy a brand new truck if you want."
"Uncle Cletus," said Maribelle hesitantly, "you reckon we gots enough fer me to get a store bought dress?"
"Maribelle," said Phoebe, "with that money you can buy the whole store. Tell you what. While Cletus and Cole are out buying the truck why don't the rest of us go out on a shopping spree. We can buy you a whole new wardrobe."
"That sounds like a right fine idee," said granny. "Been a coons age since I had me a store bought dress."
"So, I guess you'll all be going back to Arkansas now," said Piper. "Now that you have the farm back."
"I reckon that's the best thing," said granny. "We kin pertect the amulet there better than we kin here. Besides, all our friends is back there. With this here money might even be able to fix up a couple of houses what been needing it."
"You should have enough money to do that and more," said Leo. "Remember, this is only the first check. You'll get another one like it every year from now on."
"You can even build new houses if you want," said Cole.
"Hey granny," said Angus Todd, "maybe we kin get some of these here appliances what Piper's got. Like the refrigerator and the indoor outhouse. Maybe even get us a television."
"Don't go getting all worked up," said Cletus. "These things be okay fer the city folk but we just plain country folk. Don't be needing any of them there fancy things."
"Well," said granny, "maybe just a couple. Gots to say I shorely enjoyed that there washing machine."
"I reckon we kin talk some about it," said Cletus.
"Well," said Piper, "granny and I made a peach cobbler for dessert. I think it's time we celebrated."
"That sounds like a good idea," said Cole. "I did miss dinner after all."
"Young fella," said granny, "seems I owed you an apology. Fer a demon youse a right decent man. You done right by us. I reckon I done misjudged you."
"That's okay," said Cole. "I can't really blame you. But that's water under the bridge. Now, how about some of that cobbler?"
Everyone went into the kitchen to get the dessert.
"How are granny and the others doing?" Piper asked after Leo had orbed back into the manor.
"They're fine," said Cole. "They made it back to Myrtle Creek without even a single demon attack. And granny has put the amulet back in its resting place. I had to walk nearly two miles just to orb out of there."
"Why?" Phoebe asked.
"Part of the protections for the amulet includes an anti-magic shield around it," said Leo. "Which helps to explain why demons haven't been able to find it or take it. Except for those potions that granny keeps on hand no magic will work inside the shield."
"That's good," said Cole. "If that amulet should fall into the wrong hands you'd have more to worry about than just the Source. I'm glad it's safely protected."
"Well, you did a good thing, honey," said Phoebe kissing Cole on the cheek. "You helped out Cletus and his family and helped keep the amulet out of demonic hands. All in all not a bad days' work."
"I miss them," said Paige. "I know they've only been gone a week but I sort of got used to them being around."
"They're only an orb away," suggested Leo. "And I know Maribelle would be glad to get a visit from you. She said something about you being the sister she never had."
"Don't worry," said Piper, "we still have granny's recipes. That should help some."
"Great," said Phoebe. "She did have some good recipes. Are you making one of them tonight?"
"All ready on the table," said Piper, smiling coyly. "Who's up for some possum stew for dinner?"
"Possum?" questioned Paige. "Eww, gross."
"Don't worry," said Piper laughing, "I substituted chicken for the possum. Don't think I'm ready for everything they eat in Myrtle Creek, Arkansas.'
"Actually," said Cole as they went into the kitchen, "possum isn't bad."
"We're gong to have to have a talk about your eating habits, Cole Turner," said Phoebe as the rest just laughed.
The End
If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my website, You can also post your own "Charmed" stories if you like to write fan fiction.