The Angel Whispered Danger (30 page)

“If he lives that long!” My grandmother kept an eye on the road. “If you happen to come across a horse without a rider, let us know.”

“He’ll be fine,” I told her. “Shortcake just needed some TLC.”
And who was better to give it than an angel?

Still waving, I started down the long drive, then, signaling to Ned behind me, came to an abrupt stop.

“Mom, what are you doing?” Josie wanted to know. “Did you forget something?”

“Yes,” I said, getting out of the car.

“Hold on a minute. I’ll be right back!” I shouted to my puzzled husband.

Kicking off my shoes, I ran across the lawn, beneath the pecan trees, the gnarled oaks and through the apple orchard to where I knew they would be.

“I couldn’t leave without seeing you,” I said, taking Augusta’s hands.

She smiled. “I didn’t think you would.”

Penelope smiled, too. “Look what Augusta taught me,” she said, and showed me how she could whistle through a blade of grass.

“That’s terrific,” I told her. “But you’ve taught us all a lot more than that. Thank you, Penelope.” And I kissed her cheek. “Thank you both for everything.”

Augusta sat in a carpet of flowers, the colors of which I had never seen before.

“It is good-bye, isn’t it?” I asked, hoping she would deny it.

“I have something for you,” she said, draping a garland of flowers around my neck. I noticed the colors were the same as the necklace she wore.

“Is this a parting gift?” I asked.

“You’ll always be a part of me,” she said.

I sat beside her in the meadow grass. “I don’t want you to leave. Stay. Please stay.”

Augusta Goodnight touched my face with a gentle hand. “Kathryn McBride, you already have everything you need.”

And she was right.