Until Next Time The Angel Chronicles Book 1 (10 page)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Faith had never experienced bliss before, but being in Charles’ company was certainly a step closer to all she’d ever dreamed happiness could be.

The young man chattered like a schoolgirl about his travels. He had the uncanny ability to make the flowers grow brighter, the animals seem happier, and the trees stand taller in the field. Charles had offered her a seat on the back of his white horse, but she simply laughed and mounted Jason’s black steed. Side by side, they rode across the meadow.

When she came to the sparkling stream, Faith dismounted, giving the beautiful horse a chance to drink and catch his breath. Turning back, she watched Charles fly over the field trying to catch up. “Angel doesn’t seem to like your pace,” he said as he dismounted, running a hand lovingly over her mane.

“Angel?” Faith laughed. “Seems more like a Buttercup to me.”

“
Buttercup
? How could I name my faithful horse that? We’d both be teased to death.”

Faith laughed. “I’m happy you stayed this morning. After all, I don’t like to be wrong.”

“Something tells me you never are,” he whispered, pulling her body to his. “Are you?” His eyes grew dark, as he suddenly took a step away.

Faith felt the sudden change come over him. “I’m sorry.”

“About what?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Sometimes you look so…lost.”

“This is really a beautiful place.” Charles stared across the stream at the field of lavender. “You’re lucky to have so much peace around you.”

“And you? Do you have peace?”

Charles snorted. “Peace is overrated. I gave up on that a long time ago for something else entirely.”

“What could be better than peace?” Faith asked.

“Knowledge.”

“Liz says too much knowledge can kill you. She says that there are some things better left unknown.”

“Young Liz is a bit chatty.” Charles grinned. “But it’s too late for me to turn back now.”

Faith watched the muscles tighten beneath his white shirt. When he turned back to her, his face was a mixture of worry and fear. It was almost as if a war was raging inside of him.

He sat down on the dew-covered grass. “Ever since I was a kid I wanted to travel. I wanted to see the world with my own eyes. Jason and I would talk all the time about the life we were stuck in. I even wanted to be poor. I wanted to scrape by and see just how hard the working class had it. I also really wanted to see if there were any kind and generous people in the world. Last night, when Liz opened her door to us without question…without asking for anything in return…it was the first time in my life that I felt truly…accepted.”

Faith smiled. “We
are
women. We’re supposed to be nice and sweet and accepting of others. Doesn’t that fall under the category of good old Irish duty?”

“But Liz didn’t do it for duty’s sake. She did it out of kindness. I could see it in her eyes. Fear was there, too…and in your eyes as well…but the faith you had in your friend and the faith she has in others made it okay to open the door. No questions asked. Well…not hard ones, anyway.”

“Give me time,” Faith giggled. “The questions will get harder.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Charles flashed a perfect smile. “Seriously, though—you and your friend are the nicest females I’ve ever met.”

“There’s sadness in your voice. Maybe you need more company on your journey. You sound…so alone.”

“I always have Jason. He listens to me during my hours of need.”

“He’s a good friend.”

“He puts up with me.” Charles winked. “And I always get more girls than I can handle, so there are benefits for him, as well.”

“Hmmm,” Faith said as she stared off into the distance, a smile dancing on her lips. “That’s surprising. I would think that he’d be more popular. Ladies usually love the strong, silent type.”

“I’m strong and silent,” Charles pouted.

She smiled wide. “I hate to tell you this, but you speak a lot. You’re almost…girlie.”

Charles leaned over and kissed her strongly on the lips.

When he pulled away, Faith was left breathless. “Okay…not so girlie.”

He grinned at her.

“We should go back,” Faith stuttered. “I’m afraid that Liz in the kitchen is way more frightening than anything you or I could be thinking of at this moment.”

Charles helped her onto the dark horse, lingering at her side. Suddenly, the horse jumped beneath her. Panic seemed to fill the animal’s eyes. The black horse raised his head sniffing the strangely scented breeze. He let out a strong snort that sounded almost like a wolf’s howl. The little hairs on the back of Faith’s neck stood up. The feeling in the air was unavoidable. Something was terribly wrong. The stallion beneath her reared up moving his head from side to side as if searching for his master as his ears stood straight and tall. Suddenly, he took off racing toward the big oak tree sitting high atop the hill. Faith held on for dear life as a scream tore through her throat. Abruptly, the powerful animal stopped and started backing away from a horrifying scene.

Flames reached like fingers of fire into the sky, and thick, black smoke surrounded the burning cabin. Liz was on her knees before the front door. Jason stood behind her, staring blankly at the once safe haven.

Faith and Charles raced toward the couple. As they moved closer, Faith saw somebody lying in Liz’s lap. Black ash covered Liz’s face, but her eyes were strangely dry. Devoid of tears, Liz was literally watching her whole life being taken away from her with a calmness that scared Faith to her very core.

Looking down, Faith realized that it was Daniel cradled in Liz’s lap.

“Daniel! Jesus, are you all right?” Faith asked running her hands over his soot-covered clothing searching for any signs of injury. “What happened?”

“You were right. I shouldn’t be allowed to cook,” Liz’s voice came out like the cold whisper of a deathbed confession.

“
You
did this?” Faith whispered.

Liz nodded slowly. “It all happened so fast. I was at the fireplace. A shot…an ember just…popped out…and landed on Jason’s blanket in the rocking chair. It just…started to burn. Smoke filled the room. Jason tried to put it out, but it all went up so fast.”

Faith trembled at the calm tone of Liz’s voice, like she was simply reciting a story instead of facing the loss of her home and her livelihood. “Jason tried to put it out alone?”

Liz looked up at her as Daniel’s head dropped from her lap.

“I couldn’t help. Daniel was stuck.”

“Stuck? Where?”

“Up in the loft. He’d gone to get my kitten so she wouldn’t die. The ladder caught fire and he couldn’t get down. The flames followed him…I had to get him out.”

Faith and Charles lifted Liz off the ground, and turned to Jason. “Are
you
all right?” Faith asked.

Jason stared at Liz. “Yes, I’m sorry. It was…out of my control.”

Faith hugged him. “It doesn’t matter. Just as long as everyone got out alive.”

The ground began to quiver beneath her feet as the townspeople raced over the hill. Screams of anguish and worry flowed from their friends, reaching through the mist of Liz’s guilt-ridden brain.

She stared at them all. Their eyes filled with tears.

Daniel’s father rushed to him. “Are you all right, son?”

Daniel released a harsh, cold whisper, “I had no choice. There was nothing else I could do.”

“You were here with Liz. She’s alive, son. You’ve done me proud.”

Liz heard their exchange. Turning away, she walked directly into Jason’s open arms. Burying her face in his chest, Liz sobbed. “I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine what you think of me now.”

Jason tightened his grip around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Don’t ever be sorry. I understand…I think. It doesn’t matter anyway. I’d do anything for you.”

Liz cried, “You don’t even know me.”

“Then let me get to know you better.”

Charles’ deep voice broke through the smoke-filled air. “What will you do now, Liz?”

“I don’t know,” she said glancing at Faith. “Start over, I suppose.”

“But this is your home,” Jason said.

“No,” Liz replied, pointing at the burning rubble. “That’s my home…and it’s gone.”

“Finally!” Charles shouted. “I am
finally
happy my parents are rich, good for nothing people—because I can help.”

“I can’t take your money, Charles,” Liz replied.

She heard the voice of Faith behind her, “Well, I can. And I’ll work hard to pay it back.”

“Then you must travel with me in order to do that,” Charles replied. “Jason’s no good at carrying my things and making my dinner. I have prayed every night for someone more reliable than him. Prettier, too,” he said winking at Faith. “It’s a sign. You’ll both join us on our new journey; a quest to find you a new home.”

Liz was so tired. She was barely eighteen and yet she felt like a great grandmother getting ready to go to her Maker. She raised her chin and stared into Jason’s handsome face. “Do you
want
us to come with you? I can’t promise anything but friendship.”

He gave her an understanding smile saying, “God knows I need someone else to talk to besides Charles. If I hear his boring stories one more time, I may throw myself into the ocean just to get a break.”

Liz walked over to her friends…her family…to say her good-byes. She hugged or shook hands with everyone who cared for her. There were tears, as the small village wished them well.

Coming to the end of the line, Liz stared into the eyes she’d never forget.

“I love you,” Daniel proclaimed grabbing her hand.

“I’ll always be with you, Daniel. You know that.”

The muscles in his neck turned purple as an unmistakable cloud of jealousy filled his gaze. He aimed his glare at Jason. “He’ll never make you happy.”

“What’s happy, Daniel? This?”

“He’ll never understand you like I do.”

“Maybe not, but that’s why I have you,” Liz said placing her hand against Daniel’s swollen cheek. “We’ll always be friends. Won’t we?”

He sighed. “Of course, we’re a team, you and I.”

Suddenly the white mist clouded Liz’s mind. “Be happy, Daniel. Today…everything changed.”

“No,” he stated. “
We
will never change, Liz. I’ll see you again…real soon.” He turned to Charles. “Take care of her.”

Jason growled behind his back. “Don’t worry,
I
will.”

Fire burned in Daniel’s eyes, as Faith came up behind him and gave him a big hug. “I love you, sweetheart of mine. Take care of your handsome self and thank you for today.”

Jason shuddered. “You’re
thanking
him?”

Faith shrugged. “I’ve gotten what I’ve always wanted, if that makes any sense?”

“No,” Daniel laughed, pulling Faith close. “But I suppose it does to you. I hope you’re right about your choice. It’s hard to live with regret.”

“I’m always right, dear boy. Haven’t you noticed?” With that, she took Charles’ hand. “Goodbye, Daniel. I’ll see you.”

“Yes, you will, Faith. I promise.”

Liz placed the black and white kitten into Daniel’s hands. “Take care of him for me.”

She walked back to Jason, and mounted his horse. He sat behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, but Liz felt nothing. As she stared down at Daniel for the very last time, her heart and mind were on fire. She had rage, sadness, anger, confusion—everything she once believed to be true about their friendship would no longer be a part of her life.

“Are you sure about this?” Jason whispered.

She nodded.

His voice was soft and low, “I hope you’ll never regret leaving this place—leaving him.”

Liz took one last look at the only home she’d ever known. “What Daniel and I need is a second chance.” Her heart ached as she stared into the flames that held a hidden corpse in their smoldering grip.

What seemed like only minutes had passed in her life, yet the images of Daniel lugging Billy’s body into the bar, the life they’d taken, would stay with her for eternity. He had begged Liz to help save him from a life in prison, just as he had saved her from Billy’s deadly aim. It was only after he’d made his horrible plea that Daniel had turned around to see the dark haired stranger standing in the corner of the small kitchen, listening to his confession.