The Growing Years (The Angel Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  Devon turned around when he heard the movement. “Look! It’s alive! It’s breathing and moving!”

  They hurried over and started to stimulate it some more. Sabrina came hurrying back in with a hiccupping Charlie in her arm.

  “Oh, thank you, Jesus! Is it going to be alright?” she asked. Seth shook his head.

  “I don’t know just yet. He isn’t out of the woods, but he is at least headed in the right direction. If we can get him up and nursing, I think we might be ok.” They watched as the men dried the foal then watched as it struggled to stand.

  “Why can’t we help it?” Charlie asked.

  Devon came to stand beside her. “Because, Charlie girl, this is how the baby gains its strength. Once he gets to his feet, then we can help it, but its best to let him do this on his own.”

  “You said him, so it’s a boy?” Sabrina questioned. He smiled as he ruffled Charlie’s mop of blonde curls.

  “That’s right; it’s a colt. Little boy baby horses are called colts; little girls are called fillies.”

  After another few minutes the tiny colt that was all legs made it to his feet. He stood on unsteady legs for a few minutes. Then he took one unsteady step then another before he crashed down on the soft straw-covered floor. Charlie laughed as the uncoordinated foal made it back to its feet a little quicker this time. Finally it made it over to its mama who licked and nuzzled it, making soft whickering noises.

  “What do you think Beautiful is saying to her baby, Mama?” Charlie asked.

  Sabrina smiled. “I would imagine she is saying the same thing that I said to you after you were born. She is saying, ‘Hi there, baby, I’m your mama and I love you so much!’”

  They stayed with the mare and the foal for another two hours. They all breathed a sigh of relief when he finally found the right spot and started to nurse. Sabrina handed Charlie to Devon, who took her in the stall so she could meet her new horse.

  “Let him smell you, Charlie. Run your hands over his nose. You want him to bond with you, as well as his mama.” She did as he instructed.

  “That’s good, real good. Now rub him all over. Rub under his tummy and down each leg so he will get used to you touching him.”

  Charlie laughed when the colt’s little broom tail swished and hit her in the face. She patted him all over, chattering nonstop about all the things they would do when he was bigger. She told him about Dandy and the other horses on the farm.

  Gideon leaned against the stall door with Charlotte, watching the little girl love on her new baby. Charlotte sighed as she smiled.

  “Isn’t that the cutest thing you have ever seen?”

  “It shouldn’t be here. It wasn’t in the plan for it to live. Gideon interfered where he had no business.”

  Gideon turned to Zareck, who was leaning against the barn wall with his superior trademark expression.

  “Anything to do with that child is my business, and if it wasn’t in the plan for the foal to live, then I shouldn’t have been here. The Creator knew what I would do today when he assigned this child to me. So do you still believe it wasn’t in the plan for it to live? Do you think that I did something unexpected?”

  Zareck didn’t reply. With a face as hard as stone he brushed past Gideon and Charlotte and left the barn. Charlotte grinned up at Gideon.

  “Well, I guess he didn’t have anything to say to that!”

  Gideon looked down at her briefly before turning back to watch Zareck leave the barn. “I guess not.”

  The family spent the night at the farm so Charlie could see her colt the next day. Over breakfast they discussed various names for the new baby. Seth offered up the name Red, because the colt was red in color with white stockings on its hind legs and a small white star on its forehead. Sabrina suggested the name Star. Devon came up with Flash or Lightning because it was born during the thunderstorm, but none of the names they came up with impressed Charlie.

  Sabrina laughed. “Oh, well, sweetheart, you have plenty of time to find the perfect name for your horse. There isn’t any hurry.”

  Then she turned to Seth. “You were certainly right about mares having their babies on stormy nights. My goodness, that was the worst one we have had in a long time! I bet we have trees down.”

  Charlie looked up at her mother suddenly. “I like that name!”

  Sabrina frowned at her. “I didn’t say any name, Charlie. What are you talking about?” She looked to Seth and Devon but they were not any help. They didn’t know what name Charlie was referring to either.

  “Stormy… I like Stormy! He was born during a storm so it fits! Can I go tell him his new name? Please!” She pleaded with her mother with her hands clasped together under her little chin. Sabrina knew enough to know when to admit defeat. She knew her daughter wouldn’t eat another bite until she had seen her new horse and told him his name.

  “Ok, let’s all go out to the barn and check on the new baby.”

  They spent the remainder of the day at the farm. Charlie refused to leave Stormy’s side. She brushed him and chattered his little ears off. Sabrina and Devon along with Seth all watched as Charlie bonded with the colt.

  “You know, what happened with that foal yesterday beats all I ever I saw. I was sure there wasn’t no hope for the little feller.” Seth chewed on a piece of straw as he watched the colt nurse.

  Devon nodded. “I agree, Seth. I had written him off, too, but for Charlie’s sake I sure am glad he pulled through.”

  Charlie looked up from where she had her head ducked under the mare’s flank watching the baby nurse.

  “Giddy saved him for me.”

  Startled by her matter-of-fact announcement, all three adults looked at her in surprise.

  “Baby, why would you say that? Can you still see Giddy?” Sabrina asked.

  Charlie just shrugged. “I don’t know, mama; I just think he did.”

  “Can you still see him, Charlie?” Sabrina asked again.

  Charlie scrunched up her nose and then slowly shook her head. “Nooo…I don’t see him any more…not really. But I know he saved Stormy.”

  Sabrina went into the stall and knelt down in front of her daughter. “Tell me why you think he did that. Why did Giddy save Stormy for you?”

  Charlotte poked Gideon in his ribs with a sharp little elbow giving him an “Uh oh!” look. Gideon just shrugged without a reply. Zareck, however, did not let the opportunity pass to needle the warrior for what he perceived to be a mistake.

  “Next time perhaps you will heed the instructions about not interfering. I told you the beast should not be alive.”

  Charlotte saw the tiny tic start up in Gideon’s left cheek, so she patted his arm.

  “Just ignore him. I think you did the right thing. Look how happy she is with her baby horse. That can’t be a mistake. I refuse to believe that!”

  “It is a mistake and it will come back on you. There are very strict instructions on unnecessary interaction and interference. You will be reprimanded for this, and much more, I would imagine,” he said smugly.

  Gideon was silent for a moment then he replied without turning around. “Zareck, your concern for me and my infractions are touching; however, I will remind you that they are mine. Your concern and advice are not needed.”

  Charlotte tried to choke back a laugh as Zareck narrowed his eyes and then left the barn.

  “That had to be the nicest way of telling someone to mind their own business I have ever heard!” Charlotte said with an amused twinkle in her eye. Gideon looked down at her.

  “Did you like that? Trust me, it wasn’t the first thing that popped into my mind, or the second.” He gave her a small lopsided grin. They both turned back to where Sabrina was still waiting for Charlie’s answer. Charlie sighed like she thought the answer should be obvious.

  “Because Giddy loves me, Mama! He told me so right before he went away; he also told me he would always watch over me, so that’s why I know he saved Stormy.” The colt in question finished
his lunch then lay down in the deep straw to take a nap.

  “Mama, I’m going to go outside and play with Scarlett and Rhett, ok?” She put her coat back on and went out to find the border collie and the old blind bloodhound.

  Sabrina came out of the stall and gave Devon a long look. Seth looked back and forth between them before his curiosity finally got the best of him.

  “Who the heck is Giddy? There wasn’t no one else here yesterday but us. Who is the girl talking about?” Sabrina once more looked to Devon, who shrugged slightly, pretty much leaving it up to her on what to tell the man. Taking a deep breath and praying silently for the right words, she told him about Giddy.

  “Seth, this may sound strange because I’m not sure just what you may believe about such things, but Giddy is Charlie’s guardian angel.” Seth’s right eyebrow reached for his hairline and he scratched his whisker-covered cheek.

  “Guardian angel, you say? Well, I have to say that wasn’t what I expected you to tell me. You are talking about an angel… angel, right? White fluffy wings and halos?”

  Sabrina laughed. “Well, yes and no. According to Charlie, her guardian has black wings, and she never mentioned a halo. She describes him as being very big and fierce. Psalms 91:11-12 says that He will give His angels charge over us, to keep us lest we dash our foot against a stone. Most Christians believe in guardian angels, although that exact term isn’t found in the bible.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I remember listening to my mother tell stories about guardian angels. I just never thought anyone actually saw them. So… little Charlie saw hers and remembers him? That’s a pretty special thing for a child.” They walked out of the barn and watched as Charlie threw sticks for Scarlett to chase while Rhett sat close to her and woofed occasionally in encouragement.

  “We think it is,” Sabrina agreed.

  When they returned to the house, the smell of spicy Cajun boil met them at the door. Devon’s face lit up when he walked over to the pot and lifted the lid. It didn’t even faze him when Cleo whacked him with the back of her wooden spoon.

  “Be keeping the lid on that pot, Mister Devon! You trying to ruin my boil?” Eyeing him sternly, she guarded her pot until he backed away with his arms raised up high. Sabrina laughed at Devon’s sheepish expression, but Edgar was watching Gideon, Zareck and Charlotte, who was staring at someone that he couldn’t see.

  “Gideon?” Charlotte whispered, shrinking behind him.

  “I see him,” he replied. Standing close to Cleo was a large heavily-muscled dark- skinned guardian unlike anything Gideon had ever seen. Tattoos of strange symbols lined his face and ran in thick bands around his arms and across his bare chest. He wore tanned leather leggings. Instead of a sword, he had two short curved blades strapped across his back; the strangest thing of all, he had no wings! The dark guardian studied Gideon, Zareck and Charlotte as much as they did him.

  Finally Gideon spoke. “You are Cleo’s guardian, yes?” Gideon thought asking the obvious would help break the ice. The guardian’s obsidian eyes regarded him if not with outright hostility then definite suspicion. He folded his massive arms over his chest and gave no reply.

  “He has to be her guardian, even if he doesn’t exactly look standard issue. The only other thing he could be is demonic; he isn’t that or we would feel it.” Zareck’s calmly-given assessment of the situation didn’t make Charlotte feel any better. Trying once more to engage him, Gideon explained why the guardians could see and speak to one another. He thought maybe that would lessen the guardian’s suspicions, but to no avail.

  Finally Zareck pushed Charlotte forward, making her squeak in alarm. “You give it a shot. Beauty calms the savage beast and all that,” he whispered.

  Shooting Zareck her very best death glare, Charlotte carefully stepped out from the protection of Gideon’s broad back and, tucking her hair behind her ear, she smiled. “Hi, ummm…Well, I’m Charlotte, and the dark-haired angel is Gideon and the blond is Zareck. So…as you probably guessed, we are guardians for the family. I guard Sabrina, Zareck guards Devon and Gideon guards little Charlie. Edgar doesn’t really have a guardian because…”

  Thirty minutes later the dark guardian could take no more of Charlotte’s cheerful chatter. He closed his eyes and held up his hand for her to stop.

  “Enough! For the love of heaven, shut her up!” he boomed out in a voice like thunder.

  Squeaking once more, Charlotte ducked behind Gideon, hiding her face in his tunic.

  “Oh, good job, beauty. Really… well done,” Zareck mocked.

  “What? At least I got a response. I didn’t see you doing anything!” she whispered back. Gideon looked back at them in disbelief as they argued like school children or even worse like siblings.

  “I pity you, brother.”

  Gideon turned back to the dark guardian, who now regarded him with sympathy. “I am Kavik, and, yes, I am Cleo’s guardian. I apologize for my rudeness earlier, but to be able to openly see other guardians did take me off guard.”

  “I can imagine; it took us by surprise as well,” Gideon said in agreement.

  Kavik sighed then peered around Gideon to motion Charlotte forward with his hand. “Come, sister, I apologize for frightening you. I am well aware my appearance is less than angelic; however, I assure you I do indeed play for God’s team.”

  Charlotte stepped out from behind Gideon but stayed so close to him that the soft downy feathers at the tops of her wings tickled his nose. He decided it would be easier for him to take a step backwards than to encourage Charlotte to step forward, but she matched him for every step, sticking to him like glue. Finally he took her by the shoulders and physically picked her up and moved her over three feet before setting her back down. When she started to move back, he pointed a finger at her.

  “Stay! Good Charlotte!” That earned him two snickers from the male angels in the room and a narrowed-eyed glare from the female, who crossed her arms and tapped her bare foot in agitation.

  Later that night when everyone was asleep, the angels gathered up on the roof. Gideon and Zareck had to actually carry Kavik since he had no way to fly.

  “Why don’t you have any wings, Kavik?” Charlotte asked. She had gotten over her fear of the dark guardian and now chatted with him quite easily. Gideon wasn’t sure if Kavik was glad about that or not.

  “I had wings when I was assigned to Cleo. I had wings and looked pretty much like any other guardian you may see.”

  Sensing a story, Charlotte leaned closer, propping her chin in her hand as she sat cross-legged on the roof.

  “What happened? How did you lose your wings? How did you get all those tattoos? I didn’t even know angels could get tattoos! Who did…” Placing a finger to his lips he stopped her endless flow of questions.

  “Sister, in order to hear the answer one must first stop speaking.”

  “Amen, brother,” Zareck muttered, earning a sharp look from Gideon.

  “Oh, what? Like you weren’t thinking it?” Zareck shot back then looked back at Kavik. “Better tell us your story, Kavik, before Charlotte explodes all over the roof from all of her un-expelled words; I’m not sure what her maximum holding time is.”

  Charlotte clamped her lips together in a mulish expression and Kavik began his story.

  “Cleo comes from a family that has practiced the dark art of voodoo for several generations. She was the sixth daughter of a sixth daughter. According to the belief, she was born with very powerful gifts and was dedicated when she was no more than a few hours old to serve the dark side. As she grew up and was brought deeper and deeper into the black magic, I found myself growing curious. At first I only observed the different rituals and customs, but soon I started practicing them myself. The deeper I got, the more I wanted; the more I wanted, the more I changed. I did not set out to turn from God; that was not my intention at all, but as the old expression goes, curiosity does indeed kill the cat or, in my case, the angel. I should have known better.

  “Before
I was aware of what was truly happening to me, I was in too deep. The darkness had invaded my heart. I no longer cared about my assignment other than what I could learn from her. I actually liked the fact that my appearance was being altered to match what I was becoming on the inside. I thought I had reached the point of no return the day I noticed the feathers on my wings starting to fall out. I paid little attention at first. It was only a feather here and then a feather or two there, but soon it was a pile here and a pile there until my wings were completely bare. Soon afterwards, the bones started to twist in on themselves until they looked like boney protrusions where my wings used to be. As far as the tattoos, I did them myself, and, believe it or not, they are to prevent myself from changing any further. They are scriptures written in old Aramaic.”

  Gideon nodded, as he looked closely at some that were inked in a wide band around Kavik’s left arm. “I thought I could read some of the words here, but others are too blurred.”

  Kavik smiled slightly as he looked down where Gideon was trying to read a portion of the scripture verse he had inked in his skin. “Like I said, I did it myself, and when your body keeps trying to reject it, you have to redo it a lot.”

  “What made you think that would even work? The tattoos, I mean?” Gideon asked.

  “Many different religions, and I use that word loosely, believe in applying protection spells right on your skin in the form of tattoos. Now I don’t believe in spells, but I do believe in the Word of God. I would have tried anything to keep myself from changing any more than I already had.”

  “So that’s why Edgar can’t see you. You changed too much. He can only see heavenly creatures. Apparently the changes were enough to shield you from his sight.”

  Kavik nodded at Gideon’s observation. “That very well may be the reason, my brother.”

  Charlotte threw up her hands in frustration that no one was asking any of the right questions. “So did it work? Did you change any more after you applied the tattoos?”

  He smiled at Charlotte, who had stayed silent for much longer than he would have thought. “I really can’t say. I didn’t change any more, but I also didn’t practice any more.”