CHAPTER 10

Working in the study, Andrew’s head suddenly snapped up as a white hot feeling of pain shot through him.  He couldn’t explain it, but it brought him to his feet.  The feeling vanished almost immediately but yet his heart was beating a bit quicker.

“Father, what was that?” He murmured to himself, trying to center on where the strong emotions had come from, but they were already fading.  Opening the door, he saw Rafael grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl in the kitchen, “Rafael, have you seen Monica recently?”

“Si, amigo.  I just got back but she was in the stable cleaning out Grace’s stall.  I didn’t interrupt her as she was having an animated conversation with Grace.”

The Hispanic angel’s grin relieved Andrew’s heart.  She was fine.  He had nothing to worry about.

XXX

“I’m sorry, Monica, but you have to stay out of his way.”

Caroline was shaking her head in disapproval and the angel could barely fathom what she was hearing.  Just yesterday the woman had been showing great affection and love for the horses but today she didn’t seem to care at all for their well being. 

“Caroline, please....he abuses the animals.  He was beating Joy today-.”

“Most trainers and jockeys use whips to get the animal up to speed.  Surely you realize that.”

“Not like this!” Monica willed her emotions to remain hidden.  She didn’t want to cry but the memory of today was too fresh in her mind, “It took me over an hour to calm Joy down and get her completely cooled off.  He’s going to kill one of them!”

“Look, Monica, I can understand your concern given your limited experience but Ian has produced us many winners in the past.  His methods are proven and it isn’t up to you to like them, but to respect them.  If you have problems with how he trains then I would advise you to stay away from the track.” Caroline turned her back on the angel and pulled on her jacket, “I have to go into town so is there anything else?”

Monica stared at the woman as if she had never known her at all.  She had no idea how to stand by idle while this man abused some of the most beautiful of the Father’s creation.  It seemed that no one here was willing to listen to her and the only one that would, she couldn’t bring herself to tell.

“Monica?”

“No.” She replied softly, “Nothing else.”

Caroline nodded curtly before grabbing her purse from the living room and walking out the front door. 

The little angel stood there for a moment, fighting tears, not sure at all of what to do.  Instinctively, her feet moved in the direction of Andrew’s study, but she stopped short, hearing her dear friend talking to Jonathon behind the closed door.  She didn’t want to interrupt; he had so much work to do.

Hurrying past the door, she walked into the kitchen and nearly ran into Margaret.

“Monica?  Honey, are you all right?” The woman caught the young veterinarian by the arms and missed the flinch of pain that Monica gave.

The Irish angel forced a smile, “Yes.  I’m fine.  Margaret, can you tell me how far the town church is?  A friend of mine is filling in there for the pastor while he is on sabbatical.  I wanted to go pay her a visit, but you see, I’m not very good with directions.”  She was loathe to leave the farm, but right now she just needed a small respite; she felt as if she could barely breathe.

“It’s not far at all.  I’ll show you,” Margaret led the way to the back door and outside, “At the fence, turn right and just stay on the road for a quarter mile.  You can’t miss the church.  It will take you about fifteen minutes to walk it, but there are bicycles out behind the stables so you can get to and from quickly if you want.” Reaching for the hook next to the door, she removed a leash, “And take Brady with you.  He seems to love you and he knows the way back, not that you should have any trouble.”

“Thank you.  I will,” She took the leash and then looked back at the woman, missing the concern in her eyes, “Will you tell Andrew when he is finished his meeting where I went and that I am fine?  He worries about me but I’m all finished with the horses for right now and he is busy.  I don’t want him wondering where I am and he’ll feel better knowing Brady is with me and that it isn’t far.”

“Of course I will,” She looked closely at her young employee, “Enjoy your visit with your friend, Monica.  I think the little break will do you good.  You both have been working so hard since you arrived, so please, enjoy your time.”

“Thank you,” the little angel murmured, before she hurried down the steps, not surprised when Brady immediately ran over to greet her.  She would welcome the company without having to explain anything.

X

Margaret had been right; the trip to the church was an easy one and on bicycle, it only took about eight minutes.  The bike allowed her troubled mind to go back to the day so long ago when Andrew had taught her to ride one.  He had been patient and ever protective, never once letting her fall and once she’d had the hang of it, they had ridden down the long country road together.  The happy memories soothed some of the grief from her heart if only for a time.

Parking the bike outside of the small chapel, she and Brady walked slowly up the steps.  The afternoon was warm but she kept the jacket over her clothes.  She couldn’t bear any questions right now.

The sanctuary was small and dim but there were candles burning on the altar, and the sun shone some light through the few stained glass windows. Sinking into a pew, the little angel gazed up at the altar and the cross that hung above it.

“Oh Father, please help me.  I don’t know what to do.” Her words were a broken whispered plea and Brady, sensing her sadness, gave a small whine and laid his head over her knee.

“Miss Wings, what is that animal doing in a church?”

Startled, Monica rose to her feet to face her supervisor, “I...I’m sorry, Tess.  He’s so good; I promise he won’t hurt anything.”

The old angel frowned as she approached her charge and the border collie that stood at her feet, “Angel Girl, you are wound a bit tight this afternoon, baby.  I was only teasing.  Brady here is one of the Father’s creations as well as the humans we are called to help.”

“Then why do humans forget that, Tess?  Why do they forget that the animals need them to care for them?”

Tess looked at her charge with concern, “Sit, baby, and tell me what is going on.”

“It’s Ian...he abuses the horses, Tess and Caroline doesn’t want to hear it.  The farm needs a winner so badly and I understand that and I understand that he has trained many winners there but his methods, Tess, they aren’t good and they aren’t kind.”

“And that is why he has an angel to help him realize that, Angel Girl.  It may not be easy but you have time.”

Monica fell silent for a moment, her fingers running through Brady’s fur to try to soothe herself, “He doesn’t want to listen, Tess.”

“Maybe not yet, but he will.” Tess ducked her head to try to meet the young angel’s dark eyes, “You’ve had hard assignments before, baby, and you are the one angel who has always been able to reach them and I have complete faith that this time will be no exception.”

Silence again and Tess started to feel a little frustrated and concerned.  Monica was one of the most optimistic angels in the heavenly realm, not to mention one of the most chatty, but now she felt as if she was trying to pull information from her, “Baby-.”

“Andrew’s part of the assignment is going really well,” Finally she looked up and forced a cheerful smile, “He has been so much help to the family.  He worked up some contracts with the bank to assist with the Snyder’s debt and the bank is now working with them.  He was the perfect angel for this assignment.”

“Just as you are the perfect angel for your part of it,” Tess stated firmly, “And don’t you forget it.”

Doe like eyes moved to the front of the sanctuary again, “I won’t.”

“Now that we got that settled, I was going to go grab some dinner. I’ve been up at the Special Needs school all afternoon helping them out as they are so understaffed and are trying to start more programs and I am ready for some human food, believe it or not.  Would you care to join me?”

The thought of food made Monica feel slightly queasy, “I’m not really hungry, Tess but you go ahead.  If it’s okay with you, I’d just like to stay in here a little bit longer, then I need to get back so Andrew doesn’t worry.”

“Suit yourself, Miss Wings, but we’ll talk again,” Rising to her feet, she pulled her charge up with her and gave her a motherly hug, “You’ll get through to him, baby.  I know you will.”

“Yes ma’am,” Her eyes burned with tears but she blinked them back and smiled when Tess released her.

Once she and Brady were alone once more, she sank back down into the pew and closed her eyes tightly, “Father, please...if I am the perfect angel to help Ian and those horses, please show me how...because I don’t think it’s going very well.”