While they were making their statements, Father Mahoney arrived. For the remainder of the process, he refused to leave Natalie’s side.
As soon as Sister Agatha was finished with her account of the events, she went to join the priest and his niece. “I’m glad you’re here, Father.”
“It’s only temporary. I’m going on sabbatical,” Father Mahoney replied. “You’ll have a new chaplain soon.”
The news should have surprised her, but for some reason it didn’t. “You’re setting your duties aside for a while to take care of Jessica and Natalie?”
He nodded. “They have no one else, so they’ll be my priority for as long as they need me.”
“And Jessica? I haven’t seen her for a few days. How’s she doing?”
“She’s improving slowly. We’ll be leaving town in a few days, if her doctors give us the okay, but I’m not sure where we’ll end up yet. I guess I’ll figure things out as I go.” He stood up. “Keep us in your prayers, Sister.”
“We all will, Father. Come back to us soon.”
Later that evening, just after sunset and during recreation, Sister Agatha walked outside with Reverend Mother. The temperature was cool and pleasant, and for a while they were content to stroll in silence.
At long last they stopped by the statue of the Blessed Virgin. Reverend Mother glanced down at Pax, who’d accompanied them. “He looks no worse for wear,” she said.
“He’s okay. He may be sore for a while, and the cut will have to heal, but nothing’s broken,” Sister Agatha said, glancing down at him affectionately.
“I’m very concerned with how easily he responded to your attack command. Is it safe for us to keep him now after what he went through today?”
“Absolutely, Mother. He obeys the police commands he was taught, but not indiscriminately, and the command has to be given in German. All things considered, the monastery couldn’t ask for a better canine friend.”
“You’re right,” Reverend Mother said, nodding. “And now he’s just Pax again.” She smiled as the dog came up and put his nose into her hand, asking to be petted. “Things have worked out well.”
“Yes, they have, Mother,” Sister Agatha answered. “And I have some other good news. Sister Bernarda received a substantial offer from a collector for any angel figures or art Natalie completed while she was our guest.”
“Sell the smaller ones, but we’ll keep Tzuriel.”
“The angel who guards the monastery,” Sister Agatha said. “Good choice, Mother.”
Sister Ignatius approached and fell into step beside them as they continued to walk. “I’m going to miss baking our altar breads and cookies.”
Reverend Mother smiled. “We’re getting excellent terms for licensing the cookies to the bakery, and expect a steady return from the profits. But we’ll have to find something that’ll allow us to fulfill the rule requiring us to live by the work of our hands.”
“I’ve been praying that God will lead us to the right thing,” Sister Ignatius said. “As a sign, I’ve asked He send us a gentle, peaceful light, one that is present where no other light shines,” Sister Ignatius said.
“That leaves a lot of room for interpretation,” Sister Agatha said with a tiny smile.
They’d only walked a few more feet when Sister Ignatius gasped and pointed across the river to the west. “There’s our sign!”
For a split second the three of them saw a glowing cloud that shimmered in the fading light.
A sudden flaring up of flames from burning leaves, Sister Agatha concluded, or maybe headlights shining into a cloud of dust generated by a vehicle. In the time it took her to blink, the haze vanished.
“Did you see it?” Sister Ignatius said in an excited voice.
Reverend Mother smiled. “You’re right, child. It was a gentle light. We can expect our answers soon, then.”
As the bell for Compline sounded, Sister Agatha bowed her head and hurried to the chapel, along with the sisters and Reverend Mother. Another day was done and, under His wings, they would find refuge from the night.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Prey for a Miracle Page 24