Consequence by Shelly Crane Read Free Book Online Page A

send you to an ambush.”
    I nodded and breathed deeply through my nose. “You’re right.”
    I turned and hugged her around her neck. The vision hit me when her cool skin touched mine. She gripped me tightly as we watched. Our Gran was older than she was now. She looked so happy—surrounded by her family, tears on her cheeks, her gray hair surrounding her head on the pillow in the upstairs bedroom. She touched Peter’s cheek, who tried to keep it together as he looked down at her.
    “Oh, Peter,” she said and smiled. “Do you have any idea how happy a woman can be in a hundred years?”
    He smiled through his tears. “No, Mama. Tell me.”
    “So happy she’ll burst.”
    He succumbed to his tears and hugged her gently as we all let our Gran go. She smiled all the way to the end. When her hand slowly fell from Peter’s head, we knew she was gone. I’d never felt such a peaceful vision before. It was all light and air around me. Gran’s goodness touched everything. She truly was the happiest creature that ever touched this earth and she shared it with us every day.
                  The vision left me and a sob choked in my throat. Gran gripped my cheeks, a smile on her face. “Don’t say anything. To anyone.”
                  “Gran—”
                  “That’s the way I would have always wanted to go. Peaceful, surrounded by the people I love. At least I know I won’t die by some Watson’s hand or in some stupid car. I’ll die the right way, the way God intended. Let me have this,” she said harder. “This is our secret, pretty girl.”
                  I nodded. What else could I do? She wiped under my eye with her knuckle. “Thank you. You know this family. They won’t let it go.”
                  I did know. They would drive themselves crazy with worry about it, though it was inevitable that everyone died of old age one day. I nodded again. “I promise.”
     

     
     
                  I tucked Gran’s vision away behind my walls and vowed to keep it there. I let my mind return to the matters of the day, to my Ava, which was pretty easy to do, and when Gran and I turned back to the room, they were getting ready to go.
    “Mom,” Caleb called out, so busy and completely oblivious to my and Gran’s revelation. He shook his head. Hearing what he had in his mind, I sighed in relief. “I want you to stay.” Rachel’s mouth popped open in protest, but Caleb went on. “You’re one of the strongest here, your ability could protect the children if someone did come. I want someone to stay here with them, just in case. Don’t worry, I’ll watch out for Dad.”
    Rachel was torn. She wanted to keep her grandkids safe, of course, but the significant in her didn’t want to send Peter off to fight without her there. Peter was at her side in an instant. He sighed, having heard it all in her mind. “It’ll be all right, Rae. Caleb’s right. If anyone could stay and protect the children, it would be you.”
    She took his face in her small hands. “You better be careful.”
    “Always am.” He pulled her up and we looked away as he kissed her.
    I kissed Rodney’s forehead as he slept in Maria’s arms and hugged Ava tight before handing her off to Gran. Gran and I shared a look of understanding before I headed out. It was hard to keep it together for two reasons now. We were on our way before I felt like I even had time to get my bearings. I rode in the front, middle seat with Caleb’s hand stuck between my thighs the whole way there as he drove. Peter sat on the other side of me and reached over to squeeze my hand over now and then. It felt like the blink of an eye when we were parking near the woods. When we got out, I was a live wire. I was too worked up. I didn’t know what was up or down, what was what.
    “Maggie?”
    “Huh?” I whispered and lifted just my eyes to find Caleb bending down to catch my gaze.