STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIREBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER TEN(Con...

STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIRE

By Tessa Harvey



CHAPTER TEN(Con...: STONES OF FIRE By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER TEN (Continued) That day Gabe had to go for a routine checkup in another par...

STONES OF FIRE

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TEN

(Continued)

That day Gabe had to go for a routine checkup in another part of the hospital. There was a different nurse on duty, someone he hadn't seen before. In answer to his query, she told him she was new to the town. Her background was French but she spoke English very well.

She was blond with dark soft brown eyes and a lovely smile.

Her name was Francoise. Gabe was smitten, and in quieter way, she was too. For once Gabe forgot his illness and chatted to her before and after his appointment, until she was called away to other duties.

They had exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet for coffee in a few days time.

Don't despise the day of small beginnings, thought Gabe as he left the hospital happier than he had ever been. Had he been younger, he would have skipped at the thought of the nurse's smile.

He chided himself. He was still young, but perhaps a bit past skipping!



                                 =====================

John looked around at his small congregation with love and hope. They still met in Gabe's big lounge room, but were looking at some premises to rent or buy.

Angel and Thomas were there with baby James Samuel looking at them both with the steady imprinting stare of a newborn. 

He looked well and healthy. Geoff and Chloe were away for a few days.

Jason had accompanied wife Jean as it was Easter Sunday, such a joyous time. John and Jason had shared some healing times.

A child raced past. It was Robert, still with a head bandage and a bit pale, but much happier. Apparently, he liked Clive, who was also there visiting with Diane.

Maya flew past him also, laughing, tagged by Wes who glanced up at him, grinning his mischievous, innocent little boy smile, his whole face lit with light. 

Then Gabe and Francoise strolled up hand in hand, having volunteered to do Children's Church. Was it Daniel and the Lions' Den or David and Goliath?

John suddenly realised it was about the wonderful, glorious miracle of the Risen Christ - which is what he was just about to teach and discuss with his wonderful, new extended family: his only family actually, but he sincerely hoped that was about to change....

                                   THE END FOR NOW

STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIREBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER NI...

STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIRE



By Tessa Harvey






CHAPTER NI...: STONES OF FIRE By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER NINE (Continued) Diane sat opposite her son,  waiting for him to aw...

STONES OF FIRE

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TEN

Diane sat opposite her son,  waiting for him to awaken. She had kept vigil all night and was still in some pain herself from her injuries. Clive Neilson had been to keep her company and he had been welcome as she had scrambled to hold on to her sanity after her son had almost been murdered by her husband.

She blamed herself a little, but he had been so charming and handsome and caring and she had been innocent and trusting.

The bullet had furrowed the boy's scalp. Had it not been for the fact Robert had stumbled...she shuddered, knowing what a skilled shooter Walt was and wondered again if prayer had helped. John had called and said he had been called to pray at that time.

A small voice whispered "mum?" Diane turned , so grateful and gave her boy a gentle hug. "You are the best boy in the world," she murmured. 

"Will I die?" he again whispered. "No," his mum said, her voice teary. "God kept you safe. Maya told me what happened. She was upset by all the blood."

"Girls!" her son murmured, and promptly fell into a calm and natural sleep.

Diane tiptoed out to tell the nurse her son had spoken, then decided to go home for a few hours.

STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIREBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER NI...

STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIRE



By Tessa Harvey






CHAPTER NI...: STONES OF FIRE By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER NINE (Continued) Robert barely noticed the glorious sunset. Hungry...

STONES OF FIRE

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER NINE

(Continued)

Robert barely noticed the glorious sunset. Hungry and cold, he was aware the  light would soon begin to fade, and decided to slither back the way he had come. Perhaps he could talk to the friendly policeman at the bridge and leave the situation to him.

But he had not gone far when a loud voice yelled: "Stay where you are boy. You lot," Walt kept yelling. "I can see you. You move like a load of clodhoppers."

Glancing around, Robert now saw the police quietly surrounding the cottage. He realised his dad could see the policemen in front, but not those to the back and sides. He decided to keep Walt's attention on him and stood up to run.

After several metres, a stone on the path turned his ankle just as a shot rang out. The boy was flung headlong and lay still, bleeding.

Maya had run up, panting. She screamed and tried to reach the motionless boy. A policeman held her back firmly, radioing for medical help.

Walt had seen his son fall and for an instant thought of turning the gun on himself, then hardened his heart, resolving to fight to the end. He didn't realise that special combat forces were just about to throw teargas canisters into the back of the cottage. Then, masked, they burst in and soon had the man in custody.

it was over for him, at least for now.

STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIREBy Tessa HarveyCHAPTER NINE (C...

STONES OF FIRE: STONES OF FIRE

By Tessa Harvey



CHAPTER NINE (C...: STONES OF FIRE By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER NINE  (Continued) Diane was home and looking for Robert. She called Leaf ...