FanStory.com - An Angel in the Meadow by Commando

Greetings, Friends!

Cathy Waldron, (aka Tootie) and me, Bill Bishop, (aka Commando) are co-authors of this book. Our wish is to make you laugh and cry, then leave you in a state of uncertainty as to what will happen next. We invite you to follow along with us, and will appreciate your feedback and recommendations for improvement. As always, thank you for reading and best wishes wherever you are.

~Prelude

Who are Angels? Do they truly walk among us on Earth? Cathy and I say, "You betcha!" Others say, "They are just a figment of the imagination that only appear in fairy tales." As you read along through the novel, give the following some thought: Do angels have wings to tug at our heartstrings? We believe so, and as well, they make the world a better place to live and remind us that human kindness does exist. Angels are everywhere. The Bible tells us, "Do not show hospitality to angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2). Again, Cathy and I truly believe that angels are around us this very moment. They were sent by God to guide us on Earth. Having said this, we'll move onto "An Angel in the Meadow." Hope to see you there.

Special Note!

*About the Authors*

~Bill Bishop~

Bill Bishop, co-author of ''Love Long Distance," spent the earlier years of his life in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. After graduating from high school in Gatlinburg, he went on to attend Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville. Entering the U.S. Air Force, he served 30-years of active duty, then retired to the Panhandle of Florida. Afterward, he began working with: Joint Services Commando Advisory Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Turkey; American Legion; Disabled American Veterans Organizations--both Local and National; and St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Bill is quick to say, "I love America, baseball, apple pie; and am honored to co-author with Cathy Waldron an awesome writer."

~Cathy Waldron~

Cathy Waldron is a fiction author and a former newspaper reporter, columnist, photographer, realtor, and business broker. Her debut novel, ''in Polyester Pajamas,'' won the New Hampshire Writers' Project 2013 and 2014 Readers' Choice Award for outstanding work of fiction. Her second and third novels, ''in Woolen Bikinis'', and ''in Leather Chaps," were sequels to the first novel. Together, they make up the Jean and Rosie series. She is also the author of the Christmas novella, "Music, Memories & LOVE." All four books were published under her former name Catherine Dougherty. Cathy is currently attending Southern NH University to obtain her BA in Creative Writing/English. She is also President of ''Give a Salute!'' --- a marketing and publishing company. Her office is located in Central New Hampshire, within the oldest, unaltered brick textile mill in the United States. Cathy is quick to say, ''Give a Salute,'' and "I'm honored to co-author books with Bill Bishop, a very talented writer!"

Characters:
Bret, age 16; yet, mentally and physically advanced..................................Bill
Angel, age 16 as well; yet, more sexually advanced than Bret.....Cathy

Cecile............................................................................................................Cathy's Mom

Chapter 1

As I walked into the meadow, I felt angry with God. Why had he taken Grandpa away from me so soon? I stopped, spread my ol' wool blanket on the grass, sat down, wiped the salty tears from my eyes, then returned to my seventh Christmas...

*******

"Grandpa! Why didn't Santa leave me a little red wagon under the tree?" I was determined to plead my case. "I worked hard picking cotton to earn extra money so I could buy him a big treat to eat. I knew he'd be hungry after carrying around all those presents for God's little angels. I'm so disappointed; I wanna cry."

"Aw, Bret, big boys don't cry. But if you just gotta, then go out behind the barn so no one will see you."

"But, I'm not a big boy, Grandpa. I'm still a little one."

*******

Tick Tock goes the clock! Where did the years go? Lying back on the blanket, I watched the beautiful monarch butterflies flying' high into the sky, then disappear as nighttime drew near. Still there after dark, I saw thousands of fireflies light up the sky. I closed my eyes and tried so hard to sleep, but could not. Instead, I continued to weep.

"What am I doing here? Please, God, send an angel down to help me--I'm lonely! Together, we can walk under brighter skies as we travel down the pathway to happiness. Do you hear me, Father, do you... huh?"

"I'm always with you, don't you forget. Yes, I hear you, Bret. Yet, it's going to take an angel who is an expert on human behavior because she must contend with your 'attention-seeking, dramatic way of speaking, rapid shifts in emotion, and self-centered personality.' Have faith in me, my son--I'm looking."

Grandpa's words, "Aw, Bret, big boys don't cry," continued to ring like church bells in my ears. I remembered crystal clear the year before he joined God to help catch a heap of fish for all of his little angels. Times were extremely hard back then, but we somehow managed to fill the cupboard with food, lamps with oil, stocking with treats, and our hearts with the Spirit of Christmas.

I finally fell asleep under the big bright stars, along with the sounds of nighttime creatures that hoot and howl in the meadow. Some of 'em even prowl, but God must've protected me. When I woke, the sky was clear, the sun was shining, but I was still so sad.

"Are you still looking for that special someone, God?" I prayed.

"It's me, Bret! I'm here under the willow tree nearby... and you may call me Angel."

I couldn't believe my eyes! There she was only about ten feet away.

"Oh, my God! Thank you, Father--she's beautiful."

"Just so you know, she is also a black belt in the martial arts, Bret. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

"Aw, that's okay! I'll just watch for her hands and feet. Of course, I'd watch for more, but, you'd get mad at me."

"I, as well, have an insatiable appetite for adventure and romance," Angel said. She crooked her finger, beckoning me.

"Although my name is Angel, don't be fooled by thinking I'm one who doesn't believe in having some fun. So, that being said, why don't we play 'Catch Me If You Can?'"

"Okay, Angel--YA, YA, YA," I said! "Guess what? When I catch you, and I will, I'm gonna kiss you, too!"

"Oh, goody, goody! I'll let you do more than that. You betcha!"

"Oh, my God! Please, tell me, have I died and joined You up there? Or, am I dreaming that Angel has a way with that sway of hers down here? Just look at her over there wiggling this way and that! My word, what a tease! Are you sure this is the Angel you want for me? Of course, You know, that I chase after any beautiful woman who wears a skirt; but, she...well...she's a special one, ain't she?"

"Ordinarily, I'd tell you to watch out for someone like that, but Angel is special, indeed! She's beautiful inside and out, and you will soon find that although she's a playful sort, she's, also, genuine and true. She will love you with all of her heart. However, every person has their cross to bear. Don't forget Bret, along with a great capacity to love comes a great sensitivity. She's not rough and rugged like you. Instead, she's as fragile as a butterfly. Her heart has been broken before and needs to mend. Please, take good care of her. Do it not only for yourself, but also for Me."

"Ready, Get Set, Go...Are you sure you're ready, Beautiful? You know, I can run faster than a squirrel up a tree, and you know as well, you don't stand a chance of outrunning me."

"Run, run, run, Angel! Halfway across the meadow, I caught her, kissed her lips, and Cupid's arrow pierce my heart.

"What a wonderful world I made in six days, Angel! Now, as I did on the seventh day, I'm going to sleep and rest," God whispered down!

Angel and I were exhausted from our run and laid down on the blanket. There was a chill in the air as we snuggled there, but our body heat gave us a treat.

"Aww, my Darling! Did you hear God say He was gonna sleep and rest? So, why don't you and I be kinda naughty, but nice, and see if I can figure out how to unbutton the blouse you're wearing?"

"Hmm! It shouldn't be that hard, Honey, 'cause it only has three buttons. So, what is taking you so long? God will wake up and see us if you don't hurry along."

"Brrr! It's getting a bit chilly, Angel. Would you pull the blanket up around us?"

"Of course, Bret. Oh my God! I've just been bitten by a snake. Please help me Bret!"

*******

Ouch! Will Angel live or die?
Stay with us. . .Chapter 2 is just across the meadow.
Thanks for reading, and your continued support.
May God bless you in the year 2020. . . and always.

Respectfully with Admiration,

Bill (Commando) & Cathy (Tootie)

Author Notes Greetings, our friends! A "Salute" to Cathy for creating the awesome cover. She is an astonishing writer, and I am honored to write at her side. Thank you for following along as we write this "special love story." We encourage comments and suggestions for improvement. Your thoughts matter to us. Hope to see you in Chapter 2. Best wishes wherever you are and God Bless. Respectfully with Admiration, Cathy and Bill.

Chapter 2
A Black Panther for Bret!

By Commando

Author Note:

An Angel in the Meadow Chapter 2

Greetings, Friends!

Cathy Waldron, (aka Tootie) and me, Bill Bishop (aka Commando), co-author this book. Our wish is to make you laugh and cry, then leave you in a state of uncertainty as to what will happen next. We invite you to follow along with us and shall appreciate your feedback and recommendations for improvement. As always, thank you for reading our work and best wishes wherever you are.

~Previously~

"Brrr! It's getting a bit chilly, Angel. Would you pull the blanket up around us?"
"Of course, Bret. Oh my God! I've just been bitten on the hand by a snake. Please help me, Bret!"

~Special Note~
Some words in our book are written in a way that is appropriate for Smoky Mountain folks; yet, are not always gramatically correct. Characters will reflect earlier scenes in their lives and talk with the readers at times. Wider spaces between words are due to full justified formatting.

~Chapter 2~

"Why, God? Why did the snake bite Angel rather than me? You chose her to guide me through the wilderness; yet, You don't guide her. I'm so mad at You, I could scream."

I quickly ran across the meadow, then into Grandpa's barn. I harnessed the ol' blue mule, hooked him to the carriage, then took off lickety-split. I continued to slap rawhide to the mule's backside. The dirt road leading to the meadow was washed out in places by the April rains. Therefore by continuing to haul buggy, I was asking for trouble. "So what?" I thought. My getting Angel to the hospital was all that mattered to me. "Giddy up, Blue!" I yelled.

Upon reaching Angel, I found her unconscious. Quickly wrapping her in a blanket from the buggy, I loaded her onto the carriage, then headed off for the hospital.

*******

Bret was sitting next to me, holding my hand, when I woke up in the hospital.

"Hi, Angel! . . . Can you hear me, Beautiful? A little while ago, I asked the doctor if you were doing better? He replied, 'Hmm! I think so--yet, possibly not. So, I'll think more about it, then let you know.' It's getting so hard to make good sense outta what doctors say anymore. Please, don't worry about yourself 'cause in the blink of an eye, we'll be together in the meadow feeding God's little creatures, lying on the blanket under the willow tree, then I'll play the man with a slow hand . . .and you'll probably slap my face--ouch!"

Suddenly, I couldn't hear Bret anymore. Waves of exhaustion washed over me, and I drifted off to sleep. When I woke, I could hear him once again; yet, I couldn't open my eyes or move any parts of my body. Bret was talking with the doctor about the snake bite. Of course, I remembered crystal clear being rushed to the hospital. Bret was beside himself, and now he was holding my hand once again. Although I couldn't squeeze his, he knew I wanted to. So, he lifted mine, then kissed it gently. Somewhere in my stomach a butterfly fluttered its wings.

I tried to say, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Bret, that I wasn't watching for snakes while we were cuddling under the blanket; yet, my eyes were on your roaming hands. My thoughts were on God, as well, and I was thinking that He had brought me to you to love forever. Although, it seems as though He's taking me away while leaving you to stumble and fall. Of course, that's His call; but, it will shatter my heart apart. So, please, God--spare me for Bret."

Just then, my mind began to race again; my eyesight continued to fail me. I felt deserted as Bret's hand left mine; yet, I knew he was still nearby. Wait a minute . . . I heard another set of footsteps coming closer--click, click, click! Hmm! That's not a man's footsteps--it's a woman's. Who is she, and why is she here? If she's beautiful, wearing a mini skirt, and her top side gets to where she's going ten minutes before the rest of her, then I'm history.

"Oh my word, just look at you ogling me, Bret," I heard her say in a promiscuous way. Sweet Jesus! He must be flirting with her, and how did she know his name was Bret? Jeez! How easily this Smoky Mountain Man strays, and he's doing it while I'm at death's door. Hmm! Maybe I'm already dead.

The chatting stopped. "So, what's going on?" I asked myself. I heard a shuffling--then once again, there was silence. Bret must of gone away with her. Oh my God, he's probably chasing that woman down the hallway, or to a bed in a vacant room. I'm unable to open my eyes to watch him . . . and just look what he does.

"Now, God, I remember You telling me, 'I was gonna need help with Bret and that You were giving me strong chain.' Well, my strong chain is about to break. So, just take me away and be done with it all. I can't stand to have my heart broken, as well. He doesn't love me . . . and never did. If he can walk away from me so easily, then all he felt was an obligation to help me."

I felt so tired and unloved as I fell off to sleep. In my dream, I saw Bret and me lying on the blanket in the meadow. We were unselfishly sharing the awesome creations of God. We, as well, shared hugs and kisses while loving one another. We drank lemonade from our cups in a proud way, knowing how blessed we were for having one another to love while we laughed and talked. We stole away into the tranquility of the moment. Little creatures scampered from here to there. A baby deer nursed from its momma while she ate green leaves from a bush. Momma bear ate honey from a beehive's cone, while baby bear cried for its share. We glowed like fireflies in the night, and our hearts flirted with one another. Later, I awoke from the dream, felt the golden rays of the sun seem to kiss my face, then thanked God for His miracle of life. The days passed like water down the brook, my hospital stay became history, as Bret took me home.

*******

Three days later, Bret and I walked to the willow tree in the meadow. The sun had said goodbye, the Star of David beamed down its hello, and the cool April wind blew gently through the trees. We watched a baby rabbit hop around the ground looking for something to eat. "Come on home with us, long ears, 'cause we have carrots just a waitin' for you," I called. It seemed to smile, then scurried off. "Hmm! That's the first rabbit I've seen that don't like carrots," I said to Angel.

We said goodbye to God's creatures, then began walking home. Somewhere off in the night, a lone wolf called for its mate; yet, she didn't answer. Angel and I traded glances, then I called back, "Aww, don't be mad, my friend. She's probably got a headache. I understand your frustration, 'cause Angel gets 'em too!"

"Shee . . . listen up, Angel! Do you hear something else out there in the dark? Grandpa told me when I was little, 'The darkness has a thousand eyes.' Of course, I always thought it strange, 'cause I never saw 'em; yet, it was probably too dark. From outta the woods nearby came a gut-wrenching scream. I had heard it many times and knew right off it was a black panther.

"Get down on the ground and under the blanket, Angel! Just stay quiet, don't move, and I'll try to distract the panther away from you."

"Oh my God! It's charging you, Bret. 'Please, Father, help him--are You listenin?'"

The panther hit me like a mule kicks and knocked me on my . . .oh, you know, our friends! I tried to protect myself; yet, the effort failed. I felt its teeth sink deep into my flesh. I looked to the sky--with a tear in my eye, then asked God, "Why the dark clouds and rain? What is the purpose of sadness and pain? Sunshine, alone, is not what life brings. There has to be a balance to everything. Ah, yes, I know, God . . . the beauty of a rose, has its thorns; yet, You have my soul to hold." I rolled into a ball--then waited for the inevitable.

*******

Aww, shucks! Cathy and I left you hanging.
Beat us with a stick if you must; yet, just come join us in Chapter 3.
Thanks for reading our work, your support, and God Bless.
Respectfully with Admiration, Bill (aka Commando) and Cathy (aka Tootie).

Author Notes Greetings, friends--we're back again! Please join me in a "SALUTE" to Cathy for designing/printing the awesome book cover. In fourteen words or less, "She is an astonishing writer, and I'm honored to write at her side." Now . . . a "SALUTE" to all of you for following along as we write this "SPECIAL LOVE STORY." We encourage your comments and suggestions for improvement. Your thoughts matter to us. Hope to see you in Chapter 3, 'cause you won't believe what Angel does to Bret--goody, goody! Best wishes wherever you are and God Bless. Respectfully with Admiration, Cathy and Bill.

Chapter 2
My Jigsaw Puzzle!

By Commando

Author Note:

My Jigsaw Puzzle, The missing Piece, Chapter 2

*********************************************************************************************************************

Author Notes *********************************************************************

Chapter 3
A Brown Recluse!

By Commando

Author Note:

Angel in the Meadow, Chapter 3

Greetings, Friends!
Cathy Waldron (aka Tootie), and me, Bill Bishop (aka Commando) are co-authors of this book. Our wish is to make you laugh and cry, then leave you in a state of uncertainty as to what will happen next. We invite you to follow along with us, and shall appreciate your feedback and recommendations for improvement. As always, thank you for reading our work, best wishes wherever you are, and God Bless.
Respectfully,
Cathy and Bill

~Previously~

The panther hit me like a mule kicks and knocked me on my tail. I tried to protect myself; yet, the effort failed. I felt its teeth sink deep into my flesh. I looked to the sky--with a tear in my eye, then asked God, "Why the dark clouds and rain? What is the purpose of sadness and pain? Sunshine, alone, is not what life brings. There has to be a balance to everything. Ah, yes, I know, God. . . the beauty of a rose, has its thorns; yet, You have my soul to hold." I rolled into a ball--then waited for the inevitable.

*Special Note*

Some words in our book are written in a way that is appropriate for Smoky Mountain folks; yet, are not always understood in the real world. Characters will reflect earlier scenes in their lives, and shall, as well, talk to the readers at times. Wider spaces between words are due to full justified formatting.

~Chapter 3~

Bret awoke to the sound of my voice, although he could not see me due to the bandage wrap covering his head and eyes.

"Please, God, help me! The pain is unbearable." Bret cried.

Tears ran down my face like water in a Smoky Mountain brook as he prayed. It was hard for me to accept this was happening. "Why Bret, Father?" I called. A nurse came into the room, then gave him a shot. "This is for your pain and to calm you down," she reassured him. Soon he was sleeping again.

My hands trembled, knees shook; yet, I didn't want to leave Bret alone for a second. However, I decided to go to the chapel and say a prayer while he was sleeping. My soulmate had to live, 'cause if he didn't, I'd want to die as well. As I walked, a thought came to mind, "God wouldn't send me 'The Love of my Life,' only to take him away. Oh, no! He wouldn't do that--Would you, Father?"

The chapel was dark with the exception of a few lit candles. They flickered in the front corner alongside the altar and cast shadows on the words, "Prayers for departed souls!" Oh, gosh! Departed souls were not two words I wanted to associate with right now. I stepped into a pew, knelt down, closed my eyes, clenched my hands together, then prayed.

"Dear God, please don't take my handsome mountain man from me. You united us for a reason, didn't ya? So, give us time to love and enjoy one another. Since we've bonded together, its been hard. I've been bitten by a poisonous snake; yet, You sent Bret to save my life. Now, he's been mauled by a black panther and is at death's door. The doctor doesn't think he's gonna make it--is he, Father? Are you saying, 'We can't be soulmates, after all?' What am I to do now?"

"Just keep on praying, my child--that'll work!"

The thought of losing Bret made my heart skip a beat. Could I live without him?. . . don't think so! "Are You listening, God? I'm bargaining with you. I'll do whatever it takes!"

"Just look and listen to me, Angel!"

*******

The days walked away, Bret came home, and we burned the bridges of the past. He became stronger day-by-day, as I kissed the pain away. Today, as we strolled through the meadow, we watched the butterflies soar high into the sky, then whatever. ("Did you ever wonder what they do up there, friends?") I looked at Bret, smiled promiscuously, then crooked my finger.

"Before we play catch me if you can on the blanket, I gotta say, 'God choose me to watch over you, handsome. Since, you have walked straight into my heart, then on into my soul. For sometime now, we have shared our dreams with one another and each little secret became our secret! I've always picked you up when you stumbled and fell. I've, as well, tried to lead you along the pathway to happiness. Of course, that has not been easy--oh, no! There's one thing I gotta know, do you plan on leaving me one day?'"

"Hush, my darling! I shall never leave you--God willing. However, the years will walk away, our hair will turn a silver gray, our ol' bones will pop and ache; yet, we'll have miles to go before we sleep. So, c'mon, Honey--take my hand, and let's tra-la-la through the meadow. Sway with me, Angel! Twist it, Baby, as only you can do. Then we'll shake-a-leg, and do the shag as I whisper, I LOVE YOU!"

"Aww, look over yonder by the willow tree, Bret! See the baby rabbit? Please, catch it for me--will ya huh?"

"I'll do my best, Angel! So, run, run, run--little one, 'cause I'm gonna catch ya if I can! Golly Gee! It outran me and jumped in a hole. It is the second thing in my life that I never caught."

"Oh, really! Well, what was the first thing, Handsome?"

"A beautiful blond woman, 'bout my age, who was running naked in the sage before God chose you for me!"

"Jeez! Please, tell me, God. . . why did you let the doctor drop Bret on his head at birth? This mountain man is literally driving me bonkers. From all of the other angels You could have chosen to help him, why me, Lord?"

"I'm sorry, Angel! Were you talking to me?"

"No, Bret! I was talking to God."

"I betcha that you were flirtin' with Him!"

"Oh, I was not, you silly gander! Now, hush-up, 'cause He'll hear you and get angry."

"God doesn't get angry, Beautiful. We are all destined to die; yet, it's only after death that He will determine our eternal life. Grandpa told me this when I was nine. Of course, Grandma told me again when I was ten."

"Oh, my goodness! Your little stories are making me sleepy. I'm gonna snuggle on the blanket and take a nap. Now, don't ya kiss on me while I sleep. . . do you hear me?"

"For your information, when the doctor dropped me on the floor, I could never hear good anymore. (Don't ya laugh, friends, 'cause it could have happened to you, too!")

As Angel slept, a heap of love crept into my heart. My mind returned to an earlier time, and I remembered whispering these words to her: "The branches on our willow tree in the meadow, from which our love was conceived, are swaying endlessly into the depth of my soul. Can't ya hear my heart beat faster, as it engulfs the blissful elation? I feel myself being overwhelmed with love so graceful that my mind becomes a blank horizon. I can't see nor hear anything other than your presence, which is all I desire--your beautiful essence. A timeless sense of joy envelopes my awaiting heart because this is what I really wanted from the start. This love I feel--is truly real. You are all that I always hoped for, my darling."

"Wake up, Angel! Shake it, shake it! Cause one day we're gonna get married in the chapel, and the bells will ring and the angels sing. Of course, I'll not be wearing shoes, 'cause I haven't any; yet, I'll paint my feet huckleberry blue, will that do?"

"Aww, Bret! Of course, huckleberry blue will do, 'cause that's my favorite color. Don't ya remember when you got lucky? Yoo Hoo!"

"Come quick, Angel," called Grandma from the cabin. "Your mother has been bitten by a Brown Recluse spider."

Bret and I quickly ran up the hill to help; yet, my momma said, "It's okay, 'cause I slapped it away before it could inject the poison into my hand. Now, you two go back into the meadow and talk to God's little creatures."

"Listen to your momma, Angel. . . and c'mon."

I ran like a purebred horse in a derby. Bret ran in close pursuit! Of course, I had to slow down if he was to catch me in the tall grass, kiss my lips tenderly, then whatever else we choose to do. Hope to see you in Chapter 4.

Author Notes Greetings, Friends! First. . . a "SALUTE," to Cathy for the prestigious artwork and book cover. She is an "AWESOME WRITER," and it is an honor to write at her side. As always, thanks for following along as we write this "Special Love Story." We encourage your thoughts, comments, and suggestions for improvement. We hope to see you in chapter 4. Best wishes wherever you are and God Bless. Respectfully with Admiration, Cathy and Bill.

Chapter 4
An Angel in the Meadow-Chapter 4

By Commando

Greetings Friends!

Cathy Waldron (aka Tootie) and Bill Bishop (aka Commando) are co-authors of this book. Our wish is to make you laugh and cry, then leave you in a state of uncertainty of what will happen next. We invite you to follow along chapter after chapter with your feedback and recommendations for improvement. As always, thank you for reading, best wishes wherever you are, and God Bless. Respectfully with Admiration, Cathy and Bill.

~Previously~

"Come quick, Angel," called Grandma from the cabin. "Your mother has been bitten by a brown recluse spider." Bret and I ran up the hill to help; yet, my momma called, "It's okay, Angel, 'cause I slapped the spider away before it could inject the poison into my hand. I'm all right! So, you two steal away to the meadow, spread the blanket under the willow tree, cuddle up, then whatever!"

"Mind what your momma said, Angel. Hurry along, 'cause if you don't, the blond across the mountain will steal your cuddling place."

"Oh, she will not, you silly gander! 'Cause she loves cuddling on the hay like your Grandpa and Grandma does, remember?"

*******

I ran like a purebred horse in a derby. Bret ran in close pursuit. Of course I had to slow down so he could catch me in the tall grass, lay me on the blanket, cuddle, kiss my lips, then . . . "Any suggestions, Friends?"

Special Note!

Some words in our book are written in a way that is appropriate for Smoky Mountain folks; yet, are not always grammatically correct. Characters will reflect earlier scenes in their lives and shall, as well, talk to the readers at times. Although Angel and Bret are only 16-years-old at the beginning of the book, they appear and act much older. Wider spaces between words are due to full justified formatting.

~Chapter 4~

Oh, I caught her, alright; yet, I'll not say what we did then, 'cause Jesus is listening.

"Geez! Just look at the size of that rabbit over yonder, Angel."

"Wow! It's a whopper, Bret. Good thing you brought your shotgun, huh?"

"You, betcha! Don't move, Beautiful."

As I blew the smoke from the end of my shotgun barrel, we watched the rabbit do its final earthly hop.

"Yay! It must weigh ten pounds, Angel. So, I'll hang it on the tree limb over there, then pick it up on our way back to the cabins."

Slowly walking, quietly stalking, we moved from the meadow into the woods. We saw three squirrels on the limb of a tall oak tree. Boom! Boom! Boom! Once again, more fresh meat for the table--yummy, yummy! It was around two miles from where we stood to our little log cabins; so, before we started out, Angel and I answered nature's call. I stood my shotgun against the tree, then we began our business. Of course, Angel squatted in the tall grass, and I stood behind the tree. (That's the best we could do at the time, friends.)

Suddenly, we heard a growling sound from behind us. We turned and saw a grizzly bear charging our way.

"C'mon, Angel! Get behind me while I get my shotgun and shoot the critter."

"Look, Bret! It's running away. Why?"

At that moment, we heard a baby bear crying; then, momma grizzly ran into the woods.

"Aww, she's gonna feed her baby--how sweet! Do you realize that baby bear saved our lives, Bret? Kinda strange, wouldn't you say, Handsome?"

"Well, you know best of all that God works in strange ways, Beautiful. Otherwise, He'd never have chosen you to try and keep me outta harm's way."

"Oh, why do you say that, Bret?"

"Cause I could never figure it out. Therefore, you're gonna have to ask God."

"Okay, I'll ask Him; yet, there are times He just smiles and says, 'Have faith, My child! Jesus will explain to you the reasons why someday at His supper table over a glass of wine.' But, Bret, God knows I'm not of age to have any wine yet!"

Angel sighed and left my side. She walked a few feet away, knelt down in the tall grass, looked up toward the bright blue sky, and softly cried while she prayed, "Father, will you please tell me why You chose me to care for Bret? He sure can be a handful at times, not to mention his wandering eyes when any girl with a skirt passes by! Of course, you know his Grandpa passed along to him his gene of attracting attention through his exuberance, confidence, the desire to be the center of attention, and the love of being provocative. So, can You help me handle him, God?"

"Hmm! Keep the faith, Angel! Once again, I'll pass this on to Jesus to explain things to you and help you with Bret. I'm confident He can; yet, He'll probably need a second glass of wine in order to do so."

*******
"Bret, there's dark clouds forming in the west. Don't you think it's best we get on home?"

"You, betcha, Darlin'!" Quickly retrieving my shotgun, gathering up the rabbit and squirrels, we headed for home. The two mile walk became history; yet, what we did on the blanket under the willow tree remained a mystery.

After Grandpa and I cleaned the fresh meat, hung it in the smokehouse to cook, the sun said goodbye, and the moon said hi. I did my barnyard chores, then hurried indoors, jumped into the ol' bath tub, and scrubbed all the places I could reach. I was exhausted from the day's activity and went to bed. Somewhere outside my window a whippoorwill called for its mate. Getting no answer, it must've went to sleep. "Good idea," I whispered to myself.

*******

In my dream, the years of my life came soaring back like an eagle. I was attending school, church, tilling the soil, planting corn, cotton seed, and praying for rain. God was awake, heard my prayer, then sent the rain down all around. I whispered, "Thank You, God," as I watched the beauty of my labors flourish.

The beginning of my tenth year was suddenly before my eyes and, to recall, it was heart-wrenching. That year, my Grandpa's brother died suddenly while telling me a story about Santa on my birthday. All of the family gave him a funeral the following Friday afternoon.

There were a heap of folks who came, including farmers in overalls with white shirts and black ties. Most of their wives wore pleated skirts with white blouses and bonnets trimmed in black. There were a half-dozen who wore coats of many colors to protect them from the cold.

On my eleventh birthday, Grandpa's sister flew up to join her brother. Oh, what a happy reunion it must have been. In the stillness of the night, I seemed to hear angels singing, "Glory, Glory Hallelujah, we're together again." The remaining months of my eleventh year were like a prison; it was near impossible to escape the memories of yesterday.

*******

"Rise and shine, Bret," Grandma called. "Breakfast is on the table. It's Saturday, there's no school, and Angel's already here waiting for you."

Golly! "Did I sleep that long?" I whispered to myself. Quickly jumping from bed, I pulled my clothes on, then headed for the kitchen.

"Yay, yay! We're on our way. We're gonna lay in the tall grass on our blanket. Then off we'll go to see a show in the cave. So, before you go and fly away, Angel, let me show you 'round today."

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Bret! Stop fooling around, 'cause you're gonna embarrass Grandma."

"No way, Baby Baby, 'cause Grandma's had her day in the hay with Grandpa."

"Oh, my God, why have You forsaken me? I need help to control this sixteen-year-old flirty mountain soul, remember?"

"My child! As I said before, I'll pass it on to Jesus; yet, He hasn't any wine left, and I don't think He's ready for this one."

*******

Angel and I played the game, "Catch Me if You Can," on our way through the meadow. Of course, there were a couple of times she asked me to behave as we sashayed on into the cave.

"Wow! Quite an astonishing sight to behold, Bret!"

"Why of course, my pet! Now, let's move back along the pathway from where we came, okay?"

"Oh, no! I'm not believin' this, Bret. Did you hear that? It sounded strange. Could it be an illusion? It appears that the entrance to the cave has been sealed off by fallen rocks, and we're trapped inside. 'Why, God?' What are we gonna do, Bret?"

"Well, for a start . . . we can buy Jesus another bottle of wine, Angel."

"Aww. shucks! Our leaving you hanging
was Cathy's fault. Hope to see ya in Chapter 5. God Bless.
Cathy and Bill

Author Notes A "SALUTE," to Cathy for the prestigious artwork and book cover. It is an honor to write at her side. Thanks for following along as we write this "Special Love Story." As always, we encourage your thoughts, comments, and suggestions for improvement. We hope to see you in Chapter 5. Best wishes wherever you are and God Bless. Respectfully with Admiration, Cathy and Bill.

Chapter 5
The Boulder!

By Commando

Greetings, Friends!

Cathy Waldron (aka Tootie) and Bill Bishop (aka Commando) are co-authors of this book. Our wish is to make you laugh and cry, then leave you in a state of uncertainty as to what will happen next. We invite you to follow along and shall appreciate your feedback and recommendations for improvement. As always, thank you for reading and best wishes wherever you are. Respectfully with Admiration, Cathy and Bill.

Previously . . .

"Oh, no! I'm not believin' this, Bret. Did you see that? It looked strange. Could it be an illusion? It appears that the entrance to the cave has been sealed off by fallen rocks, and we're trapped inside. What are we gonna do, Honey?"

"Well, Angel! For a start, we can buy Jesus another bottle of wine on our way up."

*******
Special Note!

Some words are written in a way that is appropriate for mountain folks; yet, are not always grammatically correct. Characters, at times, will reflect earlier scenes in their lives. They shall, as well, actually talk with the readers. Wider spaces between words are due to the use of "fully justified formatting."

~Chapter 5~

"Will you stop jokin' at a time like this, Bret! We could die here. I can hardly breathe. Oh my God! Don't you remember I'm claustrophobic?" Angel began hyperventilating, got dizzy, and almost fell down. Bret quickly grabbed hold of her.

"Get a grip on yourself, Sweetheart. I may not have much else but lovin' on my mind all the time, but I sure do know how to dig us outta here. Don't you fear, Beautiful. It's gonna be alright, and soon enough, we'll see the daylight again."

Bret got down on his hands and knees and started moving some of the rocks that had fallen. Finally regaining her composure, Cathy knelt down next to him to help. She reached to move a big rock, but it wouldn't budge. Bending over a little more, her skirt lifted up showin' her pink panties. Brett yelled, "Wow!" Of course the rest you'll find in the history book!

"Angel! Why don't we hunker down here, spend the night together, then tomorrow we can go home and tell everyone it took all night to dig our way out. Sounds like a good plan, huh?"

"Of course however, what do you expect us to do while we're spending the night together?"

"Awww everyone is allowed to ask a silly question every now and then, Beautiful!"

*******

"Brrr! It's getting cold in here, Angel. I'm gonna make a fire over there outta someone's busted picnic basket and the twigs that blew in before the rockslide. In my pack, I have a pint of Grandpa's moonshine whiskey that I can use as fuel and a book of matches to light it. So, c'mon, Baby . . . let's snuggle up on the blanket, then become a hunk of burning love!"

"Honey, let's take it slow. We got all night. Why, your hands are all over me. Whattaya think? I'm gonna change my mind and leave? I can't go anywhere, remember? Besides, you ain't holdin' me against my will. As a matter of fact, this is quite a thrill . . . spending the night with my beautiful mountain man!"

*******

"Bret! Are you asleep? I thought I heard a growl; yet, maybe I was dreamin'! I don't want to give in to an imaginary fear, but suddenly I'm shakin'!"

"Sheee! It was a growl, Angel. I heard it, too!"

"Oh, Dear Lord! Did it occur to you that by makin' this grand plan of our sleeping here tonight that someone or something might live here?"

"Don't move, Angel! The growl is coming closer; yet, it's so dark, I can't see what's making it. Now, get behind me quick! If it attacks, I'll protect you as best I can with my hunting knife."

"Sweet Jesus! I can see it now, it's a grizzly bear, Bret . . . and there's a baby, too! What are we gonna do? You can't kill that baby's mama!"

"Okay! Then what do you propose I do?"

"Maybe we can gather around the fire, stoke it up, and the flames will frighten Mama. Of course, we can ask God to send down help for us, as well."

"Just in case He's asleep, you crawl into that crevice in the wall. I want you to quickly wedge yourself in it as far as you can go. Then, there'll be no way the bear can harm you. Knowing you're okay, I'll do my best to get the mama bear to leave us alone, but if that doesn't work, then I gotta protect us."

"Please be careful, Honey! I can't live without you!"

"Well, if the grizzly gets me, just remember how much I love you. Nothing will ever separate us. If I must die, know that my spirit will always be with you."

"Watch out, Bret! She's chargin' you!"

Without any time to react, the bear attacked. Its long claws dug deep into my shoulder as I began stabbing the grizzly's throat with my hunting knife. Despair overtook me and I curled up in a ball. I felt helpless as the bear continued to claw at me, bouncing me around the cave like a rubber ball. Finally, appearing weak from the loss of blood, Mama Bear retreated. She slowly walked away with the baby following close behind. They went deep into the cave and outta sight as someone turned out my light.

********

"Oh my God! Bret's dead," Angel screamed. She got out of the crevice, then ran to his side. Cradling him, she broke down and cried. "Why, Lord, why? You brought me down to take care of Bret; yet, I didn't. None of this would have happened if I hadn't bent over too far and showed off my pink panties."

The earth began to tremble. Big hunks of rock were falling all around as the cave walls came crumbling down. Although Bret had protected me from the bear, it seemed that I wasn't gonna make it outta here alive. Bret began to move his head in my lap, then it appeared he was talking to someone.

*******

"Grandpa! Why is the angel on our Christmas tree cryin'? Do ya think it's 'cause of Baby Jesus dying?"

"Of course, it is, Bret; yet, she's cryin' happy tears . . . and not sad ones!"

"Awww, Grandpa! I ain't ever heard of happy tears."

"Well, our Angel is cryin,' 'cause she watched the crucifixion of Jesus that taught us His death provided the perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins of all humankind. She heard a voice sayin', 'Don't be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, and He's not here; He has risen!' His Spirit didn't die, and every year she shares this joy on his birthday which is Christmas Day."

"How do we know Jesus' Spirit is alive still, Grandpa?"

"Good question, Bret. Jesus is the Light of the World. That's why our Angel is a glowin' and cryin' happy tears. Look around you. When something reaches your heart, like baby deer feedin' near, or them little rabbits scampering all about, you'll feel loved. Love comes from above, and it's Jesus' spirit 'cause that's what He's made of."

*******

All of a sudden, Bret opened his eyes, looked up at me, then said, "Angel, I ain't dead yet, but if I do die, don't you worry 'cause Grandpa told me I'd be with Jesus someday, and I'll join His spirit when He walks through the meadow. Watch for me and you'll see that there's no way you and I shall ever part."

"Bret, don't you dare die on me!" At that moment, a large boulder came crashing down on the both of us.

~~~~~~~

Ouch! Sorry for leavin' y'all hangin'! Hope you enjoyed and will join

us in chapter 6. Best wishes and God Bless.

Respectfully with Admiration,

Cathy and Bill

Author Notes A "SALUTE" to Cathy for the "Prestigious artwork and book cover." It is an honor to co-author this novel with her. She is an "Awesome writer," and I thank God for sending her to me. Thanks for following along as we write this "Special Love Story." We encourage your thoughts, comments, and suggestions for improvements.

One of thousands of stories, poems and books available online at FanStory.com
You've read it - now go back to FanStory.com to comment on each chapter and show your thanks to the author!