Free Samantha's Gift by Valerie Hansen Page B

I have a dog, Schatzy, you could play with.”
    â€œYou have a dog? Really?”
    â€œYes. And a cat. Muffin. But she’s pretty old so she isn’t nearly as much fun. She gets kind of grumpy sometimes.”
    â€œMrs. Brody is old, too.”
    Amused, Rachel followed the childish reasoning. “And grumpy?”
    â€œSometimes.”
    â€œWell, I know she doesn’t mean to be.”
    â€œI wish I could come live with you,” Samantha said. Her grasp on Rachel’s neck tightened.
    â€œI’m afraid that’s impossible. If I took my whole class home with me, poor Schatzy would go crazy. Besides, you see me in school every day.”
    â€œWhat if I have to move? I do that a lot, since…”
    â€œI know, honey,” Rachel said, gently stroking her back to comfort her. “Don’t worry, okay? Everything will be fine.”
    â€œPromise?” There was a quaver in Samantha’s voice.
    â€œI promise.”
    Rachel knew she had no business promising happiness to anyone, let alone a child caught in the midst of life’s trials. Yet she couldn’t help herself. Not in this case. There was no way to make a five-year-old understand that sometimes bad things happened for good reasons. Convincing grown-ups of that concept was hard enough, even though it had a basis in scripture.
    â€œHumph,” Rachel mumbled as she made her way back to the pew where her mother and Hannah waited. Grown-ups is right. I believe that God is in charge of my life, yet half the time I don’t understand why bad things have to happen, so how can I hope to explain it to anyone else, let alone a child?
    She looked up. Her steps slowed. Speaking of bad things… Apparently, it wasn’t even safe to come to church anymore. Not with her mother and Mrs. Brody in the same congregation.
    Assessing the situation, Rachel stared. Martha and Hannah had scooted farther into the pew to make more room. The problem was, Craig was now sitting with them and the only empty space left was right next to him! Well, it was going to stay empty.
    Continuing to hold Samantha, she approached the others. “I’ve decided to take my little friend to Children’s Church.”
    â€œYou’re coming back, aren’t you?” Martha asked with a sidelong glance toward Craig.
    â€œProbably not,” Rachel said. “You know me. I get along with kids better than I do with adults. I’llprobably stay to help whoever is running the program this morning.”
    That said, she spun around and headed back down the aisle toward the haven beyond the official sanctuary. There was nothing wrong with worshiping the Lord in the company of children, she assured herself. After all, their faith was pure, not all cluttered up with ritual and hidden agendas the way many adults’ was.
    â€œMine included,” she murmured.
    Samantha noticed. “What?”
    â€œNothing, honey.” Rachel gave her a parting hug, bent to set her back on her feet, then released her and took her hand. “Come on. You and I are going to a special church service just for kids.”
    â€œI know,” the child told her, looking up with innocent adoration. “Angels always do.”
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    By the time the main worship service concluded and Rachel rejoined her mother, Craig was nowhere to be seen. She couldn’t help showing relief.
    â€œHere’s your purse and your Bible,” Martha said, holding them out. “You left them here when you ran off.”
    â€œI didn’t run anywhere,” Rachel said. “I walked.”
    â€œThere’s more ways to run than with your feet,” her mother argued. “Well, no matter. Craig’s long gone. You missed your chance.”
    â€œThank heavens for small favors.”
    Martha sighed. She eyed the petite blond girl clinging to her daughter’s hand and gazing up at her lovingly. “Speaking of small, how did you two like