Free Touched By Angels by Debbie Macomber Page A

set.” Ellen looked up, surprised. “Is something wrong?”
    “No . . . the funniest thing just happened.” Peggy slapped the side of her head, hoping that would help.
    “What?” Ellen was curious now.
    “The words a chess set echoed in my ear. Three times, and each time I swear I was hearing a different voice.”
    “I still think it’s an excellent idea,” Ellen said, and replaced her shoe. “Are you sure you won’t come to the toy store with me?”
    “Ah . . .” Peggy hesitated, then found herself agreeing. “Sure,” she mumbled, “why not?” For the life of her, she couldn’t imagine why she was doing such a thing. “Who knows, maybe Craig would be interested in learning how to play chess himself,” she said to justify her actions. After all, it was a good idea. Her son would enjoy learning the game.
    Peggy leaned back on her chair. Abruptly she shook her head, then repeatedly slapped her hand against her ear. “It happened again,” she said incredulously.
    “You heard the words a chess set?”
    “No,” Peggy said, and shook her head like a dog fresh out of the water. “It was the same three voices, only this time they said . . .”
    “Yes,” Ellen prodded.
    “You aren’t going to believe this.” Peggy wasn’t entirely sure she believed it herself. “Piece of cake,” she mumbled, and shrugged, completely baffled.

    “Oh, my,” Shirley said, pointing into the distance. “Brynn Cassidy’s in trouble.” It was just what she’d expected would happen.
    “Trouble?” Mercy repeated. “What’s wrong?”
    Cocky with their success, Goodness brushed the grit from her hands. “Trouble’s our middle name. Brynn doesn’t have a thing to worry about.”
    “Brynn might not, but we do,” Mercy said, looking skeptical. “Gabriel isn’t going to like this one bit. Not after the warning he gave us to stay away from her.”
    “Brynn’s car won’t start,” Shirley informed her friends, her voice growing more concerned. “And I don’t like the looks of those men, either.” Clad in black leather jackets, two men stood on the other side of the chain-link fence, watching Brynn.
    Brynn climbed out of her car and opened the hood. She cast a wary eye toward the men.
    “If ever I’ve seen anyone with evil intentions, it’s those two,” Shirley informed her friends.
    “They’ve got knives,” Mercy said, tugging on Goodness’s sleeve.
    “We’ve got to do something,” Shirley cried, hoping to hide her panic.
    “You don’t dare,” Goodness insisted, gripping Shirley by the arm and stopping her. “Mercy’s right. If Gabriel finds out, it’d be just the excuse he’s looking for to stick us with guard duty.”
    “Then I’ll take matters into my own hands,” Shirley insisted.
    “Talk to Gabriel,” Mercy suggested. “Goodness and I can keep those two thugs occupied while you reason this out with him.”
    “Did I hear someone mention my name?” Gabriel appeared just then, startling the three angels.
    “Gabriel,” Shirley said boldly, “we need to talk.”
    “Indeed we do. What’s this I hear about Peggy Houle experiencing hearing problems?”
    Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy clammed up so fast their teeth made clicking sounds when their jaws closed.
    “I strongly suspect a bit of . . . intercession.”
    “I have a question of my own.” Shirley stepped forward and bravely confronted the archangel. “Exactly whom have you assigned to work with Brynn Cassidy?”
    Gabriel hesitated. “As a matter of course, I hadn’t gotten around to choosing anyone just yet.”
    This was all Shirley needed to hear. “It’s exactly as I suspected,” she turned to inform her two friends with an indignant huff. “In the meantime Brynn Cassidy flounders, while heaven looks on unconcerned.”
    When she dared, Shirley chanced a look in his direction. “I want in,” she informed Gabriel, her hand braced against her hip.
    “What makes you think you can handle this case?” Gabriel’s intense