Free Morning Light by Catherine Anderson

about.”
    â€œYou don’t seriously believe she’s on the level?” Clint searched his father’s dark eyes. “We’re Catholic. It’s against the tenets of our faith to believe in stuff like that.”
    â€œI’m quite familiar with the guidelines of the Roman Catholic Church,” Frank reminded his son. “And if you were talkin’ about a woman in a Gypsy caftan, using smoke, veils, and a crystal ball, or someone chanting over tea leaves, I’d completely agree that she was far-out, probably a fake, or worse, calling upon dark forces to foretell the future. The Church asks us to avoid things like that, and rightly so. It keeps us out of trouble. But I’m not sure we’re comparin’ apples to apples. It sounds to me as if Loni MacEwen may be a genuine clairvoyant who only wants to help a little boy. There’s certainly nothin’ evil in her intent, as far as I can see. Has she tried to milk you for money?”
    â€œNo. I didn’t get that impression. I just find it difficult to believe her story.”
    Frank shook his head. “What of all the great saints who had visions? And what of the men who wrote the Bible? The Book of Revelation was revealed to John in a dream. That isn’t to mention all the other ancient prophets and prophetesses we read about in scripture. Do you think all of that’s a bunch of tripe?”
    â€œNo, of course not.” Clint pushed at the country-blue pepper shaker. “But those people were inspired by God and had a divine message to deliver.”
    â€œIf people like that existed in biblical times, why not now?” Frank countered. “That isn’t to say I believe Ms. MacEwen is a prophetess, but I can’t rule out the possibility that her ability may be a God-given gift.”
    Dee Dee rested a loving hand on her husband’s arm. “I have to side with your dad, Clint. I’m from a devout Catholic family, but my grandmother was a clairvoyant.”
    Clint arched an eyebrow. “You’re kidding.”
    â€œI wouldn’t joke at a time like this. It’s a very grave situation. Grandma Stevenson was a very religious woman. She read the Bible, attended daily Mass, and prayed the rosary every day of her adult life. There was certainly nothing evil about her, but she did have second sight. Not to the degree that Loni MacEwen claims to have, but she still amazed us sometimes. Once while visiting my mother, she jumped up and said she had to go, that Grandpa had just cut his leg with the chain saw. By the time we got to their house, Grandpa had a tourniquet on his thigh to slow the bleeding, and all we could do was rush him to the hospital.” Dee Dee lifted her hands. “Sometimes people have extraordinary gifts that the rest of us can’t understand or explain. What of that saint who was able to be in two different places at once? That was actually documented. Don’t you suppose there are people of other faiths who wonder if he wasn’t a charlatan—or colluding with dark forces to enable him to do that?”
    Clint had known Dee Dee too many years to suspect her of lying. He could only shake his head in amazement. “So both of you think Loni MacEwen may have been telling me the God’s honest truth?”
    â€œI wouldn’t rule out the possibility,” Frank said. “If she isn’t a psychic, how in hell did she know so many details about the raftin’ accident before it became public knowledge? Pretty impressive, if you ask me. And as far as I can see, she has no ulterior motive. Why not take her at face value until she does or says somethin’ that exposes her as a fraud?”
    Even as Clint nodded, his mind balked at the possibility that Loni MacEwen was a genuine clairvoyant. “Well, thanks for talking to me. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
    â€œJust don’t think on it too long,” his father warned.