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"That’s ducks in a row, and it’s a valid point," Shirley insisted

"Perhaps But what do you think Gabriel will think once he learns about the stunt you pulled?" Mercy wagged her finger at her friend "And so soon after our arrival on earth, too"

"I had to do sohteously "It was apparent Maureen wasn’t going to call the stables Goodness slapped that brochure across her windshield, and the wootten about the whole thing That brochure could have stayed in the backseat of her car for months"

"One question" This caht "Did you know Thoe as Karen?"

"No That caht add"

Goodness nodded "Have you ever noticed how neatly everything seems to fall into place for Shirley?" she asked Mercy

Shirley stiffened "That’s not necessarily true"

"Do you need a lecture on being good and staying away fros of earth?" Mercy asked This was re Shirley would ask her if their situations were reversed

"Well, there is one s," Shirley admitted

"Really?" Goodness and Mercy were all ears

"In the last feeeks with Karen…"

"Yes?"

"I’ve felt a certain curiosity toward horseslessons, and, well…"

"Yes?"

"Well…"

"You want to ride?" Mercy couldn’t believe what she was hearing Froed, you know" Goodness was ever the opti the impossible

"Goodness," Mercy cried Her friend had lost it Angels, prayer aallop across the countryside on the backs of animals She said so and was pros in their tenure

Before long the three were standing inside the corral with half a dozen beasts running circles around thee of ani her time, Shirley opted for a beautiful white mare

"You’re sure about this?" Mercy asked, uncertain even now that Shirley was doing the right thing She’d hate to be called back to heaven for so so silly If she was slated for trouble, it should be for so worth their while, like a visit to Hollywood Mercy could get real interested in the ently rested her fra down at her two friends, "this isn’t nearly as difficult as I assuently kicked her feet against the mare’s sides until the feisty filly started to trot

"Hey, look atone arm in the air like a rodeo rider

"Great," Goodness said

"Say, do you tant to ride next?" Shirley asked

"Ahh…"

"No thanks"

The horse started to gallop, and before anyone could do anything to stop her, the mare raced at breakneck speed for the fence Shirley let out a wild scream of alarm

The mare stopped abruptly just before she reached the wooden poles

Shirley cried out as she went sliding ingloriously into the air, landing with a solid thu her out

"Who would have believed it," Shirley said, brushing the straw from her arms "Horses are vicious beasts They’re certainly not to be trusted"

11

"I thought I’d find you here," Blythe said to Ted, s broadly as if she’d been expected She directed her attention to his grandain, Mrs Goodwin"

"Catherine," his grandain,what to say "Is so at the office?"

Blythe cast hiest such a thing "Nothing like that It’s just that I haven’t seen hide nor hair of you in days"

Ted found that re since she’d broken their last date Blythe sat on the chair Ted had vacated and picked up the e voice, "you haven’t been eating cookies again, have you?"

"Would you care for a cup of tea, dear?" Catherine offered, distracting her