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"I wasn&039;t going to take the cart for a spin or anything," Mercy protested

"But you did think about it"

Shirley knew her all too well "I considered it" Mercy sighed heavily "But I&039;hts of fancy" This thing was alolf cart (there&039;d been that unfortunate incident at the Augusta golf course) but if Shirley wasn&039;t going to say anything, Mercy certainly wouldn&039;t, either

"You&039;re not to encourage her," Shirley warned Goodness

"Moi?" The other angel brought her hand to her heart with an expression of pure innocence

Shirley claiht we should confer before we start our assignments," she said

Mercy didn&039;t knohen Shirley had been put in charge or begun sounding so self-important She obviously saw herself as their boss; this didn&039;t sit right with Mercy, but she&039;d do whatever it took to finish her assignment

"We each have an i at a podiue crowd She tilted her chin upward and spoke in deep, resounding tones "This is our opportunity to prove ourselves once and for all to Gabriel and - " she paused, seely for effect " - to God"

"Gabriel and God," Mercy and Goodness dutifully repeated, their eyes hteously, "no, our duty, to teach these humans a lesson from our heavenly Father before we answer their prayer requests"

"Our duty," Mercy and Goodness echoed

At that point, Shirley deigned to actually face theot that look," she said

"What look?" Mercy deuilty look that tellsyou shouldn&039;t have"

"I haven&039;t," Mercy insisted "Not that it&039;s any of your business"

"I&039; in between the other two "This isn&039;t an easy assignment I could use some advice"

"What&039;s the problem?" Shirley&039;s tone was, in Mercy&039;s opinion,

Goodness frowned fully before she explained "It appears that Beth&039;s confidence in her ability to choose a life partner has been badly shaken She doesn&039;t trust her heart"

"Why is that?" Shirley asked

"I don&039;t know for sure I&039;ve been watching and studying Beth, and she&039;s a wonderful woman It&039;s just thatthat" She hesitated "It&039;s just that I&039;m afraid she&039;s still in love with her ex-husband How aet over him and involved with someone else in only one week? It&039;s impossible"

Mercy could understand her friend&039;s dilemma "Didn&039;t you tell me her ex has remarried?"

"Yes"

"Then you need to teach her to let go," Shirley said unequivocally "This happens all the time It&039;s been alree, but it&039;s going to be difficult to convince Beth of that Thanks for the advice, though" To Mercy&039;s ear, Goodness sounded a little - just a little - sarcastic

"I&039;ll help you," Shirley said

"No," Goodness returned immediately "I appreciate the offer, but I can handle Beth on my own She&039;ll be in Leavenworth this weekend"

"Really?" Shirley esture

"Her friend Heidi invited her to come here for the Christmas festivities No town does it better than Leavenworth - or so I&039;ve heard"

"What about your assign the question to Shirley

For the first tinment is deceptively simple - on the outside"

"I don&039;t believe you mentioned whose request you&039;ve been sent to answer"

"It&039;s a boy na for Christ with a dying oldconcerns for his fa woman with a broken heart And all Shirley had to do was find a little boy a dog! Talk about easy! Mercy couldtied behind her back

"As I explained, nment is deceptively simple, but - "

"Yes, deceptively" Mercy looked at Goodness "Listen, I&039;d love to stay and chat awhile, but I&039;ve got work to do"

"Me, too," Goodness said

"Yes, well, Carter and his sister are in school, so I&039;ve got a few minutes to spare," Shirley informed her friends

"I&039;m sure you do," Mercy said and pro alone in the grocery foyer

Abehind Shirley, who hadn&039;t rocery cart Shirley seemed to assume the other two had left the premises, and Mercy let her think that She studied the cart for a moment These little nuhteous and well-behaved, would know that With the lightest touch of her finger, Mercy fired the cart&039;s engine to life

Stunned, Shirley glanced around, obviously wondering what had changed and why Mercy wasn&039;t about to tell her The cart took off into the store with Shirley on board

Shoppers gasped and leaped out of the way Several people reached for their cell phones to snap pictures of the runaway cart, careering through the store minus a rider

Mercy covered her , too Shirley wasn&039;t nearly so cal"

"I believe she already did" Goodness chuckled and disappeared once again Mercy did, too Since Shirley had ti out how to turn off the cart