And Then Came A Lion (Lions and Lambs Book 1)

by Cecilia Marie Pulliam

  She turned to the next listed reading, Psalm 27, again. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this I will be confident. For he has hidden me in his tabernacle: in the day of evils, he has protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle.”

  This led right back to faith, where it all began, and where it all ended. After her vision of the inferno, one would think the fact would stay with her instead of always needing repeating.

  She laid the book aside and picked up another favorite.

  The Lord is my shepherd…

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Ginny met Susannah when she pulled into the driveway. “Before you start, I’d like to talk to you. Please come in for a moment.”

  Had she forgotten something when she left? She had been in a hurry, but she had tried to be thorough.

  Ginny motioned to the kitchen table. “Take a seat. I’ll get coffee.” She brought two mugs to the kitchen table. “Cream, no sugar, right?”

  “Right.”

  Susannah struggled to keep a neutral face. What could she have done ― or not done?

  “Something happened Friday as you finished up.”

  “Did I forget to do something?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.”

  “Now, I don’t want you to be angry with Rachel. She didn’t break any confidences, but my neighbor called the shop concerned there was an emergency. You flew out of here much faster than you usually do, and she was worried. I tried to call your house, but got the answering machine. You didn’t answer your cell phone either, so I mentioned it to Rachel.”

  Here it comes… “And?”

  “And, she told me you have premonitions. She didn’t say what, or give any details, but did mention you often have an opportunity to stop bad things from happening, and one of the appealing benefits of this job was the flexibility of hours.”

  “The flexible hours are a nice addition.”

  “So, I am curious, Susannah, but not as a boss. I belong to Spokane’s Psychic Sciences Club.”

  “Psychic Sciences?”

  “Yes. We study paranormal phenomena from a scientific approach. Keeping an open mind, we validate or debunk claims. I am curious about your experiences, and the club may be able to assist somehow.”

  “So, you’re saying you believe in psychic phenomena?”

  “I’ve seen enough to validate some claims. Some things are too uncanny to discount, while others…” She shrugged. “That’s where the science comes in. I have unfortunately never had an experience, but have spoken to many who have, and I know it can be frightening. It helps to talk, to share, and, if possible, be supported.”

  “Only my folks and Rachel know, but after observing the negative reactions of most people, I’ve learned not to share.”

  Except for some wonderful people I met in Africa.

  “It is true, Susannah, many are skeptical of things they do not understand, and of course, the famous charlatans haven’t helped. Even those who have shown psychic ability and have gained some notoriety, have their detractors.”

  Susannah shook her head. “Making a profit from it is not what I think is the right use of the gift, or whatever you want to call it. Besides, I have no control over it. It just happens. I can’t force it, or manipulate it, like those famous psychics claim they can.”

  “There are as many variances as there are people. Some are legit and others are fleecing the public. We believe we can make a difference by weeding out the crooks, and substantiating those who do see into the spiritual world.

  “Rachel said you take great risks, and she worries something horrible might happen. She believes you need a partner, someone with expertise who could help. I’d like to help, if I can.”

  “How can you help?"

  “I know someone with the right training, and he’d be the perfect partner, if you could find some way to convince him of the validity of your premonitions. He is what I call a paranormal skeptic. Then, we are all in some ways.”

  “I’m right back in the same spot, trying to convince someone with nothing more than my word. Just out of curiosity, who is he?”

  “He’s a Secret Service Agent assigned here to the Spokane office.”

  “He would definitely have the experience and expertise I need, but ―”

  “And there’s more. Val and I met while attending Gonzaga. He was in Criminal Justice with my brother, Dave. We all hung out with a group of mutual friends. After college, Val went into the Secret Service and Dave joined the Bellevue police force, but they’ve stayed best friends.

  “Any way, long story short, Val is a kind man, loving and generous to those who can get inside his personal circle. Many do not make it. He is careful about who he allows to get close, probably the result of being in law enforcement. Most officers only trust a tight circle of associates, and are skeptical of anything not proven with absolute, irrefutable facts.”

  “The supernatural is hard to prove, except in rare cases.”

  Ginny nodded. “That is true, but I think before that happens, the exchange of expertise, I think you both need a relationship. Both, talented, sweet, lonely people who should have someone special in their lives. So, I thought I’d arrange a meeting. You never know until you give it a try.”

  “I don’t know.” Part of her was screaming, yes! The other part was horrified at the thought of getting into another relationship. Was she ready? “He’s probably involved with someone.”

  “No. He hasn’t dated much in a long time. Dave tells me Val hasn’t met anyone he would want to see on a regular basis. You could be the very one he’s been holding out for. Once you two become involved, he would not only be a good romantic partner, but excellent with your other problem too.”

  “Oh, Ginny. I don’t know. That sounds like a set up. Poor guy.”

  “No, honestly it wouldn’t. Dave’s coming down for the weekend and I’ve invited Val for dinner on Saturday night. You come too, and we’ll see what happens.”

  “With just the four of us, it will look like a set up.”

  “Well, just think about. I’ll be having Val over while Dave is down anyway.” She gathered her purse and keys from the counter. “I’ve got to run. But, at least think about it.” She stepped over to the door.

  Susannah followed her out, waved as Ginny pulled out onto the road, and walked over to the greenhouses. She pushed the invitation to the back of her mind and concentrated on her tasks.

  At noon, she cleaned up and carried her lunch to the back porch. The menagerie gathered in their usual places, eagerly waiting for their portion.

  Her cell phone rang.

  “I thought you’d be sitting on the porch about now.”

  “Yep, all eight pairs of eyes pleading for the last half of my sandwich. I started packing an extra half – without condiments.”

  Ginny laughed. “No wonder they ogle me at dinner.”

  “What’s up?”

  “Two things. First, after lunch, come down to the shop. I’d like to get you started on the displays, and second, about Saturday, I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Really? That’s okay by me. I’ve been half sick thinking about it.”

  “Pretty much what Rachel said you’d be feeling, and being too polite to protest, you’d back out at the last minute. So, instead, I’m inviting Rachel and Frank, and a couple of other friends over for a barbeque on Sunday. That way it won’t be a setup. It will just be a group of my friends. I normally do this when both Val and Dave are down anyway, and I would invite you regardless of my ulterior motives.”

  Susannah laughed, and then said, “So you admit to being a matchmaker.”

  “Only in this case. Oh, and Rachel says just plan on riding with them. Yes, Billy and Molly are coming too.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “F
orget the introduction. Just come and visit with everyone. I promise I won’t do anything to embarrass you – or Val for that matter. I would never hear the end of it from him or Dave. It will just be a group of friends having a barbeque. I will probably invite the neighbors too.”

  “Well, in that case―”

  “Great! See you here in the store in a bit.”

  Susannah pushed the off button on the phone and put it back in her pocket. Did she really want to do this? One part of her did. Val could be her Daniel, her Tobias, the man she would share the rest of her life with as the old Indian promised, or was this only another case of false hope?

  The menagerie was still staring at her lunch sack with hopeful expressions.

  “Okay, okay.”

  She reached into the sack and pulled out the sandwich she’d made for them, tore the bread into four equal bites. She gave one to Rufus, then one each to the Burmese, and held out the last bit for Tiger Lily. She sniffed at her morsel and turned her nose away.

  “Wow, aren’t we a picky one today. Jealous because I gave bites to the others first? You know, Mark was right. Cats and women are a lot alike. Both are hard to read books with fine print for the fine print.”

  She scratched Rufus’s ears. “Men on the other hand are like dogs. Not only do their books have large print, they have pictures and diagrams as well.”

  Well, it may not be true of all men. This Val sounded about as complicated as they come. But, more than that, she still missed Mark. Did she have room in her heart for another?

  She had read a passage in one of her devotions on grief. There wasn’t any sin in grieving, but staying locked in that deep emotion wasn’t healthy for mind, body, or soul. However, as with other painful things, part of the loss would always be there, but she would have to live with it. All great lives were deeply etched with sorrow and suffering.

  That may be true of the spiritual giants, but she wasn’t a giant in anything. She was weak, scared, and unsure.

  She stood abruptly, scattering the menagerie to the four corners of the porch. This kind of thinking would only lead to sadness and it was too pretty of a day to feel sad. She needed to think about her blessings: good job, friends, and a nice home.

  “Well, Tiger Lily, do you want this bit of sandwich or not? I’ll give it to the squirrels if you don’t take it.”

  Before Susannah could drop the piece, a paw snaked out, snagged the bread along with part of her finger. “Ow! I forgot you take blood with your food.”

  After a close inspection of her finger, she decided the damage was only superficial and packed up the remains of her lunch. She walked to the car, stowed her lunch sack in the backseat, and drove down to the shop.

  She worked on the display window the rest of the afternoon. Ginny didn’t press her about Val and didn’t mention the barbeque. With so many people coming, it really wasn’t a setup. So, it might not hurt to at least meet the man, and who knows, she might get a chance to ask him some professional questions, in some discrete way. Surely a woman living alone would could use some security advice.

  Then, was that ethical in a social setting? Was it like asking a doctor or a lawyer for a free consultation? If that was the case, then what about Ginny’s brother, Dave? He was a police officer. He would have similar expertise, but then that would be the same as asking Val, wouldn’t it?

  Who was she fooling, certainly not herself, or anyone else. She was pushing the man away before she even met him. So, just go to the barbeque. Enjoy the food, the conversation, and all the company. Let everything else go.

  She stood, stretched, and looked at her watch. Ginny would be closing the shop in a few minutes.

  After putting away the extra stock, she poked her head into Ginny’s office. “The display is finished. Is there anything else you’d like done before I head home?”

  Ginny looked up from a huge book of herbs she had lying open on her desk. “That time already? No, go on home. I’m going to stay a while. Tell Rachel she can lock up and finish the order lists tomorrow.”

  “Will do. Night.”

  Ginny nodded, her attention diverted back to the book.

  Susannah waited for Rachel to lock up and followed her out to the parking lot. She paused beside the car.

  “What do you think of Ginny’s little barbeque?”

  Rachel shrugged. “I think it will be fun. No need to get anxious over meeting a few new people.”

  “Right. You don’t think it’s too soon? Shouldn’t I grieve a whole year before even entertaining the idea of meeting someone?”

  “I think it’s the right time when you feel it is. Just wait and see what happens. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

  “Well, true.”

  “Address the issue if it becomes an issue.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right. After all, the man might not even show up.”

  Rachel shook her head. “I’m not even going to acknowledge that. Now go home, feed Buddy, and think about something else.” She climbed into her car, waved, and pulled out into the street.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Susannah alternated pacing in front of the living room window and staring out. Sunday came far too quickly. The butterflies had started that morning the moment she woke, and they continued to build to the point she felt close to panic. She’d decided not to attend the barbeque and had tried to call Rachel several times, but her best-friend-suddenly-turned-traitor, hadn’t answered. Well, she’d just have to tell her she wasn’t going when she came to the door.

  Of course, Rachel had seen through Susannah’s suggestion to meet them at their place. It would have given Susannah an easier opportunity to back out at the last moment. Part of her wanted to meet this Val, another part was terrified, and what if she imagined it all? What if the old Indian hadn’t really told her to read the scriptures and this was only a false promise, just the product of her desires?

  Frank and Rachel pulled into the driveway. Susannah squared her shoulders, might as well go. As Rachel said, what did she really have to lose?

  She locked the door and hurried down the steps to the car.

  Frank had the back door open. “You don’t mind riding in back with Billy and Molly?”

  “Not at all.”

  The two kids talked non-stop all the way to Ginny’s. That suited Susannah. The chatter kept her mind off other things.

  The moment Susannah stepped out of the car The Menagerie McCrae surrounded her. Rachel snickered, and Frank rolled his eyes. The next second, Billy and Molly exited the vehicle and Susannah was dismissed. She smiled. Sometimes that was a good thing.

  Two other couples sat in lawn chairs underneath the huge shade trees. Ginny, the quintessential hostess, flitted back and forth between the house, the buffet table, and her guests.

  “Susannah! Rachel!” She hugged both women and turned to Frank. “It is so nice to finally meet you. Let me introduce you.”

  In spite of honest effort, the only name Susannah remembered was Dave, Ginny’s brother, a nice looking man, not much younger, or older than Ginny, yet definitely taller. Of course, almost everyone was taller than Ginny.

  Ginny leaned close. “Val’s on his way. He should be here any moment.”

  Susannah felt her heartbeat accelerate.

  As if reading her mind, Rachel squeezed her hand and smiled. “What is meant will be.”

  Susannah nodded. True. Now stop worrying, and just relax. Enjoy the afternoon. What was the song? Que Sera, Sera?

  Hearing a commotion from the side yard, Rachel dashed off to investigate what possible trouble the cherubs, mixed with The Menagerie McCrae, had devised.

  Ginny’s eyes glinted with mischief. “He’s here.”

  Susannah swallowed. She wasn’t ready. She thought she was, but she wasn’t. She needed an escape. As if on cue, Rufus came bounding up with a ball.

  “Rufus! My hero!”

  She scooped up the ball and carried it over to the side yard. Rufus caught her
toss on the fly and raced back. Susannah picked up the ball and tossed it again. Rufus repeated his ball retrieval. Only this time he ran past her toward Ginny and an unfamiliar man, obviously Val, coming in her direction.

  Oh Lord, I’m not ready for this. I should never, never have agreed. Exactly what was bothering her so much? It was the effort. A new relationship required a great deal of effort both emotionally and physically and she didn’t have much of either. She was tired, drained. It took all of her energy to follow through on the old Indian’s directions. There wasn’t time, or energy left for anything else. She would be polite, say hello, and that would be that. In another hour, Rachel and Frank would be ready to go, and that would suit her just fine.

  Val wasn’t drop dead, model handsome, yet there was something about him. He moved differently than most men. He had a swagger, an attitude of confidence in his movements, and something else she couldn’t quite grasp.

  Ginny beamed. “Val, this is Susannah, my newest employee.”

  Susannah extended her hand, pleased to see it wasn’t shaking, noticeably anyway. “Hi.”

  He returned her handshake, firm, but gentle. “Pleasure.”

  No lingering release, respectful, professional.

  Ginny added. “Susannah’s just returned from six weeks in Africa.”

  Val raised his eyebrows. “Africa?”

  Susannah nodded.

  “Yes, she went over as a volunteer for a relief group. Now, I’d also like you to meet the others.” With a wink to Susannah, Ginny steered Val toward the rest of the guests.

  Rufus mysteriously reappeared in front of her.

  “Traitor.”

  He wagged his tail and dropped the ball at her feet. “Just a few more. And, you’re still a traitor.”

  Another tail wag.

  After a few more throws, Susannah sauntered over to Rachel and sat in the empty chair next to her.

  Rachel leaned closer. “So?”

  “So, what? I said hello. End of conversation.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. And that’s just fine. I’m too tired for these relationship games.”