work together.”
“That’s pretty interesting,” she admitted.
As they reached the steps to the back porch, Koji touched her arm. “I do have something very important to ask you.”
“Well?”
“Will you teach me how to tie my shoes?” he whispered urgently.
At dinner that night, Jayce Pomeroy unintentionally dropped a bombshell when he announced, “I’m bringing on another part-timer at the bakery; he’ll start next week.”
“Has business picked up that much?” asked Grandpa Pete.
Jayce fiddled with his butter knife. “It’s not so much that I need the help. The boy wants to give the bakery business a try, and I’m in a position to give him a chance.”
“How old is he?” Momma asked.
“Fifteen,” he replied. “We’ll take the rest of the summer to get acquainted, and he’ll switch to after school and weekends once September hits.”
“Who’s the guy?” Neil asked around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
“He’s a local boy, though he lives across town; his name’s Ransom.”
Prissie’s head snapped up. “Ransom Pavlos?”
“That’s right,” Jayce smiled.
“Not him!” his daughter exclaimed.
His brows lifted in surprise. “Why not?”
“Because …” she spluttered, searching for words. “Because he’s awful!”
Glances were exchanged around the table before Jayce calmly replied, “Could you be more specific?”
“I know Ransom,” Prissie explained. “He’s been in my homeroom class for two years in a row, and he’s got long, moppy hair and sideburns, and he wears those baggy pants.”
“You can hardly expect me to turn the boy away because you don’t approve of his hairstyle,” her father replied. “It took courage for him to approach me like he did.”
“He’s the head of a gang!”
“A gang!” Grandma Nell exclaimed. “In our town?”
“Well, he and his friends look like trouble,” Prissie amended sourly. “I wouldn’t trust any of them.”
“You sure hiring that boy is worth the risk?” Grandpa Pete asked, and Prissie shot him a smile, grateful for his support.
“Aw, Prissie, Ransom ain’t so bad,” Neil drawled.
“Isn’t,” Momma quietly corrected.
“He isn’t running with the wrong crowds,” Neil defended. “His ‘gang’ is on the football team. Nice enough guys. Never woulda taken Ransom for the cupcake type, though.”
“Cupcake type?” Jayce echoed with a chuckle. “Should I be offended?”
Neil just grinned and took a long swig of milk, giving Prissie the chance to interject, “But he’s terrible! He’s always mouthing off!”
“To the teachers?” Momma asked worriedly.
“To me!” Prissie wailed.
Neil snorted into his glass, and Jayce laughed outright. Grandpa had to hide a smile behind his napkin, and Grandma chuckled quietly. Prissie looked to Momma for support, but Naomi only smiled and gently shook her head.
Jayce held up his hands to restore order. “I appreciate your concerns. However, I’ll make my own judgments of the boy’s character once we’ve spent more time together. That’s that.”
10
THE ANGEL’S HARP
What is it you wanted to show me?” the warrior murmured uncomfortably as he followed his companion along a path that twisted deep under the earth.
“Two things,” replied Abner quietly, continuing downward until they reached an enormous cavern. The cave floor fell away on one side of the path, which hugged a sheer cliff face until it dead-ended before a huge slab — a square door, hewn from gray stone and polished smooth. Its blank face was made ominous by heavy chains that anchored it to the surrounding rock.
He glanced at his companion. “May I?”
“By all means, Captain.”
Striding forward, the warrior laid a hand upon the cold metal of the bonds. “The Deep holds,” he pronounced, glancing at Abner for confirmation.
“Yes,” the silvery angel confirmed. “Now for the other … in silence, if you please.”
They made no sound as they backtracked, then plunged deeper into the inky labyrinth. Finally, Abner drew to a halt and turned to his companion, raising a finger to his lips, then tapping his pointed ear. At first, there was nothing, but then a faint noise like the scrape of broken glass against stone. The captain’s eyes widened in recognition, and Abner nodded gravely.
Retreating to the surface, the warrior finally broke his silence. “How long have you suspected?”
“Since midsummer.”
“I will arrange for additional guards.”
“Thank you, Jedrick.”
On the following Wednesday, Tad pulled into the parking lot of the elementary school in Harper, the next big town down the highway from West Edinton. A large banner hanging over the gymnasium door declared it the home of Deo Volente. Tad and Neil had been coming for a couple of years now, and Beau had been attending since the beginning of summer; however, this was Prissie’s first time, and she had a bad case of the jitters.
Koji nudged her with his elbow and smiled