Chapter Twenty Four

By the time the sun came up, the train had pulled into a small town although Monica had no idea where she was. She’d fallen asleep soon after her late night prayer, and still terribly exhausted, hadn’t awoken until the train jolted to a stop. Suddenly afraid, she crawled back into the far corner of the boxcar, pulling Rascal with her, afraid of being caught. Monica didn’t know what would happen to someone who had been traveling on a train without a ticket, but she certainly didn’t want to find out.

Hearing voices and footsteps, Monica’s heartbeat quickened as she clung tightly to Rascal, hoping he would stay quiet, praying that she wouldn’t be discovered. The corner of the boxcar was dark, but if anyone looked closely enough inside, they would surely see her. "Please, Father..." She whispered quietly. Suddenly she saw a man walk past the entrance of the boxcar, although to her relief he didn’t look inside. And then the voices and footsteps faded away, and Monica sent up a silent prayer of thanks.

But no sooner had Monica begun to feel relieved, was she overcome with a different emotion- and, just like the previous day when she’d been in Seattle, she felt like Andrew was there with her- that in a strange way she couldn’t understand, she could feel him. And he was missing her, and seemed to be saying that he loved her. Confused, the little angel looked heavenward. "Father, what is this? Why do I feel these things that seem to come from Andrew? Am I imagining it?"

After a short moment His reply floated back down to her troubled heart. "It is not your imagination, My dear child. Andrew is close to you, in spirit... answer him, and know that all will be well."

Frowning, Monica glanced down at Rascal, who was watching her carefully, his loving brown eyes gazing up at her. "I don’t understand this, wee one... but the Father says..." She whispered quietly, still afraid of being found out. "Could it be true? Could this really be Andrew speaking to me?" Taking a moment to ponder this new and confusing information, Monica closed her eyes and thought of Andrew. I love you, Andrew. And I miss you so much.

Then the young angel’s eyes shot open as she heard more footsteps, and once more she tried to make herself, and Rascal, as small as possible in the corner of the boxcar. She managed to stay quiet as she heard two men talking, their voices sounding loud and not very far away, which scared her although she tried to stay calm.

But then she sneezed.

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