The Amber Stone Read Online Free PDF Page B

more than twenty years ago. It had been a spring day and Bertha had been filling up her basket for a lunch with friends when she happened to look down and see a little girl with gentle brown eyes and a big grin. The little girl clasped her hands together and gazed up at her as if she’d just been given a pony for her birthday. “You look just like you did in my dream!” she said, then hugged her.
    Bertha looked down at the child, not knowing what to do.
    A well-dressed woman approached them. “I’m so sorry she—”
    The girl looked to her. “Mummy, it’s her. Isn’t she beautiful?”
    Bertha had never been called beautiful in her life, but knew that the child saw something no one else did. She was special, one who could see into the fourth-dimensional realm. They’d been friends ever since. Although Teresa herself was far from beautiful, she wasn’t quite plain either. She had a gentle prettiness that most people overlooked, rarely seeing past her cocoa brown skin, full figure, large hoop earrings and bracelets to the gem she truly was. Teresa was a gem Bertha planned to protect. Teresa had skills, but Bertha knew she was still too young to depend solely on them. And when it came to men, she hadn’t been tried yet.
    Bertha allowed the stranger to help her into the passenger side of the truck and buckle her seat belt. When he got into the driver’s seat he stared at her. “You look fine to me, but perhaps you should see a physician.”
    “Aren’t I looking at one?”
    There was the slight hint of a smile. “Perhaps you need a second opinion.”
    “Oh, no. I trust your judgment. Besides, a good soak will do me good.”
    He flashed her a surprisingly cynical grin then nodded.
    He was a good driver. He handled the road and the truck in a masterful manner, but somehow his thoughts seemed somewhere else. She thought of asking him questions, but knew it was too soon to get the answers she wanted. She knew that she would have to prolong their visit together and if she read him correctly, he wouldn’t mind.
    “Here we are,” he announced as he drove up to her house. She loved her green and white rambler. It was situated far enough away from her neighbors to avoid their gossiping and inquisitive eyes, but close enough to town. Its little shutters and door smiled at her every time she arrived home.
    The young man helped her down.
    “Would you mind putting my groceries away while I make tea?” she asked, as he retrieved her packages from the back.
    He stared at the house a moment then turned to her with a wary expression, causing Bertha to wonder if he suspected what she was up to. He finally said, “I hope you don’t make it a habit of inviting strange men into your home.”
    “I let them drive me home, don’t I?”
    He smiled. “Fair enough.” He glanced at the house again and nodded. “I just hope this isn’t common.”
    “I haven’t lived this long without some common sense. Come on.”
    The swiftness with which he grabbed her bags hinted at an eagerness to help. She sensed it as both a strength and a weakness.
    His mouth fell open when she walked to the front door and easily turned the knob.
    “Don’t you lock it?” he asked.
    “Never had a need to.”
    He frowned but said no more.
    He stepped through the door and glanced with appreciation at what he saw. His gaze briefly fell on a colorful array of plants, glass jars and quilted pillows. He didn’t offer the obligatory compliment of her home, but kept his observations to himself. Bertha led him into the kitchen. She went to get the kettle and tripped over a loose tile. “I’m a klutz today,” she muttered, embarrassed.
    “It’s not you. The tiles weren’t put down properly. I’ll come by one day and fix them for you. Sit down. I’ll make the tea.”
    “I’ll set the table,” she said firmly. She would not allow him to order her about in her own home, no matter how kind his intentions.
    He smiled indulgently. “Go ahead then.”
    She