Miracle in the Mist by Elizabeth Sinclair Page A

that scurried away at the sound of her voice, then back to Frank. "I think we should just accept what happens to us. Accept it at face value. Don't question it. There is probably an underlying reason for it. Just as there was a reason Sara gave me those paints, there was a reason you saw Sandy in the painting." When he opened his mouth to voice what she knew would be a protest, she stopped him with a raised hand. "Or thought you saw Sandy. How Sara knew about the paint case when I didn't and how she got it and why you saw Sandy are not important. What is important is that I discovered my name and a part of Carrie Henderson through the paints. You will learn something, too. I'm sure of it."
    Frank looked at her with one eyebrow arched skeptically so that it almost blended with his hairline. "Yeah. I may learn I'm really a certifiable candidate for the funny farm."
    Carrie frowned at him, her irritation with his flippant remark written clearly across her face. "Make fun, but I truly believe you saw Sandy and that there was a reason for it. The reason may not be clear now, but it will be. You'll see."
    "Enough of this serious stuff," Frank declared, jumping to his feet and holding out his hand to her. "Let's walk."
    Even as Carrie took it and joined him on the path they'd chosen to explore, deep down he doubted Carrie was right, yet at the same time, he prayed she was. He desperately hoped that seeing his dead wife last night marked the beginning of the healing process Steve had promised would take place here.
    They had only covered a few yards when Carrie stopped. "Look!" she cried, pointing to a branch above them.
    On the branch was a bird's nest, and sitting in the nest was a drab, olive-green female cardinal. As they watched, a bright red male came to perch on the edge of the nest. The male cardinal dropped the worm he had held in his beak into the female's mouth. In turn, she transferred it to the chirping baby birds waiting with their mouths open.
    Suddenly, and without warning, the male cardinal attacked the female, nipping at her head and swiping at her with his claws. Her high-pitched chirps echoed through the trees.
    "That's the oddest thing I've ever seen," Frank said. "I'm not really big on ornithology, but I've never heard of a male bird attacking a female before, and seemingly for no reason." He tuned to Carrie. "Have you?"
    Carrie was frozen. Stark terror filled her eyes. She had her hand clamped tightly over her mouth, as though to stifle a scream, and was backing away from the scene, shaking her head.
    "No. No." The whispered words were barely audible.
    "Carrie? What is it?"
    She continued to back away, all the time shaking her head , her lips forming the word no . Her eyes were wide with fright. Her hands trembled. Suddenly, she turned and ran back toward the village, leaving Frank standing there staring after her.

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
    Carrie lay in bed, her blank gaze centered on the ceiling. Late-afternoon sunlight spilled through the windows and across the pine floor, bringing out the rich colors in the wood like threads of gold. But Carrie only absently noted her surroundings.
    She was deep in thought about the birds and why she'd reacted as she had. Why had she run away? Why had she felt the pain the female bird must have felt as the male pummeled her with his beak? No ready explanation came to mind.
    This is silly. Good grief, they were only birds . Why should it rattle her so much?
    Though she tried to push it from her mind, it still continued to torture her thoughts. Obviously, Frank thought the bird's behavior odd. But for her it had been more than odd. It had been terrifying. Why had it sent such fear coursing through her? Fear strong enough to send her running back to the safety of the village and her room in Clara's loft. And poor Frank. What must he have thought about her crazy, frantic departure?
    Then she remembered what she'd told Frank about accepting things that happened to them within