Heaven's Gift aka Kiss of an Angel

'Send Jay to fetch it.'

'No!' Amanda said, springing from her seat.

Both Superiors stared at her.

Desperation clutched Amanda's heart. How could she explain that no matter how selfish it might be, she didn't want the memory of her time on Earth to subside from Johnny's mind. They'd shared so much, had forged a new love that superseded the old feelings they'd harbored for one another as children. In a short span of time she'd matured as a woman, had experienced a passionate love so beautiful and rare, she wanted it to flourish to its fullest capacity. That dream, she knew, was an impossible one.

'You know he cannot keep the medallion,' Mary said firmly after a few tense moments had passed. 'It's bad enough he knew who you were, Amanda, but he cannot continue on like this.'

'I know,' she whispered past the tight ache in her throat. 'But I don't want him to forget me.'

Mary smiled gently. 'He won't ever forget you. His love for you is too strong. You will always be a part of his heart, even without the medallion.'

That wasn't what Amanda meant. She wanted to live in his memory with vivid clarity-Heaven help her, she wanted to be with him on Earth, feel his touch, experience the joy of his love. A chasm of loneliness echoed in her soul, and Amanda turned away, sure her misery reflected in her gaze.

The intensity of her emotions confused her. Why hadn't she felt this same anguish when she'd left Johnny the night of her eighteenth birthday?

'Amanda, what is it?' Mary asked, seemingly sensing her distress.

Amanda looked back at both Superiors, hoping they could help her understand the turmoil swirling in her. 'When I first passed on to this plateau sixteen years ago I felt whole and complete and at peace with myself. Now, I hurt way deep down inside, this incredible sadness that won't recede.'

Mary and Christopher exchanged worried looks.

'Why do I feel so different?' Amanda persisted. 'Why do I miss him so much?'

'Your heart and J.T.'s blended before you left Earth,' Mary finally admitted.

Amanda frowned. 'My heart already belonged to Johnny. What do you mean?'

Mary grasped Amanda's hand, her touch comforting. 'Just before you died, you both declared your love for one another at the exact moment, binding your hearts and souls more intricately than before.'

Bewilderment assailed Amanda. 'I don't understand. What will happen to Johnny?'

'He will be unable to love another for the rest of his mortal years,' Mary replied sadly.

Christopher nodded his agreement. 'Before we sent you on the mission we had designs to send him a sweet woman who would bear him two more children and see him through the rest of his years. Now, it will be useless.'

'I'm so sorry,' she said, ashamed for having caused so much havoc with Johnny's destiny. 'I know He must be disappointed in me.'

'No, child,' Mary began, understanding and compassion threading her voice. 'Once in a great while these things happen. He is very forgiving.'

'Surely there is something we can do for her,' Christopher said.

Mary shrugged. 'Short of sending her back to Earth, there is nothing we can do for her heartache.'

A slow smile curved Christopher's mouth. 'We could petition to send her back as a mortal.'

Amanda sat up, anticipation speeding up her pulse.

'Christopher,' Mary admonished, squashing Amanda's hope. 'That is a highly unorthodox suggestion! It's impossible.'

He lifted a brow. 'Nothing is impossible.'

'It's an outrageous request.' Mary dismissed the idea with the wave of a hand. 'The board of Superiors will never approve of such an appeal.'

'A love as strong as Amanda and J.T.'s is meant to be together,' Christopher argued.

'I don't know about this,' Mary persisted, her lips pursed. 'You and your wild ideas,' she mumbled, then offered Amanda an encouraging smile.

'J.T. is being extremely stubborn about letting go of the medallion and the memory of Caitlan's time on Earth,' Christopher went on, championing Amanda's cause. He came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, radiating reassurance to Amanda while he spoke to his equal. 'They've both been through so much, Mary, in their previous life and with this mission. Now that their hearts are intricately blended, both of them will be miserable until they are once again joined.'

After a long minute Mary let out a defeated sigh. 'You always were a softy, Christopher.' Her rebuke held a note of fondness.

Christopher beamed at the compliment and squeezed Amanda's shoulders for that one small victory. 'I only believe it would be in everyone's best interest if we released Amanda to spend the rest of a mortal life with her eternal love.'

Mary smiled, a sudden soft, dreamy quality entering her eyes. 'It is kind of romantic, isn't it?'

'Indeed it is.' Christopher's grin held triumph. 'Who could deny these two the love that brought them together not once, but twice?'

Mary looked thoughtful as she considered Christopher's plea. Amanda held her breath for Mary's response until her lungs began to burn.

'Oh, I suppose you're right,' Mary finally relented. 'It would be difficult to deny two people so deeply in love and committed to one another. Not to mention that J.T. isn't being very cooperative with the medallion.'

'Precisely,' Christopher stated.

'Oh, Mary, Christopher, thank you!' Amanda breathed, smiling for the first time since her mission had ended. She embraced both Superiors. Happiness chased away the gloom of despair that had hung over her since her departure from Earth.

'Don't thank us yet,' Mary warned gently. 'Considering the delicacy of the situation, the board of Angel Superiors must vote on releasing you. Then He must give us his blessing. This is a very rare request, one that will change the course of fate, and must be thoroughly considered before a decision is made.'

'I understand,' she replied solemnly, trying not to get her hopes raised. Silently, she sent Him her own heartfelt appeal, praying he'd grant her and Johnny's love the opportunity to flourish in a mortal lifetime.

'We'll give you the board's final verdict by the end of the week,' Christopher promised.

Five heavenly days never seemed so long to Amanda.

J.T. stood inside the corral, holding the end of the long lead rope clipped to King's halter. With softly spoken words, he coaxed the horse into in a wide circle, allowing the spirited stallion a minimal amount of control before he started the tedious breaking process. King's blue-black coat gleamed in the sun, and he tossed his head rebelliously. J.T. knew his display was more an arrogant act than any real sign of a threat.

Every day J.T. worked with King, usually in the mornings after the hands rode out and Laura left for school. Spending time with the horse made him feel closer to Caitlan's spirit. She'd left him with the special gift of King's fragile trust. Now, it was up to him to hone that bond into something more. J.T. was determined to one day saddle and ride the stallion that had shown so much promise before Randal started abusing him.

Randal. Anger welled in J.T. He still found it difficult to believe his own cousin had tried to kill him. Randal had admitted to everything. Open murder threats, even after Randal had been apprehended, combined with his murder attempt and arson, would land him years in prison. Even though it pained J.T. to see his cousin in such a position, he refused to compromise the safety of his family or his men. Pressing charges had been difficult, but his only choice. Randal had shown no remorse for his evil deeds, or for shooting Caitlan.

Familiar grief and anguish twisted J.T.'s insides. Two weeks had passed since Caitlan had left the Circle R never to return. Two weeks since he'd become nothing more than flesh and bones, his heart merely an instrument to pump blood. He was empty inside, more lonely and desolate than he could ever remember being.

Everyone believed she'd gone to County hospital, then flown back home to be with her family. J.T. knew better, but there were times when he caught himself believing the same thing…hoping and wishing that she was a mortal and would return to the Circle R to live with him forever.

She was gone from this lifetime, and some days he didn't think he'd survive the endless years until they were