"Oh yes. And it gets better." Sabrina's voice held that particular mix of frustration and amusement that only teenage children could inspire. "Right in the middle of his rodeo adventure, this stray dog wandered onto the property."
"Let me guess - Max and Duke went after it?"
"Like they were possessed. Barking their heads off, they went charging right under Goldie." Sabrina paused for dramatic effect. "Poor Goldie panicked, started bucking and running around the pasture like she thought she was at the Calgary Stampede."
Mandy pressed a hand to her mouth, torn between horror and laughter. "Was Kyle hurt?"
"Broke his arm in two places when she finally threw him." Sabrina sighed heavily. "I ran for him, of course. The idiot boy was sprawled in the grass, still laughing despite the pain. Said it was the most fun he'd had all summer."
"That boy." Mandy shook her head, remembering Kyle's perpetual search for adventure. "He clearly takes after his mother. Or have you forgotten the time you tried to parasail off the garage roof using bedsheets?"
"Mom! I was twelve, and we agreed never to speak of that again!"
Mandy laughed merrily. "Well, at least he comes by his adventurous spirit honestly. Oh! Speaking of the grandkids - I loved those new pictures you sent of Robbie. He's getting so big!"
"Isn't he?" Pride filled Sabrina's voice. "Though he's a bit spotty at the moment - he came down with chicken pox last week."
"Chicken pox?" Mandy frowned. "I thought they vaccinated for that now. Didn't he get his shots?"
"Oh, he did. Right on schedule." Sabrina sighed. "But sometimes they get it anyway, even with the vaccine. At least it'ssuper mild - he barely even notices he's sick. Just a few spots here and there, and only a slight fever the first day."
"Well, I suppose it's practically a rite of passage." Mandy smiled, remembering. "We didn't have the vaccine when you were little. Though you were lucky - you had such a mild case yourself."
"Did I? I don't even remember having it."
"You were only six. You had maybe ten spots total. We wouldn't have even known what it was if I hadn't expected it, because of Tommy next door coming down with it the week before. You were more upset about not being allowed to play with your friends for a week than you were about being sick."
Sabrina launched into a story about Lauren's latest adventures in Seattle, and Mandy settled deeper into her recliner, letting her daughter's familiar voice wash over her. The pendant pulsed warmly against her skin as she half-listened to tales of her oldest grandchild's new job at a software company.
Strange - she'd meant to tell Sabrina about Jacinth and the mysterious necklace, but every time she opened her mouth to mention it, the words seemed to slip away like smoke. It felt easier to just listen, to let Sabrina's cheerful chatter fill the air while she stroked her cats' silky fur.
"I should let you go rest." Concern crept back into Sabrina's tone. "You sure you're okay after yesterday?"
"I'm fine, sweetie. Just a little sleepy still from the darned shot. Nothing a good book to read, some cat cuddles, and a nap later won't fix."
"Promise you'll call if you need anything?"
"Cross my heart." Mandy smiled at her daughter's protective instincts. "Love you, baby girl."
"Love you too, Mom. Talk soon!"
The call disconnected, leaving Mandy alone with her thoughts and two very demanding cats who clearly felt she hadn't provided enough attention during the phone call.
Her fingers strayed to the pendant again, drawn to its peculiar warmth. She lifted it from where it nestled against her collarbone, tilting it to catch the light from her reading lamp. Mozart's head lifted at her movement, but seeing no treats forthcoming, he settled back into her lap with a soft chirp.
She closed her hand around the pendant, and a wave of comfort washed through her. The warmth spread from her palm up her arm, easing the lingering ache in her shoulders from lying so long on that uncomfortable gurney. Her thumb moved across the surface in slow circles, almost of its own accord, the sensation mesmerizing.
It gave off a peculiar tingling, reminiscent of the pins-and-needles feeling when circulation returned to a limb that had fallen asleep. But this wasn't unpleasant - quite the opposite. It felt... soothing. Healing, almost.
The pendant pulsed once, hot against her palm, and the air around her grew heavy with unseen energy. A male voice shattered the silence, deep and resonant, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Who dares to summon me?"
Chapter
Three
The question rumbledlike distant thunder, edged with an otherworldly authority which made Mandy's mouth go dry. The air fairly crackled with barely contained fury. Mozart and Bach bolted from her lap, disappearing down the hallway in streaks of orange fur.
