Diamond Mine Read Free

and she grabbed a tissue.
    She knocked the glass case and quickly reached out and grabbed it. She picked it up and turned it over and over, allowing it to catch the light.
    Her mother had laughed at her for keeping it, but she didn’t care. The rock held special meaning to her.
    She and Rory had been digging for the last rosebush when…

    â€œ Hey, what is this? ” he asked as the shovel made a pinging sound.
    â€œ Let me see. ” She jumped in the hole with him. Inches separated them and she blushed.
    He moved a strand of hair behind her ear.
    â€œ I think you tricked me so I ’ d get in here with you. ”
    â€œ Hmm, a good idea , but no, I really found something. ”
    She climbed from the hole and he handed it to her. It was a white rock. The sunlight caused it to sparkle like a thousand diamonds.
    â€œ Look, Rory! You ’ ve given me my first diamond! ”

    They’d laughed about their discovery for days. It had even led to him calling her Sparkles. Her mother declared it was quartz and therefore worthless. But to Hannah, it was a reminder of their time together.
    Trill sounds of a warning bell blared. In a few hours her agent would call for a progress report. Enough daydreaming and fantasizing. It was time to get back to work.
    Hannah tapped the keys, the rhythmic motion helped with her flow...

    Kahlea closed her eyes and silently moved her lips.
    Rory walked around and sat beside her. “ What are you doing? ”
    Startled, she jumped. “ Praying. ”
    â€œ Sor r y , no one is going to save you. ”
    She batted her thick lashes. “ Who said I was praying to be rescued? I am thanking the Lord for a blessed day of travel, no more , no less. ”
    Then he said, he said …

    â€œWhat does he say?” Hannah drummed the desk. What was wrong with her?
    The rumbling of the storm had woken her early. When she sat at the computer, she’d known exactly what to say, and now it was just gone. Poof , just like that.
    Pacing the room, she tapped her finger to her chin. Rory needed a witty comeback. Something witty, a special phrase only he would use. What was it?
    What would the real Rory say?

Chapter Two

    â€œMonsieur Rory? Monsieur? Are you up?” A timid voice floated through the cracked door.
    Rory rolled over in the small bed, shifting the thin mattress. The banging continued for several minutes. If he covered his head with the thin blanket, would it block out the noise?
    Unfortunately, it didn’t. Sighing, he pushed up on the bed and grunted. “I wasn’t, but I guess I am now.”
    The door opened further and a nervous child entered. “Good. My name is Simon. Father Thomas needs your help in the garden.”
    â€œAt this hour?” he questioned, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
    â€œOh, yes.”
    â€œBut the sun is barely up,” said Rory in amazement. What could the old man possibly need from him?
    â€œYes, yes, best time to work in the garden. Not as hot.” Arrayed in a long, flowing, brown cassock robe, Simon walked away. It was a mystery to Rory how the child did so without falling flat on his face.
    Swinging his leg off the side of the bed, he sat upright. Rory moved his neck from side-to-side and listened to the popping noises. “I don’t know if penance is worth this,” he mumbled.
    â€œExcuse me, I didn’t hear you,” said Simon, moving his head around the door facing.
    Rory pulled on the sock and felt for the snap. The prosthetic leg slipped on the end and snapped in place. Rory stood using one hand to balance himself against the wall. “No worries, just direct me to where I need to go.”
    Simon nodded. “Oh, yes. Follow me.”
    South Africa was vast and beautiful but poor and dangerous. Many children lived on the streets or in orphanages, often starving. Some were lucky enough to be taken in by the church. The joy which resided within this boy was such a rarity.