Kelly Jo Read Free

succeed, on earth, with the angel's assignment, that person will be returned to their earthly life."
    Jack waited, but Kelly Jo was silent.  "That's only one.  What's the other choice?"
    "You can just follow Big Bob through the turnstile."
    Jack brightened.  "The choice is mine?"  Maybe he could ditch Kelly Jo when they got to earth and...no, one way or another, she'd find him.
    "No," Robert interjected.  "The choice is technically mine ."
    Jack turned to Kelly Jo.  "But you said..."
    Robert shook his head and gave Kelly Jo a side look before turning to Jack.  "Kelly Jo has a way of twisting everything in her favor...to make it sound simple for you to just jump to her suggestions."  He shot another look at Kelly Jo.  "The choice normally would be yours, Jack, but not in this case.  Kelly Jo has ignored repeated warnings of her interference.  Unfortunately, this time, for you."
    Jack couldn't take his gaze from Kelly Jo, from the free spirit he sensed lived beneath that tumble of golden hair and blue eyes.  Eyes that now filled with unhappiness and brimmed with unshed tears.
    "Goodbye, Jack," she said softly and extended her hand to his.
    "Goodbye, Kelly Jo," he answered gently, suddenly sorry that his death was her final downfall.  He reached for her hand.
    "Don't take her hand!" Robert ordered.
    Too late.  Jack's hand touched Kelly Jo's and in a flash they disappeared.
    A second later, Jack found himself beneath a wide oak tree, dizzy and barely able to stand from the world spinning around him.  Kelly Jo put her arms around him and laid her head firmly on his chest.
    "It's okay," she said gently.  "It'll pass in a minute."
    Finally, everything stilled and Jack looked around.  He took a step back from Kelly Jo and studied her with strong suspicion.  "What did you do?  Where are we now?"
    Her smile was soft, her eyes bright with happiness when they met his.  "Somewhere in the south, I think."
    "In the south?  Are we back on earth?" Jack's heart raced and he closed his eyes in pure joy.  Robert had granted his heart's wish after all.
    "Yes, but we need to get moving before they find us."
    Jack's eyes flew open.  "What?"
    Kelly Jo grabbed his hand and started walking, dragging him with her.  "We just ran away from Heaven.  And, oh, boy, are you in trouble!"

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Jack stopped dead, jerked on the hand Kelly Jo was pulling him with and yanked her straight into his chest.  Her wings, still askew, vibrated from the impact and her short gown shimmered in the light of the southern sun. 
    Jack grabbed her upper arms and stared at her, his jaw agape.  "You kidnapped me from Heaven and   I'm  in big trouble?  You're joking, right?"
    "Come on," she urged, pulling away from him and casting furtive glances all around.  She grabbed his hand again and started to run, once again trying to drag him along.  "If Big Bob catches us we don't stand a chance."
    Jack dug in his heels and ripped his hand from hers.  "You're nuts," he informed her.  "I'm not in any trouble.  But I think it's safe to say you're about to have the wrath of Heaven crash down on you."
    She sighed and rolled her eyes.  "Do you have to sound so...so... hokey ?" she asked him, then shot him an annoyed look.  "And do you have to be so obviously pleased at the thought of me and Heaven's wrath?"
    "Yes," he informed her flatly.  "To both."  He threw his head back and laughed, looked around, then asked her sweetly, "How loudly do I need to call Robert to be heard?  Or is he so used to your antics that he's attached a tracking device?"
    She took a firm stance and folded her arms over her chest, and though her words were tense they rammed home.
    "Jack, if you want a chance to regain your earthly life..."
    "That you took," he reminded her.
    "...then that chance is through going with me, not with Big Bob," she continued as though Jack hadn't interrupted.  "He'll have you in tow and raising your hand to say here to Peter's roll