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Back A Flicker of Light
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Half Title Page
  3. Books by Katie Powner
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. ONE
  8. TWO
  9. THREE
  10. FOUR
  11. FIVE
  12. SIX
  13. SEVEN
  14. EIGHT
  15. NINE
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. TWENTY
  27. TWENTY-ONE
  28. TWENTY-TWO
  29. TWENTY-THREE
  30. TWENTY-FOUR
  31. TWENTY-FIVE
  32. TWENTY-SIX
  33. TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. TWENTY-NINE
  36. THIRTY
  37. THIRTY-ONE
  38. THIRTY-TWO
  39. THIRTY-THREE
  40. THIRTY-FOUR
  41. THIRTY-FIVE
  42. THIRTY-SIX
  43. THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. THIRTY-NINE
  46. FORTY
  47. FORTY-ONE
  48. FORTY-TWO
  49. FORTY-THREE
  50. FORTY-FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. Acknowledgments
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

Bea’s whole body tensed, willing Grandma June to go on. To keep talking. The snow outside was still falling but not piling up as fast. The flakes were smaller now. Bea glanced at the Toyota’s gas gauge. Less than a quarter of a tank. How long would she be able to keep the car running and warm?

“What did the people decide, Grandma?”

Grandma June shook her head. “What?”

“What did the people of Moose Creek decide to do about Miner McGee’s body?”

“Oh.” Grandma sat up a little straighter. “Yes. Well, as they were talking, the sun sank low in the sky, and someone shouted, ‘Look!’ And there on the mountain was Miner McGee’s headlamp, shining bright for all to see as he searched for his treasure.” She looked out the window, and her shoulders slumped.

Bea tugged on her hand. “Grandma?”

“Ever since that day, whenever the sun sinks low in the sky, you can see his lamp click on.”

Bea swallowed hard. “What if he never finds the Big Sky Diamond?”

Grandma June pulled her hand away and touched the glass. “I will find him. I’ll never give up.”

A shiver ran down Bea’s spine. She wished she knew what her grandma was talking about. Who she was talking about. And she wished she knew what else to say to keep her alert now that the story was finished.

“Who are you looking for, Grandma? Tell me about him.”

Grandma June turned blank eyes on Bea. Her eyelids drooped.

Bea forced a smile. “Grandma?”

There was no answer except the whump-whump-whump of the windshield wipers sliding back and forth. Bea checked her phone again, as if somehow it would’ve recharged itself. The black screen caused an empty feeling to open up in her chest. She hated being helpless. Vulnerable. Like that night in Atlanta when she was walking back to her dorm after a late dinner . . .

A low growl broke through her thoughts. What was that? She sat up. A truck. And not just any truck. She knew that engine.

She used her sleeve to wipe at the foggy window and peered through. Dad’s truck pulled off the road onto the turnout and stopped. Dad and Grandpa Rand hopped out.

Bea began to sob.

TWENTY-SEVEN

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Jeremy squeezed her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Stop asking me that.” Bea flinched at the sharpness of her words. She closed her eyes and softened her voice. “Please.”

Her head hurt. She was exhausted. Dad and Grandpa Rand had helped Grandma June into Dad’s truck so they could take her straight to the hospital. Then they’d helped Bea get the Toyota back on the road and insisted she drive straight home. She’d argued that she wanted to go along with them, but Dad wouldn’t hear it. “Jeremy’s expecting you,” he’d said. “And I suspect Frank’ll be there, too.”