Books by JF Carringer

SNEAK PREVIEW  (from Chapter One)

She didn't recognize the tall, fair-haired man in the immaculate white suit that stood on her doorstep.  Meeting his eyes quizzically, she didn't say anything, but waited for him to introduce himself.  He was probably a salesman.  But this late in the day?  And on Sunday?

"My name is Jack,"  he said, "and I am an angel."

Her eyes widened and her heart began to race.  Her first impulse was to shut the door immediately, and she started to do just that, until she noticed what he was carrying.  It was a child's carrier seat, inside of which was a sleeping baby.  Her startled gaze moved from the child, again to the stranger.

"The baby's name is Carli Lynn and she is an orphan.  She will be a year old on March 2nd.  I need you to care for her."

Lora's eyes widened even more and she gasped.  Surely, she hadn't heard him right.  "Why are you doing this?"  she asked, when she could finally speak, and when he remained silent.  "Do you think it's some kind of funny joke or something?  Well, I don't!"  She started to shut the door, what she should have done immediately.

It wouldn't close, and when she looked again at the stranger, she saw a soft glow surrounding his face as he smiled at her.  Once more, she found herself speechless.

As she stood there, merely staring, the man entered the house and shut the door behind him.  Very gently, he placed the carrier on the coffee table in the middle of the room.

The baby opened her eyes and started to cry.

Lora ran over to her and stooped down, taking her tiny fingers into her own.  "Oh, don't cry!  None of this is your fault, darling!"  She watched the clear brown eyes, glistening with tears, begin to glow with a sudden trust.  The rosy lips slowly turned from a frown to a smile.  "Oh, how beautiful you are!"  Unable to stop herself, Lora unfastened the safety belts and lifted the little girl out of the seat, then snuggled her lovingly and gently in her arms.  Holding her close, she stood to her feet and turned again to face the man who had brought her there.  He must have moved around the room, and her eyes roved around, looking for him.  Then she went from room to room, calling his name.

The man who called himself Jack, who said he was an angel, was gone!