A Second Sight Knowing

This is an excerpt from the novel Confidence: Reliance on the Spirit:

Lilia's dad, Jacob, her grandpa, Apelehama, and fourteen-year-old Lilia watched, wide-eyed, at the unusual horse funeral ceremony. The other hoses nudged the dead Thunder, and understood. Lilia said intently, "Gramps, they know where Thunder is." She looked at her grandpa seriously with a knowing look. "He is in a meadow galloping happily like he did when he was young. He's a strong powerful Thunder now. I see him there." Lilia had a clear vision of the horse and his surroundings. Thunder ran through a field of wildflowers and daisies.

Her grandpa said simply, "Thank you for telling me Lilia. That's consoling to know."

Jacob said quizzically, "I'm missing out on something here. How did Lilia know that Dad?" Lilia looked to her grandpa for a response. She didn't know what to do or say. Her grandpa had told her to keep this special little gift to herself, and not to tell anyone. She looked to her grandpa for guidance.

"Well, I guess it's time that you knew, Son. Lilia occasionally knows what's happening beyond, and what animals and people are thinking. She has a knowing." His dad didn't want to call it anything more than that.

Jacob stared at Lilia questioningly, and she shook her head up and down in agreement. "How long have you known, Dad?"

"I've known since Lilia was three years old. Do you remember how she stood next to the big steers in the paddock? The steers and Lilia talked to each other. The conversation was so real, I realized Lilia couldn't make up something like that," explained his dad. He thought back to all the times it had occurred.

"Well, I'll be. Why didn't you tell me?" Jacob asked his dad, aghast, and a little upset to hear that his dad had left him out of the loop.

"It didn't come up until now," he said in typical Apelehama fashion. "Besides, I couldn't be sure it would continue. It would have done no good worrying you for no reason."

Jacob felt flabbergasted, and more than a little rattled. All those times when he thought Lilia was reading his mind, she had been. "Is it likely to continue, Dad?"

"I don't know, Jacob, and neither does Lilia," Apelehama spoke for his granddaughter.