Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus (26 page)

“The train?”

“Never mind. I know what I’m doing.”

Henry obliged much to his dismay. “Fine. Suit yourself. I’d rather do this than see you get upset and have another heart attack. I’ll ride with you.”

“You will not.”

Humphrey barked.

“You tell him, Humphrey. There’s donuts in it for you.”

Henry parked the BMW and helped his mother out of the car. He helped her with her tote bag, leaving the suitcase in the car. Prudence walked closer.

Harriet smiled. “I’m getting on the bus. According to my GPS” — she looked at Prudence — “I can catch the Gold Country Stage here. Take me right into Grass Valley.”

“Are you sure about this?” Prudence asked.

“As sure as I was about my broken ankle.”

Then she leaned down and whispered in Harriet’s ear. “We’ll be following right behind. And I’m glad you’re coming to live with us. I can’t wait to tell the baby that his Nana climbed a mountain to come be with him.”

Harriet looked up. Tears flowed down her cheeks. “What? You’re … you’re pregnant?”

Harriet watched Prudence smile at Henry. “Not yet. But we’re working on it.”

Harriet swiped a tear away from her eye. Then she hugged Humphrey. “Ready to go home, boy?”

Minutes later the bus pulled up. “Okay, Mom, we’ll see you at home,” Henry said.

Harriet climbed aboard. The driver smiled. “What about him?”

“My son? Nah, he’s driving.”

“No, the dog.”

“Humphrey? But he’s not allowed on the —”

“Come on. He’s welcome here,” said the driver. The other passengers agreed.

Henry helped Humphrey onto the seat next to Harriet. He kissed her cheek and then left the bus. Harriet waved to him and Prudence.

As the bus driver pulled away he hit a pothole just slightly smaller than the Royal Gorge.

“Ahh,” Harriet said, “now I know what it means to feel God’s pleasure.”

JOYCE MAGNIN
is the author of five novels, including the popular and quirky Bright’s Pond Series and the middle-grade novel
Carrying Mason
. She is a frequent conference speaker and writing instructor. Joyce lives in Pennsylvania with her son, Adam, and their crazy cat, Mango, who likes to eat nachos.

Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

Nobody writes characters like Joyce Magnin, and Harriet Beamer does not disappoint. A story that’s all heart; you’ll be cheering Harriet on with every page.

Absolutely delightful! There’s surely a bit of Harriet Beamer in all of us — that mixture of trepidation but desire for adventure, and a relishing of God’s pleasure in becoming all He’s created us to be. I’d barely swiped away my tears before breaking into new peals of laughter.
Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus
is Joyce Magnin’s best yet.

If
you
want to feel God’s pleasure, take this delightfully unpredictable journey with Harriet Beamer and the unrivalled Queen of Quirk, Joyce Magnin. I know of no other author who can bring the truth of the Gospel so close to earth and yet lift the reader so high. Ya gotta get on this bus.

You’ll love Joyce Magnin’s tale of a grandmother’s unconventional cross-country trip toward family togetherness.

Grab your toothbrush and pack extra jammies — you’re in for quite a ride! Harriet Beamer rocks.

Harriet Beamer’s adventure sparks that longing in all of us to who, as Thoreau said, when it’s time to die, don’t want to discover that we have never truly lived. I fell in love with Harriet when she decided that money, a cell phone, and God were all she needed for her journey. And what she comes to learn in her travels is a lesson for life — that being who God intended us to be can bless others beyond measure.

Also by Joyce Magnin

Carrying Mason

ZONDERVAN

Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus
Copyright © 2012 by Joyce Magnin

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EPub Edition © FEBRUARY 2012 ISBN: 978-0-310-33356-2

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Magnin, Joyce.
       Harriet Beamer takes the bus / Joyce Magnin.
            p.   cm.
       I. Title.
    PS3601.L447H37   2011
    813'.6 — dc23

2011036018

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Cover design: Anderson Design Group
Cover photography: iStockphoto
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Interior design: Beth Shagene

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