Treebus and the Triplets: The Guardian Angel Chronicles Book 3

By Pam Dabon

While visiting the forest, Gracie meets Treebus, guardian of the forest. He’s an Earth angel who dwells in a hidden garden and walks the earth, continually protecting it.

The youngest of triplets, she develops a close relationship with Treebus as he teaches her about the miracles of Earth’s creation and continued existence. A dark angel—appropriately named Darkness—uses his deceitful wiles to convince a large part of humankind that the planet will soon be destroyed by their own negligence. Gracie and Treebus form an alliance to defeat Darkness and convince humankind that Earth is not doomed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664171749

Pam Dabon

Pam Dabon is a retired loan officer living in California’s Central Valley. She raised two boys that love the Lord and spends every morning in prayer encouraging her to face each day with a smile! She enjoys spending her time with family and going to the beach. She focuses on guiding and teaching the youth how precious and loved they are by their Father in heaven and reminding them ALL they have a God-given purpose.

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Copyright © 2021 by Pam Dabon.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/28/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

810685

Dear Reader,

The Guardian Angel Chronicles is a series of books that involve heavenly and oftentimes exciting interactions between humans and their guardian angels.

Each book has unique characters and story line. It’s not necessary to read the books in order. Some angels appear again in subsequent books, but this doesn’t distract from the story. It just makes for a fun read when you recognize them.

Every story line contains its own exciting adventure with new and memorable characters.

Enjoy reading! Be inspired!

Pam

To my Father in heaven, who inspired this third book in our series, the Guardian Angel Chronicles. Thank you for helping me create wonderful characters and beautiful gardens. I give you all the glory, Lord!

In honor of my lovely Aunt Grace, whom I called Aunt Gracie while growing up and is no longer with us. You are the namesake for my main character, Gracie. You had a recurring dream when I was in my twenties that I would be a bearer of the light. You’d be happy to know that this book was written to offer hope, encouragement, and the light of God to all who read it—and the entire series of the Guardian Angel Chronicles.

To my mother, one of my dedicated proofreaders, who led our family to our Christian faith years ago. In her studies to be an ordained minister, she taught us that there is no Mother Earth, only Father God. He alone keeps our planet safe.

Special thanks go to the following:

My treasured friend Alicia and her Mama Yolanda, for being my Spanish interpreters. Without your help, I couldn’t have added the language and the colorful expressions needed to enhance this book. Gracias! Thank you!

My great-niece Evangaline, whose sweetness and love for reading inspired the creation of one of the small angels and the heartwarming caper in the meadow.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Treebus, Guardian of the Forest

Chapter 2 My Family

Chapter 3 Through the Lighted Doorway

Chapter 4 Gabe and Gil Meet Treebus

Chapter 5 Gracie’s Poem-Song

Chapter 6 Gabe’s Wisdom

Chapter 7 Father’s Gifts

Chapter 8 Evangaline

Chapter 9 Gil Begins to See the Light

Chapter 10 The Missing Pussy Willow Branch

Chapter 11 Gil’s Gift to Gracie

Chapter 12 A Nosy Reporter

Chapter 13 Treebus to the Rescue

Chapter 14 Holy Fire’s Glowing Ember

Chapter 15 The Triple-Decker Face Freeze

Chapter 16 The Battle Is Revealed

Chapter 17 Aerglo

Chapter 18 Through the Blossoming Arch

Chapter 19 The Tiny Ember Fragment

Chapter 20 Treebus’s Legacy

Chapter 21 Gracie’s Message to You

Scriptures

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

Treebus, Guardian of the Forest

T he joyful sound of giggling filled the air of the surrounding forest. A petite five-year-old girl stood in front of a giant tree. Tiny winged lights danced around her as she playfully held out her hand to touch them. They were alive with movement, flitting and dancing around her small frame. It was as if they wanted her undivided attention, as if they wanted to play.

The winged lights began high up in the branches of the stately tree and had traveled down the trunk toward her. They moved in a rhythmic dance, playfully swirling around her and tickling her arms and face as she giggled.

A movement behind the lights caught her attention. She watched in fascination as a large being emerged from the tree that had been camouflaged against its trunk. His skin was bronzed by the sun yet smooth. The long strands of his hair resembled the same colors of the tree, mostly brown, with green, yellow, orange, and blue highlights. His body was covered in a long sleeveless tunic, an exact replica of the reddish-brown bark of the tree he now stood in front of. Green vines curled around each bare arm and around his waist. A thin vine sprouting small colorful leaves encircled his head like a halo. He held a tall staff in his right hand. It looked like a large tree branch wrapped in green vines, while the top sprouted smaller branches, leaves, and several catkins. On a top branch was an unusual looking object, like a brooch of nature. It was almost white in color with an indented center that curled in a swirl-like form. Thin twigs sprouted from its top. The indented center looked like it’d held a round object at one time. But now it lay empty.

Large wings that rested on either side of his body looked like giant bird feathers. They were mostly brown with occasional black and white spots. They blended well with the surrounding scenery. This creature, she decided, must be an angel of some kind.

She looked up at the being, her eyes wide with curiosity. He was so tall she had to bend her head all the way back to look at him. He crouched down to get as close to her level as he could, but he was still a good six feet above her head. That’s when she noticed his piercing green eyes, which sparkled when he smiled at her. He abruptly stood up straight, then gave her a flourishing bow.

Treebus, at your service, little one. His voice was deep and rough, yet gentle. I’ve been waiting a long time for you to come to me, Graciella.

You have? And how do you know my name? she whispered in awe.

I have. You’re the bright light destined to do things on the earth that many others have tried and failed.

"I am? What does that mean? Who are you? Are you an angel?" she asked curiously.

I am Treebus, guardian of the forest—an Earth angel sent by Father to protect and safeguard the forest and the earth while waiting for you to come. Now that you’re here, Graciella, I can explain my appearance to you. In the future, you’ll show the world Earth’s wonders and teach others the truth about Father’s creation.

She shrugged her small shoulders. How can I show the world anything? I’m only five years old, she stated. And you can call me Gracie; everyone else does.

Very well. Gracie it is, he answered. He smiled at her gently, his eyes crinkling at the corners. May I show you something? he asked. Bending down closer to her level, he reached his hand out toward her. She placed her little hand in his large, rough palm and followed him. Treebus turned and led her through the bright light shining behind him while the tiny winged lights flitted along beside them.

CHAPTER 2

My Family

M ama! Papa! Come quick! yelled Gil. Gracie’s in the tree again, and this time she’s really high up.

"Ay caramba. I told her to stay out of that tree. Gracie!"

I could hear Mama yelling at me again to get out of the tree. It was a giant oak I liked to climb to gather the small acorns before they hit the ground, when their caps, or cupules, were still attached. Many of them lost their caps when they hit the ground. Because the acorns grew along the tips of higher branches, I had to climb up high enough to reach them. I almost fell out of the tree on several occasions, causing Papa his heart palpitations.

I’d been collecting the acorns since I was young, with the notion that someday, I’d do something creative with them. If I never got around to it, that was okay too. The fun part was seeing how high up I could climb, and the little treasures were my reward. I was wiry and agile and could usually scale the tree before anyone saw me. Sometimes, I’d just sit up in the thicker branches, my back resting against the trunk while straddling one of the larger branches. I could see a big portion of the five acres of land we lived on. I could also spy on my brothers without them noticing me. Not that they did anything worth spying on, but it was fun to know they couldn’t see me. They never looked up, or they would have.

Ever since I was five years old, I’ve had a fascination for trees and all things that grow in nature. I’ve never forgotten my adventure with Treebus through the lighted doorway into a world untouched by decay and disease. Everything was alive. I’d entered a realm of beauty, full of living and breathing greenery, flowers, earth, and sky—everything nature had to offer and more. It was an experience I’ll never forget. I’d sit on my perch in the giant oak and reminisce about my time with Treebus in his heavenly garden, wondering if I’d ever see him again.

I climbed nimbly down from the oak with my collection of acorns carefully placed in a plastic grocery bag that I’d looped over my arm. I hit the ground and ran to my room before Mama could catch me. I quickly filled the large glass jar on my dresser with my acorn treasures. I had a variety of acorns and nature’s other bounties I’d collected over the years. In a separate jar from my acorns was a myriad of collected seeds, pods, twigs, and even fruit pits.

Different types of trees grew on our land. Along with my favorite oak, there was a walnut and several fruit trees, including peach, apricot, and plum. After we ate the fruit, my family knew to save their pits. I would wash them carefully and remove any pieces of leftover fruit, then let them dry in the sun. Afterward, I’d place them in my jar for safekeeping. My brothers thought that was weird. But the seeds and pits were so unique and beautiful to me, that I didn’t care what they thought.

You only know a little bit about me, so let me introduce myself. I want you to come along on my journey with me. My full name is Graciella Margarita Ortiz, but everyone calls me Gracie. I’m small for my age, but as a triplet, when your brothers are crowding around you in the same space for nine months, you’d be small too. I have long, thick brown hair; light brown eyes; and olive skin, with an occasional scar or scrape here and there.

I’m the youngest of triplets. Gabriel came first. He’s my older brother by twelve minutes. He’s the serious one and very responsible. We call him Gabe. Gilberto came four minutes later. He’s the one most likely to get into mischief. We shortened his name to Gil. Both brothers have a lot of dark hair, and they both have big brown eyes. Mama was holding her twins, one in each arm, when the nurses suddenly whisked them away. She was shouting rapidly in Spanish. "Ay Dios mio viene otro! Another one is coming!"

Eight minutes after Gil, I was born. Papa told me that my hair was a light brown and my eyes were an even lighter brown, with tiny gold flecks. I had made my unexpected arrival. He told me I had made him the proudest Papa ever. Mama wanted boys, but he had secretly wanted a niña, a girl.

"You have made my life complete, mija. Ahora estoy completa. I have two healthy sons and one beautiful daughter." He hugged me and told me it was our little secret. He didn’t want my brothers to get jealous.

Poor Papa. I don’t think he realized how much trouble I’d give him. I’m afraid I’m the cause of his hair rapidly turning gray. I know Gil is always getting into trouble, but Papa seems to handle his shenanigans—engaños, he calls them—with ease. He told me that when he was a young boy, he and his brothers were always up to something, pulling pranks just like Gil.

But me? Papa had no sisters, so I was new ground for him. He had no past experiences to teach him how to handle a feisty tomboy daughter, who consistently sported scraped knees and elbows. He was always pulling at his hair or patting his heart in fear as he watched me climb trees, play rough with my brothers, and climb the furniture—which I did frequently as a small child. I would send my father into fits of breathlessness.

"Me estas poniendo el pelo gris, Graciella Margarita Ortiz—you’re turning my hair gray." He would look at me with resignation, knowing full well that before the night was over, I’d be causing him more angst.

I’d just look at him with my big brown eyes, place my hands on his cheeks and say, I’m sorry, Papa, if I give you palpitations. Then all would be forgiven. I was blessed with big eyes and a heart-shaped face—the downfall to Papa’s reprimands. He’d start out scolding, then end up with me sitting on his lap. He would tell me about all the troubles he and his brothers caused their mama, hoping I’d take a hint. I’d just laugh at the scrapes they’d gotten themselves into, and Papa would throw up his hands in utter surrender. He never stayed upset, and he always forgave me after making me promise that I’d never do it again. He’d end the scolding by placing a kiss on my forehead or the end of my nose.

Mama took it all in stride. When she was young, she was just like me. She laughed at Papa’s stories of chasing and never finding me. When he called out my full name, I knew I was in trouble. Since I was very nimble, I’d run like the dickens and hide before he could find me, usually up the oak tree. He’d call out my name, and I’d sit in the tree with my hands covering my mouth so he couldn’t hear my giggles. Sometimes, I think he knew where I was, but he never let on. He’d go back to the house muttering about his gray hair turning white with all the scares I put him through.

Mama would point her finger at me and tell me I should be more careful when Papa was around. She told me her own father had confessed of heart troubles when she and her sisters, Maria and Claudia, were growing up. She never told me what troubles they got into, for fear of giving me new ideas to copycat.

"Papa has enough to worry about without adding more ideas into your head