by Mary May
“Are these for Charlie?” Gideon asked.
Edgar level a blank stare at him. “Yes, unless there is someone else in this house that may have need of them?” His raised eyebrows and pointed look left no doubt to whom he was referring, too.
Gideon laughed, set the block back on the table and started spinning it with his hand. “Old man, I have learned and forgotten more languages than you could possibly ever imagine. I have no need for learning blocks.”
Edgar spared him another look. “Apparently you do. Perhaps I need to make you some with numbers, instead of letters, for the oldest man in this room… is the one that molts.”
Gideon studied his wings for a moment; they didn’t molt! He didn’t think…
“Was there a reason for this visit, angel?” Edgar finally asked after Gideon studied his wings for a moment.
“What do you think of Devon? I don’t trust him myself,” Gideon said.
The butler put down his carving knife and thought about what Gideon had asked him. “I think there is a lot going on with that young man; not all of it is good, and not all of it is bad.” He picked up the knife and went back to his blocks.
Gideon waited for more, but Edgar just carved on the blocks. “That’s all you have to say?”
Edgar laid the knife back down with a sigh. “Gideon, you asked what I thought. I told you. Is there something else you want to know? Let me ask you a question: What is it about the man that you don’t trust? Surely you have more insight to his inner demons than I do.”
Gideon sat there and thought a minute before answering. “I can’t get a feel for him. Every one gives off a vibe; it is like a personality indicator. I have never run across someone that didn’t have that until I met Devon. He feels muted somehow. It makes me nervous.”
Edgar nodded. “Perhaps this is one that has learned to keep his true feelings and emotions to himself. That doesn’t make him evil.”
Gideon agreed. “No, it doesn’t, but it doesn’t make him good either, and the dog didn’t even like him!”
Edgar picked his knife back up. “Perhaps then it is as you say; he isn’t trustworthy yet. I would suggest you keep an eye on him until the time comes that you can fully decide one way or another, and if you can’t decide on your own, follow Moppet’s lead.”
Gideon left the butler’s room and went to find the others. He found them in the den. Sabrina was showing Charlie how to bounce her ball and make Moppet chase it and bring it back. The others were watching and occasionally offering advice to Sabrina and encouragement to Charlie. Devon was leaning against the wall in the corner Gideon usually stood in, watching Sabrina with Charlie, which irritated him even more. Moppet saw Gideon standing there and came running up to him, his tail going faster than even he could keep up with. The dog, whining with uncertainty, looked at Gideon then over to where Devon stood in the corner. Gideon squatted down on his haunches and scuffed up the dog’s shaggy ears. “I know, buddy…I don’t like it either, but I think you and me are the only ones that feel that way. Let’s make an agreement to keep a very close eye on him.” So with that agreement made, Gideon and Moppet spent the rest of the night watching the tall man in the corner.
Chapter 27
Devon took Sabrina at her word and came and went as he pleased. He chose a suite of rooms that had their own exit and were located on the back side of the estate. When he was at the estate he was pleasant although sometimes reclusive and generally tried to make himself useful. Charlie seemed to have fallen madly in love with him, and Sabrina was fairly sure the feelings were returned. Devon would light up when he saw Charlie. The shadows that Sabrina would so often see in his eyes would disappear in the presence of her little girl. Of course, Charlie was quite the character. She loved to be the center of attention and most of the time she was! Sabrina would make play dates for her with other children her age, but Charlie seemed to prefer the company of adults, most especially tall blonde men with secrets.
Everyone in the household liked Devon with the exception of Moppet. The sheepdog didn’t seem to warm up to him no matter what Devon tried. Moppet would tolerate Devon scratching his ears and he would gently take an offered treat, but then he would back off to what he deemed a safe distance and just watch him. This concerned Sabrina quite a bit. She had always heard that children and animals were usually good judges of characters, but what do you think when you have two opposite reactions? She decided to be watchful and not lower her guard too much. If she was honest with herself, she would admit that was easier said than done, for like her daughter she found Devon to be quite charming as well. It had been nearly three years since Luke had passed away. She still missed him every day and longed for his touch and companionship, but she would be lying if she said she didn’t find Devon Lane attractive. Sabrina questioned whether it was the man himself that she found attractive or the fact that she felt closer to Sherrilyn when he was around. The way that he spoke and phrased his words reminded her very much of her dear friend, so she suspected that might have a lot to do with it. On the other hand, Devon was a very handsome man and had that mysterious quality going for him that piqued Sabrina’s interest as well. Shaking her head at the direction her thoughts had taken her, she decided to go hunt down the man in question and speak to him about something she had been putting off, giving him his share of his sister’s estate. Sabrina wasn’t sure how to bring up the subject. She wanted to give him what was his. She had no doubt that if Sherrilyn had been able to get in touch with her little brother that’s what she would have done as well. Saying a brief prayer for the right words she went looking for Devon.
Gideon was in the back yard watching Devon play with Charlie. He was pushing her in the safety swing that Edgar had hung from the snarled branches of a big oak tree. His new best friend Moppet was lying at his feet keeping a watchful eye on the duo as well. If Devon was aware that he was under such close scrutiny, he never showed it. He seemed relaxed and was obviously enjoying the company of the little girl. Gideon had noticed that was about the only time the man would lower his guard and let any emotion be seen. Then Gideon could pick up traces of his “vibe” and they seemed to reveal that Devon was a decent guy. But it was the other times that had Gideon watching him like a hawk. He would catch that dark haunted look in his eyes and then would disappear for hours and sometimes days on end, then show back up without explanation. Sabrina seemed content enough to let him, and Gideon supposed that Devon was a grown man and didn’t need anyone’s permission to leave the estate; it just seemed odd. Both Gideon and Devon looked up when they heard Sabrina approach. Devon offered her his trademark lazy smile and nod that seemed to be his customary greeting.
“Hi! That looks like fun, baby girl; let Mama give you a push.” Sabrina reached and gave the swing a gentle push and smiled at Devon. “You really have a way with kids, Devon; do you have any of your own?”
Devon took his turn pushing the swing, sending it swirling back toward Sabrina. Devon looked at Sabrina, his eyes squinting in the bright sunlight. Sabrina noticed that the sun’s rays turned the lightest strands in his hair flaxen. If she could bottle that beautiful natural blonde color, she would be famous!
“No, ma’am, I don’t have children. I always wanted some, though.”
Sabrina swirled Charlie back toward him. “Have you ever been married?” Again that lazy smile with the appearance of those twin dimples made Sabrina’s breath hitch in her chest.
“No, ma’am, I haven’t found that special lady yet. Your mother told me about your husband passing; I’m right sorry to hear that.”
Sabrina nodded. “It was really hard…still is sometimes.” She pushed Charlie back his direction. He nodded in understanding.
“Yes, ma’am, it is always hard to lose someone you love.” Charlie came swinging back to her mother.
Sabrina smiled and tilted her head. “Can I ask you favor?”
Devon reached out and stopped the swing. “Yes, ma’am, what is it?”
She l
ifted the safety bar and got Charlie out of the swing, putting her on the ground to go play with Moppet who had been carefully watching her for the past twenty minutes. “Stop calling me ma’am?”
Devon smiled again. “Yes, ma’am.” He laughed. “I’m sorry… Southern manners are drilled into us from birth. My daddy was a real stickler about things like that. I won’t promise that I won’t slip up and say it again, but I’ll try…how is that?”
Sabrina smiled. “Good enough!” They sat and watched Charlie play, visiting with one another until the sun started to set and she gathered Charlie up to go inside.
Gideon sat and watched Sabrina and Devon sit and talk for well over an hour until she got up and brought Charlie inside. He may not have had much dealing with humans and their courting traditions, but he knew enough to recognize the look in Devon’s eyes when he smiled down at Sabrina…and he didn’t like it! He knew that as young as Sabrina was, she would most likely fall in love again and remarry. He thought that she should do that. She was too beautiful and loving not to share that with someone else. But he didn’t think Devon Lane was that someone at all! There were entirely too many unanswered questions where this man was concerned. Gideon had made a promise to Luke to watch over Sabrina and he had every intention of doing exactly that. With that thought firmly in mind, he got up and followed them inside.
Later that week Sabrina was in her bedroom trying on the bridesmaid dress for Keelie’s wedding. It had just arrived by UPS and she rushed upstairs to try it on. Now she stood in front of her full-length mirror, turning this way and that way, peering over her shoulder to see her back view. Charlie was sitting in the floor playing with the boxes and tissue paper it was wrapped in. The dress itself was very simple in its design, a slip dress that fell to just above her knees. The straps on her shoulders and crisscrossing over her back were thin and twisted with a tiny golden thread intertwined in it. The gold twisted theme was repeated under her breasts. The dress was very beautiful for all its simplicity. Sabrina knew she would wear it often after the wedding. She started playing with her hair, sweeping it up into a loose knot near the top of her head then working free a few curls to hang down around her face. Rummaging through her closet, she found some low-heeled dark brown leather sandals with laces crisscrossing her ankles and slipped them on to complete the look. She returned to the mirror and appraised her appearance. Still turning in all directions, she turned to her daughter. “Well, Charlie, what do you think? Does mommy look pretty?” Before Charlie could reply, Sabrina heard a soft tap at the door. “Saved by the knock!” she teased then, still smiling, she swung open the door.
Devon was standing on the other side with his hand raised when Sabrina opened the door. He stood there with a dumbstruck look on his face. His blue/gray eyes slowly traveled the length of her body, starting at her sandaled feet and stopping at the mass of soft brown curls piled on her head. A soft whistle escaped his lips.
“Well, now, don’t you just look prettier than a new born filly!” He leaned his shoulder against the door frame and looked her over again.
Sabrina blushed and self-consciously ran her hands down the dress. “This is the bridesmaid dress that Keelie sent me; isn’t beautiful?”
Devon sent her his lazy half smile and arched a brow. “It’s beautiful alright…The dress isn’t bad either.”
Sabrina’s blush deepened. “Do you plan on going to the wedding? You know you’re invited.”
Devon nodded. “I honestly hadn’t put much thought into it, but I may need to reconsider.”
Slightly uncomfortable with Devon’s flirting, Sabrina picked up Charlie to put a barrier between her and Devon’s gaze. “Well, I hope you decide to go. We need a definite head count by next weekend so we can book our flight out there.”
Devon nodded. “Tell you what, count me in for now; if something comes up I will let you know in enough time, okay?”
Sabrina nodded. “Okay, that sounds good. If you have a moment, I want to change then talk to you about something. Are you busy?”
Slowing shaking his head, he straightened his tall frame. “Not at all. I’ll see you down stairs in a minute.” Then he turned and walked back down the hall. Sabrina watched him go for a minute before realizing what she was doing. “Oh, for Pete’s sake! You’re acting like a teenager!” she scolded herself.
Charlie was still playing in the floor and turned and pointed a finger at her mother. “What? You worse than I am, little girl, so don’t you point that finger at me!” Sabrina changed into some jeans and a pink and white striped tee then picked up her daughter and went downstairs.
Gideon was so furious he was surprised he hadn’t exploded. He wasn’t sure who he was the angriest at, Sabrina for looking so beautiful in her bridesmaid dress or Devon for noticing. When Devon ran his gaze over Sabrina in a purely male way, Gideon had looked down to find his sword in his hand without even knowing he had reached for it. Only thousands of years of self-discipline had kept the sword at his side instead where he wanted to put it. He had stood between Devon and Sabrina and was very relieved when she had picked up Charlie. If Devon had made the slightest move in her direction, Gideon felt pretty sure he would have broken at least a dozen or so guardian rules, and possibly a dozen or so of Devon bones! Fortunately, Devon had left well enough alone and left the room to wait for Sabrina downstairs.
Sabrina found Devon in the kitchen pouring a tall glass of milk; she smiled and motioned to his glass. “Pour a lady a drink?” As he reached for another glass and poured the milk, Sabrina asked why he had come to her room.
“Oh, it was to tell you that Edgar was going to need to go to town after all and that I was going to take him, but I guess I got distracted and took too long so he called a cab.”
Blushing again, Sabrina reached for her glass of milk. Murmuring a soft thank you, she took a sip to try and give her cheeks a chance to cool down. Devon walked around and pulled out a kitchen chair. Turning it around backwards, he straddled it and faced Sabrina.
“What did you want to speak with me about?”
Willing her face to stay the same color, she looked and met his gaze, grateful to see the heat in his eyes had died away. “I have wanted to talk to you about something for several weeks now; I just didn’t know the right way to approach it.”
Taking a long swallow of his milk, Devon winked at her. “My daddy always said the best way to approach anything is head on. That’s especially true with women and spooky horses.”
Sabrina laughed. “Very wise words. I can at least say that about approaching women; I’m not about to speak for the horse!” She paused for a moment then did exactly what he advised and tackled it head on. “Devon, I’m sure you’re aware that Sherrilyn was very well off when she passed, and not being able to locate you and not having any other family that she mentioned, she left her estate and all of her holdings to me. I feel that it is only right to give you your share.” She said all of that fairly quickly then waited to see what Devon’s reaction might be.
Devon’s eyes widened slightly; then he set his empty glass on the table. After thinking over what she said, he answered her. “Tell you what, you can keep everything. I do well enough on my own, but there is one thing I would like to have if we can find it.”
Sabrina was very surprised. “Devon, your share of her inheritance would come to several million dollars. Why don’t you think it over before you decide that, or I’ll just set aside your share and you can claim it whenever you’re ready.”
Devon shook his head. “Sabrina, that’s real generous of you; make no mistake about that. I appreciate you thinking of me and wanting to share, but my sister left all of this to you.” He looked up and waved his arm around the room. “I’m sure that with you is where she wanted it to stay.” Sabrina was shaking her head in disagreement and opened her mouth to say so when he reached over and placed his forefinger over her mouth.
“Hush, I’m sure you have learned that those of us with Lane blood running through our ve
ins are pretty stubborn, but we also say what we mean. I don’t want Sherrilyn’s money. It’s enough that you let me call this place home and crash whenever I’m in the area. Like I said earlier, there is only one thing I want and I am not even sure Sherrilyn had it.” He removed his finger from her lips and Sabrina could still feel the tingle his touch had invoked. Pressing her lips together, she asked him what that one thing was. “It was a pearl broach that belonged to my great grandmother that had been passed down through the family for years. I can still remember my mama wearing it to church every Sunday. I’m pretty sure that it’s not worth anything, but I would sure like to have it if it can be found.”
Sabrina looked and saw no deception in his eyes. She believed him when he said all he wanted was the broach. She didn’t understand him, but she believed him. “I don’t remember seeing Sherrilyn wear anything like that, but we can look through her jewelry and I know she has a safety deposit box at the bank as well that has some stuff in it.” She paused and looked him in the eye. “What if we can’t find it? Is there anything else you may want?”
He studied the floor for a minute before looking up at her. “No, ma’am, just the broach.”
Gideon was very seldom surprised by humans; they usually were a predictable lot, but Devon turning down his share of Sherrilyn’s estate surprised him. He could not figure out what this guy’s angle was, and he knew he had one. He watched while Sabrina and Devon went through Sherrilyn’s jewelry. Not finding the broach among the items there, they went to the bank to see if it was in the safety deposit box. They returned home empty-handed, and Gideon was surprised again to see actual disappointment in Devon’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, Devon, maybe it will turn up. If it does, it’s yours. I promise!” He nodded his head and thanked her then excused himself and went to his room. Sabrina felt so bad for not being able to find the one thing he wanted. It had seemed so important to him. She vowed to continue to search for the elusive broach. If it was in this house, she would find it!
