My Guardian Knight

by Lynette Marie

  MY GUARDIAN KNIGHT

  BY LYNETTE MARIE

  CHAPTER ONE

  Clickety clack…..clickety clack…..clickety clack. Amanda Darcy laid her head against the window, the sound of the train soothing her frazzled nerves, and stared sightlessly at the passing scenery. The all-consuming terror that had gripped her this morning upon awakening still plagued her, denying her any rest. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, trying to reassure herself that everything would be fine, but to no avail. She could not fool herself any longer. Avery had found out where she was yet again. When she’d opened her eyes this morning it had been there, the strange premonition that overtook her every time Avery ferreted her out; that brought panic and terror so forceful she could hardly breathe. So, as always, she had thrown their meager possessions in her suitcase and made a beeline for the train station.

  Sighing, Amanda willed her hands to stop trembling. At least she had been smart enough to secure a position as governess in another town this time. Every other time she had run blindly, first finding a town that seemed safe and then searching for a job. It would be better this time, she told herself. Although the Richardsons didn’t expect her for another two weeks, she was sure they would be happy to have her come early, since Mrs. Richardson had been so enthusiastic in her letter.

  Reaching into her small handbag, Amanda counted the small amount of bills she had left. Twelve dollars and fifty cents. Surely that would last them until they reached their destination. If she were careful, the money would last. And, the good Lord knew, she had practically had to make an art out of being careful. They would get by.

  They had to.

  She closed her eyes, trying to get some much-needed rest. She had to be alert when the train made its stops, for traveling was a dangerous business for her. Avery had many connections, and well she knew that he would not hesitate to use them to track her down. As a lawman, he had an endless source of deputies at his disposal to carry out any orders he may give. It was a miracle they had evaded him this long.

  But she was no fool. The running would stop one day, and with it, her freedom. Possibly even her life.

  Brought out of her disturbing thoughts by a soft cough, she gazed down at the child beside her. Sweet little Matthew. In his five short years of life, most of it had been spent running. Sometimes, his mind seemed too old for his slight body, his bravery and intelligence never failing to surprise his mother. Even though their lives were different from the other children he had met, and none too stable, Amanda strove to keep his childhood intact. A five-year-old should not have to worry about his safety and that of his mother. Being five years old was about chasing butterflies, wishing for a pony, pretending to be a cowboy. Amanda was determined that he would not be cheated out of the pleasures of life. Someday, he would have everything that she wished for him.

  Yes, someday.

  Matthew rubbed his big brown eyes and gazed up at

  his mother. “Are we there yet, Mama?”

  She smiled at him tenderly. “Not yet, Matthew. I bet you’re feeling hungry, aren’t you? I have a yummy apple in my bag just for you.”

  The child happily set about munching the fruit, watching the people around him with curiosity. The train was extremely crowded and noisy, and he was surprised he had been able to nap at all. But now he felt refreshed and full of energy and wanting nothing more than to get up and run the cramps out of his legs. Matthew looked up at his mother. “Do you suppose it will be very long, Mama?”

  Amanda squeezed his hand in understanding. “I’m sure I don’t know, sweetheart. Look at your book for a while; it will make the time go by faster. I promise I’ll find you a place to play before we board the next train.”

  He nodded, not very satisfied with her answer but knowing it was the best she could do.

  Amanda’s heart went out to him. She understood how hard it was for him to sit still for so long. It was hard for her, too. They were not used to this inactivity. Their days usually consisted of Amanda working at whatever job she held at the time and Matthew playing with the children of the household in which she was employed.

  “Mama? We sure do ride on trains a lot, don’t we? Do you think, maybe, this could be the last time?”

  Amanda quickly schooled the sadness from her eyes. She didn’t have much hope left, but she wouldn’t take what remained of her son’s. “I think, perhaps, that anything is possible, Matthew.”

  His little face lit with joy. “I could pray for it, Mama. Miss Paula says anything is possible with the Lord’s help. I’ll ask Him to please make this our last train trip. And since I’ll be talking to Him anyway, I think I’ll ask for a pretty house for you with a great big yard for me and lots of children to play with. Wouldn’t that be nice, Mama?”

  Closing her eyes to hide the tears that threatened, she simply smiled and ruffled his hair. “That would be lovely, Matthew.” How could he know that she used to hope for a pretty little house all her own? A cute little cottage with a shiny white fence and fields where she could run and play with the many children she had planned to have. But that had been long ago, and she had no such illusions now.

  Yes, at least he still had hope.

  She turned her gaze back out the window, noticing the soft colors of the trees and flowers in bloom. When she’d been a girl, spring had been her favorite season, full of freshness and new beginnings. Now it just mocked her, for she knew there would be no new beginnings for Amanda Darcy. She was in the autumn of her life, careening rapidly towards the winter, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. No matter that she was still young by normal standards, only twenty-one years old. When Avery finally caught up with her, it would all be over.

  Amanda tensed as she heard the first squeal of the brakes, sitting ramrod straight and forcing her tired eyes open wide. She must take notice of every passenger that boarded the train to assure herself that they were still safe from Avery’s clutches.

  To her immense relief, most of the people on the train disembarked at the station, leaving only a handful of passengers left. The cloying odor of perfumes, stale alcohol, and unwashed bodies began to diminish immediately.

  Keeping her eyes trained on the doors, she was surprised to see only a few people board: a couple of little old ladies who smiled kindly as they passed, a young family with two children who Matthew eyed curiously, and a very well dressed young woman with an older chaperone. Amanda breathed a deep sigh of relief and settled back into her seat, relaxing ever so slightly. There didn’t seem to be anything to fear from these people. Now maybe she could catch a bit of sleep until the next stop.

  Just before her eyes closed, however, a bag was thrown unceremoniously through the doors and a man jumped onto the train with ease. Amanda jerked to attention. It wasn’t Avery, but could it be someone he had sent? Please God, not yet!

  She watched him as he spoke with the conductor. He seemed harmless enough. He didn’t scan the crowd as if he were looking for anyone; his shoulders weren’t tense from the stress of fruitless searching. No, she decided they were still safe. In fact, he was a very handsome man, with wavy dark blond hair that brushed his collar and soft blue eyes that held a twinkle. His smile was genuine, his teeth straight and white, which was quite unusual these days since the majority of men were fond of chewing tobacco.

  Amanda let her eyes roam over his lean, tanned form, enjoying with a bit of surprise the interest she was feeling for him. She had never really felt an interest in any man, even Matthew’s father.

  Especially Matthew’s father.

  But this man was different, she thought. Amanda put a lot of stock in a person’s eyes, for she believed they were the window to the soul, and the stranger’s eyes were kind and clear as he continue
d speaking with the conductor. Suddenly he looked up, meeting her gaze. Amanda smiled politely and looked quickly away, embarrassed. She was drawn to him, though, for some reason, and couldn’t keep herself from turning back to him.

  As the conversation wound to a close, the conductor clapped him on the back and moved away as the man started down the aisle. It was then that her eyes widened and she couldn’t control the shocked gasp as she saw something that had been hidden by the conductor’s large form. Something that struck terror into her heart. A brass pin. The stranger was a lawman, and he was headed straight for her!

  She couldn’t escape; there was nowhere to go. She watched, mesmerized, as he made his way slowly towards her, and swallowed hard when her eyes fell upon the gun at his side. He stopped right beside Matthew, tipping his hat and

  saying, “Afternoon, ma’am. Mind if I sit here?”

  Amanda tore her eyes from him and turned to look behind her at all the empty seats. Why did he want to sit with her? Why didn’t he just arrest her and get it over with? Smiling tremulously, and hoping her fear wasn’t too apparent,

  she said, “Why yes, of course. Please feel free.”

  The stranger tipped his hat again in thanks, stuffed his bags between the seats, and sat down beside Matthew. The boy smiled up at him shyly, whispering loudly to his mother, “Mama, he’s a lawman.”

  “Yes, I see,” she also whispered, surprised that her voice worked at all. Thank goodness Matthew didn’t know about Avery.

  The lawman turned to Matthew. “Afternoon, sir. May I ask your name?” He held his hand out for the boy to shake. Matthew shook his hand, straightening proudly and feeling very grown up. “I am Matthew Darcy. Pleased to

  make your acquaintance, sir.”

  Amanda watched him touch her son, suppressing the urge to snatch her child away and make a run for it. The air closed in about her, feeling thick, and her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. The world went black around the edges, and panic threatened to overcome her. She pushed it away with all her strength and managed to smile as the stranger turned his attention to her. He held out his hand.

  “Mrs. Darcy, I presume?” he asked with a chuckle.

  She placed her dainty fingers onto his, willing the shaking to stop. “Amanda Darcy. Pleased to meet you, sir.” “Sebastian Knight, at your service, ma’am.” His hand closed around hers, spreading warmth through her frigid fingers and along her arm. A feeling of peace stole quietly over her, as if through his touch he let her know she had nothing to fear from him. She smiled and removed her hand, feeling the cold return once again.

  Amanda settled back in her chair and turned to the window, hoping he would not try to converse with her. She knew she didn’t have to worry about Matthew, he never talked to strangers. She let her sleepy eyes droop, telling herself she would rest them for just a moment, and promptly fell asleep.

  U.S. Marshal Sebastian Knight settled back into his chair, eyeing the small woman who had turned away from him so promptly. She intrigued him, this little woman who sat so straight in her chair that he was tempted to feel for a steel rod beneath her clothing. What in the world had made him sit with her when she so obviously did not welcome his company? He was not the type of man who made a practice of forcing himself on cold young women.

  And yet, there was something about her that called out to him. This woman was in trouble. He knew it as surely as he knew his own name. Her dark brown eyes were brimmed with fear and suspicion, and he had not been able to turn away from the need he saw in them. This tiny girl needed help and, whether she wanted him to or not, he would help her.

  Sebastian braved a glance at her, noting her honey blond hair that, he was sure, had been pulled back in a severe chignon, but now mostly tumbled down around her shoulders in charming disarray. It looked so soft he almost reached out to touch it. Smiling ruefully, he tucked his hand safely onto his own lap. The girl was distant and withdrawn enough already, and manhandling her didn’t seem to be the way to bring her out of her shell. Laughing at himself, he settled back in his chair for a bit of rest.

  Rousing slowly from a peaceful slumber, Amanda momentarily resisted the return of full consciousness, reluctant to let go the oblivion that her nap had brought her. She allowed her eyes to remain closed for a few more precious seconds before the soft murmur of voices beside her penetrated her senses. She sat up quickly, turning a shocked look toward her son. Matthew was talking to the stranger who sat next to them. Matthew, who never spoke to anyone, was carrying on an animated conversation with a complete stranger! She had never stopped to think that he might feel safe in the presence of the lawman, as most people naturally would. Sometimes she almost forgot how to think like a normal person. Willing her heart to stop its erratic beating in her chest, she turned to her son, a smile plastered to her lips. “Matthew, let Marshal Knight alone. He might like to rest.” Sebastian smiled at her above the boy’s head. “I don’t mind, Mrs. Darcy. He’s keeping me company. A trip

  for just one person can be mighty lonely.”

  “We take lots of trips, don’t we, Mama?”

  “Yes, son,” she managed to say calmly. What else had he told the marshal? Did he know anything that might get them in trouble? She must work on the assumption that this man knew Avery. To do otherwise would be foolhardy.

  Unable to find any other options, Amanda sat back and listened to the conversation between the two males, amazed at how soothing the lawman’s voice was. He was like a balm to the senses, and she had never felt two such strongly opposing emotions for a man before. On the one hand, the fact that he was a U.S. Marshal and therefore a possible enemy terrified her; but on the other hand, she felt a strange attraction to him. Oh dear, on top of everything else, was she losing her mind, too?

  Just then, he turned his smile on her, and she felt her insides melting. His deep blue eyes twinkled at her, and she realized with awe that he was drawing a smile from her own lips, albeit small, but a smile nonetheless. She couldn’t remember the last time someone other than Matthew had had such an effect on her. Who was this man?!

  “Your son is most entertaining,” he said in that deep, rich voice.

  She smiled at Matthew. “You must bring out the best in him, Marshal Knight. He is not usually quite so animated. And he absolutely never speaks with strangers.”

  “I like children,” he said, his smiling dimming a bit. “It angers me that so many people believe that a man is incapable of caring for children. If you are big and strong you must be a monster. If you are kind to kids you are not a true

  man. What a bunch of damned nonsense!”

  Amanda’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean—”

  Sebastian touched her hand, sending a tingling warmth up her arm. Calmness stole over her yet again. “I’m sorry,” he said with a quiet sigh. “I didn’t mean you are like that. I have a—” he turned away slightly, a rueful smile lighting his features. “I shouldn’t burden you with my problems, Mrs. Darcy, yet I find myself so comfortable in your company. Almost as if we were not the strangers we surely are.”

  Goosebumps rose on Amanda’s skin, and she knew she should be wary, knew he may well be her downfall. But sitting here beside him, his hand still touching hers, all she felt was a camaraderie, a closeness she had not felt in so long. “I feel that way, too, Marshal Knight,” she was surprised to find herself answering.

  His smile returned. “I think we have each found a

  friend. Please, call me Sebastian.”

  Mortified, she felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I could do that just yet. We’ve only just met.”

  His disappointment was genuine, she was sure. “I have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions. So,” he said quickly, effectively changing the subject, “where are you headed?”

  Amanda hedged, not certain she wanted to divulge such information.

  “St. Louis,” Matthew spoke up.

  Amanda bit her lip hard, barely suppressing a groan. If the
re were any chance that this man had not been sent after her, she didn’t want to make him suspicious.

  “What a coincidence. I’m going to St. Louis, also. Are you meeting your husband, Mrs. Darcy?”

  She looked up in surprise, meeting his incredibly blue eyes. Did he know something she didn’t know? Forcing a calm she did not feel, she replied, “No, my husband is gone, Marshal Knight.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, she told her conscious.

  “I’m sorry,” he said softly, laying a hand upon hers once again.

  Her response was drowned out by the squeal of the brakes. Here we go again, she thought, unconsciously straightening in her chair and focusing her attention on the doors. It took a moment before she noticed that Marshal Knight had touched her arm, trying to claim her attention.

  “Mrs. Darcy, this train doesn’t go to St. Louis. We’ll have to get off at this station and take the next train bound west.”

  She studied him warily. Was this true, or was it a trick? “I was under the impression that this train went all the way to St. Louis.”

  “No, ma’am. It goes back east.”

  She looked around. Indeed, everyone had disembarked but them. Smiling as if her nerves were not stretched to the breaking point, she nodded to him, motioning Matthew ahead of her. Sebastian stood in the aisle waiting for her and, as she went to step out, her foot caught on the chair and she stumbled, pitching face first into the aisle. Quickly, Sebastian’s arm snaked out and caught her around the waist, the force of her body slamming against his chest.

  She stood for a moment in the shelter of his arms, taking in the masculine smell of his leather vest and the warm musk of his skin. A feeling of safety stole over her and, as if in a daze, she let her head remain on his chest where it had fallen. For the moment, she felt safe and secure, something she had not felt in a very long time, if ever.

  The tug from her son’s hand brought her back to the present, and she quickly stepped away, nodding her thanks and following Matthew out the door. Once outside, Sebastian asked them to wait while he made arrangements to take the next train.