“No, Marshal Knight. I can take care of that myself, thank you.”
He smiled. “I’m sure you can, but since I happen to be in need of a ticket myself, it’s no trouble arranging for two more.” With that, he strode off quickly before she could reply. Amanda looked down at her son. “Oooh! That man exasperates me to no end, Matthew!”
He grinned, dimples flashing. “I like ‘Bastian, Mama. He’s nice to me.”
She sighed. “Yes, he is. I suppose he is very nice to both of us. If only I could trust him,” she said under her breath.
“You can trust him, Mama. He’s a lawman.”
Amanda gazed into Matthew’s eyes, wondering absently if she had ever been so innocent and trusting, and vowing that she would do whatever was necessary to keep his innocence intact.
Sebastian stepped up beside them just then, motioning to a small white clapboard building. “Why don’t we have some supper?” He took Matthew’s hand and charged off, leaving Amanda behind him, outraged. That pretty little restaurant would surely be too expensive for her, and who did he think he was, anyway, to make sudden announcements and take off with her child in tow?
She caught up to them as they were being seated at a table. She sat down and turned on Sebastian, hissing, “I hope you do not consider yourself a gentleman, Marshal Knight, after leaving me alone at the train station like that!”
He smiled. “I never claimed to be a gentleman.” “And how dare you take off with my son and just assume that I would wish to go with you?!”
His smile deepened and he leaned closer to her, until their noses were but an inch apart. His voice was soft as he said, “If I had simply asked, would you have come with me?” “No!” she exclaimed sharply.
He leaned back in his chair, triumphant. “And there you have it.” Sebastian turned to the waitress. “Two coffees, please, and a milk for the squirt.”
Amanda was too angry to reply. She flipped open the menu and stared blankly at the pages, silently fuming. It took her a moment to realize that the conversation at the table had continued without her, and her son was giggling at something Sebastian had just said. She sighed wearily. Was she letting her jaded outlook on life affect her opinion of Sebastian, just because he was a lawman? He certainly seemed pleasant enough, although she knew very well that first impressions could be misleading. There had to be something about him, though, if Matthew had taken to him so quickly. She decided to let her petty anger go and enjoy the meal.
When the waitress returned, she not only bore their drinks but food as well. Amanda turned her gaze to Sebastian and he shrugged, grinning. “So I ordered for everyone while you were pouting. I was too hungry to wait.”
Three heaping plates were set before them, each bearing roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn. Amanda’s heart beat wildly in her chest as she thought of the cost of such a meal, but what could she do? The plate had already been set before her, the savory smell tempting her, and she couldn’t make herself send it back in favor of the cheese sandwich she had planned on ordering.
“Do you have a habit of making everyone’s decisions for them, Marshal Knight? For all you know, we may not like roast beef.”
He laughed. “Who doesn’t like roast beef?” “I like roast beef,” Matthew spoke up, bouncing excitedly in his seat.
Amanda sighed. She picked up her fork and gingerly tasted the mashed potatoes, closing her eyes and savoring the flavor. How long had it been since she’d tasted anything even half this hearty? Most of her meals consisted of cold sandwiches or the daily specials, which invariably tasted like lukewarm paper.
“The next train doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning,” Sebastian said, “so we’ll have to find a place to stay the night.”
Amanda’s heart sank. That was more money she hadn’t expected to spend. If she weren’t careful, she wouldn’t have enough money to reach St. Louis.
“There’s a hotel above this restaurant. Maybe there
will be a couple of available rooms.”
She nodded. “Yes, that would be nice.” A hotel this nice would cost a pretty penny, but her pride would not allow her to reveal her poverty to Sebastian. And her longing for a clean, comfortable room outweighed the fear she felt. In fact, the thought buoyed her spirits and she found herself smiling at him across the table.
“Mama, can we find a place to play? On the train you said we could and now we have lots of time before the next train. Can I play?”
She couldn’t help smiling at the excitement in his voice, and her eyes twinkled into his. “I suppose we could find somewhere for you to play after we’ve found a room for the night.”
Matthew bounced up and down in his chair, his happy gaze straying to the door impatiently as the adults talked.
“If you’d like, I can take care of the rooms while you take Matthew outside. He does seem to be a bit anxious to be going.”
“Thank you, but you’ve certainly done quite enough for us already.”
Sebastian grinned. “Suit yourself. I think I’ll give my legs a good stretch, I’m feeling as cooped up as Matthew.
Would you like to join me?”
“No, thank you. I saw a little church across the road
and thought I’d take him there to play a while.”
With a smile and a nod, he strode across the room to book his accommodations for the night. Amanda noticed, begrudgingly, that he seemed to take a certain brightness away with him. A happy light, like the warm rays of the sunshine, that she hadn’t really noticed until she felt its absence. Sighing, she rolled her eyes at her own silliness and motioned the waitress over. “I’d like to pay my bill,” she said, reaching for her reticule.
“Don’t worry, ma’am, the gentleman has already taken care of it.”
Amanda glanced across the room in surprise but
Sebastian was nowhere to be found. “That man is really good at escaping sticky situations,” she muttered under her breath.
“But just wait until I run into him again.”
But her irritated mumbling lacked conviction, and a soft smile creased her pretty pink lips. Taking Matthew by the hand, she hurried over to the reception desk. Amanda smiled at the woman sitting behind the desk. “Hello. I need a room for the night, please.”
The plump woman shook her head, smiling
regretfully. “I’m sorry but I just gave out the last room.” Amanda sighed. Well, she shouldn’t have expected to have a pretty room in this nice little hotel. “Can you tell me where else I might find a room to rent?”
Again, her response was negative. “There is a
festival in town tomorrow and all the rooms are booked solid. Have been for weeks. The gentleman was only able to get a room because we had a cancellation. Miss Mabel decided to stay with her daughter this year. If you ask me, she’s better off here, what with her daughter havin’ all them kids. Seven children and another one due any time now. I told Miss Mabel she’d have much more peace here, but she insisted on helping her family. I only had the one boy, you know, so I don’t know what it’s like to be around so many at one time, but I think they’d drive me plumb crazy! My son owns this business and, since I get lonely at home, he lets me help out here while my husband is at work. He’s such a good boy!”
Amanda listened to the woman’s monologue with a mixture of amusement and depression. Where would they spend the night? She tried to smile. “Thank you for your time.”
As she turned to go, the woman called, “Oh, wait a minute, dear. I just had an idea! Our regular housekeeper is out of town this week. She went to visit her children back east. Sometimes she has to work late, and we keep a place for her so she doesn’t have to walk home after dark. She lives about
three miles out of town. You can use her room, if you like.”
“Are you sure she wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. She doesn’t keep any belongings here.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful! I don’t know how to thank you.”
<
br /> The woman, who introduced herself as Mrs.
Mayberry, motioned Amanda to follow her. “Now, it’s not very big, mind you. The furnishings are a bit scarce, too, but it is a room and better than nothing at all.”
When they reached the door, Amanda asked, “How
much do I owe you, Mrs. Mayberry? I’d like to pay up front.” “Oh, I couldn’t take a dime for this tiny thing! I just
wouldn’t feel right about it.”
Amanda clasped her hand. “Thank you so much!” Mrs. Mayberry walked down the hallway, laughing. Amanda opened the door, not really caring what the room looked like, only that they were lucky enough to get it. Her first glimpse at the room surprised her. It was a bit small, but not exceedingly so, and it was very pretty! The hardwood floors were graced with a light pink rug that matched the walls and the patchwork quilt on the bed. The window and a small table both wore white eyelet, giving the room a fresh, feminine feel. She smiled happily.
“Isn’t this a lovely room, Matthew?”
“Yes, Mama,” he said. “Can we go play now?” “Oh dear!” she exclaimed in surprise. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, I completely forgot. Since you have been so
patient we’ll go out right now.”
With one last look at the cozy room, she followed her son out the door. When they stepped onto the porch, Amanda caught a glimpse of Sebastian coming out of the mercantile across the road. He was putting something in his pocket and wearing a wide grin. She wondered fleetingly what he was up to now, but put the thought away as Matthew pulled her toward the little white church.
“Oh, Mama, it has a swing,” he exclaimed breathlessly, breaking into a run. Amanda walked along behind him, smiling at his excitement over such a simple pleasure. She felt a pang deep inside and crushed the urge to run after him and join in the fun. Just because she had never been a carefree child was no reason she should start acting like one now. But, oh, it would feel so good!
Compromising, Amanda picked up her pace a bit and helped him on the swing, pushing him higher and higher, living vicariously through Matthew. How wonderful it must feel to soar through the air like that, she thought longingly.
His giggles and smiles made her laugh, and she
realized with a start that she didn’t feel quite so bad today. Indeed, she had not had even one thought of Avery since she stepped off the train. But that was dangerous. She could not forget.
But what could it hurt, for just one day? Amanda argued with herself. Didn’t she deserve a break from the worry and fear that plagued her every minute, day after day? Couldn’t she take just a few stolen moments of pleasure with her son without any worries to ruin their fun?
Amanda watched him glide through the air, laughing gleefully and kicking his feet. His little round face was flushed with happiness, his dark eyes sparkling. How she wished their lives could have been different. All she had ever wanted was a good husband, children to love, and a pretty little house she could call her own. Was that too much to ask? Was she being greedy by asking for all the things she had always longed for and never had? Amanda knew that, because she had no choice, she could live without these things that she wanted so badly. But what about Matthew? He deserved to be happy. He deserved to have everything good in life, all the pleasures, large and small.
“Mama, look how high I am!”
Amanda was torn from her thoughts by Matthew’s jubilant cry. Tonight, she had a pretty little room in a small, friendly town. Why couldn’t she pretend, for just one night, that she didn’t have Avery hanging over her head? She smiled. Yes, for just one night they would be a normal family.
“Come on, Matthew,” she called, a bright smile
gracing her pretty features. “Let’s walk to the mercantile.” Slowing down a bit, Matthew jumped off the swing and ran to his mother. He took her hand and skipped along beside her as they walked toward the store. “Why are we
going to the store, Mama?”
She smiled down at him. “I thought we’d do a bit of window shopping. It’s been a long time since I’ve shopped for enjoyment.”
A ghastly look crossed his face. “You mean you used
to like shopping, Mama?”
Amanda laughed. “I think you’ll find out, sooner or later, that most women do like it, to some degree.”
“Ugh! I’m glad I’m a boy!”
They hurried across the street to the mercantile and stepped through the door. For a small town, the store was well stocked with a variety of items. Amanda crossed over to the fabric, fingering the delicate prints. They each had only three outfits to wear, and those were old and worn out. What she wouldn’t give to be able to make a new set of clothes for Matthew. Maybe, since Marshal Knight had been so kind to pay for their meal and they didn’t have to pay for their room at the hotel, she could buy a bit of cloth to make him a new shirt. As she checked the price of the cheapest material her heart sank, and she closed her eyes against the disappointment. She should be used to this by now, she told herself. She should have known better than to hope.
When she opened her eyes, she noticed Sebastian standing outside the shop window. With a bit of a smile, he waved and strode on down the boardwalk. Turning around, Amanda located Matthew looking at a small display of homemade stuffed horses.
“Look, Mama, isn’t this the prettiest horse you’ve ever seen?” His eyes lit with wonder, he held the black animal out for her inspection.
“It is indeed, sweetheart.”
“Can I have it, please?”
Again Amanda checked the price, and again she was sadly disappointed. How could she tell him no? “I’m sorry, Matthew. We have to make our money last until we reach St. Louis, remember?” The look on his face nearly tore her heart out as he tenderly laid the black horse back on the shelf, arranging its legs into a more comfortable position. “How about a piece of licorice?” She asked with false brightness. “Okay,” he said softly. “I like brown horses better anyway.”
They stepped to the counter and she ordered him one licorice and one piece of rock candy. The mouthwatering aroma of apple dumplings was coming from a room behind the counter, and Amanda commented on it.
“We sell ‘em, ma’am. Twenty five cents a piece.”
Amanda beamed. “May I have two, please?”
Paying for her purchases, she asked Matthew to choose which candy he wanted and put the other away for later. They walked across the street, Matthew happily chomping on his rock candy. Amanda looked for Sebastian, but didn’t see him anywhere. She told herself she didn’t care whether he was around or not, but she had been alone so long that his company was more than welcome.
Amanda sat down at one of the tables on the porch and sent Matthew to ask for coffee. Mrs. Mayberry brought the tray out herself, setting out two coffee cups and one cup of milk for Matthew. She placed three plates in the middle of the table. “Is that nice gentleman joining you for dessert?”
“Well, I had hoped so, but I haven’t seen him around lately. Has he returned to the hotel?”
“No, that he hasn’t. I’ve been at the reception desk all evening and I’ve not seen him. He’s probably sightseeing about town.”
Amanda hid a smile. “I’m sure he’ll turn up soon.
Thank you for the coffee, Mrs. Mayberry. Would you like to join us?”
“Oh my, no thank you! You’re a sweet girl for
asking, though. Mighty sweet. Well, you enjoy yourself.”
Turning to Matthew, Amanda tucked a napkin in the collar of his shirt and unwrapped his dumpling, cutting it in half and placing the smaller piece on her own plate. As she was finishing, a shadow fell across the table and she looked up in surprise. Sebastian smiled down at her. “May I join you?” “Of course,” she smiled in return as he sat down. “I ordered coffee for you and we brought you an apple dumpling fresh from the oven. It’s nothing much, but I wanted to pay you back at least a little for everything you’ve done for us.” His electric blue eyes darkened and the smile left his f
ace. His voice was a soft caress as he said, “You don’t have to pay me back for anything, Amanda. Whatever I have done, I have done because I want to. Seeing the pretty smile light your face is pleasure enough for me.”
Amanda struggled to breathe, her heart pounding in her chest. No one had ever made her feel so disconcerted, or so happy. He touched her hand, his warmth engulfing her and she wondered vaguely if this were what it felt like to be close to a swoon. She was in such a peaceful state of mind that she didn’t have the heart to reprimand him for using her given name.
“Mama, I’m still hungry. Can I have more?”
Sebastian watched her as she pulled her hand away, slicing her dumpling in half and again giving away the larger piece. No wonder she’s so thin that her dress hangs on her, he thought to himself.
“Were you able to find a room for the night? I’ve heard that there’s a festival tomorrow and I want you to know you’re more than welcome to take mine. I can sleep on the lounge in the lobby.”
Amanda had entertained the thought that Sebastian had been responsible for their luck in finding a free room, but she dismissed it now. “That’s very kind, but Mrs. Mayberry is letting us stay in the housekeeper’s room. It’s quite lovely. How is your room, Marshal Knight?” she asked, eyeing the badge and reminding herself that he could be the enemy. “Please don’t call me that. After I reach St. Louis, I won’t be a lawman anymore. I’m to drop off some official papers at the jail there and then I’m a free man. Mr. Knight doesn’t suit me, either. It makes me think of my father, and that is a rather unpleasant memory. So, if you could do me
this one favor, call me Sebastian.”
She acknowledged his request with a smile and a short nod. “What do you plan to do after you leave St.
Louis?”
He stared past her, a faraway look in his eyes.
Quietly, he said, “I’m going home. With any luck, I’ll be able to raise horses.”
Matthew piped up at that. “I like horses, ’Bastian.”
“Oh, that reminds me.” Sebastian reached into his pocket and pulled out a little package, which he handed to the boy. “I saw this and thought you might like it.”
My Guardian Knight Page 2
