Rocky Mountain Angels

by Jodi Bowersox [romance]

  Joe looked at her curiously. “Huh.” He looked around. “Well, it’s too late to light a candle, but I suppose we could still read scripture.”

  Beth stared at him a moment before blinking and moving down the hall. “Sure, just let me find... I think it’s in my room somewhere. Make yourself comfortable.”

  Joe sat on the sofa, feeling a little lost.

  ***

  Mari had tried to concentrate on reading some Psalms at her kitchen table, but she just couldn’t get Eli out of her head. After repenting of her wandering mind for at least the sixth time, Mari just gave up and shut the book. “I’m sorry, God, but I feel anything but restful on this Shabbas. Please send your peace.”

  Her butt was aching from sitting so long on her hard iron chair, but she wasn’t quite ready to get back in bed again. She got up to walk, but the pain in her toes reminded her of why she had been sitting in the first place. She checked her watch to see if she could take more pain meds yet. Not for another half hour.

  Sighing, she continued into the dark living room, despite the pain, and stood looking out the window facing Eli’s office. A light was on, but his shade was drawn. She wished now that she had kept him there to talk some more. What if Ben had been exaggerating out of jealousy? But Eli admitted to sleeping around. He couldn’t even give her a ball park figure of how many women he’d slept with. Is that the kind of man I want? Don’t I want a guy who has saved himself just for me? Shaking her head, she wondered if there were any of those kind of men left in the world.

  “The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.” The much quoted phrase from her psychology studies came to mind, but she also knew that this was not a solid rule. People can change their behavior if they want to.

  Turning, she wandered to the center of the room and absently sat on her wicker settee. She groaned and thought of Eli’s offer of a thrift store love seat. Then she thought of Eli’s offer to kiss her on that thrift store love seat. And heaven help her, she closed her eyes and conjured it up.

  ***

  Eli tried to work on the Marshall apartment designs but finally decided to give up for the evening. He was “undoing” more than he was drawing with the computer CAD program, and he finally admitted to himself that he was only working, because it would bug Ben. Eli usually didn’t mind an excuse not to work, but Ben had set him so on edge with his sanctimonious attitude, he was all too happy to go one hundred and eighty degrees in the opposite direction.

  Closing his laptop, he gave himself free reign to think about Mari. To think that he could lose her after only one kiss was eating at him. He was still mad as hell at Ben, but he knew deep down this day of reckoning would have come eventually even if Ben hadn’t said a word. And maybe it was better to have it out sooner rather than later.

  He pushed his chair back and stood, stretching. He was feeling caged but didn’t want to go out and give Ben more ammo to use against him. He leaned over his table to peek around the side of his shade. Mari’s living room was dark.

  He wondered what she did on the Sabbath. She had scooted him out the door before sundown, so she probably had lit a candle and prayed just as Joe and Ben did every week. Eli couldn’t see the point of it all and usually stayed out late on Friday nights. He smirked, sliding his hands into his pockets. And God hasn’t come down to straighten me out yet.

  His cocky attitude disappeared, however, remembering Mari’s look of disgust when he couldn’t answer her question, and he wondered if God had come down after all.

  ***

  Ben rolled over in his bed to see the clock. It was nearing 11:00, and he wondered where Joe was. The only time he could remember Joe missing the beginning of the Sabbath was when he got caught in a near blizzard coming back from Denver. Ben had tried calling him but just got his voice mail.

  Ben had put in a good show of reading scripture in his room with the door open, but he knew he hadn’t really digested a word. He had been more shaken up by Eli than he cared to admit. The three of them had lived together for nearly two years, and even though they had disagreements from time to time, they’d never once come close to having a fist fight.

  Was I wrong to tell her?

  Ben had felt guilty ever since he had warned Mari—not because it wasn’t true, but he worried that his motives weren’t exactly pure. Yeah, he didn’t want to see Mari hurt, but he also wanted her to look at him the way she looked at Eli.

  “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

  The proverb popped into his mind, and he closed his eyes, praying that God would give him peace and keep him from envy.

  But he also prayed that God would give him Mari.

  ***

  There was still a light on in Ben’s room when Joe pulled into their driveway, and he was immediately kicking himself for not calling and explaining why he hadn’t been there for Sabbath prayers. He absolutely didn’t know where his head was today. I guess I need Shabbas.

  He had debated whether it was more of a gaffe to drive home from Denver on the Sabbath or spend the night in his girlfriend’s apartment. He finally decided that he was probably wrong either way so drove home.

  As he opened the door, Ben was heading down the stairs. “It’s about time! I was this close to calling the highway patrol to see if you were dead in a ditch somewhere.”

  Joe shook his head in contrition as he took off his coat and hung it up. “I’m sorry, Ben. I should have called.”

  Ben stopped on the bottom step. “Well, I tried to call you, but I just got voice mail. Did you turn it off for some reason?”

  He put a hand to his head as he walked to the kitchen. “I got a wrong number while Beth and I were reading scripture and shut it off. I guess I forgot to turn it back on.” He dug a couple cookies out of the cookie jar and poured himself a glass of milk. “It hasn’t been a good day for brain power.”

  Ben had followed him to the kitchen. “So you and Beth did the prayers. You might have told me you were going to do that.”

  Ben almost sounded like a disgruntled spouse, which on any other day would have gotten at least a chuckle out of Joe. Today, however, had been too long and too confusing. “Well, I didn’t really intend to do it, that’s just where I ended up, and before you ask any more questions, let me just” —he waved a cookie in the air, trying to find the words— “let me just eat my cookies and go to bed. I’m really in no mood to talk.”

  Ben turned on his heel and headed for the stairs. “Fine. Shabbat Shalom, Joe.”

  Joe hung his head. “Ben,” he called after him. “I really am sorry. Shabbat Shalom.”

  Ben paused and nodded before heading on up the stairs.

  Chapter 10

  Bus routes to Old Colorado City didn’t run on Saturdays, so Mari had called a cab to take her to Sabbath services. She hated to spend the money on it, but she didn’t want to bother her “angels” when she didn’t know if they attended services or where. She assumed that Ben and Joe did since Ben had made a point of telling her that Eli didn’t. She had spent four days with one, two, or all three Rhodes men in it, however, and she thought maybe a day away would help with perspective.

  She had spent a restless night with their handsome faces coming and going in her dreams, each one kissing her at one time or another. She had awakened in a sweat, tangled in her blankets, and had jumped in the shower, standing in the chilly spray until her teeth started to chatter, but she still couldn’t get them completely out of her head. She hoped the Sabbath service would bring some balance back to her thinking.

  She chose a long black wool skirt for its ability to hide the boot on her right foot and a maroon georgette cap-sleeved blouse with a short, stand-up collar that buttoned down the back. A very feminine cut, it tucked in at the waist with a bias ruffle skirting the lower edge. She had one heck of a time getting the buttons buttoned, but she finally got it done. Black dot earrings and beads finished the look.

  The synagogue she wanted to try out was a
n unusually simple building not too far from her new home. She was making her way slowly up the steps, using the rail to take the pressure off her toes, when she heard someone call her name. She paused, looking to her left then smiled and continued climbing. Not an uncommon name, Mari.

  But when she heard it again, closer, and the voice sounded familiar, she stopped and turned. Ben was at the bottom of the steps, waving. What are the chances... Joe was at his side. He gave her a small smile and a lift of his chin. So much for a day out from under the Rhodes’ wings. She smiled back and stood close to the rail to wait.

  Ben was all smiles when he reached her and took her elbow to help her up the rest of the stairs. “I stopped by your house before we left to see if you wanted a ride anywhere. When you didn’t answer, I assumed you were still in bed because of your foot. How did you get here?”

  “I called a cab.”

  Joe pulled the door open and ushered them through.

  “You should have just called us. Cabs are expensive.”

  “I didn’t want to bother you boys again.” Mari chanced a glance at Joe, who was lagging behind a step on Ben’s left, but he seemed to be avoiding looking her way.

  Ben gave her arm a squeeze. “It’s not a bother. I mean, Joe broke your toe. The least he can do is give you a ride.”

  That comment brought Joe to life. “I did not break Mari’s toe.” Mari had to stifle a laugh at the indignant look on his face. He finally met her gaze, and all indignation slipped away. “I do, however, accept the responsibility and would have been happy to give you a ride.”

  The two men hung up their coats on the racks along the wall, so Mari followed suit. When she turned back, she caught both of them staring. Ben’s eyes were glowing. “You look beautiful, Mari.”

  “Thanks. You two don’t look half bad either.” She let her smile slide over to Joe, but he had already turned away. Half bad? Oh my heavens. She actually wondered how the two could go anywhere looking like they did in dress slacks, button shirts, and ties without having to fight off every female within a mile. They both wore shades of blue. Did they coordinate, or do they just know that blue makes their eyes captivating? Ben was wearing a paisley print tie while Joe’s was a very conservative stripe.

  Joe stopped at a table to pick up a yarmulke for he and Ben; then the two guided her to the rack of prayer shawls. After they were properly garbed, Joe led the way into the sanctuary and down the aisle, heading to what must have been their usual spot. He stood aside like a perfect gentleman while she angled into the pew with Ben behind her. When she sat, however, Ben crossed to her other side, greeting someone in the row ahead and chatting for a few minutes before settling in close to Mari.

  Even though Joe sat a good six inches away, Mari was all too aware of him. Ben was sitting close enough to be called cozy, but it was the space on the other side of her that hummed with tension. She reminded herself of the brother status he held in her life and turned her focus to the front of the sanctuary.

  The synagogue she attended in Oklahoma City was very ornate with stained glass and rich architectural details. By comparison, this one seemed absolutely spartan, but who needed stained glass when the large windows captured the view of Pikes Peak covered in snow?

  God’s handiwork on display.

  She smiled and turned to Ben, but he was engaged once again in conversation. She turned to Joe —was he looking at me?— and felt herself blush. “The view... it’s spectacular.”

  Joe nodded, smiling, and Mari turned back to the mountain vistas, trying to focus her thoughts and her thumping heart toward God.

  Joe couldn’t deny that he was sitting beside a spectacular view of his own—Mari, who was beautiful in jeans and a t-shirt, but stunning this morning in her filmy blouse with pearl buttons running down the back. Joe inwardly groaned. There was something so sexy about buttons down the back whispering of the help required to button them.

  Or unbutton them.

  He mentally gave himself a slap. Okay, Rhodes, let’s get your head into this synagogue and out of her bedroom, unbuttoning her buttons. He gave himself another and wondered at the coincidence that brought her to their synagogue.

  She probably just picked this one because it’s the closest to home. Joe knew this particular congregation was more liberal than most—it even had a female Rabbi—so he hoped that Mari would find it too radical and go somewhere else next week.

  Then he scolded himself for that thought and told himself he didn’t care at all what synagogue she went to. Why wouldn’t I want her to come here? She seems to be settling right in to be part of the family. He looked over her head to Ben. And with both of the boys after her, maybe she will be.

  Joe ground his teeth and looked at his watch, wishing the service would start. He needed something other than Mari’s rose scent to occupy his mind. Facing straight ahead with his arms crossed and his eyes closed, he wasn’t aware of the group trying to join their pew until a hand was laid on his shoulder. “Joe, are you asleep already?” Joe’s eyes snapped open, and he turned to look into the hound dog eyes of an older gentleman, who was leaning in.

  Joe smiled and stuck out his hand in greeting. “Not yet, Mr. Biderman. I’m counting on you to give me a jab if I need it.”

  The old man laughed. “You know very well, I’m the one who needs the jab now and then.” He motioned toward the center of the pew. “I don’t suppose I could get you young folks to scoot down a bit, we have the kids and grandkids with us this week.”

  “Oh, no problem.” Joe reached behind Mari to tap Ben on the shoulder. “Ben, scoot to the middle. The Biderman’s need more room today.”

  The three scooted then scooted some more, and by the time the whole Biderman troop was seated, Ben was smashed against the center divider, and Joe could only fit comfortably if he put his arm across the back of the bench. That floral scent coming off Mari’s hair was shooting straight up his nose, and Joe knew this was going to be a very long service.

  ***

  Mari was trying to breathe normally, but with Ben’s arm snug against hers on one side and being practically tucked under Joe’s arm on the other, she was finding it difficult. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that Joe was keeping his face angled slightly away from her, and she wondered what he was thinking. Does he think of me as a sister? She was having a really hard time thinking of him as a brother right now pressed against his rib cage. This is far too cozy for Shabbas.

  Just when she felt certain she was going to have to excuse herself and find another place to sit, someone at the front welcomed the congregation and announced a song. Joe grabbed the hymnbook with lightening speed and was on his feet in seconds. Ben rose a bit slower, giving Mari a hand up. Joe thumbed through the book to the right song as the prelude played then handed the book to Mari to hold for the three of them.

  With the men angling themselves around her, it wasn’t as tight of a fit, but she still felt surrounded and a bit overwhelmed. The song, though, was one of her favorites, and with Ben’s tenor on her left and Joe’s baritone on her right, she soon relaxed. Closing her eyes, she felt transported into the rest she so desperately needed, and giving in to it, she let her voice find a harmony of her own. She sensed the brother’s leaning in, and the three of them made heavenly music together.

  When the song ended, she opened her eyes and looked shyly to Ben, who grinned and whispered, “You have a nice voice, Mari.”

  She whispered back, “So do you.” She stole a peek at Joe, but he was standing with his eyes closed. The next song was already starting, so Mari hurriedly found the page. This one wasn’t as familiar to her, so she needed to keep her eyes on the words. Ben was singing out, but she didn’t think that Joe was singing at all. After a verse went by, she glanced at him again. He was looking ahead and his lips were moving, but they didn’t seem to match the song. Maybe he’s praying.

  When they sat again, Ben tried putting his arm along the back of the bench before Joe had a chance, but Ben’s heigh
t didn’t match Joe’s, and Mari didn’t fit next to him in the same way. After a minute where they were all uncomfortable, Ben brought his arm down, and Joe’s went up. She wondered if she had missed a signal between them. Mari scooted to accommodate the shift and felt even more pressed against him than she had before. And Joe seemed to be done looking away from her. She felt as if his nose were practically in her hair.

  Mari closed her eyes and tried to focus on the reading coming from the front. It was getting harder and harder to think of Joe as a brother figure when her insides were churning with his nearness, but she would not embarrass herself by letting him see any of her confusion. She clenched her jaw and forced her thoughts to the reader.

  “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be—”

  The reading went on, but Mari was stuck in thought. God forgives when we turn from our wicked ways. She thought of Eli. Shouldn’t we forgive, too? Because if the “good girls” can’t forgive, are they really good? And if no decent girl will have him, what will he be left to? He had promised to be true to her. Lord, can I trust him? She wasn’t sure of the answer yet, but she felt herself softening toward her dark-eyed angel.

  At least thinking about him kept her from thinking about Joe.

  ***

  Eli was more than a little surprised to hear Mari’s voice mingling with his brothers’ when they came in the door in the early afternoon. Ben was trying to talk her into staying for cheesecake, and Mari was saying something he couldn’t make out. Eli put a bookmark in the book he’d been reading and made his way to the stairs. Mari looked up as he started down, and Eli thought she looked a bit harried. She turned her attention back to his brothers, who were now in the kitchen, as she moved to the door. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”