Rocky Mountain Angels

by Jodi Bowersox [romance]

  Mal’s eyes popped open. “Are you two sneaking out on me?”

  Mari put her hand to her startled heart. “You look tired, Daddy. Time for a nap, I think.”

  He folded his hands across his stomach. “Maybe you’re right.”

  They turned to go, but he stopped them again. “Joe, Mari tells me you sing. Why don’t you and Mari sing something before you go?”

  Joe hadn’t expected that. “Oh, I think we might disturb...” He looked to Mari whose eyes were unexpectedly bright. “Don’t you think, Mari, that we’d disturb the other patients?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, we could sing quietly.” She looked so agreeable, and Mal so expectant, that he gave in. After a few minutes to decide on a song they both knew by heart, Mari started, and Joe joined in. They sang in hushed voices, but the beauty of the Hebrew blessing sung in two part harmony brought a smile to Mal’s face and a sense of peace to Joe’s heart.

  He closed his eyes on the second verse and slipped an arm around Mari’s waist in an attempt to bring her closer and hear her better, but the touch sent a zing straight through him, and he suddenly went blank on the words. Mari looked up at him, not singing either, and time seemed to stop.

  Mari’s dad began to snore.

  Joe turned her toward him and ran a hand down her cheek, looking deep into those brown eyes that seemed to have flecks of gold in them this evening. Her lips parted in a tiny sigh, and Joe zeroed in on them.

  A rattle at the door broke the spell, and half a second later they were stepping apart as a nurse rolled in a cart to take Mal’s vitals. Joe and Mari slipped out before the nurse had a chance to wake him up.

  Joe intended to walk her right out of the intensive care unit to find someplace private, but the waiting room had once again become populated with family. Family that wanted to chat with Mari. The little curly-headed girl that he’d been informed was called Sissy came running when she saw Joe and raised her arms, a big smile on her face. Joe swooped her up and threw her over his shoulder, causing a riot of giggles to pour out of the youngster. It wasn’t the curly-headed beauty he’d hoped to have in his arms tonight, but she also seemed to have found a way into Joe’s heart.

  Chapter 24

  The rest of the week had gone by in a whirl of construction meetings, hospital visits, and family dinners. Mari’s mother had started going home in the evenings, and Mari rode with her, so Joe could take care of business in time to leave on Sunday. The result being that Joe and Mari were never alone. Joe had finally learned all of Mari’s brothers names—Jerry, Noah, Nathaniel, Sam, and Alex—most of the wives and some of the kids. Some of Mal’s brothers and sisters had shown up, too, as the week went on—it seems he was from a large family, also—and Joe just gave up trying to keep everyone straight.

  Because everyone treated him like her boyfriend, they all had a story to tell about Mari. Joe was gathering them like the seashells he had collected on their one family vacation to the ocean when he was ten. And every one made him fall a little bit more in love.

  Mal was recovering well and had insisted that the family attend Sabbath services Saturday morning at their home synagogue. Joe hadn’t thought to bring along nice clothes so had done some shopping for himself Friday afternoon after his last meeting with Rabbi Yelson. He saw many pretty things he’d like to buy for Mari, but refrained. He wasn’t entirely sure the dress he bought would be accepted.

  Dressed in gray slacks and a plum shirt with a paisley coordinating tie, Joe waited nervously in the Bakers’ living room for Mari to appear. He had finally decided that he really didn’t care who was around, Mari was going to know his feelings for her before the day was done.

  When she finally emerged from the hallway, Joe was surprised to see her hair thrown up in a hair clip, the curly ends sticking up like a decoration. His gaze moved over her, and he took in every detail. A lacy cream blouse with cap sleeves covering a black knit top with spaghetti straps seemed a conservative choice. His eyes went lower to a slim black skirt, shorter than anything Joe had ever seen her wear, and he tried not to look shocked. But when his eyes hit the lace-up ankle boots, Joe actually laughed.

  Mari put her hands on her hips. “Now stop it, Joe Rhodes! I had to find something to wear besides jeans and a t-shirt, and the pickin’s are pretty slim in my closet.” She looked down and tried to tug her skirt to a longer length. “I’m sure this was probably in fashion at some point in my life.”

  He patted the spot beside him on the sofa. “If you can sit down in that thing, come here a minute.”

  Mari walked toward him, shifting her small shoulder bag’s strap, and looked at her watch. “We really should be going.”

  Joe reached forward, grabbed her hand, and pulled. “Your mom’s not ready yet, and I need to talk to you.”

  Mari reluctantly sat, and Joe took her hands.

  “Okay, kiddos, are you ready?” Mari’s mother breezed into the living room in a black pant suit. “We better get moving.”

  Joe hung his head, but as Mari started to rise, new determination filled his heart. “Give me just a minute, Mrs. Baker. I have something I need to ask Mari.”

  Val stopped in the middle of putting on her coat and took in the couple on the sofa. Smiling, she continued zipping the gray parka. “Sure thing, I’ll just get the car started.”

  She went out the door, and Joe looked back to Mari who was staring at him with wide eyes. He took a deep breath.

  ***

  Eli and Ben were slouched over their pancakes, eating without talking.

  Ben was still recovering from his jam-packed week of zoo work and bowling. Eli was coiled tight after four days wondering about he and Mari alternating with thoughts of he and Sheri.

  He felt like a crumb for wondering at all—he was the one who practically begged Mari for a chance to prove himself—and yet there was a part of him that believed all this wondering was the necessary and prudent thing to do.

  Ben took two more pancakes and poured on the syrup. “Why don’t you come to services with me?”

  Eli pulled his thoughts back to Ben, his brow furrowing. “Why?”

  “Would you be going if Mari were here?”

  Eli ground his teeth. “Maybe.” He remembered the promise he’d given her that he had yet to follow through on. “Okay, yes, I probably would be, because I told her I would.”

  Ben’s brows lifted. “Don’t you think it would make her feel like you really meant it if you went even when she wasn’t here?”

  Eli didn’t want to agree, but he didn’t doubt Ben’s supposition; Mari would be thrilled to know he’d gone without her.

  Ben stabbed a stack of pancakes with his fork and swirled it around in the syrup on his plate. “And besides, Sheri will never think to look for you there.”

  Eli looked at Ben with wide eyes. He hadn’t realized that Ben had been aware of the game of dodge Sheri he’d been playing for several days. Whether it was at the gym or his favorite bars or even at home, he’d had to get very creative to avoid her. “How did you—?”

  “You’d be surprised who I know around town, and I’ve seen her driving slowly past the house several times.”

  Eli blew out a breath, leaned back, and locked his hands behind his head. “I simply don’t know what to do.”

  Ben drank the rest of his juice and wiped his mouth on his napkin. “Another reason to come with me. You’ve got questions; God’s got answers.”

  Eli smirked, bringing his hands down to the table. “Well, I doubt I’m going to hear a voice from heaven telling me how to handle the women in my life, but you may be right about pleasing Mari and avoiding Sheri.” The truth was, he was finding it harder and harder to convince himself he should avoid Sheri. Her texts, even though he didn’t answer them, were always humorous, and more often his daydreams involved her rather than Mari. He had decided sometime in the last four days to stop scolding himself for this and let his mind explore the possibilities. Mari deserved his careful assessment as much as
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  he did.

  He just hadn’t reached any conclusions yet.

  Rising, he rinsed his dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. Then he reached across the table to take Ben’s. “What time do we leave?”

  ***

  Mari hadn’t had any idea what to expect. Nothing had transpired between her and Joe since that awkward moment after singing in the ICU, and she had convinced herself that she had imagined most of that. He had had business to attend to the rest of the week, and although he was friendly both to her and her family, she hadn’t felt anything more than friendship directed at her.

  And even though he had been caressing the backs of her hands with his thumbs and looking into her eyes with what looked like more than mere sisterly affection when they were sitting on the sofa at her house, he had abruptly changed the subject when her phone rang with Eli’s name displayed on the screen.

  And now, here we are yet again in a pew, feeling awkward.

  They weren’t squeezed quite as tightly as the morning the Bidermans had guests to cram into the pew with them, but she only had to lean a tiny fraction to be up against him. Since her mom drove, Joe had insisted she ride up front while he took the back seat, and he didn’t say a word the whole way to the city.

  Mari was convinced that there was something he wanted to say beyond asking what time she wanted to leave the next day. For a second, she almost believed—with his eyes sparkling into hers, she almost believed...

  No. She closed her eyes and forced the thought away. It’s probably just sympathy. He needs to tell me we can’t be as close when we go back—that there will be no more hand holding and hugs—that we need to maintain a more respectful distance. She knew he was right, but she was still going to feel the loss.

  Music started to play, and she sensed Joe rising beside her. Opening her eyes, she looked up to see him looking down at her questioningly. Despite feeling weighed down, she knew she had much to be thankful for. Her father was recovering from his heart attack, Joe had been so kind to drive her home and be a support when he needed her, and Eli was going to services with Ben this morning. After inquiring after her father’s health, he had made a point of telling her that.

  Joe reached out a hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her up. “Tired?” he whispered. Mari nodded and couldn’t keep from smiling at his look of concern. Good, kind Joe. She took the corner of the hymn book. Yes, I’m tired and confused, and I think by the time we get back to the Springs, I’ll be utterly heartbroken.

  Joe’s rich timbre rolled over her like a caress, and she added her voice to the song.

  ***

  Eli didn’t just feel like a fish out of water with the first step back into a synagogue after ten years; after he had donned the headwear and the prayer shawl, he felt like one that had been buttered and battered and thrown in a skillet.

  He was greeted by many as a new face in the crowd, and with the explanation by Ben that he was a brother between he and Joe in age, everyone had to extol the virtues of both his holier-than-he-ever-imagined brothers with hearty handclasps and slaps on the back. Eli wanted to escape immediately, but since he had already informed Mari that he was going, she’d probably ask how it was and would want to hear a play by play of the whole sideshow.

  Someone up front announced a page number, and Ben grabbed a songbook from the back of the pew. Rising, he tried to follow along as best he could, but unlike his brothers, he had avoided choir in school.

  When it was finished, Ben leaned toward him. “I miss Mari’s pretty voice. Yours doesn’t compare.”

  “Mari sings?” Eli whispered back.

  Ben dropped his head and shook it in what Eli guessed was sarcastic disbelief. He straightened his spine and flipped the shawl back out of his way. Grinding his teeth, he couldn’t deny that he probably should have known that.

  ***

  Joe had been kicking himself for a good forty-five minutes—ever since he had seen Eli’s name on Mari’s phone screen and chickened out. He’d released her to take the call, and though she hadn’t been on long, telling Eli she was on her way out, he had gotten their coats and asked her when she wanted to leave the next day. She had given him a confused look before answering and heading out the door to her mom’s waiting car, and he couldn’t blame her.

  When did I become such a coward?

  He couldn’t concentrate on the sermon—just her nearness. He wanted to tuck her under his arm and whisper his love. Then he wanted to pull her onto his lap and kiss her. He knew these were not the kind of thoughts he should be having in the middle of a sermon, but he also knew that God was the creator of love between a man and a woman, so he hoped he’d be forgiven.

  He tried to focus his mind on the Rabbi speaking, but instead he got caught up in the architectural design of the building and the stained glass windows depicting important Biblical events. There was Moses with the stone tablets. There was Abraham pulling a ram out of the bushes while Isaac lay tied on the altar, and there was Jacob dreaming of the angels ascending and descending on the ladder.

  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

  The verse from Ecclesiastes blew through his mind like a wind, scattering his frustrations and fears. He had a sudden realization that he’d been trying to make the time right instead of waiting for the right time. He prayed for patience and the ability to tell when “the season” was upon him.

  ***

  Tawny ran to greet Eli when he let himself into Mari’s house. She rubbed on his legs, purring, and he scooped her up to get his chin thoroughly licked. “Hey, precious, are you lonely, or what?” He set her down, sputtering cat fur. “I think you need a good brushing.” He knew she didn’t like to be brushed, but Mari had said to brush her anyway. He picked the brush and box of cat treats off the end table and started on her back, away from

  sharp claws.

  As he groomed her, he sat on the floor and thought about the morning service. He’d never felt so out of place and ridiculous. And despite his promise to Mari, he wasn’t sure he could go again. He understood why it felt good for some people; it gave them a friendly social group, but he had plenty of social groups. He admitted that some truly bought into the whole thing. He supposed Mari and his brothers did.

  But he didn’t.

  So if this is so important to Mari, how will it work in a relationship over the long haul? Will it eventually be a source of contention?

  Eli had never considered the long term consequences of any relationship before; probably because he’d never had a relationship he considered to be long term.

  A sudden thump on the back door followed by scratching made both Tawny and Eli jump. “Hmm, I wonder if that’s the doggie visitor I’ve heard about.” He got up to go see, while Tawny ran into the bedroom. “Scaredy cat,” he called after her.

  Eli opened the door and was immediately assaulted by two paws on his chest and a wet tongue across his face. Eli pushed him down and wiped his face with his sleeve. “Good grief, dog.” The golden retriever sat and looked at him, his head cocked to one side. “Well, I guess it’s good your friendly rather than a biter.” He patted him on the head, and the retriever smiled up at him, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. “Why do you come visiting? Did you used to live here? Or did you just get” —something in the trees caught his attention— “handouts?”

  He walked out into the yard, looking at all the brightly painted bird feeders. He had looked out Mari’s kitchen window on many occasions and had never seen them; they had to be a recent addition. If she bought them and put them up, she would have shown me. And Hebrew? She’d have to do that herself, I’m sure. He really wished he could remember how to read Hebrew. Looking around, his eyes landed on the newly painted and decorated lamp post. Hebrew on that, too, seemed to indicate that whoever painted the lamp post probably painted the bird feeders.

  Bird feeders. Didn’t Joe tell me to move our old feeder to Mari’s yard, because she wanted a bir
d feeder? And I completely forgot. He looked back at the crazy mix of colors swaying and swirling in the breeze.

  But Joe didn’t.

  The retriever came to his side and emitted a howl yawn. Eli patted his head, feeling small. He had pulled Mari into his decorating scheme, but Joe had given her what she loved.

  And all at once he knew that Beth had been right. Joe left her for Mari.

  Chapter 25

  Joe and Mari hadn’t gone very far Sunday morning when Joe had a flat tire due to construction debris falling out of the truck ahead of them. Joe had tried to swerve but caught the edge of the broken board and had a serious blowout. He was pretty sure the tire was ruined.

  He utilized the spare to get them to Oklahoma City, but he knew it wasn’t a heavy enough tire to make it clear home. He dropped Mari off at the hospital while he went in search of a tire store. Finding the tires he wanted in stock had him driving all over; then he had to wait a considerable amount of time to have them put on. By the time he made it back to the hospital, it was nearly noon. He sighed as he rode up the elevator. So much for our early start.

  He found Mari with Mal, and she looked more than ready to go. She jumped up when he came in. “Joe, what took you so long?”

  “It’s a long, boring story all about tires. Are you sure you want to hear it?”

  She smirked at him. “Okay, probably not. Are you ready to go now?”

  “Whenever you are.”

  Mari turned to give her dad a hug. “Bye Daddy. You do everything the doctor tells you to, and I’ll be praying for you.”

  “I will, pumpkin. Say, will you go get your mother for me while I say goodbye to your driver?”

  Mari looked impatient. “All right, but as soon as I get back, we need to go. We have a long drive ahead of us.”