The Troublesome Angel

by Valerie Hansen

  “Well, in my case, it’s all true,” Stacy told her.

  “The reason I started working with my dogs is because they sent a wonderful dog to find me when I ran off and got lost in the mountains. When I grew up I decided I wanted to be able to help other lost people the same way.”

  Missy got up and faced her, arms folded across her chest. “No way.”

  “I can prove it,” Stacy countered. “Want to see my scar?”

  “Is it yucky?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Okay.” Missy cocked her head and bent down as Stacy adjusted the hole in the knee of her jeans to reveal a faded scar on her lower thigh.

  “See? That’s where my leg was broken.”

  “Oooh! Does it hurt?”

  “No. But I’m glad I have it.”

  Subdued, the girl asked, “Why?”

  “Because I needed the scar to prove to you that I do understand how you feel about losing your daddy.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, I do,” Stacy said with a smile. She knew Missy probably wasn’t the only person she’d be able to identify with, to help, because of her injury. But she trusted God to show her more of His marvelous plans as she went along. Right now, it was enough that she believed she’d been led to this particular child at this precise time. “And I’ll try to help you all I can, because that’s my job.” Her grin widened. “Besides, I like you. You’ve got spunk.”

  “What’s that?”

  Stacy got to her feet, dusted off her jeans, and stuffed the small bag of candy into her pocket. “It means you’re brave. You ask questions. You also have the brains to sort out the answers you get.” She tousled Missy’s hair. “Come on. Let’s go get the dogs their treats.”

  “I like ice cream. Got any?”

  Laughing, Stacy led the way into the yard while the dogs gathered to welcome their master and her diminutive visitor with wagging tails and excited wiggles. “We can look in the freezer and see. You’ll have to ask your uncle if you can have some, though.”

  “Oh, he always lets me have anything I want,” Missy said with obvious pride. “He likes me, too.”

  Stacy heard Graydon calling to Missy and answered for her. “We’re back here on the porch. The gate’s unlocked.”

  He came around the corner of the house, paused at the fence and eyed the barking horde. “You sure it’s okay?”

  “I’m positive. The dogs have been fed recently. Besides, they don’t like their dinner on the hoof.”

  “How comforting.”

  Stacy laughed at his sardonic expression.

  “What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me?”

  “Not a whole lot.” He opened the gate and stepped through.

  “Well, at least you’re honest about it.” She waved her licked-clean ice cream stick in the air. “Wanna join us?”

  “No, thanks. We have to be getting back.”

  Missy began to lean against her.

  “You can’t go yet,” Stacy said. “I promised Missy I’d put my dogs through their paces before you left. She wants to see how I train them.”

  “Maybe some other time.”

  She knew better than to argue with someone as stubborn as Graydon Payne so she tried a more roundabout approach. “Nonsense. It’ll only take a few minutes. A promise is a promise. I make it a rule to never break mine.” She eyed Missy and added, “Especially where kids are concerned.”

  Stalling while he decided what to do, Graydon checked his watch. “All right. I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”

  “Thirty.”

  “Twenty,” he growled.

  “Twenty-five?”

  “Don’t push it.”

  “Okay, okay. But I can’t show you everything in a few minutes. You’ll have to come back and visit again.” She flashed a hopeful smile in Missy’s direction. The child looked close to tears. She’d stopped eating her ice cream bar when her uncle had announced that they were leaving. The melted sweet was running down her arm. Lewis was seated by her side, gently licking it off her elbow before it could drip onto the porch.

  “I won’t promise that,” Graydon said flatly. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep, either.”

  “Fair enough.” She smiled down at the little girl. “Missy, you wait here and finish your ice cream. I’ll be right back.” The child simply nodded. It broke Stacy’s heart to see her so unhappy.

  Focusing on the stubborn man who’d spoiled the lighthearted spirit of the visit, Stacy gestured toward an open field. It stood separate from the kennel and enclosed yard where she exercised her dogs-in-training. “If you’d care to help me, Mr. Payne, we can have a short course set up in a few minutes.”

  He couldn’t think of a polite reason to refuse. The sooner she got her demonstration under way, the sooner he’d be out of there, which sounded good to him.

  With a deep sigh, he followed, carefully shutting the gate behind him so the dogs wouldn’t get out, then rolling up his shirtsleeves. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

  “I’ll need those boxes over there.” Stacy pointed. “And the cart with the wooden dumbbells and gloves in it. While you’re at it, slip one of them on, will you?”

  “Put the gloves on?”

  “That’s right. One’s enough. Just keep it on till I tell you to take it off.”

  Graydon did as he was told, fascinated in spite of himself. The gloves were old and dusty, as if they’d been around for years. If Stacy’s dogs could tell which one he’d worn, with all the other scents that must already be on the worn fabric, he’d be thoroughly impressed.

  He used his gloved hand to pull the cart, intending to obscure his scent and make the test as difficult as possible.

  “Watch where you walk,” Stacy cautioned, leading the way. “Stay on the paths. I haven’t mowed this field lately so there are probably a few ticks and chiggers lurking in the long grass.”

  “Terrific.”

  “I thought you’d like it.” She giggled again.

  “Is that why you asked me to help you?”

  “No.” She lowered her voice. “I wanted a chance to talk to you…alone.” Glancing back at the porch she decided they were far enough away to converse without being overheard. “Missy told me her daddy died. What about her mother? Where’s she?”

  “Died in childbirth,” he answered softly. “Her father raised her by himself.”

  “Which explains why they were so close. What about other family? Relatives? Surely there’s someone who can take her in.”

  Graydon stiffened. “Meaning Mark and Candace aren’t fit parents?”

  Stacy felt like clobbering him. Instead, she did the Christian thing and faced him squarely, hands on her hips. “No, Mr. Payne. Meaning a child feels lost enough when a parent dies. I was hoping there might be somebody else Missy already knows who could at least befriend her long enough to convince her she’s not all alone in the world.”

  With a deep sigh he shook his head. “There’s nobody.” The glistening of tears in Stacy’s eyes surprised him. “What makes you care so much?”

  “Never mind,” Stacy said. She wiped her eyes, blinked rapidly and changed the subject. “Boy, the sun is sure bright today. Really makes my eyes water. Guess I should have worn my sunglasses.”

  “Guess so.” Graydon wasn’t fooled. Stacy Lucas had a giant soft spot in her heart for Melissa the same way he did. It was funny how things worked out. If he hadn’t talked her out of marrying Mark, she probably wouldn’t have been there to save Missy.

  The portent of that thought shook him to the core. What an amazing concept! Even before he’d known he was going to become a Christian, the Lord might have been using him for ultimate good!

  That revelation was the most welcome one he’d had for a long time.

  “Okay,” Stacy said, straightening. “The decoys are in place. Give me the glove and go hide behind one of those trees while I go get Missy and one of my dogs.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Over there
? Through the grass? I’m already beginning to itch.”

  “I could let you borrow Clark’s flea-and-tick collar, if he was wearing one. Unfortunately, I use a once-a-month systemic these days. Sorry.”

  “I’ll bet you are.” He heard her stifled laugh as she turned away. She was enjoying his discomfort altogether too much to suit him. “What do I do then, count to ten?”

  “Just hide and hold still,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll do the rest.” She paused to flash him a mischievous smile. “And don’t scratch.”

  “Very funny.”

  “I thought so,” Stacy said. “Be back in a jiffy.”

  Graydon watched her walk away. There was a simple, unaffected charm about her. Maybe she’d had that kind of appeal all along but he doubted it. Surely he would have noticed. Except that he was an honorable man and she’d been his brother’s girlfriend when they’d first met.

  He stayed on the paths as long as he could, then waded through the knee-high grass to the nearest good-size tree. A spiderweb brushed his cheek. Gnats buzzed around his head. He didn’t even want to think about what might be creeping up his leg under his slacks!

  How did he get himself into this mess? Why had he let that woman talk him into becoming a decoy for a pack of addle-brained, four-legged flea-farms? He must be nuts.

  Something tickled his leg. Bending over, he rolled up his pantleg to look. There was nothing visible.

  “I’m probably imagining things because of all her stupid suggestions about bugs,” he grumbled, deciding Stacy had planted the ideas in his mind just to needle him. As soon as he could convince Melissa their visit was over, he was going to get in his car and—

  Someone was shouting in the distance but he couldn’t make out what was being said. The performance must have started. He hunkered down behind the tree, held very still and waited to be found.

  Stacy was worried. She’d arrived back at the house to find that Missy had pulled another disappearing act. Snapping a lead on Lewis’s collar she led him from the yard. When she’d promised a demonstration of tracking skills, she’d intended to use Clark or one of the other dogs. Now, however, she needed her best worker.

  Anxious to locate the naughty child before Graydon found out and blew his stack, she called out again. “Missy! Missy, where are you?” There was no answering shout. Not even a whimper.

  She leaned over Lewis. “Okay, old boy. You must have seen which way she went. Let’s go find her.”

  The dog strained at the leash. Stacy let him take the lead. He started up the path she and Graydon had taken, then veered off into the field. Grass was bent and broken in a zigzag trail anyone could have followed, even without a dog’s help. Missy had obviously run randomly. Experience told Stacy that as long as the child stuck to the open field and didn’t flee into the woods, everything would be all right.

  She called again and again, “Missy? Missy, you get over here. This isn’t funny.”

  Oh, Graydon is going to be so mad, she thought, worried first about the little girl, then about his reaction to her own insistence they stay to see her work her dogs.

  “You’d better find her fast, Lewis, or we’re all going to be listening to a tirade,” she told the eager dog. “I don’t know about you, but personally I’d just as soon skip the lecture.”

  Lewis lunged sideways suddenly. Stacy’s boot caught. She missed her footing, tripped and fell. The leash jerked from her hand at the same time the air was knocked out of her lungs. By the time she recovered and rose to her knees, Lewis was out of sight in the long, green, pasture grass.

  That’s a fine predicament. “Well, Lord, it’s all up to you, now,” she prayed, realizing she should have asked for divine help long ago rather than rely solely on herself. It was a bad habit she had. Instead of turning a problem over to God the moment it began, she usually waited until things had gotten out of hand, then pleaded for deliverance.

  “Maybe someday I’ll learn.” Stacy got to her feet and brushed herself off. “Please, Lord, don’t give up on me. I really need your help with this one. That poor kid is a mixed-up mess. I don’t know why she ran off this time but I’ll bet it wasn’t just to cause trouble.”

  A serene feeling descended slowly upon her, like sunshine melting ice cream or warm oil being poured over her in a blessed anointing. She raised her hands, palms up, and closed her eyes for a moment, wordlessly praising God for being with her, for accepting her, faults and all.

  Then she started off after Lewis and the unhappy child.

  Peeking from behind his tree, Graydon had seen Stacy leave the yard. He could tell, from the way the dog was dragging her along, that it was definitely not headed for him. Hah! So much for a convincing demonstration of its search-and-rescue skills.

  He scowled when he saw her raise a cupped hand to her mouth. What was she doing? Calling him? Why? Was the test over already? Had the dog failed? It must have. It certainly hadn’t come close to locating him.

  Stepping into the open he shaded his eyes with his hand and squinted into the distance. A light breeze carried Stacy’s voice but he couldn’t quite make out what she was shouting. Then she seemed to disappear from sight! What in the world was going on?

  He’d started back toward the house when she popped up again. Hesitating, he listened carefully. She was calling…Missy! Throwing all caution aside he broke into a run, heading straight for Stacy.

  She gritted her teeth when she saw him coming. Oh, dear. Now there was going to be trouble! Resigned to facing it squarely, she waited the few seconds it took him to reach her.

  Breathing hard, Graydon halted right in front of her. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. I got back to the house and Missy had disappeared.”

  “How could she have? There’s a yard full of dogs to watch her.”

  “Don’t yell at me,” Stacy warned.

  “I’m not yelling.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  He took a ragged, settling breath. “Well, maybe I was. A little.”

  “That’s better. Now calm down and let me tell you what happened. I checked inside the house first. Missy wasn’t there. Lewis kept looking in this direction so I brought him out here to find her.”

  “Well? Where is he?”

  Pointing to a swath of bent grass, Stacy said, “He went thataway.”

  “Without you?”

  “I tripped. I could have called him back but I felt Missy would be safer if I just let him go ahead and find her, then followed him.”

  “Well, why are we standing here talking?” Graydon was still scowling, his anger evident.

  “Because Missy is in no immediate danger and I needed to explain the situation to an irate, uncontrolled guy,” she said flatly. “Are you going to cooperate or do you need a longer cooling-off period?”

  “I’m perfectly calm,” he insisted. “Let’s go.”

  “Whoa. Hold it.” Stacy grabbed his arm to halt his abrupt departure. “I go first. I’ve had training in man tracking, too. Lewis and Missy shouldn’t be too hard to find as long as you don’t go charging off into the grass fouling the clear trail they left. Got that?”

  “I’ve got it,” he said, clenching his jaw and staring down at her hand on his arm. He raised his gaze to meet and challenge hers. “Are you through?”

  Staring into his dark eyes, she felt his muscles flex beneath her fingers. That combination of visual and physical stimuli created an acute awareness of his masculinity. What was the matter with her? She didn’t even like this man. Stacy sighed. That was the key. He was a man. And she was a woman. God had created the differences in them as well as the natural attraction. But that didn’t mean He expected them to act on every irrational impulse!

  She realized she was still touching Graydon. She jerked her hand away. Mere seconds had passed, yet it seemed as if they had stood staring into each other’s eyes for hours. She blinked rapidly, ready to defend her actions. To her surprise—and chagrin—the attractive man seemed as awed
by the moment as she was. That would never do!

  Forcing herself to concentrate on matters at hand, Stacy shook off her befuddlement and led the way into the field, tracking Lewis. Graydon was right behind her.

  Chapter Five

  Lewis’s excited bark echoed from the edge of the forest, leading them directly to Missy. Graydon raced ahead and got there first in spite of Stacy’s warning to let her take the lead. He found the dog licking tears off the child’s cheeks.

  Shoving Lewis out of the way, he fell to his knees and took the six-year-old in his arms. “Oh, honey. Why did you run away? I was so worried!”

  She began to sob against his shoulder.

  “Don’t ever, ever do that again,” he said, his voice breaking.

  Stacy arrived in time to hear the pathos in his tone. Too out of breath to speak, she rubbed Missy’s back to soothe her while Graydon held her tight.

  By the time he got to his feet, still carrying the child, Stacy had also recovered. Smiling, she praised Lewis, picked up the leash and spoke to her companions. “Well, now that we know all’s well, I suggest we head back to the house and have some lemonade.”

  “We have to be going,” Graydon said, sounding nearly normal in spite of the frigid glare he was bestowing solely upon his hostess.

  Obviously, he didn’t think much of her offer of hospitality, Stacy mused. Thank goodness Missy was still hiding her face against his neck and couldn’t see his expression.

  “Well, maybe another time,” Stacy said lightly. Waiting for the contradiction she knew he’d offer, she stopped him with a stern shake of her head and a nod toward the shuddering child. To his credit, he understood.

  “Maybe,” he finally said.

  “Good.” Stacy kept her voice cordial. “It’s always nice to have friends visit. Especially ones like Missy.”

  She ignored the man’s obvious disdain and kept talking as he turned his back and started for the house. “Next time, though, I’d like her to go with me to see my dogs work instead of helping by being the one they’re looking for.”

  The child opened one eye and peeked out at her, showing surprise that a grown-up hadn’t figured out that she’d actually been running away again.