Guardian Angel

by Lise Fuller

  He’d walked on but turned when she spoke as if she’d caught him gloating over a secret plan. He flashed his special grin.

  “Don’t forget your coat,” she said.

  He looked at his shirtsleeves and became aware he missed something. “Oh yeah.” He nodded then dashed down the corridor and left Marie to ponder his words.

  —

  “That’s about all of ’em.” Slim Hancock hitched the lariat to his saddle as Jake rode up.

  Jake nodded. He’d worked with the new hand from the Bar A off and on over the last couple of weeks and had developed a liking for the cowboy, although something about the man bothered him that Jake couldn’t place. When the new man first showed up at his door, he wondered if Marie had known him. She’d taken enough of a fright when she saw him there but Jake dismissed the incident a few minutes later after she asked who he was.

  “So how’s the missus?”

  A sideward glance let Jake study the cowboy. Slim didn’t know Marie, at least by the way he talked. He’d let the man believe he and Marie were a couple, even though it wasn’t true—yet. Jake spurred his horse and cleared his throat. “She’s fine.” The cowboy wasn’t around anyone else long enough to know better. When he finally spent some time in civilization, Jake wanted him to know Marie would be off limits. He’d make sure everyone else understood the situation, too, now that he’d decided.

  “Ya’ll been together long?”

  Jake took his measure of the man again. “Long enough. Why?”

  The Texas man shrugged. “Just curious. You know, I once had a girl like her. Met her on the fly in some flea-bit cow town. Purty girl. Come to find out, the Texas Rangers were looking for her. Murdered some guy down in San Anton’.” The hard look the man gave Jake sent a chill up his spine. Slim looked at the road. “Broke my heart. Never let myself care for anyone again I didn’t know well.”

  “Sorry to hear that.” Jake’s eyes narrowed. He halted Ranger as they reached the crossroads. The cowboy rode up beside him. Jake pretended to scan the horizon then he cut his eyes toward the other man. “Need to pull more of my herd down in the next week or two. Could use an extra hand.”

  A corner of the man’s mouth slowly rose but Jake couldn’t tell if it was a grin or a sneer. Slim nodded. “Be glad to help.”

  “Good.” Jake nodded and tugged his reins toward the road home. “The pay’ll be the same. I’ll let you know.” With that, he gave Ranger a kick and loped off as he listened to his gut tell him it’d be better to keep the cowpuncher close by.

  —

  “Well, Miss Taylor, you can understand,” Mrs. Beason, Jesse’s teacher, stammered. The afternoon light streamed in the window behind the portly woman, which warmed the already overheated room.

  Marie tapped a pencil against the paper she held and ground her teeth as she listened to the teacher’s complaints.

  “I really don’t know what to do with the boy.” The older woman pushed her glasses farther up the bridge of her nose. “School’s been open for over a month and he hasn’t done one bit of homework.”

  Marie berated herself for taking the dinner shift to avoid Jake. She’d done too good of a job of skirting Jake and now Jesse suffered.

  “He’s a good child,” the older woman continued. “But last year Miss Scott spoiled him.” Her glasses slid down her nose again and she peeked over them. “You know she’s always been sweet on the sheriff.”

  Marie wanted to roll her eyes in protest at the teacher’s innuendoes. She didn’t know who this Miss Scott was but Marie didn’t have any dibs on Jake and she grew tired of hearing she did. Instead, Marie put the pencil and paper down and folded her hands in her lap while she politely listened. Right now she’d like to throttle Jake for letting Jesse’s schoolwork get behind. She glanced at Jake’s son, who squirmed in the chair next to her then she stared at the desk where she’d placed the list of missed assignments. “Thank you for calling, Mrs. Beason. We’ll go home and start work on these right away.” Marie glared at Jesse. “Won’t we?” The boy quickly bobbed his head up and down.

  The teacher sighed. “Well, I’m glad you could come. Couldn’t get a hold of the sheriff. And I know talking to a non-family member is unusual but we’re a small community. I understand from good sources that, in more ways than one, you’re really part of the Colder, er…” She looked at the ceiling while trying to find the word.

  “Family?” Marie cringed. Did everyone think she slept with the sheriff?

  “Yes.” The woman beamed and bobbed her double chin up and down.

  Marie rolled her eyes. “Mrs. Beason, believe me when I say I’m only the housekeeper, however, I will pass your concerns on to Jake.” Marie ignored the shock on the other woman’s face. Rising, she shook Mrs. Beason’s hand then ushered the young Colder through the doorway.

  When they were out of earshot, Jesse tapped her arm and whispered, “You’re not gonna tell him, are you, Marie?”

  She stopped and put her hand on her hip. “Tell who?”

  “Aw, c’mon. You know my dad. He’ll skin me alive.”

  Marie scowled. “He’ll be lucky if I don’t get to him first. Why hasn’t he checked your homework? I always made sure you started it before I left for the diner.”

  “Well…” Her young charge bit his lip and developed a sudden fascination with the ceiling.

  “Jesse.” A well-tailored, buxom blonde walked out of a classroom behind them and covered the distance between her and the boy before Marie could say, “Who?”

  “Hi, Miss Scott.” Jesse squeezed the greeting between his gritted teeth as the woman enveloped him in a bear hug.

  “Oh Jesse.” She turned his head with the crook of her finger and peered into his face. She gave him an all-knowing look. “What have you been up to? You know, Mrs. Beason’s kept me informed of your progress,” she nagged in a matronly voice. “I know your work isn’t getting done.”

  Marie fast became the invisible woman. She crossed her arms as her irritation grew.

  “Now,” the woman said, “tell your father I’ll be over tonight to help you. He will be home, won’t he?”

  Jesse nodded.

  Marie’s lips thinned. “Excuse me.” She tapped on the woman’s shoulder.

  “Yes?” Jesse’s old teacher stood and finally looked at her. She turned her nose up at Marie’s shabby dress. “Oh.” The woman put out her hand as if she had to deal with a dead insect and wanted to touch as little of it as possible. “You must be the new housekeeper I’ve heard so much about.”

  Marie held back her sneer in the midst of the woman’s perfectly made-up face. “Yes, and also the new tutor. Unless it’s for a social visit, I’ll assume we won’t see you.”

  “Well…” The pretty woman crossed her arms over her daring neckline and raised a flawless brow. “If that’s the case, I’ll have to recommend some improvements when I talk to Jake, although…” She pouted then pasted a thinly veiled smile on her face. “A social visit sounds like quite a good idea. Tonight, then.” She backed away and waved at Jesse. “Bye, sweetheart.”

  “Come on, Jesse.” Marie held out her hand as she glared at the now empty path Miss Scott had taken. Marie huffed and attempted to quell the jealousy that bristled in her. “Let’s go home.”

  Jesse put his hand in hers. “Marie, I think you’ll do.” He walked her down the hallway.

  “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  “Oh,” he said and shrugged. “It’s somethin’ Gramps says.”

  “Gramps, huh?” Marie swung their hands back and forth. “You don’t like her either, do you?”

  Jesse forced a shudder to rack his body. “Heck, no. She pinches my cheek.”

  Marie laughed. “Your father really didn’t show any interest in that bimbo, did he?”

  Jesse squeaked then cleared his throat and lowered his high-pitched voice. “Yeah, ah, in a manly sort of way.”

  Marie raised her brow. “A manly way?”

  Jesse shrug
ged. “I think he took her out once. She’s been after him ever since. But don’t worry.” He patted her hand. “Gramps says you got the claim to Dad.”

  “Gramps, again. When do I get to meet him?” She tamped down her green-eyed monster and focused on the boy, convinced the plastic blonde wouldn’t be good for him. “And by the way, how much is this claim worth?”

  Jesse tittered then placed his free hand over his mouth. “Ah, well…” He straightened and jerked his chin with a firm nod. “Ask Dad.”

  Challenged, she smiled. She knew she shouldn’t say it but jealousy was a compelling master. She couldn’t help herself. “I might do that.”

  Chapter Seven

  Dust rose on Jake’s heels as he rushed to dismount then led Ranger into the barn. He’d been restless all day, thinking about Marie and what they could have together. After he put his mount in the stall, Jake freed the stud of his saddle and tackle then closed the weathered exterior door and paused to stare at Marie’s car in the drive. He’d gotten home in time to see her. Good. He knew she’d leave for the diner soon.

  Determined, he pulled the brim of his hat over his brow. Gramps had been right. Marie was special. And the longer she stayed, the more he realized that. In the short time since they met, she’d become a part of his life, a part he now decided he didn’t want to lose.

  The cool autumn breeze brushed his cheek and snapped the ends of his jacket as he meandered toward the house. It was crazy but Jake realized he relished coming home, seeing Marie with Jesse as they laughed and played, worked or rode. They were the family he’d wanted for his son—and for himself. He chastised himself for not recognizing how lonely he’d been until now, otherwise maybe he would have realized his deeper need for Marie sooner.

  He stepped onto the porch and heard Marie’s voice through one of the slightly open windows. He listened to the warmth that radiated from her. She loved Jesse. He could hear it when she spoke, see the warmth in her face when she looked at the boy. When she’d dared peek at Jake, he only saw regret in her eyes yet he knew they could have so much more. Determined now, he would work to get the happiness they all deserved, and then some. Like that sensual night they’d shared in the barn.

  He slowed as he remembered the shock on her face the first time he kissed her. Then the events afterward. Jake swallowed, his throat dry, the remembrance of Marie’s luscious body against his. He closed his eyes to savor the erotically potent sensation he got every time he thought of her naked, wet and hungry for his advances.

  Yeah, he’d taken her hard. But she’d been ready for the ride. More than ready if her reaction spoke true. As loud as she got when she came—God.

  Jake sucked in a breath to control himself. He had the desperate urge to march in and sweep her off her feet, right into the large poster bed his grandparents had left him, in order to see her expression again, to feel her warm, supple body under his.

  He growled and turned the knob. That fantasy was impossible for the moment. Coming on to her would make her run from him faster. Until he caught her, he thought.

  Somehow he’d find a way to win her heart.

  “Wow. I didn’t know you could get neat pictures like this.”

  Jesse’s voice rose. The door creaked as Jake opened it. Jesse sat at the computer screen in the family room and turned to stare wide-eyed at him. The look on the boy’s face, in itself, wasn’t good. Marie’s glare confirmed that Jake had trouble.

  “I’ve got to go.” She rose and looked at her watch. “I’ll be late tonight and Jesse’s got homework.” She glowered again. “He’s started his math but it would help if you’d see all his work was completed…right, Jesse?” She put a hand on her hip and Jesse nodded when she crossed her arms. “He also has something to tell you.”

  “Oh?” Jake removed his hat and hung it on the coat rack, not knowing if the chill in the room came from Marie or from the breeze that blew through the open doorway. “You want to tell me now or after the homework’s done?”

  “After.” The boy’s head bobbed with his quick response. He gathered his schoolwork and rushed from the room.

  Jake shook his head and looked at Marie.

  Her eyes narrowed.

  He strolled over to her and rubbed her arms. He yearned to hold her. “What’s wrong?”

  “I—”

  A knock at the door interrupted her. Marie glanced at the opening. Her gaze turned from cold to sub-zero. “I’ve got to go.” She grabbed her coat from the rack and stomped out.

  Jake scratched his head and let his eyes follow her. Then he noticed Wendy Scott at the doorway.

  “Oh hell,” he muttered under his breath and rubbed his chin, ’cause that would be exactly what he’d have to pay to get the woman out of there.

  —

  Marie eyed the pale moonbeams that shined on her new rear window. She’d closed the diner and the hour had grown late. She stretched to relax her body. She should be tired but she wasn’t. Too many thoughts and emotions ran through her. She inhaled the cold air, thankful she could feel its crispness, grateful she still walked with the living.

  The wind gusted and blew her hair into her eyes. She ran a hand through the strands to smooth it and looked away. She should go home. Or, rather, to Jake’s. She grimaced. She thought of Jake’s place as hers as well now. Perhaps that was part of her problem. Where she lived was Jake’s home, not hers and the fact made the gulf of some inner sense she couldn’t name grow wider. She felt even more alone.

  She breathed again to dispel her sorrows and watched the treetops near the old fort lean in the blasts of wind. She shivered as the chilly autumn breeze blew. It was almost October and the temperature dropped more each day. Per the older folk of the valley, the winter would be harsh.

  Marie tightened her fleece coat around her and looked down at her faded jeans. The pants contrasted with her expensive coat but somehow they looked great together. She zipped the jacket shut and remembered the pleasure in Jake’s face when he’d first seen her in his gift.

  Jake.

  She moaned as she thought of him. She’d tried like the devil to forget how his embrace felt, the passion that burned between them, the need for his hard body in hers that would spring up in her from nowhere when he touched her. In all the twenty-eight years of her life, she’d never experienced anything like that.

  She brushed a hand over her lips to remember his touch. With regret, she let her head drop. The country life, a man like Jake, these were childhood dreams she’d given up long ago. She hadn’t regretted her life, at least before Bill Martin and the Back to America Movement. She’d basked in her success.

  But dealing with Jesse’s school today made her want those old dreams again. She already cared too much for the sandy-haired boy, and when he’d gazed at her with that now-familiar Colder grin, she couldn’t help the instincts that rose in her.

  The wind blustered and scattered her thoughts. A sign on the old fort quivered and seemed to wave her forward. Pensive, she walked along the road. Maybe she needed to move on, before she grew even more attached. She wanted the best for Jesse. As a fugitive, Marie wasn’t it. She gulped to hold back the feelings that begged to spill over her. She’d always believed she’d be a good mother. After her talk with Jesse this morning, Marie realized she wanted a chance to prove it. Above all, she finally recognized she wanted a home, a family…and Jake.

  She shook her head. She couldn’t even afford to fantasize about a life with him, yet she’d watched him, wanted him. She’d never forget how his hard body felt intertwined with hers. A tear welled in her eye, the knowledge that all she’d come to care about in such a short space of time would be lost to her. Jake was a good father, a man with integrity. Marie now believed what Katie had once told her. When Jake finally said the words love, honor and cherish, he would mean them. He deserved better than she could give.

  Marie lowered her head and puffed her cheeks. The time had come to forget the possibility of such a future. As much as she hated to admit
it, even the snobbish schoolteacher would be better for the Colder family.

  She peered at the old fort, strangely beautiful in the moonlight. The place seemed to come closer. The realization hit her that she had meandered toward it. Marie looked around to see if anyone was about.

  The low moan of the wind echoed in the trees. Its sound beckoned her. She sauntered onto the grounds of the sleeping structure. The muted sounds of the night surrounded her like a shroud.

  The wind whistled briefly through the gatehouse. Her feet crunched against the gravel as she passed one of the old officers’ barracks. Most of the fort had become open field, the few birch and pine trees left acted as lone sentinels to the now-deserted property. The moon shadowed the limestone buildings that remained. The white rock glowed in the pale light. She passed a sign that said “Old Infantry Barracks”. The marker showed where one of the quarters once stood. In her mind, she saw the worn log structure. Soldiers talked and laughed and a small group played cards on the porch front.

  She strolled over one of the bridges that crisscrossed the small brook which flowed near the old parade ground. The creek ran the length of the green. She listened to the water gurgle in the channel.

  In her mind, she imagined the daylight. A child in knee pants shouted to a friend by the water. The boy wanted to show them some glorious find by the creek bed. In her mind, the boy looked like Jesse. She smiled, thinking that’s exactly what that child would have done in an earlier age. She stopped and leaned on the railing to enjoy her fantasy and to take in the stark beauty of the place. The rivulet below her meandered and danced under the bright moon. In the distance, a few pinpoints of light flickered on the far distant highway.

  The place had been a haven for the weary and downtrodden along the old Oregon Trail. Modern roads skirted the ruins now and had left the crumbled structures forgotten, but Marie could still sense the serenity and hope the place had given to others a little more than a century ago. She put her hands in her pockets and walked on—and prayed for a similar kind of peace that could be found here again for just one more.