Guardian Angel

by Lise Fuller

  Clearing his throat, he put the framed photo down and pulled out a clean accident report from the desk. “Aw, it’s probably nothing,” he bemused as he slammed the drawer shut and scooted behind the typewriter. He inserted the paper in the old typewriter and began to peck at the keys. He’d like to know when they’d get into the modern age and put these on the computer. He knew Jake wanted to but politics and money held them back.

  He sulked. “Accident report.”

  He spaced over.

  “Name.” Kyle scratched his head. The man hadn’t carried any I.D. “John Doe.”

  He tapped the keys.

  “Occupation—Unknown.”

  Kyle relaxed in the chair and shook his head again as he looked out the window. The outside pole lamp that lit the small parking lot blinked through the snow that fell with a fury outside. He puckered his mouth and let the air whistle past his lips. Jake’s worry was probably nothing. After all, what idiot would go out in weather like this?

  —

  From his darkened room, Bill peered out the private hospital window, appreciating his drugged state. The snowflakes whirled against the lit building and danced against the black night in crystal circles as if they were ice fairies. The white drops bowed and curtseyed then leapt into the air merely to float downward in the end. He actually smiled. He enjoyed the fantasy those minute, delicate creatures performed for him.

  He chuckled, sure his insouciant attitude could be attributed to the morphine they’d shot him with. He’d tried to leave. If he hadn’t passed out while the doctor examined him, he’d be gone by now.

  His head thumped and he closed his eyes to remember why he’d driven through the winter storm. But he couldn’t.

  A sense of urgency gripped him. He grabbed the front of the drab hospital gown he wore to slow his rapid heartbeat. He grabbed for the oxygen mask he’d removed earlier and put it over his face then gulped the pure air. Soon his ragged breaths evened out again and his pulse rate lessened.

  Fear gripped him. He didn’t know why. He rubbed his temple. His family waited for him. Isn’t that what he’d said? He moaned as his mind stretched through the empty darkness his memory had become. What family?

  Bill huffed. There’d been no number to contact, no name to call him by. His wallet had been lost.

  No. For some reason, he remembered he’d stuffed it between the front seat cushions, but why? He closed his eyes to fight the nausea that pushed at him to lose the tasteless dinner they’d served.

  He needed to get out of there but to go where? A drop of moisture fell on his nose. He wiped the wetness off but the coolness remained. His lids fluttered open and he crossed his eyes to see what had perched itself on his snout.

  He started laughing. Bill thought he sounded hysterical but who wouldn’t under the circumstances? One of his iridescent snow nymphs looked alive. The mythical creature wore an old army cap. The wee thing pointed to the window where other nymphs waited. The others pressed up against the window and waved at him.

  Bill smiled. For once, he actually felt a real goodness inside himself. These fantasy creatures were here for him. He pushed his IV stand out of the way and giggled like a boy as he rose to go after them.

  —

  Alone in the ancient farmhouse, Marie sat crossed-legged on the bed and huddled under the aged quilt. She shivered again from her fevered state and stared into the flames that licked the grate in the stone fireplace. The heat warmed her clammy skin. The golden glow burnished the handmade quilt and a sheen glimmered on the cherry wood furniture. She turned up the collar of the robe she still wore and hugged the blanket to her. With her fingertip, she outlined a few of the stitched patterns and examined the intricacies of the yellowed thread as she pondered her fate. Did Jake believe her innocence?

  She frowned and rubbed her temple. Gramps said he did. And he’d asked her to stay at the farmhouse until Jake came to get her. Still, would Jake arrest her?

  She lay down and put her head on the soft pillow then stretched her legs before she tucked them under the blanket again. Her car sat out front. Jake had brought it back but failed to give her the keys. She placed the inside of her wrist against her hot forehead. Even if he had left the keys with her, she’d probably pass out again before she walked five feet.

  She’d had nausea and cold chills since she woke. Gramps said the fever came from a culmination of the stress and intrigue she’d dealt with for too long. She smiled weakly. He’d scolded her for handling her problems by herself.

  She licked her dry lips and dragged her fingers through her unbound hair. She couldn’t run from Jake anyway. Per Gramps, he wouldn’t stop until he found her and she couldn’t bear to see the pain in his face. She couldn’t let him think she didn’t trust him to get her out of this mess.

  She closed her eyes and took in some shallow breaths. Trust was the single thing Jake had asked of her. Marie gazed at the fire again and realized now she had no choice. The independent freedom-loving woman had tied herself up in a love knot too big to remove. And she found she liked the comfortable feel of the invisible shackles.

  They were a lot different from the ones made of steel she’d wear any day now.

  Sadness overwhelmed her again. Cal had returned earlier in the evening to pick up Jesse at Jake’s request. She’d given the boy a hug before he left. Now, she tasted a salty tear on her lip, afraid she’d never see the child again.

  The hum of an engine resonated outside and interrupted her unhappy thoughts. Jake was home.

  She sat up. Jitters started inside her again. Now that he knew about everything, what did he think? She made her way the few feet to the dresser and picked up her brush to fix her hair. She could at least look decent as she faced him.

  In moments, she heard the old bedroom door creak, listened to the steps behind her. Jake’s tall frame reflected in the mirror. He stood at the doorway, his handsome face drawn and weary.

  “Hi.” She put down the brush and faced him.

  He gave her a small smile. “Hi.” The deep, husky timbre of his voice filled the room. The sound accentuated the fact they were alone. He pressed his full lips together and tossed his hat on the dresser. “You should be in bed.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve slept most of the day. Jake.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “You said you knew. I-I need to know what you plan to do about that.”

  Jake pursed his lips. “Get back in bed, Marie. This can wait ’til morning.”

  “But by then Bill might be here. You can’t let me stay. Bill wants to kill me.”

  Jake set his jaw. “Tell me what you know, Marie.”

  She wrung her hands together and paced. “I don’t know where to start.”

  He walked to her and lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. “Why Wyoming? Why here?”

  She bit her lip. “I was afraid. I unfolded the map and closed my eyes then said a prayer. When I opened them, my finger poked the map. Underneath it read Fort Bridger.”

  The back of his hand stroked her chin as his mouth quirked into a wry grin. The lines around his eyes deepened with a kind of melancholy shrouded merriment. “So either fate or providence brought you to me.” He bent and touched his lips to hers. She sighed as Jake’s arms encircled her.

  “Jake.” She pulled away. Her look implored him. “I thought I’d killed a man so I ran. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you. I didn’t mean for things to go this far.”

  “No, but they have.” He took her hand and walked her to the bed then pulled down the covers. She sat on the sheets. He lay her down and tucked her in then sat on top of the coverlet beside her. “Tell me everything, Marie. From the beginning.”

  She told him what she knew. Everything. Jake’s eyes narrowed with unmasked fury as she told him of Bill’s deceit, his attempted rape and the threat to her life.

  When she finished, her body shook. “I didn’t know. Not until I questioned him about the accounts.” Her bottom lip trembled. “Then he went cra
zy and told me all he’d been up to with BAM. He expected me to go along with him. He…” She licked the wetness from her lips. “He expected me to marry him. Have children dedicated to the cause. You didn’t see his eyes, Jake. He’s insane.”

  He gathered her into the safety and comfort of his strong arms.

  “I don’t want you or Jesse hurt because of me. I love you, Jake,” she sniffed. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t.” His warm voice soothed her as he rubbed her back. “You see, I love you too. With that comes a certain amount of trust. And as far as being hurt, I’m a big boy.” He looked into her face. “Your partner will have more to worry about than me.”

  His steely look turned cold. Marie had never seen that kind of anger in Jake before. She sniffed. Something lifted in her soul. “You believe me?”

  He lightly bussed her lips. “Yes, but we need proof. The Feds won’t take your word that you knew nothing about the crime.”

  “But I can get my clients’ money back and more. I know what bank it’s in and the account numbers. Bill can’t complete the arms deal without the information.”

  Jake held her hand. “Trust me, Marie.”

  “But I have proof I’m innocent.” A little dizzy, she struggled to sit and wiggled out from under the covers. She swung her legs over the side and hurried as fast as she could to the closet to retrieve her bag. “There’s a receipt in here.” She pulled out a handful of clothes and threw them on the floor.

  The bottom of the bag was empty.

  Panicked, she dropped the bag. Kneeling, she rummaged through her clothes. “But they were right here.”

  “Marie.” He walked to her and grasped her arms to lift her. “I locked your documents in the evidence safe at the station. No one can get them without me knowing it.”

  She pulled her arm free and threw another piece of clothing she’d taken out down with a huff. “You spied on me.” She wobbled on her feet. The wooziness got to her.

  He picked her up and carried her to the bed. “Darlin’, you gave me no choice.”

  She felt like a child. Was even as defensive as one but she couldn’t seem to help herself. She was frightened. She glared at him. “What happened to that trust you talked about?”

  “Marie, it may not seem like it right now but I do trust you.” He laid her down and circled his arms around her then pulled her to him. “I’m a lawman. It’s my job to investigate suspicious behavior.” He winced as his eyes narrowed with regret. “You rode into town with a bullet hole in your window and no explanation. I needed to know.”

  “But those were my personal things. You had no right.”

  “I had every right.” His voice held a soft edge, one that coaxed yet stayed true to his conviction. “There’s such a thing as probable cause. From everything you told me and from what I’d observed, I had more than enough reason. Besides, you gave me access to your things and to your car. There’s an unspoken permission in that.”

  “I told you those things as a friend.” She choked on the words and worked to hold back her tears. She tried to rise but he held her steadfast.

  “Friend or not, you knew my position in the community the first time you met me.” His finger hooked around her chin. He pulled her face to him and forced her to look at him. “I won’t argue with you, Marie, and I won’t let you run. I love you too much to see you do that. You’ll just hurt yourself more in the long run.” He paused. His gaze bored into her. “I want you here and so does Jesse. We’re a family or will be when we say our vows. I want you to stand and fight. I’ll be right by you when you do.” The back of his fingers stroked the side of her face. “No matter what happens, I’ll be with you. I want us to be together always. I don’t care how many years it takes.”

  Marie covered her face with her hands. She burst into tears as he drew her to his shoulder and massaged her back. “Jake,” she sobbed, “if I go to prison, I can’t expect you to wait for me.”

  Jake lifted her head from his shoulder and held onto her arms as he peered at her with remorse in his eyes. “Look at me, Marie. I’m a lost soul. You’re the angel who captured me that first time we met, the day you spilled coffee in my lap.”

  She worried her lower lip. The corner of his mouth rose. “I’m not backing away now. The vows are for better or worse. I’ll be there in either case.” He kissed her then pulled his head away to look at her as if to discern what she thought.

  She slipped her arms around his neck and placed soft kisses to his ear then his cheek, trying not to sob. He hugged her against him. His light breaths caressed her neck. She held his face in her hands and touched her nose to his, gazed deep into his dark blue eyes. “I love you, Jake Colder.” Then she touched her hungry lips to his and pierced his mouth with the tip of her tongue. “Your grandfather told me to have faith and trust you,” she murmured between their lips.

  Jake chuckled then nipped at her earlobe. “Where is that old goat?”

  Marie giggled as his soft breath tickled her neck. “I don’t know. I think he left shortly after Cal did. Jake…” She pulled away from him and put a finger over his lips to cool his ardor. “He’s…he’s really a ghost?” Her nose wrinkled as she asked the question. “I…” She shook her head to clear her confusion. “I’m not dreaming?”

  Jake snorted. He took her hand in his. “No, Marie. And he’s been the bane of my existence.”

  Marie’s stiff shoulders relaxed. “You shouldn’t feel that way. If it weren’t for him, I would have left a long time ago.” She let the tip of her finger rest on the top button of his shirt. “He convinced me there was a life for me here with you.” She used the point of her tongue to outline his lips. He moaned and shifted beneath her touch. “He’s a good man, Jake,” she whispered against his neck as his breaths grew more shallow.

  The faint, spicy smell of his aftershave came to her as Jake absorbed her face. His eyes turned the color of midnight.

  “Gramps won’t rest until he’s lying beside his true love in eternity,” he said.

  “I know.” The huskiness in her voice grew softer.

  “That’s another reason you have to marry me.”

  “Why?” Her brows knitted.

  Jake pushed her to her back and pressed her shoulders into the pillow then rolled on top of her. “So I don’t become a ghost.”

  She giggled.

  “I want you, Marie. Through eternity.” The desire in his face ran so deep it matched the depth of his love.

  She touched his lips. The reality of his commitment for once made its way to her heart. She kissed him with all that she had, relished his warm embrace. She closed her eyes and felt him lift her. He placed her beneath the bed covers.

  “Woman, you keep doing that and I’ll have you tonight, sick or not.”

  She looked at him. His eyes glittered. “You’ll get ill.”

  Her resistance fled when he smiled. “The vows are for in sickness and in health, too.”

  She held him tight. “Well then, who am I to argue with eternity?”

  Jake couldn’t have grinned broader. He stroked her face. His eyes caressed her with love.

  He rolled off the bed and stripped. In moments, his sleek, hard body lay naked next to hers.

  “Marie…” he rasped, “I know you’re scared. We’ll find a way out of this. Have faith.”

  She nodded. “I’ll try, Jake. I’ll try.”

  He slipped his arms into the folds of the robe she wore and wrapped them around her. His body comforted hers. He kissed her lips, her neck, as if he treasured her, for who knew how much longer they would have?

  She did the same. Touched every part of him she could reach.

  His hands scooped her breasts, pushed them together. He licked and sucked on one while his fingers teased the other.

  His cock pulsed against her legs. She ran her hands through his hair, massaging the skin underneath. She loved this man. She’d give all she had to him while she could.

  She groaned against
him, grew wet with his touch. He fingered her, coated her labia and clit with her wetness. His heavy breaths titillated her neck, her ear.

  His hands traveled upward. He held her arms, her shoulders as his stiff penis wavered against her sex. His tip stroked her nub and the slit of her nether lips. Blue eyes delved into hers. Jake never spoke. His look said it all.

  He loved her, would do whatever he had to keep her.

  His need of her soothed her. She knew how he felt. She would sacrifice all for him and Jesse.

  He took her with the desperation she felt. Eased into her slick folds, plunged her depth and rocked her with his rhythm. He penetrated her hard and fast, as if there was no tomorrow.

  She needed this, needed him. The friction of their bodies moved her, stirred the ember of desire into a raging flame. Her pleasure rose, the bond between them grew stronger. This was her man and she was his. They were inseparable this night, this time. She came, hard and strong. Jake came right behind her. The guttural sound of his climax soothed her world-weary soul.

  Breathless, they both stared at each other a moment. The desolation in his gaze matched the sorrow in her own.

  “Go to sleep now.” Jake leaned on an elbow and stroked the side of her face. “You need your rest.”

  She lifted her head and brushed his lips with hers. “You too.” An errant tear slid down her cheek.

  He wiped it off with his thumb. “I love you, Marie. I always will.” He sent her a sad smile again.

  She kissed the tip of his thumb. “I know.” She pressed her lips together as she suppressed the worry she had inside. “I’ll stay, Jake. Like you want. As long as you’re by me, I can do this.”

  Pain mixed with love in his eyes. “Thank you. For trusting me.”

  She kissed him again. “I love you too, Jake. Always.”

  He kissed her then slipped next to her and spooned her into him. “I’ll be by you,” he promised with a whisper in her ear. “I’ll do whatever needs to be done.”

  Marie let her lashes close and listened to the snow-filled wind howl outside. A gust blew into the chimney and stirred the cinders of the crackling fire. The wind only made the fire burn hotter and kept them safe and warm. She thought about that. To her, her problems were the wind and Jake the fire, in more ways than one. He would keep her safe. No matter what happened, he would be there for her.