Burn: Dragon Shifter Romance

by Ava Frost

  Feeling tranquil, he allowed himself to slip into a light snooze. The knowledge that Sheriff Carson wouldn’t be back for at least another hour made it easier to drift off. Even so, it seemed no time had passed when he heard the sharp clap of the door closing. Daniel’s feet had only just hit the floor when the Sheriff spoke.

  “I see it’s been a normal day around here.” Bill Carson’s voice was naturally deep and guttural, and he addressed Daniel with his usual matter-of-fact tone.

  “Yep. Quiet as a church on Monday morning. We’ve got ourselves a nice, peaceful town, Sheriff.”

  Bill chuckled. “Yep, we sure do. Except when that evil Branson gang comes through here.” He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. “I can’t stop praying they’ll be caught and jailed.”

  “It sure would solve the only problem we ever have.” Daniel thought a moment, then continued. “But that could cause more trouble later.”

  “What do you mean? How could being rid of a gang of cattle thieves bring more worry?”

  “Think about it. If Larry Jessup knew his cows were safe, he’d be likely to slack off on keeping his fences repaired. That may not be a problem early on, but who’s to say another gang of rustlers won’t come through here?”

  The Sheriff seemed to consider the Deputy’s words for several seconds. “You’re probably right about that. I suppose when those outlaws are captured we could make an effort to remind Larry from time to time that he should still keep a lookout for anything suspicious.”

  Daniel nodded. That sounded like a good idea, but before he could voice his thought, the Sheriff caught him off guard with an announcement.

  “I saw Sam Powell on my way here. He says you have some letters waiting for you.” A wide grin appeared on the older man’s face. “Looks like several ladies back East want to meet you.”

  *******

  If he hadn’t been holding the envelopes, he would have found it hard to believe. Five letters from women interested in being his bride. Something deep within made him feel confident that among them was a response from the one the Lord had chosen for him.

  Daniel strode into the Sheriff’s Office, unaware of the floor beneath him. He felt as though he was hovering a few inches above the ground. Yes, he knew it wasn’t likely or even possible, but that didn’t diminish the sensation. Simply knowing God had heard and answered his prayers caused his heart to rejoice and his body to feel weightless.

  Thank You, Lord for this small miracle. May Your Name be blessed forever and ever. Amen.

  With the thought flying up toward Heaven, he seated himself at his desk. A deep-toned chuckle broke his meditation and yanked him back into reality. Turning to his left, he noticed the Sheriff wore a wide grin on his weathered face.

  “Care to share what you find so amusing, Bill?”

  It took another moment, but the older man finally regained control. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you or anyone else looking like all the treasures of the entire world were just handed over to them. It’s quite a sight to behold.” His grin hadn’t seemed to fade even the tiniest bit.

  Daniel felt his features form an expression to match the Sheriff’s. “I believe one of these envelopes contains a message from the woman our Lord has chosen for me. If that’s true, then I suppose all the wealth I’ll ever need truly has been given to me.”

  “Amen to that, Deputy. Amen.” Bill paused for only a second. “And speaking of all the riches any man needs, I’d better get on home for lunch before my Josie packs it up and brings it here.”

  With that, the Sheriff made his way across the room and out the door, leaving Daniel to contemplate on what a perfect couple Bill and Josie Carson were. Thoughtful, kind, and generous were only three words he could think of at a moment’s notice, but they were much more than that. Loving would be the most accurate way to describe them, and not only to each other. They truly held a deep love for all people and never missed an opportunity to help someone.

  Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he turned his attention to the letters splayed on the desk in front of him. Which one should he pick up first? Reaching out his right hand, he held it less than an inch above the envelopes and moved it back and forth, extending a few fingers now and then to lightly brush upon one or more of them.

  Finally, unable to decide, he closed his eyes and shuffled them all into a pile. Picking up the one on the top, he opened it and scanned the writing on the paper within. Nothing. He felt nothing. Sure, the lady seemed nice, but her words didn’t inspire him in any way. Laying it aside, he perused the second letter. Again, nothing moved him. On to the third.

  Something about this one felt different. Not so much to the touch—though there was the slightest hint that it simply felt good in his hand—but it was more of a feeling deep in his heart and an imparted knowledge in his brain.

  Looking at the return address, he noticed it was from a woman in Raleigh, North Carolina. Before he could stop himself, he spoke the woman’s first name aloud.

  “Louise.” It sounded musical and magical to him as it trickled off his tongue. He decided he liked the way that name made him feel complete, and it felt right and proper for him to speak it. “Thank You, Lord!” The muffled cry burst forth, and tears formed at the corners of his eyes.

  Chapter 3

  How was it possible more than six months had passed so rapidly? It seemed only a few weeks had gone by since she’d received the first letter from Deputy Daniel Barstow, and now here she was in a stagecoach on the way to Atlanta. He’d purchased her train ticket from there to Dallas, Texas, where they would meet. Then the plan was for her and Dylan to ride in his horse-drawn wagon to the little church in the little town of Lonely Souls where she and Daniel were to be wed.

  A smile formed on her lips at the thought of how romantic it seemed. She could imagine this being a wonderful tale to tell her grandchildren one day. Yes, she and her young son were traveling at a time when snow was still on the ground in North Carolina, but the closer they came to Atlanta, the warmer the weather was. No, it wasn’t exactly like Springtime—after all it was the middle of February—but the slow and steady rise in temperature was enough to be noticeable.

  She and Dylan were the only passengers on this particular trip, if she didn’t count Speckles. The boy had been persistent until his grandparents relented and allowed him to take the dog. Not that Mother minded. She didn’t dislike animals, but she wasn’t one who enjoyed caring for pets. To be truthful, she was happy the child wanted the dog. Naturally, Louise had mentioned this in her last letter to Daniel—mailed not much more than two weeks earlier—and hoped it wouldn’t be much of a bother for her soon-to-be husband.

  Husband. There was a word she hadn’t thought of in almost a year. Of course there would always be a special place in her heart for Allen, but she was certain he would want her to remarry so Dylan would have a father and she could be happy once again.

  A light whimper interrupted her thoughts. Speckles was glancing between her and the stagecoach door. That could only mean one thing. Reaching out toward the door, she tugged the cord hanging near it and heard the bell alert the driver. Moments later, the coach came to a halt and the nice gentleman came around to see what she needed.

  The door opened and Speckles bounded out in an obvious hurry with Dylan not far behind.

  “I have to go too, Mama.” The boy seemed to be in as much of a rush as the dog. “We’ll be right back, I promise.”

  The driver let out a surprised, yet hearty, chuckle at the sight. Louise couldn’t help thinking once again how much her son looked like his father with his windswept brown hair and lean, lithe frame. He even had the same squared face and brown eyes, along with all the other features. It was as though she had given birth to an exact copy of Allen.

  “That’s a fine boy you have there, ma’am.” The man’s comment brought her back to the present. “He reminds me of my nephew when he was that age.”

  “Thank you, sir. That’s a very kind thin
g to say.” She showed him a genuine smile.

  An amiable silence came upon them for several moments, and Dylan returned with Speckles at his heels. The dog was licking his mouth as he usually did after eating. What could he have caught out there at this time of the year?

  “Speckles got a squirrel, Mama!” The child’s excitement was overwhelming. “I made him drop it because I thought it would scare you.” He climbed back into the stagecoach and the dog followed.

  “Thank you, Dylan. It certainly would have upset me.” She ruffled the boy’s hair, then turned her attention back to the driver. “I think we’re ready to continue now. How much longer will it be until we reach Atlanta?”

  “Not too long, ma’am.” He lifted his hat, scratched the top of his head, and replaced the cap. “I would estimate only another hour, maybe a bit more.”

  “Thank you. I think we should be fine until then.” Another friendly grin came upon her face.

  *******

  The train ride seemed short in comparison with the trip from Raleigh to Atlanta. Louise supposed it was due to the fact that she and Dylan had taken the night train and slept almost the entire way. Of course, trains were faster than any stagecoach, so it was more than plausible this was the main reason they seemed to arrive in Dallas so rapidly.

  Sitting on a bench inside the station, she tried to wait patiently for Daniel. He had promised to meet her the moment she got there, but he was late. The clock on the wall showed it was twenty minutes past seven in the morning. The Deputy should have been there at seven, and she found herself starting to wonder if he’d ever planned to meet her at all. But what would be the point in misleading someone to make such a trip? No. She wasn’t going to allow that line of thinking to upset her.

  Lord, I know You led me here and Daniel has a good reason for being late. Help me calm my fears and be patient, Dear Lord. Thank You. Amen.

  She let the unspoken prayer fly, taking her fear and anxiety with it. Breathing a sigh of relief, she allowed herself to relax and lean back against the wall behind her. She didn’t dare close her eyes. If she fell asleep it would be too much of an embarrassment to have Daniel find her that way. Besides, she had to keep a watch on her child and his dog.

  What was it about boys and dogs, anyway? Why did those particular animals seem more attracted to male humans than females? Louise decided those were questions she’d probably never have an answer for until she was in Heaven. After all, it wasn’t as though her life and happiness depended on this knowledge.

  “Mama?” Dylan stood in front of her, looking up as if he needed something. “I think Speckles has to go outside.”

  “Oh? What makes you think that?” Only after she spoke did she hear the soft whimpering and knew the answer he’d give.

  “Can’t you hear him?” The boy sounded confused.

  “Yes, I hear him now.” She offered a miniscule smile and glanced at the clock again. Five minutes had passed since the last time she’d looked. “But Mr. Barstow hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll wait another minute or two and if he isn’t here by then you can go outside with Speckles.”

  “Okay, Mama.” She detected a small note of frustration in his reply, but knew he’d obey. She had thanked the Lord many times in almost six years for giving her such a good child, and did so once again.

  Dylan climbed up on the bench next to her and had only just settled when she heard someone call her name.

  “Louise Parker?” The man’s voice seemed to soothe her soul somehow. Was it the reverent way in which he spoke her name that caused this reaction? It had to be. There was no other explanation.

  Chapter 4

  He couldn’t believe his eyes. She was the image of pure perfection he’d often dreamed about. Even now, an hour after they’d begun the trip to his home in Lonely Souls, he found it difficult to trust his vision. With her deep, rich red hair, eyes the color of the sky, and alabaster skin she was exactly how he’d imagined.

  By the time the sun was at high noon, they would be at the church exchanging the vows of marriage and he’d be the happiest man in the State of Texas. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy the newfound bliss for long. How could he bask in delight when there was something he could never tell her—or anyone else? For that matter, how was he going to be able to keep it from her for any length of time?

  No. He had to tell her. With every moment that passed, his heart became heavier from the thought of not sharing everything about himself. But he wanted her to be his wife before he told her. At least then if she left, he’d have memories of her as his new bride. Yes, he would tell her. Maybe in a day or a week, maybe a month, but he would definitely tell her.

  “Daniel? What has you looking so glum?” The soft, lilting tones of her voice, even with the note of concern, shot an arrow of delight straight into his heart.

  He didn’t want to lie to her, but couldn’t tell her what he’d just been thinking. Instead, he decided to give voice to something else that had been troubling him.

  “I know I told you the dog wouldn’t bother me, but I have several chickens running free at home. I was just wondering if he might try to catch them.” He turned to show her a smile that he hoped was tinged with a bit of unease.

  The gentle giggle that came from her made him think of little schoolgirls chuckling over a shared secret. “You have nothing to worry about, I promise. The folks next door to my parents always have a few chickens in their yard, but Speckles never bothered them.” She paused, seeming to choose her next words carefully. “There were times he would get through the fence and attempt to play with them, but I don’t think he ever meant them any harm.”

  “Did he ever get hold of one?” Now he was more nervous about the situation, but prayed it hadn’t come through in his voice.

  “No, he didn’t.” Her smile was sincere and he knew she was telling the truth. “He’s a sweet, loving, good natured dog. I don’t believe he will be a threat to your hens.”

  He did his best to match her grin. “That puts my fears to rest.”

  A light chuckle came from her and he allowed himself to share it. After a few moments, he glanced up at the sky.

  “We’ll be home in less than an hour. We should have plenty of time to get ready for our wedding at noon.” He paused, sneaking a quick glance at the vision of beauty seated next to him. “Everyone in town will be at the church. They’re all eager to meet the woman who has stolen my heart.”

  *******

  They had arrived at his house as he’d said, with more than an hour before they would need to head to the church. He showed her the entire place, saving the bedrooms for last. Dylan’s room was at one of the rear corners, with a small spare room next to it, then their room was in the other corner. Louise hoped her son wouldn’t be afraid to be so separated from her at night. But he seemed excited and she decided he’d be fine.

  She didn’t remember being this nervous when she was married the first time. But then, she’d known Allen all her life. Daniel was still new to her. Even so, she was more than certain this was what the Lord had planned for her and she was happier than she thought she’d ever be.

  She didn’t mind wearing the same dress again. Mother had spent hours removing enough fullness from the skirt to make it different. To her delighted surprise, her mother didn’t waste the material she’d taken out. Instead, it was used to make a christening outfit and blanket for her first child with Daniel. The thoughtful gift had brought tears to Louise’s eyes, and she wasn’t able to thank her mother enough for thinking about her future happiness.

  “Why are you shaking, Mama? Are you scared?” Dylan’s words surprised her. She hadn’t realized she was so anxious, but when she glanced at her hands she noticed they were trembling.

  “I suppose I’m just a little tense.” She flashed him what she prayed was a confident grin. “We’ll be starting the service soon and I have to be sure I’m ready.”

  The boy’s features seemed to take on a glow as he formed a cherubic
smile. “You look beautiful, Mama.”

  Crouching down to meet him face to face, she fought back a tear. “And you are the most handsome young fella I know.” She stood once again and reached for his hand. “Come, we should get ready to make our entrance.”

  Moments later, the organ began to play. In less than half an hour she would be Mrs. Daniel Barstow and she couldn’t imagine how she could be any happier.

  Walking toward the altar, she heard delighted gasps from the crowd in attendance. She continued down the aisle, catching a few excited comments uttered by some of the women.

  “She’s beautiful!”

  “Isn’t the boy the sweetest you’ve ever seen?”

  “Daniel found himself a good one!”

  “I hope she’s as nice as he says.”

  “Looks like the Deputy just won a bushel basket full of gold.”

  “Seems he thinks so, too. Have you seen his face?”

  Louise didn’t know which of them made these comments. Her eyes were transfixed on Daniel. He looked even more handsome now than when she first saw him a few hours earlier. His lightly tanned skin shone from a fresh scrubbing, his light brown hair neatly parted and slicked back from his brow, and the denim blue eyes set above strong cheekbones set her heart and soul ablaze. Yes. In that brief moment she’d fallen deeply in love with the man and it would be her pleasure to forever be his wife.

  Chapter 5

  Four Months Later

  Coming home on a Friday evening, Daniel found it hard to believe such a long time had passed since he’d taken a bride. He felt as though he was in Heaven—and in hell. Yes, most of his existence now was spent in total delight, but a small piece of his heart was still heavy. He hadn’t yet told Louise the one thing he dared not tell anyone. She needed to know she could trust him, and by withholding this information he was betraying that trust.