Keeper of the Lambs

by Sue Clifton

  Piper’s head sank into the supple down pillow, and she placed her hands under it, giving her head extra support. She shook briefly, not from being chilled, but with the feeling of complete contentment and warmth that security can bring. She knew it would be the best night’s sleep she had gotten in six months, the length of time she had been dreaming these unexplainable dreams.

  Piper smiled with the anticipation of her dreams tonight being replays of the tiny China doll standing on the porch of The Nugget. Her mom had convinced her it was Yu, and Piper knew she would begin painting the lovely girl tomorrow without the aid of a sketch, her own form of plein-air where she would close her eyes and see Yu in her subconscious, a mental field sketch. Yu would be a live model posing for the artist even though she had died ninety years ago.

  Piper woke with a start and glanced at her travel clock. Still early, but her dream loomed in her mind. It was not the tiny Yu who had consumed her short night, and it was not a scene of pleasantry. Piper left the comfort of her bed, retrieved her sketchpad and pencil, and moved to the table by the window. When she opened the curtain, rays of sunlight poured through the wavy old salvaged and reused glass, every curvature casting distorted energy onto her page as if lending a different time to her artistic interpretation.

  Slightly to the right of the page, she sketched an old, hand-hewed, black-singed cabin from another era. Then she surrounded the cabin with burned timbers, giving it a sinister appearance. Once the sketch was transformed into oil, the only semi-bright hues to be cast on the scene would be the moon casting its glow over dripping snow piles, leftovers from winter’s high mountain winter pack. The snow would disappear fast now with summer’s daily warmth, only to be frozen again into crusty ice with nightfall’s cold. The off-white berm dripped onto a dirt path, outlining it, directing the eye of the beholder to the blackened, ill-omened door.

  Piper closed her eyes every few minutes, recalling even the smallest detail. When she finished, she propped the sketch on the other chair, moved several feet away from it, and stared, mesmerized. The picture, ominous and disturbing, gave the artist a sense of foreboding. For some reason, she felt an urgency to reproduce the landscape in oil as soon as possible.

  Yu will have to wait. Mom told me to always trust my instincts.

  Piper unpacked her canvases and set up her easel where the sun could cast its rays across the developing scene. She chose a medium-sized canvas and prepared her palette with mostly black and white with just a hint of yellow for the moon’s soft glow, an intruder on the otherwise austere scene.

  Piper forced a smile—not what she was feeling—realizing she was not the picture- perfect artist. She still had on her T-shirt and short pajama bottoms and stood in bare feet. Her mop of long, blonde curls hung across one eye, forcing her to contain as much as possible in a messy loose ponytail before beginning.

  She chose a long-handled brush with thick bristles to give her interpretation the depth it needed to convey the mood of the landscape. Holding her brush at the end, she gave in to long brush strokes embedding her dream’s image on canvas.

  She worked with no thought of time, each stroke evoking a scene of danger and apprehension, a premonition of something yet to be experienced, at least by the artist. She continued painting when she heard a soft rap on her bedroom door.

  “It’s open,” she called through locked teeth holding an extra brush, a new brush she had stuck there trying to save precious seconds, knowing she would need it soon. Not giving any thought to which visitor it might be, her mom or her aunt, she continued to paint, concentrating on her canvas.

  Zach stood in the doorway, mesmerized by the scene before him. Piper stood completely entranced in her painting, her back partially to the door. She was lost in her work and never turned toward him. The sunlight completely enveloped her, giving a halo effect around her whole body. Even in her disheveled state, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

  Piper McCallister was pure magic! Her long, lean figure, clad in T-shirt and short pajamas and standing barefoot, needed no pose to stir every masculine desire in his body. He stood for several minutes watching her without moving or speaking, never even glancing at her painting. Finally, he could restrain himself no longer. He closed the door behind him and walked to her.

  “Piper?” he spoke softly, not wanting to startle her, but loudly enough to bring her out of her pensive state.

  Piper stopped her brush in mid-stroke and turned to face him, her eyes smiling at him over the brush still clenched between her teeth. He moved closer, reached down to take the brush from her teeth, and dropped it on the easel’s ledge. She watched, her gaze never leaving his face as he pushed a lock of curls from her eye and tucked it behind her ear. Zach continued to stare into her alluring green eyes.

  She moved into him, requiring him to enfold her in a tight embrace. As his mouth covered her lips, they parted in an invitation for more. She put her arms around his neck, entangling his hair in her fingers, and allowed him to savor their kiss as she prolonged it.

  He finally pulled back to look into her eyes again, trying to gauge whether her thoughts and desires mirrored his own; he slid her hands down from his neck.

  Piper could feel his hard, muscular chest through his T-shirt. When she placed the toes of her left foot on top of his bare foot, skin against skin sent a jolt up her leg, pausing mid body. She lifted her mouth to his face, demanding another, deeper kiss. His lips locked against hers, Zach lifted Piper into his arms and carried her to the bed. Piper shivered with excitement, losing all bad memories of love gone wrong, anger, and fear. It was Zach and her, and that was all that mattered.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Piper and Zach sat beside each other drinking coffee and eating the huckleberry muffins and bacon Harri had left for them on the counter. They smiled often, and Piper thought about the turn of events in their already speedy romantic relationship.

  “So what now?” Piper asked.

  “Don’t know.” Zach took a sip of coffee and smiled.

  “Do you think we’re moving a little too fast, Zach?” Now it was Piper’s turn to take a sip of coffee.

  “Well, let’s see. You’re thirty, and I’m thirty-two, both of us still single and unattached, as far as I know—not that it matters at this point—an obvious attraction between us from the first moment we locked eyes.” Zach hesitated. “I guess I’d better clarify that. You had me from the first moment my eyes locked on yours. I can only hope you felt the same way.”

  “Obviously so, considering we just made love after knowing each other for not quite twenty-four hours.” Piper smiled as she pinched off another bite of muffin. “So much for giving up on men.” She pushed her plate away and pulled her coffee mug in front of her. “So how did you know Mom and Harri were gone and we were all alone?”

  Zach left the counter to get more coffee. “Truth?” He gave Piper an impish grin over his shoulder.

  “You stinker!” Piper tried unsuccessfully to look serious. “You didn’t know, did you?” She held her cup out for a refill.

  “Well, I didn’t know for sure, but I came down to the kitchen and saw the muffins and the note from Harri that said, Help yourself.” Zach raised and lowered his eyebrows and gave her his biggest grin, his dimples as big as the Grand Canyon, second only to the smile he’d given her after they’d made love.

  “So…I helped myself—to you.” Zach put his cup down and stood beside Piper’s stool at the counter. He twirled her around to face him and bent down to kiss her—a long, hard kiss. Holding her chin in his hand, he looked into her eyes. “Would it have mattered?”

  “Well, yes. I would not have let myself give in if my mother and aunt were here, and I’m pretty sure Harri was talking about the muffins when she said to help yourself.”

  “Oh!” Zach had a twinkle in his eye. Then he took a step back, eying her seriously. “Did you say, ‘give in’?” He cocked his head and frowned at her.

  “Okay. It wasn’t
as if I was forced into making love.” Piper reached out and pulled Zach to her, giving him a quick kiss and her most innocent look. “You caught me off guard. I was really into my painting and didn’t have time to even think where my mother was.”

  “Well, even if you might not have been smitten with me, I was totally enamored with you and had a very hard time sleeping knowing you were just down the hall in that big bed all alone. You know, I can dream, too.” Zach sat back at the counter, popped the last of his muffin into his mouth, and then picked up both plates and loaded them into the dishwasher.

  “Now. What’s on your agenda, my love of almost a day?” Zach walked back and pulled Piper to him in a bear hug. He released her and looked at his watch. “Let’s see. We boarded yesterday about one o’clock. So… What can we do to celebrate our anniversary in two more hours?”

  Piper opened her mouth to react to the statement, but Zach pulled her back to him and covered her lips with his, stopping all further conversation and potentially sarcastic remarks. She pushed away when she heard the front door open.

  “Well, it’s about time you two got up and at ’em. Your mom and I have visited the cemetery again and have just met Hank’s construction crew. They’ll all be here shortly to start back working on the saloon—the cat house—or The Nugget, as it is formally known.” Harri went to the fridge and took out a bottle of water.

  “Did you sleep well?” She smiled sheepishly behind her plastic bottle as she drank, like she knew what had happened after she and Cayce left.

  “Where’s Mom?” Piper looked toward the parlor, ignoring her aunt’s question.

  “Oh, she’s with Cowboy Number Two. If Joshua knows what’s good for him, he’ll get his tail out to his ghost town before Hank steals his woman, if it hasn’t already happened.” Harri took another big gulp. “I think I hear them on the porch now.”

  Piper hurried into the parlor in time to meet her mom and Hank as they entered. Cayce was all smiles at the sight of her daughter, and walked straight over and hugged her.

  “This has turned into a great trip, thanks to my daughter, even with the invasion of the black fog.” Cayce looked past Piper to Zach, who had settled on the loveseat. “I’m glad you’re here, too, Zach. I need another protector for Piper.”

  “Mom, I don’t need protecting. I’m thirty years old, you know.”

  The way Piper crossed her arms and tapped her foot gave Cayce a flashback of her as a little girl even though she was taller than her mother.

  “You say that only because you weren’t here to experience the black fog firsthand. It lost some of its terror in Harri’s camcorder footage.”

  “I’m a pretty big guy, Piper, and I’ll be the first to admit I was scared to death,” Hank confessed as he left the front window where he had been looking out. He now headed for the front door. “Here comes Bill, my foreman. I want you guys to meet him,” he called over his shoulder as he reached for the door. “Now, here’s a protector. Come on in, Bill. I want you to meet everyone.”

  Bill was so tall, he had to duck under the top of the doorway, most likely a habit. His muscular body filled out his frame.

  “I’ve just got a minute, Hank. You know the boys won’t stay in the cat house without me.”

  “You mean they’re scared?” Piper asked.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Bill took off his cap and held it like a gentleman with old-time manners. “And they have a right to be, after what they’ve been through. A couple of them are on the verge of quitting after spending the night in the camp up the valley. I think they might move closer to town, but I’m not sure that’s a better idea. Heard you had a little activity last night in the hotel.” Bill’s eyes gave away his joy in knowing Hank and the group had been scared.

  “Before you start telling your tale, Bill—and I know you’ve piqued everyone’s interest—I want to introduce everybody.”

  Hank made the introductions and asked Bill if he wanted coffee, then headed into the kitchen to get himself a cup after Bill declined his offer.

  “So what happened in the camp, Bill?” Cayce took a seat on the sofa.

  “Oh, Peg really showed out. She didn’t like the men being so close to her cabin or the mine. She sent that doggone train, or the sound of it, right through the middle of camp about every two hours and just howled every time the men came running out in their long-johns. When they finally did get settled and thought the train was done, the saloon music started. It echoed in the canyon all the way from here.” Hank gave a low chuckle. “I’ve heard a couple of them whistling and humming ‘Down by the Old Mill Stream’ all morning. Can’t seem to get it out of their heads.”

  “Would that be Peg Leg Annie’s train?” Zach asked.

  “That would be the one,” Bill answered. “Well, nice to meet you all, but I better get back over to the house before Belle…or whoever…starts slinging boards. If your black fog appears, I’ll be heading to Idaho Falls or wherever to hunt up a new crew.” Bill replaced his cap and walked out.

  “That is a big man. I expected him to have a big old booming voice, but it wasn’t any deeper than Hank’s. Still, if the black fog comes back, I want to be next to Bill.” Piper looked at Zach and gave him an impish grin.

  “Wait a minute. I’m not exactly a runt, you know.” Zach looked serious.

  Piper walked over and sat in Zach’s lap, putting her arm around his shoulder. “Yes, I’ve noticed that.” Piper felt Zach’s biceps, which he immediately flexed to show off for her.

  Cayce stared at them. “And you two met when?” she asked with a suspicious grin coupled with a slight frown.

  Piper blushed.

  Zach looked a little uncomfortable. “Piper, you should show your mom and Harri the painting you did this morning.”

  “A painting?” Cayce cocked her head to one side. “Not a sketch? That was fast. Have another dream, Piper?”

  “Yes, and you won’t believe the outcome. I’ve got some details to finish, but you can get the gist of it.” Piper left the settee and moved toward the stairs, where she stopped and turned. “Do you want to see it, Mom, Harri?” They followed her up the stairs with Zach bringing up the rear.

  “It’s beautiful…in a morbid, sinister kind of way.” Cayce stepped back to look at the painting from a distance. “Not exactly what I’d imagine you painting, but it does show your talent as an artist.” She moved closer again. “You certainly caught the mood. How did you feel when you woke up from such a dream?”

  “How do you think I felt? I went to sleep hoping to dream about Yu so I could paint her, and this is what intruded into my mind space.” Piper gestured toward the painting. “I felt just as gloomy and dreary as the picture implies. I just wish I knew what it meant.” Piper put her hands on her hips and continued to stare at the picture.

  “Put it out of your mind, sweetie.” Cayce waved her hand to signify dismissal of the dream. “When it’s time, you’ll be shown.”

  Zach stood by the door, watching the scene. He sensed the dream and the reproduction of it frightened Piper. He wanted to protect her, but he carried a secret that was becoming heavier to bear the more deeply he fell in love with her.

  It all seems so perfect, but it’s not. I’ve not been honest with her. How will she react when she finds out why I’m really here?

  Put it out of your head, Zach. It’s too early for confession, if it can ever come. You’re no protector. You’ve proven that once already.

  He turned away from the group and headed out the door, hurriedly retracing his steps to the parlor.

  A few minutes later, everyone stood outside, shielding their eyes from the sun with their hands and looking up at the high-pitched roof of The Nugget.

  “What are they doing?” Piper directed her question to Zach, who had rejoined the group after talking to Bill and Hank.

  “They have to finish the roof. It never got done after Hank’s roofer fell the other day. Those two young guys volunteered after Hank promised a bonus when it’s comple
ted.” Zach pulled his sunglasses from his pocket but handed them to Piper, who was cupping her hand over her eyes. Then he pulled the bill of his cap back around to the front and pulled it down to shade his eyes. “Hank is making sure they’re properly tied off this time.”

  After a few minutes of watching, Piper left the group and went to sit on the porch. When Zach joined her, she took off the sunglasses, folded them, and put them in his shirt pocket, patting his chest and letting her hand linger for a while as her eyes melted into his.

  “Let’s go inside and find something cold to drink.” Zach looked at his watch. “Besides, it’s almost time to celebrate our anniversary.” He took Piper’s hand and coaxed her out of her chair.

  The kitchen became a scene from a sexy romance novel as Zach and Piper held on to each other, kissing as passionately as a couple who had been together for months rather than just one day. They were so wrapped up in each other they did not notice the dark shadow watching through the back window.

  Sensing movement, Zach opened his eyes and saw what looked like a reflection in the window. He blinked, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him, but when he stopped blinking, she was still there, staring at him. Even through her veil, her eyes made him uneasy; he was unable to pull his gaze from hers. Her eyes were light, too light, and had a magnetic effect on him. The figure grew bigger and seemed to be moving closer, and he thought for a second she would appear right in front of him in the room.

  Piper pulled her lips away from him. “Zach? Is something wrong?”

  Zach shook himself out of the reverie that was more like a nightmare in full daylight. Holding Piper in his arms, he turned their bodies to face the window.

  “Look!” He pointed in the direction of the window, but when Piper looked, the reflection had disappeared.