My Guardian Knight (9 page)

Amanda was putting breakfast on the table the next morning when Sebastian walked through the door, again with wet hair.  “Did you take another bath in the creek?” she teased, trying to ease the dark mood she sensed he was in.

His electric blue eyes gazed into hers humorlessly for a moment before he sat down at the table.  “I’ve been in need of a splash of cold water these last few mornings,” he muttered.

Amanda was not so naive that she didn’t know what he meant, and she blushed ferociously.  The meal was eaten in silence; even Matthew didn’t have much to say.  When Sebastian stood up to leave, he jumped out of his chair.  “Can I go with you, Papa?”

              “Not today, Matthew.”

              The child watched him walk out the door before

turning to his mother with a pout.  “I wanted to go!”

“I know you did, sweetheart, but Sebastian told you that he would be doing dangerous work and you couldn’t go with him.”

              “But what am I supposed to do?”

              “Why don’t you take Marissa out and find your little bunny.  You can each take one carrot to lay out for him.”

Brightening somewhat, Matthew took the small girl by the hand and led her from the house, oblivious to the adoring look she bestowed upon him.  It would do him good to be a big brother, Amanda thought happily as she started washing the dishes.  So intent were her thoughts that she didn’t hear Sebastian come in the door.  When he touched her arm she was so surprised that she dropped the plate she was cleaning into the water and immediately they were covered with bubbles.  Afraid he would be angry, she looked up at him only to see his blue eyes twinkling down at her.  She lowered her gaze and burst into laughter at the sight he made, his face covered in a beard of bubbles.  Taking a clean towel from the table, she gently dried his face for him, watching in fascination as his eyes darkened more with every touch of her finger.

Amanda set the towel down nervously.  “So what brings you back to the house so early?” she asked, returning to the dishes.

Sebastian grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him.  “I’m sorry, Amanda.  I’m sorry for what I did last night and how I behaved this morning.”

              “No, Sebastian, I--”

He put a finger to her soft lips.  “Shhh.  I want you to know you can trust me.”

              “I--”

“I brought you here so we could help each other, not so I could take advantage of you.  If you want me to sleep in the barn from now on I’ll understand.”

              “No!  You don’t have to--”

“I have to get back out to the stable.  I’ll see you tonight.”  Turning abruptly, he strode out the door.

“Ooooh!” she cried in frustration.  “If that man had let me get a word in edgewise he would learn that I already trust him!” she fumed, giving in to her temper and kicking the table leg.

The summer days blended together one much the same as the other.  The children became very close and, after a few weeks, Matthew’s bunny came to trust him so much that more often than not he was seen riding on the child‘s shoulders.  The relationship between the adults was more complicated, but still pretty easy going, for the most part. Amanda worked the house and the garden during the day and sewed fervently every night.  Sebastian spent most of his days working on the stables, taking the children with him whenever he could.  When the stables were finally done and stocked with horses, he began to train them, and the children would sometimes lay in the soft grass and watch him work.

One day just as Amanda was sitting down for a cup of tea there was a knock on the door.  She sighed, by now growing tired of all the deliveries.  When she opened the door, she stood dumbfounded for a moment before throwing her arms around the woman standing at her door.  “Sharon Mahoney, where on earth did you come from?  Come share a

cup of tea with me and tell me all about it!”

Sharon laughed gaily and followed her friend inside the cozy cottage.  Accepting a cup of tea, she said, “When we reached St. Louis my brother-in-law was waiting for us at the train station.  He said that he’d lost our claim out west to squatters and didn’t have the time or the energy to fight them for it.  He said he’d remembered what a nice town Alton was and decided that we’d be just as happy here, so he bought some land and, I must admit, it is wonderful!  A small creek runs through our property and, well, I suppose you know that since it seems our land adjoins yours.  I honestly was just coming over to borrow a cup of sugar from our neighbors until I could get to town and buy some more.  I was stunned to see you at the door!”

              The children walked in at that time and Amanda

called them over.  “Sharon, I’m sure you remember Matthew? 

This is his sister, Marissa.”

              They exchanged greetings and Matthew asked permission to visit their father before racing Marissa out the door.  “Have you been to church yet, Amanda?”

“No, I’m sorry to say I haven’t.  We had planned on going tomorrow, though.  Will we see you there?”

“Yes, most definitely.  The minister is wonderful and I have met the most interesting people there.”  She frowned.  “Mrs. Amos is rather nosy, though.”

Amanda laughed.  “I have had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Amos, and I can say with conviction that nosy doesn’t even begin to describe it!  Her heart is in the right place, though,” she said softly, remembering what the woman had said about Sebastian being in love with her. 

Sharon smiled.  “I shouldn’t be so petty, she is a very nice woman.  Oh, but she asks so
very
many questions!”

Amanda poured them each another cup of tea.  “I’m so glad you’ll be our neighbors. We’ve been so busy working around here that we haven’t gotten back to town even once since we arrived.”

              “Well, it’s certainly been time well spent.  You have a lovely home, Amanda.”

Amanda glanced lovingly around her home with a smile.  “I’m very happy here.  Honestly, Sharon, I’ve never

been happier in my life.”

Sebastian chose that moment to walk in the door, causing Amanda to nearly choke on her tea.  “It’s nice to see you again, Sharon.  Matthew told me you’re living near us now.”

Amanda poured him a cup of tea and placed it in his hands.  His smile was tender as it lit upon her.

              “And yourself.  I see you are no longer wearing your badge.”

“That part of my life is behind me.  We’re raising horses now.”

              “Wonderful!  Justin was just saying this morning that

he needs a good horse, maybe I can bring him over?”

              “Anytime.”  

After Sebastian returned to work, Sharon winked at Amanda.  “I can see why you’re so happy,” she teased.

              Amanda blushed.  “Well, it was so nice visiting with

you, Amanda.  I hope to see you tomorrow.”

Sunday dawned bright and early with a beautiful blue sky and a cool breeze to ward off the summer heat.  Amanda dressed in the new yellow dress she had made for herself and set out the clothes she had made as a surprise for Sebastian.  After a hurried breakfast, she ushered the children into their bedroom and, with a happy heart, put on the clothes she had lovingly made for them.  Marissa was clad in a pretty pink calico dress, which sported a ruffle along the bottom and Amanda pulled her dark, curling hair back with a long pink satin ribbon.  For Matthew she had made deep blue trousers and a shirt of powder blue.  

              By the time Amanda brought the children out

Sebastian was standing by the wagon waiting for them.  She stopped at the sight of him, feeling as if she could hardly get a breath.  Since the first day they had come home, he had taken to wearing denim pants and work shirts, and Amanda thought he looked wonderful in them.  But now, seeing him in the charcoal gray trousers and crisp white shirt she herself had made for him, he looked devastatingly handsome.  She barely controlled the urge to run to him and fling herself into his arms.

              “Amanda, you look beautiful,” he said softly,

seemingly as surprised at her appearance as she was with his.  “And,” he motioned to himself, “thank you for the new clothes.”

“What about me, Papa, do I look pretty?” Marissa piped up.

He grinned, swinging her up into his arms.  “You’re prettier than a princess, my dear.  And Matthew is quite pretty, himself.”

Matthew’s mouth dropped open and he turned to his mother.  “Mama, did you hear what Papa called me?  I’m not pretty.  I’m not a
girl
, Papa!” he said with disgust.

Sebastian only laughed as he lifted him into the wagon.  He turned to Amanda, and their eyes locked.  His thumb caressed her hand as he stared into her eyes with deep longing.  “My lady,” he murmured, “your carriage awaits.”

Amanda said nothing, her whole body tingling at the slight contact.  As they started off toward Alton, Sebastian said, “Yellow is a good color for you.”

She smiled wistfully.  “I’ve never had a yellow dress before.  It’s my favorite color, and I’ve always wanted one, but--” her voice drifted off.

“You should have a dozen yellow dresses.  It makes your hair glow all the more and softens your lovely dark eyes.”  Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, she knew she couldn’t utter a word just then if her life depended on it.  He was always so attentive, so tender and caring. Why then did he lay still as a board every night, keeping as much space between them as possible?  And why, no matter how far apart they started out, she always woke up in the morning enfolded in his arms?  The man drove her crazy trying to figure him out!

They entered the church just as the first song was beginning and Amanda soon had her hands full trying to keep the children, used to running outside all day, from fidgeting.  By the time the sermon was over and the last song finished, she was ready to usher Matthew and Marissa outside to run off their energy.  Of course, the line moved slowly through the doors, and she was forced to explain, for the tenth time, exactly why they had had to come to church instead of staying home to chase butterflies.  Finally out in the sunshine, she ordered the children to go play and she collapsed onto the bed of the wagon.

Sebastian chuckled.  “The little imps were full of gusto this morning.”

“Yes, they were,” she retorted saucily, “and between the two of them fidgeting and you pulling at your collar as if you’ve never worn a shirt before I certainly had my hands full!  We’ve barely stepped out of the building and I see you’ve already undone your top two buttons!”  As she finished her rampage her eyes fell to the top of his shirt, a tiny glimpse of hair peeking over the loosened buttons, his hard muscles evident beneath the thin material.  She swallowed and turned away, certain she would be going to hell for having such impure thoughts on church property.

Amanda walked over to where Sharon stood under a shade tree, waving gaily.  Sebastian accompanied her, tucking her hand possessively into the crook of his arm.  The men talked business while the women chattered and watched the children play.  “I hope we have a baby soon,” Sharon said wistfully.  “Maybe Matthew and Marissa can come over to our house sometimes?”

              “That would be lovely, if you’re sure they wouldn’t

be too much of a bother.”

              “I can promise you that there’s nothing they could do

to bother me.  Children are such a joy.”

Amanda smiled, feeling blessed with good fortune.  Her only wish now was that she could have a future with her family, a future that included all the days of the rest of her life.  They were everything she had ever wanted, these three people who had become more important to her than life itself.  If only she could find a way to make them hers forever.

The Mahoneys, including Justin’s brother Jake, invited them for dinner and they accepted eagerly.  It was nice to have friends, Amanda thought that evening as she put the children to bed.  They had spent the better part of the afternoon laughing and having a good time.  Amanda had helped Sharon prepare dinner, Sebastian was given a tour of their property, and the kids played outside with a puppy.  All in all, it had been a wonderful time, and already Amanda was busy planning to have them over to her house next Sunday.    When Sebastian finally came in from checking the horses Amanda was sitting on the bed brushing her hair, a thoughtful look on her face.  He took the brush from her hands and began stroking her honey blond hair.  “What are you thinking about?”

“I was thinking how much fun I had today,” she replied.  “I never knew just having dinner with another couple could be so enjoyable.  I want to invite them here next week.”  “Okay,” he said, concentrating more on the texture of her hair than on the words she spoke.

              “I can do that?  You don’t mind?”

              “Why would I mind?  This is your house, too, you

can invite anyone you like.”

Amanda looked up at him with such an angelic smile he felt his insides turn to molten lava.  “Amanda,” he said hoarsely, touching her cheek with his finger.  He kissed her lips softly before striding determinedly to the door.  “I have some work I forgot to do.  Get some sleep.”