Daddy's Angel

“I was really scared today. I mean, everything happened so fast. We heard Freda give a surprised cry, then we heard a big thump and pans clattering.” He shook his head. “I was really glad Roy was here.”

“Me, too. I’m also glad you were able to get the tree. At least it helped to keep the younger ones occupied tonight.”

“Were you able to finish checking all the fences?”

“The worst ones, I think. The rest will have to wait.” He patted his son’s shoulder. “Things will work out. You’ll see.” He looked at his watch. “You’re going to have a short night, son. Morning’s going to come awful early for you.”

Chris smiled at Bret, his eyes shadowed with concern. “I could stay home and help you if you’d like.”

Bret shook his head. “We’ll be fine, but I appreciate the offer. Good night, Chris,” he said, turning away before Chris could glimpse the emotion he was feeling. His oldest son was no longer a child. He was rapidly becoming a fine young man. Wasn’t it too soon? Did he have to grow up quite so fast?

Bret went back into his bedroom and finished undressing. Stripping out of his work clothes, he went into his bathroom for a shower. The hot spray felt wonderful to his sore muscles.

“You’d be proud of our children, Patti,” he whispered, now that he was alone. “They handled today’s emergency just fine.”

He’d gotten in the habit of talking to Patti at times when his mind was in a turmoil. It seemed to help him sort through everything going on inside his head. He’d fill her in on his day, share with her his concerns about the ranch and the children.

Some folks would consider him crazy. They were probably right. But somehow he felt closer to her that way. By reviewing his day in this manner he sometimes saw solutions that he might have otherwise overlooked.

He was drying off when he remembered Travis’s remark about the angel talking to him. Kids could say some of the most unexpected things. They must be born with a wild imagination.

All the children talked to Travis about his mother in an effort to make her real to the boy. Bret had placed a framed photograph of Patti beside Travis’s bed. He wasn’t certain how much Travis understood what had happened to his mother. Bret hadn’t wanted Travis to feel as though he were to blame for the loss of Patti. The doctor had been careful to explain to Bret and the three older children that her heart might have stopped whether she’d been in labor or not.

Bret reentered his bedroom and slipped on a clean pair of jeans. He zipped them, but didn’t bother with the button since he was only going downstairs to make sure Chris had locked up when he came in. He’d forgotten to ask him if he’d looked in on the tree. Not that it mattered. Chris could always see it tomorrow. In the meanwhile Bret wanted to make certain the lights were turned off.

The house still retained the heat of the previous days’ warm weather, although with this new cold front, he’d better make sure the thermostat on the furnace was set to come on.

Silently Bret made his way down the hallway, pausing only long enough to make certain the children were all in bed. Even Chris’s light was out.

Bret went downstairs, found the back door locked and the thermostat set. He decided to set up the coffeepot, so that it would brew early in the morning. He’d have to get the children off to school before doing his regular chores. A fresh cup of coffee first thing would help to keep him going.

He paused in the doorway and gave the kitchen a last glance before he headed down the hallway to the living room. When he reached the doorway he came to an abrupt halt, staring at the figure in front of the fireplace with total disbelief.

A young woman stood on the braided rug, looking around the room with interest. From the light given off by the tree, he would guess her to be in her twenties. She was slim, with white-blond hair wrapped in a coil on her neck. She looked to be of average height and wore jeans, a plaid shirt and sensible low-heel shoes.

For a few moments he was too stunned to say anything. The woman hadn’t noticed him. She was too busy studying the furnishings, running her hand along the polished wood of the mantel and delicately stroking the clock that sat there.

A sudden burst of anger shoved him into action. Bret flicked on the overhead light, its brightness almost blinding after the muted light from the tree. The woman spun around with a gasp, her hand going to her throat.

His smile was grim with satisfaction. Obviously he’d startled her as much as she had startled him.

“Who are you and how in blazes did you get in here?” he growled, not caring how intimidating he sounded.

She took a quick breath before she gave him a dazzling smile. “I’m Noelle.”

Chapter Two

Noelle could feel her heart racing in her chest, which felt very strange to her. But then, at the moment everything felt strange.

She looked at Bret with a sense of uncertainty that she strove to hide, unsure about what she should say or do next.

He stood there staring at her in disbelief.

She couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t known exactly how to appear and it was now obvious that she hadn’t quite worked out the finer points of her new role in the Bishop family’s life.

Noelle had waited until they all went upstairs before she privately assumed human form. She was glad she’d waited. Finding herself inside a body adapted specifically for earth and gravity was quite a shock!

She had taken a couple of breaths, then released them and smiled. Air…she was taking in oxygen. Other sensations had captured her attention in a confusing array…sounds…and scents…and sights.

She had closed her eyes and waited for a sense of equilibrium. She’d thought she understood how human beings functioned, but she was rapidly adjusting all her perceptions now that her reality had changed so radically. She felt heavy—and more than a little sluggish—now that she had weight and substance.

She had stood before the twinkling Christmas tree and studied the small doll at the top. She could scarcely believe she used to exist in that tiny body. In comparison, she now felt like a giant…awkward and a little unsure of how to navigate her new body in a physical world.

Another unexpected gift was her heightened awareness. She’d always thought she understood human senses…until now. Everything was so much…so much more than she had expected. She’d inhaled, taking in the intoxicating smell of fresh pine and scented candles. She could even smell a whiff of freshly baked breads and cookies from earlier in the day.

Not only her sense of smell had intensified. Lights and colors glittered and sparkled as though with a special life. She’d tilted her head with delight and listened to the ticking of the clock on the mantel and the gentle creaks of the house.