The Troublesome Angel

“I’m fine. Probably missed lunch again. What time is it anyway?”

“Around two.”

“Well, that explains it. Low blood sugar always makes me a little woozy.” Stacy was trying to ignore the fact he was still standing close. Too close. And using up all the oxygen so she couldn’t get a decent breath of air. If her feet hadn’t refused to obey, she’d have stepped back.

“Why don’t you look in the bag?” he suggested, smiling.

She cast him a wary glance. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just remember, I wasn’t the one who picked out your present.”

Stacy parted the top of the bag and peered inside. Bright-orange, red, yellow and green shapes lay in a semitransparent pile. “Oh, wow! Gummi Bear candies! I haven’t had any of these since I was little.” Grinning, she popped one into her mouth. “I always thought the red ones were the best.”

Her childlike enthusiasm was so contagious Graydon forgot himself and joined in. “No way. They all taste the same.”

“Do not.”

“Do so.”

Stacy held out a green bear. “Here. I’ll prove it to you.” She popped it into his mouth the moment he opened it to argue, then poked around in the bag searching for a different color.

When she chose another candy and held it up for him, he didn’t respond right away, so she said, “Come on. Open up. Incoming bear.”

He didn’t move. Didn’t even flinch.

She raised her gaze to meet his. In place of the sparkle of mischief she’d glimpsed in his dark eyes before, there was now a warning. A solemnity that took her by surprise. It sent a frisson of alarm zinging up her spine.

“No,” he said softly, hoarsely.

Stacy blinked. Her quizzical gaze returned to his firm mouth, the stubborn jaw she’d noticed when his beard had shadowed it during Missy’s rescue.

Something had changed between them in a heartbeat. But what? The air was charged with tension. With indescribable awareness.

She swallowed hard. Had she and Graydon Payne actually been having fun together? Was that why the man had suddenly become so reserved? Or had she somehow caused him to withdraw? It was impossible to tell.

Still, she knew she had been enjoying herself in his company. Apparently, the Lord wasn’t through convincing her that she needed to forgive what had transpired between them in the past. Too bad He hadn’t dealt with her brooding guest in the same manner!

If Graydon’s mood had plummeted because of her, it was understandable. A man like him wouldn’t want to be caught letting his hair down and enjoying himself with somebody who didn’t belong to a country club, buy her clothes at exclusive shops or have her hair and nails done professionally.

There he stood, all proper and perfect as ever in his crisp, tailored shirt and impeccably pressed slacks. He came from a totally different world. A place she had no desire to visit, even temporarily. She was more than content with the life God had given her, and she wasn’t going to let some good-looking, overbearing, stuffed shirt come along and steal her joy.

“Fine,” Stacy said, shoulders square, chin up. “Be a stuffy sourpuss. I’m going to take my candy and go share it with Missy. At least one of you appreciates the simple pleasures of life.”

Graydon stood very still as he watched her walk away. Was he really stuffy? Or was that just how Stacy viewed him? Not that it mattered what she thought. There was no reason why he should care. And no reason why he should find himself so attracted to her, either. That was what unnerved him the most. For an instant, when she’d fed him the candy and her fingers had innocently grazed his lips, he’d had the idiotic urge to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. Talk about crazy!

Lost in thought, he mulled over their past. It would have been better for everyone if she hadn’t misunderstood his motives when they’d first met, years ago. The disillusioned look on her young face was one he’d never forget. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her. He’d simply known she was wrong for Mark and he’d said so, as much for her benefit as for his brother’s. Stacy had been naive. Innocent. Shy. The strong-willed Payne family would have swallowed her up and crushed the radiant spirit he’d sensed beneath her unsophisticated demeanor. He ought to know.

Only now she wasn’t shy, was she? Maybe she wasn’t naive, either, in spite of her supposed sweetness. Either way, he didn’t intend to stick around and find out. No, sir!

Coming to his senses he stepped off the porch and headed for the yard where the dogs were kept. He’d done his good deed for the day. He’d brought Missy to see her rescuers. Now, it was time to start home.

Graydon’s gut knotted again when he thought of his unsettling reaction to Stacy. Clearly, it was past time for him to make a hasty exit. Way past time. The sooner he got himself away from her, the better he’d like it.

He went to find Missy.

Chapter Four

When Stacy got to the back yard she found Missy sticking her small hands through the fence and giggling as all seven dogs jockeyed for position to lick her fingers. The comical sight made her laugh, too.

“Hi! Sorry I took so long.” Munching on a yellow Gummi Bear, she unlocked the gate, then paused before opening it. “This candy is delicious. Want some?”

“Sure! Can the dogs have a piece, too? I’ll share.”

“Let’s give them doggy treats instead, shall we? They’re better for them.”

“Okay.” Missy stood close at her heroine’s heels, waiting for the chance to enter the yard. “I can do it. I’m not scared.”

“All right. But first we have to make them sit and behave, or they’ll learn the wrong lessons.”

“Like what?”

“Like pushing and shoving to get what they want. They have to learn manners, just like you and I do.” Stacy noticed the child’s smile fading.

“What’s the matter?”

“Candace says I’m a—a little bar—bar…something.”

“Barbarian?”

“That’s it.” She looked up at Stacy, her eyes wide, her expression hopeful. “I’m not, am I?”

“Well, I certainly don’t think so.” It was hard to keep her opinion of the Paynes to herself. If it hadn’t been for the good of the child, she wouldn’t have held back or made excuses for them. “Maybe it’s just that Candace hasn’t been around kids before. Give her time. She’ll get used to having you there.”

“I wish…”

Stacy sat down on the lawn and opened her arms to the sad little girl. “Come here.”

Missy didn’t hesitate to crawl onto her lap.

“I know how it is to wish for something so hard you think you’ll burst. But sometimes there’s just no way for our wishes to come true, even if they are wonderful.”

“My—my daddy died,” Missy whispered. She wrapped one arm around Stacy’s neck and buried her face against her chest.

Deeply moved, Stacy rocked them both back and forth. “It’ll be okay, Missy. It’ll be okay.”

“No, it won’t.” Her voice was barely audible.

Tell me what to say, Lord, Stacy prayed silently. Show me how to help her. Please?