My Guardian Knight (10 page)

Dumbfounded, she watched him walk out the door.  “Ooooh, that man makes me so
mad
,” she fumed, throwing the brush at the bedroom door.

Sebastian knelt on the ground one sunny day, hammer in hand, nails strewn around him, contemplating how best to fix the rails of the fence.  He picked up the hammer, smiling when he saw Matthew come up beside him.  “Hey Squirt,

where’s your little shadow?”

“She’s helping Mama bake pies today.  Can I stay with you?”

He nodded as he began driving the nails into the wood.  Matthew climbed up to sit on a secure middle rail, dangling his arms over the top one and fixing Sebastian with a troubled gaze.  “Do you like my mama?”

              “Of course I do,” he laughed.  “What makes you ask a question like that?”

“Well, sometimes I see you kiss, and I know that’s a good thing because of the way Mama smiles.  But, I’ve been thinking, you don’t really kiss very much and sometimes Mama watches you with a sad look on her face when you’re not looking.”

Concentrating more deeply than necessary on the fence rail, Sebastian replied, “You really shouldn’t worry about the relationship between me and your mother.  That’s for us to work out.”

“I know.  But she’s never been happy like this before and I want her to be happy.  I’m scared that if you don’t like her we’ll have to go away and she’ll be sad again.  

"Papa, I don’t ever want her to be sad again.”  Sebastian’s gut wrenched painfully.  He set the tools down, giving Matthew his full attention.  “Can I share something with you, Matthew?  But I’ll need your word of honor that you’ll not tell your mother.”  The child nodded solemnly and Sebastian continued quietly,  “I love her.”  Matthew’s eyes lit up and he threw himself into Sebastian’s arms, knocking them both backwards.  “That’s

great!  All you have to do is tell her and--”

              Sebastian sat up, keeping Matthew on his lap. 

“Listen to me, son.  If I came right out and told your mother something like that, it would scare her off.  Sometimes people find it hard to trust other people, and I have to earn your mother’s trust before I let her know how I feel.  I must show her I am worthy of her trust.  Does that make sense to you?”  Matthew thought for a minute.  “Like when I left the carrots for my baby bunny and after days and
days
he finally knew I wouldn’t hurt him?”

              Sebastian was stunned at the child’s perception. 

“Exactly like that.  Only with people, it takes a bit longer.”

              Matthew frowned.  “How do you know, Papa?  How

can you tell when someone trusts you?”

              Gazing at him thoughtfully, he muttered, "That’s what I’d like to know, Matthew.  That’s what I’d like to know.”

When Sebastian finished his work, they walked side by side back to the house.  Amanda was just putting supper on the table, and he admired how pretty she looked in her new blue and yellow calico dress.  How hard the nights had become for him, lying next to her, so close yet so far away, wanting to touch her and hold her as if she were really his wife.  Every night he found it more and more difficult to keep his hands from her soft body, and on various occasions he’d stepped over the line, kissing her until he thought he’d explode from wanting her.  The minute he saw her, every time he saw her, desire raged white hot through his body.  He’d have to start sleeping in the barn, he told himself sternly time and time again, only to return to the bed with her and the sweet agony of longing.

“Sebastian?” he heard her say.  “Sebastian, please pass the salt.”  Her request finally got through to him, and he passed the salt across the table.  Quite accidentally, their fingers touched, and lightning shot through his veins.  Evidently Amanda reacted the same way, and they both snatched their hands away, watching helplessly as the salt tumbled to the table, fortunately missing all the food but making a mess of the entire table.

They were unaware of the bewildered looks their children bestowed upon them.  Matthew shrugged and Marissa giggled.  The couple ate silently, the tension between them tangible in the air.  The kids excused themselves and went to their bedroom to play.  Amanda automatically began clearing the dishes, her mind on her still trembling hand and the strong effect Sebastian had on her.  Sebastian wiped the table and grabbed the newspaper,
The Alton Telegraph
, staring at it as if he were actually able to see the words.  From the corner of his eye he watched Amanda work, admiring the sway of her hips as she moved from one task to another.  After she finished, she handed him a cup of tea as she did every night.  Yet again when their fingers touched the cup fell crashing to the floor.  With a muttered curse, Sebastian threw his chair aside and slammed out of the house.  Amanda sighed dejectedly as she cleaned the mess off the floor certain that tonight would be the night he’d decide to stay in the barn. 

  She put the children to bed and slowly changed her clothes, donning a new white nightgown.  The soft cotton didn’t make her feel any better, and she sat in the middle of the bed brushing her hair thoughtfully.  Finally, after waiting so long she was sure he must already be asleep, she doused the lamp and climbed beneath the covers.  The moon was full and shining gently through her window.  She tried closing her eyes, but sleep would not come, so she stared at the ceiling and tried to figure out a way to tell Sebastian how she felt about him.  So it surprised her some time later to hear him come through the door.  She turned to look at him, wondering where he had been and what he’d been doing.  Was he thinking the same thoughts as she was?  He smiled at her and said quietly, “Did I wake you?”

              “No,” she admitted ruefully, “I couldn’t sleep.  I was

afraid you weren’t coming back in tonight.”

He climbed into bed beside her, tension clinging to him like a second skin.  He didn’t want to tell her that he’d planned on taking a cold dip in the creek and spending the night in the barn, but she’d been too much on his mind.

Amanda raised up on her elbow and looked down at him.  He said nothing, but she could tell the moment his control snapped.  His arm snaked around her neck and pulled her head down to his, kissing her with a passion that she had only guessed was held inside him.  He ran his hands through her silky hair, whispering loving words in her ear.  He kissed a path of fire down her throat while his hands caressed her back, and she knew she’d never felt anything so exquisite.  His fingers trembling, he slowly unbuttoned the nightgown down to her waist, his fingers inching toward her aching breast.  When they finally touched, Amanda felt light-headed with pleasure, hoping this moment would never end.  Now his lips were at her throat, and as they moved lower she thought she might die from the wanting.  She felt his breath on her breast a split second before his tongue licked her sensitive nipple, drawing a surprised cry of pleasure from her.  Never had she felt anything so wildly intoxicating, so thoroughly stirring.

Tearing himself away with a groan, Sebastian sat up, running an unsteady hand through his hair.  “I’m sorry, Amanda.”

She jumped off the bed, her forwardness surprising even herself.  “Don’t you dare, Sebastian Knight, don’t you
dare
apologize to me again!  I can’t bear to hear it.”

“But I am sorry, sweetheart.  I promised I would not take advantage of you--”

“Who asked you?!  Who asked you to make such a promise?  We’re living as husband and wife;
of course
we’d want to carry it on to the next level.  It’s only natural to feel this way, but your damnable sense of honor keeps getting in the way!”

All Sebastian could think about was how lovely she looked standing beside the bed, her face flushed, her gown gaping open to expose her lovely form.  “But we aren’t really husband and wife, now are we?” he said quietly.

Amanda burst into tears.  She was angry with herself for giving in to her emotions and angry at Sebastian for bringing them out in the first place.  “I don’t care!  All I know is that I have never been happier than I am here with you, and I want to consume every morsel of happiness that I can before I have to leave.”

Suddenly he was standing beside her, gently placing her head against his hard chest, rubbing circles on her back while tucking her hair behind he ear.  “I swear I didn’t know

you felt this way, sweetheart.”

She looked up at him, tears streaking her face, and he finally read the trust in her eyes that had been there for quite some time.  Tenderly, he kissed her salty tears away and smoothed the hair back from her forehead.  Their lips met in a fusion so pure it shook him clear down to his toes.  Driven onward, he moved to nip at the sweetness of her delicate neck and smooth, soft shoulder.  Her skin was cool and silky, inviting him to touch, taste, and drink in the sweet nectar of her.  

Amanda clung to him as if her life depended on it, and indeed at the moment she felt as if it did.  His warm, wonderful lips were moving over her slowly, creating delicious sensations deep inside of her.  She sighed against his lips, melting against him even as she returned his kisses with a passion she had never known she possessed.  

They were each lost in the moment, both of them succumbing to the one thing they had searched for their entire lives and had given up on finding: someone to love who would love them in return.  They clung to each other, silently nourishing the hunger that raged within their souls.  And when they finally came together as one, the earth shook and the heavens exploding around them, the ache in their hearts was replaced with a peace and joy to rival any other.

Much later, as the rooster crowed the dawn of a new day, Sebastian lay quietly in bed beside Amanda, her head pillowed on his chest.  He stroked her hair, dreading climbing from the warm bed and the sweetness of holding her in his arms.  He couldn’t keep the smile from his lips as he gazed down upon her soft form.  Maybe, he thought to himself, she would grow fond enough of him that, when the time came, she wouldn’t want to leave.  He would give her the freedom of choice.  After all, he had promised that once the year was up she would have her life back, free and clear.

              Free and clear.  Damn, but he was an idiot.

              “Mama, Marissa wants to know if we can go to

Sharon’s house today.”

Amanda smiled at him.  “Marissa wants to know, does she?”

He nodded emphatically.  “It was Marissa’s idea, honestly.  Wasn’t it?” he asked his sister indignantly.

“It was my idea, Mama.  I promise Matthew doesn’t want to go just because he knows Sharon is making blackberry jam today and she said we could have some if we come over. 

Really, it was all my idea.”

Amanda glanced over at Sebastian, who was barely able to hide his mirth from the kids.  Her heart warmed at the twinkle in his eyes as he returned her gaze.  “Well, I’m not sure,” she teased.  “You have been over there often lately.  I certainly wouldn’t want to be a bother to the Mahoneys.”

              They jumped up and down simultaneously.  “No,

Mama,” Matthew objected, “they like us to come over.  Sharon said we could come as often as we like.”

“That’s right, she did,” Marissa piped up.  “And she has the prettiest little puppy named Butterscotch that let’s me hold her like a baby and--”

              “What do you say, Mama?” Sebastian laughed.  “Can

they go visit their friends?”

Amanda’s smile lit up the room.  “Go on, but behave yourselves,” she called to their rapidly retreating forms.  She was watching them run across the field when Sebastian came up behind her, wrapping his arms about her waist.  “What do you want, Mr. Knight?”

              He chuckled near her ear.  “I must be overworked,

I’m feeling a bit tired.  Would you care to join me for a nap?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

              Amanda nodded.  “I’ll be along in a minute, I just want to make sure the kids get there safely.  Sharon always hangs her orange blanket on the clothesline when they arrive so I know they are safe.  As soon as they leave, she takes it down.”

              “I’ll be waiting,” he whispered in that deep, wonderful voice.

The minute she saw the orange blanket waving in the breeze Amanda headed toward the bedroom.  Sebastian was already tucked beneath the covers waiting for her.  She smiled at him, shedding her clothes slowly.  He sucked in a deep breath when she climbed in beside him, their bare skin igniting like wildfire when they touched.  Their coupling was slow and intense, each gaining knowledge of the other's wants and needs.  Afterwards, they spent a long time just enjoying being together, wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and tenderness.

Sebastian dressed with reluctance and returned to his chores at the stable as Amanda gathered the clothes to be laundered in the stream.  She had just pulled the first shirt from the water when a prickly heat began at the back of her neck and worked its way down her spine.  In her mind's eye she saw a flash of danger that took her breath away.  Dropping the laundry, she grabbed her skirts up high and began running up the hill toward the stable, calling breathlessly for Sebastian.  When she finally reached her destination, he wasn't in the corral as she expected.  Trying to ignore the pain in her side, she rushed into the stable, her voice hoarse from shouting.    Sebastian turned from the stall he was cleaning, a concerned frown on his handsome face.  "Amanda!  What's happened?"

              She shook her head, grabbing his hand and urging

him out the door.  "I had a feeling.  The children are in danger. 

Hurry, we have to save them."

              "Where are they?"

              "I don't know exactly, but we must hurry to find them."

              "Amanda, be reasonable.  You can't know--"

Hurt, angry, and frightened beyond belief, she started off without him.  "Do you even know where they are?" he asked as he caught up with her.

              "No," she grated.  

Just then they heard the voices of their children, calling out for help.  Amanda didn't see the stunned look Sebastian sent her as she began running toward the sound, her blood chilling as she stopped short at the sight that met her eyes.  Matthew was standing on the ground, his little arms stretched out toward a branch about seven feet up.  Amanda followed their path fearfully until her eyes lit upon Marissa, hanging haphazardly, desperately trying to hold on. 

Surprisingly, the girl didn't seem to be afraid of falling.  Her eyes were trained on something above her, something Amanda couldn't yet see--

Amanda sucked in her breath, clamping both hands over her mouth to stifle a scream.  Neither of the children knew they were there.  Matthew was trying to handle everything, his arms raised as if to catch his sister if she fell.  Marissa was too shocked to move, her eyes never leaving the large snake that inched it's way toward her little body.  

Sebastian assessed the situation.  He pulled his gun from the holster and aimed, knowing without a doubt that if he shot without warning Marissa would surely fall to the ground.  He made his way slowly, stealthily, toward the tree, making no sound, until he was directly under his daughter.  Amanda and Matthew stood by quietly watching in horror, praying fervently that everything would turn out all right.

Sebastian took aim just as the snake opened its monstrous jaw, and the sound that shattered the air was deafening.  Almost simultaneously, the snake split into many pieces and Marissa fell from the tree, landing safely in her father's free arm.  Amanda ran to them, gathering both of the children in her arms, covering them with kisses as well as the hot tears that streamed down her face.

Pulling her gently to her feet, Sebastian sent the kids on ahead of them to the cabin.  Ironically, now that the danger was past, they weren't nearly as frightened as their parents seemed to be.  Sebastian put his arms around her and, his back against the tree, sank to the ground.  He held her while she cried, stroking her back and murmuring comforting words in her ear.  When she finally calmed down, they began the short walk home hand in hand.  

              "I'm sorry," Sebastian said quietly.

              Amanda glanced up in surprise.  "What can you

possibly be sorry for?  You saved the children."

He shook his head, denial ready on his lips.  "No.  I didn't even believe you, Amanda.  I only followed along to humor you.  I can't even begin to describe the way I felt when I

saw Matthew and Marissa--"

Amanda turned to him, putting a hand to his cheek tenderly.  "No one has ever believed in my premonitions.  I don't blame you for that, Sebastian.  You may not have believed me, but you came anyway.  And you are the one who saved them.  I knew they were in danger, but what could I have done?"

"You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.  You would have--"

"Stop it.  All the would-haves in the world aren't going to change what really happened.  Be happy that you saved them."  She smiled saucily.  "And, from now on, learn to trust my instincts."

Amanda took his hand and urged him into the house where they found the children busy setting the table for supper and begging for "just a quick snack".  Amanda laughed, relieved that they weren't as traumatized as she was!