The Troublesome Angel (4 page)

Subdued, she muttered a sullen, “Okay.”

“That’s better.” Determined to distract her, he glanced at the crumpled, white paper bag in her lap. “Why don’t you have a piece of the candy we bought.”

The child’s small fingers closed in tight fists around the opening of the bag. “No. This is for the rescue lady and the dogs. We can’t
eat
it!”

“Oh, I see. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, Uncle Gray. You didn’t know.” Her voice grew thready. “I wanted to bring her one of my new dolls but Candace wouldn’t let me.”

“That’s because she bought them for you to play with.”

“Uh-uh. She put them on a shelf in my room. All I get to do is look at them, ’cause they’re so ’spensive.”

“Well, I’ll see if I can’t talk her into letting you play with one or two. Would you like that?”

“I guess so,” Melissa said quietly. She brightened, grinned over at him. “I’d rather have a puppy.”

Graydon laughed to himself. He’d walked right into that one, hadn’t he? The child might be only six but she was already becoming an accomplished negotiator. “Let me guess. I’ll bet you want a dog just like the ones Ms. Lucas has.”

“Uh-huh.”

He was about to caution her to wait awhile before asking Candace or Mark to buy her a puppy, when she squealed and pointed to the clock.

“Look! There’s a two!”

“You’re absolutely right. Good for you. And we’re right on schedule.” Peering at the street signs, he found what he was looking for and turned west. The meandering, narrow road led him farther and farther from town. Small farmsteads and older houses with tree-shaded yards were scattered across the rolling hills. Rural mailboxes indicated their ownership but half of those were unreadable.

Thinking he must be lost, Graydon was about to turn back and try another road when he spotted a hand-lettered sign that read Dog Training. Even if this wasn’t Stacy’s place, the folks who lived here might know her.

When he slowed and turned into the driveway, Melissa took off the safety belt he’d insisted she
wear and got up on her knees to look out the window.

“Sit down, honey,” he warned. “I’m not sure this is the right house.”

“It is! It is!” she shouted, pointing. “Look!”

There were at least six, maybe seven, dogs visible in the fenced yard at the side of the house. They were jumping and barking with such fervor Graydon couldn’t be certain if any of them were the ones he’d met.

He parked, intending to have a look around before he let the child get out of the car. Missy had other ideas. She scrambled after him, darted past and raced up the steps to the front porch. By the time he caught up with her, she’d jumped up and rung the bell.

Concerned that there might be more dogs inside the house, he scooped up the eager child to protect her in spite of her protests.

“I can do it by myself!” Melissa whined.

“I know you can. And I’ll let you. I just want to make sure this is the right place before I put you down.”

“No!” Melissa was puckering up for a good cry. When the door opened abruptly, she began to smile instead.

It was all Graydon could do to keep from laughing at the comical expression of shock and dismay on Stacy’s face. “We were just in the neighborhood and thought we’d drop in,” he said. “I hope we haven’t caught you at a bad time.”

She recovered her poise and closed her mouth. “Oh, no. I always greet my guests wearing my rubber boots and torn jeans. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I was putting on airs.”

“Good. Is it safe to let Missy down?”

“Of course. All the dogs are in the kennel, but even if they were loose, it would be fine. I wouldn’t keep an animal that wasn’t gentle around children.”

She crouched to be at the same eye level as the little girl as soon as he lowered her to the porch. “I’m so glad to see you’re okay, Missy. I’ve been thinking about you.”

“You have?” Melissa’s voice was so faint Graydon could hardly hear what she said. After the tantrum she’d thrown in the car, it was a welcome change of tone.

“I sure have. And I’m glad you came to see me. It always makes me very happy when I find somebody who’s lost and bring them home safe and sound, like you. It makes my dogs happy, too.”

“I got you a present,” Melissa said, holding out the wrinkled bag. “I picked it out myself.”

Stacy accepted it as if it were worth millions. “Oh, how sweet. Thank you. Can I give you a hug?”

It was Graydon’s turn to be surprised. Missy launched herself at Stacy without a word and threw her arms around her neck so enthusiastically she nearly toppled them both over. This from the child
who hadn’t let anyone touch her for weeks after she’d been placed in Mark’s home!

Graydon bent down, reached for Stacy’s elbow, and steadied her. “Easy, Missy. We came to thank Ms. Lucas, not break her neck.”

The little girl released her hold. “Okay. Can I see the dogs, now?”

“Sure,” Stacy told her. “You go around the house. I’ll meet you at the gate in a minute.” If I can find the strength to stand up, she added to herself. For some reason, her legs felt like she’d just run a five-mile obstacle course. Twice. She let Graydon help her to her feet only because she was certain she’d fall flat on her rear if he let go of her arm.

“You okay?” he asked. “You look kind of pale.”

“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.

W
hen 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?

Folding the woeful little girl in a tight embrace Stacy blinked back bittersweet tears as she fully realized why she’d been chosen to minister to Missy. “I do understand how you feel, honey. My mama and daddy both died in a plane crash when I was ten years old.”

Melissa drew a shuddering breath. “They did?”

“Uh-huh. We were all flying home for my birthday. The plane had a bad accident. I was riding in the back seat.”

The child paled. “Did you get hurt?”

“My leg was broken. And I was very sad,” Stacy said simply. “When I got better, they sent me to live with some people who didn’t like me very much.”

“What did you do?”

Stacy wondered how to phrase her confession so it wouldn’t sound as if she were condoning running away from problems. “I was pretty dumb. I ran away and got lost.” She looked down to see what the child’s reaction was.

Lifting an eyebrow, Missy pressed her lips into a pout. “I don’t believe you.”

“Why not?”

“Because that’s what I did, too. Grown-ups always make up stories like that to fool kids.”

“Well, in my case, it’s all true,” Stacy told her.

“The reason I started working with my dogs is because they sent a wonderful dog to find me when
I ran off and got lost in the mountains. When I grew up I decided I wanted to be able to help other lost people the same way.”

Missy got up and faced her, arms folded across her chest. “No way.”

“I can prove it,” Stacy countered. “Want to see my scar?”

“Is it yucky?”

“Not anymore.”

“Okay.” Missy cocked her head and bent down as Stacy adjusted the hole in the knee of her jeans to reveal a faded scar on her lower thigh.

“See? That’s where my leg was broken.”

“Oooh! Does it hurt?”

“No. But I’m glad I have it.”

Subdued, the girl asked, “Why?”

“Because I needed the scar to prove to you that I do understand how you feel about losing your daddy.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do,” Stacy said with a smile. She knew Missy probably wasn’t the only person she’d be able to identify with, to help, because of her injury. But she trusted God to show her more of His marvelous plans as she went along. Right now, it was enough that she believed she’d been led to this particular child at this precise time. “And I’ll try to help you all I can, because that’s my job.” Her grin widened. “Besides, I like you. You’ve got spunk.”

“What’s that?”

Stacy got to her feet, dusted off her jeans, and stuffed the small bag of candy into her pocket. “It means you’re brave. You ask questions. You also have the brains to sort out the answers you get.” She tousled Missy’s hair. “Come on. Let’s go get the dogs their treats.”

“I like ice cream. Got any?”

Laughing, Stacy led the way into the yard while the dogs gathered to welcome their master and her diminutive visitor with wagging tails and excited wiggles. “We can look in the freezer and see. You’ll have to ask your uncle if you can have some, though.”

“Oh, he always lets me have anything I want,” Missy said with obvious pride. “He likes me, too.”

Stacy heard Graydon calling to Missy and answered for her. “We’re back here on the porch. The gate’s unlocked.”

He came around the corner of the house, paused at the fence and eyed the barking horde. “You sure it’s okay?”

“I’m positive. The dogs have been fed recently. Besides, they don’t like their dinner on the hoof.”

“How comforting.”

Stacy laughed at his sardonic expression.

“What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me?”

“Not a whole lot.” He opened the gate and stepped through.

“Well, at least you’re honest about it.” She
waved her licked-clean ice cream stick in the air. “Wanna join us?”

“No, thanks. We have to be getting back.”

Missy began to lean against her.

“You can’t go yet,” Stacy said. “I promised Missy I’d put my dogs through their paces before you left. She wants to see how I train them.”

“Maybe some other time.”

She knew better than to argue with someone as stubborn as Graydon Payne so she tried a more roundabout approach. “Nonsense. It’ll only take a few minutes. A promise is a promise. I make it a rule to never break mine.” She eyed Missy and added, “Especially where kids are concerned.”

Stalling while he decided what to do, Graydon checked his watch. “All right. I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”

“Thirty.”

“Twenty,” he growled.

“Twenty-five?”

“Don’t push it.”

“Okay, okay. But I can’t show you everything in a few minutes. You’ll have to come back and visit again.” She flashed a hopeful smile in Missy’s direction. The child looked close to tears. She’d stopped eating her ice cream bar when her uncle had announced that they were leaving. The melted sweet was running down her arm. Lewis was seated by her side, gently licking it off her elbow before it could drip onto the porch.

“I won’t promise that,” Graydon said flatly. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep, either.”

“Fair enough.” She smiled down at the little girl. “Missy, you wait here and finish your ice cream. I’ll be right back.” The child simply nodded. It broke Stacy’s heart to see her so unhappy.

Focusing on the stubborn man who’d spoiled the lighthearted spirit of the visit, Stacy gestured toward an open field. It stood separate from the kennel and enclosed yard where she exercised her dogs-in-training. “If you’d care to help me, Mr. Payne, we can have a short course set up in a few minutes.”

He couldn’t think of a polite reason to refuse. The sooner she got her demonstration under way, the sooner he’d be out of there, which sounded good to him.

With a deep sigh, he followed, carefully shutting the gate behind him so the dogs wouldn’t get out, then rolling up his shirtsleeves. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

“I’ll need those boxes over there.” Stacy pointed. “And the cart with the wooden dumbbells and gloves in it. While you’re at it, slip one of them on, will you?”

“Put the gloves on?”

“That’s right. One’s enough. Just keep it on till I tell you to take it off.”

Graydon did as he was told, fascinated in spite of himself. The gloves were old and dusty, as if they’d been around for years. If Stacy’s dogs could
tell which one he’d worn, with all the other scents that must already be on the worn fabric, he’d be thoroughly impressed.

He used his gloved hand to pull the cart, intending to obscure his scent and make the test as difficult as possible.

“Watch where you walk,” Stacy cautioned, leading the way. “Stay on the paths. I haven’t mowed this field lately so there are probably a few ticks and chiggers lurking in the long grass.”

“Terrific.”

“I thought you’d like it.” She giggled again.

“Is that why you asked me to help you?”

“No.” She lowered her voice. “I wanted a chance to talk to you…alone.” Glancing back at the porch she decided they were far enough away to converse without being overheard. “Missy told me her daddy died. What about her mother? Where’s she?”

“Died in childbirth,” he answered softly. “Her father raised her by himself.”

“Which explains why they were so close. What about other family? Relatives? Surely there’s someone who can take her in.”

Graydon stiffened. “Meaning Mark and Candace aren’t fit parents?”

Stacy felt like clobbering him. Instead, she did the Christian thing and faced him squarely, hands on her hips. “No, Mr. Payne. Meaning a child feels lost enough when a parent dies. I was hoping there might be somebody else Missy already knows who
could at least befriend her long enough to convince her she’s not all alone in the world.”

With a deep sigh he shook his head. “There’s nobody.” The glistening of tears in Stacy’s eyes surprised him. “What makes you care so much?”

“Never mind,” Stacy said. She wiped her eyes, blinked rapidly and changed the subject. “Boy, the sun is sure bright today. Really makes my eyes water. Guess I should have worn my sunglasses.”

“Guess so.” Graydon wasn’t fooled. Stacy Lucas had a giant soft spot in her heart for Melissa the same way he did. It was funny how things worked out. If he hadn’t talked her out of marrying Mark, she probably wouldn’t have been there to save Missy.

The portent of that thought shook him to the core. What an amazing concept! Even before he’d known he was going to become a Christian, the Lord might have been using him for ultimate good!

That revelation was the most welcome one he’d had for a long time.

“Okay,” Stacy said, straightening. “The decoys are in place. Give me the glove and go hide behind one of those trees while I go get Missy and one of my dogs.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Over there? Through the grass? I’m already beginning to itch.”

“I could let you borrow Clark’s flea-and-tick collar, if he was wearing one. Unfortunately, I use a once-a-month systemic these days. Sorry.”

“I’ll bet you are.” He heard her stifled laugh as she turned away. She was enjoying his discomfort altogether too much to suit him. “What do I do then, count to ten?”

“Just hide and hold still,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll do the rest.” She paused to flash him a mischievous smile. “And don’t scratch.”

“Very funny.”

“I thought so,” Stacy said. “Be back in a jiffy.”

Graydon watched her walk away. There was a simple, unaffected charm about her. Maybe she’d had that kind of appeal all along but he doubted it. Surely he would have noticed. Except that he was an honorable man and she’d been his brother’s girlfriend when they’d first met.

He stayed on the paths as long as he could, then waded through the knee-high grass to the nearest good-size tree. A spiderweb brushed his cheek. Gnats buzzed around his head. He didn’t even want to think about what might be creeping up his leg under his slacks!

How did he get himself into this mess? Why had he let that woman talk him into becoming a decoy for a pack of addle-brained, four-legged flea-farms? He must be nuts.

Something tickled his leg. Bending over, he rolled up his pantleg to look. There was nothing visible.

“I’m probably imagining things because of all her stupid suggestions about bugs,” he grumbled,
deciding Stacy had planted the ideas in his mind just to needle him. As soon as he could convince Melissa their visit was over, he was going to get in his car and—

Someone was shouting in the distance but he couldn’t make out what was being said. The performance must have started. He hunkered down behind the tree, held very still and waited to be found.

Stacy was worried. She’d arrived back at the house to find that Missy had pulled another disappearing act. Snapping a lead on Lewis’s collar she led him from the yard. When she’d promised a demonstration of tracking skills, she’d intended to use Clark or one of the other dogs. Now, however, she needed her best worker.

Anxious to locate the naughty child before Graydon found out and blew his stack, she called out again. “Missy! Missy, where are you?” There was no answering shout. Not even a whimper.

She leaned over Lewis. “Okay, old boy. You must have seen which way she went. Let’s go find her.”

The dog strained at the leash. Stacy let him take the lead. He started up the path she and Graydon had taken, then veered off into the field. Grass was bent and broken in a zigzag trail anyone could have followed, even without a dog’s help. Missy had obviously run randomly. Experience told Stacy that as long as the child stuck to the open field and
didn’t flee into the woods, everything would be all right.

She called again and again, “Missy? Missy, you get over here. This isn’t funny.”

Oh, Graydon is going to be so mad, she thought, worried first about the little girl, then about his reaction to her own insistence they stay to see her work her dogs.

“You’d better find her fast, Lewis, or we’re all going to be listening to a tirade,” she told the eager dog. “I don’t know about you, but personally I’d just as soon skip the lecture.”