Terri Reed - Her Christmas Protector

“This is Faith. I’ve hired her to help care for you.”

Faith approached the bed. The gentle eyes regarding her made her think of her own mother. It had been years since anyone had looked at her with such kindness. She knew instantly she’d like the older woman.

Taking the offered hand, she noticed Mrs. Campbell’s skin felt hot and clammy against her palm. “Mrs. Campbell, Luke tells me you’re recovering from a heart attack. My grandfather suffered an attack and I cared for him. I—I hope you’ll allow me to care for you.”

“Please, call me Dottie. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”

From behind her, Faith heard Reva snort in disbelief. She turned to stare at Reva. Such disrespect was reprehensible.

“Reva, please,” Luke warned.

Studying her nails, Reva said, “Luke, dear, the housekeeping still needs to be done. Or are you expecting her to do that, too?”

“No, I’m not expecting Faith to do the housekeeping.”

“Good.” Reva hopped off the edge of the desk and stood. “I’m sure Blake would be happy to know I’m helping out. I’ll just stay on and do the housekeeping.”

Faith glanced at Luke. His annoyance was evident in the creases along his brow. Turning his gaze to his mother, he raised a brow as if to ask what she thought. Dottie grimaced with a shrug.

Suddenly, Reva was standing close, pinning Faith against the bed. Trying to gracefully disengage herself from Dottie’s hand, Faith shifted to allow Reva more room. Dottie’s grip tightened and for a second Faith thought she saw a trace of apprehension in the older woman’s blue eyes. She guessed there was more going on between the two women than met the eye.

Though the danger was minimal, the familiar need to protect rose sharply. Patting Dottie’s hand reassuringly, Faith stood her ground, becoming a physical barrier between Dottie and Reva.

“Your dad promised me I’d have a place here, Luke. He did consider me a part of the family, especially after you took off.”

The muscles in Luke’s jaw visibly tightened. “My father and I came to an understanding long ago.” Glancing at his mother, he asked, “Mom? This is your house now.”

“If she wants to do the housekeeping, I suppose that’s fine,” Dottie muttered.

Luke gave a curt nod. “Fine. Just stick to the housekeeping, Reva.”

“Of course, dear.”

Faith noticed the small, triumphant gleam in Reva’s gray eyes. She decided she didn’t like the woman very much. She would have to be careful and keep her distance. Faith couldn’t trust that Reva wouldn’t look for an opportunity to get rid of her.

“Do you smell something burning?” Dottie struggled to sit up. Luke immediately reached to help her.

“Oh, my word! My casserole,” Reva exclaimed. “There’s something wrong with that oven,” she muttered as she headed for the door. “It’s forever burning things.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my oven,” Dottie groused at Reva’s retreating back. “I’ve never burned anything in it.”

“Of course not, mother.” Luke’s smile reflected in his eyes.

Dottie smiled back, and for a moment, the two silently communicated, their bond evident. Feeling like an intruder, Faith moved to the desk and ran a hand over the polished wood.

Deep inside, she felt a familiar emptiness. She would give anything to have someone love her the way Luke loved his mother. In her heart she longed for children, a family. But the possibility of having them was out of reach. She could be discovered at any time, and then what? A shudder racked her body.

Picking up the pitcher that sat on the desk, she poured a glass of water and carried it back to the bed. “Would you like some water, Dottie?”

“Thank you, dear.” Dottie smiled and took the glass. “Sit and tell me about you.”

Faith pulled up a chair. She couldn’t very well tell Dottie the truth. So she did what she normally did and changed the subject. “You have a very nice home, Dottie. I noticed several good antique pieces.”

Dottie’s face lit up. “You know antiques? How wonderful.”

A safe subject. Thank goodness. Faith smiled. “Yes, I do. You have good quality pieces.”

“Well, if you ladies will excuse me, I’ll go get some work done.” Luke kissed Dottie’s cheek.

“You go on, son. We’ll be just fine.” Dottie settled back with a grin.

To Faith, Luke said, “If you need anything, I’ll be downstairs in the office. First door on your right at the bottom of the stairs.”

“Thanks.”

“Sure.” He ran a hand over his short hair and for a moment just stood there staring at her.

Faith raised a questioning brow.

“See you later.” He smiled before sauntering from the room.

“That’s the first genuine smile I’ve seen from Luke since he’s come home.”

“Come home?” Faith asked, still staring at the spot where he’d disappeared through the door, feeling a little unsettled.

“Luke’s a captain in the army,” Dottie announced with obvious pride in her son.

“Right.” Faith smiled at Dottie.

Dottie continued, “He graduated top of his class at West Point. I’m very proud of my son. He followed his dreams.”

West Point. Impressive. “I’m…familiar with the school. My grandfather’s house sat on the opposite bank of the Hudson River. From the top-floor window we could see part of the academy. Had I been born a boy, my grandfather would have insisted I attend West Point rather than my mother’s alma mater, Cornell.”

“I’m sure your grandfather was very proud of you. Blake didn’t want Luke to go. It caused a rift in their relationship for years.”

“That’s too bad.” Faith hoped the rift had been mended before Blake’s death, but she thought it tactless to ask.

As if reading her unspoken thought, Dottie said, “Luckily they patched things up between them a few years ago. Blake was very proud of Luke, too.”

“Was Luke able to see his father before he passed on?” Faith asked gently.

“Yes, thankfully.” Her expression became troubled. “He wasn’t supposed to stay this long but…I had my attack and…well, Blake’s health had deteriorated over the last couple of years, so the ranch had been neglected for the most part.”

Dottie paused to take a deep breath. “The hands that stayed on have kept things going, but it was Blake who made sure the upkeep and repairs were taken care of. Dear Blake just couldn’t give up control. Not even when it became impossible for him to do more than sit and watch.”

Compassion filled Faith. From her own experience with caring for her grandfather she knew how hard it was to watch someone you love die. Especially when that person was as strong-willed as her grandfather had been, and as Blake must have been. Faith held the older woman’s hand. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, dear. I take comfort in knowing Blake’s with Jesus and someday we will be together again.”

Conviction shone bright in Dottie’s blue eyes, like beacons of light directing the way.

Faith blinked back sudden tears. She wished desperately that she could be as assured of her own place in heaven and to be reunited with her family. But why would God take her to live with Him when He’d shown no interest in her on earth?

Dottie gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Are you feeling okay?”

Faith cleared her throat before speaking. “Yes. Fine, thank you.”

“You must forgive me if I tend to rattle on.”

Thinking it infinitely better for Dottie to talk, she said, “Oh, please. Rattle all you’d like.”

And she did. For Faith, the next couple of hours were a breath of fresh air. They discovered many common interests such as antiques, art, theater and cooking. And Faith was more than happy to exhaust all subjects except the topic of her own life. Soon Dottie was yawning and her eyelids drooping.