Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble

bed and withdrew one. Her fingers were warm when she pressed them against his skin. She’d been cold a few minutes ago. He wished he could believe being around him had altered her temperature even one degree.
    He jerked on his boots, though every muscle still hurt and his leg throbbed. “Did you check on the girls?”
    “Yes, they’re sleeping.” She followed him into the hall.
    He went to the door of the big dorm room and peeked in. The light from the hallway fell on their sleeping faces. He drank in the peaceful scene. Arms curled around dolls and stuffed animals. The air was scented with little girl. He stared until he saw each small chest rise and fall. Reassured, he turned and walked right into Eden.
    She grabbed his shirt, and he steadied her. This close, the scent of soap was even stronger. He resisted the impulse to rest his chin on the top of her head. What would she do if he pulled her closer? Probably hit him. His hands dropped away.
    “They’re all okay.”
    Her gaze wandered past his shoulder, and she stepped back. “They’re so beautiful.”
    He nodded. “I’m going to go outside with Rick. You keep watch over the girls.”
    “Do you think whoever tried to hurt us would hurt them?”
    “Someone took Brianna once. We have no idea of his agenda.”
    She clenched her fists. “He won’t touch these girls! Do you have a gun?”
    “You won’t need one. I’ll be right outside.” He pocketed his hands so he wouldn’t touch her again.
    Nausea roiled in his stomach. Probably a reaction to the venom. He steadied himself. This stunt wasn’t going to keep him from protecting Eden and their daughter. Or the other girls.

7
    A CHILL STILL HOVERED IN THE MORNING AIR WHEN E DEN WALKED ACROSS THE SPARSE YARD to the kitchen with five little girls in tow. The scent of maple syrup and pancakes made her steps quicken, and she smiled at the girls to see if they’d noticed. They giggled and skipped along beside her. She hadn’t seen Clay the rest of the night, but she’d gotten little sleep. Coffee would wake her up.
    India ran ahead of her and pushed open the screen door into the kitchen. “Rita, I’m here,” she announced. “I saw some hummingbirds. Do you know they beat their wings fifty times a second?”
    An attractive young woman turned with a smile on her face. “My goodness, so fast?” Her blond hair was in braids, as if she’d stepped from the pages of Heidi . She wore jeans and a blue blouse that matched the color of her eyes. When she spoke, her voice had a Southern accent that didn’t match her appearance. The makeup she wore made her look like a Dresden doll.
    “You must be Eden,” she said. “Here’s your coffee, strong and laced with lots of real cream, just as you like it.”
    Eden accepted the mug filled to the brim. “Who told you that?”
    “Clay.”
    “He’s here?”
    “Was,” the woman corrected. “He and Rick took off for town. Rick wanted the doctor to take another look at the snake wound.”
    Eden took a gulp of coffee. It was perfect. “Clay seemed okay? He and Rick were out all night looking for the intruder.” She glanced around and made sure the girls were occupied.
    “The sheriff came too.” Rita turned back to the stove, a mammoth affair that had eight burners. Four of them held skillets with pancakes sizzling in them.
    “You’re the cook?”
    The young woman nodded. “Rita Mitchell. I feed this wild bunch.” She ruffled Lacie’s hair, and the child hung on to her leg and looked up with clear adoration.
    Eden could tell she and Rita were going to be friends. Was everyone in this area so welcoming? “Is Allie gone too?”
    Rita nodded. “She had a planning meeting for a missions conference at church. The ladies are coming here for lunch, so you’ll get a chance to meet everyone before Sunday.”
    Eden guided the girls to the table, then returned to seize plates of pancakes. “Is that real maple syrup?”
    “Of course. I wouldn’t feed my girls