Christmas Bodyguard. Margaret Daley

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СКАЧАТЬ slammed down the phone, then almost immediately grabbed it back up and punched the number for his security chief. After telling him about the call, Slade said, “See if that number can be traced. I need information. Now.”

      When he finished talking with him, Slade dialed the numbers for Dawson Academy. Four rings later—an eternity—a woman in the main office answered. “This is Slade Caulder. I need my daughter located and brought to the office. There has been another threat. I’m coming to pick her up.”

      “Yes, sir.”

      He surged to his feet as he replaced the receiver in its cradle. Scooping up the files and some other papers he needed, he shoved them into his briefcase and strode toward the door. To keep his free hand from shaking, Slade squeezed it into a tight fist and stabbed the down button on the elevator with his knuckle. When he got his hands on the person behind this, he would regret ever threatening his daughter.

      The scent of coffee wafted to Elizabeth as she entered her uncle’s house, the place she called home when she stayed in Dallas. Bosco, her terrier mix, raced from the kitchen, jumping up on her, his tail wagging. His greeting never changed whether she was gone hours or weeks. She scooped him up and cradled him against her, barely able to confine his wiggling body.

      Ah, it was good to be home—even if she was turning around and leaving today.

      Again, she drew in the coffee aroma, savoring the smell that lured her toward the kitchen, where she knew Uncle Joshua always had a pot on the stove. Coffee was a mainstay for them both, especially when she was working. Right now, she needed a lot. Kyra had called her into the office before she’d had her usual four cups in the morning.

      Uncle Joshua sat at the table with his mug and a Sudoku puzzle in front of him. He glanced up when she crossed to the coffeepot and poured herself some of the dark brew. “I was hoping I could talk to you before I had to leave, Beth.”

      Joshua was the only one who called her that. Every time she heard him say Beth she was reminded of how important she was to her uncle—and how important he was to her. He’d saved her life and pulled her back from the edge of despair. After her ex-husband had left, she’d had to grow up fast. And then when she’d been mugged, it had been a wake-up call, forcing her to see that she needed to take control of her life. Joshua had shown her how to do that. It was Joshua who showed her how to stand on her own two feet, and she hadn’t depended on another person since then.

      “I heard from Kyra you’re working for Slade Caulder, too.” After setting Bosco on the tile floor, Elizabeth poured some coffee in her mug and cradled it between her palms.

      “Yeah, I just got off the phone with him about half an hour ago. I’ve agreed to be his bodyguard and do a security assessment. I’m due out at the ranch in an hour. He said his daughter might be in danger, too. Are you going to be her bodyguard?”

      Elizabeth plopped into the chair across from her uncle and took a long sip of the hot drink while Bosco leaped into her lap and curled into a ball. “Yes. It looks like we’ll be working together for the first time.”

      “Is that gonna bother you?” Her uncle’s hazel eyes bore into her over the rim of his mug.

      “No, why should it?”

      He shrugged. “I thought my presence might make you nervous. If that’s the case, I’ll bow out and refer Mr. Caulder to someone else. It’s not like I’m wanting for work.”

      Chuckling, she scratched her dog behind his ears. “You’re busier now that you’re retired than when you were a police captain.”

      He grinned. “Must be my charm.”

      “More like your connections and skills. If you can make Slade’s house a fortress, it’ll sure make my job easier. I’ll feel like I’m on vacation.”

      “Already on first name basis with the man?” A gleam appeared in his eyes.

      “The man asked me to call him Slade. That’s all.”

      Her uncle held up his hand. “Hold on there, little one. You’re mighty touchy this morning.”

      “One cup of coffee this morning wasn’t enough.”

      “Oh, then that explains it, since it’s almost noon. Drink up and I’ll fix you a sandwich. I imagine you have to be at the ranch today, too.”

      “At two.” She swallowed several more sips of the best coffee in Texas.

      Joshua withdrew some turkey, Swiss cheese and lettuce from his refrigerator. “I think this will be a hard case. A ranch isn’t the easiest place to secure, especially with people coming and going. That’ll keep us on our toes. Might be a 24/7 job.”

      She grinned, giving him a wink. “I’m tough. I can take it.”

      Joshua studied her for a long moment. “Yes, you can now. You’ve come a long way.”

      “Thanks to you.”

      “That’s what family is for, to help.” Her uncle slapped together two turkey sandwiches.

      “It is?”

      His long strides covered the distance to the table quickly. He sat his large frame in the chair opposite hers and slid her plate across to her, then bowed his head and blessed the food.

      His mouth twisted in a frown as he stared at her. “I should have realized Walt would mess up being a father. I should have been there for you.” Elizabeth knew Joshua still felt guilty for the years of estrangement from his brother that had kept him from building a relationship with his niece sooner.

      “You were when it meant the most to me.” Elizabeth pinched off a small bite of turkey and gave it to Bosco before putting him on the floor.

      “I have a lot to make up for.”

      “No, you don’t. My dad was a lousy father, but I made it. I’m fine now. That’s what counts.” After another swallow of the caffeine-laden brew, she added, “I thought we decided long ago not to talk about the past. It’s over with, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

      Joshua picked up his sandwich. “When you were in Phoenix, did you see him?”

      “No. That’s the way he wants it.” So did she. Her father’s dominance all through her childhood had smothered her. She’d never been able to please him, and he’d made it clear she was a disappointment to him. He’d put her down so much that when Bryan started doing the same thing, she’d struggled to retain a sense of herself.

      “Ever since your mother died, Walt has gotten worse.”

      “I don’t need my father. I don’t need anyone.”

      “Everyone needs someone. God didn’t make us to go through life alone.” After taking a bite of his food, he washed it down with some coffee.

      She wasn’t really alone. She had Joshua and, more important, the Lord, because Joshua had led her to Him. Another thing she was grateful to her uncle for. “I’m starved. I missed your cooking when I was gone,” she said, wanting to change the subject of conversation. Her father was in her past. She only looked forward now.

      “I СКАЧАТЬ