White Dove's Promise. Stella Bagwell

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      “You’re Jared,” she said, then held up her arms to him in a totally trustful gesture.

      A rush of tender emotions filled his chest as Jared bent down and scooped up the child. After carefully balancing her with one arm against his chest, he touched a forefinger to her cheek.

      “That’s right, little dove. I’m Jared.”

      Peggy’s tiny fingers reached out and played with his shirt collar, a signal, Jared realized, that she felt comfortable with him.

      “You got me out of that hole,” she said to him.

      Jared was surprised at her clearly pronounced words. Last night she’d refused to say anything to him except that she wanted her mama. And those words had been muffled with tears.

      “That’s right, sweetheart. And I’m glad I did. You’re just about the prettiest little girl I’ve ever seen.”

      For a moment her lips twitched as though she might give him a smile. Then all of a sudden she threw her arms around his neck and held on tight. Since fathering skills were something Jared knew precious little about, all he could do was follow his instincts and pat Peggy’s back with gentle reassurance.

      A few steps away, Kerry tried to swallow away the tightness in her throat as she watched her daughter’s reaction to Jared. Even though Peggy was usually a tiny tornado, she’d always been slow to warm up to the male gender. To see her clinging so trustingly to Jared, a man she’d only seen once, was somewhat of a phenomenon.

      Across the porch, Enola cleared her throat loudly. “Peggy, it’s time for you to eat supper,” she said firmly. “Tell Mr. Colton goodbye.”

      Peggy ignored her grandmother and continued to bury her face against Jared’s neck. At the same time, Kerry stared with an open mouth at her mother.

      She gathered her wits and said, “Mom, I’ll handle this. Why don’t you go finish eating. We’ll join you in a few minutes.”

      The surprise that registered on Enola’s face told Jared the older woman wasn’t accustomed to having Kerry intercede with her own wishes. Especially in such a blunt way. Enola opened her mouth to say something else. But instead, she threw Jared a withering look, then turned and headed into the house.

      Once the woman was out of sight, Jared joked in an effort to lighten the moment, “I don’t think she likes me.”

      Kerry sighed. “Her behavior embarrasses me. I don’t know what’s making her this way.”

      Jared did. There weren’t many mothers in Black Arrow that welcomed the sight of him on the doorstep. He knew he had a reputation for dallying with women’s hearts, maybe even crushing a few. If that was true, he’d not done it intentionally. Of all the women he’d dated in the past, he’d never once led them to believe he was a serious suitor with marriage on his mind. They’d gone into a relationship with him knowing it would only be fun and games. But convincing Enola WindWalker of that would be as fruitless as talking to the wall.

      “Forget it,” he told Kerry with a rueful grin. “I take no offense. Especially since I got such a nice greeting from my little dove here.” Placing his forefinger under Peggy’s chin, he lifted the angelic face up to his. “Are you going to be a good girl for your mother and stay in the yard from now on?”

      Peggy nodded emphatically and Jared stroked the shiny black waves tumbling about her shoulders. He could see touches of Kerry in the girl’s proud thin nose, high cheekbones and faintly pointed chin. Yet her café au lait complexion made Jared suspect her father had been a white man. His own father had been half-white.

      “That’s just what I wanted to hear,” he told her proudly.

      “I have a dog,” Peggy said to him. “Do you have a dog?”

      Jared chuckled as he found himself charmed by a set of big brown eyes and twin dimples. “No. But I met your Mr. Fred yesterday. And you know what, I think he’s almost as smart as you are.”

      Peggy gave him another emphatic nod of agreement, then to Kerry and Jared’s amazement, she leaned forward and smacked a kiss on his cheek.

      “I gotta go feed Fred,” she said suddenly, then squirmed, signaling that she wanted to be put back on her feet.

      Jared complied, and smiled as he watched her scurry into the house.

      “Looks like I need to be thanking you again,” Kerry said.

      He turned his head in her direction and was instantly taken with the natural beauty of her face, the sensual curves, partially camouflaged by her loose clothing. She was not a glamour girl. So why did he wonder, as he had so many years ago, what she would look like in his arms with nothing on but a smile just for him?

      “For what?” he asked, forcing his mind off the tempting thought.

      “That’s the most Peggy has said to anyone today. She’s obviously taken with you.”

      Jared was glad the child had warmed up to him. Yet it was her mother that he really wanted to charm.

      Shrugging, he glanced down at the toe of his boot and wondered why this woman made him feel like a shy teenager wanting to steal a kiss. “Well, I’m kinda taken with her, too. That’s why I wanted to stop by and check on her.”

      Kerry folded her hands primly in front of her. “Thank you. It was kind of you.”

      No, it was selfish, Jared thought. Sure, he’d wanted to see little Peggy and make sure she was okay. But even more he’d wanted to see this woman. Yet he wasn’t going to confess such a thing to her. Right now she saw him as a gallant knight and he didn’t want to spoil it.

      With a sudden grin, he lifted a hand in farewell. “You’d better go get your supper, Kerry. Before your mama comes after you.”

      Kerry watched him walk to his truck. As he pulled away from the house, she wondered if this was the last time she would ever see him. Or if Jared Colton was going to try to make her one more notch on the foot of his bed.

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