Hero In Disguise. Leona Karr

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СКАЧАТЬ We’ll mess up Inga’s kitchen and get bawled out for it in the morning.”

      He led the way into the kitchen, and Melissa perched on a high stool at the breakfast counter while he prepared the cocoa. A shock of hair drifted across his forehead, and his rumpled appearance made him seem less formidable than usual. She wondered if he ever relaxed enough to wear something comfortable, like jeans and knit shirts.

      She was surprised at how efficient he was in the kitchen. He had two steaming cups of hot chocolate ready in no time, and sat on the stool beside her as they sipped the hot drink.

      “Mmm, delicious. You’re a man of many talents, I see.”

      “Hot chocolate is about the peak of my culinary art,” he admitted. “And now that I’ve revealed my hidden expertise in the kitchen, it’s your turn. What secret talents are you hiding from the world?”

      She laughed. “No secrets. My life is an open book, but that’s not the one I want to write.” She hadn’t intended to talk about the goal she had set for herself, but the way he was looking at her invited an explanation. “Since I’ve been writing for the magazine, I’ve run into some wonderful accounts of strong, spiritual women who helped settle the Rocky Mountain west. I’m trying to organize their stories in a book. I started it before my grandmother died, almost three years ago. She was the one who raised me after my parents died in a car accident when I was eight years old. She told me true stories about courageous women who held on to Christian values while they raised families in wild, frontier towns. I was fascinated by their devotion to family values and faith in God, and I decided to write a book about them.”

      “Well, if you believe in something, I guess you should do it,” he said. It wasn’t an enthusiastic endorsement.

      His tone left Melissa wondering why she was sharing her passion with this man who probably thought she was some dewy-eyed female, wasting her talents on a book that would have limited marketing appeal. “I don’t expect to make a lot of money at it.”

      “And are you happy writing for your magazines?”

      She nodded, a little piqued that he had been less than encouraging about her book. “Are you happy working for the governor?”

      “Sometimes. On the whole, he’s a pretty good boss.”

      The way he said it, she knew that professional ethics would keep him from discussing his real feelings. Anyway, it wasn’t any of her business. “Do you like being an attorney?”

      “Most of the time, but trying to find a way through all the legal mazes isn’t always rewarding. Sometimes I think law is like looking for a black cat in a dark room.” He smiled wryly. “You know it’s there, but you can’t find it.”

      “If you weren’t an attorney, what would you be?”

      He shrugged. “Frankly, I’ve never given that possibility a thought.”

      “Not even when you were a little boy?”

      “Truthfully, I can’t remember back that far. It seems to me that my name was submitted to the University of Denver Law School when I was born.” He laughed but there was no mirth in it.

      Melissa resisted the temptation to ask about his parents and his boyhood. Prying into his personal life was out of order. He’d made it clear that he was willing to offer the use of his house for a few days, but that didn’t include delving into his personal history.

      She quickly finished her drink and slipped off the stool. “Thanks for the cocoa. I’m ready to hit the pillow and get prepared for my cherubs tomorrow. Thanks again for the playground equipment. It will make the next few days much easier.”

      He walked with her to the kitchen door. “I’ll call Mr. Weiss, the investigator, tomorrow. Maybe he’s turned up something and we can get the boys placed in quick order. Then things will get back to normal.”

      “We’ll try to keep out of your way,” she said firmly. His tone had made it clear that he was ready to have them gone as soon as possible. “With luck, we won’t overstay our welcome.”

      “I just meant that it can’t be easy for you or the children to be in limbo like this,” he added quickly, apparently recognizing he’d said the wrong thing.

      “I agree it’s important that we get the children settled as soon as possible.”

      He wanted to tell her how much he’d enjoyed her company this evening. Her candor and natural manner were refreshing. There was nothing pretentious or false about her, and she allowed him to drop the mask he wore most of the time. If he hadn’t promised to stay his distance from her, he would have confessed that he was looking forward to more of her company.

      “Let me know if there’s anything else that will make your stay more comfortable. I’m going to be gone for a couple days. The governor is scheduled for several events in eastern Colorado and wants me to go along. We’ll fly out tomorrow. The Ericksons know how to get in touch with me if something comes up. Just make yourselves at home, please.”

      She knew that he was doing his best to make things go as smoothly as possible for her and the boys. Having two kids like Eric and Richie running riot in a beautiful home like this would test anyone’s Christian charity.

      “We’ll behave like guests whether you are here or not,” she assured him. “Don’t worry. Everything will be in one piece when you get back, I promise. Have a safe trip.”

      He smiled at her. “Thank you. I can’t remember the last time someone said that to me.”

      She turned away quickly, sensing something in the situation that could pull them across the line they’d drawn between them.

      David left early the next day, and while he was gone the boys settled into a routine of outdoor play, naps and quiet time. Melissa finished two articles and put them in the mail to her magazine editor. She liked to write two months ahead on her assignments, which gave her some leeway to research her book. There were moments when the uncertainty of the boys’ future worried her, but she firmly lectured herself: “Let go and let God.” Everything was in His hands. Lord, give me patience, she prayed, and then added with a chuckle, “And, please, give it to me right now.”

      Inga seemed happy to have her company when she popped in the kitchen for a cup of tea. The housekeeper liked to chat, and Melissa’s curiosity was satisfied by some of the stories Inga told her about David, his parents and their hope that he would be governor someday.

      David leaned back in his seat as the governor’s private plane climbed into the air and headed northeast. They were scheduled to arrive in Denver about four o’clock, and the cabin was filled with tired members of the governor’s staff. They had been on the go for two days, and David had a briefcase filled with more work when he got back. Not tonight, he thought, anticipating getting home before dark for a change.

      “David, I’m handling the reservations for next week’s fund-raiser,” Stella Day said as she stopped beside his seat with a pencil and pad in her hand. “We need to know how many tables to reserve for the governor’s staff. I’m putting you down for two places.”

      “Two?” David raised an eyebrow, but he knew what was coming. His unattached status was never overlooked when it came to these political affairs.

      “The governor wants you to СКАЧАТЬ