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Authors: Lauri Robinson
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enough.
Sometimes a person needs more. The truth or reason."
Summer stared into his eyes. They were clear, didn't seem
to be hiding anything, but was he suspicious? Did he know
her father was the cause of Jonas' death? Did he want the
truth?
He squinted at her, which caused a slight frown to pull his
brows together.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"All right. We'll just give her time," he said. "But I'll need
your help. She really doesn't like me."
Summer's fingers had tingled to the point they'd had all
but gone numb. Holding his hand caused a sensation not
unlike the invisible comforting blanket that surrounded her
73
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
when Jonas paid a visit, but stronger, more real in some way.
It was strange, for she'd truly never felt a connection like this
before. It was a tiny bit scary to know another person could
silently affect her so. Her thoughts paused, and she waited,
searching to see if it was Jonas making her feel this way and
not Snake.
"You will help me, won't you?"
The sound of Snake's voice was enough to pull her mind
back. Jonas wasn't around. "Yes, I'll help you." It was an
honest, simple answer. She'd known for years there'd be a
time when they'd need each other, and this was it—no doubt.
"Where do we start?" he asked.
Her expression undoubtedly said she had no idea.
"What does she like?"
"What?" she asked.
"What does September like to do? Like to eat? What are
her favorite things? That could be a place to start."
Summer had to smile. He really was an intuitively nice
man. "Well," she started, "she does like to read. She was
always borrowing books from Mrs. Hinkle."
"Kid has a room full of books. We'll take her over there
and let her pick out a bunch."
Her heart tick-tocked faster than a mantel clock wound too
tight. She chanced a peek, making sure he was serious.
September would be ecstatic to spend a day in a room full of
books. A golden beam from the moon bounced off his face,
displaying a soft, sincere smile. "She'd like that."
"What else," he asked softly, "does she like?"
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Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Summer searched her mind, but nothing formed. Wasn't
there anything else September really liked? She tried harder,
forced herself to recall times she'd seen September happy or
content. Nothing appeared. Did she really not know, or was
sitting this close to Snake turning her fuddle-headed?
"I'll have to think about it," she admitted after several
silent minutes.
"All right," he said, "then tell me about August. What does
he like?"
"You," she blurted out before she had time to bite her
tongue.
He let out a deep chuckle, which caused her to glance to
the open doorway, hoping his mother hadn't heard. She didn't
want to disturb Stephanie's sleep, but more than that, she
didn't want to leave his room yet.
"Don't worry, she sleeps like a rock."
She twisted, gaping at him.
He laughed again, but muffled it this time. "I like August,
too. He's a good kid."
Happiness made her smile. "Yes, he is," she admitted.
"Always has been."
"What does he like?"
"Everything." She scrunched her face as August was
known for doing. "Except reading."
Snake chuckled. "A true boy."
"Hmm, yes he is." A giggle slipped out as she added, "Full
of snip and snails, and puppy-dog tails."
"Puppy dogs tails," he said thoughtfully.
"Oh, it's just a saying—"
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Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
"I know. Kid also has puppies. His old dog, Sammy, is
getting up in years so he bought his kids a new dog last
Christmas." His smile grew. "About a month ago, she had
pups. Maybe August would like one."
Excitement made her skin quiver, and she squeezed the
fingers wrapped around her hand. "Oh, he'd love one."
His intent gaze wandered over her face for a long, silent
moment before he asked, "What about you, Summer? What
do you like?"
This time she did stop herself from saying you. But just
barely, for it surely was the only
Sometimes a person needs more. The truth or reason."
Summer stared into his eyes. They were clear, didn't seem
to be hiding anything, but was he suspicious? Did he know
her father was the cause of Jonas' death? Did he want the
truth?
He squinted at her, which caused a slight frown to pull his
brows together.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"All right. We'll just give her time," he said. "But I'll need
your help. She really doesn't like me."
Summer's fingers had tingled to the point they'd had all
but gone numb. Holding his hand caused a sensation not
unlike the invisible comforting blanket that surrounded her
73
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
when Jonas paid a visit, but stronger, more real in some way.
It was strange, for she'd truly never felt a connection like this
before. It was a tiny bit scary to know another person could
silently affect her so. Her thoughts paused, and she waited,
searching to see if it was Jonas making her feel this way and
not Snake.
"You will help me, won't you?"
The sound of Snake's voice was enough to pull her mind
back. Jonas wasn't around. "Yes, I'll help you." It was an
honest, simple answer. She'd known for years there'd be a
time when they'd need each other, and this was it—no doubt.
"Where do we start?" he asked.
Her expression undoubtedly said she had no idea.
"What does she like?"
"What?" she asked.
"What does September like to do? Like to eat? What are
her favorite things? That could be a place to start."
Summer had to smile. He really was an intuitively nice
man. "Well," she started, "she does like to read. She was
always borrowing books from Mrs. Hinkle."
"Kid has a room full of books. We'll take her over there
and let her pick out a bunch."
Her heart tick-tocked faster than a mantel clock wound too
tight. She chanced a peek, making sure he was serious.
September would be ecstatic to spend a day in a room full of
books. A golden beam from the moon bounced off his face,
displaying a soft, sincere smile. "She'd like that."
"What else," he asked softly, "does she like?"
74
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Summer searched her mind, but nothing formed. Wasn't
there anything else September really liked? She tried harder,
forced herself to recall times she'd seen September happy or
content. Nothing appeared. Did she really not know, or was
sitting this close to Snake turning her fuddle-headed?
"I'll have to think about it," she admitted after several
silent minutes.
"All right," he said, "then tell me about August. What does
he like?"
"You," she blurted out before she had time to bite her
tongue.
He let out a deep chuckle, which caused her to glance to
the open doorway, hoping his mother hadn't heard. She didn't
want to disturb Stephanie's sleep, but more than that, she
didn't want to leave his room yet.
"Don't worry, she sleeps like a rock."
She twisted, gaping at him.
He laughed again, but muffled it this time. "I like August,
too. He's a good kid."
Happiness made her smile. "Yes, he is," she admitted.
"Always has been."
"What does he like?"
"Everything." She scrunched her face as August was
known for doing. "Except reading."
Snake chuckled. "A true boy."
"Hmm, yes he is." A giggle slipped out as she added, "Full
of snip and snails, and puppy-dog tails."
"Puppy dogs tails," he said thoughtfully.
"Oh, it's just a saying—"
75
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
"I know. Kid also has puppies. His old dog, Sammy, is
getting up in years so he bought his kids a new dog last
Christmas." His smile grew. "About a month ago, she had
pups. Maybe August would like one."
Excitement made her skin quiver, and she squeezed the
fingers wrapped around her hand. "Oh, he'd love one."
His intent gaze wandered over her face for a long, silent
moment before he asked, "What about you, Summer? What
do you like?"
This time she did stop herself from saying you. But just
barely, for it surely was the only
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