Read Online Her Valentine by Amanda Anderson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amanda Anderson
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crooned.
Lacey’s eyes were too big for her little face and the blue reflected the moon making her look like and angel.
“What happened Mr. Preacher? Where are Daddy and Mama?”
Her teeth chattered so hard she could hardly speak, but Preach saw the determination in those eyes. She wanted answers and he refused to lie to her.
“They are gone Lacey girl, but you will go with me and I’ll make you safe. I’ll take you to your grandma Lacey. You’ll be alright there.” He hugged her tighter when she began to sob. “This is my boy, Shadow, will you look at him Lacey? Shadow will always help you if I can’t be there. Look at him Lacey, you can trust me and you can trust Shadow, ok? Look at his face baby, remember him so you will always know him.”
Lacey turned her head and looked to the dark haired boy with the black eyes and blank face. He looked more like a phantom than a shadow and Lacey was afraid of him. She shook her head. She remembered him. He had haunted her dreams too many nights.
“What’s the matter Lacey girl?” Preach slowly rubbed her little back. Lacey was smaller than a girl her age should be. She felt like a bird and Preach was honestly afraid he would break her.
“He is scarier than you Mr. Preacher. He looks like a spook or something.” She whispered. She snuck another look. “He gives me bad dreams.” She buried her face in Preach’s chest. “I don't think I like him.” She whispered quietly.
Preach couldn’t help the chuckle. The girl was right. Shadow looked ethereal in the moon light and if the dark scowl on his face said anything, he was not happy with the assessment.
“Now Lacey, he’s just a kid like you.” At Shad’s angry glare he just shook his head in warning. “He’s my son and he is a fine young man, don’t you think you can come on home with me and Shad? Mrs. is my old lady and she will be tickled to have you until we can get you settled in with your grandma.”
Lacey looked up into Preach’s kind eyes. “He's really your son?” Lacey ran her fingers over the cross tattoo on his arm and prayed.
“He is my son.” Preach confirmed, feeling pride in the admission as he always did.
Lacey looked thoughtful. Her tear streaked face shown in the moonlight and her little pink lips pulled down on the corners. “Why is he so scary then? You aren't scary Mr. Preacher, even if my mama said you were a little bit, I don’t think you are.” She lowered her voice until Preach could barely hear her. “Why does he give me scary dreams?”
Preach smiled. “Do you remember when I told you about that?” He nodded to his arm and the beautiful cross there.
Lacey nodded hollowly. Preach knew she was feeling shock setting in and he needed to get her away and warm.
“We all have our stories Lil Lacey and we deal with those stories in our own ways.” Preach looked up at Shad and saw the muscles jump in his jaw.
“Tonight is part of your story lil Lacey. You will have to deal with it in your own way too darling, just like me and just like Shadow.”
“We need to get her out of here.” Shadow spoke in his flat voice and narrowed his eyes when Lacey shivered and huddled closer to Preach.
“Why can’t I go home?” Lacey's small voice shook.
“The men who hurt your parents…they burned the house Lacey.” Preach said quietly.
Sobs wracked the young girl until Preach thought she would fall apart. He just lifted her and carried her to his bike. He met his brother Ace’s eyes and saw the same compassion he had seen the day they had rescued Shadow. He nodded at his friend, feeling his silent support.
“Hang on to me Lil Darlin’. We will be home in a little while.” Before he could crank the heavy machine Shad approached holding out his warm leather jacket. He looked uncaring in the gesture, but Preach knew how much the boy hated to be cold and the sacrifice he
Lacey’s eyes were too big for her little face and the blue reflected the moon making her look like and angel.
“What happened Mr. Preacher? Where are Daddy and Mama?”
Her teeth chattered so hard she could hardly speak, but Preach saw the determination in those eyes. She wanted answers and he refused to lie to her.
“They are gone Lacey girl, but you will go with me and I’ll make you safe. I’ll take you to your grandma Lacey. You’ll be alright there.” He hugged her tighter when she began to sob. “This is my boy, Shadow, will you look at him Lacey? Shadow will always help you if I can’t be there. Look at him Lacey, you can trust me and you can trust Shadow, ok? Look at his face baby, remember him so you will always know him.”
Lacey turned her head and looked to the dark haired boy with the black eyes and blank face. He looked more like a phantom than a shadow and Lacey was afraid of him. She shook her head. She remembered him. He had haunted her dreams too many nights.
“What’s the matter Lacey girl?” Preach slowly rubbed her little back. Lacey was smaller than a girl her age should be. She felt like a bird and Preach was honestly afraid he would break her.
“He is scarier than you Mr. Preacher. He looks like a spook or something.” She whispered. She snuck another look. “He gives me bad dreams.” She buried her face in Preach’s chest. “I don't think I like him.” She whispered quietly.
Preach couldn’t help the chuckle. The girl was right. Shadow looked ethereal in the moon light and if the dark scowl on his face said anything, he was not happy with the assessment.
“Now Lacey, he’s just a kid like you.” At Shad’s angry glare he just shook his head in warning. “He’s my son and he is a fine young man, don’t you think you can come on home with me and Shad? Mrs. is my old lady and she will be tickled to have you until we can get you settled in with your grandma.”
Lacey looked up into Preach’s kind eyes. “He's really your son?” Lacey ran her fingers over the cross tattoo on his arm and prayed.
“He is my son.” Preach confirmed, feeling pride in the admission as he always did.
Lacey looked thoughtful. Her tear streaked face shown in the moonlight and her little pink lips pulled down on the corners. “Why is he so scary then? You aren't scary Mr. Preacher, even if my mama said you were a little bit, I don’t think you are.” She lowered her voice until Preach could barely hear her. “Why does he give me scary dreams?”
Preach smiled. “Do you remember when I told you about that?” He nodded to his arm and the beautiful cross there.
Lacey nodded hollowly. Preach knew she was feeling shock setting in and he needed to get her away and warm.
“We all have our stories Lil Lacey and we deal with those stories in our own ways.” Preach looked up at Shad and saw the muscles jump in his jaw.
“Tonight is part of your story lil Lacey. You will have to deal with it in your own way too darling, just like me and just like Shadow.”
“We need to get her out of here.” Shadow spoke in his flat voice and narrowed his eyes when Lacey shivered and huddled closer to Preach.
“Why can’t I go home?” Lacey's small voice shook.
“The men who hurt your parents…they burned the house Lacey.” Preach said quietly.
Sobs wracked the young girl until Preach thought she would fall apart. He just lifted her and carried her to his bike. He met his brother Ace’s eyes and saw the same compassion he had seen the day they had rescued Shadow. He nodded at his friend, feeling his silent support.
“Hang on to me Lil Darlin’. We will be home in a little while.” Before he could crank the heavy machine Shad approached holding out his warm leather jacket. He looked uncaring in the gesture, but Preach knew how much the boy hated to be cold and the sacrifice he
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