Healing Gabriel (4 page)

Morgan looked around the empty barn.  The sheep were kept in
a separate larger barn when they weren’t grazing in the fenced-in pasture, and
she wondered what this smaller barn was for. 

As if he read her mind Gabe said, “I used to have a couple
of cows and a few horses.”

“Nat honey, are you ready to go?”  Lacey popped into the
stall and smiled at Morgan.  “Hello Morgan.”

“Hey Lacey, how are you?”

“Good.”

“Look at the kittens mama – they’re getting big.”

“They sure are.”  Lacey stroked her daughter’s hair.  “Time
to go sweetie.”

“Uncle Gabe, will you come to the park with us?  Mama said
we could play in the park and then we’re going to a movie this afternoon.”  The
little girl pleaded.

“I can’t Nat.  I’m going to the auction today.”

“Oh.  Ms. Wilson, do you want to come with us?”  Natalia
smiled at her.

“Actually, if it’s okay with your Uncle Gabe, I think I’ll
tag along to the auction.”

Gabe stared at her in surprise and she flushed a little.  “I’ve
never been to an auction before.”

“It’s not that interesting.”  He said gruffly.

Her blush deepened but she persisted.  “I still wouldn’t
mind going.  Unless you don’t want me to come?”

He hesitated.  He didn’t want her to go.  He had been to the
auction enough times that most people didn’t stare anymore, but there were
always a few new people.  He didn’t want her seeing them staring at his ruined
face.  But she was smiling hopefully at him and he realized with a small
trickle of dismay that he couldn’t say no to her.

“That’s fine.  I’m leaving in about half an hour.”  He
replied.

* * *

“Are you buying anything today?”  They were standing
together at the auction and she had to crane her neck to stare at him.  She
wasn’t short but Gabe was well over six feet. 

He shook his head.  “Nah, probably not.  I just like to go –
keep an eye on what’s out there.”

She nodded.  She was standing on his right side, a move he
had carefully orchestrated.  She had pretended not to notice.  She had seen a
few people staring curiously at Gabe’s face but she had pretended not to notice
that either.  She had a feeling that he was uncomfortable being out with her in
public, and she didn’t want to do anything that would make it worse.

“Do you sell your sheep here?”

He shook his head again.  “No.  If I sold them here they
would just go for meat.  I don’t want that.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve raised most of my flock since they were babies.  I
don’t want them being slaughtered for food.”

She smiled.  “For someone who acts so gruff all the time you’re
a real softie.  It’s sweet.”

He blushed and she poked him lightly in the side.  “Also,
it’s kind of adorable how much you blush.”

“I don’t blush.”

She rolled her eyes.  “Of course you don’t.”

The auctioneer called for the next animal and the crowd of
people around them pushed closer to the viewing section.  A large man wearing a
plaid shirt and cowboy hat brushed past her roughly, bonking her in the head
with his elbow and pushing her into Gabe.

“You okay?”  Gabe scowled at the man as she leaned companionably
against his arm and rubbed her head.

“I’m fine.”  She strained to see over the people in front of
her.

Gabe wished she would move away.  Her arm was touching his
arm and it was causing not entirely unpleasant sensations in his belly.  It had
been years since he had allowed anyone but Lacey and Nat close to him, and her
casual disregard for his personal space was both exciting and disturbing.  He
shifted a little but instead of moving away, she shifted with him.  She smelled
good, a light floral scent that clung to her, and he inhaled deeply.

She gasped loudly and he followed her gaze to the animal
that was in the viewing pen.  It was a small brown cow with white blotches, and
he frowned when Morgan pushed her way to the front.  He followed her and stood
behind her as she gazed at it.

“The poor thing.”  She murmured.

The man led the cow into the middle of the pen.  She was
limping and her ribs were visible.  Her udder was cracked with streaks of dried
blood and her right eye was missing.  She mooed pitifully as the auctioneer
began.

The crowd stepped back, they had lost interest almost
immediately, and she glanced up at him.  “Poor little cow.  What will happen to
her if no one buys her?”

He paused.  “She’s in bad shape.  Most likely she’ll end up
in the slaughterhouse.”

She gave a low sigh of distress and turned back to stare at
the cow.  “Poor baby.  She doesn’t look very old.”

As the auctioneer gamely called out numbers, trying to
entice someone to purchase the beast, Gabe studied Morgan.  She was leaning
against the pen, staring sadly at the cow.  He had never seen her anything but
happy and cheerful and his stomach twisted.

Quickly, before he could change his mind, he raised his
hand.  The auctioneer nodded and immediately called out sold.

Morgan, her back to him, had missed the entire exchange. 
She turned around and squeezed his arm excitedly.  “Someone bought her!”

He nodded and she smiled at him.  “I hope she goes to a good
home.”  She watched as the cow was led out of the pen.

The crowd was dispersing and she frowned.  “Is the auction
over?”

“Yeah.  Listen I – “

Her cell phone rang and she pulled it out, smiling a little
at the number.  “Excuse me for a moment please Gabe.”

“Hi Andy.  I’m good, how are you?”

She listened and then smiled.  “Actually, I’m at the auction
with Gabe.  Yep, the auction.  Tonight?  Sure, I’d love to.  I can meet you at
the restaurant around six if you’d like?”

Gabe touched her arm lightly.  “I’ll meet you at the truck
in ten minutes okay?”

She nodded and gave him a thumbs up before continuing her
conversation.

Gabe walked away, trying to ignore the little niggle of
jealousy in his stomach.  It was stupid to be jealous of Andy.  Morgan was
dating Andy and she wasn’t interested in being anything but a friend.  And even
that he wasn’t so sure about.  He had a bad feeling that his sister had sent
her to live in the carriage house because she was worried and felt sorry for
him.  He sighed harshly.  He didn’t need anyone’s pity. 

He tamped down the thread of anger that was starting in
him.  He had to pay for the damn cow and make arrangements to pick it up
tomorrow with the trailer.  He was already regretting buying the thing.  It
looked close to death and would probably cost him an arm and a leg in vet
bills.

The next morning he found her on the front porch of the
carriage house.  She was drinking a cup of coffee and looked tired and out of
sorts.

“Morning Morgan.”

“Hey Gabe.”  She gave him a distracted smile as he climbed
the stairs and sat down gingerly in the wicker chair next to hers.

“How was your date with Andy last night?”  He wasn’t used to
making small talk and it felt awkward and strange.

“Fine.  I guess.”

He frowned.  “Did something happen?”

She didn’t answer and he frowned again.  “Morgan?”

“Hmm?  No, it was good – mostly.”  She took another sip of
coffee and stared moodily into the garden.

He cleared his throat.  He wondered if he was supposed to ask
her again if something had happened.  He decided not to.  “Do you have a
minute?  I have something I want to show you in the barn.”  He had risen early
and taken the trailer to pick up the cow.

“What is it?”  She asked curiously.

“It’s uh, it’s kind of a surprise.”

“I like surprises.”  She gave him a more natural smile and,
setting her coffee cup down on the small table next to her chair, followed him
to the barn.

She stopped at the door and grinned up at him.  “Should I
close my eyes?”

“Um, yeah okay.”

She closed her eyes and held out her hand.  He stared at it
for a moment before realizing what she wanted.  His hands were suddenly sweaty
and he wiped them on his jeans before taking her small hand in his large one. 
She gripped it firmly and a tingle went through his entire body.

He opened the door to the barn and led her inside to the
stall he had put the cow in.  It was staring silently at him and he sighed
inwardly.  He would get the vet to stop by tomorrow and there was a good chance
that he would tell him the cow should be put out of its misery.  He should have
waited until hearing what the vet had to say before showing her the cow.  It
was too late now.  She was standing next to him, a small smile on her mouth and
her hand still holding his tightly.

“Open your eyes.”  He said gruffly.

She opened them and gasped in surprise.  “The cow!”

She stared up at him, her face filled with sweet delight,
and he was suddenly very glad he had bought the poor beast.

“You bought her?”  She squeezed his hand and he nodded.

“Yeah.”

“I had no idea!”  She surprised him by giving him a brief,
hard hug.  “Thank you so much for buying her!”

He nodded and turned away from her.  She frowned a little
but didn’t say anything.  She probably shouldn’t have hugged him, he had made
it perfectly clear that he didn’t like people in his personal space, but she
was a hugger.  Hugging him had been a natural reaction for her.

Gabe stared at the cow and willed his erection to go away. 
She had only hugged him for a few seconds but it had been enough to make his
dick stand up and take notice.  Christ, he was a pervert.

Morgan had moved away and was studying the cow closely. 
“Poor girl.”  She paused and eyed the blood-streaked udder.  “It is a girl
right?”

He laughed.  “Yeah, it’s a girl.”

She blushed.  “Sorry, I’m such a city girl.”

“It’s fine.”  He stood next to her as she leaned against the
stall door.

“Do you think she’s friendly?”

He shrugged.  “She seemed friendly enough when I loaded her
into the trailer this morning.”

He scooped out a handful of grain from a nearby container. 
“Here, try giving her some of this.”

She held out her hand and he poured the grain into the palm
of it.  “Hold your hand straight and keep your fingers out of the way.”

She nodded a bit nervously as he opened the door of the
stall.  She slipped in and whispered, “Good cow.  Good girl.  Here, try some
grain.”

She held her hand out and the cow sniffed delicately at the
grain before beginning to eat it from her hand.  She gave him a look of
excitement.  “She likes it!”

He smiled a little.  “Not surprising.  She probably hasn’t
had a good meal in ages.”

The cow had finished eating the grain and Morgan stroked the
side of her neck a bit timidly.  “What do you think happened to her?”

“I don’t know.  She’s had a rough life though I think.”

“Yeah.”  Growing bolder, she patted and stroked the cow on
the side of its body.  “She’s so bony.”

“We’ll fatten her up in no time.”  He entered the stall and
petted the cow on the side of its head.  It sniffed his shirt pocket, found
nothing of interest, and turned its head to stare at Morgan.

“I wonder how she lost her eye.”  Morgan frowned and rubbed
the cow’s broad nose.  It leaned against her and pushed her into the side of
the stall.

“Ouch!”  She winced a little but when Gabe went to push the
cow out of the way, she shook her head.  “No, don’t.  She’s just enjoying the
attention I think.” 

Humming softly, she petted and stroked the cow.  “What’s her
name?”

“You can name her whatever you want.”

“Daisy.”  She said immediately.  “Daisy is a good cow name.”

She stared at the cow’s swollen leg and its missing eye
before looking solemnly at him.  “Do you think she’ll make it?”

“I’ll have the vet look at her tomorrow.  She’s eating and
showing interest in her surroundings.  That’s a good sign.”

She rested her head on the cow’s side for a moment.  “I hope
so.”

She gave the cow a final pat before slipping out of the
stall.  Gabe shut the stall door and they left the barn.  As they crossed the
yard, she smiled at him.  “Natalia’s school play is Wednesday night.”

He grunted in reply but she continued on gamely.  “She
really wants you to go.”

“Yeah.  I can’t make it.”

“What if there was an alternative to sitting in the
audience?  Would you go then?”

“What do you mean?”

“If you didn’t have to sit with everyone else, would you
go?”

“Maybe.”  He said cautiously.

She grinned.  “Good.  I’ll be at the side door to the
school, ten minutes before the play starts.  If you want to see her in the
play, meet me there okay?”

“Can I think about it?”

“Sure.  But I hope you’ll come.  It would mean a lot to
Natalia.”

* * *

Morgan took a deep breath and paused with her hand on the
door.  She could feel butterflies in her stomach.  She hoped he would be
there.  Natalia would be thrilled to see him. 

Just Natalia,
o
r you too
?

She ignored her inner voice and pushed the door open.  Her
heart skipped a beat when she saw Gabe standing in the shadows.  “You came!”

“Yeah.”

She held her hand out.  “Follow me.”

He paused and then took her hand and let her lead him into
the building.

They walked silently down the empty hallway.  He felt like
he should let go of her hand but she was still gripping it firmly, and he
didn’t know if it would be rude to shake free of her touch.  Just the touch of
her hand was exciting him, making his stomach churn with nervousness and
something else he didn’t recognize.

He felt both relief and disappointment when she released his
hand and used a key to open a plain grey door.  “Follow me Mr. Dern.”

She gave him a small grin of excitement and he followed her
into the dark.  He could hear children laughing and talking in low murmurs of
excitement and she took his hand again, leading him around a few boxes before
stopping next to a curtain.

“Where are we?”

“Backstage.  I thought you could watch the play from back
here.  There won’t be anyone else around to,” she paused, “bug you.”

He gave her a look of gratefulness.  “I – thank you Morgan.”

“You’re welcome.  It helps to have friends connected with
the theatre scene.”  She winked and dropped his hand.

“Hold on a minute, I’ll be right back.”  She left him
standing by the curtain and melted into the darkness.

It wasn’t long before she returned.  He could hear Natalia’s
voice and he smiled a little.

“Ms. Wilson, the play is starting soon.”

“I know honey.  I have a surprise for you.  It’ll only take
a minute.”

He could feel the grin spreading on his face as Morgan
appeared in front of him, leading Natalia by the hand.

Natalia cried out with surprise and then hugged him
fiercely, her thin arms squeezing his waist.  “Uncle Gabe!  You’re here!”

“Hi Nat.”  He returned her hug and kissed the top of her
head.  She was dressed like a fairy, complete with transparent wings on her
back and a garland of flowers around her head.  “You look pretty.”

“Thanks Uncle Gabe!  I’m a fairy princess!”  She held her
dress out and twirled in a circle.

“You’re the prettiest fairy princess I’ve ever seen.”  He
kissed her head again as she giggled.

She smiled up at him.  “Are you going to go sit with mama
and daddy?”

“Um…”

“Actually honey, I’ve asked your Uncle Gabe to watch the
play backstage with me so I wouldn’t be lonely.”  Morgan broke in smoothly.

“That’s so nice of him.”  The little girl replied.

“It is.”  Morgan agreed.  She patted Natalia on her arm. 
“Okay sweetheart, you had better go back with the rest of your class.  Good
luck!”

“Thanks Ms. Wilson.  Bye Uncle Gabe!”  She blew them both a
kiss and ran off as Morgan smiled at Gabe.

“I should have brought popcorn.”

He grinned at her.  At some point smiling at her had become
as natural as smiling at Natalia.  “I’ve got some mints in my pocket.”

She laughed.  “Don’t be stingy – pass them over.”

He dug in his pocket and gave her the mints.  She popped one
in her mouth and handed them back.  The curtains began to draw back and she
smiled.  “Enjoy the show.”

* * *

“Cheese and crackers!”  Morgan bent and began to pick up the
fallen laundry.  It had been pouring rain for most of the day and she had just
spilled her freshly washed laundry all over the muddy driveway.

She sighed as she threw her clothes back into the laundry
basket.  The carriage house was great and she loved it, but it didn’t have a
washer and dryer so she had to lug her laundry to the Laundromat to wash her
clothes.  Tripping had just cost her two hours of her life, and now she had to
head directly back into town to wash them again.

“What are you doing?”

Gabe and the dogs had come out of the barn and she shooed
Delilah and Vincent away from her clothes.  “I tripped and spilled my laundry. 
Now I’m heading back into town to wash them again.”  She replied a bit
grumpily.

“You can use the washer and dryer in my house if you’d like.” 
Gabe offered tentatively.

“Really?  Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”  Morgan asked. 

“Nope.”  He took the basket of laundry from her and started
towards the house.  She followed along behind him as the dogs bounded ahead.

“Thank you so much Gabe.  You have no idea how much I
appreciate this.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

They entered the house and he pointed to the dog beds in the
living room and made the hand motion for the dogs to lie down.  They went
immediately to their beds as she slipped her shoes off before following him to
the laundry room.

“Ooh, this is nice.”

He grunted.  “It’s just a washer and dryer.”

“Yeah, but when you spend two hours in a Laundromat and some
guy sits next to you and picks his nose the entire time, this is a little slice
of heaven.”  She laughed.

He twitched when she squeezed by him.  The laundry room was
small, and he was too aware of her scent and the way her ass looked in her
tight jeans.

He watched as she dumped the entire basket of clothes into
the washing machine.  “Aren’t you going to separate them into darks, colours
and whites?”

“Nah.  I like to live life on the edge.  Besides, what’s the
worst that can happen?  My white underwear turns pink?  I like pink.”

He flushed at the mention of her panties and she giggled. 
“Aww, I’ve embarrassed you.”

“No, you haven’t.”  He replied curtly.  “Excuse me.  I was
just about to start dinner.”

He beat a hasty retreat to the kitchen and started the pot
of stock on the stove before he began to cut up the vegetables for the soup. 
It wasn’t long before she joined him in the kitchen.  She leaned against the
counter and watched him chop the vegetables methodically and add them to the
pot on the stove.

“Whatcha’ cookin’?”  She asked curiously.

“Soup.” 

“It smells good.”  She leaned over the pot and inhaled
deeply.  “Really good.”

He rinsed the knife off and didn’t reply.

“I’m starving.”  She smiled at him.

“Would you uh, like to stay for supper?” 

He groaned inwardly.  Why did he say that?

“I thought you’d never ask!”  She winked at him and washed
her hands quickly.  “What can I do to help?”

“You can grab the spices from the cupboard over there.”  He
pointed to one of the top cupboards before turning the tap on and starting to
rinse the potatoes.

“Okey dokey.”  Morgan opened the cupboard.  The spices were
on the top shelf and she stretched to reach them, her t-shirt riding up. 

“What happened to your back?”  He was suddenly standing
beside her.

“Huh?”  She twisted her head and looked down.  “Well, would
you look at that – that’s a good one.”

“What did you do?”  He stared at the large, black and purple
bruise on the pale skin of her back.

“I don’t know.”

“How could you not know?”  He went to touch the bruise and then
clasped his hands tightly behind his back.

She shrugged.  “I fall a lot remember?”

“Morgan, this one looks really bad.  Did you go to the
doctor?”

“Gosh, no.  If I went to the doctor every time I hurt myself
I’d be there 24/7.”