Guarding Her Heart: A Christian Romance (BlackThorpe Security Book 1)

by Kimberly Rae Jordan

  “How long do you think this will last?” Lindsay asked.

  “It’s hard to tell. Could be hours. It depends on how quickly the storm is moving. Now that it’s hit land it might slow some, and it also might weaken.”

  “My arms are starting to shake,” she said. “I didn’t realize how heavy a small baby could get.”

  “Do you want to take her back to the others?”

  “Yeah. She’s sleeping so I think I could put her down.” She slowly got to her feet.

  “I’ll come with you.” Than stood and flicked on the flashlight he held.

  Keeping it trained on the floor in front of them, he guided her to the room where they were keeping the other babies. There were no sounds of crying or fussing, so apparently Maya wasn’t the only sleeping baby. One of the women showed Lindsay where she could lay her, and after placing Maya in the playpen, she shook out her arms.

  “Boy, moms must get some serious muscles if they have to carry babies like that all the time,” Lindsay commented as they left the room.

  “My sister-in-law used a sling a lot of the time with hers. Just strapped them to her body and then her arms were still free to do other things.”

  “Well, that’s pretty ingenious. I’ll have to remember that.”

  And just like that, Than had an image in his mind that started with Lindsay pregnant and slid into one of her holding a baby—one with dark hair and eyes. It was startling, scary and attractive all at once. He rubbed at his chest as he tried to take a deep breath.

  “Hey, Than, it sounds like it’s dying down.”

  Than felt the band around his heart loosen as he spotted Elliot in the darkened hall. He paused to listen and realized that the man was right. The beating the elements had been giving the building seemed to be easing.

  “Are you going to take a look outside?” Than asked him.

  “I’d like to check what kind of damage is out there. Not that we can see a whole lot in the darkness.”

  “I’d like to see, too,” Lindsay said.

  Than’s first instinct was to say no, but then he figured that as long as it had truly died down, it would be okay if she stayed close. “Okay. Just stick with me.”

  Mark joined them as they made their way to the main entrance of the building. It seemed that the storm was dying down as quickly as it had kicked up, but Than knew that this wasn’t the end of it. If his guess was right, they were just in the eye of the storm and the back end of things was still to come.

  Elliot opened the inside wooden door and peered out into the stormy night. When there wasn’t an immediate gust of wind through the screen door, Elliot pushed that open as well. Soon the three beams from their flashlights were casting fingers of light in the pitch black night.

  Than reached for Lindsay’s hand as he stepped out of the building and onto the wet grass. “Stay close. I don’t know what might be lying around.”

  Her hand momentarily tightened on his. “I will.”

  He swept his flashlight beam back and forth across the grass. There was still some wind and the lightest spray of rain, but definitely nothing like it had been. They quickly came upon large tree branches that had been ripped from their trunks. And it wasn’t long before Elliot called out that he’d found some tin sheeting. One of the buildings had lost part of its roof, but, given the darkness, it was hard to know which one it was.

  “More over here,” Mark shouted.

  Than pulled Lindsay closer to his side. “Watch for any more of that stuff. It could do nasty things to your legs.”

  While Mark and Elliot wandered further away from the dorm, Than edged along the front of it and around the corner to get a look at the back.

  “Did any trees fall on the building?” Lindsay asked as she pressed against his arm.

  “It doesn’t look like it, but definitely some branches broke off and hit it.”

  “Is that what the crashes were?”

  “Possibly. Given that the wind was going in circles essentially, they could also have been those sheets of tin hitting the dorm.” He continued to wave the flashlight up and down the back of the building to see if there was any damage. Suddenly he felt Lindsay tense. “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s that noise?”

  Than listened and heard what had alarmed her. It sounded like a freight train was headed their way.

  Her grip on his hand tightened almost painfully. “The wind is picking up again, too.”

  Than stepped back from the building and realized she was right. Round two was on its way. They’d barely cleared the corner of the building when the wind and rain started to lash out again. Than wrapped his arm around Lindsay’s shoulders and together they ran for the front door. Elliot and Mark were right on their heels.

  “Guess that was the eye of the storm,” Mark remarked as Elliot secured the heavy wooden door behind them. “I will be very glad when this is finally over.”

  “That makes a few—or most likely, all—of us,” Elliot said as he ran a hand through his damp hair.

  “I’m going to get dried off,” Lindsay said. “That was an unexpected shower.”

  When she moved out from under his arm, Than tried not to think of how good she’d felt there. He looked at his watch and did a little calculating. “I guess I’ll send another update to let them know we’re still doing okay.”

  As he turned from the men, Than felt a hand on his arm. When he glanced back, he saw it was Mark. He angled toward him to see what he wanted.

  “I just want to thank you, Than, for all you’ve done on this trip so far. When Lucas came to talk to me about needing to have you come with Lindsay, I had my doubts. But you’ve been an answer to a prayer we didn’t even know we should be praying. I know that you’re here to protect Lindsay first and foremost, but I appreciate that you’ve extended that care to all of us with what you’ve done.”

  Than swallowed hard. He’d never been told he was an answer to prayer before. It took him off guard and left him at a loss for words…momentarily. “I’m glad I’ve been able to help out and have had the resources to do what I can.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll just go upstairs to make the call to my assistant.”

  As he climbed the stairs to the second floor, Than gave his head a shake. He was being bombarded by emotions he had never felt before. At that moment, he just wanted everything to stop so he could process it all. He needed a quiet room to allow him to work through the things he was feeling for Lindsay, and the new awareness he had of God and the faith of these missionaries and workers at the center.

  11

  Instead, Than went into the room that had been his before they’d all moved downstairs. He ran the flashlight over the outside wall and the windows to make sure it was still secure before sitting down on the bed and pulling the satellite phone from one of the pockets of his shorts.

  It wasn’t long before the connection was made and his assistant picked up. He figured it was around noon there, so he was glad he’d caught her before she left for lunch.

  “It’s Than,” he said when she answered.

  “Than! Is everything okay there? We’re hearing reports that it’s pretty bad where it came on land. The storm surge has done significant damage. Are you in that area?”

  “No. We’re inland so we won’t have to worry about the storm surge, plus the center where we’re staying is up on a hill. I don’t doubt that there will be flooding in the surrounding towns just by virtue of how much rain we’re getting.”

  “That’s good that you’re safe. Is that the report you want me to pass on?”

  Than rubbed his forehead. “Not the part about the flooding in surrounding areas. Basically, we’ve just had the eye pass over us so we’re on the back edge of the storm. The power has gone out, but we’ve had lanterns for light. We have plenty of food and water and will likely try the generator once the storm has finally passed.”

  “Okay, I’ve made note and will begin to call.” He heard a muffled sound and then she said, “Er
ic wants to talk with you. I’ll transfer you.”

  Than waited for Eric to come on the line.

  “You doing okay, man?”

  “It’s certainly turned into a more eventful job than I had originally anticipated.”

  “How are you faring with the storm? Brooke said Sylvia is going a bit nuts about all of this.”

  “Lindsay is doing just fine. She’s a real trooper and has been taking it all in stride. We’re in a safe building with plenty of water and food. There is some damage to the buildings around us, but the one we’re in is very sturdy.” Than paused. “One thing maybe you can help me with. Lucas is making noises about getting Lindsay out of here as soon as possible. If that’s what Lindsay wants, I’ll do that, but I’m not entirely sure that it is. It would be helpful if you could sort of prepare Lucas for that.”

  “Seriously? You think she wants to stick around after all of this?”

  Than thought back to seeing Lindsay with Maya cuddled close. “Yes, I think she actually might. She’s changed a bit since we’ve gotten here. We both have, actually.”

  There was silence on Eric’s end, making Than wonder if they’d lost their connection.

  “It sounds like a conversation is in order once you get home,” Eric finally said. “Lucas was just saying earlier today that he could definitely see God’s hand in how you ended up being over there with Lindsay. We’re all praying for you. Let me know if there’s anything more we can do on this end.”

  Than pondered the second reference to God being involved in his being there. “I will. I’d better get back downstairs. The storm is kicking up again. It almost sounds worse than earlier. We’ve probably got a couple of hours to go yet.”

  “Take care, bro. Look forward to seeing you both back on this side of the pond.”

  Than ended the call and sat for a moment with the phone in his hands, his head bent. At that moment, he felt an incredible weight on his shoulders. Not just the weight to keep Lindsay safe, but to somehow fulfill some mission that people seemed to feel God had sent him for. Never had the fear of failure weighed so heavily on him.

  He’d set out on this trip with just two goals. To bring Lindsay Hamilton safely home. And to get her to see him as more than just a flirting ladies’ man. Now he had the responsibility for the forty or so people on the center and was feeling like he just couldn’t do it on his own.

  Please, God. If You did, in fact, send me here for this, help me. Don’t let me miss anything that might make someone get hurt. I don’t know if I can do this.

  It was almost like he’d stepped outside of his body and someone else had taken it over. He had never been one to feel overwhelmed by a job. He’d never questioned his ability to do what needed to be done. And he’d certainly never felt the need to call out to God for help. He’d had the best training, as had all BlackThorpe employees. He should be taking all of this in stride, but instead he was worried because, for the first time, he was responsible for the safety of someone who had found their way past his defenses into his heart.

  He just knew he would never be able to live with himself if something happened to Lindsay.

  ~*~*~

  When Lindsay had gone to the room where her bag was, she’d found that Barb and Amanda were both there lying down. She was exhausted, too. It had been a long day, but she wasn’t sure she’d be able to sleep until the storm had calmed. Still, she grabbed her toiletries and a towel and some clothes and went to the bathroom which was illuminated by a single lantern. It was the men’s bathroom, but they were all using it. She went into one of the stalls and closed and latched the door before quickly changing out of her clothes into a pair of capris leggings and a loose T-shirt.

  Once done with the toilet, she cleaned up at the sink and pulled her damp hair back into a ponytail. She scrubbed her face and brushed her teeth using some of the water from the bottle she’d brought with her. As she made her way back to the room, she met Than in the hallway.

  “Are you going to lie down?” he asked.

  “Yes. Though not sure I’m going to sleep. That storm is raging pretty good.” She looked at him. “Are you going to?”

  He shook his head. “I won’t be sleeping until things have calmed down. Why don’t you lie down with your headphones and see if you can get some sleep? If something comes up, I will make sure to wake you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “That’s what I’m here for, sweetheart.”

  Sweetheart? That was a new one.

  As silence stretched between them, Lindsay felt warmth engulf her. Afraid that the silence was giving more significance to something that was undoubtedly a slip of the tongue on his part, Lindsay swallowed and said, “Okay. I think I will see if I can sleep for a bit.”

  Without waiting for him to respond, she walked into the room and over to the bunk bed where their things were. Since he wasn’t going to rest, she decided she’d take the lower bunk and hopefully by the time he decided to sleep, they’d be back in their rooms on the second floor. She fished her iPhone out of her purse and found the earbuds in the outside pocket of the bag.

  Though she had no cell service or internet, she still had her playlists and a full charge so she slipped the earbuds in, found the songs she wanted and curled up on the mattress. Surprisingly, she found herself relaxing. She supposed part of that was because she had seen with her own eyes that the building had survived the first half of the storm. It had helped to reassure her that they were in a relatively safe place.

  But if she was totally honest with herself, the main reason she felt secure enough to relax was because she trusted Than. He’d said he’d wake her if she was in danger and she believed him. Four days ago she might not have, but right then, in the midst of the worst storm she’d ever encountered, she did.

  ~*~*~

  In the early morning hours, the storm finally began to calm. Than had spent some of the time on a chair in the hallway outside where Lindsay slept. He’d called in two additional updates and after the storm had died down enough for him to go outside with Mark and Elliot for another walk around, he called in his final one for the storm.

  “Everyone has been telling my assistant to assure you of their prayers for our safety,” Than said after that last call.

  “I think we’ve definitely felt them,” Elliot said as he rubbed a hand over his face. “And I know Mark has thanked you already but let me thank you as well for everything you’ve done to help us out.”

  “I will say that this job is not going to be one I forget anytime soon,” Than said with a weary laugh. And not just because of the storm.

  “Yes, this has been one of the more exciting mission trips we’ve been on,” Mark agreed. “Well, I think we should try to grab a few hours of sleep before we tackle what’s out there tomorrow.”

  “Good idea,” Elliot said. “I will be taking a group into town in the morning. We have some people we need to check up on. I’m not sure what we’ll find, but if anyone on the team wants to come with us, I’m sure there will be plenty of work to do.”

  Than hoped that Lindsay wouldn’t want to be one of those people, but something told him she probably would. In the meantime, he had to get a little sleep so he had the energy to do what needed doing in the days ahead.

  Moving quietly into the room, he removed the holster from his waist and slid it under the pillow of the top bunk. Now that the storm had passed them, the adrenalin that had been feeding him slowly ebbed away. Lindsay was safe. As were the rest of the people in the building. It was time for him to get some rest to replenish his energy.

  He could see the shape of Lindsay as she lay on her side. The sheet that covered her was just up to her waist and he could see that she had done what he planned to do—sleep with his clothes on. Hopefully, they’d be able to move back to their rooms the next night, but for now, Than figured he was so tired he could sleep pretty much anywhere.

  Moving slowly so as not to jostle the bed, he climbed to the top bunk and crawled onto
the mattress. He preferred to lie on his stomach to sleep, but this upper bed had some rails around it that made it kind of difficult. Instead, he had to lie on his side and bend his legs at the knees in order to fit.

  Just before he drifted off, Than found himself whispering a prayer of thanks that they’d made it through the storm with no injuries.

  ~*~*~

  Lindsay shifted on the mattress and slowly opened her eyes. The room was shadowed and stuffy because the windows were still covered, and it took her minute to orientate herself. She pulled the earbuds out of her ears—a bit surprised they were still there—and pushed herself up into a sitting position, swinging her feet over the edge of the bed. She lifted one shoulder and then the other, trying to stretch out the kinks in her torso. It seemed that she hadn’t moved the whole time she’d slept, and her body was not happy about it.

  She noticed that the beds across from her were all empty, so the others were obviously up already. It made her feel a bit like a slug that they were all up and about, and she’d been sleeping like she had nothing better to do. Although she wasn’t altogether sure what she would be doing. The storm had certainly changed the immediate plans of the group. Something told her that new paint was now the least of the missionaries’ concerns. She had no doubt that in the cold light of day, the damage revealed would be so much worse than what they’d seen briefly when they’d ventured out in the eye of the storm.

  Knowing that hanging around her bed wouldn’t accomplish anything, Lindsay stood up and ran her hands over her hair. She pulled out the scrunchy and gathered the loose ends that had escaped while she slept and secured it all into a ponytail once again. She turned to gather up her iPod and earbuds but stilled when she noticed a figure lying on the top bunk. Though she couldn’t see clearly in the dimly lit room, Lindsay was sure it was Than. His bag had been next to hers on the floor when they’d had to move rooms.