Persuading Piper: Brotherhood Protectors World

by Susan Boles

  "Of course not, Honey. I've been a bit off my feed lately what with the election coming up soon." He patted her arm. "You know how anxious I always get when it's election time."

  That was true enough, but her gut instinct told her there was still something he held back. She made a mental note to dig for it later.

  "What are you doing home, Piper? I thought you were out drumming up support for the big rescue group fundraiser."

  She flushed. "I was. But I needed to come home and work on something here."

  His eyebrows went up, questioning her silently. He's seen the red in her cheeks. Always a sure sign she was upset about something.

  "Ian's back in town." She blurted.

  Her daddy stepped backward, motioning her into his home office. "Is that right? Where did you see him?"

  No bluster. No outrage over the man who'd done his daughter wrong. This was the first time in ten years she hadn't heard her daddy curse the name of Ian Elliott. Puzzled, she sat in the comfy club chair near his desk.

  "What did he have to say for himself?" Her daddy asked, watching her closely.

  "He didn't say anything. I saw him at the Grits and Gravy with his mama and all her friends at the center table." She hung her head. "I confess I turned tail and ran when I realized it was him."

  At his groan, she looked up.

  "I'm sorry he's come back, baby girl."

  She could swear there was a moment of guilt in his eyes but it was gone so fast maybe she'd imagined it. Besides, what would he have to feel guilty about?

  "I know it's raking up a lot of old sorrows. And probably a lot of old gossip to boot." He looked away from her. "If I could, I'd change it all for you."

  She fiddled with a loose string on the edge of her blouse. Hesitant to pull it in case she caused a big hole by doing it. And wasn't that a metaphor of her whole life. Scared to pull against the tide in case something bad happened and missing out on a lot of good because of it. She shook off the useless thought and let go of the string.

  "This is his home, Daddy." She replied. "He has every right to be here. And it's not his fault that there's a passel of folks that love to gossip around here."

  Matt MacKenzie gave a deep sigh. "I'm trying to turn over a new leaf in my old age. Be a better man than I have in the past. But I won't have you takin' up for him, Piper. I'd give everything I have to save you from more heartache."

  "But he didn't know about Mama." She protested. "He thought I just didn't love him enough."

  "Be that as it may, he let you go too easily. I agree that he has a right to be here in town. Probably has a good reason for it. But, you steer clear. You hear me?"

  She nodded, seeing the real anguish in his face. But, in the long run, Mercy was a very small place and she knew she'd never be able to avoid him.

  Chapter 4

  Ian followed his mama into the house she'd bought a few years ago. He had to admit is was much more modern that the house he'd grown up in out in the county. With a pang, he looked around and realize he didn't recognize one thing in this house other than photographs.

  Catching his look, she said, "I couldn’t live out at the old place after you left, Ian. Too many memories. Good memories. But lonesome, all the same, with your daddy gone and me sitting around remembering him too much."

  He nodded. He could understand the power of memories. He'd been sixteen when daddy died. Memories could help you with grief, but they could drag you under, too.

  "When I started making enough from being a real estate agent to afford a new house, I knew I had to buy a new home closer in to town where I could walk to things and be more of a part of things. There's a room in this house reserved for you. But --" She paused, then went to open a kitchen drawer. Something jangled in her hand as she turned back to him. "I want you to have these."

  At his questioning look, she went on. "They're the keys to the old home place. I couldn't bring myself to sell it. I always hoped, deep down, you'd come on back home someday. So I kept it for you." She held out the cluster of keys.

  He didn't know what to say. He wasn't here for good. He hated lying to her like this. Not telling her he was only here to protect Matt MacKenzie. But the keys called to him, so he reached out and took them gently from her outstretch hand. "I can't make you any promises, Mama."

  She nodded.

  "Ian." She said quietly. "I feel like there's something you're holding back on me, son."

  As he opened his mouth to protest, she held up a hand to stop him.

  "I'm sure you've got a very good reason. But I want you to know that I'll support anything you're doing and there's no need to lie to me."

  He shuffled his feet.

  "I'm happy you didn't sell the old place, Mama." He pocketed the keys. "If it's alright with you, I'll stay here with you while I'm in town. But I'll go out there while I'm here. To remember Daddy and the old times, too."

  Tears gleamed briefly in her eyes before she turned away. His gut pinched to see them.

  "That's good news, Ian. I'm glad you want to go out there. You can make sure everything's in good shape. I have somebody keeping an eye on it for me, but you know how that can be. They don't see the things we do when we look at it."

  She got an iron skillet out of the cabinet. "I know we just ate, but I think I'll make a blackberry cobbler for later."

  He hugged her, grateful she hadn't pushed more for answers.

  "Thanks, Mama. That'd be great. I think I'll run out there now. If you don't mind."

  "Not at all." She shooed him with her hand. "Go on."

  He strode toward the front door, leaving his duffle bag on the living room floor for now.

  "Ian," his mama called from behind him.

  He paused, turned his head to look at her.

  "The crop duster is still in the shed out back." She smiled. "I know how much that beat up old plane always meant to you."

  His hand went to the pocket of his jeans, reassuring himself that the rabbit-foot keychain was there. The keychain that held the key to the crop duster his daddy had taught him to fly and where his dream of being a Navy fighter pilot had been born.

  His good luck charm – except for that day in Afghanistan.

  The dogfight that had caused a burst eardrum that had clipped his wings forever. He'd managed to land the super hornet plane, but that'd been his last time in the air. Not long after, he'd gotten the final word from the doctor. No more high altitude flying for Ian Elliott. And so he'd left the Navy. He couldn't spend his life aboard aircraft carriers watching with a jealous heart as the others flew.

  Thank goodness Hank Patterson from the Brotherhood Protectors had found him and offered him a new life with other vets in Montana.

  Chapter 5

  Gravel popped under the tires of his rental car as he pulled into the drive of the old home place. He looked at it with critical eyes to see what could be taken care of while he was in town. It'd help his story about coming home to see his mom if he could be seen to be working at the old home place.

  It could use a new coat of paint. Bare wood peeked through in a few places on the eaves. But otherwise it looked ship-shape. Grass and hedges neatly trimmed. A few hardy flowers struggling to hold on in the neglected flower beds. He killed the engine and got out, feet crunching in the gravel as he walked slowly up the drive.

  He needed a place to meet secretly with Mayor MacKenzie and this could be just the ticket. Matt MacKenzie and his daddy had been fishing buddies back in the day. He could invite the mayor out to fish for old times sake as an excuse to get him out here.

  Instead of going into the house, his feet took him across the big, open backyard and the pasture beyond it to the big barnlike shed where his daddy's crop duster had always been stored.

  The big double doors on the building squealed in protest as he opened them, stirring dust into motes that danced in the morning air. Sunbeams sneaked through gaps in the old wood to spotlight the plane.

  Happy memories of time spent with
his daddy raced through his mind as he ran his hands over the body of the plane. It looked good.

  It no doubt needed a tune up after having sat idle all this time. But he looked forward to taking it up again. Bittersweet. He couldn't fly high any more, but he could still fly small planes like this one that flew at much lower altitudes.

  Climbing up into the plane he sat in the cracked leather seat as a hundred memories washed through him. Inserting the key, he turned it only to discover the engine of the plane didn't make even a grinding noise. He'd known the plane would need work. A dozen years of sitting idle took it's toll on any engine, but somewhere inside he'd hoped the engine might at least turn over.

  He jumped back to the ground and went over to the built in work table along the wall and saw that all of his daddy's tool still hung in place in neat order and filled the drawers of a nearby dresser turned tool storage. He'd be able to tinker with the engine while he was home and, with a little luck, get it running.

  He looked out the big double doors to where the old dirt track landing strip had once been. Grass choked the fields now, but he could get out here with a bush hog and cut the grass down short enough to allow the plane to taxi out and back into the air. Maybe not this trip, but soon. He knew he couldn't keep shunning his home town. He needed to be a better son to his mamma.

  And he'd never gotten over Piper. In ten years the hurt and anger of a young boy had faded. Replaced by a more mature, at least he thought so, outlook on life and the things that mattered in the long run.

  In the quick glimpse he'd had of Piper this morning, his eyes had gone straight to her left hand. No ring. Could it be possible that she might still want him? Had she mellowed over the years? Maybe. But the look in her eyes this morning told him he had a tough row to hoe if he thought he'd be able to persuade her to give him another chance.

  Chapter 6

  Inspired by his idea to get Mr. MacKenzie out to the old home place where they could talk in-depth about the danger and where the mayor thought it might be coming from, Ian drove into back into town and parked in the square; only to discover that Mayor MacKenzie wasn't in his office.

  Frustrated in his attempt to set up an initial private meeting, he drove out toward the MacKenzie house on the edge of town. Spotting a black Mercedes in the driveway, he decided to pull in and have a quick chat with Mr. MacKenzie with no one the wiser. Or wondering why.

  Taking the steps two at a time, he crossed the porch and rapped a tattoo on the screen door. As he waited he glanced around the porch that held so many memories of him and Piper. The swing where he kissed her for the first time next to the sweet smelling flowers after scoring the winning touchdown at the Homecoming game their sophomore year in high school still hung at the corner of the porch.

  The sound of the door opening drew his attention back to the present, but it wasn't Matt MacKenzie who stood on the other side of the screen.

  Piper glared at him, and at her side a big Pitbull growled a warning.

  He hadn't realized she was home. An inner voice called him an idiot for coming here. A second inner voice chimed in with the thought that maybe he'd been secretly hoping she'd be home so he could see her up close again. He silenced them both by mentally slamming a door in their faces.

  "I was looking for your daddy." He told her, keeping a wary eye on the dog.

  From the look on her face, Piper might be growling on the inside herself. Medusa had nothing on this girl.

  "Why are you looking for Daddy?" Cool as a cucumber, she quirked a single eyebrow. "Don't you know you're the last person he's interested in seeing?"

  Well, she had him there. As far as she knew, he truly didn't have a reason for seeking out her daddy. And he wasn't in a position to enlighten her. Cursing inwardly, he scrambled for a believable reason for his presence on this porch.

  The dog continued to growl and Piper put her hand on its head and made soft shushing sounds.

  "I guess Ham doesn't like you much." She said through the screen.

  "You're guard dog is named Ham?" He laughed.

  "It's short for Hammurabi." She snapped back. "You know. The lawyer's code?"

  He got his laughter under control, but still had a bit of trouble with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. She was so darn cute defending her guard dog.

  "Look." He said in a conciliatory tone. "I didn't come here to upset anyone. I'm home for a visit because I decided it was high time to do it. And I'm trying to make amends to some people."

  "And my daddy is at the top of the list?" She questioned in an incredulous voice.

  "I have to get him to forgive me before you will. Right?" He could not believe that had come out of his mouth. What was he thinking?

  "Well, I reckon hell will freeze over before that happens." She said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just last night he was telling me to steer clear of you."

  With that, she pulled Ham back by his collar. The dog's feet slid on the polished wood floor as he fought stiff legged to stay in front of Piper. Once she'd manhandled Ham far enough back, she reached to the side, put a hand behind the open inner door and shoved. It slammed in his face so hard the screen door slapped against the frame several times.

  He fought the urge to kick the door a few times in a fit of temper. She'd just declared war and Ian Elliott never backed down from a challenge.

  Chapter 7

  Piper cracked the mini-blinds just enough to watch Ian head down the front walk. He still had that damn sexy swagger.

  She ordered her pulse to slow down. No way was she going to get involved with him again. No telling how long he'd be in town this time. And she still didn't want to live anywhere else, so falling for Ian again would only lead to more heartbreak. What a pity none of the men she'd dated these past years had ever gotten into her blood the way he had.

  "Who was at the door?"

  She jumped at the sound of her father's voice behind her.

  "Ian."

  He came up beside her, opened the blinds fully and looked out. She jumped to the side even though she knew Ian wouldn't be able to see her from out in the driveway where he was getting in his car.

  "What was he doing here?"

  "He said he's looking for your forgiveness."

  Her daddy cleared his throat and frowned.

  "That's not going to happen." He gave her a sharp look. "And I hope you told him so."

  She laughed. "I took great pleasure in telling him."

  "See that you stick to it. He's in a dangerous line of business and I don't want you getting attached to someone like that."

  She laughed. "Daddy. Being a Navy pilot is no more dangerous than being a policeman." He gave her a sharp look. "I mean they all risk their lives every day."

  "He's not in the Navy any more."

  "What?" She took a step backward, bumped a hall table behind her and reached quickly to grab the big vase of flowers before it fell to the floor and shattered.

  "How do you know that?"

  Her daddy flushed red to the roots of his white hair, shuffled some papers she hadn't realized he was holding and said, "I must have heard it around town somewhere. You know how everyone talks about everything around here."

  Stuffing the flowers back down in the vase any which way and managing to slop water all over the top of the antique table, she asked, "What's he doing now if he's not in the Navy? Do you think he's home for good this time?"

  Striding back into his home office, he muttered over his shoulder, "I don't have time to talk about this. I have to get over to the office to meet with some folks about the highway going in over on the edge of the county."

  Piper rearranged the flowers in the cut glass vase she'd almost over turned earlier. Placing each flower with the precision her mama had taught her years ago, helped her concentrate on the issue at hand.

  Something was going on that her daddy didn't want her to know about. And it involved Ian. And Daddy was not happy about that involvement. What could be so important th
at he was willing to overlook his hatred enough to allow Ian access to his home knowing that she and Ian would inevitably be thrown together at some point. He'd warned her off any new involvement with Ian, so that meant forgiveness was not part of what ever deal he'd made with this devil.

  Chapter 8

  Ian's phone rang shortly after he'd turned on the road leading back out to the home place. He'd barely gotten out a 'hello' before Matt MacKenzie tore him a new one. And he deserved it. He couldn't believe he'd abandoned normal protocol.

  Driving one-handed, he tried to put his phone on speaker and nearly drove into the ditch. With a sigh he put the phone to his ear as he wondered about the laws in Mississippi on driving while talking. And if Ben Carter was still running the county. Sheriff Carter'd caught him racing on back roads and generally acting like an arrogant young ass back in high school on more than one occasion. Hopefully he wasn't anywhere nearby.

  "Mr. MacKenzie. You're absolutely right. I had no business coming to the house." He soothed the irate man on the other end of the conversation.

  The tirade continued with more along the same line of what an idiot he was and he let it flow over him, occasionally making agreement type noises but his mind wasn't on the call.

  He wanted Piper. Just the sight of her today made his heart ache with wanting to be close to her again. So how as he going to get her back? She'd made it pretty clear she wasn't interested in any kind of romantic attention from him. He sighed.

  "Am I boring you?" Matt MacKenzie's venomous tone pulled him back into the present.

  "No, sir. Not at all."

  He turned onto the road leading to the home place noting the lack of other traffic and homes. Nothing had changed out here.

  "Sir. I want to ask you to come out here to the old home place. I think you could make a plausible excuse to come out here on a fishing trip to the pond where you and Daddy used to fish all the time."