Catch a Fallen Angel

by Maureen Child

  "Your child?" Henry echoed and even his voice sounded strained.

  Gabe glanced at him and saw flames flickering in the old coot's eyes. Maybe he'd said too much. "Now, Henry—“

  “You son of a bitch!" Jumping to his feet, he glared down at the younger man and said, "It wasn't enough to haul me off to Hell, you had to dishonor my daughter?”

  "I told you—“ Gabe started to say.

  "You're hauling who off to Hell?" A woman's outraged voice asked.

  Both men turned to stare at Maggie, silhouetted in the open doorway. Not for the first time recently, Gabe didn't have a clue what to say next. But then, apparently, Maggie wasn't going to give him a chance to say anything.

  "You're here for my father?" she demanded.

  "Now, Maggie—“

  “Maggie, honey," Henry tried to cut in, "this here is between Gabe and me."

  She turned on him like a snake. "As for you!"

  As any wise man would, he backed up a step.

  "You're the thief Gabe was sent to collect?"

  "Now, 'thief's' a harsh word, Maggie sweetheart.”

  "That's what your 'business' is? All these years you've been stealing from people?" Maggie marched closer, her gaze locked on the father she felt as though she was seeing clearly for the first time. "Is that how you bought this restaurant for me? With stolen money?"

  At that, Henry straightened up and huffed out an indignant breath "I do not steal. I'm not some common hoodlum waving a gun at innocent people and tearing their money from their pockets."

  “No," Gabe agreed, crossing his arms over his chest and watching Henry's discomfort with the first real pleasure he'd felt in a week. "You smooth talk 'em out of it. Before the poor rubes know it, they're broke and you're gone."

  Henry shot him a withering glance. "Is it my responsibility to protect people from their greedy natures? Is it my fault that people are willing to put their hard-earned money into foolish schemes in the hopes of becoming wealthy overnight?"

  Maggie stared at her parent. "How long has this been going on?" Then she answered her own question before Henry could open his mouth. "All my life, hasn't it? Did Mother know?"

  The old thief cleared his throat "Of course she knew. We had no secrets."

  "I can't believe she never told me," she muttered. "I can't believe I never guessed.”

  "You're overreacting, my dear," her father soothed.

  "Overreacting?" She shook her head. “I don't think so."

  "I'm not a bad man, Maggie," he said, holding his hands out, palms up in supplication.

  "Then why is there a spot in Hell with your name on it?”

  He cringed slightly. "Alas, it seems the requirements for eternal damnation are a tad more stringent than I had supposed."

  Gabe snorted a laugh. He had to give it to the old coot. Unrepentant to the last.

  Maggie shifted her gaze to him. "And you."

  Now it was his turn to back up. God help him, but she was magnificent when she was angry.

  "You come into my life, make love to me, make me love you, make my son love you, and all the while you're planning on taking my father to Hell?"

  "Good point!" Henry crowed, obviously delighted to have Maggie's emotional gun barrel pointing at someone else.

  "I told you," Gabe said tightly, "I didn't know he was your father.”

  "But you knew she wasn't your wife when you bedded her, you dog," Henry accused.

  "Yes, but I proposed," Gabe told him.

  Henry visibly relaxed. "Ah, that's a relief."

  "And I refused," Maggie snapped.

  “You what?" her father screeched.

  Sighing, Maggie said, "Father, why don't you go upstairs and keep Jake company? Gabe and I have to talk.”

  She looked at him and could see that he was quite obviously torn between remaining and having his say or getting out of harm's way. His sense of self-preservation won out in the end, though.

  "Fine," he snapped then faced Gabe. "But this isn't finished."

  When he was gone, Maggie looked at the man standing just beyond her reach and wondered how she could still love him, owing that not only was he going to leave her, but take her father with him? She should be furious. She should be outraged. But instead, all she felt was a profound sorrow that seemed to open up a wide, dark hole inside her.

  Love apparently was something that defied reason. It simply was. And there was nothing she could do to change it…even if she wanted to. Which she didn't. Still, there was one question she had to ask.

  "Is there anything else I should know?”

  "About Henry?" he asked, then shook his head. "No. That's it.”

  "Not just about my father," she told him quietly. "I mean is there anything else you have to tell me? Anything at all?"

  "Only one thing," he said softly. “No matter what else you believe, believe this. I love you, Maggie. More than I ever thought a man could love anyone."

  She sighed and gave him a tired, watery smile before stepping into his arms and winding her own around his middle. Laying her head on his chest, she listened to the reassuring beat of his heart and whispered, "That's all I need to know."

  Chapter Twenty

  Gabe stepped back out of her embrace, even though it felt as though he was tearing his own heart out. But he couldn't think with her so close and he had to think. Now more than ever.

  He couldn't leave her alone. He simply couldn't. If she was pregnant, she would need her father, at least And Jake. Jake had to have a man in his life to count on. To depend on. Although the idea of anyone depending on Henry was laughable, he was the only one available. Gabe had to find a way out of this mess. A way to save Henry's miserable soul so he'd be around to look after the little family Gabe loved more than life itself.

  "Gabe?"

  His gaze met hers.

  "I can't let you take my father." She sighed and wrapped her arms around her waist “He might not be perfect, but—“

  He smiled sadly. "I'm not going to."

  “But your deal—“

  Shaking his head, he shoved both hands through his hair, then let them fall to his sides again. "Hell, Maggie. I made that deal out of desperation. I made it before I learned how precious life is." He chuckled to himself. "All life. Even Henry's. I made that deal before I learned how to love. Before I found you." He rubbed the back of his neck, then said quietly, "When it's time, I'll go alone."

  She smiled at him then and it broke his heart to realize that he’d go a long, lonely eternity never seeing anything more lovely.

  "No you won't," she said.

  Frowning, he said, “Maggie, I told you. I won't take Henry."

  "I'm not talking about my father. I'm talking about me. When you go to that meeting, I'm going too."

  "Like hell you are," he ground out.

  "You can't stop me, Gabe,” she warned him. "Besides, like I said earlier. I have a plan."

  He wasn't sure if that glint in her eyes was a good sign or not. "What kind of plan?"

  She stepped up close, wrapped her arms around his neck, and smiled up at him. "Kiss me and maybe I'll tell you."

  Hell. Even if the plan stunk, it was worth the price.

  He bent his head and took her mouth with his, losing himself again in the wonder that was Maggie.

  #

  Hours later, Gabe left Maggie sleeping soundly in his bed and walked into the kitchen to find Henry seated at the table, his gaze locked on the bedroom door.

  Frowning, he asked the older man, "What is it?”

  Henry scowled right back. "What are you doing with my daughter?” he demanded.

  "That's none of your business, Henry." Gabe slowly walked to the table, pulled out a chair and dropped into it. Although, if the truth be known, he hadn't been doing a damned thing. Oh, he’d wanted to, and Maggie had sure tried to convince him, but in the end, all he'd done was hold her until she fell asleep.

  "Damn it all, boy,” Henry sputtered, "this isn't right.”


  “I agree." The only thing right was loving Maggie.

  The fight seemed to drain out of the older man and he folded his hands on the table in front of him. Sighing wearily, he shot Gabe a look and asked, "So. This deal you made. How much time do we have?”

  "Not much." He grimaced tightly and slumped down lower in the chair, stretching his legs out and crossing his feet at the ankles. Funny how when you knew your life was coming to an end, you noticed the little things about life. Like the curious sensation of goose pimples running along your arms or the way hot air from a stillwarm stove felt against the soles of your feet.

  "When do we leave?" the other man asked.

  Gabe glanced at and frowned thoughtfully. Strange. It was the only time he'd seen Henry actually look his age. Shadows lay beneath his eyes and even his posture bespoke weariness. He was getting too old for the con man game. It was time he settled down here in Regret.

  "We're not going," Gabe told him. "I leave Wednesday night."

  Henry's eyes widened. “But the deal was—“

  Gabe sat up and shook his head. "Don't worry about that. I’ll find a way to talk him out of taking you."

  "I don't know,” Henry muttered "Not fair, somehow."

  "No," Gabe corrected him flatly. "What's not fair is Maggie losing both of us. So…"

  He braced his elbows on the table. "The deal is, I talk the Devil into waiting for your soul, and you stay here. In Regret.”

  The other man wiped one hand across his mouth, but before he could speak, Gabe continued.

  "You take care of them for me, Henry. You be the kind of father she needs. You be here." He swallowed hard and kept the words coming despite the fact that he had to squeeze them past the knot in his throat. "You make sure Jake grows up right. Not like you and me."

  He nodded solemnly.

  "And," Gabe went on, though this was the hardest part of all, "you help Maggie find another man.” God, that hurt. Like knives twisting in his guts. "Someone who can love her like she should be loved."

  "What about you, Gabe?” he asked. “Do you love my little girl?”

  He pushed up from the table and looked down at his old friend. "So much, Henry," he said softly. "So damn much. If I wasn't already dead, this'd be killing me."

  And in the shadows, Maggie bit down hard on her bottom lip and leaned against the wall for support. It didn't help, though, and when her legs buckled, she sank to the floor, buried her face against her updrawn knees, and cried as quietly as she could.

  #

  The last few days flew and before he knew it, Gabe was leaving the restaurant behind and walking slowly toward the meadow and his destiny.

  Hands in his pockets, he attempted to enjoy these final moments, concentrating on the feel of the wind in his hair and the sight of a million stars overhead. But no matter how he tried, he couldn't wipe away the images of those he was leaving behind forever.

  Dolly, whose warm smile had welcomed him from the start. The little reverend who'd somehow gotten him into a church again. Even Sugar Harmon, who had, the last few days, been downright…friendly. Bass, the deaf barber, Deke Conroy, Woods Harper…all the people he'd come to know and care for.

  But especially three in particular.

  Maggie, who'd refused to say goodbye because she was still furious that he’d dismissed her plan. She'd run off into the night without so much as a farewell glance. Henry, shamefacedly ducking his head and mumbling, "Good luck." And Jake, bravely trying to stem back tears.

  Damn. Gabe kicked at a rock in the road and heard it rattle off into the bushes. How could one man find so much to love in a few short weeks only to lose it all in one night?

  Tilting his head back, he shot a long look at the stars and whatever lay beyond. "Take care of her, all right?" he whispered and realized that he was actually praying. Again. He only hoped someone was listening.

  #

  Maggie flapped her arms and walked in circles, trying to keep warm. But the coat she wore protected her only from the chilling wind. It was a deeper cold that had her trembling.

  The rustling thud of running footsteps sounded out from behind her and she turned to watch her father hurry across the meadow. When he reached her side, Henry stopped, bent over, and braced his hands on his knees. Gulping in air like a beached trout. Finally, though, he looked up and asked, "Is he here yet?”

  "I don't know," Maggie said, sweeping her gaze across the open ground surrounding her, looking for the Devil dressed like a gunfighter. "Maybe he won't be visible until Gabe gets here.”

  Still out of breath, Henry puffed, “Well, that won't be long. Only reason I beat him here is he took the road and I came across the fields." He stopped and frowned. “Did you know Mick Samson had a new bull?”

  "Yes," she murmured, still looking for that elusive Devil.

  "Well, you might have told me." Henry clapped one hand to his chest. “Like to stop my heart seeing that snorting monster comin' out of the dark pasture after me."

  Any other time she might have smiled at the image of her round-bellied father outrunning a young bull, but not tonight.

  "I told him, Mom," Jake called out as he, too, entered the meadow and ran straight at his mother. "He said he'd be right along."

  "He who? Who the hell else is coming?" Henry demanded.

  “That’s what I’d like to know," Gabe said and all three of them spun around to face him. "What's goin' on here?"

  "My plan," Maggie said and lifted her chin defiantly, prepared to fight whoever she had to, even Gabe, if need must, to win this battle.

  "Damn it, Maggie," he shouted.

  "Don't you curse at my girl,” Henry yelled.

  "Hello, Gabe," Jake called, "are you surprised?”

  "Yes," he said and, despite the situation, spared the boy a smile.

  "Jake," Maggie said, keeping a wary eye on Gabe, "you'd better go on home now."

  "Aw, Mom…"

  "And take your mother with you," Gabe told him.

  She opened her mouth to argue, but was distracted by a sudden twist of shadow that leaped into life between them. The full moon shone brightly down on the meadow, bathing even this splotch of unearthly darkness in a strange silvery light. As she watched, openmouthed, those shadows writhed and shifted until, at last, the man in black stood before them, just as she remembered him.

  A spiral of fear unwound in the pit of her stomach, but she fought it into submission. She wouldn't let her own fears defeat her before she'd had a chance to fight for the man she loved.

  The gunfighter's gaze swept the little group before landing squarely on Gabe. "What is going on here?"

  He flashed a look at Maggie and she saw he was determined to quash her attempts at rescue. "Doesn't matter. Let's be on our way, huh?”

  "Oh no," she said quickly and stepped up beside Gabe to glare at the Devil. "I won't let you have him.”

  "She's right," Henry said. "You take me, but you leave him be."

  "You stay out of this, old man," Gabe warned him.

  "Old?" Outraged, Henry snarled, “Who're you callin' old?"

  Gabe sighed. "You're her father. She needs you."

  "You have to marry her," Henry said. "You owe her that, by thunder.”

  "He doesn't owe me anything, Daddy." Maggie spoke up in her own defense.

  "You stay out of this," Gabe warned her. "This is between me and your father."

  "Don't you tell me what to do," she snapped.

  The gunfighter looked from one to the other of them, opening and closing his mouth as he fought to get a word out. Then Maggie turned on him and she thought she saw him back up a little. But she must have been wrong about that.

  "You leave both of them alone," Maggie told him. “You can take me…well, after I get Jake raised. I’ll go with you then if you leave Gabe here with me now."

  Michael sighed.

  "Oh, no you don't," Gabe said, stepping in between the gunfighter and Maggie. "You try to take her off to Hell, and I
swear to you I'll find some way to make you regret it."

  "I already regret it,” the gunfighter mumbled, but no one was listening. Forget about getting his wings. He'd be lucky if someone didn't put a new lock on the Heavenly Gates specifically designed to keep him out.

  Closing his eyes briefly, he realized that if he could get a headache, he'd be getting one now. Looking from one person to the next, he saw that they were all so busy trying to sacrifice themselves for the others' sake, no one was listening to him. Though that should make him happy, at the moment, he only wanted to conclude their business and get back to Heaven, where things made sense. Knowing there was only one sure way to capture their attention, the gunfighter spun himself in a tight, spiraling circle. In a swirl of bright color and glorious sound, he transformed himself into his actual appearance.

  And all of them blessedly shut up.

  But before Michael could take advantage of the silence, a short blast of hot air rushed at them all from every direction at once. As though the flames of an invisible fire had been stoked, heat filled the meadow as completely as though it were the hottest of summer days rather than a moonlit autumn night.

  The small hairs at the back of Gabe's neck lifted as a deep, reddish glow pulsed weirdly directly in front of him.

  "Gabe?" Maggie whispered.

  "Shh…'" he coaxed, every nerve alert to the sense of impending danger growing within him.

  "Oh dear," Michael muttered.

  The pulse quickened the red light brightened, and the air around them became almost too hot to breathe. Gabe tossed a quick look at the gunfighter, who looked as worried as Gabe felt.

  In the next instant, the light faded and a tall, dark man stepped from its center. His night-black gaze swept across the small knot of people.

  “Who are you?” Gabe demanded.

  Those black eyes settled on him. "I am who that one—“ he said, jerking a nod at the gunfighter—“pretends to be."

  Michael groaned.

  Shifting his gaze between the two otherworldly beings, Gabe asked, "Just what the hell is going on here?”

  "This is not Hell's business," Michael said with a shake of his haloed head, "but Heaven's."

  "So you're not from…" Gabe pointed at the ground.

  "No," Michael told him.