The Protective One

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Liking the idea of being far from her regular routine, E.A. grinned at him. “You make it sound hard to refuse.”

  “Because it is hard to refuse, especially if you’ve never been. It’s time you went. Ain’t so?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Gut. We’ll plan on it. Make it a date.”

  Make it a date. Feeling her cheeks heat, she murmured, “All right.”

  Will groaned. “Sorry, I just realized what I said. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Nee, of course not.” She knew that, too—which was why the sudden burst of disappointment felt so strange. Hoping to cover up the awkward moment, she said, “You know what? We should ask if everyone wants to go. That would be so much fun.”

  “Jah. For sure.” He smiled at her again, but his voice had sounded a little flat, almost like he, too, was just as caught off guard as she was by the new tension that was buzzing between them.

  Putting her feet up next to his on the railing, she asked, “Did you walk over here barefoot?”

  “Nah. I had some old boots on, but I took them off when I got here. It’s too hot for them.”

  E.A. was wearing dime-store flip-flops, her summer footwear of choice. Looking at how their feet looked together, she couldn’t help but think they were a good match. Will’s toenails were neatly trimmed and his skin was lightly tanned. Hers were much the same way, except far smaller.

  “What are you looking at?”

  Though she was tempted to lie and point out the fireflies, she didn’t want to do that. Not with him. “Our feet.”

  He frowned. “E.A., really?” Looking embarrassed, he pulled one of his feet down.

  “Will, no! Keep it up.”

  “I don’t want you staring at my toes.”

  “Stop. I was just thinking about how we’ve had our share of running around in bare feet over the years,” she improvised.

  As she hoped, Will relaxed. “That’s true. For a while there, my mamm made us all stand on the driveway so she could wash our feet before we ventured inside the house. Do you remember that?”

  “I do. And I also remember that Katie and you were always the worst culprits about tracking mud inside.”

  “And Andy, from time to time.”

  She giggled. “And never, ever Harley.”

  Will groaned. “Harley. Boy, he used to drive me crazy. I don’t know how he managed it, but that guy never got as dirty as the rest of us.”

  “I used to think he only worried about his parents getting mad, but then I realized that it was just him. He was born with a need to be neat.”

  “Jah.”

  “And now he and Katie are married. Did you ever imagine that?”

  “To be honest? Nee. But now that they are together, I can see that they make a fine pair. His calm temperament is a good counterpart to her constant worrying.”

  “They do balance each other out,” she agreed. Thinking about all of them and the way they’d stuck together through thick and thin, she turned his way. “Hey, Will?”

  “Hmm?”

  “What do you think it is about our group that made us stay friends for so long? I barely keep in touch with half the kids I used to hang around in school.”

  “And you even went to that fancy private Mennonite school.”

  She playfully rolled her eyes. “Stop. It wasn’t all that fancy. But you know what I mean, right? We’ve not only stayed friends, but also half of us have married each other.”

  “More than half, jah?” he joked.

  “Whatever. What is it about all of us that’s kept us so close?”

  “I think it’s trust,” Will replied after a moment. “We trust each other. And though we did drift apart for a time, we connected again. We’ve been there for each other in good times and bad. That’s not easy to do.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Though she hadn’t meant to do it, Will’s words made her think of Andy. He’d been struggling with his own demons but she hadn’t known. She was glad they’d all vowed to keep in better contact with each other after that. It was the right thing to do.

  They sat quietly for a few minutes. Will rested his elbows on his knees, looking out at the field of fireflies.

  She tucked her feet under herself on the chair and watched them, thinking about Andy and Will, and how she’d never been able to sit quietly like this with David. Not even when she’d been sure they were going to marry one day.

  “Let’s talk about something else. How’s work?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like I can’t work at the shop another day. Not even for another minute.”

  “It’s that tedious?”

  “No, it’s my manager, Lark. She’s a good person, I think, but not a great boss.” Hating how judgmental that sounded, she added, “But that’s only my opinion.”

  The porch lights illuminated Will’s face well enough for her to see the concern in his eyes. “What does she do that’s so bad?”

  “Here’s an example. I have this student named Marta. She’s an English woman in her early thirties.”

  “What are you teaching her?”

  “I’m teaching her to sew.” Thinking of their lessons, she smiled. “We have these wonderful Singer sewing machines. I tell ya, they practically run themselves. Anyway, I guess Marta is really smart and used to do all kinds of research and stuff for books, but she’s also really tentative and shy.”

  “That doesn’t sound so strange.”

  “I agree, but I worry about her. Sometimes, it feels like she’s almost afraid of her shadow. She needs a lot of encouragement and time to make her decisions.”

  “It sounds like she needs you.” His voice matched his words. So sweet and caring.

  “Thank you. I’d like to think that I do help her. But Lark has next to no patience with her. She talks bad about Marta behind her back and always acts as if Marta is being difficult when it takes her a long time to check out or choose fabric.”

  “I’m surprised. Your Marta isn’t alone. I’ve trained all sorts of people at the trailer factory many a time. Some folks just need more time than others to pick things up. But that doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with them or that they won’t do a good job.”

  “Exactly. In Marta’s case, I think it’s just difficult for her to make up her mind. She wants to do a good job.” She sighed. “I know in the grand scheme of things, I shouldn’t let Lark’s impatience get to me, but today it did.”

  “Maybe she’s better at paperwork.”

  “She is good at that.” Feeling guilty, E.A. said, “If you met her, I’m sure you’d think she was nice.” She sighed. “Maybe my problem with working at the sewing shop is that I’m kind of bored there unless I’m teaching classes. And yes, I know I sound ungrateful.”

  He smiled at her. “Complain all you want, E.A. I won’t tell a soul.”

  E.A. giggled. “Feel free to complain, too. I’ll listen to anything you have to say.”

  “Danke, but neither Jake nor Nan has done anything too annoying lately.”

  “If that changes, let me know.”

  “It will. They can’t stay out of trouble for more than a day or two at a time.”

  Will was good medicine. Spending time with him was exactly what she needed. Someone who understood that she needed to vent.

  “Elizabeth Anne, what is going on?”

  Startled, they both turned to the voice.

  Will got up to his feet but didn’t say a word.

  She decided to stay sitting. “Hello, David,” she said, letting her opinion about his unannounced visit shine through. “Any special reason you decided to come over tonight?”

  “It’s Saturday night.”

  Honestly, that man thrived on his schedule so much he should have been a train conductor. “Jah, but we broke up.”

  “Only temporarily.”

  Grinning at her, Will sat back down.

  Ignoring Will’s smirk, she stood up. “Sorry, David, but
we both know that isn’t right. Our breakup was most definitely not temporary.”

  Whether it was because of her statement—or that she was telling him such a thing in front of Will—David flushed. “I canna believe you are taking that tone with me.”

  Will snickered under his breath.

  After shooting him a warning glance, she glared at David again. “I think you should watch your tone. Don’t you?”

  Putting one hand on his hip, David eyed Will like he’d just crawled out of the swamp. “Is he the reason for your new attitude?”

  “Will, would you like to answer that or shall I?”

  “Oh, I’ll answer him. I’ll be happy to.” With a grunt of irritation, he got to his feet.

  When Will crossed the short distance between them, E.A. folded her arms and waited. It wasn’t very good of her to simply watch it play out, but some things couldn’t be helped. Will Kurtz was as easygoing as one came, but when he was riled up?

  Well, all the Eight knew then to look out.

  It was almost too bad that David did not realize that Will had a temper—and that he could behave unpredictably when he was in such a mood. But as she watched Will walk toward her, E.A. felt her pulse beat a little faster. He looked ready for anything.

  What was funny was that she felt that way, too.

  SEVEN

  “Andy felt guilty about leaving his date but he kept saying he didn’t have a choice,” Will called out. “But now that I think about it, John was pretty worried about Marie, too.”

  “Well?” David prodded. “Are you behind Elizabeth Anne’s sudden surliness?”

  Will knew that one day in the future he was going to wonder what he’d been thinking. But right at that minute? He couldn’t think of a single reason to stop the words that came out of his mouth.

  “I doubt I’ve ever spurred on her temper, but I can’t say that I mind her speaking her mind.” He smiled at her. “In fact, I’m right glad that she’s telling us both what she’s thinking.”

  E.A. smiled back in such a sweet way, it was almost like she’d forgotten David was still there.

  David turned on his heel “What is going on here, Elizabeth Anne?”

  With a sigh, E.A. walked over to join them. “Quite a bit, actually.”

  “I’d like to ask you the same thing,” Will said. “It’s pretty obvious that you’re interrupting a private conversation.”

  When David gaped at him, Will glared. E.A. grabbed his bicep. “Will, what in the world are you doing?”

  He wasn’t sure. But everything inside of him was propelling him forward. He didn’t think he had a choice but to follow his instincts. “Just go along with me,” he muttered under his breath. “It’ll be fine.” At least, he hoped so as he walked toward David.

  “I’m Will Kurtz,” he said as he held out his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve ever officially met.”

  David looked like he was seriously considering ignoring Will’s hand, but at the last minute he shook it. “David Brennan.”

  “And you two are neighbors?”

  “We are.” His chin lifted. “But I’m more than that. Elizabeth Anne and I have been courting for years.”

  “Is that right?” Will had no trouble allowing a thick note of surprise to linger in his voice. David was acting as if he and E.A. were something special. But whether that had once been the case or not, they certainly weren’t now.

  David turned to E.A. “I can’t believe you’re already pushing a new man right in front of my nose.”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sakes,” E.A. said. “Nothing we’re doing has anything to do with you.”

  “If it concerns you, it does.”

  She shook her head. “You’re wrong, David. Whatever we used to be is over.”

  Will almost clapped her on the back. E.A. was giving it to this guy straight.

  “We were taking a break.”

  “No, we weren’t.”

  “Elizabeth Anne, we were practically engaged.”

  She inhaled sharply. “Oh no, we weren’t.”

  Will had had enough of the guy’s never-ending pushiness.

  Because of that, he decided to say something that his mother and father would not be proud of but that his best friends would grin about. “I believe ‘practically engaged’ is a lot like being ‘practically pregnant.’ Neither makes sense. You either are or you aren’t.”

  “Will, you are not helping,” E.A. hissed.

  She was right. But what could he do? He was committed now. He looked at David directly in the eye, practically taunting him to say something else.

  And … he didn’t disappoint. “You are making a big mistake, Elizabeth Anne,” David said. “You ain’t nothing special, nothing special at all. You’re gonna miss me when I’ve moved on. Mark my words.”

  Will hated the way David was talking to her. Hated the hurt in her eyes that she was trying to hide—especially because the other man couldn’t have been more wrong. E.A. definitely was special—at least she was to him.

  Reaching out for her hand, he wrapped his fingers through hers as he tugged her close to him. “E.A., baby, do you want me to tell him or shall I?”

  Wide blue eyes stared up into his. She looked both shocked at his words and mildly amused. “I think you’d better do the explaining,” she said.

  Will looked back at David. “I don’t think E.A. is going to be worried about you moving on at all, seeing as how she already has.” He grinned evilly. “We’re just days away from announcing that she’s off the market.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Days?”

  “Definitely days,” Will affirmed, almost enjoying her amusement as much as he was enjoying putting the other man in his place. Turning back to David, he said, “It’s time you went on home.”

  Instead of turning away and admitting defeat, David puffed up his chest. “Elizabeth Anne, are you going to allow him to speak to me like that?”

  She swallowed, seemed to come to a decision, and then smiled. “I’m sorry, David, but I can hardly stop him. My Will is nothing if not ardent.”

  After casting another dark look at them, David turned and started walking back to his house.

  But his steps were slow and he kept looking back at them, as if he was waiting for them to pull apart.

  What David needed was evidence, Will realized.

  That meant that there was only one thing to do.

  Releasing her hand, Will turned to face E.A., gently tilted her chin up, and then kissed her good and proper.

  She tensed against him, but then relaxed. Placed one of her hands on his chest.

  And because he’d been motivated by adrenaline, or maybe it was simply because she fit so well in his arms, Will moved his lips to her cheek, then jaw, before finding her lips again.

  He knew he was kissing her in a way he’d never kissed any girl before. In a way he knew he shouldn’t. But he couldn’t deny it was the best kiss he’d ever had.

  Minutes later, when Will lifted his head, E.A.’s eyes slowly opened. At first her expression was filled with wonder, and then shock.

  After another beat, she stepped away. “What. Was. That?”

  There were a lot of answers he could have given her. It was a mistake, an embarrassing burst of male ego … He could even lie and act like he kissed women that way all the time.

  But he couldn’t say any of those things. Not when her taste was still on his lips. Not when he realized that something had just happened between them that was both notable and true.

  So he settled for the plain and simple truth. “It was the best kiss I’ve ever had.” He smiled. “I know I should be waiting for you to slap my face or apologizing, but I cannot.”

  Looking like she was trying hard not to smile, she folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not going to hit you,” she said as she walked back to the pair of chairs. “But I am going to tell you that I am not exactly pleased with what you just did.”

  He sat down next to her. “Are you mad at
me?”

  “Will, you just acted as if we were on our way to the altar,” E.A. said. “You kissed me. A lot.”

  Oh, yes he had. “I haven’t forgotten.” Ignoring the sudden idea to take her in his arms again, he lowered his voice. “Don’t be mad, E.A.”

  “I … I don’t know how I feel right now. Maybe confused?”

  He’d take confused, especially since he was feeling pretty confused by his actions as well. “I’m sorry for pretending we were almost engaged,” he began. “But he came over here acting like he could treat you any which way he wanted. I hated that.”

  “So you just decided to make up a romance? Oh, Will.”

  “He’ll get over it.”

  Her voice darkened. “No, he’ll tell his parents, who are going to tell mine …” She craned her head to look in the front windows. “That is, if they didn’t already watch you kiss me in the first place.” She leaned her head back against the chair. “What a mess.”

  She was right. He’d made a real mess of her life. Feeling a little ashamed by making an already difficult time for her worse, he tried to patch things up. “E.A., we’re friends. We’ve been friends for years. I’ll talk to your parents if you want. I’ll explain to them about that kiss.” What he would actually say was a whole other story, though. How was he supposed to apologize for something he didn’t feel very sorry about?

  “Explain what? That you suddenly decided to start kissing me like we were Romeo and Juliet?” She released a ragged sigh. “No. Way.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Oh, yes. If you say anything to my mother, she’s going to think that she’s got every right to share her opinion, and I don’t want that.”

  “Okay … So, um, what do you want to do?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?”

  “Nothing more.” She waved a hand. “We’re just going to wait. I’m not going to say anything to anybody about what just happened until I have to.”

  “All right. I’ll keep my mouth shut, too, then. It will be like it never happened.” Almost never happened, he corrected to himself. Because he knew he wasn’t going to ever forget kissing her.