Only You (24 page)

“Indians!” someone shouted. “Attack! Attack! Close the gate!”

“No, wait! Mary’s outside!”

It was her mother’s voice, but it sounded far, far away.

Just then, an arrow flew past her, then another and another. Mary wanted to duck, but she still couldn’t move. Tears still fell silently down her face. She closed her eyes and prayed harder.

Then, an eerie silence surrounded her. A sweet feeling of peace and safety helped her open her eyes.

A dark shadow shielded her from the bright noonday sun. No. It wasn’t a shadow. It wasn’t a shadow at all. It was Gabriel, but he’d made himself huge, and great golden wings extended from his back as wide as the fence in front of the fort. The arrows that had been whizzing past her only a moment before were now blocked by Gabriel’s golden wings so that they fell harmlessly to the ground, keeping her and the fort safe.

Two arms lifted her from the ground and pressed her close. It was her papa, and he ran fast to the gate while Gabriel’s wings kept them both safe.

Inside the fort, the men stood silent, their guns at their sides as they stared at the awesome sight before them. Mary’s papa and two others pulled the gate closed as soon as her mother got her arms around her. Mama fell to her knees, rocking back and forth while nearly squeezing the breath from her.

“My baby . . . my sweet baby . . .” She smoothed her hands over Mary’s hair. “Are you all right? Are you hurt? Talk to me, please.”

Mary sniffed and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. “I spilled the berries.”

Mama squeezed me harder and laughed.

“Do you see that?” I heard my papa say. “An angel. An angel is protecting us.”

“It’s so beautiful,” Mr. Craig breathed.

“His name is Gabriel,” Mary said proudly. “He helped me pick berries.”

“What?” Papa asked, stooping to sweep her up into his strong arms. When he stood, she could see Gabriel, his wings still sheltering the fort, protecting them just like he’d said.

“Gabriel helped me pick the berries for Mama’s pies,” she said. Now that the words were coming, they tumbled out one after the other. “He helped me pick ’em quick as can be so I could come home. He got me here really fast, too. Faster than it’s ever took me to walk back to the fort from the Tall Pines.” She stopped then to draw in a quick breath before continuing. “Just look at him! Ain’t he a sight, Papa?”

One of the men said, “They’re turning back. The Indians are turning back!”

Mary smiled. “Because Gabriel was watching over us.”

“
He will give his angels charge concerning you . . . ”
Mama whispered the scripture.

I’ll always watch over you.

Mary heard the words inside her head and kept them to herself like a special secret for her alone.

That very day, Mr. Craig named the new settlement high on the ridge above the little winding river, Angel Ridge.

About the Author

DEBORAH GRACE STALEY is an award-winning author and is multi-published in short romantic fiction. Her writing awards include Duel on the Delta, the Smoky Mountain Valentine, and the DandyLine. She was honored to be a finalist in a number of contests including the Maggie, the Laurie, and the Ohio Valley Romance Writers’ First Chapter Contest. She is a member Romance Writers of America and serves as President of The Society of the Purple Prose, an intrepid group of the Romantic Times Booklovers Pre-Conference Seminars. She makes her home in a circa 1867 Victorian farmhouse on five acres in East Tennessee with her husband, son, and two dogs. Deborah loves to hear from readers.

Contact her via
www.deborahgracestaley.com

or

P.O. Box 672
Vonore, TN 37885