Untried Heart

  “Hey, buddy.”

  The old dog swished his tail in response and Ben spent a few minutes petting the animal before it wandered into the corner for a nap. Chip had been his father’s and he’d inherited the dog along with the few acres of rocky, unfarmable land, an old barn and the small house where he now lived and worked.

  It was a far cry from the high-end house he’d built for his wife, Sabrina, in an upscale neighbourhood. Of course, she’d taken it as part of the divorce settlement. Her lawyer had claimed she'd been an aspiring model with the potential to earn millions yet she'd given it all up to help her husband expand his business. The house and its contents were compensation for those lost wages.

  Yeah, right.

  Not that he cared. The place had never felt like a home to him. He’d slept there and that was about it. Hell, towards the end of his father’s life, he’d not even done that, spending the nights at the hospice not knowing his wife was screwing another man in his bed.

  He scowled and grabbed a drill to make a pilot hole in the wood. Just as he set the drill bit to the wood and started the tool, someone unexpectedly spoke behind him.

  “Hello.”

  “What the—?” In surprise, his hand jerked and the drill bit caught the edge of his finger, ripping off a generous chunk of skin. Blood began to drip everywhere and he swore loudly.

  “Oh no! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you.” A young woman stood beside him, her eyes wide as she stared at his injured hand for a moment before beginning to dig frantically in her purse. “This is all my fault. Let me help you. I know I have a bandage in here somewhere.”

  Ben pulled a rag out of his pocket and wrapped it around his hand. “No need to fuss. I’ll see to it in a bit. What can I help you with?”

  She pushed the door of the shop closed and shivered. “It’s cold out there.”

  “Not that bad yet.” He glanced out the window at the grey, overcast sky and shrugged. “It’s only November. It’ll get a lot worse once winter hits.”

  “I’m from England originally so this is cold for me.” She gave him an apologetic smile and began to gravitate towards the old pot-bellied stove he used to keep the place warm, her gaze drifting around the interior of the building.

  “Are you lost or...?”

  “Oh, sorry. I…I saw the sign on the road about hand-crafted furniture for sale.”

  A potential customer. Maybe the day wasn’t going to be a complete waste after all. “Okay. Well, look around while I go tend to this.” He held up his rag-wrapped hand. “I’ll be back in a minute to answer any questions you might have.” As an afterthought he added a warning, “Don’t touch any of the tools.”

  He gave a quick glance at Chip, thinking he should tell her not to worry about the dog but the animal was still curled up in its bed, fast asleep. Some guard dog!

  Through the dirty, cobwebbed window Eugenie watched the man, Benjamin, leave the warmth of the barn and walk over to the house. On the few cases she’d been assigned, most of her time had been spent invisible, drifting along beside her clients unbeknownst to them, doling out bits of help as needed but never interacting with them. Now, she was in unfamiliar territory. What should she do next? Follow him right into his house? Waiting in this outbuilding while her assignment went off on his own didn’t seem right. What if he needed help with that cut? There had been an awful lot of blood. Having already saved his life once she now felt responsible for him. Deciding to go with her gut, she left the relative comfort of the barn.

  She headed towards the house only to pause when she realized the dog was following her. When she’d noticed it sleeping in the corner, she’d wondered how it would greet her. Would it remember her or not? Apparently, it did, for it sniffed at her feet, looked up at her and wagged its tail in greeting.

  “Hello again, dog.” She’d forgotten how large the animal was. Its feet were enormous and its head came up to her waist. Thankfully she had proof of its benign nature. After all, hadn’t it snuggled to her side last year, sharing its body warmth? Her parents had always declared dogs to be filthy, dangerous beasts, however, based on her experience with this one, she believed they had overstated the case.

  The big golden-brown dog sat down beside her and cocked its head as if questioning her motives.

  “I’m here to help your owner, okay? Just like last time.”

  The animal huffed a muffled woof, stood and padded its way towards the house.

  Taking that as permission, she followed and climbed the old wooden steps at the back of the house, then eased open the door. The dog brushed past her and headed towards a water bowl where it began to drink noisily.

  “You want me to just make myself at home, right?”

  Of course, the dog didn’t answer, so she began to look about. She was in a small, narrow, utility room with a washing machine, sink and shelves along one wall. The other held hooks for coats and a place for boots. Beyond that there was a door frame with a missing door and what looked like a kitchen just beyond. Leaving the dog to his own devices, she began to explore further.

  Her first impression was horror. Never had she seen such a messy kitchen. It didn’t look like the room had been cleaned in months.

  The counters were covered in empty cans and packages. Dishes were piled in a sink filled with water, bits of congealed grease clinging to the edges and mold showing on the surfaces that weren’t submerged. Just the thought of the number of germs hiding in among the trash and unwashed crockery made her shudder and look away.

  A photo on the fridge caught her attention. It appeared to be Benjamin standing with someone, except the image was partially covered by a magnet. She stepped closer for a better look. Yes, it was her client, but with whom?

  Moving the magnet aside, she idly noted it was shaped like a dog-bone and bore the number of a pet store on it. Interestingly enough, there seemed to be actual tooth marks gouged into the plastic as well. She gave the dog a suspicious look, then returned her attention to the photograph. It depicted a laughing and relaxed Benjamin Davis with a pretty, statuesque, blonde woman tucked to his side.

  She frowned, thinking of her own lack of inches and plain brown hair, only to be jerked from her thoughts by something cold and wet nudging her. It was the dog nuzzling the biscuit shaped magnet in her hand.

  “Sorry, but this is a magnet not a real dog biscuit. You’ve tried to eat it before. See the tooth marks?”

  Apparently, the dog didn’t believe her for it snuffled at the magnet again, his whiskers tickling her hand. She stifled a giggle and was about to put the picture and magnet back in place when she heard footsteps in the hallway. She fumbled the magnet and it dropped to the floor.

  The dog gave a happy woof and dived for the plastic bone causing it to skitter across the floor.

  “No! Don’t eat it. Bad dog!” She ducked under the table and wrested the magnet from the animal who gave her a woeful look and then lumbered back towards the door.

  The magnet was now slimy with dog slobber and bits of dust. Making a face, she picked it up gingerly and began to crawl out from under the table. She was still on her hands and knees when Benjamin entered the room.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  There was no mistaking the accusation in his voice and Eugenie swallowed hard as she peeked up at him from her position on the floor.

  “I...er...I thought you might need help with the bandages.”

  He folded his arms. “And you believed I kept them under the kitchen table?”

  She felt her face grow warm. “No, of course not.” Struggling to her feet, she banged her head on the table edge. “Ouch!” She staggered to the side a bit and Benjamin grabbed her arm to steady her.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes, more surprised than hurt.” She rubbed her head with her free arm all the while extremely aware of the heat of his body so close to hers, the manly smell of sawdust and sweat filling her lungs as she inhaled.

  He gave an indeciph
erable grunt and released his hold on her noticing the magnet she still held in her hand. Immediately, his gaze flew to the fridge and his brows lowered into a scowl.

  “Couldn’t resist snooping, could you? Women! You’re all alike.”

  “No, I wasn’t—”

  “Did Sabrina send you? Did she run through all the money she bled from me already? Well, you can damn well tell her there’s nothing left. Look around.” He swept his arm out in an encompassing manner. “An old table, a stove with only two working burners. If she wants it, she can have it for all its worth.”

  Eugenie shook her head. “No. I don’t know who Sabrina is. I came in to see if you needed help. Really. And then I saw the picture on the fridge and...and...” She stuttered to a halt. “I’m sorry.” How many times had she apologized to him already? This assignment was not off to a good start.

  Benjamin shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

  Spying the photograph on the floor, she bent and picked it up. “Here.”

  He looked at the picture she held out and then took it.

  “And the magnet. It’s sort of sticky. Your dog was chewing on it.” She handed over the bit of plastic as well.

  He wiped it on his shirt and stuck it back up on the fridge.

  Eugenie flicked a glance at the picture again. “Is that her? Sabrina?”

  “Yeah. My ex.” His jaw tightened.

  “I’m sorry.” Oh, good heavens, she’d just said it again. He was going to think she didn’t know how to say anything else.

  “No need. I’m better off without her.”

  “Then why do you keep her picture on the fridge?” She cocked her head, trying to understand.

  “To remind me not to be fooled by a pretty face again.”

  “Oh.” She shifted on her feet, not sure what to say next.

  Ben took a deep breath and blew it out. “You said you were here to see the furniture?”

  Recognizing the conversation was over, she nodded and then followed him out to the barn. Once there, she spent some time looking at the various pieces. They truly were lovely.

  “If you’re interested, I only accept cash.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “I’m definitely interested.” She ran her hand over the back of a chair. “Do you deliver?”

  “I can if it’s in town. Out of town, I’ll have to add extra to the price to cover the cost of gas.”

  “Okay.” She gave him a smile. “I’ll be back tomorrow to pick out a few things.”

  He nodded but his eyes had narrowed into a wary look. “Sure.”

  It was obvious he didn’t believe her. Michael was right. Benjamin Davis certainly lacked faith in his fellow man…er…woman. Well, she’d do her best to fix that. As his guardian angel, it was her duty!

  With a final nod of thanks, she left the shop, her mind already busy on all she needed to do. The first thing was obvious. She’d need to find a place to stay in town if she was going to have him deliver furniture tomorrow!

  Ben watched the woman walk to the road. Yeah, she wouldn’t be back. Women never meant what they said. She was a pretty little thing though. And something about her was vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t place from where.

  He shook his head and was about to return to the job he’d been working on earlier when a sound near the road drew his attention. Through narrowed eyes he watched as the mailman placed something in his mailbox and then drove away. Most likely more bills.

  His shoulders slumped as he walked to the mailbox and opened the old metal container. Yep it was filled with bills; electricity, natural gas, credit cards, the lumber yard, the bank. Was there anyone in the world he didn’t owe money to?

  He ran his hand through his hair and looked around. All he had left was his tools and the clothes on his back. The old pickup truck he’d bought still had money owing on it. The farm was mortgaged. Everything in the house was old, the appliances on their last legs. How had it all come to this?

  “I’m sorry, Dad.” He glanced skyward. His father had loved this place but if things didn’t turn around soon the bank would take possession of it. “You always told me a man paid his debts, he didn’t walk away from his responsibilities, but I don’t know what other options are left.”

  Stuffing the envelopes into his pocket, he headed back to the barn. Working with wood always soothed him and helped him think. The table would be a nice piece when it was done especially if he carved some extra detailing into the legs.

  He reached for the drill he’d been using earlier and promptly banged his injured finger. Ah hell! Blood began to seep from under the bandage again.

  Cursing he stomped back to the house. Why had he even bothered getting out of bed today?

  Eugenie was already back in the locker room in Heaven before she realized she hadn’t given Benjamin her name. Well, too late now. She could do that tomorrow when she had an actual address. But how did she go about getting one? She’d never lived anywhere on Earth other than with her parents. How did you find a place and, once you found one, how did you pay for it? She would die of embarrassment if she had to ask Michael all those questions.

  “Afternoon, Eugenie.” The sound of a male voice had her turning and she noticed another GA, Zeke, entering the locker room. She’d shared several conversations with him over the past few months and he’d been very welcoming when she’d joined the squadron, helping her with her locker that first day when it had refused to open. His ready smile had eased her nerves even though his formal robes had made him seem intimidating.

  Since then, they’d developed an easy camaraderie which meant she didn’t hesitate to ask his help on this, her first big case.

  “Zeke! You’re just the person I need.”

  “Really? You need me? Eugenie, I didn’t know you cared.” He pressed a hand to his heart and gave her a goofy grin that had her laughing.

  “How droll, Zeke.”

  “Droll? Really, Eugenie?”

  She pursed her lips and shook her head. “It’s a perfectly good word! Now, please try to be serious for just a few minutes. I have a new assignment and for the first time I need to have a physical presence on Earth.”

  “An interactive case? Congrats! You’re moving up the ranks fast.” He leaned against a locker and gave her a nod of approval.

  “Thank you. I’m quite excited about it. The only problem is I don’t know how to do it.”

  “Now, that’s not true. I know you know how to materialize.”

  “Yes, I can do that. It’s all the small details like renting an apartment and obtaining money that has me worried.”

  “Didn’t you do the seminar on All Things Human?”

  “No. Not yet. Michael’s had me studying the rule book and taking the chapter tests.”

  “That’s strange. Michael’s usually on top of things. If you were scheduled for interaction assignments, he should have had you enrolled in classes.” Zeke frowned then gave a shrug. “I guess this case must have come up unexpectedly and he feels you have the needed skills for it.”

  “I suppose, but right now I feel decidedly unskilled. Help?”

  Zeke pushed off from the locker. His chest seemed to swell, his shoulders straightening. “Babe, you’ve come to the right man. I know all there is to know about living on earth. My former partner, Alex, kept a pad down there and lived as a human. First off, you need to go to Acquisitions. They’ll furnish you with enough fake documentation to carry you through the assignment.”

  “Fake?”

  “Yeah, we don’t perma-change the records on earth for an assignment unless absolutely necessary but don’t worry, these are good enough to pass inspection.”

  “Slow down! I need to take notes!”

  Zeke chuckled and led her to a bench. “Let’s sit down. This could take a while.”

  Eugenie took out a pen and a pad of paper and began to scribble notes while Zeke continued to talk.

&nb
sp; “After you have your documentation, you need to go to the bursar’s office and get a 450 form. Fill it out and you’ll get a cash advance and a credit card. They’ll also set up a bank account for you and explain how to use it and a debit card. Ask for Pete, tell him you’re a friend of mine and he’ll see you right.”

  “Ask for Pete...” She murmured the words as she finished writing them down.

  “Good. Now, while you’re doing that I’ll ask permission to help you on the human plane. I’m already helping on another case but I’m sure Michael won’t mind if I split my time between the two.” He rubbed his hands together and appeared to be thinking. “We need to get you some clothes—”

  “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

  Zeke looked her up and down and shook his head. “Look at the dress you’re wearing. Way too retro.”

  “But your formal robes are even more so and you wear them all the time,” she pointed out.

  “Oh…er…but not on a real case. This,” he plucked at his white gown, “is my signature style.”

  “Signature style?” She raised her brows.

  “No?” He looked surprised and rubbed his chin. “Maybe I need to reconsider…”

  “About my case?” She drew his attention back to her problem.

  “Oh, right.” He gave her a critical look. “You’re going to need jeans and t-shirts, yoga pants, casual shoes, the whole works if you’re going to fit in on earth. At least you’ve taken advantage of the amenities up here and had your hair cut at some point during the last century, so we can skip that step.”

  “Okay,” she nodded, thankful at least something about her appearance was satisfactory.

  “I’ll help you find somewhere to live. You gotta be careful down there. People would question why a young woman is wandering around by herself. Little things like that can blow your cover.

  “Blowing my cover.” Her stomach gave a little flop at the very idea. “That’s one of the things I’m worried about.”

  “You’ll be fine.” Zeke gave her a shoulder bump. “A lot of it is instinct. The main thing to remember is to not be seen using your powers.”