Desert Angel by Pamela K Forrest Page A

them.” March looked down at her hands. “I ate every bite. Once I got started, I couldn’t seem to stop. And then I drank every bit of the juice.”
    Squaring her shoulders, she raised her gaze to him. “I know what I did was unforgivable, peaches are so valuable. If you’ll give me a little time, I’ll manage to earn the money somehow and repay you. I’ll get a job in town cleaning houses or something.”
    Shaking his head, he set the can back on the table. If this little girl went to town looking for work, there was only one kind of job she’d be offered, flat on her back. He didn’t think he could stand knowing that he’d been the one to send her there.
    “It’s just a can of peaches.”
    “Please, I’d feel better if you’d yell at me … or hit me.”
    “Hit you?” She couldn’t be serious, he thought, but one look at her face convinced him that she was deadly serious. She was such a tiny little thing that one blow from his fist would probably kill her. “March, I would never, ever hit you or any other woman.”
    Remembering the rippling muscles that corded his back and shoulders, March released a silent sigh of relief. The blows from her father’s fists had been staggering, and had left bruises that lasted for weeks. And Papa’s strength was feeble in comparison to this man.
    “Thank you for that. If you’ve no objection, I’d like to stay the night. When I have Jamie settled in the morning, I’ll be on my way. If you’ll trust me, and I realize that you have no reason to, but if you will, I’ll send you the money for the peaches as soon as I have it.”
    “March, it was just a can of peaches. I can’t expect you to work here without eating.”
    “But peaches!”
    “Did you enjoy them?” he asked softly.
    “Oh, they were wonderful! I felt so guilty every- time I took a bite, but they were wonderful!” Jim couldn’t help but wonder what her childhood had been like, what deprivations she had suffered that a simple can of peaches became a priceless treasure.
    “If it’s in the house, and it’s edible, and you want to eat it, then eat it. When something is gone, make a list, and when one of the men goes to town, he’ll replace it.”
    March’s eyes grew wide with amazement. “You’re not mad?”
    Jim slowly shook his head. Reaching for the matches, he lit the lamp and set it on the table. “No, honey, I’m not mad. Is there another can?” At her nod, Jim instructed her to get it. “I think I’m in the mood for a peach.”
    March dug through the cabinet, searching for the other can she remembered seeing there this morning. When she found it, she handed it and the punch to him. Licking her lips, she swore that she could still taste a lingering sweetness from the juice. Her eyes remained glued to the can as he opened it, reached in, and pulled out a piece of the fruit. Plopping it into his mouth, he licked the juice from his fingers.
    “You’re right, wonderful.” His eyes twinkled as he held the can out to her. “Here, have one.”
    “Oh, no … no, I couldn’t.” March put her hands behind her back to help avoid temptation.
    Her eyes were huge, filled with more longing than he’d ever seen on a human face. “Sure you can,” he said, holding up another piece of fruit and sucking it into his mouth. “Better hurry or I’ll eat them all.”
    Jim held the can under her nose, teasing her with the delectable fragrance. March raised her eyes to him, and he chuckled at her expression. “Go ahead, sweetheart,” he encouraged softly. Slowly, giving him plenty of time to change his mind, she reached into the can and dug out a piece of fruit. Raising it to her mouth, she nibbled off the tiniest piece, savoring the flavor that burst onto her tongue.
    Leaning his hip against the table, Jim watched her eat the peach, marveling at the look of delight on her face. She didn’t gulp it down as he had done, rather she relished one tiny bite at a time, her eyes closed. He had never