My Guardian Knight Read Online Free PDF

reluctantly looked away as Matthew claimed his attention, talking nonstop about the little brown horse he clutched tightly in his hands.  Was this the only toy the boy had?  Surely not, for Amanda seemed like the type of mother who would indulge her child.  Of course, if money were the object, there were plenty of things that could be made from scraps around the house.  She was certainly a mystery.  Sebastian grinned.  He’d always had a fondness for mysteries!  Matthew taught his horse to prance about the table while Sebastian turned his attention to Amanda.  “I’d be honored to escort you to the festival, Amanda.  It’s been a long time since I’ve taken time away from work to relax and enjoy myself.  The way I see it, a day off is way past due and if I have to spend it alone I’ll just end up feeling sorry for myself. 
    Say you’ll come with me.”
    Amanda laughed.  “You’ve missed your calling, Sebastian.  You should have been a lawyer.  I’m sure you could charm any jury into believing anything you wanted them to.”
    Sebastian’s eyes darkened a bit, and Amanda wondered at the sadness she saw in them.  “My days of trying to influence anyone’s opinion are long over.  I’m much happier just to live and let live.  I guess I’ve become the easy going type,” he said ruefully.
    Amanda smiled.  “I don’t suppose being mellow is anything to be ashamed of, Sebastian.”
                  “I guess not,” he grumbled, a scowl lining his face.
                  Amanda frowned a bit herself.  Although she’d not known him very long, she had come to think of Sebastian as a light shining through darkness.  His bright smile and lighthearted attitude seeped through her fear and made her feel warm and safe.  The patience and friendship he’d given Matthew were priceless to her, and she’d wondered once or twice if he were even capable of a frown.
    Amanda pulled herself up short.  When had she stopped thinking of him as a possible enemy and started looking upon him as a friend?  He was a lawman , for goodness sakes!  He could even now be plotting ways to push her into Avery’s clutches.
    Her fingers shook slightly as she took a sip of her coffee.  What was she thinking?  Except for that one time, she had always been a good judge of character.  Hadn’t Miss Annabelle always asked her to sit in on meetings so she could get Amanda’s opinion of the businessmen?  And, she thought proudly, she had never been wrong.  Every man she had deemed trustworthy had proven to be so.
    It was just that one time that she had made a mistake.  Such a big mistake!  But she’d been young and was so eager to start a life of her own that she hadn’t paid attention to her instincts.  
    But that was a long time ago.  And even though her head told her he could be against her, her heart knew he wasn’t.  His kindness was too genuine.  His eyes weren’t hooded, but a clear, deep blue that twinkled merrily.
    “Amanda?”  She jerked her head up at the sound of two voices calling her name.  Sebastian and Matthew were staring at her.  “We’ve been trying to get your attention for a full five minutes.  Where were you?”
    “Were you sleeping with your eyes open, Mama?” Matthew chided.
    She laughed.  “I suppose I was.  What were you trying to tell me?”
                  “Your food’s getting cold.”
    She looked down in surprise at a plate of steaming biscuits and gravy.  Sebastian must have ordered for her again, but she didn’t recall the waitress taking their order or bringing the plates to the table.  She must have been deep in thought, indeed!
    She ate silently, savoring the good food but, more than that, the animated conversation that ensued between Sebastian and her son.  Matthew, always a quiet child, seemed to blossom under Sebastian’s attentions.  His eyes sparkled brightly and his smile seemed to light the room.  She smiled as