Protecting Summer

•Chapter 3•

•••

Summer tapped her pen against her pursed lips. Her booted foot tapped the floor underneath her desk. She glanced at the clock then through the glass at the stranger in the corner chair of her office.

For the past 20 minutes she had been wondering what her father would want with him. All positions were filled and we were in no position to put anyone else on the pay roll, unless someone quit or Mr Bowen was keeping things from her. But everyone knew, nothing got past Summer.

She lifted her coffee cup to her mouth and took slow sips. Summer forced herself to concentrate on her paper work. The bell on the front door dinged and Jack, Logan and Evan waltzed in cackling like idiots. They walked toward her glass office. Evan palmed the glass and leaned down to the window.

"Mind sharing the clock-in chart, little sister?"

"What do you say?" She said bitterly.

"Whoa." Jack cooed. Logan raised his hands in defeat. "Calm down, doll face, we were just joking this mornin'."

"Yeah," Logan agreed. "Take a pill, Summer."

Summer tossed the clock-in clip bored through the window as well as a pen. "I'm fresh out of Prozac, boys." She spun in her chair to retrieve a file from the tall filing cabinet behind her. "Unfortunately."

The bell dinged. "Boys, get downstairs." Mr. Bowen's deep voice commanded.

Jack, Logan and Evan left through the same door they came in through, leaving behind whiffs of wood chips, Axe, and burnt pride.

Summer looked up at her father who stood in the doorway of her office. His cornflower blue eyes flooded with concern. "I'm sorry about this morning, baby girl."

Summer lifted a shoulder and the corners of her mouth in a smile. "I was taught to be tough."

He smiled and handed her yesterday's mail. "That's my girl."

Summer glanced to her right at the man who still sat patiently in the corner. He had been watching her since he got there. She dragged her attention back to her dad. "Your 7:00 interview appointment is here." She tweaked a brow in question and nodded her brown head to her right.

Mr Bowen's eyes lit. "Ahh, yes. We'll talk about that later." He winked and turned. "Mr Delaney?"

The man Mr Bowen called Mr Delaney stood and shook his hand. He smiled. "Let's go for a walk." Summer's father opened the front door. Ding! They stepped outside and down the stairs into the lumber yard.

Summer stood from her chair and quickly walked to the front window. She peered down at her father and his 7:00 appointment. Frowning, she would get to the bottom of this.

Or just ignore the whole situation.

She'd give that one time to figure out as well.

•••

Leo Delaney crossed his arms in front of his chest. He turned and faced Mr. Bowen owner of Bowen&Bowen lumber mill and men's Sunday school class teacher at Gideon Baptist Church. "You want me to what?" He frowned.

Mr Bowen smiled and urged the two on further. They walked toward the woods while he explained. "I need you to watch my daughter. Summer is a very pretty young woman and she's at an age where all men want her. And not just anybody can have her," he chuckled deeply. "Leo, we have known each other for some time. I trust you, you trust me. Lets make a deal." Mr Bowen stopped and faced Leo. "Will you protect Summer? Now, I don't mean by marrying her; I mean by being her body guard of sorts. Follow her around and make sure nothing happens to her. Protect her and help her when something does. I can't always be there for her."