Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

"Like your doll, I guess. Why did you take it along if he made it?" he asked.

"I couldn't leave Angel behind! I held her when I cried and I held her when I laughed. She knows my secret thoughts and secret dreams and all the terrible things that happened to me. Tony Tatterton made her, but she's more me than him," I explained.

"Angel?"

"That's what I call her. My guardian angel," I said softly, expecting him to laugh at a young girl's tender and fragile world of make-believe. I imagined most boys his age would, but he didn't laugh. He smiled.

"That's nice," he said. "It's beautiful. Just like you. Know what?" he added, turning to me. "That's what I'm gonna call you from now on . . . Angel. It fits you more than Leigh does,"

My heart, that had sunken and become cold, warmed again in my chest. I felt myself blush. Then I sniffed back a tear.

"Now, why are you crying?"

"I'm crying because I was lucky to meet someone like you, someone nice. Most girls my age are afraid to travel alone because there are so many bad people out there waiting to take advantage of them, not help them. I'm sure that might have happened to me, too, if I hadn't met you."

"Yeah, but if you hadn't met me, you'd a made your train," he reminded me. "When I get caught up with circus acts ."

"I wanted to see the circus with you and I had a wonderful time there, Luke." I did because it had made me forget all my troubles for a while.

"Did you? I'm glad about that, I had a wonderful time too. It was like seem' it all for the first time when I saw it again with you. You got a fresh, clean way of lookin' at things, Angel. It kinda makes me feel ... I don't know . . more important, bigger, bein' with you," he said, nodding after he said it.

I looked away. I didn't want him to catch a glimpse of my face, for I was embarrassed to show him just how much I liked him and how much better his simple but sweet words made me feel. He wasn't someone with a great deal of formal education; he wasn't rich, and he didn't dress fancy like the boys at Allandale, but he had a hold on the world that I admired. I felt safe with him because he was able to deal with hardship and crisis. Luke Casteel was only seventeen, but he was a man.

He drove the truck up to a motel. The blue neon sign flashed "Vacancy."

"You don't have to do this, Luke," I said putting my hand on his.

"I know. I'm not doin' it because I have to. I'm doin' it because I want to. Now you just sit here with Angel and be patient. I'll be right out with the key to your room," he said and went into the motel office. I sat back and closed my eyes. He was right: I was so tired, I did need a comfortable night's rest. The excitement of traveling, the day at the circus and the shock of missing my train all left me exhausted. I actually drifted off while he was in the office getting a room. I awoke with a start when he jerked open the truck door and hopped in.

"4 C," he announced, dangling the room key. "Nice room with two double beds and a television set."

"I don't think I could keep my eyes open to watch television. You should have gotten a cheaper room."

"They're all the same price here," he explained and pulled up in front of the room. He took out my suitcase and opened the door. Clutching Angel to me, I followed him in.

It was a small room with drab gray walls and dusty-looking, light green curtains. It had two double beds with a scratched-up wooden table between them and two nightstands, one on each side. Each stand had a small lamp on it, the yellow shades stained and dusty. There were closets at Farthy that were twice the size of the room, but I didn't care. The soft mattress looked very inviting. Luke set my suitcase down and went into the bathroom, turning on the lights and inspecting everything.

"Looks like it all works. Sure you don't want somethin' to eat? What about a nice hot cup of tea? There's a restaurant a half mile down the road. It'd just take me a few minutes to go get you a warm drink. And maybe a muffin, huh? You gotta have nourishment," he said with a look of concern.

"All right," I said. "I'll wash up and get into bed."

"Great. Be back in a jiffy." He slapped his hands together and rushed out.

I had to smile again at his enthusiasm. He wanted to do things for me and he was sincere. I had put myself in a terrible spot, but I had met a true guardian angel. Maybe it all had to do with magic after all. Maybe by running away from the evil world of Farthy, I had escaped from the evil spell that had fallen over me.

I showered and changed into one of my soft, silk nightgowns and unpinned my hair. It felt ratty and dirty from all the traveling, but I was too tired to wash it and brush it out. I promised myself.I would do it in the morning. Then, with Angel beside me, I crawled under the covers of one of the double beds. It smelled starchy and the sheets were stiff, but I was far too exhausted to care. Luke knocked softly on the door and then

came in with my hot tea, a corn muffin and jam, and a bottle of beer for himself. He put everything on the small nightstand by the bed and pulled the one chair up to the bed to sit on and drink his beer while he watched me drink and eat. He looked as concerned as he would were he really the expectant father. His dark eyes twinkled tenderly, lovingly.

"Aren't you hungry, too, Luke? Surely a beer is not enough."

"Naw, I'm still too excited, I suppose. Sometimes beer calms me down." He smiled and gestured at Angel. "That doll does look like you. You both have such beautiful hair," he said stroking Angel's hair tenderly.

"Angel's hair is really my hair."

"No foolin'?" I shook my head and his eyes widened. Then he leaned toward me. "I never seen anything as precious and as lovely as the two of you lying there together," he said softly.

"Thank you, Luke. You're very nice." He stared at me a moment and then stood up.