"Leah, I could get fired for this." Edward groaned as he parked the sedan. "Your father doesn't want you learning about religion."

"It'll be fine. I'll take the blame if he finds out. Okay?" Leah peeked out the tinted window at the little church sitting across the street. Its parking lot was filled with vehicles and people, all milling about. When she spied a group of teenagers standing on the porch, curiosity pricked her. They appeared close to her age, and when they burst into laughter, envy stirred inside.

"It would be nice to have a lot of friends, " She murmured.

The young guard turned to glance at the young heiress in sympathy, but he hid it with a grin. "You have me! I'm the best friend a person could ask for."

Leah giggled, turning to smile. "You are a great friend. An amazing one."

"Actually, I have learned from experience it's better to have a few real friends than a handful of fake ones."

"Think so?"

Edward shrugged. "I'm just saying what I've experienced. Maybe it wouldn't be the same for you." He rolled his eyes, turning back to look out the windshield. "I'm honestly the last person who should be giving you advice though."

"I'm sure you have great advice to give," Leah scotted forward, her tone changing from thoughtful to excited. "Did you have Bates do as I asked?"

"Yep," His grin returned. "They should be lost on the back roads of the Ozarks. Fortunately, there was another Trinity Baptist Church an hour away in the opposite direction as this one."

"Perfect. Let Samantha see what happens when she messes with me."

She slid across her seat, pushing open the Sedan's door without waiting for Edward to assist. "I'll be back as soon as church is over. I'd like to visit Fiona, then. Okay?"

"Nope."

"What do you mean, nope?"

"I mean I'm coming with you."

"No! I - I want to fit in. If people see I have a personal driver..."

"Excuse me, Miss Kingsley... I'm a bodyguard, not personal driver. There's a huge difference."

Leah rolled her eyes at his smug expression. "Good grief," She muttered, slamming her door. Edward climbed out.

"It'll be fun," He pressed.

There was no possible way to refuse the guard's cheeky grin. "Fine. Have it your way."

************************************************

Wren wasn't prepared to see Leah walk through the church doors, nor for the triple somersault his heart performed as their gazes met. With her blond hair piled on her head in a loose bun and a black dress flattering her feminine figure, coherent thoughts vanished from his mind. Behind her, Edward's towering frame followed, a jovial grin tipping his lips.

"Who is that?" Grace Fuller spoke at his side.

"It's, um..."

"They're waving at you. Are they friends of yours?"

A slow smile spread across Wren's face as guard and ward drew closer. He tore himself from Leah's dancing eyes to look at Grace. "Yeah. The young lady is my - boss?" Boss didn't seem the right word.

Grace was taken aback. "You work for the girl? As in your new job?"

Wren nodded as he looked to Leah again. A mini-frown crinkled her forehead as she cast glances from Grace to himself and he chuckled under his breath. Jealousy had reared its ugly head already. "Yes. It's -- a lot to explain..."

"Oh."

Grace's soft words stirred sympathy in Wren. He knew she carried feelings for him, and he was beginning to understand the pain of loving someone unreachable.

"Hey, Wren," Leah shy smile didn't match the two-second glare she threw at Grace.

Instead of melting and hugging his princess as his body screamed to do, Wren crossed his arms, eyeing them both. As expected, they shifted their gazes at his direct stare, looking at anything but him. Edward coughed and whistled a low tune as he glanced at something fascinating on the ceiling.

"What are you two doing here?"

Leah cleared her throat. "We wanted to come to church..."

Edward scoffed and Wren's eyes narrowed. Church was the last place Edward would go to willingly. "Where's Samantha? She's supposed to be here."

Leah captured her bottom lip with her teeth, looking down and tracing her toe in the carpet. When Edward continued his jolly tune, Wren fought to keep his stern expression. "What did you two do?"

"It was her," Edward pointed a finger at Leah, receiving a smack on his shoulder. "I'm innocent," The guard said.

"Nothing about you is innocent, Edward. Now, where is Samantha?"

Leah scowled and rolled her eyes. "Stop worrying, Butler Wren. She's fine! I sent her on a little ride is all."

"Butler?" Poor Grace Fuller had watched the exchange with bewilderment. At the mention of Wren's official title, she could stay silent no longer. "You're a butler?"

Edward flicked an interested expression Grace's direction. "Who's she?" When he tossed a wink her way, he received another loud smack on the shoulder.

"You like Fiona," Leah snapped. "Don't wink at other girls." She leveled her gaze at Wren. "In fact, don't even smile at other girls."

The young guard straightened. "Who says I like Fiona? That's...ridiculous." Edward laughed, guilt tinging his tone.

Wren rolled his eyes in exasperation turning to Grace with an apologetic look. "Yes, I'm a butler," He waved a hand at the handsome pair, "This is Leah Kingsley and her guard, Edward." Wren turned to his friends. "Guys, meet Grace Fuller."

"Um, hello." Grace was clearly uncertain what to think of the duo.

"Hi," Leah dead-panned.

"Hellooo," Edward wiggled bushy brows.

Wren sighed. These two were proving to be a handful.

Grace turned her attention to Wren. "So, a butler? Like do you take care of the house? Set tables and answer doors? I don't quite understand.."

"Well, I'm not that kind of butler. I'm -"

Leah interrupted. "He takes care of me." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "In fact, we are like this." She crossed her fingers to indicate their tight relationship.

"Oh..I see," Grace cast an uncertain look to Wren.

He hated to see the hurt in her brown eyes, but decided this might be what it took for the twenty - two year old to move past her feelings for him. He once again focused on Edward.

"Is Samantha safe?"

"Dude, I'm a bodyguard. I wouldn't let anyone harm her."

Wren studied his friend, noting the sincerity in his gaze. "As long as she's safe."

"Yep. She's just getting a taste of her own medicine."

Leah's snicker said it all.

***************

"How can you be such a dumb oaf!!!" Samantha stormed from the church building, her cheeks as red as her hair. "This isn't the right church! It's not even the right town!" She whirled to glare at the balding bodyguard, her green eyes flashing anger.

Bates leaned against the black sedan, flicking a glance at the little building behind her, noticing several people staring at them. "I must have put the wrong address in the GPS, " He said without emotion.

"I can't believe this!" Samantha stomped to the car and tugged on the back seat door. "Ugh! Why won't this stupid thing open?"

"Because it's locked."

Samantha's face flushed even redder - if that were possible. "Then open it," She hissed.

"Yes, ma'am." Bates hit the button on his key ring, the noise of the locks unlatching sounding loud.

Only when Samantha entered the vehicle, slamming the door behind her, did he grin. He had followed orders, and in his mind, that was all that mattered. But, he couldn't deny he enjoyed every minute of it.

******************************************************

Church was nothing Leah expected. As she settled into a chair next to Wren, Edward flanking her other side, she met more than one staring gaze as she looked around the room. Many had taken their seats as Wren had done, minus the teenagers standing in the back. They didn't seem to care the services would be starting soon, laughing and jostling others. One teen boy met her staring gaze, smiling wide. Leah spun to face the front, earning a glance from Wren as a blush tinged her cheeks.

"Everything okay?"

She softened under his kind gaze. How she missed this man. "Yes, I'm fine. Did you have a good weekend so far?"

"I did. It's very relaxing at the Slators."

"That's good. I mean it's good you have a place to go. Since you have to go somewhere anyway --- It might as well be a place you enjoy." Leah buried a groan as she rambled. In truth, now that she faced him, she was unsure how to treat her former butler. Hilda's words resurfaced as she remembered he had carried her into the mansion, and on instinct, dropped her gaze to Wren's muscles. Her fingers tingled with the urge to trace the blue veins winding his arms.

"So, you aren't angry?"

Wren's question jarred her to the present and she swung her eyes back to his, embarrassed. "Um, what? Angry?" She racked her brain, all sane thoughts having been tucked away.

"Because I became Samantha's butler?" Wren said with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just mesmerized with your muscles and regretting I was asleep when you carried me." That was what Leah wanted to say, but instead, she shrugged. "I was upset at first," she said, "but Fiona helped me see you had no other choice. --And, I trust you." Leah's breath hitched as Wren's concern turned to tenderness, her words affecting him. "It's - safe to trust you, right?"

Wren's adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Yes. You can trust me, Princess."

A shiver spiraled through the heiress as her nickname fell from his lips with feeling. She didn't know if he meant it to be obvious, but the certainty he possessed some feeling for her, struck. Not even Charle's said her name so tenderly.

"So, when does this thing start?" Edward drawled.

Leah felt a loss as Wren's attention left her.

"It should start any minute. It's good to see you here, man. I'm surprised you came."

Edward shrugged. "I didn't want Miss Kingsley to be alone. It won't be happening again as soon as Samantha's gone and you are doing your job."

Leah smirked at the edge in her guard's voice. She hadn't realized he had any emotions concerning the recent change in caregivers. As usual, he surprised her with a caring side he kept hidden.

"I'm glad you are here regardless." Wren's words were muted as the piano began to play a tune Leah didn't recognize, but Edward nodded, signaling he heard.

The next thirty minutes awed Leah. Though the church was not huge as the congregations she had seen on TV, the people sang with feeling from red hymnals, their voices drowning her soft one as she tried to learn the music. Wren's voice boomed at her side, surprising her with its powerful baritone. More than once, she peaked at him through lowered lashes, wanting to understand the intensity in his expression. He meant every word coming from his lips.

"And when I think of God, His Son not sparing;

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, how great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!"

"I've heard this before," Leah thought, surprised as emotion tightened her throat at the beautiful words. It tickled a memory, buried somewhere deep, causing tears to sting her eyes.

Unease oozed from Edward the entire service. He stiffened even more so when Pastor Slator stood behind the pulpit requesting the congregation to open their Bibles. But for Leah, a hunger stirred inside as she leaned into Wren's space, trying to read the verses from the Bible laying on his lap. She didn't refuse when he set the black book on her knees.

She listened with rampant attention as he spoke of God coming to earth with the purpose of restoring His children. Goosebumps spiraled up Leah's arms as the pastor mimicked the words of Jesus from the cross.

"My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me!" Henry Slator cried the words, the grief he imagined Jesus held, lacing his tone. "And there, Jesus took the sin of the entire world on himself and paid the price for your sin. Yours and mine, for All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Leah's heart thumped as the preacher continued. Her mind argued, wanting to prove him wrong. She was a good person! Wasn't that enough? Wren flipped the pages of the Bible on her lap as everyone turned to the passage.

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." The tiny black letters stared at Leah, in one instant, crumbling her argument. She lifted her gaze to Pastor Slator again, stunned.

Henry's voice softened. "God's love cannot stand alone. He's also holy and just. These traits of God are strung together. Because His holiness and justice cannot turn a blind eye to sin, His love demanded a way be made. So God humbled himself, took on the flesh of man, with one plan."

There was a pause. For a reason she didn't understand, tears stung Leah's eyes. She waited anxiously to hear the plan intended for her.

"To die in your place," Henry finished.

A tear escaped the Kingsley heiress. God would die for her? Suddenly, her attention was jarred from the sermon when Edward leaned close to her ear.

"I'm done with this. We are leaving!"

"But..." Her whisper died as Edward stood, squeazing past the knees blocking his exit.

Leah hesitated, meeting Wren's sad eyes.

"I'll take you home," Wren whispered.

She considered it, glancing at Edward who was nearly to the back door. She sighed. "No, its okay. It's your day off. I'm sorry, Wren." Then, without waiting for an answer, stood and hurried after her guard. But even as she left the church building behind, the pressure in her heart did not fade.

***************************************************

Slamming the door in agitation, Samantha Queen turned in fury to the stout man before her. The wind blew her red hair, a few strands sticking to her bright red lipstick and her green eyes vibrated with anger.

"This was planned, wasn't it?"

Bates starred at the girl, wondering how a beautiful woman could be so ugly inside before looking to the sunken tire. How could they plan a flat tire? "No ma'am."

Samantha stomped her foot, fists clenched. "Do you ever say more than two words at a time?"

"Not usually."

She closed her eyes in frustration, willing the entire mess to disappear. But, when she opened them, nothing had changed. The back tire to the sedan was deflated and Bates leaned against the vehicle as if not a care in the world.

"Well, how are you going to get us out of this mess?" She planted herself in his line of vision.

"I'm going to change the tire."

More than annoyed by the body guard's flat tone, she clenched her teeth. Why he was being so calm? They were stranded in the middle of nowhere, sitting on a curvy road, and he didn't seem to care. She looked to the looming forest around her and shivered, sure there were robbers hiding in the shrubs. Her fingers touched the emerald pendent hanging near her bosom; it's price was worth more than the vehicle they had driven.

"Well, that's a problem."

Samantha tensed, hearing the guard's first glimmer of emotion: annoyance. "What's wrong?"

"No spare tire."

Samantha stared as his words processed. Her throat went dry. "We don't have another tire?"

Pursing his lips, Bates nodded.

Panic sparked. "What are we going to do? Trust me, Bates! If anything happens to me, you will be fired!"

Studying Samantha through squinted eyelids, he grunted, realizing the fear in the young woman. "What exactly do you think is going to happen to you?"

"We are in the middle of nowhere! We could be robbed or murdered, even!"

To her dismay, Bates chuckled, then laughed heartily.

"You've lost it!" She glared, beyond upset.

Bates slammed the trunk. "This is small-town Missouri, young lady. Not Saint Louis. The only thing you need to be worried about is a blister on you foot."

"Wh -Why would I have a blister?" She watched in horror as Bates set to locking the doors.

"No phone reception. We walk."

"Walk? But, we drove for forever!"

"Yep. We need to get to higher ground."

"I am not walking."

"Yes, you are. "

"No, I'm not."

Bates crossed his muscled arms, his stance wide and dark eyes narrowed. He wasn't laughing now. "I'm not leaving you here alone, Miss. It's pretty safe in this neck of the woods, but we do have bears and other critters that come out at night. You will walk."

Samantha cocked an eyebrow. "I would like to see you force me. My Father would have your job!"

Tempted to do as she suggested and throw her over his shoulder, the middle-aged man had a better idea. Shrugging his shoulders, he dropped his arms from his chest and leaned once again on the sleek car. "Fine. Have it your way." Pulling out his buck knife, he scraped the sharp blade up his arm, satisfied as his arm hair flaked with ease.

Samantha stared at the long knife, shifting nervously. "S-so -- We sit and wait?"

"Until someone comes along, I guess. Hopefully, before nightfall. Not much traffic down in this gully.

"Someone will, right?"

"Hope so. Safe enough during the day but night..." His voice trailed off as he lifted his gaze to the surrounding forest. He tapped the blade against his palm, wincing when it nicked his skin, drawing blood. "Guess my knife is sharp enough." Squeezing the incision, he let the red liquid pool before turning his hand and forcing it drop to the dark road beneath. Upon hearing Samantha's sharp intake of breath, he smothered his grin. "It will need to be to get through those varmints' thick hide."

"V -varmints? Like what are we talking about?"

"Wolves." He eyed her, his expression intense. "Werewolves. The worst kind."

For a moment, terror sparked in the red-head. Then, she scoffed. "Oh, please! I am not a three- year-old. I know werewolves are myths."

"All myths come with some truth."

"He's bluffing," she thought in irritation. Yet, he did look serious. As worry began to gnaw her mind, a twig snapped from the edge of the woods. "What was that?" Her heart rate increased ten- fold as the guard straightened to his not-very-tall height and stepped to the edge of the woods. He sniffed the air.

"Miss Samantha?" "

Samantha' breathing stopped at the warning in his low tone. "Y-yes?"

"When I say run, you run. Don't stop. Don't look back."

"Why? What is it?" She was aware of the panic in her voice.

"Shh..." He held out a hand, signalling her silence. Another snap. Samantha stifled a scream. Leaves rustled.

"On the count of three," Bates whispered. "Make sure to stay on the side of the road. One, two, --- three! Run girl!"

Scared beyond sanity, Samantha didn't hesitate to follow orders. Screaming like a crazed woman, she bolted up the road, her high heels clopping against the pavement. She didn't look back and she didn't stop running. She ran. Ran and ran as if the devil himself chased her.