A New Day (56 page)

    
Tasha ducked her head and tried not to grin as their group walked by the camera crew toward the elevator, flanked by two towering and politely menacing men in sheepskin coats and Stetsons.  The camera crew looked dumbfounded and a bit nervous.  They did not follow them.

    
When the elevator door closed behind them, Tim blew out a sigh of relief, and grinned at the two men.  “Right on time.  I’m sure glad to see you guys.”

     “
Yeah, well.  You should be.  I was on the beach in Acapulco and Joe here was in Maine.”

    
Tim groaned.  “Man.  I’m sorry, you guys.  But I do need you like never before.”

    
The other man patted Tim’s shoulder affectionately.  “We know that, Timothy.  Never mind, now.”

    
Tim smiled at Tasha.  “This is Joe Campbell and Mickey Andrews.  Tasha Charles Taylor.”

    
Both men tipped their hats and gave Tasha respectful nods.  She smiled.  “Gentlemen, thank you both.”  She said in her honey-smooth voice. 

     
The elevator did in fact stop on the fourteenth floor, and Tim had to insert a card into a slot in order to get the car to continue to the fifteenth floor.  When they finally got out, they found that the suite was not far away.  The card key once again gave them entrance and they all sighed their relief. 

    
The suite was delightful, and had an awesome view of the city.  There was a bar, a refrigerator, a nice dining table and a china hutch.  There were two sofas and two recliners in the main room, clustered around a gas fireplace. 

    
The bedrooms were very nice.  One had a private bath, while the other two rooms shared a bath located between the rooms.  Tim pointed Tasha into the room with the private bath, and dropped her overnight bag on the bed.

     “
There you go, sweetheart.  Is there anything I can get you?”

     “
No.  Everything is lovely.”  She assured him.

    
Tim smiled.  “I told you that He’d come through.”

    
Tasha smiled back.  “Of course.   Thank you, Timothy.  I think I’ll turn in, if you don’t mind.”

    
Tim gave her a measuring look and pressed his lips together.  “I don’t mind at all.  Goodnight, Tasha.”  He said.  He kissed her forehead, and walked out of the room.

    
Tasha left the door open and hung her few outfits in the armoire.   

     “
Well, Tim.  You look a bit like you’ve had a fight with a big snake.  The stories I’ve been hearing are not good.”  One of the security men said.

     “
No.  But I’m believing God for a great victory to come out of this.  I know He will see us through and that He’ll use this mess for His good.  This thing has been blown out of proportion, and I think I can make that point tomorrow.”

     “
How many little welcoming committees have you had to get by?”

     “
Too many.  Tasha’s taking the brunt of it, and I don’t like it.”  Tim growled.

     “
Well, Tim.  You have to remember, there’s only so much that you can do.  Now, we’re gonna do our best to discourage the thugs, but you know as well as I do that you don’t skate through something of this magnitude without some scrapes and scratches to remember it by.”

     “
Yeah.  I know.  I just wonder how many more she can take.”  Tim sighed. 

      “
You bring her here for her protection?”  one of the men asked curiously.

     “
Well;  no, not really.  She has all the insulation she needs, for the most part.  But I wanted to be with her for moral support.  Hers and mine.  Now, I don’t know.  I think I may have made a mistake.  These people are after her blood.  Make no mistake.  She is the one they’re after. ”

     “
Yeah, that would make sense.  Having her with you just may feed the fire, son.”

     “
I don’t care.”  Tim said stubbornly.  “People had better get used to seeing me with her, in a hurry.”

    
The men laughed.  “All right, Tim.  Well, things are bound to look a bit better in the morning.”

     “
Yeah.  I suppose I should try to get some rest.”  Tim admitted. 

    
But Tim didn’t get much sleep that night.  He was deeply disturbed by several things:  the first was Tasha’s lack of faith.  Even when the Lord had come through with this suite, she hadn’t recognized his provision.  Tim thought about it and he supposed that although this was miraculous for him, it was nothing too extraordinary in Tasha’s eyes.  Having the kind of money her father did, this suite was probably fairly standard for her.  She was extremely self-sufficient.  She could afford to be, and she was extremely disillusioned with God because of Gary's loss.  And so, he prayed fervently for restoration in that area for her.

    
The other thing that bothered him was the woman’s attack on Tasha in the restaurant, and her cavalier response.  She seemed so accepting of and unaffected by peoples’ derision and criticism.  As if she deserved nothing else.  It wasn’t like the Tasha he knew.  

    
He would have expected her to be sensitive, and kind-hearted.  Easily hurt.  He wondered how the words had truly affected her, and whether she was bleeding inside from the wounds.  Or was she truly so thick-skinned to public opinion? 

    
If so, what had caused it?  Her father’s money and reputation?  Was she so used to public criticism?  And did she truly believe that her behavior had erased her claim to God’s grace?  Had she believed that since Gary had died, or just because she had pulled a little stunt with him? 

     
The questions were jangling around in his head.  For two cents, he’d have gone to talk to Tasha, taken all night, if need be; but when he thought it over, he knew she wouldn’t be ready to bare her heart about any of it. Not just now.  Best to leave her be about it, he decided.    

    
Tim managed a couple of hours’ sleep, but he was up again at six.  He stayed in the presence of the Lord for two hours, and then soaked in a hot bath, trying to prepare for the day ahead.  He was just beginning to glimpse just how tough this whole thing was going to be.

     “
Let her go.  This is not worth it.  It’s going to sink your ministry.  Cut your losses and get respectable again.”
  A voice in his head urged him.  He laughed. 

     “
Not on your life.”  He snapped.  “I’ve gone to hell and back for this one, and I’m not giving her up for anything or anybody.  She’s mine, and I don’t care what I’ve got to do to have her.  I will have her, and no demon from hell will rob me.  The Holy Spirit told me that she is my wife.  You leave my wife alone.” He told the voice.  It fled.

    
Tim chose a crisp collarless shirt, and a vest under his black coat. It looked nice, he thought.  He decided to stick with his boots, and that was that.  He combed his hair, blew it dry and put on some cologne. 

    
When he went to the front room, he found Tasha wearing a very beautiful purple pantsuit with a knee-length duster coat.  She looked fabulous, as always.

     “
Good morning.”  He said with appreciation.   

     “
Hi.”  She returned evenly.

    
He lifted her chin, and forced her to look into his eyes.  “Hey.  Future Mrs. Rain, how about a kiss?”

    
Tasha looked strained enough to explode.  She shook her head.  “Timothy, I have never said I’d marry you; and I don’t feel a great deal like kissing.”

     “
I know that.  But I wish you would, anyway.  I could use a little bit of sugar to help me through this day.”  He hinted lightly.

    
She looked at him hopelessly.  “All right, Tim.  I guess I owe you that much.”  She admitted.  She lifted her face and gave him a cold kiss on his lips.  She knew it was cold, but she just couldn’t seem to help herself.    

     
He laughed deep in his throat, and wrapped his arms around her.  “You’ve got to be kidding.  You don’t really think I’m going to settle for that, do you?  What was that sexless, dutiful thing?  Now, kiss me like you mean it, or I’ll torment you.”  He threatened.

    
She gave him a mutinous look, and steamed for a moment.  Then she looked up into his eyes with burning anger, and said distinctly,  “Go to hell.”

    
Tim gave her a look of incredulous shock, and laughed in a way that was not nice, at all.  “You provoke me, woman.”  He complained.  “If that’s the way you want it, you’re going to have to deal with what I dish out.  I was going to be nice and let you set the pace, but I’m very willing to play rough.”

    
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply, thoroughly and it was in fact, even a bit rough.  Tasha found that her heart was pounding just the same, and her senses were bursting into flames of fire as he plundered her soul. He was going deep, and she sincerely wished she’d taken his offer to allow her to set the pace.  His pace was far faster, deeper and more invasive.  He was playing hard ball, and he was playing for keeps.

     “
You ornery little cuss, I’m going to keep after you until you’re all mine.”  He threatened silkily.  “Don’t you play with me, I’ll fix you every time.” 

    
She just looked up at him with glittering green eyes.

     “
Don’t you believe for a minute that this old cowboy won’t keep after you.  I won’t quit until I’ve got the job done.”   

    
Tasha bit her tongue as they were joined by Tim’s security men.

     “
Well, my goodness.  Is this suite going to be big enough for the two of you?”  Mickey teased.  Tasha pulled out of Timothy’s arms and turned to the windows.

     “
I think we’ll manage.  Good morning.”  Tim answered, trying to restore his breathing to normal.

    
The two men chuckled and shared a private look as they saw how it was.  Timothy was going to need some watching.  They could see it, without any trouble.  He had his cap set in a big way for this lady. 

     “
Yeah, well.  I think it’s a real good thing we’re here to keep you out of trouble.”  Joe teased.  “This blooming escort service is going to stick with you like glue, son.”

    
Tim raised an eyebrow and shook his head.  “Yeah.  That may not be a bad idea.” He admitted.  He grinned as he realized his voice was husky. 

    
Mickey laughed.  “I’ll be darned.  I’ve never seen you like this, boy.  Never thought to, either.  You aren’t going to make our job any easier, are ya?”

    
Tim shook his head.  “I’ve been behaving pretty good, now.  Give me a break.  I can’t say I haven’t had a few lapses, but I’m walking the line, boys.”

     “
Glad to hear it, Tim.  We knew you were.  But I have to tell you, this job is sure getting more interesting.”

    
Tim grinned.  “No doubt.  Let’s see about some breakfast.”

     “
Is the restaurant good?”  Joe asked.

     “
Naw. Let’s do room service.”  Tim suggested.  “There’s a little too much heat out there right now for my comfort.”

     “
Tim, that’s what we’re here for.”  Mickey reminded him with a hand on the shoulder. 

     “
Yeah, I know.  But you can’t stop hurtful words.”  Tim growled.

    
The two men exchanged glances, and Mickey nodded that he understood.  “Well, all right.” He agreed.

    
Tasha turned from the windows, and approached them with her arms crossed.  “Timothy, there’s no need to hide in the room to avoid publicity.  I’m a big girl, and I’m used to it.  I knew I was in for this when I came.  I have no problem hearing what people have to say.”

    
Mickey’s eyebrows went up and he looked at Tim speculatively for his response. 

    
Tim looked at her with pride and compassion, and pulled her into his arms.   “Sweet darlin’, listen to me.”  He said gently.  “I appreciate what you’re saying, and I don’t plan on hiding from the press forever.  However, I do need to keep my perspective and my temper, this morning.  That is very tough for me to do when every soul who has an opinion on the matter is taking a crack at you.  Would it be all right if we just stayed here until it’s time to go to the studio?  Just this morning?” 

    
"Sweetheart, if another woman should come along this morning and say something to you like that woman did last night, I think you’d be posting bail instead of going with me to a television studio.  That interview’s going to be enough for one day, believe me.  Let me save up my patience for that, would you?”

    
Tasha’s eyes were focused on Tim’s chest.  “All right.”  She agreed.  “I just think we shouldn’t go into hiding.  That’s all.”