Free Copper by Iris Abbott Page B

was right next to her ear.  His close presence didn’t help matters much. “I’ve got it,” she insisted.  “It’s my mess,” she quietly told him. “I really don’t mind cleaning it up.”  She thought she was going to jump out of her skin when his hand came down on top of hers several seconds later.
    “Here.  Use this damp dishcloth. That napkin has had it.” While she wiped the table, Copper righted her chair.  “I’ll get you another glass of juice, then I want you to sit down and eat.  Starving yourself isn’t going to make you feel better about anything that’s happened,” he warned.
    Marla glanced quickly at the man standing next to her and then looked down at the soggy and shredded paper.  Evidently she was destined to make a fool of herself in front of Copper and the others this morning.  As soon as she felt him walk away, she quickly wiped up the rest of the mess, disposed of the destroyed napkin, put the cloth in the sink, and returned to her breakfast.
    She took one bite and then another. “Yum, this is great. My compliments to the chef,” she said to break the awkward silence.
    “You’re welcome. It’s just bacon and eggs, not a gourmet meal,” Copper reminded her. 
    “I’m so hungry this breakfast tastes better than a double chocolate cake,” Marla said with a smile.
    Everyone around the table chuckled, and Marla instantly relaxed.  She took a few more bites of food and listened to the idle chit chat flowing around her. Her sister and Chrome were having an animated discussion. Their interaction made Marla smile.  She didn’t hang around with the Metal Cowboys much, but from what she’d seen in the past, Natalie and Chrome never missed an opportunity to butt heads with each other. 
    Copper cleared his throat. Everyone stopped talking and turned his way. “Now that Marla’s here, I want to go over today’s schedule, make sure everyone’s on the same page.”
    “I’m only a little sore. I know that Natalie usually works half a day on Saturdays.  So I was thinking that Natalie and I could go back to the apartment and get out of your way once she finished work today.”  She gave her sister and then Copper a wishful look.  She wasn’t too happy when both of them vetoed her suggestion despite her pleading looks.
    “You and Natalie are staying put until your ex or whoever’s responsible for your attack is out of the picture,” he reminded her in a strong tone of voice that left no room for arguments.  “If either one of you needs to leave the house for any reason, A Metal Cowboy needs to escort you.”
    “Damn straight,” Chrome grunted.
    “But I don’t think…” Marla started to say before Copper cut her off.
    “No exceptions, it’s nonnegotiable,” he declared in a stern voice that didn’t leave for argument. “Marla, your sister sent you here, and you trusted us enough to come.  The Metal Cowboys promised to protect both of you. We don’t take that or any other promise lightly.  Do not leave the house unless one of us is by your side,” he ordered. 
      A loud knock on the back door stopped his tirade and startled Marla.  She visibly jumped.  The five men all glanced at each other. 
    “That should be Sheriff Davis,” Copper informed the group. 
    Mercury got up to let in the early morning visitor.  Marla watched him go with a sinking feeling in her gut.
    It didn’t take long for an unfamiliar but friendly voice to come nearer and nearer. Two pairs of heavy boots thudded against the hardwood floors and echoed down the hallway. Marla was nervous enough to clench Copper’s arm. “Sheriff?” she asked in disbelief.
    “Yep, he served in the same SEAL unit as Chrome and me.  He’s about a decade older than us and retired from the military a couple of years after we were assigned to the unit.” 
    Marla immediately stiffened her spine and shot Copper a worried frown. “Um, I don’t trust the law, especially in this county.”
    “Usually