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Prologue –The Assignment
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SETH O'MALLEY
Age: 37
Gender: male
Height: 5ft 8 in
Weight: 121 lbs
Body Type: slender and rigid
Face Type: narrow and defined
Complexion: tanned
Eyes: bright dark blue
Hair: brown
Clothing Style: pants and sleeveless shirts, his working uniform
Speaking Style: tends to stumble when he's trying to make someone understand what's in his head
General Demeanor: Seth is one who expects others to obey his commands on the spot. He is not used to being told what to do or having others not listen. He takes his work very seriously and refuses to let emotion show, even though he has so many.
Career: body guard
Prejudices: slow drivers, numbskulls and head-strong women
Best Qualities: patient, knowledgeable, semi-understanding
Worst Qualities: quick to judgment
Weaknesses: children
Hobbies: hunting
Talents: smarts enough to stay alive with his current job.
Side Notes:
Seth was orphaned after witnessing the murder of his mother. His father had died when he was a baby from cancer.
He has done his best to avoid females since his mother's death, as 1: he's shy and 2: their presence tends to bring back memories of his mother.
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Seth O'Malley walked the length of his bother's farm. It was huge, really, compared to the city he'd lived in for a while. Stephen raised an eyebrow at Seth's silence.
"Spill, it, big brother," Stephen said as they rounded the pond that extended past the neighbor's property line.
"Spill what?"
"You've found a girl,"
"No!" Seth stopped walking. "What makes you say that?"
"Because the rest of us O'Malley boys have,"
"Your point being?"
"You're missing out," Stephen teased. Seth shook his head.
"With my line of work, and you think I need a woman prying into my business?"
"It is kinda nice,"
Seth laughed. "Maybe for you—"
"And Marcus,"
"And Marcus, but—"
"And Jack,"
"And Marcus, and Jack and you, but not necessarily for me,"
"So, what's her name?" Stephen held his chuckle under his ear to ear smile.
"It's a business relationship, okay? Nothing more. Some guy who's been stalking her recently tried to attack her,"
"She fought back?"
"And nearly broke her wrist, yes,"
"And her name?"
"I'm assigned to protect her, as long as the guy is out there. Won't be easy; she doesn't like to stay inside,"
"Her name?"
"I'm not sure what to do about—"
"Seth, what is her name!" Stephen stopped in front of him. Seth blinked twice.
"Whitney,"
"Ah, finally, an answer. Description?"
"Dark brown hair, same shade of eyes, serious farmer's tan and a will of steel,"
"When do we get to meet her?"
"It's unlikely that you will,"
"Why's that?"
"She's not supposed to leave her property,"
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"Where is she!"
"She was in here, sir,"
"Not this, not now," Seth mumbled as he pulled out his radio and keyed in for an area search to be conducted.
He was searching the bushes when a voice over the radio confirm that she'd been found. Seth stood and walked to the east side of the house as she was led from the woodland path on her painted stallion, Fire.
"Whitney, what are you doing?"
"Riding," she said as she slid down and patted Fire's neck. "Good boy," she cooed, ignoring the scowl on Seth's face.
"You're not supposed to leave the house without an escort," he reminded her. She glared at him as she led Fire to the stables. He watched her walk away, then ran to catch up, walking on the other side of Fire.
"Whitney,"
"Yes, Seth?"
"Could you try to corporate more, please? It's hard enough to keep you inside--"
"I didn't ask for someone to keep me inside. You can all go home, and I will be fine,"
"Not likely. Besides, your father paid for this security. We're here till he pulls the plug on the operation."
"Then I guess I have a phone call to make," she said.
"Whitney," he stopped her. Fire tried to bit his hand, but she placed a gentle hand on his mouth and looked the big creature in the eye and he seemed to yield to that gaze. "Don't take what happen lightly. You are in danger, and that calls for precautions. Think about it before you down your father's efforts to protect you,"
"I understand that, Seth. But I can't live without risks,"
"You won't live with risks like this out there,"
"If you intend on staying, then we will have to make a few agreement,"
"I'm fine with that," he gave in, giving up some of his authority in the matter.
"First of all, I do not want to cause some huge crises by going riding,"
"We can lay out a path and time," he suggested. She nodded.
"And you should know... I'm rather forward. I tend to force people to be friends with me,"
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see," she started walking again. Fire was glad for the opportunity to bump him. Seth sighed and headed back to the house. He sat at the table with the security grid layout in front of him and marked out the riding path. He planned on having a few men along the area when she went, just to be safe. He was working out how long it'd take her—rather how long he'd give her—when his phone rang. He sighed and flipped it open without looking to see who it was.
"Stephen said you have a new assignment?" Kate asked. Seth shook his head.
"Trust him to keep a secret,"
"In this family? Never. Now tell me, Seth."
"Typical stalker case,"
"How long do you figure?"
"I don't know, really. It could take a while,"
"Is she cooperating?"
"No, not really,"
"Are you being a bully?"
"Me? Come on, Kate,"
"Seth, I'm serious, you are a bit of a bully. Your way or no way at all,"
"It's for her safety," he said, knowing by the muffled sounds on the other end that she was talking to her husband Dave, not listening to him. He thought he heard Holly crying too. Seth's niece was three months old now... and she cried so much. It was supposedly in her nature...
"I have to go; Holly is awake,"
"Be safe, Kate,"
"You too, Bully," he shook his head as he hung up. He turned around and found Whitney leaning over the table he'd absentmindedly walked away from during his conversation. When he joined her, he saw that she was re-writing the riding boundaries he'd set to include the waterfall.
"Whitney, that's too much area to cover,"
"You're covering it with your little men? Why?"
"Because the woods are a perfect place for the stalker to hide,"
"These woods are also my territory. I know them well enough to walk through the 10 miles of forest and not get lost,"
"Well, that's impressive, but it's not--" he was totally stunned that she'd just kissed him. She leaned back and smiled a satisfied grin at his surprise.
"Have a little more faith," she walked away. He leaned over the table and shook his head...