(Calahan Cowboys 08) The Cowboy Soldier's Sons (14 page)

Shaman pondered that. Then he called Sheriff Nance and reported a possible gas leak at his wife’s old house. The sheriff didn’t even question what Shaman was doing out there. A husband had every right to check on his wife’s property for her.

That was what everyone would say.

Shaman left, making certain the flashlight was shining on the pipe like a beacon.

Then he went to church, something he hadn’t done in years, and sat in a pew to pray, marshaling his thoughts. Then he lit a candle for Xav. He lit two for his sons and one for his wife, and finally, lit another one for what he was about to do.

* * *

T
EMPEST HAD BEEN A LONER
for so long that this new sense of familial guilt swamping her felt strange and overwhelming. Bobby must be thinking he could scare the Phillipses away from Dark Diablo. That would be his goal, because then all improvements on the property would cease. He was angry, lashing out at anyone who wanted to care for and grow Dark Diablo.

Painful as it was for her to acknowledge it, something had to be done about her brother. More importantly, she had to make changes in her own life. She couldn’t go on expecting the Phillipses to clean up her problem. They’d already paid a heavy price.

Kendall rarely came down from her room, taking phone calls about Xav mostly in there. Millicent didn’t demand the formal dinners she normally did, instead having her meals in her own suite. Tempest had been to her quarters a few times to check on Millicent and let her visit with her grandbabies, but even the twins couldn’t cheer up their grandmother. She was too worried about Xav.

Tempest felt hollowed out by what she’d brought on this family that had taken her in and been so good to her.

She’d run from her past long enough.

She pushed the pram down the wide hall to find Kendall, knowing she’d be in the home office of Gil Phillips, Inc.

“Hi,” Kendall said, glancing up from a giant oak desk where she sat staring at a computer screen. “I’m about to run to the hospital to see Xav.”

“How is he?” Tempest asked. “Any change?”

“Unfortunately, no.” She sighed. “I’m very afraid, actually.”

“I know.” Tempest was scared, too, and this was exactly why she’d come to say goodbye. “Kendall, I’m turning in my resignation.”

Her eyes went wide. “No, you’re not.”

“I am. It’s for the best. I find myself overwhelmed with the babies, and—”

“Bull-oney,” Kendall said. “You’re leaving because of what I told you, which is probably one of the very reasons Shaman didn’t want you to know what had happened to him in the first place.” She looked at Tempest with a determined expression. “And in fact, we don’t actually know that your brother did it, remember.”

“We know,” Tempest said. “Shaman knows, or he wouldn’t have tried to keep it from me.”

His sister shrugged. “He’s not going to be happy if you leave.”

“I’ll let him know where I am so he can see the boys whenever he wants to.”

“So where will you be?”

“I’m going home,” Tempest said.

“Not to the nasty place where Shaman said you grew up.”

She flushed. “No.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so blunt. I didn’t mean that quite the way it came out, Tempest. You know I admire you greatly, and everything you’ve accomplished. We wouldn’t have hired you here if we didn’t think highly of your talents.”

“You hired me,” Tempest said, “because you were trying to keep my children near you.”

Kendall smiled. “Let me be clear, that’s not exactly how Mom and I operate. If we’d just wanted to keep you here, we would have offered you anything for the sake of the children. But we don’t hire any pity cases at Phillips, Inc. Only the best of the best—that’s why we offered you a
job.
Mother and I actually felt a bit selfish for hiring you when you needed to be with your children. I told Mom you’d find work somewhere, either here or in London or New York or whatever. It turns out we are quite pleased with your performance.”

Tempest smiled. “You’re sweet. But not the world’s most convincing actress.” She rocked the pram with one foot, hearing the babies beginning to rustle around inside. “I’m going home to Tempest. I plan to live in the adobe bungalow that Shinny and Blanche rent to me, until I have time to think of what I want to build on my old property.”

“Really,” Kendall said. “Putting down roots at last?”

“I’m going to try.”

“I still think you’re leaving because of your half brother.”

“I will admit to some feelings of guilt over what has happened,” Tempest confessed.

Kendall nodded. “Just for the record, you can’t control your half brother any more than I could control Gage, Shaman and Xav. Trust me, Mother and I have tried.”

Tempest smiled. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better. I’m afraid it’s quite impossible. Maybe when your brother is out of a coma and Bobby Taylor is in jail, then I’ll feel better. For now, I just want to thank you for everything you and your mother have done.”

“Whatever,” Kendall said. “Just understand what this means. With you leaving I won’t see my nephews as often. And Shaman likely won’t pick up his duties in the family business. I suppose he’ll park wherever you do.” She gave a dramatic sigh that could have won an Oscar. “I am
not
happy.”

Tempest smiled again. “When I build my house, I’ll have guest rooms installed for visiting aunts and mothers-in-law.”

“It’s the least you can do,” she replied. “I want my own en suite bath.”

Tempest gazed at her warmly. “Goodbye, Kendall.”

Kendall got up and kissed her nephews on their heads. “I do think you could have had one female, and named her after me.”

Tempest pursed her lips. “No doubt you’ll be next up to the altar, and can have your own legacy of little Millicent Kendalls.”

Her sister-in-law shuddered. “I am not the maternal type.”

“I didn’t think I was, either. Always too busy.” She smiled, realized it had once been true. “I had no idea how rewarding being a mother is. I wouldn’t trade it for all the award shows and designer clothes in the world.”

“Not me,” Kendall declared. “I’m never trading my Manolo Blahniks for those Sperry loafers you wear all the time now.”

Tempest grinned as she hugged her sister-in-law, knowing she was making the right decision for everyone. Then she put the babies in a car she borrowed from the Phillips fleet, and headed toward home.

* * *

S
HERIFF
J
OHN
N
ANCE WAS
waiting for him when Shaman left the church.

“Saw your truck,” the sheriff said. He leaned against an ivy-covered wall, looking like a big, tough hombre from south of the border, Clint Eastwood-style. “Thought I’d let you finish in there.”

“What’s up, Sheriff?” Shaman noted that the sun was beginning to drift a bit lower in the summer sky. He wondered what Tempest and his sons were doing, and felt good that they were safe in Hell’s Colony. His anger rose a bit when he thought about Xav in the hospital, his head half opened by a thick lead pipe.

“Just thought you’d want to know we didn’t find a gas leak at Tempest’s house.” The lawman leveled a probing gaze on him. “We did find evidence that someone’s been living in the house. A vagrant or squatter, most likely.”

Shaman waited, telling himself to be patient. Not much got past the sheriff.

“There was a door open, and the volunteer fire department boys and I went in to check for the possible leak. Why’d you leave?”

“My brother’s in the hospital in ICU, Sheriff. There was nothing left for me to do at my wife’s old house, so I figured I’d let you do your job, and I’d get on to looking for some supernatural help for my brother.”

Nance nodded. “We found the lead pipe you wanted us to find.”

“Oh?” Shaman wasn’t going to try to hoodwink the sheriff; he’d left clues that a child could figure out.

“Yeah. We’re sending it for testing.”

“I think you know who’s been living in the house, Sheriff.”

John Nance nodded. “I’ve heard rumors. I think you ought to know that we can’t hold the man until we have evidence from the testing. It’s always possible that the blood that’s on that pipe isn’t yours or your brother’s. Why would Bobby Taylor leave it there?”

Shaman shrugged. “He didn’t think he’d get caught. It’s an effective weapon. He doesn’t have to register for a gun. And he doesn’t look so bright.”

The lawman studied him. “Why you? Why your brother?”

“To get us away from Dark Diablo. Bobby Taylor believes that he got rooked out of his rightful inheritance, and he’s determined to get it back, whether he has to sue someone or hurt them. I suspect he’s run out of appeals and sympathetic ears for a lawsuit. It’s expensive to pursue things through legal means. So his next plan is to get to Tempest. At least that’s what I fear. He’s taken over her old house. I’m certain it’s occurred to him that if he can just run enough people off Dark Diablo, maybe he can take it over. Think about it, Sheriff,” he said. “If...” Shaman’s gaze was caught by a white Land Rover pulling into Shinny’s Ice Cream Shoppe across the street. He was stunned when a tall, gorgeous blonde got out of it, and was thunderstruck as he watched her unpack a giant stroller with big rubber wheels. She placed his sons into it, then wheeled it into the ice cream shop.

His heart sank.

“Excuse me, Sheriff. I believe my wife just pulled into town, and I need to talk with her.” As far as he was concerned, Tempest had better be here for a quick visit. Following that, he was going to send her right back to Hell’s Colony.

Maybe she’d come to see him.

Instantly, he erased the hope. She would have called him if she’d wanted to see him. Shinny and Blanche were like parents to her; maybe she’d come to show them the babies. But Shaman wasn’t going to allow her to stay long in town with a vengeful brother out for blood. Of course, this was the very problem that had gotten him in trouble with Tempest before: he didn’t want her anywhere close to here until Bobby Taylor was in jail.

It was a sure thing she wouldn’t be very happy if he had to tell her once again that he didn’t think she should be in town.

Shaman pushed open the door and walked inside the cool, welcoming store. “Tempest,” he said, and she turned to look at him. He missed her so much it hurt. He didn’t think he’d ever get over the fact that this beautiful, independent woman was the mother of his children. It still stunned him that she’d allowed him to love her. He, the beast, had been fortunate beyond his wildest dreams.

“Yes, Shaman?”

He went to take one of his sons in his arms. “Why are you here? Why are my boys in Tempest?”

“We’ve come home,” she said. “For good.”

She didn’t understand the danger. She didn’t understand Bobby Taylor’s determination.

“You can’t stay,” Shaman said, knowing that Sheriff Nance was behind him and listening to every word. “You can go to Rancho Diablo with the Callahans. Or you can go to Hell’s Colony with my family. But Tempest cannot be your home right now. And I don’t know when that will change.”

There was a look of annoyance in her blue eyes as she retorted, “I believe we’ve had this conversation before, Shaman. This time, I’m doing what I believe is best. I know my brother hit you, and I’m sure he attacked your brother. I’m also sure you had your reasons for not telling me the truth about what happened. But to be frank, no one should be dealing with my brother Bobby except me. This is my town, this is my home, and we’re not going anywhere.”

Chapter Twelve

The conversation with Shaman hadn’t gone well, but Tempest hadn’t expected it to. He had his opinions, and he wanted to protect her. As much as she had allowed herself to fall in love with him—
allow
was a forgiving word, since she couldn’t have stopped herself from falling in love with him if she’d wanted to—he was going to have to realize that this was her problem, not his.

It would be difficult to get that through an overprotective, ex-military soldier’s head.

“Excuse me,” she said, walking into the Tempest library. She smiled at the woman working behind the desk. “Is it possible to see the person who is in charge of the story time hour?”

“That would be me.” The elderly woman with wire glasses and frizzy gray hair nodded at her. “I’m Ellen Dowdy. What can I do for you?”

Tempest pushed her hair back off her face. It was now or never; she was going to make herself get involved in the community, forge bonds with the place where her sons would grow up. They were going to have a different life than she’d had in Tempest. “My name is Zola Cupertino. I grew up here.”

“I know.” Ellen nodded. “I was your second-grade teacher.”

Tempest smiled. “I remember you. I just didn’t think you’d remember me.”

“There’s little in this town I don’t know. What can I do for you?”

Tempest wondered at the woman’s rather unwelcoming tone. “I’ve moved back here, permanently. I saw that you had story time sessions for the under three set, and I would like to volunteer my services.”

Ellen sniffed. “The position is filled.”

“Oh.” Tempest was taken aback by Ms. Dowdy’s abruptness. “Is there another time, perhaps, that needs volunteer readers?”

“I’m afraid not.” She looked at her for a long moment. “Here’s the thing. I remember when you were just a girl. Your mother wasn’t much, and God knows your father was never around, but you were a sweet little thing. We were all proud of you when you went off to the big city and made something of yourself. But then you forgot about us. When you came home a few months back, you didn’t come see any of us. You stayed in Blanche’s bungalow and you drove around in your Land Rover, and as far as you were concerned, the rest of us didn’t exist. I think you don’t care about us or this town, and when you leave to go back to the bright lights, you’ll never think of us again.”

Tempest drew in a stunned breath. “Oh, Ms. Dowdy, I’m so sorry. It never occurred to me that my actions seemed like I didn’t care about this town.”

“Do you?” Ellen challenged. “Shinny and Blanche Tuck said they barely heard from you. After they practically raised you, too. If it hadn’t been for them, you’d never have had anything.”