Dorothy Garlock (39 page)

“I knew you loved me. When are you moving into my teepee? ”

“When you're old and gray and your beard is down to your knees. Now get going, Romeo, so you can get back.”

“Me Indian. Me don't have beard.”

“You catch on fast, Randolph.”

Radna felt him leave, although she didn't hear a sound. The man was sneaky and as quiet as a ghost…but he was truly one of the smartest men she had ever known, kind, witty and as dependable as a rock. Why couldn't she have met a man like him years ago?

But, Radna thought now, if he'd been as dumb as a stump, she would still have a soft spot for him because of his help and treatment of her brother. It was such a relief not to worry about Ramon being sent to prison or killed, because he wouldn't have given himself up without a fight.

Radna was terribly afraid that she was getting too fond of Randolph Bluefeather and would suffer when he left with Thad and Joe. She didn't want that. She'd seen what love could do to a woman. Justine was still grieving for her Ralph.

Blue was forever trying to get her in bed, she mused. One of these nights she'd let him succeed. A woman could tell a lot about a man's character when he was between the sheets.

It was near dark when Mrs. Cole came to sit with Justine while Radna ate her supper.

“How is she? ”

“She hasn't opened her eyes for hours, but she is breathing steadily.”

“Poor soul.” Mrs. Cole clicked her tongue. “I'm sure she's tired of being sick.”

When Radna reached the kitchen, she went directly to the sink to wash. Laura was putting the food on the table. Blue was sitting in a chair holding Mary Pat. The child was playing with an amulet that hung on a cord around his neck.

“Joe went to the front desk so Elmer and Rose could come eat their supper. Jill took a plate to Thad.” Laura smiled with her eyes. “She's taking good care of him.”

“It's good of you and your mother to stay and help us.” Radna dried her face and hung the towel on the hook.

“We were not looking forward to going home to that dark house.”

“Because of Lloyd Madison? ”

“Him or … someone else. I know Mr. Madison has a room…here in the hotel, but Joe said that he and Mr. Blue would be here.”

“If the bastard makes a move toward this babe, it'll be his last, ”Blue said with such conviction that Radna turned to look at him. His face was dead serious, and she knew he meant what he had said.

Throughout the evening Blue lingered in the kitchen or the back hall. Joe prowled from the hall to the lobby, stopping occasionally to chat with a hotel guest or with Elmer and Rose at the desk, constantly on the lookout for Lloyd Madison.

Mary Pat fussed when Laura stood her on a chair beside the sink, washed her and slipped her nightdress over her head. As soon as Laura put her on her feet, the child made a beeline for Blue and climbed up into his lap.

“Mary — ”Laura scolded. Then, “You don't have to hold her. It's time she was in bed.”

“Laura? ”Hunter Westfall was standing in the doorway of the kitchen. “I went to the house — ”

Mary Pat squealed, wiggled off Blue's lap and ran to Hunter. He scooped her up into his arms and hugged her. The child giggled happily and wound her arms around his neck.

“How's my little sweetheart? ”he murmured and nuzzled her cheek with his nose. “I went to the house, ”he said again, his eyes on Laura. “I came here thinking this would be the only place you'd be. They told me at the desk that you were back here.”

“This is …Mr. Bluefeather, ”Laura stammered, indicating Blue with a wave of her hand.

“Howdy.” Blue got to his feet and offered his hand.

“Glad to meet you, ”Hunter replied and took it. “I saw you today at the well.” As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes went to Laura.

“He took us home to look after the chickens. We're staying to help out. Mrs. Byers took a turn for the worse. And …Jill is taking care of Thad, ”Laura explained.

Hunter's eyes went back to Blue. “Thanks. I'm glad they didn't go back alone. Mrs. Byers is worse? ”

When Laura didn't answer, Blue spoke up. “Doctor said she could go at any time.”

“And Taylor? Were his burns severe? ”

“Bad enough, but the doctor seems to think they'll heal fast.”

“I'm relieved to hear that. He didn't hesitate. He jumped right in the middle of that fire to get the boy. I owe the two of you for getting right out there. George said if not for your warning about the possibility of the tank exploding, more men would have been killed or badly injured.”

Blue shrugged. “You owe us nothing. A man does what he can do at the time.”

“Well, I want you to know that I appreciate what you did. I'll tell Taylor as soon as I can see him.”

Watching Hunter closely, Blue asked bluntly, “Is Laura your woman? ”

Hunter heard Laura gasp at the blunt words. His eyes met and held Blue's stare.

“She is, if she'll have me, ”he said firmly.

“Good. Look after her and the babe while I'm gone. If Madison comes near them, smash his nuts with that hammer over there. If you've not got the stomach, call me. It'll be my pleasure to do it.” Blue walked from the kitchen.

In the silence following Blue's departure, Hunter looked at Laura's red face. He longed to ease her embarrassment but didn't know how.

“Can we go out onto the porch? ”

She nodded and headed for the door. Carrying Mary Pat, Hunter followed her. They sat down on the edge of the platform porch. Thad's dog came from under it, sniffed and went back to her litter. Hunter settled Mary Pat in his lap and covered her small bare feet with her long nightdress. The child leaned contentedly against him and yawned. He put his arm around Laura, pulled her close and pressed her head to his shoulder.

“My two girls, ”he whispered and brushed his mouth across Laura's forehead. “I almost died when I got to your house and you weren't there. I hardly took a breath until I got here and found my two girls safe.” He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Lord help me! I love you, Laura. I love both of you so damn much.”

“I knew you'd find us.”

“Kiss me, honey, then tell me what Bluefeather was talking about.”

She offered her mouth. He kissed her softly time and again, then pulled her lower lip between his teeth and worried it with his tongue for a long, wonderful minute before he released it and kissed her hard.

“In just a short time you and this little tyke have become my whole life. Loving the two of you is the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me. I feel like I could move mountains and change the course of rivers if the two of you were waiting for me.”

“I've dreamed of someone loving me like that.” Her words came on the expulsion of a breath.

“Sweetheart, I swear it's true. I'll spend the rest of my life taking care of you, if you'll let me.”

“It's too soon to talk about… that.”

“I know, and I'll not rush you. Now, I want to know what Bluefeather was talking about.”

“I didn't want you to know. You've got enough to worry about…with your oil well burning and someone running you down — ”

“The well has been capped, honey. The tank fire is under control.”

“But…you've lost — ”

“Yes, but I'm not concerned with that now. I want to know if Madison has bothered you.”

Laura told him briefly what had happened that morning, leaving out the filthy words Madison spewed at her and the fact that he had shoved her down.

“He had to know that if he hurt Mary Pat, he would pay for it. Jill and Joe were here. He mentioned your name a couple of times. I think he was warning me to keep you away or he'd hurt Mary Pat.”

Hunter was so angry he didn't speak for a minute or two. His arm tightened around her and words far too obscene for her ears flooded his mind.

“He'll not get close to you or this baby again. If he does, I'll kill him.” Hunter paused to steady his voice. “Are you going to keep me away? ”The agony in his voice caused her to lift her fingers to his cheek.

“Not as long as you want to come.”

“That will be forever. Ah, sweetheart. I hate having brought this down on you. I'll tell the sheriff what happened. He knows that I think Madison was in the car that ran me down.”

“Jelly Bryce, the policeman from the city, was here when I told Mr. Blue. He's not much older than I am, but Mr. Blue said that he was plenty smart and if anyone could figure Mr. Madison out, he could.”

“Up until now, I thought Madison a misguided man trying to make himself look good by being on the side of the underdog. Now I think something else is driving him. If he bothers you again, I'll run him clear out of the state if I have to.”

“Be careful. Oh, please be careful — ”

“I'll go to the sheriff, and if he doesn't do anything, I'll go to the governor and ask to have Madison investigated.”

“He'd listen to you? ”

“Sweetheart, money talks. It's sad but true. If I donated a chunk of money to his reelection campaign, he'd at least listen. But first I'll talk to the sheriff.”

“Sheriff, I'm sorry that Mrs. Hopper got the wrong impression.”

Lloyd leaned back in his chair and shook his head. He longed to finger the mark on his face. Instead, he folded his thumb over his fingers and cracked his knuckles.

“What were you thinking, man? You scared the woman half to death.”

“The little girl was alone in the yard, Sheriff. I was concerned for her. I picked her up, thinking her mother was in the wash house. A woman came running at me. I didn't know that she was the child's mother, so naturally I wouldn't turn a helpless child over to a hysterical woman.”

“Did you talk nasty to Mrs. Hopper? Did you call her a slut? ”Sheriff Page eyed Lloyd closely.

“Sheriff! ”Lloyd straightened in his chair, indignation on his face. “How can you even suggest such a thing? I was taught to respect women. All women.”

“I'm only repeating what I was told.”

“Whoever told you that is a … a liar, or terribly misinformed. I tried to calm a hysterical woman. Then another woman came up behind me and hit me with …something. It was such a shock. I just stood there with my mouth open for a minute, then walked away. As I was leaving, I realized that my ear was bloody.” Lloyd clutched his hands tightly together to keep them off his face.

“Sheriff, ”he said and managed to make his eyes appear to be tear-wet, a skill he had learned while in law school, “I've got a million things on my mind. Harming a little child would not even occur to me.”

“Mrs. Hopper evidently thinks otherwise.”

“I'm sorry about that.” Lloyd bit his lips and looked out the window as if he were struggling to make a decision. “Sheriff, I've a problem more serious than Mrs. Hopper's accusation.” After a small awkward silence, he continued: “I'd like to tell you about it, if I may? ”The sheriff nodded. Lloyd began to talk, softly, hesitantly.

“I didn't come to Rainwater by accident. I came because someone I'd been searching for was here. You can't know how elated I was when I stepped off the train thinking, at long last, after years of searching, that I was going to see the one who gave me life. My mother.” Lloyd paused to judge the sheriff's reaction and was not disappointed. The weathered face reflected surprise.

“Mother left me and my father when I was a few weeks old. She was just a young girl and the mark on my face repulsed her. My father was older, settled, a judge. No doubt she was bored and longed for a more exciting life with a younger man.

“She was not happy to see me, Sheriff Page. Although she didn't say so, I'm sure she was ashamed of my face. She had made a life here in Rainwater, and having a son my age, a son with a disfigurement, was an embarrassment to her.”

“Hold on, Madison. Who are you talking about? ”

“Justine Byers, Sheriff. She's my mother and dear to me, even though she doesn't publicly acknowledge me.” Lloyd paused and turned toward the window as if needing time to compose himself. “During the time I've been here, I've tried to see her more times than I can count. Each time she has been less than cordial. The last time I tried to talk to her, one of the hangers-on at the hotel knocked me off the porch railing. I landed on my back. The only hurt I suffered was to my pride.” He laughed nervously.

“Why are you telling me this? There's no law been broken here.”

“I'm telling you, Sheriff, because my mother is dying. I want to see her before she goes, and her niece and nephew won't let me near her room. Can't you do something to help me? ”Lloyd pleaded, his eyes tearing again.

“What do you want me to do? ”

“Go to the hotel with me and tell Joe and Jill Jones that I have more right to be with her during her last hours than they have. I want to see my mother! ”

“Jesus! You're putting me between a rock and a hard place. This is a family affair.”

“What possible harm can there be in my going in to see her? She's had a stroke. The doctor said she could go at any time. Please, Sheriff. This is my last chance to see my mother.”

“I'll walk down there with you, but I have no authority. I want you to understand that.”

“I'm a lawyer. I know you can't force them to let me see her. Just your presence could be enough to make them see reason.”

“I'll meet you out front. I've got to make sure my deputy is here.”

When Lloyd went out the front door, the sheriff pushed open the door to the back room. Jelly Bryce and his deputy, Gus Franklin, were standing just inside the door. Both were staring at him. Jelly had a disgusted look on his face.

“Holy cow! I've got to hand it to the man, he can really dish out the horseshit. He's a first-class liar, too. He should go on the stage. He'd give Will Rogers a run for his money.”

“You were listening? ”

“I came in the back door, saw you were busy and stayed out of sight. Couldn't help but hear, even if that drunk back there is yelling bloody murder.”

“Hellfire, Jelly. I've known Madison for six months or more. He's been straight as a string. I don't think he meant to hurt the little girl, and I've no reason to disbelieve him when he says Mrs. Byers is his mother.”

“When he shows up at that hotel and tries to see Mrs. Byers, there'll be trouble.”