Journey of the Heart (37 page)

Michael had listened intently as Sadie told her story and she felt she must be blushing purple by the time she got to the end. But he didn’t turn away or even look as though he judged her and she blessed him silently for that.

“Is that true, Gabe? You pushed him to draw?”

Gabe groaned and pulled himself up against the cushions. “It depends on how you look at it, Mr. Burke. My guess is that Chavez knew I was around and chose a pretty public place to do his, uh, kissing. I think Mackie put him up to it. I’ve thought that all along, though I know Sadie doesn’t like to hear it. I’m just lucky he didn’t kill me.”

“He’s a professional, Gabe,” Michael said thoughtfully. “I’m thinkin’ if he intended to kill ye, we’d be waking ye right now.”

Gabe frowned. “He was faster than me,” he admitted, “but I still think it was a setup. I’m sorry, Sarah Ellen, but I can’t trust him or Mackie and that’s no insult to you.”

“Well, Mackie’s not going to get away with this one, by God,” declared Michael.

“What do you mean, Michael?” asked Elizabeth from the doorway.

“I mean, I’m ridin’ there first thing tomorrow to have it out with him,
a ghra
.”

“No, Michael, you can’t go alone,” Elizabeth cried.

“He won’t have to, ma’am,” said Gabe. “I’ll go with him.”

“Not likely, Gabe,” said his employer.

“I can still fire a rifle with my right hand, Mr. Burke. I’m going with you.”

“We’ll see in the morning, boyo,” said Michael, putting his arm on Gabe’s shoulder. “But for now, ye just get some rest.”

* * * *

Elizabeth was pacing their bedroom floor when Michael finally came up to bed that night.

“Come to rest,
a ghra
,” he said, stepping in front of her and putting his arms around her shoulders. She leaned against him and whispered: “I don’t think I can sleep, Michael. I
hate
Nelson Mackie,” she said fiercely. “And I knew Chavez would bring disaster; from the very first moment I knew it, Michael.”

“So ye did, Elizabeth,” he said, pulling her close after they climbed into bed; “But ‘tis interesting to me that Chavez, who has such a reputation, missed Gabe. For I’m thinking that Mackie wanted Gabe dead, not alive and able to help us.”

“Are you saying that you think Chavez,
El Lobo
, spared Gabe on purpose, Michael! Out of the goodness of his heart?” she added sarcastically. “The man has no heart.”

“I don’t know what I’m sayin’,
a ghra.
It is only that a woman usually knows, doesn’t she, when a man is kissin’ her because he wants to?” Michael dropped a kiss on his wife’s cheek. “It seems to me that Señor Chavez and Sarah Ellen have done a bit of kissing already,” he said ironically. “And Sadie is no naive sixteen-year-old, Elizabeth.”

“No, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t be vulnerable to Juan Chavez’s charms,” said his wife.

“So, ye think Chavez is charming?” teased Michael.

“Like a snake is charming, Michael. No, I think he is a dangerous man, Michael, and I don’t want you going after him.”

“Oh, I am not going after him, Elizabeth. I am after Nelson Mackie to settle this once and for all.”

* * * *

Sadie lay awake for hours, going over and over every one of her encounters with Juan Chavez. Had anything he’d ever said meant anything? Had he said anything that really indicated he cared about her? His kisses had surely felt real, but maybe, as Gabe thought, his kisses had just been a part of his job, a part that he enjoyed. Was she a damned fool to keep believing that there was something between them, even after what happened today? Gabe might have been killed and all because of her. But then she would think: But Gabe isn’t dead and why is that unless he didn’t want to hurt me? That would start her agonizing all over again and she finally fell asleep early in the morning.

* * * *

Chavez had ridden out of the Burkes’ ranch cursing himself in Spanish and English. What had
happened
back there? He had intended to force Hart to fight and he’d even figured he’d have to kill him. Then, in the last split second, he’d only shot him in the arm. He hadn’t even been conscious of changing his mind. He’d seen nothing but Hart’s hand near his holster. His own draw was so fast he was hardly aware of it. And a part of him was surprised to see Hart still standing. But he guessed that most of him was just relieved. How could he kill Sadie’s brother in front of her? But if he couldn’t, then what did that mean?

He’d never see her again, of course, not after this. Not after pushing her up against the side of the barn and acting like he was going to take her against her will. And especially not after shooting her brother. The pain went deep, right down to a part of himself that he’d shut off for years. He had let Sadie Hart into his heart, almost without realizing it. And what the hell was he going to tell Mackie?

* * * *

Mackie was leaning against the corral fence, watching one of his cowboys break a new horse when Juan rode in.

“Señor Mackie.”

“Chavez. Any news for me?” Mackie asked, keeping his eye on the horse and rider.

“Your plan succeeded,
señor
.” Mackie turned and smiled. “Up to a point,” Chavez added.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Gabe Hart reacted just as you expected….”

“I hope you got a little something out of his sister before he caught you, Chavez,” joked Mackie.

Chavez wanted to kill him right then and there and was surprised at the depth of his anger.

“So Hart
is
dead,” continued Mackie.

“Not quite,
señor
. I was faster, of course, but I only managed to get him in the arm. His gun arm,” Chavez added reassuringly.

“You only winged him!” Mackie’s face was mottled with anger. “
El Lobo
missed? How could that happen?”

“It puzzles me, too,
señor
,” Juan answered calmly. “I can only think that it is because I am finished with this job and with you.”

Madre de Dios,
what was happening to him? The words were out of his mouth before he knew he was going to say them. But at the same time, he realized he had never meant anything more. He was through with Mackie and all the men who wanted a heartless animal around to do their bidding.

“I’ll be off your property by tomorrow,
señor
.”

“You’re damned right you will, Chavez. And Chavez,” called Mackie as Juan walked away, “if you are not with me, you’re against me. My men will have orders to shoot you on sight.”

Juan was up early the next morning and after a quick cup of coffee and a biscuit, packed up his bedroll and mounted his black. One thing he knew, he thought as he looked around him, he wasn’t going to miss this place. Or Mackie and his men.

He had no real idea of where he was going, but he figured he’d head west, away from Texas and his past. Toward Arizona and whatever his future was to be. He was only halfway to town, however, when he found himself turning the black around and kicking him into a canter, heading him east.

Gabe had not slept well, since he’d refused the laudanum the doctor had left for him. He’d dozed off many times during the night, only to be awakened by the throbbing pain in his arm. But at least he wasn’t dulled by the drug, he thought as he sat up and lifted his injured arm in front of him. The doctor had also left a large square of linen for him to use as a sling. Gabe folded it into a triangle and tried to tie it around his neck, but found it impossible to do one-handed.

“Damn,” he cursed softly as he tried to do it for a third time.

“Can I help you, Gabe?” asked a soft voice. It was Caitlin Burke standing there in her nightgown with only a shawl around her shoulders. Gabe ran his hand over his chin and felt the early-morning stubble. He must surely look like hell, he thought ruefully.

“What are you doing up so early, Miss Cait?” he asked.

“I’ve been waking up all night and decided I may as well stay up this last time. I came down to light the fire and check on you.”

“Wal, I guess that makes two of us who couldn’t sleep.”

“Were you in much pain, Gabe?” she asked as she walked over to the couch. “I thought the doctor left something for you?”

“He did, but I wanted a clear head this morning. He left this, too, but I can’t get it tied one-handed,” he admitted.

“Turn toward the wall, Gabe.” She slipped the linen under his arm as gently as she could and then brought both ends around his neck. “How high do you want it?”

“A little bit higher, maybe, Miss Cait.” Gabe winced as she tightened the sling, but once the knot was fastened and he could relax his arm, it felt much better supported than hanging at his side. He leaned back against the sofa and sighed.

“Maybe you should take some laudanum, Gabe.”

“It feels much better now that it’s supported, Miss Cait. Thank you.” She was sitting on his left side and he wanted nothing more than to pull her against him, but of course he couldn’t. And he couldn’t exactly ask her to move in closer either, he thought, and a wry smile flitted over his face.

“I’d best light the stove,” said Cait, suddenly very aware that she was sitting there in her nightgown.

“Don’t go yet, Cait,” Gabe asked softly. “There’s time before anyone else comes down.” He shifted and turned to face her. She looked so sweet and desirable, the dark green shawl across her shoulders, her hair tied back loosely, the dark curls framing her face.

“I must look a sight,” she whispered, blushing at the intensity of his gaze. Then her eyes filled with tears. “I am so afraid for Da, Gabe. It’s one thing to say ‘over our dead bodies,’ but I don’t think I could face it if something happened to him.”

Gabe swung his legs down and patted the seat next to him. “Come over here, Cait, so I can put my good arm around you.” Cait sat next to him and he pulled her against his chest. “I’ve already said I won’t let your father go alone, Cait,” he reassured her. “I’ll be right there with him.”

Cait pulled away in amazement. “Are you crazy, Gabe? You’re too weak to ride anywhere. And you can’t even draw a gun.”

“But I can aim a rifle, Cait. Mackie set it up so your father would be alone. But his damned wolf missed, thank God.”

“Do you think he missed on purpose, Gabe? Could Sadie be right, that he has some feeling for her?”

“Not you too, Cait!” Gabe said in disgust. “You women with your romantic dreams. The man is a coldblooded killer. He killed Eduardo, for God’s sake.”

“But we don’t know that for sure, Gabe.”

“
I
know it. And I know he set me up yesterday. And why are we arguing about this?” he protested.

“Because I think you are being unfair to your sister, Gabe Hart,” she declared, with more spirit than anger. “And because I don’t want to lose Da…or you,” she added, surprised at her boldness.

“You won’t lose either of us, darlin’,” said Gabe, sounding more sure than he was. How were two men, one of them wounded, going to take Mackie and his men if it came to a fight? “I promise I’ll be back,” he added, leaning down and kissing her gently. As she put her arms around him to kiss him back, he groaned.

“Did I hurt you, Gabe?”

“It’s more frustration than anything,” he told her with a grin. “I’m in no shape for kissing now, so I’ll have to come back, won’t I?”

* * * *

By the time Cait got around to lighting the stove, her mother and father had come down, and they were all around the breakfast table, including Gabe, when Sadie joined them. She hardly looked at Gabe when she asked how he was doing.

“Looks like I got more sleep than you did, Sarah Ellen,” he answered noncommittally.

They had finished breakfast and Cait was just helping her mother clean the plates when they heard the horse and rider approaching.

“Now who can that be?” Michael asked of no one in particular. He got up and opened the door. “
Dia,
” he said softly. “The man has balls, I have to say that for him.”

“Who is it Michael?” Elizabeth asked nervously.

“ ‘Tis Chavez,
a ghra
.”

“What is he
doing
here, Michael?” she asked, standing next to him. Michael took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “I don’t know, Elizabeth, but you stay here and I’ll find out.”

Gabe was halfway out of his chair, saying, “I’ll come with you, Mr. Burke,” when Michael turned. “Oh, no, boyo, you just stay here and keep the ladies calm.”

Michael’s face was set and hard as he nodded to his unexpected visitor. “I wouldn’t get down if I were you, Chavez,” he said coldly. “What do you want?”

“I came to warn you,
señor
.”

“About what?”

“Señor Mackie. He is expecting you and I would guess that you are not going to disappoint him?”

“I’m leaving in ten minutes. You can ride back and tell him that, Chavez.”

“I don’t work for Mackie anymore, Señor Burke. Not since he found out I didn’t kill Gabriel Hart. I think he guessed that I missed on purpose,” Chavez added with a wry smile. “I am on my way to Arizona, but I thought I would warn you.”

“If you are on your way to Arizona, then your sense of direction is off,” replied Michael.

“
Si,
well, I decided to make a small detour.”

“Why should I believe you, Chavez?” Michael demanded.

“I don’t know, Señor Burke,” admitted Juan. “I surprised myself yesterday and this morning. But I tell you that if you go and offer Mackie the slightest threat, his men will kill you. He doesn’t need me for that,
señor
. He’ll just claim you drew on him and then he’ll take your land. He doesn’t give up until he gets what he wants, Señor Mackie.”

“I’ve known that all along, Chavez.” Michael hesitated a minute. “Did you kill Eduardo?” he asked bluntly.

“
No,
señor
,” Juan replied quietly. “I’ve killed many men, but always in a fair fight.”

“Which you manage to provoke.”

Chavez shrugged. “Sometimes,
señor
. It’s been my job.”