Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona (27 page)

He started to answer, and she held up her hand. “Wait. Let me finish, please?” She needed to get the words out before she lost her courage. There’d been so much misunderstanding the past few weeks between herself and Nevada, but she knew the time had come to set things right.

Nodding, he sat back in his chair and waited.

Christy drew in a deep breath and let it out through her nostrils. “I believe you about Logan. I never liked him and never trusted him. He was a terrible influence on Joshua. He gambled, fought, and drank much of the time. I had no idea he’d stoop so low as to ambush someone, but I can’t say I’m terribly surprised.” She stopped. So much hung on this next question. “Why did you have my grandmother’s cameo brooch in your room?”

The warm tone of his tanned skin paled, and a muscle twitched in his cheek. “You found it on the bureau?”

“Yes.” She noticed he didn’t ask why she’d entered his room. “When I went in to change the water in your pitcher.”

He met her gaze squarely. “I’m glad.”

Surprise pulsed in her mind. This was not the answer she’d expected. Hot denial or some kind of excuse, but not the evident relief she saw. “Why?”

“I didn’t know how to return it to you without you assuming I’d taken it for payment.”

“Didn’t you?” The words had simply spilled out, and it was too late to take them back. Besides, he needed to explain, and she didn’t care to help him.

“No. I told Jake I wanted it for payment so he’d give it to me after I saw how much it hurt you to lose it. Even before I knew who you were I…” He hesitated and didn’t continue.

“Please. I’d like to hear the rest.”

“All right.” He placed his hands on his knees, his expression earnest. “I couldn’t stand it that they’d shot a woman, and you thought I had something to do with it. Then they took your brooch, and even though I couldn’t really see you, I heard the pain in your voice. I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, but I’ve never been party to harming a woman. I decided I’d do what it took to get the brooch back and hopefully prove I wasn’t in on the holdup. Every day for the first two or three weeks I expected the marshal to come calling.”

“I still don’t understand why you didn’t just give it to me.” Christy kept her attention fixed on him, not wanting to miss even the flicker of an eyelash.

“You’d already believed the worst of me, and I figured giving it to you would convince you I’d been part of the robbery.” He gave a rueful laugh. “Guess I should’ve done the right thing and not tried to figure it all out.”

“But I don’t understand why you’ve even stayed in town if you were worried about the law. And why did it matter so much what I thought?” The words dragged themselves out of her innermost being. She’d longed to know the answer to these questions and had finally mustered the courage to ask.

He sat still and stared at her without speaking. His eyes warmed to dark pools, and a glow transformed his rugged features into something beyond handsome. It was…breathtaking.

“Because I care for you, Christy Grey,” he said simply. “I think I’ve cared ever since I heard you demanding that someone fix your arm before you bled to death. And after getting to know you, well…” His lips curved. “I’m afraid the caring has grown to something beyond that.”

She opened her mouth, not sure how she planned to respond.

Pattering feet drew her attention away from Nevada.

Sara rushed into the room. “Christy, your ma’s callin’ for you. I think you need to hurry. It’s not good.”

Christy raced ahead of Sara down the hall, rounding the corner to the room where her mother lay. Sara’s expression sent fear pumping through Christy’s body. As her hand touched the knob, she called back, “Have you sent for the doctor?”

Sara swiped at her damp cheek. “Joshua insisted on goin’ to fetch him. I told him he wasn’t strong enough yet, but Joshua said he hasn’t been there for his ma in the past. And he wasn’t goin’ to let her down this time.”

“Thank you, Sara.” Christy pushed open the door and slipped inside the darkened room, hearing the harsh breathing even before she neared the bed. “Ma? It’s Christy.” She bent over her mother’s tiny form and grasped her hand. It was clammy and almost limp. “Ma, can you hear me?”

Ivy opened her eyes, but her deep cough shook the mattress. Christy reached for the damp cloth on the table and wiped the bloody froth from her ma’s mouth.

“Water.” The word rasped like a file run over a stone.

Christy grabbed a glass sitting next to the bed and lifted Ivy’s head. “Here. Drink slowly now. Joshua went to get Doctor Goodfellow. He’ll be here soon.”

“Wait. Important…I tell you.” Ma struggled to rise, but another coughing spasm pressed her back into the bed.

“No. Don’t talk, Ma.” Christy dipped the rag into the basin of water nearby and rinsed it, then gently dabbed at her mother’s face. “Rest now so you can get better.”

“Not this time, Daughter. Must talk…before I…die. Please.”

Panic swept through Christy’s heart. Ma couldn’t leave them. They’d not made peace on so many accounts. “Shh. You’re not going to die.”

“Listen.” Ivy fumbled for Christy’s hand and gripped it with a strength surprising to her. “Need to tell you.” Distress wrinkled her forehead.

“All right, Ma. I’m listening.” She reached back with her free hand and inched a chair close to the bed, then sank into it.

“I’m sorry for treatin’ you bad…all these years. So afraid…” Ivy lifted her other hand and covered her mouth as she coughed again. “After Molly died…scared I’d lose another child. Wanted to make…you strong.”

Christy’s throat closed, and tears welled. “It’s okay, Ma. Please don’t worry yourself.”

“Need…to finish.” Ivy barely raised her head off the pillow. “I…love you, Christy. So proud of you. Tell your brother”—her breath came in short gasps—”I love him. He’s been…a good boy. Took care of me…when Logan left. Tell him, Christy….” Falling back against the pillow, she closed her eyes for several long moments, then opened them again. “Not to grieve me…like he did Logan. I’m ready to go. Tell him”—she paused and closed her eyes—“to go straight…be a man from now on.”

“I will, Ma. I’ll tell him, don’t you worry. I love you too—so very much.”

Silence settled over the room for a couple of minutes, then Ivy stirred and her lids fluttered open. “Forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Mama. Nothing at all.” She kissed the damp forehead.

“Yes. Did somethin’ bad.” Ivy panted, sucking in several shallow breaths. “Shouldn’t have.”

“Shh. It doesn’t matter now.”

“Ne…va…da.” The single word carried a world of sorrow in the three syllables.

Christy’s heart rate quickened, and she leaned forward. “What about Nevada, Ma?”

“Sent word to Jake…Nevada killed Logan.” Her eyes closed for a moment, then opened. “Sorry I did.” She struggled to force the words out between trembling lips. “Sara told me…he saved you both…from the fire. Logan was…no good. Knew it…didn’t want…to admit. Wanted someone…to love me.” She sank back. A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and trickled down into her hair. “I asked…God…to forgive me. Hope you…will too.”

Christy let out a low cry and laid her cheek against her mother’s. “I love you so much, Ma. Of course I forgive you.” She draped her arm around Ivy, pulling her close and rocking her gently.

Dimly she heard the door open. Footsteps approached the bed. A man’s firm but gentle hands drew her upright. He leaned over the bed for several long seconds, then spoke in a low but decisive voice. “I’m sorry, Miss Grey. I think your mother is gone.”

Nevada hovered outside the open door with Sara, waiting for the doctor to finish examining Mrs. Malone before they entered. Joshua stood on the far side of the bed, his tortured eyes fixed on his mother.

Christy’s cry brought Sara racing into the room. She clutched Christy’s hand and drew her away from the bed, encircling her shaking body in a fierce hug.

Nevada stood on the other side of the threshold. Christy’s sobs pierced the wall he’d erected around his heart and brought out a protectiveness he hadn’t realized he possessed. He wanted to watch over this woman and care for her in any way possible. She’d been through so much lately, and now she’d lost her mother. He didn’t know if his love would make a difference, but if she’d have him, he’d do everything in his power to restore joy to her life.

Joshua stood beside the bed, hollow eyes staring at his mother. He raised them to the doctor, and his voice croaked, “She’ll be all right, won’t she, Doc?”

Nevada stepped into the room and walked over to stand beside the young man, his hand resting on Joshua’s shoulder. Guilt and shame assailed him at the pain he heard in Joshua’s voice. Because of Nevada, the only man Joshua had known as a father was dead, and now he’d lost his mother. Nevada bowed his head and whispered a silent prayer for strength and comfort for the grieving sister and brother.

Doctor Goodfellow turned toward him. “I’m sorry, son, but she’s gone. Her lungs couldn’t hold out any longer.”

Joshua’s body began to tremble, but he didn’t bolt or cry out. He reached down and plucked his mother’s hand from the sheet where it lay and carried it up to his cheek. “Ma? Forgive me for wastin’ all your money and makin’ you lose the house.” A sob tore from his throat. “Please don’t hate me, Ma.”

Christy pulled out of Sara’s embrace and stepped behind her brother. “Joshua?” She turned him toward her and placed her palms on the sides of his cheeks. “Look at me, little brother.”

Nevada walked to where Sara stood, his heart aching at the scene playing out in front of him. He was dimly aware of the doctor pulling the sheet up over Ivy Malone and grateful Christy had turned Joshua’s back to the bed.

Christy continued to cradle his face in her hands. Love shone from her eyes. “She gave me a message for you before she died. She loved you, Joshua, so much.”

He shook his head, almost dislodging her hands. She moved one to his forehead and brushed his dark auburn hair away from his face. “Ma made her peace with God before she passed, and we’ll see her in heaven someday. But she asked you to go straight and not grieve her so deep like you did with Logan. She wanted you to know how proud she was to call you her son, but she wanted you to be the man she knew you could be.”

The slumped shoulders straightened. Joshua looked up with a stunned expression. His desperate eyes begged to believe Christy’s words. “She said that? She was proud of me?”

“Yes. You stuck with her and cared for her after Logan left. Joshua, you need to know she didn’t blame the man who killed Logan.” Christy shot a glance toward Nevada before returning her attention to Joshua. “She understood why he had to do it. She loved us both and wanted us to make a good life for ourselves.”

He gave a shuddering sigh and drew her close. “All right, big sister. I’ll try. No more gambling or drinking. I’ll make you both proud.”

Sara moved silently over to stand beside the two and touched Joshua. “I’m proud of you too.”

Joshua patted Christy’s back, then turned to Sara. She held out her arms, and he walked into them, pulling her close.

Nevada took two steps toward the door. He’d imposed on this family’s privacy long enough. Time to head back to his room.

“Nevada?” Christy’s tone slowed his pace as he crossed the threshold.

“Yes?”

She fell into step beside him until they reached the middle of the hall. “You heard what I told Joshua about Ma?”

“I did. She said that about me?”

“Mama knew Logan was no good, but she didn’t want to admit it. She asked me to forgive her for doing something she realized was wrong.” Christy placed her hand on his arm and her damp lashes rose to reveal deep green depths of pain. “I’m afraid she sent word to Jake that you’re in Tombstone. He’ll be hunting you now in earnest.”

Nevada placed his hand over her fingers and squeezed. “I’ll not shoot another man, I promise you. I’ve been the cause of too much grief for your family already.”

Christy didn’t remove her hand but instead placed her other one on top of his, encasing it with a warm embrace. “You told me something in the dining room earlier. Did you mean the words you said?”

His thoughts raced until they landed on the declaration he’d made. His heart gave a sharp lurch. When Sara had interrupted them, he’d assumed Christy hadn’t heard the words he’d blurted about how much he cared. “Every one and more.”

Her gaze didn’t waver. “I care about you, Nevada, and I can’t lose you. Give me your word you won’t allow Jake to shoot you down in the street.”

Gratefulness again threatened to overwhelm him, but he couldn’t permit himself the luxury of considering her words right now. “I can’t promise, Christy, but I’ll do my best to stay alive. All I can promise is I won’t shoot another man. And especially not another member of your family.”

Frustration narrowed Christy’s eyes and tugged at her nerves. All she could think about was keeping Nevada alive. Why did he have to choose this time to lay down his guns? She hadn’t understood before how a man could get into a shooting scrape, but the knowledge that Jake planned on killing Nevada had shaken her deeply.

She tightened her grip on his hand. “He’s not family. Logan was my mother’s third husband, and Jake is his cousin. He’s a killer who ambushes men, as well as a thief. If you don’t face him, he’ll shoot you in the back the first chance he gets—now that he knows who you are.”

Nevada smiled, the skin at the edges of his eyes crinkling. “I’m not easy to kill, darlin’.”

“Then what?” She wanted to stomp her foot and demand an answer, but the quiet strength pouring from this tall, rugged cowboy stopped her.

“Something is different.” She peered up at him and tried to find the answer, but he kept on smiling. “What is it, Nevada? What’s changed?”

“Me.” The simple word came out with a bold assurance. “I’ve given up trying to run my own life. That’s God’s job now. If He wants me alive, He’ll show me a way to take Jake without killing him.”

Relief washed over Christy. She basked in the peace created by Nevada’s words. “All right. I’ll trust Him, as well.”

Nevada bent his head and touched his lips to hers in a brief but sweet kiss. “When this is over, I have a few more of those tucked away and maybe a question or two I might want to ask.”

Joy exploded in Christy’s chest and she stood on tiptoe, placing her palms against his cheeks. She met his lips, allowing hers to linger for several seconds. Nevada stood as though bolted to the floor, then his arms slipped around her waist and drew her close. His kiss deepened, and his hands stroked the small of her back.

Christy wanted to lose herself in his embrace forever. Cradled in his arms, she felt complete. No fear, self-doubt, or anxiety about the future could touch her. Finally she drew a short distance away and smiled up into his eyes. “I’ll be waiting for that question, Cowboy, and don’t you forget it.”

He laughed, his joy echoing hers. “Not much chance of that.”

Christy was grateful the undertaker was able to provide a casket quickly so they could bury her mother the following morning. The intense heat of late June didn’t allow for a long period of mourning, and the small procession followed the horse-drawn black hearse to the outskirts of town. They stopped beside a newly dug grave in Boot Hill and spent a few moments in silent meditation before the pastor spoke a prayer. Ma hadn’t wanted any big production, and Christy decided to honor her desire.

She wished Nevada had felt comfortable attending but understood his need to stay away until Joshua could come to terms with who Nevada was and the part he’d played in Logan’s death. She’d told Joshua about Jake, as well as Logan’s plan to bushwhack Nevada. She’d stressed the cowboy’s need to defend himself, but Joshua didn’t want to hear. Even sharing Jake’s plan to hunt Nevada down hadn’t penetrated Joshua’s fog of grief. Hopefully, once her brother got past his first couple days of shock he’d understand. After all, it was Nevada who saved Sara from the gambling den and rescued them both during the fire.

Nellie Cashman, Sara, Joshua, Christy, and the pastor made their way back to town, each caught in their own hushed reflections. Nevada promised to have dinner with her at the Russ House after the service, and she prayed their lives would return to normal. Maybe Jake would drift away and nothing would come of his threats, or she could convince Joshua, Sara, and Nevada to leave town with her now that her mother no longer required care.

Joshua mumbled something and slipped into the boardinghouse without looking back.

Sara stopped beside Christy and gave her a tight squeeze. “Thank you for standin’ by me and bein’ my friend. I’m sorry you’re hurtin’ so much right now.”

Christy placed her arm around Sara’s waist. “I’m all right. It’s Joshua I’m worried about.”

Sara shrugged. “Joshua needs to sort out what you told him about Nevada, that’s all. He’ll come around. He wants to do what’s right.”

“I know.”

“I’m goin’ to my room to lie down. This baby’s been kickin’ me somethin’ fierce lately.” She patted her belly and laughed. “Joshua says that means it’s a boy for shore.” She pushed through the front door and disappeared inside.

Christy gazed after her. In all the distress of the recent days, she’d almost forgotten Sara believed she carried Joshua’s child. Of course there was no certainty of that, but she’d been with Joshua a number of times before Townsley sent others along. Whatever the case, the two young people seemed at peace with the circumstances. What a miracle—that something as terrible as what the girl had gone through could produce something that would bring joy to her heart for years to come. And to Joshua’s, if she read the signs correctly.

She sank onto a bench beside the door. How wonderful to rest and not have anything important or ugly pressing in on her mind. A new chapter of her life would open somehow, and God would show her what to do and where to go. The promise she’d seen in Nevada’s face offered hope for her future she’d never thought possible.

Footsteps thumped on the boardwalk, and Christy looked up. Nevada walked toward her, his countenance alight with excitement. “I talked to Tom Parks, and he’s planning on arresting Jake today. He’s gathered enough evidence to put him and his cronies behind bars for the stage holdup, among other crimes. Maybe our worries about having to shoot him were unfounded, and I’ll get to ask you that question sooner than I expected.”

She sat up straight and beamed. “That’s wonderful—”

“Nevada King!” came a shout from up the street. “Turn around and draw your gun.”