Vegas Heat (42 page)

“You have to let go of my hand, Fanny. It’s time for me to go. Please, Fanny, let go.”

“All right, Ash,” Fanny sobbed. “Think about me sometime, okay?”

“Be happy, Fanny.”

Fanny threw herself across the bed, her body shaking with sobs. What seemed like a long time later she felt gentle hands pulling her backward.

“John. Oh, John. I didn’t think it was going to be like this. I didn’t know I would care so much. He killed him for me, John. This is my fault. I swear to God I didn’t know he had a gun. He brought this black bag with him from town. He was so concerned about it. It was heavy. I should have known. Somehow I should have known. That’s why he asked for the coffee, so the cook could get the bag out of the closet for him. He couldn’t ask me. The last thing he said was, be happy, Fanny. Oh, God, John, I feel like I want to lie down here and die, too. What are we going to do? As much as I detested Simon, he didn’t deserve to die at his brother’s hand.”

“Ash must have thought so, Fanny. I know this will sound strange coming from me, since I’m a doctor, but if you stop to think about those two brothers you can understand Ash’s thought processes. His condition, his concern for you, Simon’s demands. That damn list he talked to me about last week.”

“They’re both dead, John. Does ... do we ... ?”

“I’ll take care of it. What’s he holding in his hand, Fanny?”

“
The
list. A list of all the ... things Simon did and all the things ... The grievances he planned to present to his mother when ...
he got there
. I don’t know. I never read it. I don’t want to read it now. He said ... he could see his mother and father and Devin. He said his mother was holding out her hand for the list. I know dying people always say things like that. Do you think he did see them?”

“I think Ash thought he saw them. I hope he did.”

“He said he gave Simon the edge by letting him go first. Oh, God, John, how am I ever going to live with this?”

“One day at a time. Bess is on her way. I tried to get here sooner, but we had some emergency surgery earlier. Go downstairs, Fanny, and wait for Bess. Send Chue and his sons up.”

Fanny did as John asked. There was nothing else for her to do.

Three hours after his death, Simon Thornton was buried in the Thornton cemetery by Chue and his children. Fanny, Bess, John, Chue, and his sons were the only mourners in attendance. John rushed through a prayer, his words garbled. No one seemed to mind. The moment they walked away, Chue and his sons began replacing the dirt. Fanny shuddered at the sound of the clumps of dirt hitting the pine box Chue had nailed together. By sundown the grave would look as though it had been there as long as the others.

John Noble signed Simon Thornton’s death certificate under the watchful eye of his wife Bess. The cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest.

The following day, John Noble tendered his resignation to the Thornton Medical Center, citing the need to spend more time with his family as the reason for retiring from the medical profession.

It was the Thornton children, not Fanny, who decided to hold a memorial service for Ash Thornton at the small church called Saint Cotton Easter. It was a candlelight service because a delegation of casino owners had asked that Fanny darken the Big White Way for one hour. She agreed. Ash would have loved the tribute.

There were no stark headlines in the morning paper, out of consideration for the Thornton family. Page two carried a brief article with a small picture of Ash in his navy whites. Simon’s obituary was on page seven, halfway down the page. There was no mention of how he died.

It was done. It was over. A large part of Fanny’s life was gone forever, but life would go on.

Ash had said, don’t be sad at my passing, be happy you still have what you have. She knew he was right.

“I
need
to grieve. Forgive me, Ash, for denying you your last request of me.”

Fanny wept for the past.

Fanny hugged her children one last time.

“Do you have
any
idea of where you’re going, Mom?” Sage asked.

Her voice was choked when she said, “Here, there, yonder. I’ll call.”

“We’ll take good care of things, Fanny,” Bess said. “John is just itching to help me at the casino. Think about it, if someone faints because they win too much money, we have a doctor on the premises. Take care of yourself, Fanny,” Bess said.

“I will.”

Sunny stepped forward. She hugged her mother. “I want to thank you, Mom, for everything. I’m sorry I was such a shit.”

“It doesn’t matter, honey. I’m so proud of you, Sunny. Promise me you’ll keep up the good work.”

“I promise, Mom. Jake wants to say something.”

“Hi, big guy, catch any fish lately?”

“I got a big one yesterday. Are you going to see Pop Pop?”

“Not this trip, Jake. One of these days ...”

“Okay. I miss him. I sent him a letter in a balloon.”

Fanny cleared her throat. “Pop Pop loves to get letters.”

“Don’t get into any trouble, Mom,” Billie said.

“I’ll try not to.”

“I’m going to hang around here for a while. I hate traveling.”

“That’s nice to know, Billie.”

“No more hugs, no more kisses, no more
crying,”
Sage bellowed. “We’ll be here if you need us.”

“I’ll carry that thought with me. You know I love you all, more than I can ever say”

“Mom, will you go already!” Sage bellowed again. Fanny could see the tears in her son’s eyes.

Fanny slipped the 4 by 4 into gear and left the underground garage. The time was 7:20
A.M.
At the top of the ramp she was able to see a tall figure outlined in the early-morning sun. She pulled the Rover to the side and lowered the window. “You’re up early, Marcus.”

“I never went to bed. I’ve been sitting here on the curb all night. I wanted to say good-bye. Where are you going, Fanny?”

“I don’t know.”

“Are you coming back?”

“I don’t know, Marcus.”

“I love you, Fanny.”

“I love you, too.”

“I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

“I’ll carry that thought with me. Will you watch over my family?”

“Fanny, the whole damn town watches over your family. I’ll add my name to the list. Travel safely. Will you call or write?”

“I will when I need you the most.”

Marcus nodded.

Fanny drove away. She didn’t look back.

She had things to do, places to go.

Her first stop was Sunrise.

Chue watched from the gardens as Fanny climbed from the Rover, the ashes in her hand. He felt his heart thud in his chest when he saw Fanny go to the edge of the mountain. “You’re free at last, Ash! You’re one with the universe now.” In a voice that was cracked and harsh she, who could never carry a tune, broke into song. “
Off we go into the wild blue yonder ...”

“
Climbing high into the sky ...”
Chue sang, his arm going around her shoulder.

They finished the song, tears dripping down their cheeks.

“I saved a little,” Fanny said, handing the urn to Chue. “Put them next to Sallie. Just a cross, Chue, nothing elaborate like what we did for Simon.”

“Yes, Miss Fanny.”

“Isn’t it wonderful that Sage is moving his family here now? The children love the mountain. Everything happens for a reason. Ours not to reason why. Watch over my family. Someone told me earlier that many people watch over them. I didn’t know that.”

“Have no fear, Miss Fanny.”

“I hope you put some real whoppers in that pond. Jake can’t wait to get here.”

“It is done, Miss Fanny.”

“Good-bye, Chue.”

“Good-bye, Miss Fanny.”

Done.

Over.

Move on, Fanny
.

It was eleven o’clock when Fanny parked her car in a neatly bordered driveway. A small box in her hand, she walked up the walkway to the door and rang the bell. Margaret Lassiter opened the door and held it wide for Fanny to enter.

“Mrs. Thornton, I’m so sorry about your husband and his brother. If there’s anything Jeffrey or I can do, you only have to ask.”

“I saw you and Jeffrey at the memorial service. It was nice of you to attend.”

“We didn’t want to intrude.”

“Is Jeffrey home?”

“He’s at work. He won’t get home till around six.”

“I wonder if you would give him this. It’s ... what it is ... is Ash’s aviator wings. I thought he might like to have them. Ash has . . . other wings now.”

“Oh, Mrs. Thornton, I know Jeffrey will be so pleased. You have no idea how he’s anguished over that episode at the casino. Are you sure you want to give
my son
his father’s wings? You have boys of your own.”

“I’m sure, Mrs. Lassiter. I have to go now. Thank you for seeing me.”

“Good-bye, Mrs. Thornton.”

Done.

Over.

Move on, Fanny
.

Fanny looked at her watch the moment she turned off the engine. She’d made good time, the radio blaring for company. She took a long moment to commit the house nestled in the cottonwoods to memory. She looked at her watch again as she climbed from the car. She took one last walk around the property, marveling at the tree house Marcus had built.

A jackrabbit jumped from the bushes. Startled, Fanny backed up to the makeshift ladder leading to the tree house. She sat down on the third rung from the bottom. She stared at nothing, her thoughts whirling inside her head. She looked at her watch again. She had ten minutes. Time to get on with it.

Hands jammed in her pockets, Fanny walked to the center of the backyard, her head raised to the sun. “Hey, Sallie, listen up! In ten minutes this place is just going to be a memory. I’m breaking the chain. I don’t want your legacy. Not anymore. This is the last link, Sallie. You hoped I’d bring your precious son Simon here. That was a mistake, Sallie. I will not allow myself to end up like you. Ash took care of that for me. Bet your hair is standing on end over that. All that stuff in your safe is gone. So is the damn safe. The first thing I did after Ash died was to throw your desk and blackboard down the mountain. I’ve got a regular junkyard down there. If there was a way to get rid of that cemetery, I’d do that, too. Private cemeteries are obscene. When I figure a way to get rid of it I’ll do it. For now, it’s what it is, a place. Nothing more. This house is the last link. Ooops, gotta go, I hear the machinery out on the road. I don’t want any sign from you, Sallie. I don’t think rain, thunder, and lightning are going to do it this time. Oh, yeah, one last thing. I’m taking back my maiden name. This is Fanny Logan signing off, Sallie.” She offered up a sloppy salute before she walked to the front of the house.

“Mrs. Thornton?”

“Mr. Wyler. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“Yes it is. This is the house?”

“Yes. It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

“Name your price. I’ll buy it from you.”

“I can’t do that. You brought your wrecking ball. The house is made from quarry stone. Is your machinery strong enough?”

“Yes, Mrs. Thornton, it will do the job. You’re sure now?”

“Yes, sir, I am.”

“You want all the debris carried away to the quarry.”

“Yes. Please, will you rake the grounds so nothing remains. The tree house, too.”

“Okay, Mrs. Thornton, you’re the boss.”

“I’m not Mrs. Thornton anymore. I came here plain old Fanny Logan from Shamrock, Pennsylvania, and that’s how I’m leaving. I know you don’t understand. It’s all right. Send your bill to the casino.”

Daisy in her arms, Fanny watched as the heavy piece of machinery backed up, advanced and then backed up again. The massive iron ball swayed in the air. As far as Fanny could tell, there was no breeze anywhere. Her eyes didn’t leave the ball for a second.

“Do it!”

The moment the ball hit the roof of the house, Fanny climbed into her car.

She didn’t look back.

Done.

Over.

Move on, Fanny
.

Fanny was exhausted by the time she drove the Rover down the long road that led to Josh Coleman’s farm. It was late, almost eleven o’clock. The lights encouraged her to drive around the horseshoeshaped driveway. Someone inside must have heard her engine. The front light under the overhang suddenly glowed a warm yellow. “Stay, Daisy, I won’t be long.”

Fanny walked up the four stone steps to the front door. Before she could ring the bell, the door opened. Josh Coleman stood in front of her, his face puzzled at this late visit. Fanny made no apologies.

“Mrs. Thornton, come in. Has something happened? Is something wrong?”

“I’m returning your family albums. I’d like mine back if you don’t mind. I also brought you a letter from your nephew, Ash. He passed away two weeks ago on the same day his brother Simon died. There are only two Thornton men left in the family to carry on the name—my twin sons Birch and Sage.”

“Was it important to you to bring these albums back to me at this time of night? I sense a certain anxiety in you.”

“I dislike confrontations. I came here to tell you I think it’s despicable what you and your brother did to that family you left behind in a tar paper shack. There are no excuses. Even if you had one, I don’t want to hear it. A family, Mr. Coleman, is the most precious thing on this earth. When all else is gone, when everything else fails, family is the only thing that counts. I don’t believe you looked very hard to find your family. You and Seth were already rich men when Sallie returned to that shack. You could have done the same thing. You could have gone back.

“The hatred she felt for what you did is what brings me here. Because of that deep hatred, she ruined her sons’ lives and she tried to ruin mine. Today was the culmination of it all. My albums, please.”

“Mrs. Thornton ...”

“I’m no longer Mrs. Thornton. I’m Fanny Logan. My albums, please.”

The old man inclined his head to the right where her albums were stacked neatly. Fanny picked them up and held them close to her chest. A sob tore at her throat. She felt herself being led to a chair. “I think you need to talk, Fanny Logan. I’m a good listener. If you want to cry, I have a whole pile of hankies.”

A long time later Fanny stood, her hand extended. “I forgot about my dog. She’s still in the car.”

“Would you like to spend the night? It’s a long drive to town.”

“No thank you. It’s late. Good night, Mr. Coleman.”

“God willing I’ll make my way to Nevada and Texas before the cold weather sets in. It’s time for my clan to meet the others.”

“Consider yourself damn lucky, Mr. Coleman, if any one of them opens their door to you.”

“I’m not above begging and pleading,” the old man said.

“Those are just words.”

“You’re wrong, Fanny Logan. Those are promises.”

Done.

Over.

Move on, Fanny
.

It was two o’clock in the morning when Fanny pulled into an all-night diner. She ordered food and carried it to the car, where she gobbled it down almost as fast as Daisy did. She sat in the parking lot for a long time, sipping her coffee and smoking cigarettes, Daisy cuddled in her lap.

At four-thirty she headed for Washington National Airport. She parked the car in long-term parking, wondering exactly what the words long-term meant. At five-thirty she was the first in line at the Delta checkin counter.

“Where to, ma’am?”

“Home. Shamrock, Pennsylvania. Two first-class tickets, one for me and one for my dog.”

“Yes, ma’am. Your flight leaves in forty minutes. Gate Three.”

Fanny walked across the concourse, her eyes searching for a phone booth. Daisy woofed softly when she placed her call.

“Marcus?”

“Fanny?”

“Fanny Logan, Marcus. I just wanted to tell you I love you. I also wanted to tell you I know where I’m going.”

“Where, Fanny?”

“Home.”

“Which home, Fanny?” Marcus asked gently.

“The only one that was ever really mine. Shamrock.”

“Would you like some company? I mean besides Daisy.”

“I would like that very much.”

“Then hang up so I can get it all in gear. I can charter a plane. Will you wait for me at the airport in Pittsburgh?”

“Yes.”

“How long will you wait?”

Fanny laughed. “Marcus Reed, me and my dog will wait as long as it takes. Didn’t you hear what I said? I love you.”

“You better be saying the same thing when I get off the plane. Hang up, Fanny.”

“Marcus.”

“Yes, Fanny?”

“I did everything I was supposed to do. I broke the last link.”

“How do you feel?”

“I feel like I did in 1944 when I left Shamrock.”

“Hot damn. Hang up, Fanny.”

“Okay.”

“You see, Daisy,” she whispered, “something good did come of all of this.”

She was going home. And when she got to that wonderful place called home, the man she had waited for all her life would join her.

Her world right side up, Fanny strode down the concourse to Gate Three on the last leg of her homeward journey.