Texas Twilight (31 page)

Dustin was now awake, standing over
Chaim.

John put his hand on Chaim’s forehead,
pleased to find that his cousin’s temperature still felt normal.
“Good. He needs to rest. It’s the best way for him to recover.”

They looked at each other for a long moment
across Chaim’s body.

Dustin’s voice was gravelly, low when he
said, “Emmeline told me what you did to save his life.”

“I was glad to be able to do it.”

“I suppose Chaim was lucky that you’d come to
town.” He raked his fingers through his hair, then massaged the
muscles in the back of his neck. He rotated his shoulders and
rolled them several times. “What are his chances?”

“That’s impossible to say. We just have to
hope infection doesn’t set in, and that his heart wasn’t damaged by
the bullet. As much as I hate to say it, it could go either
way.”

Dustin just stared. “Thanks for being
honest.”

Lily paced the floor, waiting impatiently for
her aunt to wake up. The white cat followed her back and forth
across the upstairs rug, mewing hopefully as if wishing her adopted
mistress would sit down so she could jump into her warm lap. It
wasn’t but a moment when Lily heard a small sound on the front
porch, and then a whisper. Gathering her courage, she blew out her
lantern and carefully sneaked down the stairs to the front door.
Even with her ear pressed up tight, it took a moment before her
heart stilled enough to be able to make out what was being
said.

“You’re sure?” the sheriff said quietly.

“Without a doubt.”

Lily would recognize Lector Boone’s voice
anywhere. It was as black and foreboding as what he wore. “I’ve
done my due diligence. It’s in the safe.”

“And if he resists?”

“I’ll have the jewel, Sheriff. One way or the
other.”

“There will be no killing, Boone.”

Lily almost gasped. Did he mean he’d shoot
John, without even trying to find the truth, just to get the
reward? A tremor begotten of trepidation began in her hands and
traveled all the way down to her feet. She must get the jewel out
of John’s safe. John was everything. She loved him with the depths
of her being. It didn’t matter if he didn’t feel the same about
her. She’d do anything for him. Anything to keep him safe. She had
brought this trouble down on his head, and she would fix it.

The men
walked away, their heavy footsteps fadding into the night. She had
to think of some way to help. Could she tell the sheriff about
Tante Harriett? What if they wanted to lock
her
up in the penitentiary? As Lily hurried to the
stairs she could hear her aunt talking to the cat. Tante Harriett
had finally woken up.

L
ily knocked on
the door jam. “May I come in?”

Tante Harriett looked up. “Of course, dear.”
She patted the quilt.

“How are you feeling?” Lily asked, sitting on
the bed.

“So much better.” Tante Harriett paused to
listen. “I’m glad that horrible storm is over. I don’t think I’ve
ever seen it rain so hard.”

The last thing Lily wanted to do was bring up
the jewel, and what it was all about, but there was no other way
around it. Time was running out. Come what may, she needed answers
tonight.

“Tante?”

“I can see the dark clouds in your eyes.
Something is troubling you, my dear. Tell me what it is.”

Lily nodded. Her aunt gazed back. Perhaps the
old woman was stronger than she thought. “It’s about something I
found in your belongings. Something incredible.”

The color drained from Harriett’s face.

“A jewel. I didn’t mean to go through your
things, but it was when I found you passed out and went for John.
Remember?”

“Of course.”

Lily waited for her to continue.

“As you must have guessed,” the old woman
said in a shaky voice, “the gem does not belong to me.” Harriett
reached out and took Lily’s hand. “I never wanted you to find out.
I’d hoped coming to Rio Wells had settled that problem. But after
seeing that man tonight I know there’s nothing left for me to do
but tell you the whole truth. Actually, I think I’m relieved the
time has finally come.”

Harriett sat up in the bed and gazed out into
the darkness of the night for a few moments, thinking. “When I sent
for you in Germany,” she said in a small voice, “I didn’t have
enough funds. I thought I had, when I first wrote to your mother
and father, but it turned out to be double what the shipping
company had first quoted me. Since the plans had already been made,
and you were getting ready to set sail, I decided to take out a
loan rather than disappoint you or the family.”

She squeezed Lily’s hand softly. “At first,
there was no problem. I made payments over the months and was close
to having the loan paid off. Then, when that new shop on the East
side opened, our business fell off considerably.”

“Was that when we began to take in laundry,
too?”

Harriett nodded.

“And you worked night and day, and wouldn’t
tell me why. Your health started to deteriorate.”

Harriett smiled sadly.

“Why was the bank so uncompromising? Wouldn’t
they help you at all?”

“That was the problem, Lily. I didn’t go to
the bank for the loan. I went to one of the local pawn shops. I
knew the owner. We were friends. But when money is involved, people
change.”

Harriett reached over and rubbed the sleeping
cat that’d snuck onto Lily’s lap during the conversation. It was a
moment before she continued.

“When I made the last payment I was told the
interest rate had changed, that I owed almost as much as I had in
the beginning. He warned me that if I said anything to anyone,
something horrible would happen to you. I went along with it for a
while, but could see what was happening as my money dwindled away.
He was never going to stop blackmailing me. So, I began plotting an
escape. Before all the money was gone, I found the shop for lease
in Rio Wells, and I sent the year’s rent money to Mr.
Bartlett.”

Harriett took a deep breath, closing her
eyes.

“What happened?”

“Before it was time for our escape, the
pawnshop owner demanded my debt be paid in full. He assured me he’d
sell you into white slavery, after maiming you for life making any
escape for you impossible. I was frightened. Didn’t know what to
do. Almost all the money I had I’d already sent to Rio Wells. Then,
that day, when I was delivering the red velvet ball gown to Mrs.
Lowerby, I saw the expensive looking jewel on her dressing table.
All sense flew from my mind—except for the temptation of having a
way of paying the loan off. Before thinking twice, I slipped it in
my pocket. At first I was relieved, thinking I could just hand the
jewel over for payment and no one would find out where I’d gotten
it. Then, when a few hours had passed and I’d come to my senses, I
knew I’d made a horrible mistake. I was sick with worry. Ashamed
and horrified with what I had done. But, I couldn’t think of a way
to reverse my actions. The Lowerbys had gone away for a few days
and I couldn’t get back into their house. Then, the man I saw
tonight came to the shop asking how I knew Mr. and Mrs. Lowerby. I
knew then we had to flee.

“I am so sorry you went through this. And all
because of me.”

Harriett scowled. “Hush now! You’re the
daughter I never had. I love you and take full responsibility for
my actions.”

Tante wouldn’t live very long if she was
locked away in a prison. Someone so caring and loving should not
spend their last days like that. “But, the Lowerbys love you. I
remember time and again their saying it. They will forgive you when
they hear why you did it. I know they will.”

“Perhaps they would. But the law has been
involved. Lawyers and judges don’t make exceptions for silly old
ladies.”

Tante Harriett was right. Just as Boone did
not care if he got to the truth as long as he got the jewel and his
reward. This was an awful mess.

Lily knew what she had to do. She patted her
aunt’s wrinkled hand. “Thank you for finally telling me. You rest
for now. We will figure this out.”

“But, the man in black?”

“All will be well.”

Tante Harriett sank back down into her
bedding, exhausted, almost as if she were a little child trusting
in Lily to take care of things.

Lily kissed her forehead. “Don’t breathe a
word of this to anyone.”

Harriett nodded one last time, then her
eyelids fluttered down. Meanwhile, Lily was making plans for the
next couple of hours.

John shut the door behind Dustin, thankful
his cousin decided to join his family at the hotel and get some
rest. It was almost midnight and John trudged up the stairs to his
room, exhausted. He needed to wash up and change out of his soiled
clothes. After that, he’d take his rest in the examination room
with Chaim.

John poured water into his basin and splashed
his face. The cool water refreshed his flagging spirits, so he
repeated the process, this time rubbing it all the way over his
head and through his hair. He grasped his towel and dried
vigorously, trying to chase away his fatigue. Glancing up, he spied
the porcelain figurine on the shelf. It looked so much like Lily he
had to smile. He remembered what she had told him about all her
sisters in Germany. A dull ache in his chest almost made him
wince.

John pushed aside any thoughts of her for
now, then stripped off his shirt and pants, going to his closet for
fresh clothes. As he finished buttoning up his shirt he thought he
heard a noise downstairs. He quickly pulled on his pants and
hurried back into the examination room. All was quiet and Chaim was
sleeping peacefully.

Still, a prickle of unease taunted him. Going
to the window he glanced out, but saw nothing but the dark street.
Slipping from the room, he was surprised to find Lily by the front
door—as if his earlier thoughts had conjured her out of thin
air.

“Lily, is everything all right?” He glanced
at the clock. It was only fifteen minutes since Dustin had left. He
took her hand and led her into the dimly lit kitchen.

“Yes, I…I just wanted to see how Chaim was. I
guess I should have waited until morning.”

John pulled out a chair, careful to pick it
up rather than sliding it across the wood floor. “Here, sit for a
moment,” he whispered, “and I’ll give you an update on his
condition.”

She hesitated, looking either frightened or
nervous. “Lily?”

“I really should not, John. Tante was shaken
badly by the storm. I cannot remember her ever being so upset. If
she calls me and I am not there, she will be even more
frightened.”

“Is she doing okay? I can come check on
her.”

“No, that is not necessary. You look tired.”
Her soft laugh seemed strained. “I think we all are. It is just the
thunder and lightning that has her rattled. You need to get some
sleep too.”

He nodded, then realized he still had hold of
her hand. “Okay. Well, Chaim seems to be doing well. I’m happy with
his condition. His temperature is good and he’s sleeping soundly.
All we can do now is wait and hope that infection doesn’t set
in.”

With that news she finally smiled. “Good. I
am relieved to hear it.” She softly took her hand from his and
turned. “You get some rest too, yes?”

John didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to
tell her about him and Emmeline, and what had happened between
them. And, about Emmeline and Chaim, too. What a difference a day
made. But it seemed she was determined. “I will.” He went with her
the few feet over to her shop and opened the door. “You get some
sleep, yourself. Doctor’s orders.” He leaned over and pressed his
cheek to hers. “If you need anything, Lily, just ask,” he said
softly into her ear. “I mean it.”

Charity lay in the hotel bed, staring up at
the crack in the ceiling, listening to the sounds of Becky sleeping
by her side. So many things were rolling around in her head. Chaim,
with blood covering his chest, as she tried to keep him in the
saddle. Harland Shellston trying to kill her. She slammed her eyes
closed when Brandon came into her thoughts. He’d given up on her.
Ridden out of her life for good.

Everything will look better in the morning,
she tried to convince herself. It was a tactic her mother always
used to cheer her up, but unfortunately it never really worked.
Problems were problems, period.

Unable to lay still another second, she
lifted the blanket, careful not to awaken Becky, and cautiously got
out of the bed. It squeaked loudly causing Becky’s breathing to
stop for a moment, then the girl rolled over, lost again to her
dream world. In the cool room, Charity slipped on her coat and
carried a straight-backed chair over to the window and sat down.
Careful not to make a sound, she pushed the pane open a few inches,
welcoming the chilly night air.

Darkness pervaded the sleeping town. The sign
at The Silk Garter’s creaked softly, and was the only sound until
the footfalls of a horse coming up the street caught her attention.
The rider was still too far away for her to see who it was through
the shadows, but something about the outline of the rider kept her
attention. In another few moments he would be directly in front of
the hotel.

She stifled a gasp. No need for him to come
closer. Even from this distance she’d know that silhouette
anywhere. She’d been studying it for all of the ten years she’d
known him. And that of the big, solid horse he rode, too.

B
randon was
back!

A wallop of adrenaline made Charity’s limbs
shake. She ran to the door and pulled on her boots with unsteady
hands, not caring that under her coat were only her pantaloons and
chemise. Flattening her ear to the door, she checked for anyone in
the hall. Time was of the essence. Before Brandon vanished again,
she’d throw herself into his arms and beg his forgiveness. She’d
tell him everything in her heart, holding nothing back.