Grinning impertinently, Judy shrugged. “You’d call me a liar for two little words.”
“I would never call you a liar,” he said firmly. “The world can adjust itself to your words.”
Judy glanced at him sharply. Catching the adoring look in his eyes, recognizing it for what it was—acceptance and loving concern—she looked away guiltily, as if seeing it could somehow commit her to something she didn’t want. But it was too late: she had seen into Grant’s heart. A feeling of mingled fear and joy rose up in her. Impulsively she took his hand and swung it between them.
Judy fairly bubbled with happiness. She liked him better than most men she knew, even if he wasn’t as handsome as Morgan or Johnny. He wasn’t half bad looking, she realized unexpectedly. Dark-complected like Johnny, but shorter, he had a muscular, compact frame that was very reassuring. He was a man who could obviously take care of himself. His mouth was a little too wide, but his eyes made up for everything. He always looked as if he were thinking about something he enjoyed, something she would enjoy as well. But most important, he always looked as if she made him proud to be with her—no matter what she did or said to him.
A frown knit Judy’s eyebrows. Feeling the strain there, she forced her face to relax. The thought of making a permanent wrinkle horrified her. Even with Grant she had to be careful about how she looked, about what she confided to him. No sense making it hard for him to keep on loving her and treating her special. A girl needed someone constant in her life. The thought of Grant ever leaving had brought a strange pang to Judy’s heart, but she refused to entertain dreary thoughts today, so she pushed all weighty concerns aside.
She smiled to dispel the sudden pall that had befallen her, stopped walking, and faced Grant. She could never many him, but she wanted desperately to give him something for being such a good friend to her, for getting well. It shamed her that she couldn’t marry him, that looks and position were so important to her.
“I like you so much, Grant. You’re the only man in the whole world who understands me.”
Grant smiled. Her brown eyes were earnest and filled with a desire to please. “The man who understands is indispensable.”
A cloud flitted across her usually sunny face, and a tiny ache seized his heart. He’d said the wrong thing, apparently. He would have cut his tongue out if it would have put the smile back where it belonged. He wanted to take her into his arms and wipe that forlorn look off her face forever. She’d worked so hard to keep him alive, she’d worn herself to a frazzle. Other days she could be impossible, impertinent, playful, but today she needed him to cheer her…
“I’m getting a headache. I think it’s connected to something I haven’t eaten yet.”
Caught off guard, Judy giggled. “You’re one of a kind,” she said.
“God did do one thing right, anyway.”
“But you notice, he stopped before he repeated his mistake,” she said, her expression arch.
Pleased she had recovered, Grant chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. Just wait until you need me again.” Another man, especially if he were good-looking, might feel he was wasting his time loving a woman who couldn’t even see him, but Grant didn’t mind, not really—especially when the only girl that made him happy was right at his side.
Distant rifle shots scattered birds from the trees overhead. Judy turned toward the sound, which seemed to be coming from the front gate. “Just what we need. Another Indian attack. This is God’s way of telling me not to cry wolf, isn’t it?”
“Let’s find out.” Taking her hand and forgetting how badly injured he was, Grant started to run toward the house.
“You’re in no shape to run,” she said, holding him there, refusing to let go of his arm. “We’re going to walk. Slowly.”
The slight pressure exerted before he could stop himself sent pain ripping through his back, almost bringing him to his knees. Darkness closed in from the periphery.
“Here, lean here,” Judy insisted. “You’re going to pass out, aren’t you? Oh, damn!” She looked around frantically for someone to help her. They were about thirty yards from the kitchen door, under the shade of the orange tree nearest the casa grande.
Fighting the darkness, Grant forced himself to take a series of deep breaths. “I forgot,” he said, panting, “that someone drove a wagon through my back.”
Filled with anxiety at the way the color had drained from his face, Judy touched him gingerly. “I’m glad you don’t exaggerate.”
Listening to the scatter of gunfire, watching Grant out of the corner of her eye, Judy almost didn’t see Johnny and Tía. She might have missed them completely, except she saw the change in Grant’s face. Instinctively she turned to find what had caused his reaction.
Tía Marlowe and Johnny had stopped by the back door. Tía started to go into the house, turned back, and bumped into Johnny. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Tía’s arms slipped up, and they looked like they would kiss until snow fell. Somehow it wasn’t the kissing that hurt Judy. It was the way Johnny’s dark hands cupped Tía’s pale face. He touched her as if she were the most precious thing he’d ever felt, and he kissed her as if he would devour her. And Tía. Tía, of all people—Tía, who seemed so sweet and loyal—strained up on tiptoe, pressing her slender body into Johnny’s. She was holding him so tightly that individual tendons stood out in her slender arms. Johnny was nearly crushing her in his embrace.
Judy started forward, but Grant, always the cautious one, took her by the arm and led her behind the spring house, out of sight of the two lovers. She would have struggled against Grant, but she was afraid of hurting him again. Fighting for control, she turned away angrily.
“Damn him!”
“Easy, pretty lady.”
“Easy! You want me to take it easy?” she hissed, pulling away. “He belongs to me! That little maggot!”
“Maybe she tempted him,” he said loyally.
“Of course she did. Johnny wouldn’t risk losing me for a little twit like her. Johnny loves me,” she said, wiping at a tear that trickled down her cheek. “Johnny has always loved me. Everyone knows that.”
“How could he help it?” Grant asked, meaning it.
Remembering something Johnny had said, Judy felt the corners of her mouth puckering. “He loves me, but maybe he still wants to get even with me for the way I once hurt him.”
“Get even?” Grant shook his head. The other riders were talking about Johnny and his all-too-obvious attentions to the new housekeeper. After Johnny had done whatever Judy wouldn’t talk about, she had showed up at the bunkhouse, white-faced, numb, in need of comfort. Since that night, a slow rage had been building in Grant against Johnny Brago.
Hiding his rage, he faced her squarely. “Why would Brago want revenge? What for?”
“He thinks I cheated on him. I didn’t, exactly,” she said quickly. “But he…I mean, it might have seemed like I did. I wasn’t exactly promised to Johnny then. But he acted like I was…”
Judy looked up at Grant, and her pale face slowly changed. “Do you think Johnny would make up to Tía to punish me?”
Inwardly Grant squirmed. He didn’t know Johnny well enough to answer that. The bastard had left Rancho la Reina shortly after Grant had arrived there looking for work. No man worth a damn would be mean to a woman like Judy Burkhart.
“He would, wouldn’t he?” Judy persisted. “He even told me he came back to take his revenge, but then he kissed me just like he had before. He’s so rotten!”
“The shooting’s stopped,” Grant said, feeling unexpectedly helpless.
Judy turned and saw the gates swing shut. Men shouted and waved, cheering wildly as a lone rider slowed his plunging horse just inside the compound walls. Even from this distance she recognized the man who had ridden in. There was something unmistakable about the arrogant way he sat the roan. Judy turned back toward the house and expelled a purposeful breath. Tía and Johnny were gone.
“I’ll see you later, Grant.” Lif
ting her skirts, Judy ran toward the front gate and the rider who had just arrived.
Curiously saddened, Grant watched the woman he loved running away. He would do anything in the world for Judy, but the one thing she needed, he couldn’t give her. He didn’t have it.
Morgan Todd caught sight of Judy Burkhart, dismounted with a flair, flipped his reins at the man who had run forward, and smiled, enjoying the sudden rush of adrenaline that quickened within him at the sight of her vibrant form.
“Morgan!” she cried, rushing forward happily.
Morgan grabbed her and swung her around. “How’s my little filly?”
“Morgan, you madman, put me down,” Judy protested.
“No kiss, no put down,” he threatened, a smile lighting his hazel eyes.
“Robber! One kiss, then,” she offered.
Morgan Todd was not a man to waste an opportunity. He gathered Judy into his arms and pulled her hard against him. He was a gambler, a womanizer, and an opportunist, but he was not prepared for the passionate response he got for his efforts. Judy molded her slender softness against him, her sweet, down-curving lips opened under his, and her tongue lit quick, hot fires in him that he could not control.
“Ahem!” Steve Burkhart’s less-than-pleased utterance brought Morgan out of the sweetness of Judy’s kiss. With painful reluctance, he allowed her to step away from him. Her eyes were alive with mischief. It was all he could do not to curse aloud. Realizing the meaning of his expression, Judy quickly gave him a cool, triumphant smile, which hit Morgan like a bucket of cold water. She’d caused an ache in his loins that had damn near crippled him, and she stood there smiling! Damn her seductive brown eyes!
He held out his right hand to Steve. “Thanks for your help.”
“What’re you doing out here, Morgan? We’re a little off the beaten track,” Steve said, accepting Morgan’s hand, a little put off and angered by the kiss he had just witnessed.
“Came out to see you. Russ Sloan made it through with his silver by now, and I wondered if you’d like to make a stab at it with me.”
“Russ made it through, huh?”
“He must have. If he lost it, we’d have sure heard by now.”
Men who had clustered around them began to disperse. The Indians had veered off, heading south, probably to harry other lone riders. For lack of anything better to do, Judy stayed near Steve, watching Morgan with eyes that were strangely dark and challenging.
“Let’s go up to the house. You could probably use something to cut the dust,” Steve said.
Following him, Morgan scowled at Judy. “Thanks, I’m spittin’ cotton. It’s hotter’n Texas chili out there.”
Judy walked most of the way in silence, between the two men, listening as they talked about things of no interest to her, but enjoying their maleness. She felt so well protected that she even forgot about Johnny and his cheating. When they reached the shade of the front porch, Tía pushed the massive front doors open to let them in. They had been keeping the doors and windows secured since the first Indian attack. Under the curved arches it was noticeably cooler. Carmen followed Tía out onto the porch. Morgan smiled at the new woman.
“Carmen, some water for Mr. Todd, please,” Steve said.
Tía looked as though she were about to melt back into the kitchen, but Steve stopped her. “Tía, I’d like you to fix up the room next to mine for Mr. Todd.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, who’s this?” Morgan asked expectantly, smiling into Tía’s embarrassed face.
Determined to show no jealousy, even if Morgan bedded the maggot on the spot, Judy lifted her chin and took the initiative. She caught Tía by the hand and pulled her in front of Morgan. “Tía Marlowe, Morgan Todd. Now Tía, here’s a man who’s a real good catch. Mr. Todd is the owner of the Contention mine. He’s one of the richest men in the Arizona Territory and a great dancer. You watch out for him, though, he’s a heartbreaker!”
“How do you do?” Tía smiled.
Morgan took Tía’s hand and raised it to his lips. Judy felt confused impulses of anger and satisfaction. Let the little maggot try her hand at controlling Morgan. That should keep her busy.
“You heard from Russ already?” Steve asked, frowning.
Morgan made a deprecatory face. “Well, no, but like I said, you can bet we would have if he’d lost that silver. Every lawman in the territory would have been notified.”
“Unless something happened to him.”
“There were twenty men with that silver. It would have had to happen to all of ’em.”
Steve pondered his scuffed boots. Morgan’s bold gaze traveled down Judy’s body. Judy glanced at Tía to be sure she was noticing who Morgan was looking at.
“I suppose that’s possible,” Steve said evenly. “Isn’t it?”
Morgan scowled. “Ain’t happened before! Nobody kills twenty men for four bars of silver. Hell, you sound like an old woman! That pompous bastard put one over on us. He beat out Wells Fargo. They’ll think twice before they triple their prices again.”
“Can’t really blame Wells Fargo. They’ve been losing a lot of shipments to road agents. Their insurance would have to go way up when that keeps happening.”
“So they’re incompetent,” Morgan said impatiently. “But we don’t have to sit still for it. Russ proved that. I’ll bet he’s in Silver City right now crowing like the only cock on the walk.”
“So what’s your plan?”
“Same as his. Outfit a pack train and take our silver out same as he did.”
“You don’t need me for that.”
“Hell, you haven’t shipped since before me.”
“What’s the rush? It’ll keep.”
“Like hell it will. Three men robbed the Gold Nugget last night. Sixty thousand in payroll and almost two hundred thousand in silver gone! Even if it was safe, it’s not earning any interest sitting in your vault. If we each bring fifteen men, we can be in Silver City in five days, even allowing a day to get to Tombstone, get outfitted and the like.”
“What about Indians?”
“Geronimo is heading for the Pinalenos up north. Word came from Fort Huachuca yesterday. Major Hart at Fort Bowie is joining up with Captain Rodgers from ’chuca. They’re gonna run Geronimo and Chatto out of this valley for good. They’ll go back to the reservations whipped so bad they won’t dare show their faces around here again.”
“I’ve heard those stories before. Personally, I’ll wait until we see how Russ Sloan’s trip worked out before I risk fifteen men and a hundred sixty thousand in silver,” Steve said firmly.
“Jesus Christ! You’d let a pompous bastard like Sloan be the only one to pull it off?”
“Would you mind spelling that for the ladies?” Steve asked, taking exception to Todd’s rough language.
“Sorry.”
“I’m an engineer, not a smuggler. We may not be as lucky as Sloan.”
“Hell! Anything that stuffed shirt can do, we can do better,” Morgan snorted.
“I’ll talk to Johnny and let you know,” Steve said, stepping back to make room for Carmen, who carried Morgan’s water.
“Brago!?” Morgan asked, stealing a look at Judy. He didn’t need Steve’s nod. The look of victory in Judy’s eyes was confirmation enough.
“What’s he doing back here?”
“Pa and I sent for him.”
“Let’s go find him. I’m curious as hell to see what that ba—half-breed…has to say. Excuse me, ladies.”
Morgan followed Steve across the room. Their heels were loud on the wooden floor, more muffled on the carpet in the middle of the room. Tía waited until they were gone.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Don’t be scared. I’m not upset because you were making eyes at Morgan.”
Tía wasn’t scared, but with Judy the implications came faster than she could sort them out. “Morgan? I wasn’t…I swear…”
“Oh, Tía! You’re such a little tease! I saw y
ou giving Morgan the eye. And I don’t care. Morgan Todd is less than nothing to me. As a matter of fact, I think you should get to know him even better.
“Better? I don’t know him at all.”
“I know, but Morgan is a very fast worker. I have an idea. I’ll forgive you if you grant me one favor.”
If she hadn’t just kissed Johnny, Tía would have blurted out that she had no reason to need forgiveness, but Johnny kept clouding the issues between them. And now something unfamiliar sparkled in Judy’s pretty brown eyes that caused the hair on Tía’s neck to bristle in warning. “What’s the favor?”
“I’ll tell you after supper. If you do it, maybe I’ll forgive you. If you don’t,” she baited, “well, you can find yourself another friend, can’t you?”
Abruptly, Judy turned and left. Tía watched her until she was out of sight. Judy had seen her kissing Johnny! Nothing else could account for her behavior.
Regret washed through Tía. She had seduced Johnny away from Judy—and Judy knew.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Steve found Johnny in the cantina sipping a bottle of beer.
“Johnny, you remember Morgan Todd.” The introduction was sheer formality. Steve knew it as well as they did, but the enmity between Morgan and Johnny went back too many years to say anything else.
Johnny looked up from his beer. In the darkened cantina his eyes were as shiny as ebony. Except for that movement, his only reaction was a wry twist at one corner of his lips.
“How could Johnny forget me?” Morgan challenged. “He cut and ran rather than meet me.”
Johnny rose from his chair and turned to face Morgan Todd.
“Your memory has some convenient holes in it, Todd.” Johnny knew he should restrain himself. He had no reason to want to fight with Morgan Todd, but Tía’s rejection made him want to strike out at something. Morgan would do nicely.
“Meaning?” Morgan asked, squaring his shoulders.
“Meaning now I have no reason not to kill you,” Johnny said quietly. All sound stopped in the small saloon.
Morgan eyeballed Brago with icy hostility. “You never had an excuse not to kill me.”
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