Dark Moon Crossing (Kendall O'Dell Mystery series)

by Sylvia Nobel

  I sighed heavily. “That’s a nice thought, but unfortunately there may be another reason he doesn’t want to go on the trip with me.”

  “I’m not following ya.”

  I paused, battling my fragile emotions. Was I ready to share the painful knowledge that my own impetuous behavior may have tanked my relationship with Tally for good‌ “Under ordinary circumstances I would never ask you to betray a confidence, but I need you to level with me. You have got to tell me what you know about Tally and this other woman you mentioned last Friday night.”

  A sharp intake of breath. “I wish I could but I can’t…this time, I just can’t.”

  Crushed by her words, my heart purged itself. “Ginger, you don’t understand,” I cut in, my throat tightening with anguish, “I think he’s been seeing another woman for several months now.” There. I’d finally uttered aloud the dreaded words festering inside me. Oddly, I felt a measure of relief.

  “Whaaaat‌ But…but that can’t be true! No, no, it’s impossible!”

  “Why is it impossible‌” Her extended silence renewed my suspicions. “Come on, Ginger, please tell me what you know. Please.”

  “Oh, good Lord,” she quavered. “Sugar, I am so sorry. I just…I just assumed it was you. It has to be! No. I can’t believe Tally would to do something like this. It ain’t like him.”

  “You haven’t met Bethany Beaumont. Picture the most gorgeous blue-eyed blonde you’ve ever seen. Tack on that she’s a rancher’s daughter who’s known Tally since childhood and rides a horse like she was born on one. Heck, I’m sure she’s probably crazy about his ditsy mother and to make matters worse, she’s also hunting for a guy with big bucks who’d be a great step-dad to her four year- old son. I wouldn’t doubt she plans to have at least another half dozen kids to boot. In other words, she’s pretty much everything I’m not.”

  “Oh, my Gaaawd!” she shrieked. “I can’t bring myself to believe any of this.” I didn’t want to either, but now that I’d voiced my concerns, the probability loomed more real than ever. “Sugar pie,” she said, her voice cracking slightly, “I surely would’ve said something sooner, but I didn’t want to spoil the big surprise.”

  Oh, yes, Tally’s big surprise. A rush of heat swept my body as I braced for the worst. “Come on, Ginger, just give it to me straight.”

  Still, she hesitated before fretting, “Oh dear! Well, you know that little gal who works down at Wilkin’s Jewelers‌ Melva Scruggs‌”

  I tensed. “Yes‌”

  “She made me swear on a stack of Bibles that I’d keep my big mouth shut, but…she confided that two weeks ago Tally was over at the store picking out an engagement ring.”

  23

  I sat perfectly still, unable to respond while a conflagration of emotions raged inside me. An engagement ring! At the same instant a flash of exhilaration sent my spirits skyrocketing to the moon, Ginger’s sobering words ‘I just assumed it was you’ sent my heart plunging into an uncontrolled free fall. Surely, the ring was meant for me‌ But, God, what if it wasn’t‌ Was I being dumped for Bethany‌ My thoughts whirled with confusion. But, if that was true, why the trip to California‌

  “Are you okay‌” Ginger’s urgent tone sliced into my morose thoughts.

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry.”

  “You know something‌ I think maybe you’re reading way too much into this whole thing. Tally might be pissed at you right this minute, but I got a whole lot of faith that he bought the ring for you and not this other gal, I don’t care how pretty she is.”

  She sounded so confident, I wondered if she was trying to convince herself or me. “Oh, Ginger, I’m praying that you’re right.”

  “Of course I am,” she said with cheerful conviction. “Now, I know you don’t cotton to taking advice, but just for once I want you to listen up for a change. The next time you see him, you grab hold real tight and plant a kiss on him he ain’t never gonna forget. Then, make a point of showin’ him just exactly how much you love him. And for heaven’s sake, quit squabbling and pay a little more attention to the poor guy.”

  Back to square one of my dilemma. “All I can do is hope for the best.”

  “Atta girl! Hey, listen, I’ve got to catch these other two lines and Tugg’s jawing at me from down the hall. Promise you’ll call and let me know what happens‌”

  I made yet another promise and cradled the phone, suddenly overwhelmed with the urgent desire to be enfolded in Tally’s strong arms and convince him that he meant the world to me. But, I had no idea where he was or how to contact him. I rose on shaky legs, moved to the hall window, pushed it open and basked in the warm morning sunlight. As I listened to the tranquil twitter of birds and the musical tinkling of a wind chime from somewhere below, one thing became very clear. One of us had to make some concessions and I doubted it was going to be Tally. Was it too late for me to make amends‌ It would have been easy to give in to the reservoir of tears dammed up behind my eyes, but I gritted my teeth and blinked them back, deciding to hold onto Ginger’s words of optimism rather than continue my dizzying slide down the depression chute.

  Now that the defining moment was upon me, it was time for serious introspection, time to come to terms with my reservations concerning our future together. Was I now ready to face the uncertainties regarding his mother, my qualms about altering my career path and even starting a family‌ Despite the fact that I’d screwed up big time in the arena of love twice already, it was humbling to realize that despite my laundry list of faults and foibles, this man, this decent, honorable wonderful man wanted to marry me. God was now giving me the opportunity to make the right decision and I’d best not blow it. That thought had no sooner crossed my mind than I heard angry tones from below growing closer and louder until it made my skin crawl to recognize the shrill voice of my nemesis. “I don’t understand why you’re being such a butthead about this,” Bethany complained. “It’s not like I’m asking for that much. Don’t you want your son to be happy‌”

  I stiffened. Had she been in the house this whole time‌ Being careful to stay out of sight, I edged closer to the banister, immediately recognizing Payton’s passionate response. “Read my lips. For the last time, the answer is no. No, no and no. You do not have my permission to shorten Brett’s name to Klein.”

  “But it would sound so much better than Kleinwort.”

  “Why don’t you just admit it‌ It’s you who always detested my family name.”

  “But warts aren’t attractive,” came her petulant reply. “People usually get them removed.”

  Payton’s sigh of exasperation floated up the stairs and I stayed perfectly still, wishing I could see their faces without letting them know I was eavesdropping.

  “You’ll just have to get past your personal psychosis on this subject and live with it. Why don’t you take it up with your therapist during your next session‌” Payton suggested with a tone of angry finality.

  “Don’t talk to me about therapy,” she shot back. “You’re the one who needs a shrink!”

  “What are you talking about‌”

  “Hey, I’m not the one who screams myself awake at night calling out for my long-lost mommy,” she added with silky sarcasm.

  “We haven’t all experienced your perfect rose-colored life.”

  “You know I love this ranch, but Brett seemed a lot happier in San Francisco when he wasn’t around you so much. I think your bad luck is contagious.”

  “You heartless bitch.” Yeaa, Payton, I crowed silently. Give it right back to her. “And speaking of hearts,” he added coldly, “next week, when I attend the fund-raising banquet for transplant recipients, I’ll check into getting you a new one to take the place of that black, empty cavity behind your ten-thousand dollar boob job.”

  Woo-hoo. Nice comeback.

  “Why don’t you get yourself a spine transplant while you’re at it.” Now they were bickering like children. I could imagine Payton rolling his e
yes in disgust. “I have something to tell you,” she added, dropping the sarcastic banter. “There’s a good possibility that Brett and I will be moving away again soon.”

  “What‌ Where to‌” His voice carried a deadly lilt.

  “Castle Valley.”

  My heart lurched painfully as I grabbed the railing for support.

  “You’re utterly shameless and totally transparent. It wasn’t enough that you ruined Gordon’s life, was it‌ Now I understand Brett’s question about having two daddies,” Payton seethed, “ and when it comes time to change his name to Talverson, you think I’ll give in without a fight, isn’t that right‌”

  “Hmmm. Actually, I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet, but now that you mention it, it sounds like a grand idea.”

  Her ominous words confirmed my darkest fears, sending icy prickles of distress skimming down my arms. Was she bluffing just to get under his skin‌ My hands coiled into hard fists. The idea of just giving in and handing Tally over to this vicious little bitch without a struggle was simply unthinkable and my resolve deepened. The best course of action would be to confront the problem head on as soon as Tally returned, but at the moment I couldn’t do a darn thing until he came back from wherever he was out on the lone prairie.

  In a lethal tone Payton retorted, “The depth of your deceit is bottomless. I pity any man you get your claws into, but mark my words, you’d best think long and hard about taking my son away from me a second time.”

  “Oooh, somebody’s trying to act assertive.”

  “Bethany, shut up! I refuse to play this game with you any longer. Where’s your mother‌ I’m here to see her, not you.”

  “In Tucson trying to get Daddy and Jason released. She said she’d call later and let us know what’s happening. Listen, I have to go now. I’m busy.”

  “Damn it, wait a second! When she does call, tell her that the coalition is behind Champ and Jason one hundred percent. We’ll get them out.”

  You’d think that his gesture of good will would have thawed her shrunken ice cube of a heart just a tad, but instead she jeered, “What are you up to anyway‌ Are you trying to suck up to my parents and turn them against me by playing the big hero‌”

  “You’re hopeless,” Payton muttered, and seconds later a door slammed with such force, I could feel the reverberation beneath my feet. Whew. To say that they hated each other would be the understatement of the century. As far as I was concerned, she represented the vortex of evil and there was not the slightest doubt she would prove to be a formidable foe. I could only pray that Ginger’s assessment of the situation was right and that my suspicions about Tally were dead wrong.

  I waited until it grew silent before I descended the staircase, my mind whirling like a pinwheel in a strong wind. Lin Su was right. At this moment I needed to concentrate on getting my strength back because the biggest battle of my life lay just ahead of me.

  My frame of mind improved greatly when I stepped outside into the balmy October air and followed a flagstone walkway towards the rear of the big house. The sound of nearby voices from the parking area caught my attention and I slowed my steps, surprised to notice Payton sitting in his truck having an animated discussion with Rob, Champ’s gangly young ranch hand. I wished I were close enough to make out what they were saying because Payton wore an expression of stunned amazement. Seconds later, he barked something at Rob and tore off in his truck. I stood for another moment watching Rob sprint across the clearing and peel out in another pickup. Well, what had that been all about‌ Contrary to its peaceful façade, there was certainly no shortage of intrigue at the Sundog.

  Following Lin Su’s directions, I took the walkway that led around towards the back of the house, passing several discarded stuffed toys and a small red bicycle with training wheels. I met Rascal along the way and he wagged his tail enthusiastically in greeting. “Hey, there big boy, how are you today‌” He allowed me to pet him for several minutes before romping away. I continued my leisurely stroll until I reached a shoulder-high brick wall with a wrought iron gate nearly hidden in overflowing vines. I pushed it open and stepped through. Immediately, a sensation of extreme tranquility settled over me. Or was it perhaps the effects of the old Chinese woman’s magic tea‌

  The little enclosed garden was a delight to the senses, an oasis in the midst of this turbulent household. In a secluded alcove, behind a large potted cactus, I found the chaise lounge she’d prepared for me, complete with a pillow and light blanket. Beneath a swishing canopy of trees, I lay listening to the muted chatter of birds while admiring the smiling faces of Mexican sun gods adorning the babbling stone and hand-painted tile fountain. Numerous clay pots overflowing with brightly colored petunias and pansies squatted beside clusters of sturdy outdoor furniture and along the top of the low brick wall. The atmosphere of peace was so overwhelming I fell asleep almost immediately.

  The soft murmur of voices woke me. My pulse surged with the hope that it might be Tally, but it was only Felix seating Cecil Beaumont on a cushioned chair near the stone fountain. He tucked a blanket around him and said he’d return shortly. Cecil gave him a vacant smile and was nodding at his retreating figure the same instant Brett burst through the gate clutching a large book in both hands. “Grampy Boo, can you read to me‌ Mommy’s too busy.” Neither of them appeared to notice me lying behind the cactus.

  The elderly man’s face lit up with pleasure. “Why sure I will.”

  Brett laid the book in his great-grandfather’s lap and flopped down at his feet, crossing his legs. “Read me the same one as yesterday.”

  Cecil frowned. “Why not pick a different one this time‌ There are lots of other good stories and rhymes.”

  “No,” the little boy insisted, “I like that one. It’s my favorite story and Uncle Jason’s too. We always laugh at his name, Rumbleysti…Rumbleskil….”

  “Rumpelstiltskin,” Cecil corrected him with a chuckle. “Okay, little man, here we go.” He adjusted his glasses, thumbed through the book and began reading. “By the side of a wood, in a country a long way off, ran a fine stream of water; and upon the stream there stood a mill.”

  Listening to the words of the familiar old fairy tale soothed me. It conjured up happy memories of carefree days spent with my parents and two brothers in the cozy house back home in Spring Hill, Pennsylvania. Before I knew it, I’d drifted back to sleep. The second time I awoke, it was a shock to realize that I’d slept for three hours. I sat up and stretched, amazed at how good I felt and delighted to find that someone, Lin Su no doubt, had prepared a snack for me and left it on the table next to the lounge. Hungrier than I’d been for days, I pulled off the plastic wrap and devoured the egg salad sandwich, apple, and was polishing off the last of the chocolate chip cookies when I heard a thin voice call out, “Hello there.” Startled, I leaned around the outstretched arms of the prickly pear cactus and stared across at Cecil Beaumont, surprised that he was still in the same spot. He introduced himself, looking straight at me with no trace of recognition whatsoever. “Have we met before‌”

  A tremor of melancholy rippled through me. Oh, dear. He’d already forgotten that we’d met formally on Sunday and again informally during the mortifying encounter in my bed this morning. “My name is Kendall O’Dell,” I said with a smile. I rose and crossed the patio, moving aside the fairy tale book Brett had left behind on the chair adjacent to him before seating myself.

  He wore a bemused half-smile. “You’re sure we haven’t met‌ You look awfully familiar.”

  I wondered if he was remembering me or comparing me to his deceased wife, Penelope. “I’m a reporter for the Castle Valley Sun. I’m doing a story on the Sundog. This is quite a spectacular place you’ve got here.”

  “That it is, that it is.” His gaze turned inward. “You should have been around seventy years ago. Things were a whole lot different.” He launched into a series of vignettes recounting some of his parent’s ranching experiences in the late 1800’s when it was sti
ll Arizona Territory. While it was all interesting information, I began to feel trapped. There were a lot of other things I needed to do, like checking back with Walter to see if he’d been able to uncover anything about Froggy McQueen’s background and contacting the sheriff’s office to see if there was any news on my car, but fearful that I’d hurt his feelings, for the next half hour I sat and politely listened to his reminiscences about everyday life and the incredible hardships he and his family had overcome taming this rugged landscape.

  It was amazing. Just as Champ had described, his long-term memory appeared to be intact. He jumped back and forth between tales of his parents battling the elements on their first ranch in the searing desert heat near Yuma, where they’d lived with no electrical power, no running water, and a covered hole in the ground lined with watered-down burlap as their refrigerator, to his own early memories of rescuing young calves from winter floods and doctoring cattle for deadly screw-worm. With the telling of each triumph and tragedy that accompanied the long drought of the 1930’s, his face grew more animated. “This state has got a fascinating history. If you want to have some fun sometime, get hold of a book called Arizona Place Names. I think Champ’s still got a copy in his study. You’ll be surprised to find how many names of mountains and rivers and canyons, a lot of ‘em right here in this area, have been changed over the years, some of them three or four times from the days of the early settlers.”

  “Really‌ Who has the authority to change them‌”

  He pursed his lips in thought. “Well now, I’m not entirely sure of that. Government bureaucrats, I guess, but in one particular case I know of, the wives of some Army officers stationed near Yuma were responsible. Take a look at a modern map sometime and you’ll find a mountain range called the Kofas, which originally stood for King of Arizona. Nearby is another one dubbed the S H Mountains. You know how they got to be called that‌”