“Sounds like monkey business,” Louis said.
“No way! Listen, Benito, I finally made a decision about the lease you and I discussed. I spent both days coming to an agreement with Larkin Crosley. With his coaching, he thinks I can pass the Oregon bar exam in July when it’s given. If I succeed, I’ll take over his practice in Callanton in August.”
Gabe was glad to see that gave them something to think about besides Jamie Kent. He shouldn’t have taken her to the Green Willow to discuss the project. Damn, he kept forgetting how fast rumors circulated in small towns.
“Are any of you going with Isabella to the trial today?”
“Maria,” Benito said. “You’re going, too, aren’t you, Gabe?”
“I planned to. But Isabella and I had words on Friday. She won’t be happy to see me.”
“Bella looked rocky all weekend. I’m counting on you to be in her corner.” Isabella’s father’s distress was never more evident. “We’re getting a handle on lambing, but with adding these goats, it’ll probably be next week before I can break loose.”
“I’ll be there, Benito. For my own peace of mind as well as yours. I’d better get ready to take off, then. Say, my kitchen cabinets are being delivered today. Will that cause you guys any problems?”
“Nope.” Joe answered. “Do you need someone to sign for the shipment?”
“My contractor plans to be on hand, but thanks.”
As Gabe showered, and even throughout his drive to Bend, he worried about what kind of reception he’d get from Isabella. He wished he’d been more discreet in his appointment with Jamie Kent, too. Had news of his meeting with Jamie reached Isabella?
Maria Navarro saw Gabe the moment he walked into the courtroom. He smiled. She didn’t. Not surprising, considering how Isabella gazed through and not at him. Gabe chose a seat where he could see both the proceedings and Isabella. He took it as a slightly good omen that she still wore his angel pin.
Five minutes later, there was a stir at the entrance. Gabe was treated to his first glimpse of Julian Arana. An attendant dressed in medical whites, for effect no doubt, wheeled Arana slowly up the center aisle. Brother! The defense lawyer ought to be in show business. If Arana was faking, he’d been well coached. He never once lifted his chin off his chest. The forest-green velour robe and slippers he wore made him look frailer than he might be. Plain blue cotton pajamas covered his legs.
Julian’s parents were seated in the front row on the other side of the aisle, opposite Maria and Isabella.
Isabella began to tremble all over. Gabe prayed she wouldn’t lose it then and there. Ah, to hell with it. Let her get mad at him. Standing, Gabe strode across the room, past the Aranas, to claim the vacant seat on Isabella’s right.
Leaning across her, he whispered to Maria, “It’s clever staging. Judge Weller will instruct the jury not to pay attention to any theatrics played out by either team.”
Isabella clasped her hands so tightly around a tissue, Gabe was afraid her narrow bones might crack.
“Why are you here?” she asked stiffly. This wasn’t the time or place to throw what she knew about Gabe’s girlfriend in his face, though she wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to.
“If you think hard enough about that, sweetheart, you’ll figure out the answer.” He might have said more, but they were instructed to rise for the judge. Gabe heard her hiss at him not to call her sweetheart.
Everyone in the room got to their feet except for Julian.
The defense attorney, in his opening statement, alluded to the reason Julian didn’t stand. “The defendant suffered severe memory loss due to inhalation of carbon monoxide. I have statements here from three independent physicians, your honor.”
After copies had been distributed to Hayden’s team, the defense added increasingly more documentation. “These reports are from psychologists who have examined my client. Their findings support our contention that Mr. Arana is simply not able to understand the charges the state’s brought against him. His brain is in a vegetative state, to put it bluntly.” The wily old attorney ran his gaze over various members of the jury as he delivered his proclamation.
Gabe feared Isabella had slid into a vegetative state. She sat without moving, her hollow eyes rarely blinking. Maria was the opposite. She fidgeted. First crossing her ankles, then uncrossing them, then shifting from one hip to the other.
By noon, James Hayden had yet to make a peep. Gabe wouldn’t have believed the defense could dredge up and present so much pure crap. But then it’d been a long time since he’d sat through a criminal trial. Back in law school, as a matter of fact. And he hadn’t paid much attention, since he wasn’t planning to practice criminal law.
After Weller called a lunch recess, Gabe took it upon himself to direct Maria and Isabella out a side door of the courtroom, to save them passing either Julian or his parents. They were still mobbed by reporters, so Gabe sheltered both women as best he could.
“Mrs. Arana,” a pushy woman with a TV camera shouted. “Tell us how your lawyer hopes to refute Thomas Meyer’s brilliant defense. Don’t you think Meyer has all the cards in his hand?”
Another also referred to Isabella as Mrs. Arana. “How did you feel seeing your husband sitting like a zombie in a wheelchair?” a third one asked. “Is Meyer right? Should you share responsibility? Was your husband distraught because you kicked him out of the house for no good reason?”
Isabella stopped as though struck and would have buckled had Gabe not had a firm grip on her arm.
He deflected the microphone none too gently and shoved aside the menacing TV camera. “Ms. Navarro took back her maiden name in the divorce. And she has no comment while this trial is in progress.”
He literally ran—with the women under the protective covering of his suit jacket—to where he’d parked. The more insistent reporters followed. Gabe managed to shepherd the women into his vehicle and climb inside, in spite of some press members still knocking on the smoke-toned windows.
Isabella shivered in her seat, as did Maria. “I’ve seen people hounded by the press on TV. It’s far worse when you’re actually involved,” Maria whispered shakily. “Why didn’t they leave us alone when you told them Bella had nothing to say?”
Gabe stripped off his suit jacket and draped it around Isabella for warmth. His suit today was the color of dark chocolate. A shade that only emphasized the deep circles bruising the skin around her eyes.
“I don’t have a problem with them asking questions, Maria,” he answered. “There’s fierce competition between print and visual media to get the top stories. Most of these people are just doing a job. I resent the smug ones who get overly aggressive. Are you both okay?”
“I am.” Maria, who’d climbed into the rear seat, leaned forward and pressed a hand to her sister-in-law’s bony shoulder. “Bella, I had no idea how bad this trial would be. No wonder you’re having trouble eating and sleeping.”
“Speaking of eating,” Gabe said after he started the engine. “I don’t foresee getting any peace at a restaurant in town. Since Judge Weller’s given us a two-hour break, it’d be best if we went back to the cottage and maybe heated up some soup.”
“I’m all for that.” Maria spoke up at once.
Isabella barely nodded. She was grateful for Gabe’s intervention. On top of all the mixed emotions she had about seeing Julian for the first time since that horrible evening, she was plagued by a need to apologize to Gabe. Which she could hardly do in front of her sister-in-law.
Taking her brief nod as assent, Gabe zigzagged through the streets, trying to shake as many reporters as possible. Finally they cleared the security gate at the resort, once again successfully leaving behind two tenacious reporters whom he hadn’t managed to dodge.
At the cottage, Isabella stood inside the living room, still clutching Gabe’s jacket around her bowed shoulders.
“I’ll put on water for tea and see what kind of soup you have in the cupboard.” Maria cast a worried glance toward Gabe on he
r way to the kitchen.
“Come and sit down, Isabella,” he urged, leading her to the couch.
An audible sigh wracked her thin frame.
“There’s sun on the patio. Would you rather sit outside?”
Heavy-lidded eyes flashed her gratitude. She allowed herself to be led out into the sunshine. Taking a seat in one of the padded wicker chairs, she raised her face to receive the sun rays and sucked in a deep breath. “Fresh air. Do courtrooms always smell bad? Stale and fusty, I mean.”
“There’s a certain sameness to them. Isabella, I didn’t mean to upset you the other day. I’ll take another stab and hope I do a better job of explaining what I was trying to say. Forgiving someone who’s caused you unspeakable harm doesn’t mean they get off scot-free if they’ve committed a crime. My point is that it’s what you have to do to free yourself from the hold they have on your life.”
“I’m sorry I lost control that day, Gabe. I know you meant well.”
He noticed she didn’t agree with him, though.
Isabella fixed her gaze on something beyond his shoulder. “Our…uh…getting involved at this time is still a mistake.”
“A kiss or two might be blamed on hormones gone amuck, Isabella. Our marathon night in bed took mutual agreement, wouldn’t you say?”
“No. I can’t think what came over me.”
“Seems simple enough to me,” Gabe growled. He broke off what else he might have added when Maria stepped onto the patio bearing a tray filled with a tea service and soup bowls.
“The soup is ready. I hope tomato’s okay. It seemed the best I had to choose from. Of course, I’m used to the homemade variety.”
“None for me, Maria,” Isabella said, though she did accept a cup of tea from the bustling woman.
“Bella, you’re going to fade away if you don’t eat. Tonight I’ll fix leek and potato soup for tomorrow’s lunch. I know it’s your favorite.”
Gabe, who’d dragged the low, glass-topped wicker table to the center of the patio, ladled tomato soup into three bowls. “I almost forgot. Luisa sent a loaf of home-baked bread with me this morning. It’s in the Lexus. I’ll go get it.”
“And I’ll nab the butter.” Maria hurried into the house behind Gabe. “Bella’s got to eat,” she whispered, catching up to Gabe.
“She won’t if we make too big a deal of it. If we fix her a plate and set it in front of her, maybe the aroma will entice her to take a few bites. Or if not the aroma, the guilt over letting it go to waste.”
“You know her well, I think.” Maria crossed her arms, all the while eyeing Gabe as if waiting for him to admit just how well he knew Isabella.
He’d left his cell phone in the SUV. It beeped, notifying him of a missed call. Stopping to check, Gabe saw that both Marc and Moss had left messages within the space of fifteen minutes. Wondering what could be urgent enough to shake them both loose in the middle of the week, he dialed Marc as he rummaged around for the sack that held the loaf of bread.
“Hey, Marc, what’s up? Did the old geezer reconsider selling his land to SOS?”
“No. What have you been up to since you left Utah? Seeing that you were the one so concerned about all of us not staying connected, you’ve been awful quiet.”
“I’ve been tied up, buddy. It’s a long story. I’m about to eat lunch. Can I call you back tonight?”
“Sure. You’ve got my number.” Marc clicked off.
Gabe turned around and punched in Reggie Mossberger’s number. “It’s Gabe. Do you need something, Moss?”
“I hear from Coltrane that some woman’s got her hooks in you.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Aren’t you buying property all over town hoping to win the heart of that caterer who’s too traumatized to love you back?”
“Did Coltrane say that?” Gabe felt his anger flare.
“He said you have his blessing and to cut you some slack. Marc and I can’t figure out what these Oregon women have that’s turned two good men’s brains to mush.”
“So you and Marc have been discussing my love life? Is that what’s behind his call, too?”
“We’re worried about you, Gabe. And neither of us can get away to come there in person. Hell, the way we left it after Colt’s wedding, Marc and I thought by now you’d be back in Sun Valley.”
“Marc knew better. I tried to tell him about Isabella when I went to Utah. He was too wrapped up in Lizzy to hear.”
“So tell me.”
“Okay. Meeting her…was like nothing I can describe. Being run over by a Sherman tank is the best comparison I can give you. Maybe I can’t make things better for her, Moss. All I know is I’ve got to try.”
“Sounds like love to me. Hey, I guess this means I should’ve sent my tux jacket to the cleaners, right?”
“Yesterday morning I might’ve said yes. Today I’m not so sure,” Gabe admitted miserably.
“Hey, I’ve got a patient mooing out back. And one barking its head off in my waiting room. You make her treat you right, okay buddy?” Reggie said with a decided catch in his voice.
Gabe closed his phone, feeling lucky to have such good friends—and feeling more hopeless than ever about his shaky footing with Isabella.
He grabbed the bread and went back inside.
“Bring the bread out onto the patio,” Maria called. “I already brought the cutting board and knife.”
“Sorry to be so long. I had a couple of messages on my cell phone.”
“Anything to do with the trial?” Isabella raised her head.
“No. Personal business,” he replied, passing the loaf to Maria.
“Oh. Not bad news concerning Papa’s goats, I hope?” When Gabe looked surprised that she knew about the goats, Isabella explained. “Maria just spoke with Rick. He said the hills behind your house are no longer green but white with this new breed of goat Angel talked Papa into bringing up from Texas.”
“They showed up so early this morning, the hills were almost littered with their fluffy white carcasses.”
Maria laughed. She handed Gabe a thick slice of buttered bread to go with the fresh soup she’d dipped for him.
Isabella broke a chunk off her slice. “Gabe, are you really buying out Larkin Crosley’s law practice? Uh…Rick also told Maria that.”
“Rick covered a lot of ground. What else did he say?”
“Nothing much.” Isabella reacted to Gabe’s sharp tone. “Well, nothing Maria repeated. I didn’t talk to him. Um, were you hoping to keep that news a secret?”
He shook his head. He did, however, hope to keep news of the garden he’d commissioned a secret—from Isabella, at least. Until the majority of the work was done, anyway. “It didn’t seem right to burden you with the details of my decision. You have enough on your mind at the moment.”
“True, but a few weeks ago you bought a ranch and hired Papa to teach you to raise sheep. Then practically overnight you lease him your pasture. Now, you’re suddenly going to study for the Oregon bar?”
“You could say it came as a revelation on one of those cold mornings as I lay face first in the icy mud. This was after a ram took offense at what he saw as my interference.” He grinned wryly. “I’m not cut out to be a rancher, Isabella.”
His self-deprecation bought a slight curve to her lips. Maria snickered. “Don’t let my husband hear you say that. Rick’s positive he ran you off.”
“I’m here to stay, and everyone had better get used to that fact.” Gabe answered Maria, but his gaze bored straight through Isabella.
She tapped her watch, not wanting anyone to see how her pulse leaped at Gabe’s declaration. “Shouldn’t we start back soon? We’ve been gone over an hour.”
“We’ll go as soon as you make a dent in your bowl of soup.” Gabe dug a spoon into his own.
Isabella stuck out her tongue at his bent head. However, she picked up her soupspoon. “Isn’t it too cold to eat?”
“Nutrition in it’s the same hot
or cold, isn’t that right, Maria?”
She nodded enthusiastically, so Isabella wrinkled her nose and ate.
They arrived back at the courthouse with ten minutes to spare. Again Gabe escorted them through the blockade of reporters. The ones he’d been rude to earlier were even pushier, until a harsh glare from him had them falling back to let his party through.
Once Judge Weller took his chair, James Hayden presented affidavits from the doctors and psychiatrists he’d hired to examine Julian. If Arana was found competent to stand trial, the medical experts themselves might be called to testify. His arguments continued for slightly less time than the defense had used to plead their case. Hayden wound down his argument, saying, “It is the contention of the prosecution that we have proved Mr. Arana is well aware that his children died the day they were in his custodial care. He’s also cognizant of what charges will be levied against him if he’s found sane and competent to face those charges. Therefore, the prosecution rests. We reserve the right to call our witnesses should the defense call theirs.”
Thomas Meyer huddled with his team a moment. “Your honor, we believe the jury has only to look at Mr. Arana here today to make the right choice.”
Weller banged his gavel and proceeded to instruct the jury.
“That’s it? They’re going off to determine my children’s fate based on one day’s input from the lawyers?” Isabella whispered to Gabe, but failed to keep her voice low enough. Weller smacked his gavel. “I’ll have order,” he demanded.
Gabe leaned very near her ear to murmur, “Honey, it’s really Julian’s fate in their hands. Each juror heard the arguments. They’ll study both packets of medical affidavits. Weller is sequestering them tonight. Sometime tomorrow or the next day they’ll decree whether Julian’s fit to stand trial for the murder of your children.”
The jury had filed out and so had the judge. The crowds in the courtroom were dispersing under the watchful eye of court security. Isabella jumped to her feet. “So you’ve come around to my way of thinking? You agree Julian should be charged with murder in the first degree?”
Gabe diverted them toward a different exit than the one they’d used at noon. “Is it enough that I’d like to believe it for your sake?”
Someone To Watch Over Me (Harlequin Super Romance) Page 23