“No. No, Gabe, it isn’t. If you cared as much for me as you imply, you’d believe Julian’s lying. Go. Just leave us. Maria and I will ask James for a lift to the cottage.”
Gabe touched her hair to maintain contact, but she tore away from him. He stood helplessly by, watching her drag Maria down the hall to catch Hayden. Dammit, at this point none of them knew if Arana’s brain was actually fried. Could he carry off such an elaborate charade?
Gabe drove back to Callanton with a knotted stomach. He swung by the site for the garden, to see what progress had been made. A great deal for one day, which pleased him. The land had been cleared and spread with topsoil. Part of the rockery was already set.
Work on his own house had progressed, too. After changing clothes and before he tackled cleaning the fireplace brick, Gabe popped the top on a beer and sat on his patio to enjoy it, gazing out at the goats who frolicked in his pastures. He had to admit they made an idyllic picture.
He stewed, too. Over whether he should go back to Bend and ask James Hayden to add him to the call list when the judge was ready to reconvene. Or simply forget about showing up unless they entered phase two of the trial. He hadn’t fully decided, although he leaned toward going and contacting James, when a hulking shadow cut off what was left of the fading sunlight.
Rick Navarro sauntered onto Gabe’s patio and helped himself to a chair. “I’ll take one of those if you’ve got another.”
Gabe stared at him. Rising, he stomped into the house and returned with what was left of a six-pack. “If you’re planning to get me drunk and then beat the crap out of me, two beers apiece isn’t nearly enough.”
Rick pulled the tab and stuck it in his shirt pocket. “I suppose you have a chip on your shoulder because Bella sent you packing today.” Tipping his head back, Rick took a long pull from the can. After wiping a hand across his mouth, he said, “Maria told me. Now you know Bella’s got the Navarro temper. I assure you, she’s gonna be happy when she sees the garden you’re having done in memory of her kids. Or else she’ll blubber. Navarro women are good at that, too.”
Gabe stopped with the can halfway to his lips. “Did you tell Maria about the garden?”
“I’m not stupid,” Rick shot back. “I talked to the woman—the blonde directing the work. She said you want the garden finished right down to a dedication plaque before Bella sees it. So, I guess you’ve already invited the mayor to give a speech and present the plaque.”
“The garden’s not about presentations by self-aggrandizing politicians. I just hope it’ll relieve some of Isabella’s pain. That’s all it’s about.”
“Right answer, Poston.” Rick took another swig. “Know what? You’re okay. Now tell me what happened today. I can’t make heads or tails outta what my wife said.”
Gabe talked in brief spurts and ended by gesturing with his can. “If you’ve got spare time to spend in town talking to Mrs. Kent, why weren’t you in Bend for your sister? Why isn’t your whole family there? Dammit, she needs her loved ones around her.”
“And that includes you?”
“What if I say it does?” Gabe thrust out his chin.
Rick grinned and crushed his beer can. “I went to town on business, but you’re right, Poston, we should be there for Bella. Where and what time tomorrow?”
“That’s the thing. Hayden will be notified what time court reconvenes. He’ll call Isabella. It may not be tomorrow. But if you go, please go prepared to stay a few days. Tell you what, I’ll rent a second cottage. The one next to Isabella and Maria is vacant.”
“You’ll rent another—so are you rich?” Rick demanded bluntly.
“What’s money? Wouldn’t you spend every cent you had to help Maria?”
“Rather than throwing your money around, big shot, maybe Bella would rather hear you say you believe Julian Arana is scum of the earth.”
“That’s a low blow, Rick. I’ve never doubted the man is bad to the core. I’ve only said I’m not qualified to judge if he’s sane or if the gas didn’t leave him too debilitated to understand his rights. I’ve also said that if Isabella can’t get past the hate corroding her emotions, then no matter what happens, Arana’s won. Especially if destroying her is what he hoped to do.”
“Spoken like Callanton’s soon-to-be newest lawyer.” Rick clapped Gabe on the shoulder. “I’ll collect the family if you’ll help transport them. Shall we be on the road at six o’clock in the morning?”
“Tell Luisa to expect me for breakfast.”
Gabe knew the road to Bend so well, the next morning he was able to keep one ear open to the chatter going on around him while he planned what he’d say to Isabella.
She was so ecstatic to see her family, Gabe got no opportunity to even speak to her until everyone else had finished crying and hugging her.
“Come, take a short walk with me,” he said, cornering her after the men went to unload the cars and Maria took Luisa, Sylvia and Ruby to check out the second cottage.
“Gabe, I can’t even begin to thank you. But—” she hesitated “—shouldn’t someone stay in case James phones?”
“I have my cell phone with me.” He tapped the case looped onto his belt. “I already spoke with James. He’s not expecting word anytime soon.”
“Why? What’s so hard? Julian would run over his grandmother to achieve his own ends.”
Gabe opened the front door and called to the others that he and Isabella were taking a short walk. He slipped an arm about her waist and deftly maneuvered her out the back way, across the patio. A trail that led through the pines blocked them from view of the house. “Isabella…”
Slowing her steps, she turned and drew her fingers over his lips. “I like the way you don’t shorten my name. Everyone else either shortens it to Bella or Izzy.”
Capturing her hand, he pressed a kiss into her palm. He liked that his kiss flustered her and brought traces of pink to her colorless cheeks.
“Rick said something last night that started me thinking.”
“I’m surprised and pleased to see that you two apparently resolved your differences.”
“Because I managed to convince him you’re significant to me, Isabella. The question is, why can’t I convince you?”
She clutched her stomach and stared at Gabe with big, tragic eyes. “You think I’m lying about Julian.”
Taking her hands, Gabe kissed her knuckles. “I have no doubt that Julian physically and mentally abused you, and hid the fact from everyone who knew you both. He’s a terrible man. His crimes are heinous.”
“Then, how can you believe he’s insane? Or that he shouldn’t go to prison for what he did to Antonia and Ramon?”
“I’ve always agreed he should be locked up. Isabella, do you know what was in Julian’s head? Did he plot a cold-blooded murder-suicide, or did he snap and do it on the spur of the moment? Or did he simply think he could scare you into coming back, and something went terribly wrong?”
“What difference does it make? Doesn’t it all add up to murder?”
Giving up for the moment, Gabe pulled her into the crook of his arm and walked out of the trees into a field of flowers.
Isabella rested her head on his shoulder. When he stopped, she rose on tiptoe and kissed him lightly. “You’re a good, caring man, Gabe. But all men aren’t like you.”
Caught in a spell cast by her nearness and her humbling assessment, Gabe crushed her in his arms and delivered a long, satisfying kiss. Who knew where it would’ve led, considering the inviting bed of wildflowers and soft green grass, had a couple strolling with a boy and a dog not interrupted them?
Gabe recognized that the moment was lost, especially as Isabella, blushed, grabbed his hand and began pulling him back the way they’d come.
He regretted that he’d let kissing her get in the way of finishing their argument. And of course, once they reached the cottage, the boisterous Navarro family filled the rooms, negating any opportunity for private conversation.
It p
leased him immensely, though, to watch Isabella bask in her family’s unconditional love. Before night fell on a day that was otherwise upsetting—since James had phoned to say there was no verdict yet—Gabe knew one thing without reservation. Isabella owned all of his heart. Right or wrong, just or not, he wanted Julian Arana to spend the rest of his natural life in prison for no other reason than that he’d hurt the woman Gabe loved.
In spite of the revelation, he left Isabella without telling her and went to spend the night in the second cottage with all the men. That was how it had been decided. Men in one cottage. Women in the other.
The following morning, Gabe had even less opportunity to find time alone with her. Breakfast, as always with the Navarro clan, bustled with energy and chatter. Halfway through washing dishes, the phone rang. Isabella answered. “It’s James,” she said, shushing everyone. “They’ve come to an agreement. We’re to meet in courtroom C at one o’clock.” All her fears, doubts and worries sapped any trace of light from her eyes as she dropped the receiver in the cradle with hands that visibly shook.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
AT FIFTEEN MINUTES to the hour, they sat shoulder to shoulder in the first and second rows of the courtroom, all of them grim-faced. The Aranas sat squarely behind their only son, who still exhibited no sign of life.
Judge Weller swept into the courtroom at one on the dot. He issued a stern lecture aimed at reporters. “I won’t tolerate outbursts of any kind, is that understood?” he said, letting his hot gaze run up and down the rows. Apparently satisfied he’d gotten through, he asked the bailiff to summon the jury.
“Have you reached a verdict in the competency case of the state of Oregon versus Julian Arana?”
Gabe, who’d finagled a seat next to Isabella, automatically reached for her hand.
A jury spokesman rose. “We have, your honor. This jury unanimously determines Julian Arana to be of sound mind.”
The courtroom erupted in a jumble of voices as reporters scrambled for their cell phones to call their offices. The judge pounded his gavel to no avail.
While most eyes in court were locked on the man reading the verdict, Gabe’s had swung to Isabella’s ex. It was ever so slight, but Julian raised his head the moment the decision was read. Gabe witnessed an instant of unfiltered malice—aimed squarely at Isabella, who’d just been yanked into her happy parents’ arms.
Short but stunning in intensity and portent, the look of pure hatred had lasted long enough for Gabe to know he hadn’t imagined it.
He tried unsuccessfully to gain Isabella’s attention. He needed to tell her about this discovery. As she was passed from brother to sister for hugging, the most he managed was to be on the receiving end of one of her grateful kisses.
Judge Weller surged to his feet and roared, “If the visitors to this court aren’t seated at once, I’m citing each of you for contempt.”
Of course they sat. “Well, now,” Weller said, “that’s better. We’ll recess for one hour to give both teams an opportunity to collect themselves and contact witnesses. The jury will remain in quarters, where they’ll have no access to the press.”
The judge gathered his calendar and sheaf of papers. Julian’s lawyer addressed him. “Your honor, the defense respectfully requests that we recess until one tomorrow. My client is not a well man, and he’s been dealt a terrible blow.”
“Mr. Meyer, with all due respect, this court has just determined that your client is perfectly fit. I recognize, and so should you, that because the trial was moved from the area where all parties reside, time presents a hardship. One hour stands.”
“What shall we do for one hour?” Joe rolled his shoulders.
Rick got up. “I’m going to phone Manny.” Their youngest brother had stayed behind with the brothers-in-law. To help at home, but also because his new baby had developed colic, and he’d gotten little sleep the previous night.
James Hayden moved into their circle. “A lawyer I know has offered us the use of his office. Isabella, I’d like you to stick close by. Meyer indicated to me that they may want to dicker.”
“What does he mean?” Isabella asked Gabe.
“Plea bargain. He means they may want to pleabargain a lesser charge. Don’t do it, Isabella. You were right, and I was wrong. Julian is play-acting.” He filled her in on what he’d witnessed. “I’m sorry for ever suggesting you forgive such a dangerous man. He’s not crazy.”
“But Gabe. You’ve made me see how pathetic Julian is. I really looked at him when his attendant wheeled him in and thought I should try not to hate him so much.”
Gabe massaged her slender neck. “Right now you’re riding the euphoria of success. Let’s all go have a cup of coffee and wait to see what Meyer proposes.”
They had less than half an hour to wait. Hayden strode into the room and found Isabella. “I know what a strain the wait and then this phase of the trial has put on you and your family. Tom Meyer approached me with an offer. Julian will plead guilty to Man One if we withdraw our request for his sentence to include no chance for parole.”
Isabella edged closer to Gabe, even going so far as to clutch his hand. He thought it significant that she gravitated toward him and not her father or brothers. Personally, he doubted she’d rest easy with Man One. “What sentence does Man One carry here, James?” Gabe asked.
“Twelve to fifteen, eligible for parole in five to seven. We could get lucky and the judge could give him fifteen per child.”
“Which won’t matter much if he makes parole in seven,” Gabe pointed out.
“Seven years? No,” Isabella said with finality. “Even thirty is too little. James, you promised we’d ask fifty years for each child and request they run back to back.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say. All right. We’ll turn them down. I’ll see you inside in twenty minutes. Be prepared for this to get ugly.”
Isabella turned her face into Gabe’s shirtfront. He slid his arms around her and rocked her ever so gently as she murmured, “I’m really trying not to hate his guts, Gabe. But he has to pay. He has to pay for what he did.”
“I agree wholeheartedly.” Gabe rested his cheek on the intricate braid that had first caught his attention and caused him to take a second look at Isabella. He felt so attuned to her now that he suffered when she did.
During the remainder of the day’s session, the trial seesawed back and forth.
At the end of a long afternoon, the family returned to the cottages, strangely dejected in spite of their earlier triumph.
The next day, two of Julian’s friends from work testified they’d only heard him speak highly of Isabella. The second salesman with the company told how Julian always flashed around pictures of his children.
Isabella leaned over to Gabe. “I’m sure he did. Julian took care to come off as the perfect husband and father to everyone he met.”
James was frustrated because he wanted to call the priest who’d counseled the couple on their failing marriage. The judge denied Hayden’s request. “Priests and clergy are exempt from testifying against parties they counsel in good faith.”
That afternoon, the prosecution saw their first real break. One of the psychiatric witnesses for the defense admitted under James’s cross-questioning that he’d picked up patterns of erratic behavior in tests he’d administered to Julian. Tests showing that Julian was capable of lying without remorse.
The following morning, witnesses were recalled and cross-examined. James held off putting Isabella on the stand.
On day four, he admitted he didn’t want the defense ripping her to shreds. “Anyway, Weller threw out possible testimony regarding anything you observed or experienced at his hands while the two of you were married.”
“Why?” Isabella and Gabe asked together.
“Weller is limiting your testimony to the time between the divorce and when you opened the garage door. He has that right, Isabella. So I’m going to lean on the defense’s experts some more. I think the jury
is already bending toward us.”
For two more days, the defense called physicians, nurses, neighbors and minor acquaintances of Julian. All the way down to his car mechanic. None really shed any light on the case. The neighbors who said Julian seemed like a nice guy couldn’t bring themselves to look at Isabella when they testified.
It did come out that Julian was a loner throughout most of elementary and high school. It was generally agreed he had no close friends after he married Isabella.
“What’s wrong with the people who knew Julian well?” Isabella fumed once the whole family had congregated again in the largest of the cottages at the end of yet another trying day. “Now we’re reduced to hearing so-called medical experts expound on what Hayden and Meyer already summarized in an hour at the end of the competency phase. It’s like Meyer’s still hoping to have Julian declared insane.”
Gabe smiled at her. “Sweetheart, that’s what defense lawyers do. Meyer wants sympathy for his client from the jurors. Trust James to cut through the bull. He knows juries. He’s biding his time for the right moment.”
Joe leaned forward, clasping his hands between his knees. “And this is what you want to do with your life, Gabe? You could be out with sheep, breathing fresh air.”
“Oh, sure. Wet wool and sheep shit smell so great.”
Luisa Navarro rapped Joe’s knuckles. “Don’t pick on Gabriel. He’s a genius with numbers. Already he’s drawn up a computerized budget for you and Papa. We’re lucky to have him join our family.”
All talk ground to a halt. Songbirds could be heard chirping through an open window. Outside of that, there was no sound for a drawn-out period.
Ruby, the outspoken sister, broke through the silence, rattling off a question in Euskera.
Only Gabe remained in the dark as Isabella launched out of her chair. “Why would you even think Gabe had asked Papa for my hand? First off, I’m not Papa’s to give or keep. Secondly, Gabe and I are not involved…uh…like that.”
Someone To Watch Over Me (Harlequin Super Romance) Page 24