Her Destiny

by Aimée Thurlo

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lanie woke up slowly, her cheek rested against Gabriel’s bare chest. His arms were wrapped around her tightly. As she stirred, she saw he was already awake. “You’ve been sitting up holding me like this all night?”

  He tried to nod, but winced as if in pain. “I think I need to stretch out a bit.”

  “You could have nudged me to one side. I wouldn’t have minded,” Lanie said with a thin smile. The warmth of his gaze traveled like a bolt of lightning through her, awakening her desire.

  Gabriel stood up, wearing only loose-fitting jeans, and stretched his muscles like a powerful mountain lion. “I’ll be okay.”

  “Come back to bed,” she whispered, her voice thick with passion.

  Their gazes met, and she saw that the fires within him burned as hot as they did inside her.

  “There’s no time, love,” he said, buttoning a shirt and bending over to pull on socks and boots, “though I wish there was.”

  “Where are you off to?”

  “I’ve been doing background checks on some of our residents, and I’d like to finish them up as soon as possible. It’s an invasion of privacy I’m sure most of them would not forgive, but under the circumstances, I don’t have a choice.”

  Lanie could feel the sense of urgency that drove him and knew she was part of the reason behind it. She hadn’t been able to shake the fever. Now she was acutely aware of the dryness in her throat and the deep ache in her muscles. “I’m going to make a friendly stop by Ralph Montoya’s before I go to work. I have the feeling that he knows something.”

  “You think he’s involved in what’s happened to you?”

  She twirled a strand of hair around her index finger. “I don’t know. What I do know is that he was in the right place at the wrong time at least once. I want to have a talk with him. It may turn out to be a waste of time, but then again, it may not.”

  “You’re still running a fever. You shouldn’t be pushing yourself.”

  “I’ve got to do something. I can’t just stay on the sidelines.”

  Gabriel fastened his belt, adjusted his holster, then walked to the bed where she was sitting. “I care about you, woman.” He tucked her hair behind her ear, then brushed a kiss over her eyes. “Look after yourself when I can’t be by your side. I need you.”

  As he walked out of the room, Lanie threw back the covers and headed for the shower. As the warm water ran over her, she closed her eyes and remembered his caress. With a reluctant sigh, she released the mental image. It was time to solve other problems, not indulge in fantasies. She dried off and dressed quickly. Ten minutes later, she walked into the kitchen. Marlee was fixing some coffee.

  “Morning, Lanie. Shall I get you some breakfast?”

  Lanie shook her head. “A cold glass of milk and two aspirins is all I want” Lanie went to the refrigerator and poured herself a tall glass. The cold liquid felt good against her parched throat. She swallowed the aspirins in one gulp.

  “I’m worried about you,” Marlee said. “You’ve got to eat.”

  “I have enough in reserve,” she answered, patting her buttocks. “You just don’t notice it ‘cause the jeans fit right.”

  “No, I don’t notice it because it isn’t there,” Marlee said. “Here. Take some of these cocoa packets I’ve mixed up. My cocoa only puts you to sleep if you drink it when you’re exhausted. During the day, it just relaxes you. You can have a cup with Alma during your morning break.”

  She knew how Marlee’s cocoa could relax you. Chloroform was probably on a par with it. Not wanting to hurt her landlady’s feelings, however, Lanie took the two packets. “Is there anything you need me to do before I leave?”

  “No, not at the moment.”

  “Okay. In that case, I better get going. I’ve got a lot to do today.”

  Lanie walked down the street, her thoughts still on Gabriel. He’d held her all night, and that had shown more caring, more tenderness, than a million nights of lovemaking could have. Well, maybe.

  She sighed as she approached Ralph Montoya’s office.

  Issues of the Last Word, the town newspaper, lined the front window. Lanie stared at them pensively. Something bothered her about those, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  Seeing her at the window, Ralph waved, inviting her inside. “Come in, come in!” he greeted. “It’s cold this morning. No sense in standing out there in this wind.”

  The cold had actually felt good against her skin, but he’d given her the opening she’d needed. “Good morning.”

  “Are you on your way to Alma’s?”

  She nodded. “I’ve still got plenty of time, though. That’s why I couldn’t resist a peek in your window. You do a very good job with the newspaper.”

  He shrugged. “It isn’t much of a paper. Let’s face it, anywhere else it would be called a newsletter. But it’s enough for me. I’m the reporter, printer and editor-inchief. I make my own rules.” He saved what was on the computer screen, and moved away from it.

  “You remember that Gabriel asked me to do a search in regards to that bowl of yours?” he asked.

  “Yes, of course. Did you find something?”

  “Not on the bowl, no. I’ve looked for articles about thefts from archaeological sites and that sort of thing, but haven’t found anything useful. I did come across something interesting, though. It’s about one of the residents of Four Winds. Since I’m going to be out of town for the rest of the day, could you pass it on to the sheriff?”

  “Sure. No problem.”

  He handed her a photocopy of a newspaper clipping. “That’s our mayor, but without the mustache he wears nowadays. He went by William Bums, not Bob Burns, back when that was printed. Seems he was brought up on charges of embezzlement while working for a bank in southern Colorado.”

  Lanie stared at the photo, then read the story. “He was acquitted, it says.”

  “Yes, but what’s interesting is that as mayor, he’s also the chief money manager of Four Winds.”

  Lanie took a deep breath. Maybe it was time Gabriel looked at the town’s finances. “Interesting.”

  “Look, in deference to fair play, tell no one else about this except Gabriel, okay? The man is entitled to his past, whatever it may have been.”

  She stared at the photo. As she started to fold up the clipping, she suddenly realized what had been niggling at the back of her mind. “I know what’s been bothering me about the Last Word. There’s never a photo in it. That’s very unusual, wouldn’t you say?”

  “My camera broke, and I never bothered to replace it,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “It doesn’t bother anyone else, and people still buy the paper. Of course, it’s the only one here.”

  “But…”

  He hurried her to the door. “Look, I’ve really got to be going. I’ve got to go to the 4-H fair in the next county. Some of our kids have livestock in the show, and they get a kick out of seeing their names in the paper when their animals win something.”

  “I bet they’d love photos, too. Couldn’t you borrow a camera? I’m sure Alma would be glad to loan you one.” Lanie could see Ralph was almost ready to jump out of his skin. He was looking at her as if she had suddenly grown horns.

  “I don’t like to borrow things,” he said curtly, then guided her out. “Have a nice day,” he said, shutting the door firmly behind her and drawing down the shade.

  Lanie smirked. Oh, that had gone well. She sure as heck had a gift for getting people in Four Winds to open up to her.

  She walked over to the sheriffs office, and as she approached, Gabriel stepped out.

  He looked preoccupied, but the moment he saw her, concern, and another, gentler emotion transformed his expression. “Hey, beautiful, are you looking for me?”

  She nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “I’ve got something for you.”

  He grinned slowly. “Wouldn’t you rather have a little more privacy?”

  His voice was
smoky, and she felt a delicious thrill run up her spine.

  Hearing the sound of men’s voices as they unloaded a truck outside the feed store brought her thoughts back in line. Lanie cleared her throat and reached inside her purse. “Here you go. An interesting tidbit from Ralph.”

  He glanced at the article. “This wasn’t in my police files, probably because our mayor’s changed his name. He’s not the only one. This town is a maze of secrets.”

  “So, now what?”

  “I’m going to have a talk with the mayor, I guess. Quarterly audits will take place in about another month. If he’s dipped into the town’s funds for personal reasons, he may be looking for a score that will help him replace what he’s taken.”

  “You think that his son is working with him?”

  “It could be, but that doesn’t sound quite right to me. Ted’s his only kid. My guess is our mayor would do anything to protect Ted by keeping him out of that.”

  “Well, good luck with the mayor. Meanwhile, I better get over to Alma’s.”

  “See you later, and remember, I won’t be far.”

  His words washed over Lanie, warming her as she walked inside Golden Days. What a strange sense of welcome the place always seemed to give her. It was cozy here. She took a long look at the pipe rack on the wall, the shelves of scent bottles and the santos and kachinas on the table across the room.

  “I recognize that gleam,” Alma said quietly. “I used to see it all the time in Emily’s eyes. The antique business is winning you over.”

  Lanie considered Alma’s words. Teaching had been the only vocation to truly capture her heart. Antiques, however, held her interest, and that was more than anything else had done since she’d left school.

  “I love the things you’ve gathered here,” Lanie admitted. “But I don’t think I have a business heart. I’d want to keep all of them for myself,” she added with a chuckle.

  “Oh, that would change when it was time to buy groceries.”

  Lanie laughed. “Yep, I think you’re right.” Lanie followed Alma to the back room. “What would you like me to do today?”

  “Will you go over to Bob Burns’s and take some photos for me? He’s decided to sell his chair. It’s an unusual thing that uses longhorn cattle horns as the frame. It was crafted around the late 1890s, and I’m virtually certain I can sell it through my catalog.”

  She hesitated. What if Ted had been the one who’d attacked her? She considered the matter. Even if he had, he wouldn’t do anything in his own home, or in broad daylight if she stayed out of isolated areas, which she certainly intended to do. “Should I take the 35 mm camera?”

  “Yes, it’s right there on the counter. Take shots from as many sides as possible, and I’ll choose the best one.” Alma gave her directions to the house, then added, “It’s a pleasant walk. You go down Main, then past two really nice neighborhoods. There’ll be people about if you get lost, but are you sure you’re up to it? Your cheeks looked awfully flushed.”

  “I’m fine. A walk will do me a world of good. Everyone needs fresh air now and then.”

  The walk to the mayor’s home took her almost fifteen minutes. Lanie glanced around as she approached, wondering if Gabriel was still there. His vehicle, however, was nowhere in sight. She walked up the landscaped driveway, surprised by the elegance of such an estate here in Four Winds.

  The spacious veranda looked out to the east and was bathed in the shade of giant cottonwoods. Heavily carved wooden doors, typical of the old-style Spanish architecture, were inset into the adobe-lined courtyard wall. She rang the brass bell, then went through the private courtyard, and walked up to the front door.

  Raucous laughter greeted her from inside the house. She used the iron knocker, and at the sound, the noise within stopped abruptly. A breath later, Ted came to the door.

  “Well, hi. How can I help you?”

  Lanie forced herself to act completely unconcerned. “I came to photograph the antique chair your father is selling.”

  “He’s not here right now, but I know about the chair he wants to unload. It’s ugly as sin. I can show you where it is.”

  As she followed Ted Burns down a long corridor, she saw that several other young people were in the den, intent on a game of pool. Their presence reassured her. “I’m going to have to go,” he said after ushering her into the study, “but feel free to stay as long as you want. The chair you want is against the corner.”

  “Thanks.”

  “If you need me, I’ll be at the pool table.”

  While she worked, Lanie caught snippets of the kids’ conversation in the adjacent room. They were talking about the bowl…and Lanie herself. She was contemplating moving closer so she could hear, when a young girl about seventeen or eighteen came in.

  “You’re the lady the peddler gave the bowl to, aren’t you?”

  Lanie nodded. “That’s me, all right, Lanie Mathews. What’s your name?”

  “Annie O’Malley.” She crinkled her nose in disgust, looking at the chair Lanie was photographing. “That’s ugly. Miss Alma’s going to have a tough time selling that. Your pottery bowl will probably go fast, though. Will she be selling it for you?”

  “No, somebody stole it.”

  “The sheriff will get it back. I heard he’s really interested in you.” Annie smiled.

  Lanie looked at Annie. The girl was pretty in her own way. She had flaming red hair and bright freckles that almost entirely covered her face. The New Mexican sun had to be hard on her. “News really travels around here. I’ve noticed I’ve become a topic of conversation. Why is that, do you think?”

  “Well, you’re the first woman that Sheriff Blackhorse has paid any serious attention to since he came back. You two thinking of getting married?”

  “We have no plans for that.” She wasn’t crazy about being the topic of speculation, but at least the gossip here wasn’t malicious. Maybe that was because the subject was Gabriel, and nobody wanted trouble with him.

  “I’ve also heard that you’ve brought a truckload of trouble to a few kids around here.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Pete’s been sick, and Ted says you made things worse by getting Pete all upset, blaming him for things he didn’t do.”

  Lanie started to put her camera away. “I didn’t make trouble for Peter. I’ve never even spoken to him. If anything, I think he’s brought his problems onto himself.”

  “Well, I know that Pete’s been acting really weird lately.”

  “Weird, how?”

  “He’s not usually standoffish, at least not to me, but for the past week or so, he won’t even talk to me on the phone. That’s just not like him. I came here today with the guys, hoping he’d show up. But he’s not around.”

  “Annie, are you coming?” Ted called out from down the hall. “We’re taking off.”

  The girl turned around. “I’ve got to go. Bye.”

  Lanie watched Annie rush out. By the time she put the camera away in her purse, the big house was completely silent. A trickle of unease rippled through her.

  She walked quickly to the front of the house. Ted was gone with his friends. There was no reason for her to be frightened, but she was anyway. Under different circumstances, she would have simply attributed it to a case of nerves, but she wasn’t willing to discount her feelings so quickly anymore. Was it paranoia if someone really was after you?

  She’d just reached the front door when it suddenly opened. Lanie jumped back and saw the mayor standing in front of her. She recognized him right away from the photo Ralph had shown her. He was balder now, and a bit heavier, but it was the same man.

  “This is my home. How did you get in?” he demanded.

  “Your son let me in,” she said. “He and his friends—”

  Bob Burns lifted a hand, interrupting her. “My son is here?”

  “He was here. He let me in to take photos of that chair, but then went someplace with his friends.”

 
“Ted…here,” he said slowly, his voice holding a faraway quality. “And he had friends over. I’m glad to hear that. He hasn’t invited anyone here for a long time.” He glanced down at her bag. “You’re all finished, then?”

  “Yes, I am. I’m going back to Alma’s now.”

  “Tell Alma I appreciate her efforts to sell my chair, and for agreeing to include it in her catalog at the last minute.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Lanie walked away, feeling the mayor’s eyes on her back. It was surprising that he hadn’t mentioned the bowl. By now, she was sure he knew it had been stolen. He’d shown interest in it once, through a buyer, so she would have expected a question or two about the progress of the investigation. Lost in thought, she hurried down the street.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The wind was cold against her as she walked back to Alma’s. The warmth slowly left her body, and by the time she reached Sally’s, she’d started to shiver. On impulse, she decided to duck in and grab something hot to drink.

  She desperately needed something to warm her up.

  Lanie walked inside and saw Gabriel by the counter. Sally, across from him, had a very peculiar expression on her face. Her eyes seemed unnaturally bright against the pallor of her skin. She plucked at the edges of her apron, though from what Lanie could tell. there was nothing wrong with it to adjust.

  As Lanie reached the counter, Sally turned away from Gabriel and approached her.

  “What can I get you?” She bit off the words.

  “Coffee to go,” Lanie answered, figuring Sally was probably angry with her after the accusation she’d leveled at Peter.

  Sally reached for a foam cup, filled it with steaming coffee, then capped it. “Here you go. That’ll be sixty cents.”

  “I know how upset you must be, but I hope you now that I’d never lie about seeing Peter.”

  “You made a mistake, but that’s created a lot of problems for me and my kid. This is a business establishment, and you’re welcome to eat here, but don’t expect any favors from me.”

  As Sally strode away to the kitchen, Gabriel joined Lanie. “She’s furious with both of us.”