Hunter Moon

by Jenna Kernan

  Clyne appeared after the meeting at police headquarters with an attorney for Clay, whom Gabe said he didn’t need. It was a rare instance when his two older brothers disagreed. Clyne won the argument, as usual, and Clay’s new attorney began the process of securing Clay’s release on bail, which Clyne generously posted.

  Clay was released to Clyne’s custody, and he picked up his personal items at the main desk to discover Izzie had called twice. He didn’t call back. He was too tired and his heart was too sore to hear her goodbye.

  He had a late meal with Clyne and his grandmother; Gabe and Luke were too busy to make an appearance. He’d never gotten a chance to move his things here, so he returned to his place, and it was not until he hit the shower that the exhaustion really took hold. He barely got dried off before he stretched out on the couch and was out as if someone hit him on the head.

  On Sunday morning, he woke to the far off buzzing of the alarm in his old bedroom because he had forgotten to turn it off. He groaned and buried his face under the sofa pillow until he recalled that Izzie regularly attended church. That got him up and moving. He threw his packed possessions into his truck. It was discouraging that everything but his saddle fit in only two large duffels and a single box. He made it to his grandmother’s in time to join her and his brothers for services. But he was disappointed to find Izzie was not in attendance. Her brothers and mother were there, and her mother seemed to spend the entire service staring at Clay in stony silence and then formally thanked him for saving her daughter’s life. It was the most awkward moment of his life, followed by the next as Clay accepted the offered kiss on the cheek and then excused himself, leaving his grandmother and Izzie’s mother deep in conversation.

  On Monday, Clay was back at work and was surprised when his boss told Clay that he was proud of him. On Tuesday, Gabe arrested Boone Pizarro. According to Donner, the shamed councillor implicated Pizarro while looking for a plea deal. Pizarro was accused both of rebranding Izzie’s cattle and ordering Victor Bustros to check Izzie’s cattle’s brands. No charges were made against Bustros yet.

  Wednesday morning Clay’s new attorney stopped by his work to tell him the forensics came back on Rubin’s murder. Clay’s prints were all over the murder weapon, which was bad, of course. But a partial print of Arnold Tessay’s was found on one of the empty bullet casings at the scene. It was enough to hold Tessay, who had secured a defense attorney, a “damned good one” who had already requested a bail hearing.

  Clay wondered if Tessay would get it because he’d heard his uncle Luke predict Tessay was a flight risk and, if allowed bail, might flee, but perhaps that was because Luke was hoping he would run. Leaving the reservation meant Tessay would lose his protected status. Clay knew that Luke and his partner were building a federal case against him, which he would present for the tribal council’s approval and, if successful, press the district attorney to accept the case.

  Clyne showed up on Wednesday evening to take him to the closed session of tribal council and told him that their youngest brother, Kino, and his new wife, Lea, were due home tomorrow.

  “Ready?” asked Clyne.

  “Yeah.” They climbed into his older brother’s SUV, but Clyne didn’t start up the vehicle.

  Clay lifted his brows in an unspoken question.

  Clyne drummed his fingers on the wheel. “She’s speaking to the tribal council tonight, same as you.”

  He didn’t need to ask who she was. Izzie. He’d see her. It would be hard, as hard as every chance meeting he had suffered through since his return from the detention center in Colorado.

  But when he entered the council chambers, it was worse than he imagined. He saw her. No, he felt her. Just being in the same room caused a physical pain in his chest. He rubbed his knuckles over his sternum, but it only got worse.

  Izzie stood when he entered and walked down the center aisle to meet him. His shoulders went tight as if every muscle there had suddenly seized up. He clenched his jaw, and sweat rose on his brow.

  Before him most of the tribal council were already seated. The council members, minus Arnold Tessay, sat on one side of the table. Their chairman, Ralph Siqueria, had returned from DC and presided over the closed session with only invited speakers. Gabe, Luke, his blonde partner and Izzie all sat on the opposite side of the table but pivoted as Clyne and Clay entered.

  Izzie waited as Clay approached. He didn’t know what kept him moving.

  “Hello, Clay,” she said.

  He nodded, hoping to move past her to his seat, but she blocked his path.

  Clay glanced to the witnesses and grimaced. They all sat motionless as if afraid to miss a moment of this personal drama.

  “You’ve been avoiding me,” said Izzie.

  “That’s so.”

  “Why?”

  “Izzie, let’s just get through this?”

  She shook her head. “Not until I tell you something.”

  He gazed down at her soft brown eyes, taking in the image of her pointed chin and the angle of her brow and her smooth skin and, well, everything that made her so beautiful. In that moment he had time to consider all the mistakes that kept him from being what she needed. Clyne took his seat across from Gabe. Clay looked at his older brothers. Their presence seemed to mock him. Neither of his brothers had let their mother’s tragic death or their father’s train wreck of a life derail theirs.

  “Are you listening to me?” she asked.

  Had she been speaking? His face went hot. He wished she would not do this now, so publicly. But perhaps she wanted all to know she was grateful and their business was finished. He could bear it. Couldn’t he?

  “Clay, I said that I made mistakes. That I let my obligations and the opinions of others keep me from doing what I wanted. But I won’t let that happen anymore. It is my life and my decision what man I choose to share it with.”

  Clay wrinkled his brow in confusion. This was not the speech he had expected to hear.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “When I was young, I listened to my mother. I pretended to avoid you, but I went out with Martin just to be near you. When he died, I didn’t grieve for him. I grieved for you and for us, and that shames me. Then when you came back, I was so certain that I had to fulfill my promise to my father and to keep the herd for my brothers before I even considered a family of my own.”

  Clay’s heart was beating so fast that his ribs ached.

  “I understand, Mizz Nosie.”

  Izzie stamped her foot. “Don’t you dare call me that. Not after the night we spent together.”

  His gaze snapped to hers. Behind him, he heard the intake of breath from someone on the council. Was that Clyne, shocked at Izzie’s admission?

  Why would she tell them all? She had always guarded her reputation. An Apache woman’s virtue was important. Her honor like a living thing, to be nurtured...but she had told them all—publicly.

  He scrutinized her face, but she had adopted the blank expression of a woman who did not wish to reveal her emotions. He felt the first stirring of hope. She had stood here before her tribal leadership and told them, every one of them, what they had done.

  She must have lost her mind. He tried to control the damage.

  “It was the fear, the need, that’s all.”

  “No.” She grabbed the front of his shirt, bunching it in her fists, and gave him a little shake. But she didn’t need to, because she had his full attention. “It was not the fear or the need. I am not ashamed of you. I am ashamed of myself. I am proud of you. You are brave, honest, smart. You put the needs of everyone first. You helped Kino down on the border, and you are giving up your place so he can make a home there with his wife. You helped Gabe and your uncle solve this case. And you kept me alive.”

  His breathing was so fast that he was dizzy with it. He had to
widen his stance just to regain his equilibrium.

  “Bella?”

  “I love you, Clay Cosen. I have loved you since I was a little girl, and I will love you all my life.”

  He looked at her, trying to understand what was happening, afraid to believe his ears. She nodded, confirming what she had said.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  She said that here, aloud before the entire tribal council. Clay’s jaw dropped as he looked from one smiling face to the next.

  She loved him.

  “Clay, can you ever forgive me?”

  The buzzing in his ears silenced all sound. He could not hear the men and women behind him at the council table, because his senses were too full of Isabella Nosie.

  And possibilities.

  “Is it true?” he asked.

  “I love you so much.”

  He turned to his brothers, his voice hushed with astonishment. Clyne was wiping at his eyes, and Gabe had puffed up like a Tom turkey.

  “She loves me,” he said to them.

  Clyne called for a recess.

  Several of the council members glanced at Clay and Izzie as they rose and made their way out of the chamber.

  * * *

  IZZIE STARED AT Clay, but he just stood there with a stunned look on his face. She had bared her soul to him, and he was silent as the room in which they stood.

  Was this how he had felt after the shame of his arrest, standing in the judicial chamber? What if he didn’t love her? What if she had waited too long? What if he could not forget, could not forgive?

  Her cheeks burned with shame. Why should he forgive her? She had done nothing to earn his love.

  “You said that in front of everybody. The entire council.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I just—just...” She was a fool. “I wanted everyone to know.” She dropped her gaze. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  She stared up at him, willing her lower lip to cease its trembling. He remained silent, and she could not read his thoughts. All she knew was that she was too late.

  It was hard to speak now. The pain lodged in her throat like a wedge, choking her. There was no saving face, no way to keep her pride. She had taken the risk and lost.

  “I’d understand if you can’t forgive me. I was so caught up in what my father wanted and what my mother wanted that I lost sight of us.”

  She sank into the closest seat, set up for the public meetings. Clay dropped to a knee before her.

  He took her hand and gave a little squeeze. “Izzie, look at me.”

  She did.

  “There is nothing to forgive. You took care of your family. And I repaid my debt for the mistake.”

  “But you didn’t make a mistake.”

  “I trusted Martin. I knew him well enough to know he wanted that two hundred dollars. I even knew him well enough to recognize the lengths he’d go in order to get it. That alone was worth eighteen months in detention. As for us, well, most folks can’t look past a single mistake. But you did.”

  “Oh, Clay.”

  “And I love you for that. I love you, Isabella. I’ve loved you since I was ten years old. And I want you to be my wife.”

  “Your wife?” Now she was the one staring in shock.

  He smiled and brought the back of her hand to his mouth brushing his lips against sensitive skin.

  “Would you like time to think about it?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No. I’ve had too much time to think. Too much time away from you.”

  “So...?” His mouth quirked.

  She threw herself into his arms, nodding her head against the warm strength of his neck and shoulder.

  “Yes, Clay. I will be your wife.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The following Sunday afternoon preparations were well underway for the barbecue lunch following church to welcome home the newlyweds. When his grandmother had mentioned her plans for the gathering to Clay, he had immediately asked if he could invite Izzie.

  “She’s your girl, isn’t she?” Glendora had replied and then insisted that he invite Isabella’s entire family.

  His girl. He liked the sound of that.

  Because of Gabe’s investigation and Clyne’s political responsibilities, this was the first time the brothers had all been together since Kino’s wedding.

  Clay joined his older brothers at the fire pit in the backyard. They had the smoker going, coals ready. The ribs, rubbed with a mix of seasoning, waited in the cooler.

  Their uncle was, unfortunately, unable to attend. Gabe said they had leads to follow, thanks to the suspects they had in custody. Of course, the men were not talking, but Luke knew which cartel they belonged with. The FBI was anxious to cut this supply line while the trail was hot.

  Gabe said they had some new leads to follow because both Tessay and Pizarro were now anxious to cooperate to avoid federal prosecution.

  All three brothers turned at the sound of tires crunching in the gravel drive beside the house. There was Kino’s truck pulling to a stop. Glendora hurried out of the house and rushed past them, hugging Lea, who looked rosy-cheeked and happier than Clay had ever seen her. After Glendora had hugged Kino, she captured his bride and left her youngest grandson to his brothers. The men hugged and slapped each other on the back.

  “Any more news?” asked Gabe, ever the investigator. He was referring to the hunt for their missing sister.

  “Yes, actually. Grandma is going to flip. You know I spoke to Jovanna’s case manager.”

  Clay didn’t know. Somehow he’d missed that piece of news in all the excitement of the past two weeks.

  “Well, after the foster home closed, she handled Jovanna’s placement in a temporary foster home and then her permanent adoption.” Kino turned to Clyne. “I did what you said. I hired an attorney up there, and he has filed papers to get the adoption unsealed. He says that’s the first step, and then we can seek to have the adoption overturned.” Kino drew out three business cards from his front pocket. “Here is his name.”

  Gabe accepted a card and passed the other cards to Clay and Clyne.

  “He said there will be a hearing. One of us should go.”

  “I’ll go,” said Clay. They all looked at him. Clyne and Gabe had been up there already, and Gabe was in the middle of investigating the biggest case of his career. Clyne had council business, including electing a new member to replace the vacancy left by Tessay’s resignation. Kino had spent much of his honeymoon tracking Jovanna through the foster-care system. It was Clay’s turn to help find their baby sister.

  The brothers turned to Clyne, who nodded his approval.

  “How long will it take to get her back?” asked Gabe.

  “I don’t know,” said Kino.

  “Better be before this July. Grandma has her dress half done. She’s beading the yoke every day.”

  “And she’s already spoken to the shaman,” added Clyne.

  “We’re going to need another cow,” said Clay.

  “Who will be her sponsor?” asked Clyne. It was a position of honor, but one only an Apache woman and member of Jovanna’s tribe could fill. It was customary for this to be a close friend of the family. This woman would act as both teacher and guide. The brothers looked blankly at each other for a moment.

  “We have to find her first,” reminded Clay.

  “We’ll get it done somehow,” said Clyne. “Grandma’s not the only one who wants her back. We all do. She’s our sister, and she belongs here with her people.”

  “One more thing,” said Kino. “The case manager slipped up. She said that Jovanna’s parents weren’t Indian.”

  “What!” roared Clyne.

  “They’re white?” asked Gabe.

&nb
sp; “I don’t know. Maybe. Not Indian, that’s all he said.”

  “What does that mean?” asked Gabe.

  “It means they’re not Indian,” said Clyne. “We have to get her home. Now!”

  Clay had seen that look before. Clyne would not rest until he retrieved Jovanna.

  Their eldest brother was a staunch advocate for Indian children being raised in their communities. Especially since so many Indian children had been removed from their families and lost to their culture.

  “We need a court order,” reminded Gabe.

  Kino placed a hand on Clay’s shoulder. “I heard you and Izzie are back together.”

  “Yeah.” Clay grinned. He was so happy. The only dark spot in his world right now was his baby sister’s absence.

  “About time. You going to marry her?” asked Kino.

  His brother was always blunt, and only he could get away with it.

  Clyne and Gabe exchanged a glance. They always seemed to know what the other was thinking.

  Clay shrugged. “I already asked her.”

  “And,” said Gabe.

  “She said yes.”

  Kino gave a whoop of excitement. The brothers clapped Clay on the back.

  “Have you got a ring?” asked Clyne, ever the practical one.

  “Not yet.”

  “I have Mom’s,” said Clyne.

  The brothers went silent as Clyne opened his shirt, revealing the traditional medicine bundle carried by warriors of old. Inside were items of power, and the contents of each man’s bundle was private. They had each made such a packet as part of their education in the tribe. Both Clyne and Gabe wore theirs about their necks. Gabe now pressed a hand over his, making Clay curious as to what the leather pouch contained. Meanwhile, Clyne drew his over his head and opened it. A moment later he held their mother’s diamond solitaire ring between his thumb and forefinger.