Venture was dying for the thrill of the fight, but the Championship—Day One—he ached at the thought of the ordeal.
Earnest opened the door to Seven Coins, and the greasy scent welcomed them. So did a familiar smile.
“Dasher!” Venture cried. He embraced his friend.
“Champ! You look good.”
But another voice called out, “Venture Delving!” interrupting their reunion. Tad Berry, a local fisherman, a childhood neighbor of Earnest’s.
Venture shook his hand.
“Where’ve you been? Twin Rivers’ own Champion of All Richland, and no one’s seen your face since . . .”
Earnest stepped in with a protective frown. “He’s been a little busy.”
Tad ignored Earnest. “There’s some talk . . . about you not fighting again.”
Venture gave Earnest and Dasher a look that told them he’d handle it. “Because I’m satisfied with one title? Because it was all about making a point?”
“Or all about the money.”
“I’m taking some time off, but I’ll be back. I’m not done. You tell anyone who asks. I am not done.”
“You’re not?” Dasher whispered as they seated themselves at an empty table against the stone wall near the fire.
“Of course he isn’t. I knew it.”
Venture thought Earnest might kiss him, he looked so happy. He was glowing like the firelight behind him.
“So,” Venture said to Dasher, “how are things out there? Outside Springriver County?”
“The Cresteds are taking a real beating when it comes to public opinion.”
“I heard I’m a hero again this week.” Venture smiled wryly. The press couldn’t seem to make up its mind about him.
“What you did was heroic, no matter what the press says this week or next,” Dasher said.
Venture shrugged. When he closed his eyes, he could still see the mud and the blood. Blood he’d spilled.
Earnest cast Venture a concerned glance and changed the subject. “So, what did you find out, Dash?”
“The Cresteds have completely backed off on their criticism of the Championship. It’s not a bias or an oversight by the press. It’s a strategy. The competition will go on this year.”
“Without Vent there, why push it,” Earnest said with a trace of wistfulness.
But Venture had bigger concerns than the Championship. “What about Felicity Fieldstone’s attackers?” Able’s killers. The bodies had mysteriously disappeared before investigators in Twin Rivers could identify them.
Dasher shook his head.
“They were Crested men,” Venture said. “Not just thugs. And it wasn’t just the way they fought. I swear I recognized some of them from that group of masked men that came into Beamer’s and threatened me.”
“Who else would keep the disappearance of four young men a secret?” The rumble of anger and disgust made Dasher’s voice shake. “Who else has the leverage and the connections to get the bodies back?”
“But why would they come after Felicity Fieldstone?” Earnest said.
“Because,” Dasher said grimly, “they thought it was Jade in that carriage.”
Venture gripped the table. So, he was right. “They were going to kill her, just to get back at me?”
“But what about Venture’s pardon?” said Earnest. “Did they know?”
“Of course they knew!” Venture spat. “Why else would they do it the day I was pardoned? They must have found out. They must’ve done it because I was getting out. They couldn’t let me have that. Not even one day of happiness. Not a moment to see her again.”
“Vent,” Dasher said. All traces of his own rage had been pressed down. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?”
“What if this is what they want—you, looking for revenge? What if they were trying to set you up?”
“To get Vent to come after them?”
“I don’t know anything for sure. I still don’t understand why Lockfield handed out that pardon when he did. I leaned on him hard. I did everything, said everything I could think of. I offered him every piece of silver I could possibly squeeze out of everything I own, and he wouldn’t budge. Maybe he came through because the election was right around the corner and he finally realized he was losing. But what if that wasn’t it? What if someone made him a better offer?”
“You think Lockfield was involved in them coming after Jade?” Earnest said.
“I don’t know. And I don’t know why they would do that, but I can’t help thinking the pardon and the attack were related.”
“This will never be over, will it?” Venture brought his hands to his head. His stomach twisted in knots. The hatred rushed back at him. Why? Why couldn’t he just have his life? And Jade! Jade could lose hers. Die, because of this. If Dasher was right, then Able had already died because of him.
Dasher met Venture’s eyes. “We can’t give up. Marry that girl you love so much. Have a family. Fight. Live. Don’t let them stop you. I’m not going to stop, no matter where this goes, no matter what happens.”
Marry that girl. But how could he, now? Now that he knew they’d come after her in order to get back at him?
#
Venture took one breath of the air inside Beamer’s, heated by the energy of the fight, and his heart leaped. He flexed his fingers in anticipation. He couldn’t wait to get his boots off and let his feet dance across the canvas. He’d told himself he was just here to do some drilling, to get his body back to moving like it used to, to get back in shape before he showed his face at the Fighter’s Face-Off. But with that breath, he knew none of that would be enough.
He’d missed the group warm-ups. He’d wasted time wavering on whether to head to Beamer’s this afternoon or over to the Big House to go riding with Jade, like he was supposed to. He’d awakened early this morning, like he used to when he was training, and he’d almost headed down here then. But Grace had gotten suspicious, and he’d chickened out. He didn’t want to talk about fighting again; he just wanted to do it. To know for sure that he was ready before he had to make his case.
Were Dasher and Earnest in one of the smaller training rooms, working out alone, or with the older elite boys who’d been here all day and were still working out? Venture peeked in the little window of the main training room door, at the youngest of Beamer’s boys, those spending their afternoons learning to fight for sport. He spotted Beamer and had to remind himself that he wasn’t a kid anymore, that he wasn’t going to get yelled at for being late.
At the back of the main training room, behind about a hundred sparring boys, was Earnest. The trainer threw down a pair of punching pads and showed Chance a striking sequence. Venture could tell from Earnest’s body language that it wasn’t the first time he’d shown it to Chance today. Chance, finally learning to fight. When had they gotten the kid on the mat, and why hadn’t anyone told him?
Chance copied Earnest, and the imitation wasn’t half bad, but Earnest shook his head in disapproval. Venture shouldered the door open. Time to save Chance’s tender ears from a tongue-lashing. He guided the door shut, then quietly set down his bag at the matside and began to unlace his boots. As Beamer brought his reed whistle to his lips, he saw Venture, and his eyes lit up. Venture gave his old coach a smile.
Beamer blew the whistle, ending the sparring round. A pair of sweaty boys right in front of Venture scrambled to their feet. One of them gave the other a shove, and he tumbled toward Venture. Venture put a hand out to stop him from flying off the mat. The kid fell on his rear and looked up at him. His eyes got big.
And the murmuring started. Not because he was the Champion of All Richland—these boys had run into him plenty of times at Beamer’s since he’d won the title—because they’d thought he was done. Because he’d nearly been killed. Because they’d heard he’d gone crazy in the lockup, and because he’d killed two men.
Blast! Why had he thought he could just slip in and ease back into things without anyone paying m
uch notice? Because this is Beamer’s, Venture answered his own question, feeling a new sadness in his gut. It’s supposed to be home. Yet another way the Championship, and what had happened afterward, had changed everything.
Beamer’s expression morphed to irritation on Venture’s behalf. “Switch up!” he barked at the boys. “Now!”
Great. His enemies weren’t afraid of him, but innocent children were. Venture stripped off the rest of his street clothes and stuffed them in his bag. He’d grab Earnest, find out where Dasher was, and they’d shut themselves into an empty training room where he could work in peace. But Earnest and Chance seemed to be the only ones who hadn’t noticed his entrance. They were too busy bickering.
Venture worked his way toward them, along the edge of the mat. Beamer met him halfway down. Venture shook his hand. To his surprise, Beamer pulled him into a half-way hug.
“Good to have you back.”
Venture just nodded. He wasn’t so sure it was good to be back yet.
“They’ll get used to it.” Beamer nodded at the boys. “So will you.”
Used to being somebody else. Somebody he’d never wanted to be. “I’ll do what I have to do.” He sure as blazes wasn’t going to let the Cresteds win.
Beamer clapped him on the back and turned his attention to the boys.
Venture’s eyes flicked to Chance, who was scowling at Earnest. At least Chance didn’t look at him differently.
As Venture neared his friends, Earnest made a sarcastic remark and Chance came back with a flurry of strikes, a few of which were well-enough delivered to make the trainer wince. Chance threw in an uppercut, catching Earnest off guard and making him clench his gut.
Earnest whopped the kid on the back of the head with the pad in his hand. “Hey! That was dirty.”
Just as Earnest lunged at Chance again, Venture grabbed him from behind, taking him down to the mat. Earnest took a swing at Venture before he realized who he was. Venture dodged it, escaping a bloody nose, but Earnest’s knuckles grazed Venture’s ear instead, bringing back a heat and pain he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Vent!”
Venture rubbed his swelling ear and grinned. He shoved Earnest back as he rose. “Time to pick on somebody your own size.”
Earnest laughed. “I could say the same to you.”
“Well, there’s always Dasher. Where is he?”
Earnest nodded toward the hallway. “Next door with the bigger boys.”
“Helping out my future competition, huh?”
“More like putting the fear into them for you. Those poor kids.”
“Guess I should go rescue them. Put Dasher’s skills to a more productive use.”
“You training again?” Chance’s eyes were big and full of hope. “Let’s go.”
Venture frowned. Had he been the reason Chance had always resisted learning to fight before? Because he thought he should be there for Venture, earning his keep every moment?
“I’ll go get Dasher. You guys can stay here and finish up this session,” Venture said. “You’re looking good, Chance.”
Chance lowered his eyes. “I not that good. Just something to do. I come with you now.”
Venture started to shake his head no, but Chance said, “He’s no fun,” and scowled at Earnest. “Besides, I come help you.” Chance’s look turned sharp. “You want me learn to fight, I do that later. Now, you need me in there.”
Venture had told Chance that once, hadn’t he? When he’d done too much, trying to recover from his injuries after the Championship. Venture fought back a smile. He gave Chance’s shoulder a squeeze. “You’re right. Somebody’s got to keep me in line.”
Chapter Sixteen
Jade whispered to Sunrise as she closed his stall door. She heard Venture’s boot steps, softened by the straw, but she pretended not to notice, pretended her heart hadn’t just fluttered in her chest, making her feel like a little fool of a girl, just knowing he was so near. She plopped Sunrise’s brush into the bucket with the other grooming tools and considered her options. Demand to know where the blazes he’d been? Invite him to dinner? Send him home?
“Hey,” he said.
Jade meant to just give him a little glance over her shoulder. Meant to make it clear she didn’t care, that she wasn’t relieved to see him or angry enough to make the effort to ignore him.
But he looked so much like the old Venture. The Venture who’d always loved her, no matter what.
“Vent.” She turned to him. “What happened?”
“Nothing happened.”
Oh. I see. You just forgot about me.
His powerful arms slipped around her, and she couldn’t help relaxing into them. Couldn’t help feeling like she’d do anything to stay right there in his embrace.
He kissed her cheek tentatively. He felt stiff, nervous. Something was going on. But who knew what went on in Venture’s head now, after everything?
“I guess I’m late,” he said.
“I guess I forgive you.” She turned around in his arms, wanting to look into his eyes, to know him again.
His clothes were clean and he smelled like soap, but fresh beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and his neck. He hadn’t jogged up the hill; his breathing was too even. No, he was sweating because he was still warm from a workout.
Jade wiped the sweat running along his jawline with her fingertip. The heat and the color in his cheeks could be explained by exercise, drills, but . . . her finger stopped at a red, tender spot just above his chin. His ear was bright red too, enflamed again. He pulled back and brought his own hand up to wipe his face, and that’s when she saw the blood seeping through his sleeve. Just a little bit, right at his elbow. Probably a mat burn he hadn’t even noticed.
He’d been grappling. She felt a strange thrill of fear, of hope, of heightened passion for him all at once. She’d loved him as a scrappy little boy, and she would love him as a man, whether or not he ever fought again, but she’d fallen hard for Venture Delving the fighter.
“You’re fighting again.” In spite of her effort to sound casual, her voice was tight with emotion.
He dropped his hand and his eyes blazed, ready to be defiant.
“That’s good, Vent.”
“It felt good,” he admitted.
“So you ditched me for Beamer’s?”
“I had to know.”
“I understand.” She laced her fingers through his. “Just beating up on little boys for now, I hope?”
He shrugged.
“Hmm,” she said. Time to have a talk with Dasher. If he hurt Venture just when he was getting started . . .
“Looks like I’m too late to go riding. How about a walk?”
“To the creek?”
“Sure.”
They crossed the fields and headed for the trees near the creek. It was bubbling, calling to them, as it had since they were children.
His strides were long beside hers. He used to forget that all the time, and turn around, surprised that she was lagging behind. She quickened her pace and glanced at him with a smile. He really was looking strong. She had let her worry for him show too much over the last couple of months.
“I’m glad you’re back on the mat, Vent. When you’re ready, I want you to show them they didn’t win, that they can’t keep you from doing what you always wanted.”
His eyes shifted away from hers, and she felt that strange distance growing between them again. “If you don’t want it anymore, Vent, it’s okay. And you don’t have to decide now either. I—”
“I want it. I’m going to compete again, and I’m going to be Champion of All Richland again, and I’m really going to tick them off, every chance I get. I just . . .”
Jade waited for him to finish, but no more words came. It didn’t matter. She shouldn’t push him.
But the silence stretched on and on, and his hand felt limp in hers. She gave it a squeeze, but he didn’t respond, just stared off into the distance.
“Vent?”
“Huh?”
He snapped out of it, and his eyes lost their dazed look as they locked with hers. That old smile crept over his mouth, turning the corner up. He pulled her in and kissed her. But in the middle of the kiss, something changed. She knew he was going to pull back even before he did.
Guilty? Why did he look guilty?
“Nobody’s going to catch us and give you a thrashing anymore.” She gave him a teasing poke, trying to laugh it off. But his smile was forced.
“It’s not that.”
No, no it wasn’t. It was worse, she could tell. It was written all over his face—the anger at himself. The knowledge that he had to say something, and the fear of saying it. The pity for her.
“What, then?” Or maybe she should say, Who, then? She shook her head at herself. Venture wouldn’t betray her like that—but did he want to?
He didn’t want her anymore. Everything in his expression, in his body language said so. All this time, she’d waited. And now that much was clear. Venture couldn’t stand to break her heart. He wouldn’t say it. She was going to have to make him tell her.
“You’re not going to do it.” Her words came out flat. Flat like the calm she was trying to lay over the chasm opening up inside her.
“Do what?”
“Ask for my hand.”
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. No reassurance, no argument even.
“Oh my God.” The tears were coming, a flood of them. She turned to run before he could see.
“Jadie!” he grabbed her elbow and she squeezed her eyes shut, letting only a trickle escape. He patted her arm, like she was Tory, with a skinned knee. A girl he had to take care of, not the woman he loved. “Just wait. Just—everything’s going to be okay.”
Not, Just give me some time. I’m not ready. That, she could handle. She wouldn’t be happy about it, but she’d understand.
“I’ll make it okay.”
By marrying her, even though he didn’t love her anymore? Because he couldn’t stand to make her cry? No, because he knew he’d ruined her chances, and because Venture Delving always wanted to do the right thing. The right thing! She wanted to wallop him. But she’d given in to that impulse before. Venture would just stand there and take it like a man, infuriating her even more.
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