by Sylvia Nobel
“Pretty industrious fellow,” Walter commented dryly. “He was making money all over the place. But how did he know about this woman’s prison record?”
“He’s Johnny Ray Barker’s step-brother. He told the deputies that Barker suspected she’d hidden the money someplace before her arrest and planned to get it when she was released from prison. Froggy followed her out here and threatened to divulge her new identity if she didn’t pay up. When she wasn’t around he turned the place upside down hunting for the money she’d supposedly skimmed from the nursing home scam.”
Walter cut in to say his wife was waiting to pick him up, congratulated me on the story and thanked me for clearing Bob Shirley’s name before hanging up. I wondered how much relief Lavelle would actually feel, knowing that her cousin had been murdered instead of committing suicide. Either way, it was a tragic ending and a lot of issues were left on the table, unresolved. In fact, there’d been a lot of unhappy endings to this sordid story and I wasn’t feeling too great about the results of my ability as a reporter at that moment. When I voiced my thoughts to Tugg, he remarked, “Well, I gotta say, that was one hell of a way to spend your vacation.”
“It hardly classifies as one,” I groused, “and look at the trail of debris left in my wake. Because of me, an innocent man died, I was too late to help Lupe, Javier is now at a shelter in Nogales, Sonora, and Sister Goldenrod hates my guts.” I lowered my voice, adding, “I’m sure not winning any prizes for popularity with the Beaumonts for fingering Jason, I lost my car and all my stuff…but I think what’s bothering me the most is that on top of all that I put Tally’s life at risk pretty much for nothing. There’s no real resolution to this border problem, so what did I really accomplish? Yeah, it’s been great fun.”
“Hey, whoa, whoa, time out. You’re being way too hard on yourself. Because of your efforts, you’ve saved those people’s lives, not to mention all the future atrocities you’ve stopped by exposing this maniac. Christ Almighty, I still can’t believe he was carving these people up while they were still alive! Give yourself a pat on the back, kiddo. You deserve some accolades for your effort.”
“Well, thanks.”
“Quit beating yourself up. You did your best. Granted your tactics are a little dramatic,” he tacked on with a chuckle.
“You think so?”
Tugg’s hearty laugh echoed in my ear. “Here’s a thought. Why don’t you try just reporting the next story for a change instead of becoming part of it?”
“You sound just like Tally,” I answered wryly. “He swears I’m an adrenaline junkie. Maybe I am.”
“Seriously, Kendall, you’re a damn fine journalist. Most reporters work their entire careers and never come across anything even close to what you’ve just uncovered, including yours truly. Hells bells, inside of six months you’ve scooped three of the biggest, weirdest stories I’ve ever heard of in my life. Now listen, I know how stubborn you are and you’re probably not gonna want to hear this, but take a little advice from an old newshound and slow down for awhile. Have a little fun, for chrissake, or you’re gonna end up with a big fat ulcer like me.”
At that moment, the door behind me opened, and Tally walked in looking wind-blown, sunburned and exhausted. I waved, smiled, and said softly to Tugg, “You know something, this time I think I’ll take your advice.”
29
It was late Saturday afternoon before Tally finished loading all of his belongings into the pickup. While he stood on the porch saying his final goodbyes to the Beaumonts, I sat in the cab of his truck watching dark gray storm clouds gather over the crown of Baboquivari Peak, thinking that nothing would ever be the same at the Sundog. I felt especially sorry for Brett, who would one day understand the magnitude of what his father had done.
It had been a difficult weekend with Champ coming home, pale and sunken-cheeked, to find the ranch swarming with reporters, sheriff’s detectives and federal agents. He’d been cordial to me, as was Twyla, but it was hard to dismiss the fact that I’d been responsible for their son’s arrest. And, it was obvious by the stricken look of realization on Bethany’s face when she’d witnessed Tally and me coming down the stairs together each morning arm in arm, that any further pursuit of him would be a waste of time.
I think the only person sorry to see me leave was Lin Su. I’d actually caught a glimpse of emotion in the stoic little woman’s piercing black eyes after I’d given her a spontaneous hug and expressed my gratitude for all she’d done for me. Afterwards, she’d bowed her head and, in a halting voice, confirmed my suspicions that Bethany may have slipped something into my tea the night Cecil had wound up in my bed. “I find in her room,” she admitted, extending a handful of colorful pills. “Maybe Missy Bethany give them by accident?” I’m sure she didn’t believe that any more than I did, but I appreciated her sense of loyalty to the Beaumont family. I thanked her again for her honesty before she quickly left the room. It disturbed me greatly to know that Bethany had been willing to take such extreme measures to insinuate herself into Tally’s life.
Earlier that day, Dean Pierce had arrived in his truck with Marmalade. As I hugged the kitten close to me and thanked him for his kindness, I couldn’t suppress the nagging guilt that I’d entertained for one second the idea that this compassionate man could have played any role whatsoever in Payton’s diabolical scheme. At my request, he’d been caring for Attila until I could figure out how to honor Russell Greene’s last request. To my great surprise, Tally had agreed to take him home to the Starfire.
As if he’d known I was thinking about him, the big dog’s throaty bark alerted me to Tally’s approach. “Ready to go?” he asked, climbing into the seat beside me.
I beamed him a relieved smile. “More than ready.”
With Marmalade curled warmly on my lap and Attila inside a carrier in the bed of the truck, we rolled down the Sundog road. When we reached the pavement and headed north, I took a last look back towards the forbidding rock towers of Wolf’s Head, once again thanking my lucky stars that we’d both come out of the ordeal in one piece. We rode in silence for a while and I shot a glance at Tally’s profile. We’d been so busy during the past three days and so dog-tired each night, there hadn’t yet been a good opportunity to totally clear the air between us even though I thought I’d used all the words in the English language to tell him how sorry I was for the way things had turned out. He’d rejected my suggestion that we spend the remaining days of our time off in California, deciding instead to head back to Castle Valley. The knowledge that he’d never once mentioned the engagement ring weighed heavily on my heart and left me feeling unsure about the future of our relationship. Busily chewing gum, his eyes glued to the road ahead, he said nothing as the miles whipped past. Unable to bear the silence any longer, I burst out, “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s get the list of I told you so’s out of the way. I’m ready to accept my punishment so we can enjoy the rest of the trip home.”
Tally narrowed his eyes at me before tapping his watch. “There isn’t enough time to accomplish that between here and Castle Valley.” If I hadn’t been looking at him I would have missed the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“Your point is well taken,” I answered humbly. “But, in my defense, this whole thing started out as a simple missing persons situation. How could I have known it would turn out like this?”
“You couldn’t, Kendall, and I know better than to think you’re ever going to change your ways but….”
“Oh, but I am,” I interrupted. “Tugg’s already read me the riot act, Ginger too for that matter, so, believe me, I’ve got the message loud and clear. For the time being, I’ve decided to turn over these types of assignments to Walter or Jim. You can chain me to the desk in the office if that will help convince you.”
He arched a skeptical brow. “Really?”
“Really.”
He shook his head. “You’re misunderstanding me, as usual. I’m not looking to have you alter your pe
rsonality to please me. Then…you wouldn’t be you. I mean…” he paused, apparently searching for the right words before adding, “I love your passionate nature, your bulldog determination to see things through, and I know your heart’s always in the right place, but for Christ’s sake, couldn’t you maybe take just a little less risk next time? Call the sheriff before your life is on the line instead of after the fact? I don’t want to lose you, especially now that we have a family.” He edged me that lopsided grin that always lightened my heart and thumbed behind him to Attila, before reaching over to pet Marmalade.
I smiled back. “Cowboy, you’ve got a deal. And I promise I’ll take that firearms safety course now.”
He flicked me a look of amusement. “After seeing the results of the way you clobbered Payton with that piece of rebar, I’m not sure you need it.”
We both laughed for the first time in days. I scooted closer to him and leaned my head on his shoulder, enjoying the peaceful warmth rushing through my veins, knowing in my heart that things were going to be all right.
We were only about a half an hour from Castle Valley and the sun had just ducked behind the bank of dark clouds when Tally suddenly announced, “What do you say we pull over here and let Attila out for a few minutes?”
“You don’t think he can wait?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, sure.”
He pulled the truck to the side of the road and while he was attaching the dog’s leash, I laid Marmalade tenderly on the seat. When she looked up at me with adoration beaming from her bright turquoise-green eyes, I couldn’t help remembering Payton’s assertion that animals love unconditionally. Maybe I could learn something from that.
After a short hike, we reached the top of a nearby bluff and turned back to the western horizon. The splendor of the sun’s brilliant scarlet rays shooting skyward from behind the mound of gold-rimmed clouds took my breath away. It seemed like a good omen. “Wow,” I marveled, “have you ever seen anything more beautiful in your whole life?”
He turned to me with the sunset’s bright light reflecting in his solemn gaze. “Yep, I have, and by the way,” he said, tenderly brushing a strand of hair from my face, “my ears work fine.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t completely out when you were talking to me inside that cave. I heard every single word you said.” When his arms closed around me, I melted into his embrace, returning his fervent kiss with one of my own until I thought I’d burst with sheer joy.
When he gently disengaged his hold on me and reached inside his coat pocket, my breath caught as he pulled out a small velvet box. Electrified, I braced for his words, but all at once, he seemed ill at ease. Clearing his throat, he shifted his stance uneasily. “Kendall, um…I think you know how I feel, and I know we’ve still got a whole lot of things to work out but…well, what I’m trying to say….”
I don’t know what came over me, but before I could stop myself, the words poured from my heart. “Bradley James Talverson, will you please marry me?”
After his initial start of surprise, his eyes softened as he slipped the diamond on my trembling finger. “Miss O’Dell, I thought you’d never ask.”
SYLVIA NOBEL CURRENTLY RESIDES IN
PHOENIX, ARIZONA WITH HER HUSBAND
AND SIX CATS. SHE IS A MEMBER OF
MYSTERY WRITER