As they rode along at a slower pace than they had been, the sorrow in her heart bled tears that wouldn't stop. They trickled silently down, slowly dampening the entire front of her blouse. She would never see Thorn again. She would never see Boxcar or any of her family again, nor Tilly or any of her friends. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of openly sobbing, her anguish silent in the darkness. Only her shoulders shaking gave her away. She wondered how he would do it. Would he shoot her? Slit her throat? Or would he just silently break her neck when she least expected it. Whatever he had planned, she wouldn't go willingly, he would have to take her life from her.
She lost all track of time as they moved through the velvety blackness of the night. She didn't sleep, the ride just seemed to go on and on across the rim of the midnight sky, never ending, never changing. It was almost as if she was one with her captor as they moved together, their bodies close against one another. She wondered if she was losing her mind—maybe that would be a blessing.
She had no idea how long they had been traveling when she sensed a change in their pace and in the movement of his body. Apprehension grew within her until her body was extremely tense, her nerves on the very edge.
There was still no evidence of the sunrise when he finally stopped.
"Is this it?" she croaked, her back ramrod stiff. "Is this where you kill me? Can't you at least wait to see if the ruby is in the statue?" Unable to help herself, she reached for the butt of the rifle hoping to distract him, while knowing all the while it was a hopeless cause. Joseph Morgan was too strong for her and too deadly. He was for almost any man, let alone a woman.
"I don't need to wait," he said softly behind her, his warm breath ghosting in her ear, his hand stilling hers on the rifle butt. "I know if it's at all possible, your man will have it there."
"And if it's not?" The question hung in the air. She knew the answer to it, even as it left her trembling lips.
"Do you love this Thorn?"
What an odd question, she thought distractedly.
"Of course, I love him." Her voice was fervent, filled with longing.
"Then why don't you marry him, instead of letting him treat you like a whore?"
It was a fair question, she supposed, caught off guard by the incongruity of it, under the circumstances. "I-I can't have children and so we aren't ready to get married yet," she replied slowly. "One day, when Thorn is through protecting Arizona, then we will get married and hopefully adopt some needy children. At least, that was our dream," she finished bitterly.
He was silent for a moment. "You are a good woman, Clary Worthington. Your man is waiting for you, I can feel him, just like the prey feels the predator. He is hunting me now."
Clary's heart beat faster. Thorn was near?
"Just below the ridge, you will be able to see the mission as the sun comes up. Look." He turned her head towards the horizon. "It's already peeking up behind us, sending its light towards that ridge." He lifted her suddenly and set her feet on the ground. "Go, little girl, go to your man. The sun is lighting your feet, run with it."
Clary looked down and saw that he was right; the sun was peeking behind him, slowly creeping into their path. Expecting a bullet in her back, she turned quickly to see him whirling the black beast around. Her heart jumped into her throat, her pulse hammering as she realized he wasn't trying to kill her from behind. He really was releasing her! The relief that swept her body like a tsunami gave her heart the impetus to find a small rush of forgiveness."Wait—what about you, Joseph? They'll come after you, you know."
He looked over his shoulder with a slight smile. "They will come after me, but they won't find me. I am in God's hands now, and it is up to him what my punishment will be for taking innocent life. Goodbye, Clary Worthington." And then he was gone, his lone figure engulfed in the morning sun as it rose higher.
And just like that, Clary was free!
With a heartfelt sob, she turned and ran with the sun, its spreading glow finally lighting the edge of the rim and spilling below. Beneath her, she began to see the rocky slope, and she leaped over the edge, slipping and sliding in the dust and rocks, breaking her speed by grabbing at the scraggly bushes. "Thorn!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Thorn!"
Dust rose up her nose as she slid, trying to keep up with the sun, but it was already unfolding across the desert floor, lighting everything in its path on its way to the mission. And suddenly, Thorn was there, pulling her into his arms and behind a boulder to safety. His questions tumbled out as he held her close against the rock to shield and protect her with his own body. "Clary, my God, Clary, where did you come from? Did you get away? Where is he? Thank God, you're safe!"
Clary was laughing and crying at the same time. "He let me go, Thorn, he couldn't kill me. He's gone, and he won't be back. It's over, Thorn, it's over!" She grabbed his head and kissed him hungrily on the lips, elated to be alive and in his arms.
"Stay still," he commanded, forcing his lips from hers for a moment. He stepped out cautiously to raise his pistol and fired two shots into the air, the signal they had all decided on to proceed with caution to the shooter. Then he took her in his arms again.
Boxcar was the first to arrive at the foot of the incline, and he whooped with joy when he spotted Clary. Nelson was right behind him.
"Check the ridge," ordered Thorn, waving his gun above him. "Clary says he's gone, but we need to make sure."
Boxcar flew up the incline and picked up Clary to whirl her around in joy. Nelson led the others up the slope and peeked over it before climbing on up. Cautiously, they checked the area and found nothing, except where Morgan had dropped Clary from the horse. The man was gone.
At the bottom of the ridge, they met Father Vincent, and Boxcar handed him the ruby. "Get that thing under lock and key, where it'll be safe until Mary can claim it," he ordered. "Whatever you do, don't put it back in the statue." He scurried away to do as directed.
Sheriff Prescott was taking volunteers for a manhunt, when Clary touched his arm. "You won't find him, you know," she said softly.
His dark eyes held hers. "It's my duty to try," he said evenly. "And with Thorn and your brother, Boxcar, tracking him, I reckon we might have a chance."
"You can count me out, Sheriff," said Thorn firmly. "Unless the governor changes my orders, I'm the acting Sheriff of Potluck and Boxcar is my deputy. We've tracked the man as far as we're going to. He's out of our jurisdiction, for now. But thanks for your help," he added, reaching out to shake hands.
"Let me know when you're free again," replied the sheriff smoothly. "If we haven't found him, maybe it'll be your turn to lend a hand." His dark eyes twinkled as he looked down at Clary.
She just smiled and refused to say a word, but she hoped Thorn wouldn't be going after Joseph Morgan. The man was dangerous, and although Thorn was, too, she didn't want to guess at the outcome.
Back at Father Vincent's office, they all listened to Clary's story. She related everything that happened, and Father Vincent shook his head with regret. "A young man ruined over this stone," he said sadly. "Joseph was a good man, I had no idea he harbored such a destructive secret."
Nelson nodded vigorously. "Too many people have died for that ruby. I still say it's cursed."
"It's not cursed, Nelson," stated Clary. "The stone is beautiful; it's the people around it who are corrupt. Father Benedict should have just gifted the stone to the church immediately, instead of putting it in that statue. Instead, he wanted to possess it, admire it, and receive adulation for his gift. His greed damaged young Joseph's life and ruined Anna's life as well. I pray that it doesn't ruin Mary's."
Father Vincent cleared his throat. "Yes, about that. I believe the papers found on the substitute Anna's body are authentic. Apparently, Father Benedict was aware that she had conceived and had promised her child the stone. And we have it on record that he intended to leave the church and marry Anna. He had already turned in his notice, the same day as the Indian attack. Alas,
both of them died that day, and the stone disappeared."
"So why didn't she just come forward and claim the ruby on behalf of her unborn child?" queried Nelson.
"Because she didn't know he was going to marry her, at the time. Apparently, he didn't have time to tell her before the attack. It was a soul searching dilemma for Tobias, and he needed to make peace with God first. She had no proof the child was his except the note, and I'm guessing she was afraid it wouldn't be enough. Perhaps, she decided to wait until the child became of age and thereby save money back for a lawyer to challenge the church."
"Yes, I can see that," responded Clary slowly. "A young unwed mother would not have had a chance, especially with no money, the disgrace of the church behind her and an uncertain future. What a dilemma for her. I wonder if she was the angel Joseph saw that day." Father Vincent nodded. "I'm sure she was. And perhaps your quick thinking on that subject is what turned him around."
Nelson sighed. "I guess they'll never catch him now. I still don't know why he killed my father, he didn't have any clues to the mystery at that time."
Father Vincent looked surprised. "Why, Nelson, Joseph couldn't have killed your father, why ever would you say that?"
"I was in El Paso with my father on that trip and Joseph was with us. He had a small window of opportunity," Nelson insisted.
Father Vincent shook his head. "No, I don't believe that. Joseph had a great respect for your father, and they worked well together. I don't believe he killed him, not for one minute. And you shouldn't, either."
"You sure about that?" asked Nelson doubtfully.
"Absolutely."
"Even if he didn't kill Nelson's father, I believe he did kill your investigator, Albert Harrison, Frank Ventermin, Mace Jessup and Jesse Springer," retorted Thorn. "And who knows how many others who got in his way."
Father Vincent stared baldly at Thorn as he took off his spectacles for cleaning. "With the exception of Nelson's father, the other three investigators who were killed, including Albert Harrison, were less than savory characters to start with. They all demanded a high price and proceeds from the sale of the ruby had they found it. I believe they would have absconded with it, and I really don't know why the Diocese hired them in the first place."
"And what about Ventermin, Jessup and Springer?" drawled Thorn, slightly amused.
Father Vincent popped his spectacles back on with a reprimanding look. "As I said, less than savory characters to begin with."
Boxcar chimed in with a grin. "What I believe the good Father is trying to say here, Thorn, is that perhaps Joseph Morgan was on a righteous mission and, therefore, not to be held accountable for questionable sins against questionable characters."
Father Vincent's round face suddenly beamed. "I can see you are a man of high intelligence, Mr. Worthington, thank you for putting it so aptly."
"Now, wait a minute," protested Thorn with a frown. "Questionable character or not, people have died, and their killer needs to be brought to justice. That's the law, and no one is above it, not even those on a so called righteous mission."
Father Vincent bristled then, breathing in to bring his rotund figure up as tall as he could make it. "Mr. Thorn, there is absolutely no evidence against Joseph to suggest any such thing and I, for one, refuse to believe it. If you wish to go chasing off after him, feel free. But until you have hard evidence that Joseph actually murdered anyone, he will always be welcome here!" With that, he turned and put the ruby in the wall safe behind him and locked it. Jamming the key in his pocket, he turned back to them. "Once Mary's lawyer contacts the diocese in Santa Fe, I'm sure he will be able to auction the ruby for her or whatever she wishes to do with it. Now, I bid you all good day. We'll be sorry to lose it, but it was Tobias's wish." He turned and left the room.
Boxcar clapped his hands together and chuckled. "And that, as they say, is that. Come on, let's go home."
Chapter Seventeen
On the way out the door, Nelson handed Boxcar back his drawing. "Guess I won't need this."
"I'll take that," said Thorn, grabbing hold of it. "I still say the man's guilty until a jury of his peers judges him innocent, and that drawing is proof of opportunity."
"Uh...I believe you got that backwards, old buddy," pointed out Boxcar with a grin.
"He's guilty of kidnapping Clary, and she's not a less than savory character. Kidnapping a woman is against the law. I still say he's guilty on all counts."
"But it doesn't work that way."
"Shut up, Boxcar. I know how the law works, I just don't care how it works, and the man is guilty."
"You could put up a wanted poster for kidnapping," suggested Nelson as they swung up on their mounts. The mission had loaned Clary a horse, which Nelson would pick up, on his way back from El Paso.
"Good thing you don't make the law," argued Boxcar. "Or we'd all be in trouble."
"Mind your own business."
Nelson glanced at Clary with an amused smile. "Do they always carry on like this?"
"Pretty much," she replied, her eyes twinkling. She turned to Thorn. "What if I don't want to press charges?"
"Then I'll just spank you until you agree," he replied silkily, his eyes devouring her.
Clary laughed aloud with joy. "That's your answer to everything, Paddington Jersey Thorn. It's just a good thing I love you, stubborn man!" She kicked her horse into a run, wanting the feel of the wind of freedom against her face. "Last one home is a loser," she shouted over her shoulder.
Thorn gave chase, leaving Boxcar and Nelson in the dust.
Boxcar shook his head ruefully. "Those two. Good thing Thorn knows how to get home, because Clary is headed in the wrong direction."
Nelson laughed. "Enjoy the moment, Boxcar, that's what Clary is doing. Life can be fleeting and, sometimes, we realize just how lucky we are to have another day to embrace it."
He was right, thought Boxcar. Life was fleeting. It could have been Tilly, kidnapped by some maniac. The thought weighed heavy on his mind as the men made their way towards the warm mineral pool at Cactus Junction. They had already arranged to meet up there. He and Nelson would hold back some and let Clary and Thorn have some time together before they camped for the night.
They could have made it back to Potluck before dark, but Thorn wanted to take his time. Clary had been taken on a nightmarish ride, and she was exhausted and sore. They would camp there and enjoy the beauty of the warm spring and the desert at night. The desert was a wild and untamed place, but it could be wondrous, too. Little nooks and crannies of beauty existed everywhere, if you were willing to look for them. Thorn wanted to show some of it to Clary. Life wasn't always about looking death in the face, and he wanted to help erase some of that from her mind.
"So tell me, Boxcar," drawled Nelson offhandedly. "You and Tilly have anything serious going?" When Boxcar shot him a dark and dangerous look, he held up both hands to ward him off. "Okay—I guess you do. Sorry, I won't poach." Then he dared to taunt the devil once again. "I just didn't know if she was flirting with me to make you jealous or if she meant it."
"Shut up, Nelson."
Nelson laughed delightedly. The good-humored Boxcar had a woman problem, and it was plain to see she was driving him crazy.
It was several hours later, when Thorn and Clary left the trail and made their way to the surprise Thorn wanted her to see. He was as cautious as ever, checking for new tracks and surveying the rocky hillsides as they left the desert sands. Soon, they were picking their way down a slope that curled around and down to a gorge. There was sagebrush along the narrow trail that finally opened into a small clearing. Tall canyon walls on all sides meant the only way in was the path they had just come in on. Clary clapped her hands in delight. You would never know this place was here if you didn't know the area really well. "It's beautiful, Thorn," she exclaimed, her eyes shining.
He grinned at her. "You haven't seen the best part yet." There was even some green grass growing along the stream that meander
ed through the canyon, and he hobbled the horses there to eat.
"Where are we?" asked Clary. "Are we still in Arizona?"
Her question made him chuckle. "We are in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains. Arizona has a lot of hidden gems." He took her hand and pulled her towards what looked like a cave entrance. "Stoop down now," he cautioned as they made their way inside.
Clary winced as she bent low to follow Thorn. She was very sore from all the riding and her backside still complained about Joseph's spanking. She was sure he had left a few bruises. Her wild ride had been exhilarating, though, and she had thoroughly enjoyed it. Especially once Thorn got her turned and headed in the right direction. The wind against her face had cooled her, and she had enjoyed her freedom and just being alive. They had even snuggled on one horse for a while, just savoring being close together again.
Suddenly, the path opened and she could stand. Thorn brought her around beside him, and she gasped in pleasure at the sight before her. They were in a cave, but it had openings in the rocks at the top that let in air and sunlight. When the sun's rays hit rocks in the walls and along the ground, they sparkled like diamonds. "What is that?" she asked in wonder.
"It's crystal quartz," he replied, his eyes caressing her face. He pointed to several small pools in the big room. "And those are hot mineral springs." He led her around another large boulder, and a big pool opened up, the steam vapor floating above the clear water.
Clary ran to the side of the pool and looked down. "It's crystal clear," she cried in delight. "How deep is it?"
"About waist high, at its deepest point," he assured her. "See the rocky ledges in there, they make perfect seats." He leaned down and kissed her then, his fingers making short work of the buttons on her blouse. He peeled it off her slender shoulders, kissing the soft skin as he went.
The Heart of Mary: A Thorn Novel Page 20