A smile crossed Kerney's face as he thought about Erma's fairy-godmother bequest that had made his gift to Clayton's children possible. "It's part of a legacy from an old friend," he said, "and I'm just passing some of it along. I'm sure she would approve."
***
Sara asked for food and a drink when she got off the plane, preferably enchiladas with lots of green chile, and a margarita. Kerney took her to an Albuquerque Old Town restaurant where the drinks were generous and the chile was hot. They got there just before the kitchen closed and sat at a window booth in the nearly empty bar, which was decorated with Mexican masks, Day of the Dead folk art figures, and bullfighting posters.
As they waited for dinner, Sara nibbled chips dipped in salsa and worked on her drink while Kerney told her about his visit to Clayton.
"Do you think he'll ever be able to emotionally accept you as his father?" Sara asked.
"It's hard to say. With time, we may be able to become casual friends. I doubt it will go much deeper than that."
"You did a very nice thing for his children."
"Compliments of Erma," Kerney said, raising his wineglass.
Sara touched her glass to his. "I'm sure she's pleased. "Now that you're a rich man, what are you going to do with the rest of your money?"
"It's our money," Kerney said, "and I'm hoping you'll get the army to send you to law school, so we can actually live together for a while."
Sara made a face and shook her head. "Law school at the army's expense isn't going to happen. I should have looked into the opportunity years ago. Selection into the program is limited to captains and lieutenants."
"Can an exception be made?"
"The eligibility requirements can't be waived," Sara said.
Disappointment showed on Kerney's face. She reached across the table and stroked his hand. "We'll figure something else out. Maybe I can get posted back to New Mexico after I finish up at Fort Leavenworth."
"What are the chances of that happening?"
"I can ask, and politick for it a bit, but I'll have to go where the army wants to send me."
"Would you mind if Santa Fe remains our home base for a while?" Kerney asked.
"I thought you wanted to get out of Santa Fe."
"The police chief is leaving at the end of the year and the city manager has offered me the position."
"Then Santa Fe it is," Sara said. "You are going to take the job, aren't you?"
Kerney nodded. "It's what I've always wanted."
"So, will we buy or build?"
"Build. On enough land to do something with, like keep a few horses or maybe run a few cows to keep the taxes down."
"Away from the sprawl, I hope."
"Definitely. I'm thinking a hundred acres or a quarter section in the Galisteo Basin would do. The land is pricey, but we can afford it."
"I don't want a trophy home, Kerney."
Kerney laughed. "Will a ranch house serve?"
"Perfect," Sara said, her eyes dancing. "We can work on the plans together. It has to have a nursery and be ready by next summer."
"Are you serious?"
"I am both serious and pregnant."
A waiter pushed through the swinging doors from the kitchen, dinner plates in hand, and paused halfway across the barroom until the couple at the window booth stopped kissing.
The Judas Judge Page 26