The Lawman's Apache Moon (Texas Lawmen Book 2)

by Debra Holt

  Chapter Nine

  The lunch table was laden with so much food… in fact, too much. Aunt Victoria had put together a banquet of roast, potatoes, carrots, three kinds of salads, hot rolls plus there were fresh baked apple and cherry pies cooling in the kitchen for dessert. She was amazed at the woman’s cooking skills. Perhaps she taught Jace his way around the kitchen. At any rate, she envied the woman her ability to produce such a delicious meal for her family.

  The talk was lively around the table. There was a good dose of healthy kidding between brother and sister, with Glenn serving as referee on occasion. Uncle Tomas kept the young boys in laughter with his tales of his latest attempt to catch the largest trout in the nearby lake. Evidently, he had been on this journey to outwit this particular fish for almost a decade now. So far, the trout was winning the battle.

  Emilio was five and his brother Jacob was seven. Both had beautiful dark eyes with long lashes, just like Jace, except his eyes were silver gray. A thought flashed through Angie’s mind that a child of Jace’s might look just like one of these boys. She quickly brushed it aside. That stirred longings inside her that were best ignored.

  Angie took a sip of her tea and gave a covert glance at Aunt Victoria. She sat quietly in her chair at the opposite end of the table. She made comments here and there but was silent for the most part. Her eyes spoke volumes. She gazed upon the members of her family seated around the table with such warmth and happiness in her whole being that Angie felt a heavy tug at her heart. The woman took great joy from simply being in the presence of her loved ones.

  Angie’s gaze silently fell across the others. So, this is what a family meal is really like. They really did exist and not just on television at holiday time. This would be one of the memories she would want to keep with her when she returned to New York. The thought was a sad one, but she was pleased she had come and experienced it all.

  She looked up at that moment and found Jace’s gaze on her. His eyes were thoughtful and mostly unreadable. He smiled at her then and she automatically returned it with one of her own. Instead of being sad about what she would be leaving, she needed to gather as many memories as possible to take with her. That was her new plan to get through the next few weeks. Memory books were a survival tool she had learned long ago.

  “Jason tells us that your family is gone,” Aunt Victoria spoke, her eyes sympathetic, but not inquisitive.

  Panic began to rise inside her at the woman’s comment. The others around the table were giving her their attention also. Think fast.

  “Yes,” Angie began with her practiced casual smile. “I do want to thank you for inviting me to be part of such a lovely family day. The food is delicious.” She skated the subject without really referring to it. Deflect was an art she had mastered.

  Jace sat and watched. Angie could not bring herself to look over at him.

  “There are no thanks needed, my dear. You’re part of our family now.”

  Tears were very close to being spilled on the fine linen cloth. Angie didn’t know if she could stop them once they fell. She kept her eyes on her plate.

  “Did I see apple pie in the kitchen?” Bless Uncle Tomas, who had watched silent from the end of the table. Jace was not the only one intuitive in the family. The boys piped up then with their requests for pie and the moment passed.

  An hour later, the table had been cleared, and the last dishes were placed in the dishwasher. Surely, now, Angie thought, they would all find some comfy couches to sink into and allow their full stomachs and heavy eyelids to have their rest. But she thought wrong. Two small boys ran back into the room.

  “Uncle Jace said you’re on our dad’s team. You need to hurry.” They were gone as quickly as they had come.

  Angie looked over at their mother for an explanation. She laughed at Angie’s surprised look.

  “It’s time for another family tradition… the backyard football game where our men get to relive their glory days from the gridiron. Unfortunately, we all must play to have enough to make it interesting. How are you at tackling?”

  Angie had a fleeting thought that the woman had to be kidding. As she followed them outside, she soon found it was no joke. Marita came up beside her with a pair of blue sneakers in her hand and white anklets.

  “I think you and I are about the same shoe size. You need these to play.”

  Angie slipped them on while the others limbered up. The two teams lined up across from each other. Jace and his two nephews had fierce determination in their faces, scowls to make their opponents shiver in their shoes. Well, she couldn’t speak for her two teammates… Glenn and Marita… but she certainly could manage a shiver or two. Angie had never played a contact sport in her life. She had watched a game or two on television, and had picked up the general idea, but that was all. Was Marita serious about the tackling part?

  They huddled up and Glenn gave them the first play. It was basic. He would throw the ball as far and fast as he could and either she or Marita had to catch it, cross the goal line and score. Simple. At least in theory that was how it was supposed to work.

  However, with the snap of the ball, Marita zigged when she should have zagged and Angie was left with the ball in her hands and three male figures running in her direction. She panicked and turned to run… in the wrong direction. Through hoots of laughter from the two children, she walked back to the huddle. Aunt Victoria voiced a word or two of encouragement to Angie from her chair on the sidelines. Uncle Tomas, the referee, blew his whistle and the next play was on. Humiliation was replaced by desperation and then determination. If nothing else, Angie was determined to wipe the smug look off Jace’s face after his team scored yet another touchdown.

  This time, Angie called the play. Marita was to take out the two little guys. Glenn was to stop Jace. Angie would outmaneuver them all and find the goal line. It worked! No one was more shocked than she when she stood between the clothesline and the peach tree… their version of a end zone. To her surprise, she found herself getting into the spirit of the game. The next play, Glenn stepped over the goal line. The game was tied. The taunts had become fewer.

  Angie lined up across from the two boys, but with a quick movement on their side, she found herself facing Jace. He tried to psyche her out with the look on his face, but she gave him a saucy smile right back.

  “Not bad for a city girl, eh, Mr. Marshal?”

  “You can run, but you can’t hide, pretty lady. You’re going down.”

  “Talk is cheap and—” She didn’t get to finish that sentence.

  The whistle blew and almost at the same time, two strong arms wrapped themselves around her middle and she was looking up at sky, with her back on the green grass. For just a second or two, she had to try to remember to breathe, but it was a little difficult. Her arms were pinned to her sides by the body that had her wrapped up in an iron grip. Luckily, most of Jace’s weight was being held off her by his forearms, but she couldn’t move until he did first.

  “You’re right, talk is cheap.” He smiled broadly.

  Angie really did have difficulty breathing at that moment because Jace planted a quick, hard kiss on her lips.

  “Oh gross! Mom, make Uncle Jace play right.” His two nephews covered their eyes and turned to their mom.

  “Play right, Uncle Jace…” Marita laughed over the boys’ heads at the pair on the ground.

  “I’m trying to play,” Jace responded with a wink at his sister before he turned his attention to the woman squirming beneath him. “But I’m not getting any cooperation for some reason.” He released his hold then and allowed Angie to roll out from under him. She stood up. He followed more slowly, his grin decidedly far from apologetic.

  “Maybe it’s your tactics.” Angie threw at him, her hands were busy trying to pick the blades of grass out of her hair. “No one likes a bully.”

  “I’ll work on my moves. But I might need to practice… you know the more you practice, the better you get.”

  She
met his challenge. “In your case, that might take a long, long time.” She dusted the seat of her jeans as she turned and walked from him. It was a good thing she did not see the hot look that crossed his face as he watched her walk away. The day’s heat had nothing to do with the heat of that look.

  “I do love a challenge.” He commented to himself. His mind was made up. It was time to step up his game… and it had nothing to do with football.

  *

  “What incredible craftsmanship.” Angie’s eyes admired the necklaces displayed at the shop owned by Marita and Aunt Victoria. Artistic talent apparently ran rampant throughout Jace’s family as evidenced by Marita’s jewelry artistry and the pottery created by his aunt. It was amazing.

  Her eyes next lit on a necklace and earrings in a small case. “That’s the same stone as in my ring.”

  “Yes, it is,” Marita replied, coming to stand beside her.

  She opened the case and withdrew the necklace… a round stone, highly polished set in a heavy silver setting suspended from a choker. “The stones are called Apache Tears. It has quite an interesting legend with it. In Arizona, the Pinal Apaches were always making raids on settlements. The cavalry finally tracked them down to the base of Big Pacacho, a very steep and high mountain with a sheer cliff on one side. Almost all of the tribe were killed but for a remaining few. Those remaining Apaches, rather than be captured or killed, chose to leap to their deaths off the top of the cliff. Their women then gathered at the base of the mountain and spent a month in mourning, crying rivers of tears which fell into the white sands at the base of the cliff. The Great Father Sky knew their grief was so strong that he embedded their sorrow and tears into black stones, now known as Apache Tears. If you hold a true one to the light, you can see the tear inside it and they bring good luck to whoever wears them. If you wear an Apache Tear you will never cry again. Those Apache women cried all the tears for you.”

  “What an incredible legend. Sad, and yet so beautiful. I’ve been reading quite a bit about the Apache here in New Mexico, but I haven’t read about this legend. Thank you for sharing it. You have such beautiful customs in your families and history,” Angie said as she returned her gaze to the stone.

  “Jace must bring you to The Sunrise Dance and have you experience that.”

  “The Changing Woman ceremony.” Her aunt corrected from behind the counter.

  “Same ritual, just different names.” Marita smiled but with deference to the older woman.

  “Right after a young girl completes her first monthly cycle, she enters into womanhood and we celebrate this in a ceremony that honors her place in our society. Originally, there were four days of preparation, four days of dancing, and four days of rest. Now, it’s basically a long weekend. But you can see the beautiful beaded dresses that are worn and hear the songs and watch the dances. You’ll enjoy it.”

  “I hope I can see that before I leave.” The words were out before Angie realized.

  “Leave?” Aunt Victoria’s eyes were immediately upon her. “Jace… what is this about Angelina leaving?” The woman swung her gaze across to where her nephew stood silently listening to the exchanges between the women.

  “You know that Angie’s work requires her to travel between her stores aunt. We can’t keep her locked away in our world, as much as we might want to do so.” Another smooth save on his part. Angie threw him a look of thanks and found her eyes locked with his. When she broke away, her gaze fell on another glass case across the store.

  “I love that piece! What delicate beading… it’s exquisite.” She stood transfixed by the work before her on a mannequin head displayed under a single light. Around the forehead was a white leather strap covered in gold, turquoise, and black beading in the design she was beginning to recognize now as representative of the importance of four… north, east, south, west; the four elements of earth, wind, fire, and water; the four seasons of the life cycle… childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age.

  “This is a headpiece for a bride. I added the soft white feathers of a young eaglet as talismans at the back clip.” Marita spoke and then turned the case for her to see it better. “I then added a tiny Apache Tear on the clasp as good luck for the bride who wears it.”

  Angie could envision incorporating the piece into one of her collection outfits.

  “I must have this. I’ll feature it with one of my bridal gowns in a showing. Whatever the price, it’s sold.” She turned to Marita with her mind made up.

  But Jace spoke before his sister could do so.

  “I’m afraid it’s already sold. This is simply on display until the person arranges to pick it up. I believe that will be any day now, right, Marita?” He moved to stand next to his sister whose eyes held an odd look as she looked at him.

  However, she just smiled and brought her gaze back to Angie. “Yes, that’s correct. I’m sorry Angelina. Perhaps I can find another one for you.”

  Angie felt a stab of disappointment as she took a last look at the beautiful headpiece. Some lucky bride would be happy on her special day. She envied her.

  “Sorry to break this up ladies, but we need to be on the road.” Jace reached to hug both his sister and his aunt in farewell.

  Angie could’ve browsed in the shop longer, but she agreed with Jace. She was surprised how different the day was ending than how it began. She had dreaded coming and, now, she wished for more hours. She exchanged her own hugs of goodbye with the women.

  “It wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be.” Jace grinned over at her, after they had said the last goodbye and were headed back toward Santa Fe.

  “No, it wasn’t. And I wasn’t the only one worried… admit it.”

  He gave a rueful shake of his head. “I knew it would be okay. I knew my family would take to you right away.”

  “And how could you be so sure of that?”

  “Because of the woman you are. You are confident and smart and you are genuinely interested in the people you meet. Plus, you aren’t too hard on the eyes either. How could they not love you?”

  Right. How could they not? How could you not? Angie didn’t speak any of that out loud but it was on her mind. She let her eyes close for a moment or two. It had been a perfect Sunday. What would it be like to spend every Sunday in such a manner? Don’t spoil it. Just be grateful for the memories.

  Angie became aware, vaguely at first, the engine had stopped. Next, she felt a fabric under her cheek and noted the smell of familiar cologne… Jace’s cologne. Her eyes opened wide at that point. She had fallen asleep on the return trip and Jace was carrying her across the bridge and into the patio area of the house.

  “Put me down. I can walk.”

  He didn’t pause but kept walking and Angie didn’t bother to put up a fight. It would be useless. Besides, she liked it. There. She admitted it. She liked the feel of having her arms entwined around his strong shoulders and feeling so alive and so safe all at the same time. Another memory for her book. Jace did not pause, but took the stairs with ease.

  Her feet did not touch the floor until he released her in the center of the bedroom. There was a moment or two of awkwardness… at least on her part. The plan… remember.

  “Now this is curb service.” Angie made her usual attempt to mask her nerves with a stab at wit.

  But this man was the one person who knew better. He could call her bluff. The question was, would he?

  “Always at your service. I do aim to please,” Jace responded, along with a knowing grin.

  She also watched it fade away into a solemn note. Angie wasn’t quite prepared for his hand reaching up to cup the side of her face or the way her heart responded of its own free will. Her body had a mind of its own where he was concerned.

  “Thank you for today, Angelina. For all the rest of it… going along with this crazy plan and putting up with my family. You fit with my family like a glove. In fact, it’s getting hard to remember when you weren’t here. That could be very dangerous.”

&nbs
p; It was certainly getting harder to breathe. A warmth began deep in her core at his words. He voiced what she had become aware of with each day that passed. Angie could feel this land… this man… growing in importance in her life, and the realm of New York City and life there was fading further into the background. Life was switching on her and she felt unable to stop it. The problem was she didn’t know if she really wanted it to stop. Everything was so confusing. His closeness kept her from thinking in a sensible fashion.

  “Dangerous?” The question begged to be asked.

  “One could get very used to life being a certain way. It would be most difficult to let go of it… if one wasn’t careful.” His reply was strange and cryptic, but the darkness in his eyes held another message.

  He was as aware of her in that moment as she was of him. One of them needed to remember to be sensible. Was he also warning her? To not get too involved?

  “It’s been a long day. And I think I’m going to have sore muscles big time tomorrow… especially after some overgrown kid knocked me on my backside today.”

  “Overgrown kid? I take exception to that. All is fair in backyard football. You’ll get used to that. Besides I think I saw a carefully executed ‘trip’ on your part that allowed a touchdown for your team. So, don’t think you can fool me. And, by the way, the nephews think you’re pretty cool… ‘for a girl’… quote, unquote,” Jace added with a chuckle. He allowed the moment to lighten between them, but he didn’t step away, at least not right away. “I must agree with my nephews.” The silver light in his eyes held the heat of lightning. “You are pretty incredible for a girl. Sweet dreams.” His breath reached her face a half second before the warmth of his lips. Her response was immediate. What could be the harm?

  His arms drew her into their circle. Her palms rested against his shirt front and she felt the heavy beating of his heart. Her pulses raced through her veins while her lips met his with equal fervor. Jace Blackhawke was an intoxicating drug and once tasted, she was as thirsty as an addict for more. She knew there was a reason why this couldn’t be, shouldn’t be, happening. If only she could remember what it was when he was kissing her.