“Jamie? Anything you’d like to say before I make my decision?”
Jamie spoke from his desk. “Yes, ma‘am, there is. I can chase a stray cow as easily as I can lift fingerprints. We’re all good people here, and I imagine anyone would make a fine chief deputy. But I can promise that if I was your assistant, my first loyalty would be to you, Sheriff. I’d follow your orders—do things your way. Not Wyatt’s. Or Morgan’s. Or Virgil’s. I’d back you up all the way, ma’am. First and foremost. That’s what a good deputy’s about—not showing you the ropes but giving you support.”
Virgil heard the emotion in Jamie’s voice, saw the responding emotion on Desiree’s face and knew, before Desiree even said the words, who the next chief deputy would be.
“Marta, get out the paperwork, please. Congratulations, Jamie. I intend to swear you in as my chief deputy.”
“But...” Marta protested, looking from Desiree to Virgil.
“That’s enough, Marta. Desiree has the right to choose.” Virgil felt more than just a pang of regret; he also felt a pang of guilt. Desiree and Jamie had something he didn’t—an enthusiasm for the job that his years as a bodyguard had worn away. That last encounter with stalker Mitchell Gibson and the starlet had left him tired and weary. But Virgil had always seen himself as strong, decisive and utterly reliable. A man who was good at whatever he did. A man you could trust with your life. And now Desiree Hartlan had publicly declared that she trusted a stranger more than she trusted him. That hurt. He was a Bodine. Everyone trusted Bodines—except this woman.
Suddenly his enthusiasm for the badge returned, along with a desire to earn the respect...and the trust...of the only woman he’d met who hadn’t seen him for the capable man he knew himself to be.
“I’d appreciate a copy of those personnel papers, too, Marta,” Virgil said. “I’m still willing to lend a hand as deputy—on any shift, in any capacity the sheriff sees fit.”
Desiree shuffled through the paperwork. “According to Marta, we only have one opening, and that’s for an assistant deputy on this shift.”
“I’ll take it.”
“You will?”
“Yes, ma’am, I will.” Don’t look so surprised, Ray. I’m serious—more serious than I’ve been about anything for a long, long time. Enthusiasm is one thing, and you’ve got that. But vigilantism is another. It isn’t right for this town. I’ll be watching you, Sheriff. And I’ll be watching out for you, too.
Desiree nodded, then rose from her desk. “If Marta will get me the City Hall Bible and point me to the nearest Stars and Stripes, I’ll do the honors. Jamie, you’re first.”
Jamie raised his hand and swore the oath of allegiance to Tombstone and the state of Arizona, promising to uphold all United States laws. Then it was Virgil’s turn.
He rested his hand on the faded black Bible, a Bible that had once been used by his family’s namesakes, the Earps. He felt the strength of tradition, justice and truth, felt it in his oath and in his heart.
“I swear, before God and country, to uphold the rights of all citizens, to uphold the laws of this state...”
He’d sworn to become a lawman—not a bodyguard, not paid muscle, but a lawman—once again.
He might not be sheriff, but he was back where he belonged, back to his old self and wearing a badge he’d always loved.
Virgil Earp Bodine was home.
CHAPTER FIVE
DESIREE’S STOMACH GROWLED, and she looked up at the weathered grandfather clock. It’s almost three! No wonder I’m so hungry. She’d worked right through lunch to quitting time, acquainting herself with the mounds of paperwork required by her job. She’d briefed Mary Ann, sent Jamie off to talk to the sixthgraders, had Virgil bring himself up-to-date on recent cases. Now the three-to-eleven shift was already coming in, while the seven-to-three morning shift—her regular shift—were straightening their desks and rummaging around for car keys.
Might as well dismiss the shift and introduce myself to the new one, Desiree decided, rubbing at a crick in her neck. Then I’m out of here, too. She signed one last report—a complaint from a local who’d asked that a double-parked tourist vehicle be towed away from his blocked driveway. She let the new shift know Virgil was back as a deputy, then headed for the door, her mind racing.
Okay, Jamie and I are doing breakfast tomorrow. I have to come in early so I can talk to Mary Ann, too. Then Marta and I will meet at ten and have the budget checked to get funds for new computers. I’ve got to remember to bring in my laptop. I refuse to work on those dinosaurs they have, and Marta shouldn’t have to, either. I want to open up a local bank account, too. And what else was there? Oh yeah, grab some canned dog food. Caro said the local feed store doesn’t get the gourmet stuff Oscar likes, and I’m almost out. Then, home to put my feet up. I’m beat!
“You look like you could do with forty winks.”
Desiree saw Virgil waiting by her car. “Tell me about it. I’m an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of woman. Did you need something, Deputy?”
“I could do with a ride. I rode in today with one of the hands. But they needed all the ranch vehicles today. My car still hasn’t arrived from L.A.”
“You could have ridden in with me.”
“I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome, Sheriff. Not that I’ve given you any reason to feel that way.”
His bluntness surprised her, as had his earlier willingness to be an assistant deputy. Maybe she’d underestimated the man. Perhaps there was more to Virgil Bodine than fancy clothes and an attitude.
For once, her smile was full-wattage. “That’s Ray. We’re off the clock, remember? Hop in,” she said.
“Thanks.” Virgil opened her car door, and she smiled and responded with a courtesy of her own. Well...maybe it was more of a request.
“Care to drive?” she asked. “I’m exhausted—my first full day of work in a while. I do have to make a few stops first. If you aren’t in a big hurry, maybe you can take me where I want to go.”
“Sure.”
She handed him her keys.
“Where to?” Virgil asked as they climbed in.
“I need to go to the grocery store for some dog food, but I think I’d rather stop at the hospital first.”
She felt his sharp glance on her face. “Everything all right?”
“I want to look into hiring a private nurse for Caro. Or at least some day help so Cat can stay home.”
Virgil shook his head. “Save yourself the trip. There aren’t any nurses for hire in Tombstone. Wyatt already tried. You’ll have to go through Tucson.”
“Caro won’t let some stranger near her daughter.” And I promised to help her out.... Virgil started the car and headed toward the local grocery store. “What do you know about Jasentha’s mother?” she asked.
“Lozen?”
“Yes. She’s practicing pediatric surgery in Tucson, right?”
“Last I heard, yes. She’s still working—and still single.”
“Maybe she’d come on down if I asked.”
“Hard to say. She does volunteer medical work on the reservations, too. She can be awfully hard to contact. You might want to check with Jasentha.”
A few minutes later, they were on the outskirts of Tombstone, entering the store’s small parking lot. Virgil stopped the car but didn’t take the keys out of the ignition.
“Shall I grab your dog food and leave the air on?”
“I can get it,” she said, knowing she probably sounded more stubborn than she’d intended.
He grinned, an easy smile that made her hormones skip a beat before settling down again. Careful, Desiree. Combining business with pleasure is bad news when it involves a man and woman. Especially if they share the same roof!
“Tombstone heat takes getting used to,” he said mildly.
“I’m from Arizona!” Desiree protested, hoping she didn’t look as hot as she felt.
“We’re hotter down here than in Phoenix. Most of our buildings aren’t air-conditi
oned, and you, Ms. Sheriff, look ready to melt. Besides, I need a few things myself.”
“I—all right, if you don’t mind. Oscar likes the gourmet stuff. It comes in little tins.” She named the brand and pulled some bills out of her briefcase. “Oh, and maybe some doggy treats. He’ll eat anything jerky-flavored.”
“Got it. I won’t be long.”
Virgil left, and she locked the doors automatically.
Desiree watched him, then leaned back against the seat of the car. The cool air blew in her face with a welcome chill. She unfastened her seat belt, closed her eyes and enjoyed the peaceful silence. Maybe she shouldn’t have argued with Virgil in the first place. Somehow, wearing a badge around him—the man who was not only her most vocal opponent but an experienced lawman—made her overcompensate in a way that was totally out of character. She wasn’t asleep but relaxed enough that the knock on her window made her jump.
“Huh?” She blinked her eyes. It must be Virgil. Was he done already? She sat up, reached for the lock, then froze.
That’s not Virgil. That’s...
Albert Jondell.
Desiree sat up straight in her seat. She lowered the window slightly. “Back away from the car,” she ordered. Jondell complied. “Hands where I can see them.” She unsnapped the leather strap that kept her gun secure in its holster.
Her sleepiness disappeared as adrenaline pumped through her veins. In seconds she was out of the car, mentally and physically alert. She stared at the man she had ruined. He didn’t look like a beastly, drooling monster; he looked like an average guy—and that was what made him so frightening. Desiree’s skin prickled.
“What do you want, Jondell?”
“That’s how you talk to a law-abiding citizen?”
“Law-abiding? You?”
“Damn right, lady.”
“That’s Sheriff,” she said coldly. “You’ll respect my badge, even if you don’t respect me.”
Jondell flushed an angry red. “Yes, ma’am—Sheriff.”
“Now...try again. What can I do for you, Mr. Jondell?”
“Get me a bed! I’ve just come from the Travelers, Trailers and Truckers Campground. They have openings, but—”
“Let me guess. They won’t give you one.”
“They say they’re filled up.”
“Are they?”
“Hell, no. I mean, no, Sheriff. They aren’t.”
“And this surprises you.” Her eyes narrowed. “Just what do you want with a campsite, anyway?”
“I need work. Thanks to you, no one in Phoenix will give me the time of day.”
“That, Mr. Jondell, is not my problem.”
“It is now. I got me a job.” He gestured expansively. “I found the ad near a Tucson halfway house. It’s beside a gas station I used to go to.”
The news made her skin prickle even more. She thought she’d seen the last of Jondell. “A job here? In Tombstone?”
“Yep. I get to pick up litter at the side of the road—State 80 coming into Tombstone. I punch a lockbox along the way.”
“At least I’ll know where to find you,” Desiree said aloud. A lockbox was a permanent time card often used for walking jobs, such as mall security and roadwork. It provided an accurate record that showed if workers were making their appointed rounds on a job where they could otherwise easily goof off.
He scowled, his anger visible. “It’s nothing much—not like my last job.” His gaze tracked up and down her uniform with contempt. “Guess we’ve both taken a turn for the worse, Ms. Ex-lawyer.”
“Your opinions, Mr. Jondell, have nothing to do with me. Congratulations on your new job. Good day.” Her dismissal was a wasted effort.
“Hey! I gotta have a residence in order to start work. A tent in the campground is all I can afford right now because of my lawyer’s fees. My wife and I need two salaries to keep our Phoenix house. We’re not going to lose our home!”
Don’t expect sympathy from me. Linda lost her home, thanks to you. She’ll never want to go back to that apartment again.
“That also has nothing to do with me,” Desiree replied.
“But it does! I have the money, and I want a campsite. I’m not a convicted criminal! They can’t keep me out!”
“Maybe...” Maybe you should have thought of that before hurting Linda, she started to say.
“You’re right.”
Desiree’s head jerked to the left as she heard Virgil’s words; she hadn’t seen him approach. “I can handle this,” she told him.
“Just lending a hand, ma’am. You shouldn’t be denied a site, Mr. Jondell. That is your name, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is. And I want something done about this!”
Desiree tried again. “Virgil, I said I could handle this.”
Virgil set the two bags he carried on the hood of her car. “I think Mr. Jondell’s point is this. He’s not a convicted felon, so he has the same rights and privileges as any citizen. The sheriffs office will straighten out this little matter.”
I can’t believe my ears! “Little matter! You call letting a man like him into this town a little matter?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s quite simple. The law states no one can be discriminated against, except where a citizen has a prior criminal conviction or where his presence could cause a serious health contagion.”
“I don’t have the plague,” Jondell sneered, “although people sure treat me like I do.” He glared pointedly at Desiree. “Listen to your boyfriend, Sheriff.”
“He’s not my boyfriend, Mr. Jondell. He’s my deputy.”
“Damn it,” Jondell stormed, “I want my rights! And I want them now—or isn’t one lawsuit against you enough?”
Desiree actually smiled. She stepped forward until her face was close to Jondell’s. “Are you threatening me? And in the presence of a deputized witness, no less?”
Jondell backed off. “I...no, ma’am. I wasn’t. I just...just...” He looked to Virgil for help, but there was none forthcoming.
Well, at least Virgil’s somewhat loyal, Desiree thought.
“I’ll talk to the campground later, Mr. Jondell,” she said, “and inform you of my findings. Check back with my office tomorrow morning.”
“But...where will I sleep? The motels are full up!”
“Vagrancy isn’t allowed in the town limits. You might want to park out in the desert and sleep in your car. Will there be anything else?”
“No, ma’am. Not unless you’ve got a pillow you’d care to lend me.” His words were innocent, but the malice in his expression was unmistakable.
“Our prison has a spare cell or two, complete with pillows. Interested in testing one tonight?” The tone of Virgil’s voice was even more chilling than Jondell’s. “It can be arranged.”
Jondell immediately turned away, heading toward his dusty car two rows down and over from hers. Desiree reached for her notebook and pen to take down the license number.
“You okay?” Virgil asked.
“Yep. Nothing like a little excitement to liven up the day.” I’m glad Virgil’s here, she thought to herself, gripping the pen harder than necessary. Not because she was afraid. Not because she didn’t think she could handle herself. But because she valued the support, the backup. In situations like this, two badges were better than one.
“That kind of excitement I can do without,” Virgil said. He leaned into the car and removed the keys, then opened the trunk. As he lifted the bag filled with cans of dog food off the hood, Desiree moved closer to Jondell’s car to confirm the license plate number. She thrust the pad and pen into her back pocket, made a note to check for any outstanding warrants and grabbed the other bag. Inside she glimpsed some candy bars and superhero comic books, the latest surfing magazine and some electronic video-game magazines.
She felt suddenly guilty. She hadn’t picked up a thing for the homesick boy. Poor Travis, leaving his lifelong home for good. He needed a little TLC, and what did she buy? Dog food Whatever Virgil Bod
ine’s flaws, he did seem to be a loving father.
Now Virgil’s son and my niece live in a town with Jondell—that...that monster. What am I going to do about this?
She waited until Jondell had driven away before speaking to Virgil. “In the future, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me take care of business without interrupting.” She felt she had to object, to assert her authority; she couldn’t let him know how grateful she’d actually been for his presence.
“Then don’t give me a reason to interrupt, Sheriff. You almost made yourself liable for another lawsuit, and this town along with you. I’m beginning to wonder how smart a lawyer you really were.”
She compressed her lips in a thin, angry line. “The keys, please. I’ll drive.”
He tossed her the keys and got in the passenger side without argument. But she suspected the discussion wasn’t over yet.
“Just how long were you talking to Jondell?” Virgil asked. “Did he make any threats?”
“He showed up soon after you went in, and no, he didn’t. But I’ll tell you one thing. I don’t believe that phony story about how he can’t find work,” she said. “There’re plenty of other obscure places in this state where he could get a job. I wonder why he’s really here.”
“Asking my opinion, Sheriff?”
“I am.”
“You won’t like it.”
“Nonetheless...”
“I’m surprised you even had to ask. My guess is that Jondell came to Tombstone because here he can do to you what you did to him. You hold public office now, and that puts you in an exposed—and vulnerable—position. He wants revenge. That’s something you should understand quite well.”
She flicked a glance his way. “Is that what you think I’m about? Revenge? Not justice?”
“Call it whatever you want, Sheriff. You succeeded in your campaign against Jondell.”
“I’m glad I did! So are Linda and her family!”
“Good for you.” Desiree flinched at the cynicism in his voice. “However, you’ve made yourself an enemy in the process.”
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