She's The Sheriff (Superromance Series No 787)

by Duquette, Anne Marie

  “It ought to be. It was his—” Virgil gestured toward the diorama.

  “Virgil Earp’s?”

  “At first. He had it made up for Wyatt. Virgil and his brothers were very close. My mother gave it to me when I was thirteen. Said I was always to remember that truth and family were all any man—or woman—needed in life.”

  “I...I’m deeply honored.” Desiree found tears in her eyes. “But I can’t take this. It belongs to you and your family.”

  “I was going to give it to Travis,” Virgil admitted. “But his destiny isn’t in his name. He won’t become a lawman like me and my brothers. Travis will make his own future. It won’t be in Arizona. I know that now. Travis loves the ocean like I love this land.”

  Virgil picked up a handful of O.K. Corral soil and let it sift through his fingers. “Coming home to Tombstone—that was for me. It isn’t where Travis belongs.”

  Virgil cradled her hand in his. Desiree’s fingers were pressed around the tin badge.

  “It isn’t right to force a heritage on Travis that he doesn’t want. But law and order runs in your family. This belongs with you, Desiree. Here—or wherever you decide to call home.”

  But I’m already home.

  She carefully traced the outline of the badge.

  “I want you to know the story behind it,” he said in a low voice. “This badge was my mother’s. You know that she’s descended from a full-blooded Earp—her great-grandmother. That’s why she was named Sarah-Jo Bodine—after Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp, Wyatt’s last wife.”

  Desiree had heard some of this from Caro and was now hearing the rest from Virgil. She felt a thrill of excitement. Bodine wives were usually told this history on their honeymoons. Typicat—she and Virgil were doing things backward.

  “As you’re aware,” he went on, “there were no living descendants according to the history books. But it appears there was one—a girl born when Wyatt Earp was engaged to be married in Dodge City.”

  “When he and Bat Masterson were marshall and deputy marshall?”

  “Yes. The story goes that the baby’s mother, Bridget, was afraid to marry Wyatt, even though he asked her over and over. There were too many men who wanted Wyatt dead, and she was so afraid of his enemies she didn’t even tell him she was pregnant. Later, Wyatt left Dodge for Tombstone and took a second wife. He was a widower, remember. That wife killed herself, and the baby’s mother thought of coming forward then. But after the shoot-out and murder of Morgan Earp and the attempted murder of Virgil Earp, Bridget decided to keep Wyatt’s badge—and daughter—to herself. Wyatt married a third time, and she never came forward. It’s stayed a family secret all these years.”

  Virgil removed his hand and left the badge resting in her palm. “I think my mother would be proud to see you wear it.”

  Desiree felt tears in her eyes as Virgil carefully pinned it on over her embroidered sheriffs star. The sight and feel of the tin badge felt right, somehow. Almost as right as a proposal would.

  “Anything else?” she asked him.

  “Guess that’s all the business I have,” he said in a careful voice. “I know Onyx will eventually make a full recovery. Maybe you could give him some TLC until I get back from L.A.”

  Now he’s talking about horses? That does it. Time to take matters into my own hands.

  “You’re not going anywhere yet, ex-deputy.”

  “Desiree, I have to pack. I won’t put Travis on a plane alone. I’ll be back when May and I get things settled...”

  “Shut up and listen, lawman. You’re not going anywhere until we get things settled, and I mean right now. I don’t know what job you intend to take, but it won’t be mine. I’m staying Tombstone’s sheriff, and I’ll be staying on in Tombstone until my term expires. Maybe longer.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “But nothing. I like this job. I like the people, the town and being near my sister again. Though not necessarily in the same house,” she qualified. “I’ve got to get a place of my own. Preferably with a man in it,” she added. She enjoyed his start of surprise—and the glow of hope in his eyes.

  “I think I can arrange that—with room for three—and maybe more.”

  She grinned. “Second, I could use a good adviser now and again. Just because you’re retiring doesn’t mean I couldn’t use your advice.”

  “I could do that.”

  “Third, you’re so busy trying to do what’s best for everyone else that you’re neglecting yourself. Don’t you ever learn, Bodine? Not only that, you’re overlooking the obvious.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m in love with you! You need a wife who’s your equal, who believes in the same things you do. A stepmother for Travis.”

  “Oh?” He raised one eyebrow. “You’re volunteering?” But he couldn’t hide the delighted quirk of his lips.

  “Yep, and you’d better agree. I’m not letting you on that plane until you promise to come back here and share my bed. My home. My life. Till death do us part.”

  “Are you proposing to me?”

  “Damn right I am!” She threw herself at him, kissing him thoroughly. “Marry me, lawman! Let me love you! Let me help with Travis. Let me put a ring on your finger—and please, put a ring on mine. I promise you’ll be the happiest man on this earth. You won’t have to give up a thing. You hear me? Not a single thing—except your heart.”

  She lifted her eyes to his and saw her own love there, returned tenfold. She kissed him again and again and again. And he kissed her back, every time.

  “Well?” she asked between kisses. “Are you going to marry me or not?”

  “Yeah, Bodine!” It was Jamie and Marta, leaning against the Corral fence. “Answer her, already! She’s got phones to answer and paperwork to do!”

  Virgil’s response was a slow, sexy smile and a reply that was heaven to her heart.

  “Whatever the lady says...goes.” He pulled her close and held her tight, his chin resting on her head. “She’s the sheriff.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The Following Spring...

  MOST OF THE BODINE CLAN gathered in the Silver Dollar’s parking area to help load Lozen’s truck. Her new medical practice, ministering to Apaches on their own land, kept her happily busy. It also kept her on the road, often for days at a time.

  “Mom, are you sure you packed everything?” Jasentha asked, balancing her baby daughter on her hip.

  “If she packs any more, the truck will be groaning,” Rogelio teased his wife. “Some honeymoon. Whoever heard of having a honeymoon at a clinic in the middle of nowhere?”

  “You don’t have to go,” Lozen replied, but the come-hither look in her eyes wasn’t lost on her husband.

  It was, however, lost on a petulant Travis. “How come Dad and I don’t get to go?”

  The boy kicked at a rock, truly disappointed at being left behind. “There’s room for me, you know. I could sit in the back.”

  “I guess you’ll just have to stay home with me and your father.” Desiree rested her hand fondly on her stepson’s shoulder and slid her other arm around Virgil’s waist.

  Life was so good lately. It had been Virgil’s idea to update the equipment at the few Indian clinics dotted throughout the desert. Lozen had joined in, first just to help, then to take on a schedule of regular visits to assist the few government doctors. Those who spoke Athabascan were even fewer. Virgil’s new volunteer program was so successful that he was asked to oversee it as a regular job, which he did. Lozen hoped to be hired for the district head physician’s spot. There was much work to be done.

  “I wanted to go with Lozen!” Travis still complained, though with much less fury. He and Lozen had grown close since that terrible time last fall. Travis was much more secure now, and no longer constantly angry. His mother’s calming influence, his routine in California, Virgil and Desiree’s patience, lots of love and a good therapist continued to work wonders.

  “How come Rogelio gets to go and I d
on’t? I’m a better assistant than he is, and I speak Spanish and—”

  “You don’t speak Apache,” Lozen said gently.

  “I’m learning!”

  “Two’s company, and three’s a crowd, son,” Virgil reminded him.

  “They’ve been married before,” Travis grumbled, but he went to help finish loading the rest of the medical supplies.

  Virgil smiled. Travis had developed an interest in Lozen’s work and become a top-notch assistant—much better than Rogelio, who tended to be squeamish about nonequine medicine. Travis even helped Jasentha with her injured bats. The boy was quick to learn, and this new interest, plus his growing love for animals, gave him a healthy focus. Although he hadn’t spoken the words aloud, Virgil secretly hoped his son would continue with his medical interests.

  “As long as he stays away from acting,” he had said to Desiree, “I’ll die a happy man.”

  Even May had agreed. She’d enrolled Travis in some marine biology courses back in L.A. He was. doing so well that she showed her gratitude by soliciting donations for Lozen and Virgil’s program. She had many rich contacts who were only too happy to donate to “the cause,” or at least qualify for a sizable tax deduction.

  Desiree, clad in her uniform, leaned her head against her husband’s shoulder, letting his warmth and love wash over her. May would always be part of their life, because of Travis. But Desiree knew she had all her husband’s passion. Even the brothers agreed that no one had seen Virgil this happy in years. Desiree herself felt a completeness that was the best gift she could have gained from their marriage.

  “I hate to say this, Sheriff,” Virgil said, giving her a quick kiss, “but isn’t it time you left for work?”

  Desiree checked her watch: “Afraid so. A woman’s work is never done.”

  “You love it. Admit it.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “Almost as much as I love you and your son. No, you stay with Travis,” she said. “I already said my goodbyes.”

  She headed for Pearl Drop—her wedding gift from Virgil, who had bought the mare from Wyatt. The horse was already saddled and waiting. As she mounted, she smiled at Travis, who continued to load medical supplies. Virgil’s son might not be interested in the law, but that was okay. Desiree cradled her belly, not needing next week’s doctor’s appointment to confirm what she already knew.

  Her beloved husband would become a father once again. It’s a girl, I just know it. Maybe she’ll take over the family tradition of wearing the badge. The love of the law is in her parents’ blood.

  Desiree clicked Pearl Drop into her gentle, easy gait and waved to the man she loved. My daughter the sheriff... she mused to herself.

  You never know. After all, anything can happen in Tombstone.

  ISBN : 978-1-4592-6375-8

  SHE’S THE SHERIFF

  Copyright © 1998 by Anne Marie Duquette.

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  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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