Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) (29 page)

Dan lingered there anxiously, waiting and
watching for some sign of Crystal.

"Ready for another drink?" a saloon girl asked as
she came to flirt with him.

"No, I'm fine, thanks." He dismissed her without
a thought. He didn't want to be distracted. He had
only Crystal on his mind right now.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" The girl's
question and voice were suggestive.

If Dan hadn't been so determined to find his
sister that very night, he might have let himself relax
and enjoy a bit of female company. But the weeks of
fruitless searching had left him tense and on edge.
She had escaped him once in San Antonio. If this
was Crystal, she wasn't going to escape him again.

"Not now."

The girl looked disappointed by his rejection. She
moved off to try her luck with some of the other
customers.

Dan checked his pocket watch and saw that it was
now after eight. He grew even edgier, waiting for the
moment when the entertainer would finally appear
onstage.

The piano player made his way over to the piano a
short time later and began playing a raucous tune, but
no singer appeared onstage. Curious and growing a
bit angry, Dan got up and returned to the bar.

"The talk in San Miguel said you had a singer named Ruby working here. I was looking forward to
hearing her tonight. Is she going to come out later?"

Ken was ready for his question. He'd answered
the same one numerous times this past week. "I hate
to tell you this, but our Ruby left us."

"She's gone?"

Ken quickly went on to explain how she'd quit
the week before.

"That's too bad. And she's been gone for a
whole week?" Dan asked, his mind racing as he
tried to figure out where Crystal might have fled
next.

"Oh, Ruby's not gone in the sense that she's left
town. No, our little Ruby got lucky. She married
Brent Hunter, one of the local ranchers. His spread,
the Half-Moon, is one of the biggest around these
parts."

Dan used his best poker face to keep from
betraying his turbulent emotions. One moment he'd
been ready to scream in rage, and now he was
suddenly filled with hope again.

"Well, it's too bad she's gone. I heard she was
good."

"Oh, Ruby was good, all right-real good. A lot
of the boys are mad because she quit, but we'll find
somebody else to take her place in time. Of course,
it'll be hard to find anybody as good as Ruby. She
was special."

Dan got a refill on his whiskey and went to join a
poker game. He wanted to learn everything he could about the Half-Moon, but he had to be subtle.
He would see what he could find out from the other
gamblers. He just hoped he was on the trail of the
right woman.

It was after midnight when Dan returned to his
hotel room. He'd won a nice sum that night, and he'd
also gotten all the information he needed. First thing
in the morning, he'd be heading to the Half-Moon.

Dan didn't sleep well. He was too tense, too
excited. He lay in bed remembering all that had
happened the last time he and Crystal were together.

Soon-very soon-he would see her again.

Frances was the only one at the house when she saw
a strange man riding in the next morning. No one
ever just happened by the Half-Moon, so she
guessed he was there for a reason, and she went out
to meet him.

"Good morning," Dan called out as he
dismounted in front of the house and tied up his
horse.

"Morning," she returned. "Can I help you with
anything?"

"I'm hoping you can. My name is Dan Stewart,
and I'm looking for my sister. Folks in town told me
she's married Brent Hunter and is living here at the
Half-Moon."

"You're Crystal's brother? That's wonderful! We
didn't even know she had any kin," Frances said.

"Crystal and I haven't seen each other in a while. Is she here? I wanted to talk to her." He did not
move any closer to the woman, for he didn't want to
seem too anxious or in any way threatening.

"Crystal doesn't live here at the main house. She
and Brent are living down at the cabin. She's
probably there now." Frances gave him directions to
the cabin.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. It was nice to meet you, Dan,
and I'm Frances, by the way."

"I'll see you later, Frances."

He mounted up again and rode off.

Frances felt quite happy that Crystal's brother had
come. She was sure Crystal would be thrilled to see
him.

It took all of Dan's considerable willpower not to
race at full speed toward Crystal's cabin. He wasn't
quite sure yet how to handle their reunion, but he
knew he'd think of something when the time came.
He wondered if she was going to be at the cabin
alone, or if her new husband would be with her.

He hoped she would be alone. That would make
everything much simpler.

Dan took care to ride up to the cabin quietly. He
didn't see anyone around and suddenly feared
Crystal might not be there. When he reined in
before the house and no one came out to greet him,
he went up on the porch and looked inside. The
cabin was empty. Dan resigned himself to waiting
for Crystal's return. Certainly he had nowhere else to go-not until he'd seen his sister and resolved things
with her.

Brent had decided to put up an outbuilding near the
corral behind the cabin, and Hank had been there
helping him for the past few days.

Crystal had remained at the cabin, for there was
something she desperately wanted to do that day.
Frances had given her a few lemons, thinking Brent
might want lemonade, but she had a better use for
them. Crystal was tired of her hair being red. She no
longer had to pretend to be Ruby, and lemon juice
was just what she needed to regain her true identity.
After combing the juice through her hair, she went
to sit in the sun for an hour. She washed her hair
thoroughly when the time had passed and was
pleased with the results. As midday drew near, she
started to fix lunch for the men.

For the first few days after she'd come to live with
Brent, her husband had ridden out at sunup and
hadn't returned until almost dusk. Since he'd started
working on the building, though, he'd been nearby
all day, and she loved every minute of having him
around. Their life together was peaceful and loving.
He had not pressured her for an answer about
speaking to the lawyer yet, and she was glad. She
wasn't ready to put this wonderful life they had
together at risk yet. She wanted to enjoy the beauty
of being a new bride for as long as she could.

When lunch was ready, Crystal took the food out to Brent and Hank where they were working, a good
distance behind the cabin.

Brent saw her coming and smiled broadly. He had
loved her with red hair, but was thrilled to see that
she was back to her natural blond color.

"I think you're the prettiest waitress I've ever
had," Brent told her as she reached them. "What
about you, Hank?"

"Well, I liked the pretty redhead who used to be
around here," Hank said, grinning.

Crystal laughed. "You two are just charmers."

Hank dug hungrily into the food she'd given him.
"Our new waitress makes a good lunch, too,
though."

"Do you expect a tip for waiting on us this way?"
Brent asked.

"Hank is company, so he doesn't have to tip me,
but you do," she challenged.

"What kind of tip are you looking for?"

"I think a kiss would be just about right."

Brent gave her a quick kiss in spite of the other
man's presence.

"Call me if you need anything else," she told them
with a smile.

"You're a lucky man, Brent," Hank said after
Crystal had moved away.

"I know," he agreed, watching her go. He'd been
thinking the same thing.

Crystal thought it was a wonderful day. The sun
was shining and a soft breeze was blowing. She was relaxed and at ease as she came around the side of
the cabin.

"Hello, Crystal."

Crystal froze. There before her stood her brother.

"Dan!" Instant terror jarred her. "What are you
doing here?"

"I've been looking for you for months."

Panic set in. Crystal turned and started to run
from him, to scream for help, but Dan reacted too
quickly for her. He grabbed her and covered her
mouth with his hand. He held her pinned against his
chest as she fought wildly to get away.

"Don't scream!" Dan ordered, trying to control
her. "Crystal, stop it! I'm not going to hurt you! I
came here to help you!"

Crystal went still at his words, and she was
relieved when Dan immediately let her go.

"You want to help me?" She gasped, turning on
him.

"That's right."

"After what you did to me?" she challenged.

"What I did to you?" Dan was shocked by her
charge. "Crystal, I don't know what you mean.
What are you talking about?"

Crystal stared up at her brother, seeing his very
real confusion. She suddenly felt a bit unsure of
herself.

"Hall told me what you did! He told me you sent
him to me to take care of your debts! He said I was
supposed to `work it off for you. That's why I-"

"He lied to you, Crystal," Dan interrupted,
furious to discover what Hall had done. "I paid him
back what cash I could when I met with him that
night. I promised to pay him the full amount in
time, but he was angry. He beat me up so bad, I was
unconscious for several hours. He left me tied up in
my room when he went after you."

"He beat you and tied you up?" She was
completely taken aback by this news.

"Yes, and then after you got away, Hall came back
to my room and-"

"What?" Crystal gasped as she went completely
and utterly still. "He went to your room? But how? I
killed him!"

Now it was Dan's turn to be shocked. "You killed
him?"

Crystal told him about the gambler's attack that
night. "He tried to rape me, and I hit him with a
lamp. I killed him, Dan. He's dead. That's why I ran
away. I knew no one would believe me if I told the
truth-that I had been defending myself. I had to
get away. I had to save myself."

Dan went to his sister and tried to take her in his
arms. He wanted to calm her; he wanted to reassure
her. But Crystal was still caught up in the power of
her memories. She held herself stiffly and resisted his
embrace.

"Crystal, John Hall is not dead," Dan told her
slowly, wanting the words to sink in, wanting her to
know she wasn't a murderer.

"No-I hit him on the head. There was blood
everywhere, and he wasn't breathing."

"He's alive. Crystal listen to me!" Dan grabbed
her by the shoulders, wanting to get through to her.

A cold, deadly voice froze him in place. "I don't
know who the hell you are, but get your hands off
my wife!"

Brent had been on his way up to the cabin when
he'd heard Crystal arguing with someone. Brent
hadn't recognized the man's voice, and he'd been
immediately concerned for her safety. He was glad
now that he'd followed her when he had. There was
no telling what might have happened to her if he
hadn't shown up.

Dan let Crystal go as ordered. He hurried to
try to explain. "I'm Crystal's brother, Dan,
and-"

He got no further. At the confirmation of the
stranger's identity, Brent attacked. He swung at the
man he believed had treated Crystal so badly and hit
him full-force in the jaw.

Dan was not a fighter. The power of Brent's blow
sent him sprawling backward on the porch. He lay there, dazed, rubbing his aching jaw and looking up
at the man his sister had married.

Brent started to go after Dan again, this time with
deadly intent. This was the man who had tried to
prostitute his own sister! Fury and outrage burned
within Brent.

"Brent! No!" Crystal saw the look in his eyes and
threw herself at Brent to stop him before he could
hit Dan again. "Wait!"

"Wait? For what?" He looked down at her
puzzled. "Why are you defending him? He's the one
who-"

"Dan didn't send Hall to me that night." She
hurried to tell him what she'd learned. She could see
Brent visibly relax as he heard the truth from her.
"And Dan just told me Hall's not dead! I didn't kill
him!"

Relief unlike anything Brent had ever known
swept through him. He grabbed Crystal and hugged
her tight "Thank God."

He actually felt tears burn in his eyes, but
somehow he managed to fight them back.

"I know," she agreed, elated.

They remained wrapped in each other's arms.
The hidden fear that had haunted their love was
gone, and they savored the glory of the
moment.

"So you're my brother-in-law," Dan said, watching
them together and seeing that Crystal had found true
happiness. He tried to give a wry smile, but it hurt too badly and ended up being more of a grimace.

At his remark, Brent gave Crystal a sweet kiss and
put her from him. He went and offered Dan a hand
up, helping him to stand.