Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) (30 page)

"I'm Brent Hunter, and yes, I'm your brother-inlaw."

They stared at each other for a moment, sizing
each other up.

"Let's go inside," Crystal suggested. "I'll get you a
wet cloth, Dan." She could see that his mouth was
bloody.

"Is everything all right?" Hank asked as he came
around the side of the cabin. He'd been waiting for
Brent by the corral and had gotten worried at his
long absence. He was surprised to see a stranger
there, one who looked like he'd just been hit in the
mouth.

"Everything's fine, Hank," Brent answered
quickly. "This is Crystal's brother, Dan. He just
stopped by to see her."

"Nice to meet you," Hank said. He was
curious about what had happened, but he knew
he'd find out later from Brent. "I'll go on back to
work."

"I'll be along in a few minutes."

They went indoors, and Dan sat down at the table
across from Brent.

"I've been searching for you ever since that night
to warn you that Hall is out for revenge against
you," Dan told Crystal.

"Revenge against me?" she asked.

"That's right. When you hit him with the lamp,
you cut his face up real bad," Dan went on. "After
he regained consciousness in your room, he came
after me again. He thought I would know where you
were hiding. He beat me some more, but when I
didn't tell him anything, he left and went looking
for you. I finally managed to get myself loose, and I
went to check your room. I saw all the glass and
blood. I didn't know if you'd been hurt or not, and I
was desperate to find you. I went to Sheriff Spiller
there in Long Horn and explained to him all that
had happened. I told him I fully intended to pay my
gambling debt to Hall and that there was no reason
for the violence. He arrested Hall and kept him
locked up overnight to try to calm him down. Even
locked up, though, Hall kept yelling that he was
going to get even with you. I made arrangements
with the sheriff to send payments to Hall to
reimburse him what I owed him. Then I left and set
out to find you, but you'd already disappeared."

"I was long gone by that time. I ran as far away as
I could. I thought the law would be after me for
Hall's murder, and I thought you would be coming
after me because you were angry with me."

"I did come after you, but it was to save you, not
hurt you," Dan said gently. "I'd never hurt you,
Crystal. I'm sorry any of this happened."

"So am I."

"I'm glad you're safe here with Brent, but I have to warn you to keep watch. As furious as Hall was,
I'm afraid he hasn't given up. I think he's still after
you."

"How do you know?" Brent asked.

"The first time I wired a payment to Sheriff Spiller,
he sent me a telegram back letting me know that Hall
had still been vengeful when he'd released him the
following day. He swore he wasn't going to rest until
you'd paid for what you'd done to him. Sheriff Spiller
said he hadn't seen much of him since then, but he
was holding on to the money, in case Hall did return.
Hall lives in Long Horn, and the sheriff thought it
strange that he'd just taken off that way. But I think I
know where he went-I think he's trying to find you.
That's why I've been real careful, tracking you down.
I didn't want to risk leading Hall to you. I just hope
now that I've found you..."

Brent understood his concern and reassured him.
"It's all right."

Crystal swallowed tightly as she looked from her
brother to her husband. "What are we going to do?"

"Do you have enough money to pay off the rest of
your gambling debt to him?" Brent asked Dan.

"Yes. I've got it now."

"Good. Wire it to the sheriff in Long Horn first
thing tomorrow. That way at least the lawman will
know that the debt has been paid back in full."

"I'll do it, but it's Crystal he's after, and as mean
as he is, I wouldn't put anything past him. That's
why I had to come and find you." He looked at his sister. "I couldn't rest until I had warned you."

Dan had had time to do a lot of serious thinking
during these last months of searching for Crystal.
The realization that she might be in very real danger
had made him realize how selfish he'd been all these
years. He hadn't cared about his sister's welfare. He
had only used her to further his own fortunes. He
regretted that deeply now.

Crystal looked up at Dan and smiled gently. Tears
were shining in her eyes as she went to him and put
her arms around him. "Thank you, Dan."

"For what?" He was taken aback by her display of
emotion.

"For caring about me."

Dan gave her a hug. "I love you, Crystal. I'm
sorry I haven't always been the brother I should have
been to you. I'll try to make it up to you somehow."

"You already have."

"I have?"

"Yes, by coming here to warn me." Her words
were heartfelt. "But what are you going to do about
your own life? Are you going to find a way to earn
an honest living?"

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do."

"You're welcome to stay on here at the HalfMoon," Brent offered. "I can always use another
ranch hand."

Dan chuckled, his mood growing a bit lighter as
he thought of himself on horseback all day, working
stock or trying to saddle-break a wild horse. "I'm not exactly the world's best horseman. I was
thinking more along the lines of getting a job at the
saloon in town and maybe tending bar."

Crystal was thrilled by this change in her brother.
In his heart, she realized, he truly was a good man.

Brent went back to work with Hank, while Dan
stayed on to visit longer with Crystal. It was late in
the afternoon when he rode for town. He was going
to wire the last of the money he owed Hall to Sheriff
Spiller in Long Horn the next day and ask if there
had been any news about the missing man. He
promised to let Crystal know what he heard back
from the lawman.

A short time later, Hank left for the day as well,
and Brent was alone with Crystal. He finally
broached the subject of the threat against her.

"I don't know how much we should be worried
about this Hall showing up here, but I want you to
be prepared to defend yourself, just in case," he told
her.

"I've got my derringer," she reassured him.

"Have you ever handled a six-gun?"

"Once or twice."

"That's not good enough. I'm going to give you
shooting lessons-now, tonight." His tone was
fierce. "I want you to be ready if there is trouble."

Crystal didn't want to think about that
frightening scenario, but there could be no hiding
from it. "All right. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Brent got his six-gun and took her out behind the cabin for some target practice. He handed the
revolver to her and pointed toward a tree stump
some distance away.

"See if you can hit that stump," he told her.

Crystal lifted the gun and tried to take aim. The
gun was heavy and a bit awkward for her to handle
compared with her derringer. She missed the tree by
a wide margin.

"Try again. We're going to stay here and keep at
it until you get it right."

"I hope you're a patient man. That could take a
while," she said with a pained grin, taking aim once
more. This time her shot went wide on the other
side of the tree stump.

Crystal was determined, if nothing else. She tried
again-and missed again.

"I think I like shooting my derringer better," she
said with a nervous laugh, disappointed with her
own performance.

"Your derringer is fine, but it's only a two-shot,"
Brent reminded her.

"I know, and if I'm this bad at hitting a target as
big as that tree stump, those two shots aren't going
to do me much good."

He laughed at her. "You'll get better. It's just
going to take some time, that's all. Let's try it again,
but this time I'll help you."

Brent came to stand behind Crystal. He put his
arms around her to steady the gun as she took
careful aim.

Crystal enjoyed the warmth and excitement of
having Brent standing so near her. She would have
liked to just turn around and hug him, but she knew
this was serious. She concentrated on his directions
and got off another round.

I did it!" Crystal shouted when the shot actually
hit the tree stump.

"All right, now try it again, on your own," he
directed, stepping back to watch.

With great care and precision, Crystal held the
gun steady and fired. This time she only grazed the
stump, but it was the best she'd done yet on her
own.

"There is hope," she told Brent, her confidence
growing. "I just wish we didn't have to worry about
any of this."

"So do I, but it's important you learn how to
shoot."

"Maybe women aren't supposed to be good with a
gun.

He grinned. "Don't talk like that around Abby.
She's a real good shot."

"Yes, but she's a Hunter."

"Hey, darling, you're a Hunter now, too."

She returned his grin. "I guess I'd better keep
practicing. I have a standard to uphold. I don't want
Abby to disapprove of me."

"That's right."

Brent pulled her close for a quick kiss, then let her
go so she could continue to practice.

He didn't say anything more as she made slow but
steady progress. When they finally quit and returned
to the cabin for the night, Brent offered up a silent
prayer that they would never have to find out just
how good Crystal could be with a gun.

It was late in the day when John Hall rode into
Diablo. He was cautious, yet alert. He didn't want
to draw any undue attention to himself, but he also
wanted to keep a look out for Dan Stewart. He
didn't want the gambler to know he was so close on
his trail.

The Lone Star Saloon beckoned. John hoped this
was the end of his search. He'd heard in San Miguel
about a pretty singer who was performing here. He
had a gut feeling it was Crystal, and it looked like
Dan felt that way, too. He'd been following the lowlife, card-cheating worm for quite some time, and he
hoped this was the end of the trail.

Soon, very soon, Crystal would be his.

John didn't rein in before the saloon, but chose to
tie up his mount on a side street, just in case Dan
was in town. He wanted the element of surprise on
his side. He strode up to the swinging doors and
took a quick glance inside to make sure Dan wasn't
there before going in.

"Whiskey," he ordered gruffly at the bar.

"Evening," Ken said easily when he came over
to wait on him. It wasn't easy to faze the bartender,
but he couldn't help staring at the stranger's face. He'd ncver seen anyone so disfigured before.

"What are you looking at?" John challenged.

"A paying customer," Ken managed quickly,
taking the money that had been shoved across the
bar at him. "Enjoy."

Ken moved away, leaving the man alone.

John took his tumbler of whiskey and went to sit
at a table near the back. He wanted to be able to
watch what was going on and to listen to all the talk
in the bar.

"I'm Violet. Would you like some company
tonight?" a saloon girl asked as she stopped by his
table. He wasn't the most attractive man around, but
sometimes his kind was willing to pay more for a
woman.

"I sure would," John said, motioning for her to sit
down. "You want a drink?"

"No, I want a man." She smiled at him,
running her tongue over her lips in a suggestive
way.

"You came to the right table, darling." John
wasn't averse to a little recreation.

"Let's go upstairs," Violet invited.

"In a while. I want to hear the singer perform
first. I heard she's real good," he answered.

"I hate to disappoint you, but Ruby ain't singing
here anymore. She quit."

"Where did she go? Who'd she run off with?"
John demanded quickly.

Violet was tired of all the men asking about Ruby and wanting Ruby. "What does it matter? You got
me instead."

John realized his mistake and forced himself to sit
back. He smiled at her. "You're right, Violet. I do
have you, and you are the best-looking woman in
the Lone Star."

She smiled and purred at him. "I'm the most
talented, too. I can't wait to show you how I can
entertain you.

"Let's go on upstairs then, Violet. I could use a
little entertaining right now."

John drained his whiskey and followed her up the
steps to her room.

Violet closed and locked the door behind them,
then began to slowly undress, wanting to be
alluring.

"Don't waste time, woman. Get naked and lay
yourself down," John ordered.

Violet had dealt with all kinds of men in the
time she'd worked at the Lone Star, so his
crudeness didn't surprise her or bother her.
She did as he asked, expecting to be paid
handsomely for obeying him so quickly.

John freed himself from his pants and fell on top
of her without another word.

Violet gritted her teeth against his painful
possession. It was bad enough he was ugly, but he was
rough, too. Only the thought of the money he would
be paying her, held her still. She was relieved when he finished quickly. She started to squirm out from
underneath him, eager to get away.

"Where do you think you're going?" John
demanded.

"You're done, aren't you?" Violet retorted.

"I'll let you know when I'm done," he said in a
snarl, and he started moving again. This time he
shut his eyes and pretended she was Crystal. His
hands were harsh upon her soft flesh, and when she
made protesting noises, he smiled to himself. That
was what he wanted to do-cause Crystal Stewart a
lot of pain. The thought of hurting Crystal brought
him to satisfaction again quickly. He collapsed on
top of Violet. He lay still for a moment, glad that
she didn't try to get away from him again. Finally he
rose up over her.