Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona (24 page)

“Ah-huh. That’s a big help, thank you.” He took a step towards the door and reached for the knob.

Christy stared, not daring to hope she’d get off so easily. “That’s it? You didn’t ask me about the man who bandaged my arm.” As soon as she said the words, her heart sank in dismay. She couldn’t believe she’d been so stupid. Parks was ready to walk out the door and she as much as asked him to stay and question her further. She turned to leave. “Good night then, Mr. Parks.”

“Miss Grey?” The tone of his voice halted Christy in her tracks.

“Yes?” Her breath caught in her throat.

“You seem to be protecting someone, and I’d like to understand why.”

Warmth stole to her cheeks. “I won’t pretend I don’t know what you mean.”

He nodded but didn’t reply.

“One of the men bandaged my wound when I thought I might bleed to death. He took me aside and spoke to me as he worked, explaining he wasn’t part of the gang.”

“And you believed him?” His brows rose, but the rest of his face remained impassive.

“Not at first, as I assumed he must be with them. Then I realized he came several minutes after the others attacked. He assured me he’d only stumbled across their camp the night before and stopped for a meal. He didn’t know what they intended until after I’d been shot.”

“So you think he came to help you, rather than take part in the robbery?”

“I do.”

“Right now I can assure you I’m only interested in the leader of the gang. All right?”

She swiveled and eyed him through narrowed lids. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to at this point. You can trust I know what I’m doing.”

“How? I’ve just met you.”

“That you have, Miss Grey, that you have. Let’s suffice it to say I have a reason for not disclosing everything I know.” He placed his hat back on and touched the brim. “I bid you good day.”

Nevada paced the confines of his room, his insides twisting in knots. Tom Parks an agent for Wells Fargo? Somehow he’d known the man wasn’t merely another cowpoke or ranchman whiling away time in Tombstone. Why hadn’t Parks admitted his occupation when they’d talked that evening in the Golden Eagle? It was possible the man suspected his involvement in the stagecoach holdup and hoped to uncover the truth from Christy. But he’d expressed an interest in Jake, the leader of the outlaw band, so that might be all there was to his visit.

Whatever the reason, Nevada had better be prepared with a plan if things started unraveling, or there’d be a neatly knotted rope around his neck. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and encountered something soft. He withdrew a square of cloth and allowed the corners to fall open on the palm of his hand, exposing the delicate cameo brooch he’d demanded from Jake after the robbery. How could he have forgotten to return this to Christy? He’d meant to do it long ago.

Time to set things right. He headed for the door and then paused, his hand touching the knob. If Tom Parks still waited in the lobby, it wouldn’t look good to appear holding an item taken from one of the passengers. Stepping over to the bureau, he plucked the brooch from the cloth and set it carefully on the smooth surface next to the water pitcher. Tomorrow would be soon enough to return it, when he knew there’d be no chance of involvement from the investigating agent. Hopefully Christy would be pleased to have her grandmother’s brooch again and wouldn’t think too poorly of him for waiting so long.

Christy leaned over Sara’s bed and smoothed the hair from the sleeping girl’s forehead, hating to wake her but knowing she must be hungry after her ordeal.

Sara stirred, her head moving from one side of the pillow to the other. “No, don’t touch me. Leave me alone!” Her voice rose in a near shriek, and her hands struck at Christy.

“Shh. It’s me, Christy. No one is going to hurt you.” She kept talking in a soothing tone until Sara quieted.

The young woman’s eyes opened. “I’m sorry. I guess I must have been dreamin’ one of the customers—” Silent tears coursed down her pale cheeks.

“It’s all right. No need to explain. I understand.” Christy pulled up a chair and sat, then cradled Sara’s hand in both of her own. “You’re safe now. No one will ever touch you again in that way.”

Large, sad eyes, still misty with tears, focused on Christy. “How long have I been here?”

“A couple of hours. We let you sleep, but it’s almost suppertime, and I thought you might like me to bring you a tray. Are you able to eat?”

“I don’t know.” Sara hitched herself a little higher against the headboard, and Christy placed another pillow under her head. “Maybe a little.”

“Nellie has some wonderful soup and fresh bread, along with real milk. Does that sound good?”

Sara brightened. “Yes. But I can come down.” She tried to sit up.

“You mustn’t get up tonight,” Christy said gently. “We want you to rest. Doctor Goodfellow will be by to see you in the morning and check on your baby.”

Sara’s hand flew to her middle. “Is everything all right? I haven’t lost it, have I?”

“No, honey, and I’m sorry I worried you.” Christy leaned over and placed a tender kiss on Sara’s forehead. “Nellie and I thought it would be a good idea for the doctor to see you and make sure everything is fine.”

“Okay.” She turned a puzzled gaze on Christy. “Who’s Nellie?”

“She’s the lady who owns this place. Do you remember her bringing you upstairs and putting you to bed?”

“Not very well. I was so tired and frightened—and thankful to get out of that tent—I wasn’t thinkin’ clearly.”

“Who took you, Sara? Was it Gordon Townsley?” Christy had never trusted the saloon manager, and right now she’d like to impose some bodily harm on him.

“Yes, but he sent some of his flunkies to do his dirty work. One of them mentioned ‘the boss’ and the other said Townsley wants me for himself. I tried to ignore the rest of what they said about me, although it wasn’t much compared to things I’ve heard men say in the past.” Sara turned her head away and faced the brocade-covered wall on the far side of her bed. “That’s all I’m good for, you know. Pleasing men.”

Christy placed her finger under Sara’s chin, drawing her around. “Don’t ever say, or think, that again. You are precious in God’s sight, and He loves you so much. It’s not your fault you ended up in a horrible place where men did despicable things to you. And even if you’d made that decision for yourself, God will still forgive you if you ask Him to.”

Sara gave a small shake of her head, dislodging Christy’s hand. “I didn’t choose to go there, but I didn’t have much say in it, neither. After my folks died, I was near to starvin’ and gettin’ sickly. That’s when Gordon found me. He promised me a place to live, food to eat, and made it sound like a home. I went ’cause I believed him. It was true the first couple of weeks, till I got stronger and gained a little weight. Then he told me I needed to earn my keep.”

“He brought you to the Oriental?” Christy gritted her teeth to keep back the flow of words she’d like to heap on the man’s head. No sense in frightening Sara further. The poor girl had been through so much.

“Yes. At first he only asked me to serve drinks and didn’t let anyone touch me. But after a while, things changed. Men started offerin’ him good money to ‘spend time’ with me. I could tell he didn’t like it at first, but that didn’t last long. He started by sendin’ Joshua to my room. I think he figured Joshua wouldn’t repulse me, and I wouldn’t fight him.” She blushed, then the color drained from her cheeks. “But after two or three weeks he sent horrible men to my room….” Sara rubbed her upper arms, her chin quivering.

“It’s behind you now,” Christy murmured. “We’re going to make sure you have a new life.”

“But I can’t afford to stay here. I need to make my own way.”

“Nellie wants you to stay. She’s given me a job, and when you’re strong enough, you can help with light work in exchange for your room and board.”

“Why would she do that? I’m a stranger and a fallen woman. No one who’s decent—except you—wants anything to do with me.”

“That’s not true. There are other Christian people who won’t look down their nose at you. Granted, some will, but those kind aren’t worth bothering with. Nellie loves the Lord and is committed to doing His work here in Tombstone. She’s helped many people, and some of the men are already calling her ‘The Angel of Mercy,’ and I agree.” She brushed a strand of golden hair from Sara’s cheek. “Rest for a while, and I’ll bring you supper. And no more thinking poorly of yourself. You need to get strong for the wee one you’re carrying.”

“Thank you, Christy. I don’t know how I’d have survived without you.” Sara squeezed Christy’s hand. “I believe in God’s love because you’ve shown it to me.”

Christy drew the door shut behind her and stood in the hall, her shaking hands swiping at the tears rolling down her cheeks. Love like she’d never felt swelled her heart until she thought it would burst. Peace and joy threatened to swamp her, and gratitude to God Almighty brought on more tears. She pressed her back against the wall and bowed her face into her hands, suddenly overwhelmed with the impact of Sara’s words.

She’d made a difference in someone’s life and shown them God’s love. It was real. All of it. Everything Alexia had tried to tell her these past four years. God accepted and loved her, just for who she was. She didn’t need to prove anything to Him, other than returning His love. But now she knew she could. Freely. Without reservation. From this day on, she belonged to Him.

Early the next morning Christy checked on her mother sleeping peacefully in the adjoining bed and slipped out of her room. It was the first night in many that her mother’s coughing hadn’t kept Christy awake through the night. And now Ma’s skin looked cool and dry. Joshua needed exercise as well, beyond sitting in the chair in his room, and Doctor Goodfellow agreed it was time for him to be up and around. The wounds had healed in his stomach, but the doc didn’t want her brother taking chances by doing too much. Keeping him corralled might be a problem. At least the fact that his favorite gambling haunt burned down would keep him from traipsing back to the poker table anytime soon. Besides, she’d hogtie him if he even hinted at gambling again.

She headed for the lobby, hoping to find Nellie. Sitting around without doing her part didn’t sit well on Christy’s conscience. Rounding the corner in the front of the building, she heard Nellie singing an old familiar hymn. She paused to listen. Not once since arriving in Tombstone had she considered attending Sunday services, but the lovely melody coming from her new friend ignited a longing to do so.

Nellie looked up from polishing the surface of a low table in the lobby. “Good mornin’, dear. Yer up awfully early. Couldn’t ya sleep?”

“I think I had my first restful night since arriving in town. I hoped to find you before the day got busy to see what you’d like me to do.”

“Why, take care of yer family and Sara. Nothin’ else.”

“No, ma’am, that won’t do at all. Sara will more than likely be up and around today, and Ma’s sleeping peacefully. Josh needs very little care anymore, and you hired me to work.” She rocked on her heels. “So give me a job.”

A tinkling laugh broke from Nellie. “All right. How about takin’ over the dustin’ and sweepin’ the foyer before any more dirty feet come this way? After breakfast ya can fill the water pitchers in the occupied rooms. Tap on the door and see if anyone’s at home. If not, slip inside, get the pitcher, and bring it to the kitchen for fresh water. My boarders are used to havin’ that done of a mornin’.”

“All right, thank you. How about meals? May I help with those?”

“No. My cook and servin’ staff are well trained to care for the boarders and any payin’ customers who stop in, but thank ya for offering. Now go along with ya and check on your mama and Sara before breakfast is served.” She shooed Christy out of the room with her rag, her rich contralto laugh echoing down the hall.

Nevada stopped inside the dining room door, willing his nerves to remain steady. This was the first morning he’d be sitting down to the table with Christy. Being in her presence sent the blood pulsing through his body and made him feel more alive than he had in years. He’d not spent any time near her since Tom Parks’ departure last night—and, right before, the incident in the hall. Nevada still found it hard to believe he’d come so close to kissing her. He wasn’t sure what had possessed him to try, but he didn’t remember seeing a desire to flee shining in her beautiful eyes.

The dining room wasn’t set up with the typical long table most boardinghouses boasted, but rather smaller-sized tables seating two to six patrons. The number of customers eating each morning varied, but right now there were at least six people staying here besides Christy’s family. Of course, anyone off the street was welcome to pay to eat at this restaurant, and there always seemed to be a number of extra guests. He stepped away from the door and into the shadows. Let the others arrive first and see what happened.

Chattering voices came from the hall to his left. Two men with their wives on their arms advanced into the room. The gentlemen withdrew chairs from a table and seated the ladies, then took the remaining two chairs. A couple of minutes later, two bearded men entered and chose a table a stone’s throw from the group already seated. A handful of strangers trickled in, but still Nevada waited.

A familiar voice pulled his attention away from the dining area. Christy and Sara walked down the hall with Joshua moving cautiously between them. Nevada peered at Christy’s brother as he drew closer, wondering how he’d fared these past weeks since his injury. The young man seemed a little pale and walked with a halting gait, seeming to favor the leg where he’d been shot.

Nevada glanced at Sara and experienced a slight shock. The animated girl was a far cry from the fear-filled visage of the night before. Was it only relief at being in a safe place?

Nevada stepped forward as the trio stopped at the open archway to the dining room. He bowed to the ladies. “How are you all this morning?”

Sara gave a cry of joy. Standing on her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Nevada. I never had a chance to tell you how grateful I am you got me out of that horrid room before it burned down around me.” She dropped her arms to her sides. “I’ll never forget what you did for me. Never.”

Joshua stepped forward and thrust out his hand. “Me too, mister. I don’t know who you are, but Sara tells me you and the blacksmith toted me home the day I got shot.” He bobbed his head toward Sara. “Besides, you saved Sara. Not sure how I’ll ever repay you.”