Ransom Canyon (20 page)

Lauren walked in the back door and smiled when she didn’t hear her parents screaming at each other. The night had turned from good to great with one rose, and nothing, not even their fighting or Reid trying to make a pass or getting a Cookie Monster cake would change that.

“Did you have a good time, sweetie?” Margaret asked.

“I had a great time. It was the perfect party.” She kissed them both on the cheek. “Oh, one thing, I’ve decided I’m going to Tech when I graduate, and I plan to graduate early, so start saving.”

Pop looked shocked. He glanced at Margaret. “Man, they sure do grow up fast.”

Lauren laughed. “Maybe you two should consider having another kid so you’ll still have something to fight about.”

To her surprise her pop looked like he was considering the idea. Then, Margaret jabbed him in the ribs with one of the forks for roasting hot dogs.

Lauren backed away as they both tried to out-yell each other on which thought her idea was the worst they’d ever heard.

They were still yelling when Lauren fell asleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Yancy

T
HE
WIND
HOWLED
all Monday morning like a pack of wolves, holding back the spring. Yancy Grey usually liked working outside, but today he’d found one excuse after another to stay indoors.

After a breakfast of leftover donuts, Yancy tackled Miss Bees’s to-do list. Like Miss Abernathy, Miss Bees had never married, but unlike Miss Abernathy, she didn’t have a kind bone in her body. She’d taught physical education for forty years after playing semi-pro baseball right out of college. She had a wall of trophies and ribbons to prove it. From the looks of her place, she’d played baseball, golf and hockey. Worn sticks and bats and clubs occupied every corner, and she used them as walking canes. Their prominent display was probably her way of burglar-proofing the place.

She limped around her house, pointing with a golf club at every crack in her walls. Most only needed toothpaste stuck in the cracks, left to dry, and one brush of paint to complete the job. But she felt the need to instruct him, to tell him to be careful and inspect everything he did.

“Mind telling me why you’re in a bad mood today, Miss Bees?” he finally asked.

“I’m not in a bad mood,” she shouted as if he’d suddenly gone deaf. “You don’t want to see me in a bad mood, believe me. I’m a woman who keeps her temper under control. I’ve only lost it a few times in my life and then only with good reason.”

He believed her completely. If this was happy, Yancy wasn’t sure he would live through mad.

As soon as he finished, he headed back to the office feeling like he needed to be vaccinated to make sure he didn’t catch what she had.

The old folks must have heard the wind, too, because Leo was the only one to wander out to sit in the glass office in front of Yancy’s rooms. When the mailman walked past, Leo started talking without looking up, like one of them chatty snowmen stores put out around Christmas that were movement activated.

“I’ve heard tell,” Leo began, “that when the wind whines like this, death is riding in. The Apache have a legend about a dark spirit who walks the night in the space between winter and spring. He holds back the warm air for as long as he can. At first he’s strong and not even the bravest of the brave can fight him and win, but eventually, he ages and can no longer stand against the changing seasons. When he finally turns his back and rides away, he’ll take the breath of whoever stands near.”

The few rusty red hairs on Leo’s head seemed to stand on end. “So this might be a good day to stay inside, Yancy.”

“I don’t believe in Apache legends. Plus, you probably made that up, Mr. Leo. In the two months I’ve been here I’ve learned not to believe a word you say.”

Leo smiled. “You’re smart, young man. Only you might want to remember that even an honest man lies now and then, and a liar sometimes accidentally tells the truth.”

Yancy just nodded, then decided to skip his usual lunch of soup and head over to Mr. Halls’s place. With the wind whipping up dirt, he couldn’t paint outside, but he could paint the old principal’s living room. It had taken him two days just to move out all the books. Once the walls dried, they’d be putting them back, and no one would notice the paint job. But Mr. Halls wanted it done, so Yancy agreed.

He needed something to keep his mind off Ellie. Cap’s niece hadn’t been by but once all day, and the last time she’d checked on him, too many people had been around for them to say anything personal to each other, even if he could think of something personal to say.

She had checked his prairie dog bite and told him he didn’t have to wear the bandage anymore. She hadn’t even patted his hand or anything. That woman could be downright irritating when she was all professional-like.

Apparently, when he didn’t develop rabies, she lost interest in him. If he wanted to keep a girl like her, he needed to come up with some symptoms.

By six that night his back ached from painting and moving books around. He went home planning to clean up and eat at the café. He was too tired to even open a can of soup.

He decided to stretch out on his bed and relax, only he fell asleep. Dreams of wild prairie dogs chasing him and howling like the wind outside finally woke him. It was almost nine, but Yancy didn’t want to go back to sleep.

After pacing the dark glass office, he decided to take a walk. The wind had finally slowed, and it wasn’t too cold. Yancy strode out of the side office door and stood in the shadows, thinking about Leo’s legend. He’d never really had much he believed in, but he sure didn’t believe a dark spirit rode the wind.

Slowly, wishing he’d brought a stick along or one of Miss Bees’s bats, he moved to the side of the road. The gas station was still open, but not a single car was parked out front. When he finished his walk, Yancy thought he might go inside and buy one of the burritos. Nothing the gas station sold was worth eating, but it was fast, and this time of night they sometimes had two-for-one sales on the burritos.

As he moved in the shadows, he saw the truck he’d thought might belong to the con called Cowboy pass by. Yancy watched as it turned off the highway and circled around to the back of the gas station where a dozen or more trailer homes were.

The trailer park was blocked from view by a line of storage buildings. Yancy crossed the deserted street and moved behind the station.

It wasn’t too hard to find where the truck had parked or the two cons he’d hated in prison. All he had to do was follow the cussing. From his vantage point between two dark mobile homes, he saw the men unloading something from the truck to the trunk of an old car. It looked big enough to be a side of beef or a body. Each claimed he was lifting the heaviest part.

Yancy had no idea what they were doing, but he’d bet it was something illegal. Freddie, the bald one, mentioned something about Arlo not doing his share of the work. Cowboy didn’t argue about that but muttered that all this would be over by the end of the month, and he’d never have to look at him or Arlo again.

The wind kicked up, sending old bags and trash whirling through the lot. Yancy didn’t think the dark spirit would get him, but he wasn’t so sure that the two cons wouldn’t track him down if they caught his scent. Somehow they were linked with the recent trouble at the ranches. He could feel it.

Retracing his steps, he noticed the café’s open sign was still blinking. Hunger drove him toward the lights.

Several people were in the side room Dorothy had labeled Private Dining as if it were a fancy place that didn’t get the same paper napkins the front part did.

When he tried the door it was unlocked, so he thought he’d see if he couldn’t get a quick meal.

As soon as he was inside, Sissy stood up from the booth where she’d been sitting and welcomed him. “Dorothy’s already shut down the grill, but I could make you a cold sandwich and chips if you’re hungry, Yancy. Coffee is left over, but it’s free.”

“Sounds great.” He wasn’t particular. “Any kind of sandwich would be fine.” He pointed to the back. “What’s going on?”

“The chamber of commerce moved over here to eat while they talk about the details for the upcoming event. Ain’t you heard? We got us a real big-time fund-raiser. They’re talking about making thousands of dollars.”

Yancy had heard Miss Abernathy talking about it. A famous pianist was coming to town for one night. She said folks from as far as Abilene and Lubbock would come to hear him. The old piano teacher had talked every one of the residents at Evening Shadows into buying at least one ticket as well as volunteering for the event.

Sissy handed him a coffee cup. “Have a seat with Ellie and I’ll bring your plate.” She waddled off to the kitchen rubbing her tummy as if it were a crystal ball hidden under her top.

He moved to the last of the booths. “You mind if I sit down?”

Ellie wasn’t frowning at him, but she didn’t look happy to see him. She seemed to be simply studying him, as though he was the new lab rat.

“I don’t mind.” To his surprise, she moved over so he could slide in beside her.

Yancy had no idea what to say. She didn’t ask about his finger, so he guessed that subject was done.

Finally, she broke the ice. “My Uncle Cap bought two tickets for the fund-raiser. You want to go with me? He told me he’d buy two so long as he didn’t have to go. He claims he’d rather do parking-lot duty than listen to music that isn’t country.”

“I’ve never been to a recital.”

“Me, either.” She frowned at him. “Do you want to go or not?”

“I’d like to, but I don’t have a car. I’m saving up for one.”

She had that strange look about her again. As if she were trying to figure out what planet he was from. “I can pick you up, but if we eat anything, you have to pay, because it’s a date.”

“Do folks eat at recitals?”

“Popcorn maybe,” she said.

He’d have to dip into his savings, but he figured it’d be worth it. Smiling, he moved a little closer until his leg brushed against hers. “It’s a date.”

She grinned. Ellie may not have had many dates, but she’d had more than him. She sat with him while he ate, and Sissy sat across from them talking about how her body was falling apart now that she was pregnant. Yancy barely kept up with the conversation.

When he paid for Ellie’s Coke and walked her out to her car, he felt as though he was walking into a normal life with his head up.

He held her car door open, and when she climbed in, he kissed her cheek. “Good night,” was all he could manage, though he thought about adding sweetie or honey. Somehow that just didn’t fit Ellie.

“Good night,” she answered. “See you next Saturday night.”

As she drove off he couldn’t stop smiling. He had a date.

Yancy had a pure moment of joy before he turned around and saw Freddie and Cowboy staring at him.

His perfectly normal life was about to end. This was worse than Leo’s Apache dark spirit.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Staten

S
TATEN
WAITED
IN
Quinn’s tiny living room for her to finish dressing. A cool spring breeze drifted past her open back door and made the old house smell new. He hated the whole idea of this concert from the beginning, but never as much as he did right now, dressed up in his best suit and boots. With his arm still in the sling, he felt as if he’d be useless to Quinn if trouble came.

“You don’t have to go,” he yelled at her closed bedroom door. “You’ve nothing to prove to anyone.”

No one around knew what had happened to Quinn when she’d studied under Lloyd deBellome, and Staten knew that was the way she wanted it. They all thought the pianist to be a great and gifted man. If Miss Abernathy called him
special
one more time, Staten swore he’d do his best to choke her with one hand.

Despite the hunger to flatten the guy and break not only his fingers but every bone in his body, Staten wished this night would just be over, and they could all go back to forgetting Lloyd existed. Quinn was the only person who counted. He wanted her safe and happy. Keeping her away from Lloyd seemed the best way to do just that.

Only Quinn had decided she wanted to go to the concert. No, not the concert, he reconsidered. She wanted to face Lloyd. She wanted to be done with the man who’d changed her life, crushed her dreams and sent her into hiding from all strangers for twenty years.

His shy Quinn had something to prove to herself, and Staten planned to stand beside her. He didn’t mind that she was shy. Hell, he couldn’t think of more than a dozen people he liked to be around, but he didn’t want her frightened.

“I have to go,” she called from the bedroom. “He’s asked Miss Abernathy if I’ll be there, and I have to show him I’m no longer afraid of him. He’s nothing to me. No more than a rabid dog I once encountered in the woods of Manhattan.”

Staten knew she was behind the door giving herself a pep talk. Maybe if she kept talking long enough they’d miss the concert.

His arm and shoulder hurt from doing exactly what the doctor had told him not to do. If she’d just say the word he’d strip off his Sunday clothes and cuddle up in bed with her, but he knew she had made up her mind. He was so proud of her strength.

“Well,” he said, “if you’re going, I’m going with you. I plan to be right by your side all night, so don’t think I’m backing out if you’re going.”

“I know you will be beside me,” she answered. “I’m counting on it. But remember your promise. You will not attack him in any way. This isn’t about you, Staten. It’s a demon I have to fight on my own.”

“What if he attacks
me
?” Staten could only hope.

“He won’t. Lloyd would never fight. He is very proud of his appearance. I remember him saying that he was born to perform, blessed with his long aristocratic nose and beautiful hands.”

Staten swore under his breath. He had no choice but to go along with what Quinn wanted. Mad as he was that someone had hurt her, if he did the wrong thing, it might hurt their relationship. The possibility of what might be between them had been building inside him since she’d told him she was pregnant. Lloyd deBellome would be here for a few hours, but Staten wanted Quinn in his world for the rest of his life.

They’d been dancing around all the important conversations they needed to have all week. Nothing had been settled about the baby or what either planned to do about it. All he knew was that she wouldn’t stay with him at the ranch. If he couldn’t get her to spend the night, he didn’t have much chance of getting her to move in.

The baby was a Kirkland. He or she should be born on Kirkland land. Only, he wasn’t about to say that out loud.

He remembered how his granny used to quote Eleanor Roosevelt.
We must all, at some point, do the one thing that we believe we can not do.
Maybe facing Lloyd was Quinn’s one thing, just like letting her make this call about their child was his.

He knew this night was going to be hard for her and he almost claimed he wasn’t feeling up to going. Only, Staten guessed she’d just get the sheriff or someone else to go along with her. His shy Quinn was showing the first signs of having a backbone, and he was so proud he couldn’t, wouldn’t rain on her parade.

“I’m ready,” she said as she emerged from the bedroom. “And, like it or not, Staten Kirkland, you’re my date.”

He watched her walk toward him, more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. The weight she’d gained with the pregnancy rounded her slim body to perfection and the cream-colored silk pantsuit she’d bought to wear tonight hugged her in all the right places. One strand of midnight pearls hung from her high neckline.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, loving the way her long hair swayed straight down her back in one shiny waterfall. How could he have known her all his life and not seen the full beauty of Quinn until this moment?

“I didn’t dress this way because of Lloyd or the fund-raiser. I want everyone to know tonight that I’m stepping out of hiding. I want them to know I’m with you, Staten.”

“I’d like nothing more,” he admitted and realized just how much he meant every word. “But, Quinn, folks aren’t going to realize we’re together tonight because all anyone is going to see is you.”

He offered his arm, and they walked out into the cool breeze of spring. Staten couldn’t stop staring at her.

They drove to the concert both lost in their own thoughts. Staten couldn’t help wishing that the evening was over, and they were on their way back to her place. He wanted to hold her.

When they pulled up at the high school, a hundred cars and trucks were already there. One spot on the loading dock behind the auditorium was roped off for Lloyd’s classic BMW. Since the spot was empty, Staten guessed that the guest of honor hadn’t arrived yet. All Lloyd had to do was pull up and walk into the back of the auditorium. That way he wouldn’t have to mix with the locals. His granny and Miss Bees seemed to be guarding the back door just in case some fan rushed in. Which wasn’t likely. Most people in town couldn’t name a single famous pianist.

The faculty lot was roped off for valet parking.

Staten pulled into the line and waited his turn. He recognized several men with the volunteer fire department sitting like pigeons on the loading dock beside the back door, waiting for the rush of cars needing to be parked.

Retired Captain Fuller smiled at him from behind a card table. “Five bucks to park your car, Staten. All proceeds go to the fire department.”

Staten helped Quinn from the truck, tossed his keys to one of the firemen and handed Cap a twenty.

The old man frowned. “I don’t make change.”

“I didn’t figure you did, Mr. Fuller.” Staten might be over twenty years out of high school, but Cap would always be Mr. Fuller to him.

Staten and Quinn walked into the front of the school and along a wide foyer to the open doors of the auditorium. Ransom Canyon High had been built in sections. The main wing and the cafeteria were there when he and Quinn went to school, but the auditorium had been added years later along with the new gym. Both were colorfully walled with a tile mosaic of the canyon.

“You all right, Quinn?” he whispered as they handed over their hundred-dollar tickets. Quinn had a death grip on his good arm, so he wasn’t sure.

She nodded slightly, too nervous to speak.

Wanting to help, he pulled one memory of their high school days. “Remember when we had a Howdy Dance down the hall in the cafeteria our senior year? You dressed like Raggedy Ann with your hair up in dog ears.”

She smiled. “I turned my head and dipped my hair in your drink, then panicked and slung red soda all over everyone around us.” She laughed. “Everyone suddenly had freckles.”

He nodded. “I didn’t mind. When we danced later I thought of asking if you’d do it again. That was the funniest thing that happened all night.”

He looked into her warm, loving eyes, thankful he’d found a memory they alone shared. Leaning close, he whispered, “Ready?”

“Ready,” she answered.

They hadn’t made it to their seats in the third row before Miss Abernathy waylaid them. “You must come backstage to meet our guest when he arrives. He told me he’s been longing to see you again.”

Both Staten and Quinn shook their heads, but the dear piano teacher insisted. “Don’t worry, we’re keeping it very private. I’ve got Miss Bees at the stage door with orders to let no one in but Master deBellome. She brought a hockey stick and a bat to make sure.” Miss Abernathy checked her watch. “I’m afraid you’ll only have time for a quick hello. I really thought he’d be here by now. It’s almost time to open the curtain.”

Staten looked at Quinn and waited. She was calling the shots tonight.

Quinn shook her head slightly just as Miss Abernathy was pulled away by an emergency. It seemed one of the church buses was unloading and blocking the spot for the honored guest.

Once she was out of sight, Quinn let out a long-held breath. “I can do this. I can listen to the music, then leave. If I have to meet him, I’ll simply act as if I don’t remember him.”

“Me, too,” Staten whispered. “It won’t be too hard a job for me. The sooner the bastard is out of my state, the better.”

The crowd began to fill up the auditorium. Staten counted down each minute. In five minutes it would start. In forty minutes it would be over. They’d clap and walk out, and it would all be finished.

He laced Quinn’s fingers into his and held on tightly, trying not to think of what the man who was about to step on the stage had done to this woman he cared about. He’d drugged her, then raped her, then beat her, and when she’d refused to allow it to continue, he’d broken her fingers.

Staten felt his breathing quicken and his muscles tighten. Hard as he tried to stop it, hatred rose in his chest.

Hope that the guy wouldn’t show up sprang into Staten’s thought. It was ten after eight. Maybe he wasn’t coming? Even the firemen were in the auditorium in the back row. The only person not here tonight was Lloyd deBellome.

Miss Abernathy showed up again at Staten’s side.

“It’s past time to start,” Staten said, hoping the little piano teacher would suggest calling the whole thing off.

Miss Abernathy looked as if she might start crying. “The master just came in, but he refuses to begin until he sees you, Quinn. He says you were very special to him.”

Staten shook his head. He wouldn’t put Quinn through that.

Panic rose in Miss Abernathy’s voice, and she began to hiccup out in little squeals. People in the audience were getting restless. “Quinn, please come backstage for a moment. I can’t deal with this. I had no idea he’d be so temperamental. He...he yelled at me. Called me names no one has ever called me.”

To his surprise, Quinn stood. “I’ll see him, but Staten is coming with me.”

They moved across the front of the stage to where the sheriff stood guarding the entrance to backstage. He pulled the curtain aside and started to speak to Quinn but stopped suddenly as if he’d seen a ghost and not one of his friends.

Miss Abernathy and Quinn moved behind the curtain, but the sheriff gripped Staten’s arm when he would have passed.

“Wait a minute, Staten,” Dan Brigman whispered. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not letting you pass. Hell’s breaking loose backstage with our guest, and something tells me seeing you won’t help.”

Staten tried to jerk away but was aware that most of the audience could still see him. “I’m going with Quinn.” His words came out fast and hard.

Dan’s grip didn’t lessen. “If ever a man had murder in his eyes, it’s you. I’m not letting you pass until I know what’s going on.”

Staten knew he only had seconds. He didn’t want to fight Dan. The sheriff wasn’t the problem.

The truth was all he had time to tell. “Lloyd raped Quinn when she was in college. He broke her fingers, making her quit any dreams of being a concert pianist, and now the bastard won’t play until he sees her.”

Dan stared at Staten and seemed to read all he wasn’t saying. “If you assault him, I’ll have to arrest you. It’s my duty.”

“I understand.”

To his surprise the sheriff released his arm and let Staten pass behind the curtain.

Quinn was standing in the center of the stage. A huge baby grand piano was between her and a tall, thin man with salt and pepper hair streaked back from his high forehead. His features were sharp, like a hawk’s. Long nose, lifted eyebrows, hollow cheeks.

“Of course you remember me, Quinn,” he said in a harsh whisper as if he’d just been insulted. “I noticed your last name is still O’Grady. Apparently, you never got over me.” Lloyd deBellome grinned as if he shared a private joke with her.

Staten looked around. Miss Abernathy was nowhere in sight. Lloyd must have sent her on an errand. Somehow deBellome had planned to get Quinn alone, and he thought he’d won. Only he didn’t see Staten to his left ready to storm in if the guy moved one step closer to Quinn. The master couldn’t have seen the sheriff behind Staten, either, or the two ladies standing in the open doorway at the back. All his focus was on his prey.

“I’m afraid I don’t know you, or want to.” Quinn’s voice was surprisingly strong. “I recall very little about my time in New York. It was a dark period in my life with nothing worth remembering.”

Lloyd deBellome laughed. “I remember you. How you tried to fight at first. How you curled into a ball when I began to discipline you and how you passed out, making the ending to our little mating rather boring. I’ve looked for you for over twenty years. You were the one that got away. The one I couldn’t control. The one I couldn’t make scream or beg. I thought I’d lost you forever, but your old piano teacher told me where you were. One call from her and you’re in my life again.”

Staten took a step, and Dan grabbed him from behind. “I’ve changed my mind, Staten. I’ve heard enough. I’ll hold him for you if you decide to pound on him.”

Staten nodded, knowing he’d honor Quinn’s request as long as he could.

“You are nothing to me, not even a memory.” Quinn stopped Staten with her strong words. “You’re nothing but a sick, mean, old man.”