"Haven't you guessed that, too, Jessica?" he asked. "Idalee is Fiona and Charles's daughter. I'll admit, I was as surprised as Idy when we found out Charles had cut us both completely out. But the Will was dated only a couple years before Charles died."
"Now wait a minute. Idalee's name is Morgan. She told me so herself."
Storm picked up two cups from the shelf and filled them. After Jessica took her cup, he sat down at her feet again.
"She uses her mother's maiden name, Jessica," he said as he waited for his coffee to cool enough to drink. "Charles made the doctor list him as father on Idy's birth certificate, though, and I guess Harlin was afraid Idy might use that birth certificate to try to break the Will. Anyway, he made a deal with her. He paid her — gave her money he thought she was going to use to leave town — in return for her written agreement not to make any claim against Charles's estate."
"But Idalee didn't leave town."
"No," Storm said with a hard laugh. "Idy's got spunk, she has. She had Elias buy the house on the edge of town for her under the pretense of turning it into a restaurant. She and Elias had always been close, ever since Elias came to work at the Lazy B as a cook for a while and they got to know each other. But Idalee had other plans for the house. You know what she did with it. She's never said why exactly, but I think she must have some idea of rubbing David and Harlin's noses in what she does and daring them to run her off."
"But what about you, Storm? Good lord, you must have worked with Charles at the Lazy B for at least twenty years."
"Twenty-two," Storm admitted. "Since I was five, like I said. I'm twenty-eight now, but the last year I haven't been near the Lazy B. Oh, Harlin offered me almost the same deal he made Idy, except that I had to legally change my name back to Wilson. I turned him down flat. And, for a while, I thought about fighting Harlin and David for what was mine, but I couldn't get over the hurt of what Charles had done."
Jessica set her coffee down and slipped out of the chair. Placing one arm around Storm's waist, she took his cup in her other hand and set it beside her own.
"Storm, that's enough for one night. This is hurting you too much to talk about." She snuggled her head against his shoulder, momentarily forgetting his wound. Feeling him wince under her cheek, she quickly straightened.
"Oh. We better change...."
Storm dropped a kiss on her lips, stilling her words. "I told you, the wound's not bothering me, Jessica. At least, not that much. And neither is talking to you. In fact, it's making me feel a whole lot better. I haven't talked to anyone about this in years. Idalee knows the story, of course, but it's not something we discuss."
Jessica scooted around and laid her head down in his lap. Despite what he said, his shoulder had to be hurting and at least this way she could be close to him. She pulled his hand onto her stomach and covered it with her own.
"Then tell me what happened to Charles and Fiona, Storm. How did they die? I assume Fiona's dead, too, from what you've been saying."
"They died together," Storm said after a moment. "I guess they would have wanted it that way, but it was such a damned waste. We never found out who shot them."
"Shot them? Oh, Storm."
Storm continued as though he hadn't heard her. "I don't know why Charles decided to get involved in the bank, either, but he bought it up when he heard it was having some problems. People in town were afraid they might lose their savings and started a run on it. Someone rode out to the ranch to tell him, and when he got back he told us he now owned the bank. He seemed to enjoy running it, too, because he went into town almost every day.
"David and I were running the ranch jointly by then, but it wasn't going smoothly. We had different ideas about how things should be done, and Charles always seemed to take my side. He and David argued violently about it at times in the evenings. I tried to stay out of it, but I knew what was going on. Harlin came back from school about that time, but he moved into town when Charles asked him if he wanted to learn the banking business."
When he fell silent, Jessica looked up to see him staring into the fire. "You...you said they were shot, Storm," she reminded him, somehow sensing he needed to purge himself of the rest of the tale.
"They were going to be married the next day," Storm said quietly. "Charles never told me why she had refused to legalize their relationship all those years, but Fiona was a pretty independent woman — Idy's a lot like her. Anyway, Fiona finally gave in."
Storm glanced at Jessica. "He was so damned happy, Jessica. I'd never seen him so elated. Fiona didn't go into town much, since I imagine you can guess how the women there treated her. Charles insisted she have a new dress made for the wedding, though, and she went in with Charles that afternoon for a final fitting and to pick it up. They never got home that evening and we found them when we went out to search. He had covered her with his own body, but someone had stood over them and made sure they were both dead."
Jessica's eyes filled with tears and she gulped back a sob. "He must have loved her so very much," she said around the lump in her throat.
Storm straightened his legs out and laid down beside her, gathering her against him. "He did, Jessica. The way I love you. I do, you know, my darlin' pretty lady. I would lay down my life for you in a minute if anyone tried to hurt you. You don't know how hard I wish things could be different."
Jessica sobbed aloud, this time for a different reason. The tears spilled from her eyes and she tried to bury her face against his chest to hide them.
Storm cupped her face and wiped a callused thumb on the corner of her eye. "Jessica? I'm sorry. If I'd thought my telling you how I feel would make you cry, I'd have...."
"Oh, hush, Storm Baker," she said as she placed her index finger on his lips. "Can't you tell the difference between a woman crying from sadness and one crying from happiness? I love you, too. I've already told you that. But I thought...Pr...."
"Don't think, Jessica darling," he said as he lowered his head. "Just let me love you again. Please. I love you and need you so much."
He stopped with his lips a bare inch from hers. "Unless...Jessica, I don't want to hurt you."
"The only way you could hurt me would be to not love me again, Storm," she said as she closed the distance separating them.
Storm glanced at Jessica the next morning while he led Spirit toward the cave's entrance. She still sat curled up in the middle of the comforter, dressed only in his shirt and socks.
When she sensed his eyes on her, Jessica glared briefly at him. After an instant, she tilted her chin up in stubborn defiance and turned her head aside.
He busied himself for a few minutes removing supplies from the shelf by the table and storing them in his saddlebags. After he dumped the coffee beans into a cloth sack and pulled the drawstring, he looked down at the table. Jessica's breakfast of biscuits and bacon remained untouched on her plate. He really should have waited until after she ate before he told her his plans, he guessed, but who would have thought such stubbornness lay under that pretty exterior?
Storm picked up the plate and crossed the room. Kneeling in front of her, he offered the plate to her.
"You're going to have to eat something before we leave, Jessica. It's a long ride to the next town with a train stop, and you'll get mighty hungry before we get there."
Jessica grabbed the plate and set it down by her side. She recrossed her arms under her breasts and stared over his shoulder, refusing to speak.
The go to hell look on Jessica's face flared Storm's temper and he rose over her.
"You're going to eat before we leave, damn it! And then you're going to get dressed or I'll put your clothes on you myself."
"I'm not going anywhere near a train stop!"
"You're going if I have to tie you on that horse," Storm gritted. "It's too dangerous for you to stay with me."
"I'm not leaving until I find what I came here for. Maybe you can hogtie me and carry me out of here, but I don't think you'll have the guts to show your face in town."
"I can always go in as Jedidiah," Storm reminded her.
Jessica's mind searched frantically for another argument. "You...you'd have to ride right up to the station with me. Someone might recognize your horse."
"I guess I'll just have to take that chance then, won't I? You obviously won't go on your own."
"Don't you dare try to make me feel guilty, Storm! Besides, by the time we get to the next closest town, my face will probably be on those wanted posters right along with yours. Even if Mr. Baker isn't dead, you don't think he's going to let an attack on him go unavenged, do you?"
"All the more reason for you to get out of here until we can get this mess straightened out, Jessica. You don't have a chance in hell of finding any land around her right now. Or any time in the near future, either. Harlin and David are determined to own this entire county. They've even tried to make Tobias sell out to them, just because his ranch borders on the edge of the Lazy B."
The mutinous pout returned to Jessica's lips and her chin rose an inch higher. "What if I'm not looking for land?"
"I don't give a damn what you're looking for, Jessica. Don't you see what a mess you've gotten yourself into by helping me? Once you get back to Wyoming, you'll be safe for a while."
Safe, but in debt to Ned for my ranch, Jessica thought. Maybe she should tell Storm about the gold. She had to find it. Part of Ned and Mattie's life savings were at risk now, too.
"I'm sure you've got friends back there," Storm said, breaking into her thoughts. "Maybe even a smart lawyer, who can clear you of this mess."
A contemplating look filled Jessica's face. "As a matter of fact," she mused, "I do." She scrambled up and laid a hand on Storm's arm, tilting her face up to him. "Come with me, Storm. I do know someone. He's the attorney I use and he also handles criminal cases. He'll help you, too."
And maybe Frederick could find a way to forestall Olson's foreclosure, if her delay in finding the gold made her miss her next payment. She probably should have gone to see Frederick before she left Wyoming, instead of allowing her pride to keep her from admitting to her friends how desperate her money situation was. Right now, though, Storm's plight seemed more important even than holding on to her ranch.
"I can't leave Idy here alone right now, Jessica. Lord knows what happened after we left there last night."
"Just how in hell do you think you're going to help her when you have to hide out here? It makes more sense to get some help to clear your name!"
"I fight my own battles, Jessica. I always have and I always will."
"Ned was right. You ride a lonely trail, don't you, Storm?"
"I've had to. Come on. Eat your breakfast and get dressed."
"All right, Storm," Jessica agreed, startling Storm with her compliance. She sat back down and picked up a biscuit and piece of bacon. "Maybe you're right. I'll go back and get Frederick to help me. He's always done anything I've asked him to before."
"Who the hell's Frederick?"
Jessica munched a bite of biscuit in an attempt to still the twitch at the side of her mouth. She made herself swallow first, then bent her head so her hair would slide down to hide her face while she tore the biscuit open and placed a piece of bacon inside it.
"He's the attorney I mentioned," she said before she took another bite.
"Oh," Storm muttered. "And he'll do anything you ask, huh?"
"Umph," Jessica said through her mouthful of biscuit. She swallowed again and busied herself making another biscuit sandwich. "Like I said, he always has before."
Storm stared down at the shining curls hiding Jessica's face for a moment. "Just how well do you know this Frederick?" he asked before he could stop himself.
"Oh, I've known him for years," Jessica said, waving a hand vaguely in the air. "He's a marvelous dancer."
Storm tightened his hands into fists, then turned abruptly away from her. "I'll get your horse ready while you dress."
The twitch stilled with no problem on Jessica's cheek as she tossed her hair back and watched him cross the cave floor. She hadn't really lied to him, she told herself. Frederick really was a wonderful dancer, even if he was three times her age. And he did do everything she asked him to, as long as she paid the fees he charged her.
She swallowed the last bite of biscuit, though it tasted like dry leaves in her mouth. Taking the second one with her, she rose and went to the fireplace, where her riding skirt lay over the chair back, now dry. She stuffed the biscuit in the pocket before she shrugged into the skirt and picked up her blouse.
It really was almost beyond repair, and she had another one in her saddlebags. But her lips quirked and she slid her arms into the torn blouse, tying it snugly under her breasts just as Storm led Cinnabar into the cave.
"I'm ready," she said when he glanced at her. "Maybe we should wait for Ned to find us, though. I don't think I have enough money for train fare back to Wyoming."
Storm's eyes lingered on the open neck of her blouse before he determinedly looked away and handed Cinnabar's reins to her. He reached up to pull back a rock beside the supply shelf and drew out a bag of coins, which jingled when he held them out to her.
"Idy brings this out now and then. For some damned reason she thinks I deserve part of her profits from the brothel, just because she started it with Baker money. I've been keeping it for her and Elias, when they finally make up their minds to get married, but she won't mind if you use it."
Jessica nodded and took the bag, only removing a couple coins from it before she handed it back.
"You may need more than that," Storm said with a frown.
"No." Jessica placed the bag again on the shelf and hid it with the rock. "This will be plenty."
"You and your pride, Jessica Callaghan."
"Yep," she said saucily. "Ned calls it the Callaghan pride. You seem to have your own share of that wicked vice yourself, Storm."
"Sometimes it's all a man has to keep him going," Storm said quietly.
"I understand," Jessica agreed. Then her eyes fell on the gramophone. "Storm, you promised to play the gramophone for me. I really enjoy listening to the music. Ned even said something about getting Mattie one for Christmas this year. He said she'd seen it in a catalog."
"There's no time now, Jessica. Maybe another time." He muttered under his breath as he turned away, "That is, if there ever is another time for us."
Jessica didn't bother answering him as she led Cinnabar after him. There would be another time for them. And lots more times after that, she vowed silently to herself.
Outside the cave entrance, she mounted Cinnabar and urged him after Spirit. She barely noticed the brilliant sunrise on the hilltops as she trusted Cinnabar to pick his own way down the narrow trail. She glanced down at her rifle, riding securely in the scabbard, and her hand went behind her to assure herself the saddlebags were fastened tightly to her saddle.
Storm kicked Spirit into a canter across the small valley floor and Jessica followed willingly until they nearly reached the top of the hill on the other side. There she pulled Cinnabar to a halt.
"Storm," she called before he could ride out of hearing. "Storm, I think Cinnabar's picked up a stone."
As Storm turned Spirit to ride back to her, Jessica reached down and touched Cinnabar on his shoulder, clicking softly under her breath. The stallion immediately lifted his front leg. She watched Storm pull Spirit up a few feet away and slide off to ground tie him. When he had taken a couple steps toward her, she jerked her hat from her head and kneed Cinnabar forward.
"Hie! Hie, Spirit!"
Cinnabar nimbly jumped around the startled Storm and flattened his ears as he lunged at the other stallion. Spirit reared his defiance, but Cinnabar's shoulder hit him in the side, knocking him out of the way of his plunging path.
Jessica quickly tightened her reins and brought Cinnabar under control, urging him across the hilltop and down the other side. She heard Spirit's hoofbeats behind her as the stallion sought to avenge himself on Cinnabar, and smiled in satisfaction.
Spirit wouldn't follow her far. Even above the pounding hoofbeats of the two stallions, she heard a loud whistle from Storm split the air. The sounds behind her immediately stilled and she leaned down on Cinnabar's neck, urging him faster.
"Come on, boy," she called, and saw Cinnabar's ears flick back at her words. "Spirit's probably just as fast as you, and the only hope we have is to get a good start on him."
As though understanding her, Cinnabar stretched his legs even farther apart, until Jessica could swear they were floating over the ground. The pounding hooves and bunching muscles under her told her differently. She brushed at the flying mane stinging her eyes as she sought to make her body smaller and her mind worked frantically. Never had she been so glad that once traveled country became firmly embedded in her mind.
There. Over that next hill. She pulled slightly on Cinnabar's reins, urging him into a wide sweep toward the top of the hill. Seconds later, she pounded down the other side, with only Cinnabar's sure gait keeping him from sliding down on his haunches.
The mares in the herd of mustangs threw up their heads when they heard the huge stallion rushing at them. Nearby, a bugle of defiance sounded and Jessica glanced to the side to see the black stallion pounding toward them. Cinnabar hesitated slightly, but Jessica slapped her reins on his rump and called sternly to him. Reluctantly, Cinnabar answered the pressure of the reins as she guided him a far distance around the mares before she slowed to turn her head over her shoulder.
The black stallion slid to a stop and quickly turned around. He reared again and Jessica heard an answer to the bugle he sounded come from far behind her. Now. If only she was right and this was Spirit's former herd. She trotted Cinnabar to the top of the next ridge and held her breath as she watched the scene below her.
Storm frantically sawed on Spirit's reins, but the stallion only tossed his head and continued his headlong plunge toward the black horse. For a moment Storm seemed to lose control of Spirit and only a few yards separated the two furious stallions. Spirit stopped to rear and Storm jerked his head around to turn him back the way they had come.
Jessica gave a sigh of relief as she saw the black stallion go in pursuit, then stop to look back at his mares. She sent Cinnabar down the side of the hill, which would hide her progress from Storm.
The stream rushed angrily past her, swollen from the rains of the past two days, as she urged Cinnabar into the water. When he tried to head downstream, she firmly guided him into the onrushing current. The sounds of a waterfall grew louder the farther upstream Cinnabar plodded.
The waterfall barely topped Jessica's head when she guided Cinnabar out of the stream and over beside it, but it would do just fine. As she suspected, she found enough space behind it to hide both her and the horse. Mist from the falls drifted over them, and she reached back for the cloak in her saddlebag. After wrapping it around her, she slid down from the horse's back and gingerly made her way to the edge of the shelf behind the pouring water. A convenient rock allowed her to hide and peek now and then over its top.
Though she watched for over half an hour, she saw no sign of Storm, and relaxed somewhat. He would have had no trouble following her tracks to the stream once he managed to get Spirit past the mustang herd, and the black stallion surely would have quickly led his mares away when he realized Spirit wouldn't challenge him further. Hopefully, though, Storm would think she had taken the easier path downstream, when he didn't find her tracks on the other side.
She shivered once inside her cloak as the mist penetrated even the thick lining and determinedly glanced at the sun to mark the time. She would wait at least another half an hour.
From time to time, she looked over at Cinnabar. The stallion's ears were much sharper than her own, and even through the pouring water he would hear anyone approach. Cinnabar remained standing quietly, waiting for Jessica's next instructions.
She finally mounted again and slowly urged Cinnabar out of their hiding place. Her eyes scanned the area around them, seeing no sign of another horse. She thought briefly about stopping long enough to build a fire and dry out, but the sun already shone hot overhead. Instead, she tied her cloak over Cinnabar's rump to dry and let the sun warm her shoulders.
She didn't need the map — she knew exactly in which direction the next landmark lay. Ned had made himself familiar with the map, too, and sooner or later he would know where she had headed.
First the gold. Besides the threat of losing her freedom if she was arrested for assault, Ned's paying her mortgage note still galled her pride. She damned sure wasn't going to ask him to pay for a lawyer for her. With the gold, she could hire the finest lawyers in the country to fight any charges the Bakers would fling at her and Storm.
Storm. Her eyes continued to scan the hills around her and she snorted softly to herself when she realized she was actually hoping to see him. Once she frowned slightly as she recalled her vow to never touch the gold, which might be cursed.
The curse seemed all too real to her for a moment, even reaching out to touch the people who only searched for it. She had never been in such a mess in her life. Lordy, Uncle Pete and her father would turn over in their graves if they knew she was worried about her face appearing on a wanted poster. The prospect of spending time in prison sent a chill up her spine, and she found herself wondering how long Storm had been in jail.
Maybe the curse could be broken. After all, she never would have met Storm if she hadn't come to search for the gold. She never would have seen the pain leave his eyes or notice them turn into black pools filled with love for her.
She kicked Cinnabar into a canter across another valley. Some way or another, she would have those eyes filled with love on her again and the pain erased forever from the shadows hidden in them — even if he could never be hers totally. She had promised him she would take only the crumbs of his life. She had to be content knowing they were both putting aside their love for Prudence's happiness.
It hurt, though. Oh how much it hurt, especially since Storm had admitted his own love for her.