CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SITTING AT THE gas station, Frank watched two crows having what looked like a romantic date on the telephone line. Crows were such intelligent birds and so much like people that he’d always loved watching them. He remembered one of his and Nettie’s first dates had involved crow watching and smiled.
Of course, Nettie had told him that a real date didn’t involve bird-watching, so he’d kissed her and said That more like it?
“What are you smiling about?” Nettie asked now as she climbed into their SUV. She put down the bag of road-trip treats she’d picked up inside the convenience store while he’d been filling up the tank with gas.
“Just remembering our first date.”
She laughed. “Let me guess. Those two crows reminded you of it.” She nodded toward the courting going on over on the telephone line.
“You weren’t all that impressed by my vast knowledge of crows, as I recall,” he said and started the engine.
“True, but I did like the kiss.”
He grinned. “That right?”
“Those crows have nothing on us. I still like your kisses.”
“Get everything you needed for the trip home?” he asked, anxious now to get back to their small ranch near Beartooth, Montana—not to mention their investigative business.
“I got some of your favorites, of course,” she said, reaching in the bag. “We did good, huh.”
He laughed. “I think we did. Flint texted me a minute ago to say that Jenna was conscious and expected to have a full recovery.”
“And Maggie?”
“They announced their engagement.”
“Is that safe?” Nettie asked, wide-eyed. “What about Celeste?”
“Guess we’ll have to see how she takes the news.”
“So we might get called for another job up this way?”
“You never know,” he said and put out his hand for one of the candy bars. They had a lot of miles to cover.
* * *
FLINT DROPPED MAGGIE at her house. He had one more thing to do before he went home to her. As he drove out to the Holloway farm, he thought about what he would tell Anvil. By now, the farmer would have heard that Jenna was back in town after an ordeal involving her daughter, Maggie Thompson.
But Flint had realized that the man needed to hear the truth. Like Jenna, he doubted it would change anything, but he couldn’t let the man go on believing the worst about her.
As he was leaving her hospital room earlier, he’d stopped in the doorway, realizing there was something he needed to know. “Did you love him?”
Jenna had looked up in surprise. “Anvil? Oh yes. I could have been happy with him as long as I got to see my daughter once in a while. But then Clark showed up.” She hadn’t needed to say any more.
Parking in the front yard at the Holloway farm, Flint got out of his patrol SUV and limped toward the house. He wouldn’t have been surprised to have Anvil throw him off his property. He thought of all the other times he’d come out there, accusing the man of murder.
Anvil came to the door, looking happier to see him than Flint had expected.
“You heard that Jenna was found and that she is going to be all right?”
Anvil nodded.
“I thought you might want to hear the whole story.”
The farmer seemed to hesitate, but for only a moment before he opened the door wider and invited him inside.
* * *
HARP OPENED HIS EYES. The first thing he saw was Vicki asleep in the chair next to his bed. He smiled when he saw the engagement ring on her finger. How long had he been out? She’d had it sized and it now fit perfectly.
Her eyes fluttered and widened when she saw him looking at her. “Harp!” She leaped from the chair and practically fell into his arms.
“Easy,” he said, realizing more than his aching head was injured.
“I was so worried about you,” Vicki cried. “I knew you would wake up. I knew it.”
He couldn’t help but smile at her. His father had told him that a woman could change him, but he’d never believed that until now.
“I see you found the ring,” Harp said.
She drew back to stare down at it. “I hope it was okay. I had it sized. The jeweler came up here and took it to have it done so I didn’t have to leave your bedside. But if you—” She started to pull it off, but he stopped her.
“It’s right where it belongs.” He met her gaze. She hadn’t left his bedside? He couldn’t help but smile. “I want to marry you, Vicki. I don’t care if you’re pregnant or not. The baby wasn’t the only reason I was going to marry you.”
She burst into tears and hugged him a little too hard again. He grimaced, but said nothing as he held her to him.
“I need to call the sheriff,” she said, pulling back to take out her cell phone. “I promised I’d call the minute you opened your eyes. We were all so worried. Your father was by earlier.”
He wondered if that was true, but at least Vicki had been concerned about him. For now, that was enough. He listened to her tell the undersheriff that he’d come out of his coma and realized he’d been hit a lot harder than he’d thought.
“How long have I been out?” he asked after she’d hung up and told him Mark was on his way.
“Two days.”
Days. That surprised him. He listened as Vicki filled him in on everything that had been happening since he’d been out.
“Wait,” he said, his head aching, but it felt so good to be alive that he wasn’t about to complain. “Maggie Thompson and Jenna Holloway?”
“Jenna is Maggie’s mother.”
How about that? he thought.
“Anyway, the sheriff saved them. The man who took them had raped Jenna when she was thirteen. Pregnant, her parents forced her to give up the baby. Maggie never knew.”
Vicki came up for breath and he had to laugh before he asked, “How did you find all this out?”
“Gail, at the sheriff’s office. She’s been by to visit you a few times. She was worried that you were going to die too.”
They both turned as the undersheriff stuck his head in the door. “Mind if I have a few words with Harp alone?” Mark asked Vicki.
She rushed out, stopping only long enough to smile back at him and promise she would just be out in the hallway.
Mark pulled up a chair next to his bed and took out his notebook and pen. “I need to ask you what happened.”
Harp shrugged. “The last thing I remember, I was headed back to the apartment to see Vicki when someone jumped me.”
“You recognize your attacker?”
Harp thought about that for a moment. Thought about Larry Wagner and his wife, Shirley, and their oldest son, who was the spitting image of Harp.
“You see his face?” Mark prodded.
Harp shook his head even though it hurt to do so. “Didn’t get a good look.” That much, at least, was true.
“Well, if you remember anything else,” Mark said, putting away his notebook and pen as he rose to his feet.
Harp saw his questioning look as if the undersheriff thought he was covering for someone. Larry hadn’t killed him even though he suspected the man had wanted to—and could have. Harp felt like they were even. He hoped Larry did too.
“Hope you’re well soon,” the undersheriff said.
“Mark,” he said before the man could leave. “I know I have a lot of making up for lost time, but I hope you’ll give me a chance.”
Mark met his gaze.
“Maybe it was almost dying a couple of times, but I think it changes a man,” Harp said.
“Only time will tell,” the undersheriff said with a chuckle. “Just get well. And should you remember who jumped you...”
“Don’t think I will.” He shrugged. “I’ve put a lot of the past behind me. I don’t see it coming back.”
* * *
MAGGIE HAD NEVER been more excited about Christmas in the days that passed. She’d gone shopping for Flint and found him a first edition of a book he loved. Flint had wanted to cut their own Christmas tree, but with the walking cast, he’d told her that Hawk and Cyrus had offered. They’d come back with a beautiful fir tree.
I hope you don’t mind, but I told them to put it up at the saloon, Flint had said. I don’t want to have Christmas at my house, and your house doesn’t seem the right place, either. Do you mind if we have Christmas with my family this year?
She’d been surprised, thinking this year he would want them to have their own Christmas at home. Nor had he mentioned her moving in with him again. Instead, he spent almost every night with her at her house.
When she found him waiting for her at her house, she said, “What’s this, Flint?” He had some brochures spread out on the coffee table in the living room.
“I should have said something before this.” He led her over to the couch.
“I’m going to sell my house,” he said. “I was wrong to ask you to live there. That was the house that Celeste and I shared. Sometimes I’m such a fool. I should have thought of that before.”
“But you love that house.”
He shook his head. “I love you, Maggie. I’d live anywhere with you, but this is a new beginning. We deserve our own house with no bad memories.”
She leaned toward him to give him a quick kiss. “I’d live anywhere with you. I love you, Flint, but are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Please understand, my being gun-shy had nothing to do with you. First, it was just a case of being scared. I’d failed badly already. I was terrified I’d mess this up and did, numerous times. I should have listened to you about Celeste.”
“She wasn’t the one who abducted me.”
“No, but she could have. As it was, she withheld information in the investigation. We might have found you sooner if she had cooperated and told us what she knew.”
“But you did find me.” Tears welled in her eyes. She thought about her drowning dream and the fear that no one could save her. But she’d been wrong. Flint had saved her from something worse than drowning. She’d never forget seeing him standing in that doorway. “You saved my life.”
“You saved mine. So I guess we’re even.” His smile made her heart beat even faster. “Now let’s find a house that we can love together. Or we can build up on the ranch on the section that will be ours. You decide.”
* * *
THAT NIGHT AFTER DINNER, Flint and Maggie sat down and talked about everything that had happened to them. Flint loved how close he felt to her. He’d been afraid before but that was past them. Secrets were Celeste’s game, not Maggie’s. He’d just been afraid to ask about her past. He realized it had kept them at arm’s length, each of them keeping something from the other.
“There is so much we should have talked about. I never even asked you what brought you to Gilt Edge.”
“I heard about a hair salon that was for sale, and when I was offered a loan to take it over... It was described to me as a young businesswoman organization loan. I know now that my mother had something to do with me coming to Gilt Edge. Apparently she talked to her aunt who had inherited some money.”
“And maybe had a guilty conscience,” Flint suggested.
She nodded. “Those were a different time when even a child out of wedlock was considered taboo, let alone one that was conceived the way I was. Also, it sounds like my grandparents are...quite strict.”
“And unforgiving. Have you heard from them?”
“No,” Maggie said. “And I don’t plan to. Jenna said they will never change.”
“Probably not, from what I’ve heard about them. Their loss.” He smiled at her and touched her face. “There is so much I want to know and so much I want to tell you,” he said. “After you disappeared and I was looking for you, I was going crazy. Why hadn’t we talked about the past? Why didn’t I know important things about you that could have helped me find you sooner?”
“But you did find me.”
“Finally, but I don’t want us to have secrets from each other.”
“Me either.”
It seemed that they’d just met as they talked for hours.
“Still, I don’t understand how Jenna found you. Had you met her before you moved here?” he asked.
“It’s funny, but when I moved here, I thought she looked...familiar. Now I’m pretty sure I saw her once down in Billings at the salon where I worked.” Maggie chuckled. “She could even have been the person who mentioned the shop for sale in Gilt Edge. Maybe she’d seen that I was looking for a way out of a bad relationship with Gary...”
“How are things with your mother?”
“The doctor says she’s going to recover nicely. I just worry what she will do now. You don’t think she’ll go back to Anvil?”
“Probably not,” he said. “But she’s still young. Maybe there’s something she’d like to do with her life now that she doesn’t have to worry about her past.”
“Will charges be filed against her for disappearing the way she did?”
Flint shook his head. “She feared for her life. Any judge would understand under the circumstances. And she saved our lives.”
Maggie nodded. “I’ve never been so afraid in my life. My...” She couldn’t say the word father. “Clark was insane.”
“I know.”
“Yes, I guess you do. When I think about him and how I was conceived... I always knew there was something wrong with the story I was told about my mother and father. I would catch people whispering and I knew it was about me.”
“I’m sorry that happened. As you said, thirty-three years ago things were much different than they are today, fortunately,” Flint said. “You are an amazing woman.”
He looked down at the diamond he’d put on her finger at the crime scene. His family was right. He didn’t know one darned thing about romance. “I had planned a romantic dinner to ask you to marry me.” His gaze came up to meet hers. “I’d been carrying this ring around in my pocket for months. So in that basement after everything had happened, I...I just couldn’t wait a moment longer.”
She gave him that smile that had stolen his heart. “I’m so glad you didn’t.”
“Now I can’t wait to make you my wife. So tell me, what kind of house do you want?”
She looked away for a moment as if thinking. “A house with a big backyard. One with a tree swing for the kids.”
“Kids?”
She met his gaze. “I want children, Flint. I want a half dozen of them.”
He laughed. “Then we’d better get started right away.”
“You’d be all right with that?”
“All right? Maggie, I once dreamed of the kind of backyard you’re talking about—and the children who’d play there. I was afraid to dream it again, but there is nothing I would love more than having a half-dozen babies with you.”
“Well, maybe not a half dozen, but at least three?”
He leaned down to kiss her. “At least three. But what about your salon?”
“I might have to hire another stylist,” she said. “Maybe sooner than later since business is really good. With the wedding and everything—”
“And us hoping to get pregnant right away.” He smiled at the thought of Maggie pregnant. He couldn’t wait. “I should warn you, though. Lillie is so excited about the thought of helping plan another wedding.”
“Thank goodness since I know nothing about wedding planning. I could use all the help I can get.”
“You do know how bossy my sister is, right?”
Maggie laughed. “I’ve met her. She can plan the whole thing. I’m fine with it. All I care about is becoming your wife.”
“You aren’t still worried about Celeste, are you?” he asked.
“Not anymore. Look what we’ve been through. It makes Celeste seem almost harmless.”
He smiled as he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “I love you so much.”
* * *
THE ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT hit the papers the day before Christmas. Flint was so happy that he wanted everyone to know—maybe especially Celeste. He’d already heard that she was out of jail. So he wasn’t that surprised to find her waiting outside the flower shop as he limped out. His leg was better, but he still had to wear the walking cast.
One look at Celeste, and he could tell that she’d heard about his engagement to Maggie. She looked at the bouquet of daisies and tiny white roses, Maggie’s favorites, and then at him with resignation.
It was the first time he’d seen her since that incident at the sheriff’s office where he’d tried to choke the truth out of her.
“I’m glad you found Maggie,” she said quickly, as if sensing he was in no mood to talk to her. He noticed right away that she wasn’t dressed up like she usually was. But even her idea of dressing down was expensive jeans, a sweater and calf-high leather boots.
“No thanks to you,” he said. “You got out of jail.”
“I got community service.”
No surprise there. Money and a good lawyer usurped the law every time.
“I don’t expect you to believe this, but I’m happy for you.”
“I’d like to believe it, but under the circumstances...” He started to step away, but she grabbed his arm. He looked down at her hand and she quickly removed it. He couldn’t help the anger he still felt toward her. A lot of that anger, admittedly, was at himself for letting her come between him and Maggie.
“I’m sorry.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I won’t be bothering you or Maggie anymore. I’m leaving town. The judge was kind enough to let me do my community service elsewhere.”
“Another spa?”
“No.” She smiled at his sarcasm. “Wayne and I are divorcing. I’m going to California. I have a friend down there. She’s been trying to get me to move for some time now. I need a new start, as well. I won’t be back.”
He hoped everything she was saying was the truth, but he’d learned a long time ago not to believe this woman. For so long she’d been the monster he had to fear. Looking at her now, he saw that she didn’t look scary at all. In fact, she looked a lot like the woman he’d fallen in love with.
For so many years, he’d blamed Celeste for everything. But now he could admit that he’d started to pull away from her in the marriage and that had only made her try to hang on harder. He hadn’t realized how needy she was back then. Wayne had filled that need. For a while.
His next words surprised even him. “I’m sorry about you losing your baby.”
Her eyes widened for a moment. She nodded and dipped her head as if to deny the sharp pain. One tear broke loose. She quickly brushed it away.
“Good luck, Celeste. I hope you find, if not happiness, at least peace.” With that, he walked away and knew he would never look back.
* * *
LILLIE SPLAYED HER hand over her swollen belly and smiled as she felt a kick. Across the room she saw her sister-in-law Mariah doing the same thing. They caught each other’s eye and smiled as Christmas music played.
Darby had insisted on having Christmas as a family at the saloon. “I think everyone will be comfortable there.” Everyone had pitched in to decorate, including Maggie and her mother, Jenna.
Lillie now looked around the beautifully decorated saloon and couldn’t help but smile. They’d done an amazing job—without much of Lillie’s or Mariah’s help with the decorations that required a ladder.
It had driven her crazy, watching from the sidelines. Her brother was right. She couldn’t stand not being in control. But Trask kept telling her that once the baby was born, she would have no control over her life, so she’d better get used to it.
She smiled as her baby gave her a swift kick as if he agreed with Trask.
“Isn’t this amazing?” Mariah asked as she joined her.
Lillie didn’t know if she meant all the gifts under the beautiful tree, that they were both pregnant and happy, or that they were as close as sisters. “Amazing.”
“Maggie and Flint,” Mariah said as if to clarify. “They look so happy together. I’m glad we’re all together for Christmas.”
“You saw her, Maggie, when she was missing, didn’t you?” Lillie asked.
“I suppose I did.” Mariah looked embarrassed. “I don’t want to have...the gift. But if I helped Flint find Maggie...”
Lillie hugged her. “You did.” Past Mariah, she watched Flint nuzzle Maggie’s neck, making her laugh. “I never thought I’d see the day. It’s like a Christmas miracle. Now, for Hawk and Cyrus to find love.”
“What about your other brother?” Mariah asked.
“Tucker?” Lillie shook her head. “We haven’t seen or heard from him since he left right after high school. We don’t even know if he is still alive.”
“That’s awful. Why would he leave like that?”
“We have no idea.”
“Maybe he’ll come back someday.”
“Maybe,” Lillie said, thinking of the oldest of them and how handsome he was. “Maybe.”
“Time to start opening all these presents!” Ely announced from near the Christmas tree.
Lillie felt tears flood her eyes. She loved her family. They were often annoying. Look how often she and Flint had been at odds, especially over their father. But she couldn’t have loved him more than she did at this moment. Flint in love was a beautiful thing to see, she thought as she and Mariah headed for the tree to the sound of Christmas music and the sweet fall scent of hot apple cider.
* * *
FLINT HAD HIS arm around Maggie as they watched Ely open one of the last presents. Lillie and Mariah were busy picking up all the used wrapping paper and throwing it into the stone fireplace.
“How was your Christmas?” her fiancé whispered next to her ear.
She smiled, so full of love and joy that she never wanted the holidays to end. Her mother had joined them and was now visiting with Darby. Flint had loved his first-edition book and she’d loved the rocker he’d given her for their home—and hopefully soon for the nursery.
Maggie looked up to see Anvil Holloway standing just inside the door from the saloon kitchen. He held his hat in his hand and looked embarrassed to be intruding. She quickly stepped to her mother and motioned to the doorway.
Jenna seemed to hesitate, but then got up and walked toward him. Maggie couldn’t help but notice that Anvil was wearing a clean pressed shirt and a pair of new jeans. He looked shy, his face flushed.
Maggie watched the two of them, feeling her heart near bursting. She knew Jenna felt guilty about the way she’d treated her husband. They spoke for a few moments, and then Anvil touched her arm and her mother stood on tiptoe to kiss the man on the cheek. Anvil smiled, even more flushed, put his hat back on his head and seemed to apologize for interrupting the party before he left the way he’d come in.
“Is everything all right?” Maggie asked her as she stepped to her mother.
Jenna nodded, tears in her eyes as she smiled. “He brought me a Christmas present.” Her voice broke. “Forgiveness. He’d like me to come home.”
“Will you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see.”
Maggie hugged her mother, seeing how pleased she was with Anvil’s gift.
* * *
IT WAS COLD and snowy the day Flint took Maggie up the mountain to the site where their home would be built. After looking for a house for months, they’d finally decided they would have to build to get what they wanted.
Flint walked her out to the edge of a rise. Below them, the town of Gilt Edge gleamed. Past it, the mountains rose to surround them.
“There’s something I want you to see,” he said and reached for her hand.
There’d been a time not all that long ago that she hadn’t really believed it could happen. A time even before she’d been abducted by Clark Terwilliger. She still couldn’t think of him as her father. Back then, she’d believed it was true that she wasn’t good enough for Flint.
His love had changed that.
“Check out that view,” he said, pulling her close. She could hear the pride in his voice. He was as excited about their home as she was. “We could put a bay window right here.”
“It’s breathtaking,” she said, her words coming out on frosty white puffs.
“You’re breathtaking.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “Come on—one more thing I want you to see.” He took her hand and led her around the mountainside. “This is your backyard.”
The land ran to the pines and the creek. Closer was a large old cottonwood with a tire swing hanging from one of its lower limbs. “Oh, Flint, it’s perfect.”
“The crew will start construction in the spring, as soon as the ground is thawed enough to start digging. But in the meantime, there’s something we need to do first.”