Comanche Moon (39 page)

“Don’t tell anyone,” she admonished the cook. “It must be a surprise, all right?”

“Sí, sí, I would not tell anyone,” Juana said. “It is always the mother’s privilege to do so.”

When Judith shut the door, she leaned back against it, staring at her cousin. Deborah wondered if her face was as white as Judith’s.

“What are you going to do?” Judith finally asked. “This will kill him.” Deborah buried her face in her palms. “Dear God, I don’t know. Oh, why didn’t I think? I should have known.”

“If I remember correctly,” Judith said dryly, “you have been a bit busy with other things the last three months. If not worrying about Don Francisco, you were half out of your mind with grief. And then, after the rescue—well, I imagine it just never occurred to you.” 

“Obviously.” She took a deep breath. “Well, I’m certain Dexter will not want to remain married to me now. It won’t matter about the Velazquez lands.”

Judith looked down at the floor. When she looked up again, her eyes gleamed with blue lights. “This should suit your charming savage very well.

Now he can take you back to the woods to live in primitive delight for the next forty years.”

“That was cruel,” Deborah said quietly, and Judith had the grace to flush. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “When do you intend to tell Dexter?” Gathering her courage, Deborah said, “As soon as possible. It’s only fair.”

Dexter Diamond shook with fury.
“No. You’re not going anywhere.

You’re married to me. When you throw the brat, you can send it somewhere, but you’re staying.”

Shocked, Deborah couldn’t speak for a moment. Then she felt a wash of cold rage sweep over her. “I have no intention of doing any such thing. This is
my
child, no matter who the father. I am keeping my baby.” Diamond closed the distance between them in two steps, and he grabbed her by the shoulders, his voice rough. “I won’t have no gawddammed Comanche’s bastard on my land!” Deborah glared up at him in spite of her sudden fear. “I told you, I will grant you a divorce or annulment or whatever you want. You can say what you like. I’ll leave, and I won’t ask you for anything.” He shook her until her hair tumbled free of the confining pins and tangled in her face. She fought a wave of dizziness and nausea. Her hands gripped his forearms for balance, and she cried out with distress. He stopped, his hands falling away. His chest rose and fell with quick, angry drags for air.

“You’re mine, Deborah. You’ll stay.” She pushed the hair from her eyes. “No. I won’t. I won’t bring a child into a home where it will be hated.” Without warning, Diamond’s hand crashed against her face and sent her reeling. Lights exploded in front of her eyes, and she reached out for something to grab but nothing was there. Her head slammed against wood, and she heard the loud crack. As she slid down the wall to a crumpled heap on the floor, she heard Diamond repeat through clenched teeth, “You’ll stay, all right.”

Though the nights were chill,
the days were still warm with sunshine and temperate breezes. Zack felt the heat on his bare shoulders as he loaded the buckboard for Sally.

She came out of the house with a basket over her arm, stumbling slightly when she saw him there beside the wagon. “Zack. Aren’t you going with me?” “No.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, just gazed at him with her calm green eyes. He paused, and looked up at her. A faint flush stained her cheeks, and he lifted a brow.

“Did I say something wrong, Sal?” She shook her head, and her voice came out in a rusty whisper. “No, you didn’t. It’s just that—silly, I know, but you reminded me suddenly of Marty.

He used to chop wood without his shirt, and . . . and I guess it made me remember things, that’s all.” Zack knew better than to ask what kind of things. He’d seen that look in her eyes, and knew what she felt. It was one of the reasons he’d decided to move on. He didn’t want to hurt her by taking what would be given freely. It would mean more to her than to him, and she’d done enough for him already.

He finished loading the last bushel of apples she was taking into town to sell, then reached casually for his shirt and shrugged into it. “I won’t be here when you get back,” he said softly, and saw her hands curve tightly around the basket handle.

“When will you be back?”

“I won’t.”

“I see.” She took a deep breath and met his gaze. “I wish you the very best, Zack. You deserve it.”

“There are some folks who’d disagree with you,” he said with a mocking twist of his mouth. She stepped forward and put a finger over his lips.

“Don’t. There are always people who hate what they fear. You’re a good, decent man. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”

“I know what I would have done without yours. I would have died and the buzzards would be making nests with my bones out there somewhere.” Zack leaned a shoulder against the side of the buckboard. “You need a husband, Sal. A man who can fix things for you and keep you company on cold nights. You need a man who’ll be there for you.”

“Do you have someone in mind?” she asked lightly. “I’m sure I could find the time to interview one or two.” She smiled, shaking her head. “I did find out that I wasn’t as content by myself as I thought.”

“Maybe it’s just the right time for you now. The Comanche say there’s a season for everything, even love. You can’t grow something if it’s not time for it, whether it’s apples, corn, or love.”

“Sage advice.”

He rubbed his thumb over his jawline. “At times. Like everything else, you have to know when to listen. And how much to hear.”

“When are you going to listen?” His thumb stilled. “What do you mean?”

“Deborah. You love her. She only married that man because she thought you were dead. Go to her. Tell her you love her, Zack. I can’t stand seeing that lost look in your eyes.” Straightening, he glared at her, and she took a step back at his fierce look and harsh growl. “You don’t know Deborah. She’s made vows, and she would never break them.”

“I think you’re wrong.” Sally swallowed, and her chin came up defensively. “Look, I never said anything because it’s not my place to give out unwanted advice, but you started it. And besides—I care about you. I’d like to see you happy.”

“Happiness is for fools and children, not grown men.”

“Don’t be an ass, Zack Banning. Happiness is for whoever has the guts to grab at it. Don’t tell me, I know. If you hadn’t come into my life and shown me what I was missing, I probably would have stayed out here alone until I

dried up and blew away. Now I know that’s not what I want. I want more. I want a man at my side who loves me, and a man I can love.”

“That’s good for you, but it doesn’t work that way for me.”

“Bulldust. It will if you let it. You’re good at taking care of yourself in other ways, Zack. Take care of yourself in the most important thing of your life.” He looked down and began buttoning his shirt, trying to keep his voice neutral. “I appreciate your advice, Sal. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“No, you won’t. You’re stubborn as a mule, and you think she’s lost to you forever. Well, if you just sit back and sulk, she will be.” His head shot up, and his eyes narrowed ominously. “I think this discussion has gone far enough.”

“So do I.” Sally’s green eyes were shiny with tears, and he felt a twist in his gut. “You’re man enough to fight for men who pay you, but you’re not man enough to fight for your woman. I misjudged you.” Clenching his hands, Zack stuffed them into his pockets before he gave in to the urge to pound the buckboard with frustration. He inhaled deeply, and looked away from her, to the hills where he’d lain for weeks halfway between life and death. Only the thoughts of Deborah had kept him going then, the driving urgency to survive and go after her.

Maybe Sally was right.

He looked back at her, and saw that the tears had spilled onto her cheeks. This was the first time she had ever spoken to him of Deborah.

Before, she’d always listened when he’d wanted to talk about her. He wondered if it had hurt her to hear him. God, he was such a bastard at times.

He knew how Sally felt, yet he’d stayed on because it was easy, because he was hurt and alone and miserable. It would have been even easier for Deborah to do the same thing.

Reaching out, Zack pulled Sally up against him and held her tightly.

There was only affection in the embrace, and he patted her back with a comforting hand.

“I don’t think there’s anything I can do, Sal,” he admitted finally.

“Unless I kidnap her, and I don’t think she’d want that.” She pulled away, slightly embarrassed, wiping her eyes with the cuff of her sleeve. “You won’t know until you try it. Besides, if you love her, I’m willing to bet she’d get over it quick enough. She did before, didn’t she?” Zack smiled. He’d told Sally everything, everything she hadn’t already heard when he was delirious in those first days.

“I didn’t kidnap her. Spotted Pony did. I just bought her from him.”

“Lucky girl. I think you need to do it yourself this time.” He cupped her chin in his palm. “I’m a lucky man to have a friend like you, Sally Martin.”

“Yes,” she said briskly, “you are. Now go after her. And invite me to your wedding. Or the christening of your first child.” Zack reached for his gunbelt and strapped it around his lean waist, then shrugged into his leather vest. When he had his hat on and tilted to shade his eyes, he untied the gray from the sturdy new fence that penned in the goats and swung to its back.

The stallion snorted, prancing eagerly in the early morning light. Zack controlled him with his knees, and gave Sally a slight smile.

“See you, Sal.”

“Are you going for her?”

“Maybe someday. Right now, it’s time I settled an old score.” Ignoring the sudden pinched look on Sally’s face, Zack wheeled his gray in the direction of Don Francisco’s hacienda. He didn’t look back for a while, and when he did, he saw that Sally’s buckboard had taken the fork in the road that led to Sirocco instead of San Ysabel.

“Damn,” he muttered. What was she doing? Sirocco was filled with Velazquez men and Diamond men, and the town was a powder keg waiting to blow. He considered going after her and convincing her to go to San Ysabel, but recognized that he’d given up any rights to advise her by leaving.

Sally was no fool. If she was headed to Sirocco, she had a good reason for it.

After a brief hesitation, he wheeled the gray down the slope and continued riding toward the Velazquez hacienda. He would figure out what he wanted to do and how on the way. He just knew that he intended to do
some
thing. Francisco Velazquez would not be allowed to get away with murder, and neither would the two men who had shot him and left him to die in the desert.

Chapter 25

Sheriff Roy Carpenter thumped a finger on his desk and frowned. “Two bodies were found a few days ago, Banning. You know anything about that?” Zack’s expression was bland. “Why do you ask me?” Carpenter glanced up, his eyes shrewd beneath bushy gray brows. “Since they work for Velazquez, and have been known to boast they were responsible for killing Zack Banning, it occurred to me that you just might.” Zack shrugged. “Many men have died lately since Diamond decided he wanted Velazquez lands.”

“Yeah, but none of them were killed like these were.” He peered at Zack closely. “These two men were staked out like they’d been killed by Comanche. They didn’t die easy, and since you’re a ’breed—forgive me if I’m wrong.”

Zack ignored his sarcasm. He stood up. “Forgiveness you’ll have to get from a priest. I’m all out.”

“So I understand.” Carpenter didn’t move, just gazed at Zack with assessing eyes that made him tense. “You know, Banning, you’re not quite what I expected.”

“I’m flattered.”

“Don’t be. When you came to town the first time, I thought you were gonna be like all the rest of ’em, looking to make a name for yourself and pick up some easy cash.” He shrugged. And after you shot Braden, I was sure of it.

Now, I don’t know.”

He leaned forward, elbows on his desk and his fingers forming a steeple.

“Why are you still here? It ain’t just Don Francisco.” Zack stared at him without replying. His cold gaze made Carpenter shake his head and sigh with resignation.

“Go on, Banning. If I find out you’re even a hair into this trouble, I’ll lock you up so quick your head will spin.” When Zack stepped out into the crisp sunshine, he tugged on his hat and nodded to the ranger who’d brought him in. The man gave a surly grunt, obviously displeased to see that his quarry was being released so quickly.

Zack’s mouth twitched in a faint smile. He felt better. Alfredo and his vicious
compadré
had paid for what they’d tried to do to him, and that left only Don Francisco.

He wondered if the ranger had been surprised that he’d come with him so easily. He shouldn’t have been. Zack had left a trail a blind man could follow. Don Francisco would have heard about it by now, and would be expecting him. He could almost smell his fear from here.

A cruel smile curved his mouth, and he felt a fierce exultation. There were still some pleasures left in life after all.

“Here, Miz Diamond.
A lady left this for you. Said I was to give it to you the next time I saw you.” Surprised, Deborah took the small square envelope Mr. Potter held out to her. “For me? Who was she?”

“I dunno. Only seen her oncet before. She came in with Zack Banning a little while back.”

Deborah’s hand shook, and she glanced over her shoulder to where Dexter stood talking with Frank Albright, one of his hired killers. He hadn’t heard. Any mention of Zack made him furious, and she had no desire to provoke him again. The truce between them was uneasy enough as it was.

“Thank you, Mr. Potter,” she said when it seemed as if he was waiting for something. She looked up and saw Potter staring at her gravely.

“If I was you, Miz Diamond, I’d stay away from Zack Banning,” he said after a moment, his voice low. “The man’s a killer.”

“There seems to be a lot of that going around,” Deborah returned coldly.

Potter nodded. “Yeah. But not the way he done it. Took two of the Velazquez men and staked ’em out on the desert. I heard it wasn’t very pretty, and they musta regretted they ever messed with him long afore they died.