Authors: Jenna Kernan
She sank into the closest seat, set up for the public meetings. Clay dropped to a knee before her.
He took her hand and gave a little squeeze. “Izzie, look at me.”
She did.
“There is nothing to forgive. You took care of your family. And I repaid my debt for the mistake.”
“But you didn’t make a mistake.”
“I trusted Martin. I knew him well enough to know he wanted that two hundred dollars. I even knew him well enough to recognize the lengths he’d go in order to get it. That alone was worth eighteen months in detention. As for us, well, most folks can’t look past a single mistake. But you did.”
“Oh, Clay.”
“And I love you for that. I love you, Isabella. I’ve loved you since I was ten years old. And I want you to be my wife.”
“Your wife?” Now she was the one staring in shock.
He smiled and brought the back of her hand to his mouth brushing his lips against sensitive skin.
“Would you like time to think about it?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. I’ve had too much time to think. Too much time away from you.”
“So...?” His mouth quirked.
She threw herself into his arms, nodding her head against the warm strength of his neck and shoulder.
“Yes, Clay. I will be your wife.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The following Sunday afternoon preparations were well underway for the barbecue lunch following church to welcome home the newlyweds. When his grandmother had mentioned her plans for the gathering to Clay, he had immediately asked if he could invite Izzie.
“She’s your girl, isn’t she?” Glendora had replied and then insisted that he invite Isabella’s entire family.
His girl.
He liked the sound of that.
Because of Gabe’s investigation and Clyne’s political responsibilities, this was the first time the brothers had all been together since Kino’s wedding.
Clay joined his older brothers at the fire pit in the backyard. They had the smoker going, coals ready. The ribs, rubbed with a mix of seasoning, waited in the cooler.
Their uncle was, unfortunately, unable to attend. Gabe said they had leads to follow, thanks to the suspects they had in custody. Of course, the men were not talking, but Luke knew which cartel they belonged with. The FBI was anxious to cut this supply line while the trail was hot.
Gabe said they had some new leads to follow because both Tessay and Pizarro were now anxious to cooperate to avoid federal prosecution.
All three brothers turned at the sound of tires crunching in the gravel drive beside the house. There was Kino’s truck pulling to a stop. Glendora hurried out of the house and rushed past them, hugging Lea, who looked rosy-cheeked and happier than Clay had ever seen her. After Glendora had hugged Kino, she captured his bride and left her youngest grandson to his brothers. The men hugged and slapped each other on the back.
“Any more news?” asked Gabe, ever the investigator. He was referring to the hunt for their missing sister.
“Yes, actually. Grandma is going to flip. You know I spoke to Jovanna’s case manager.”
Clay didn’t know. Somehow he’d missed that piece of news in all the excitement of the past two weeks.
“Well, after the foster home closed, she handled Jovanna’s placement in a temporary foster home and then her permanent adoption.” Kino turned to Clyne. “I did what you said. I hired an attorney up there, and he has filed papers to get the adoption unsealed. He says that’s the first step, and then we can seek to have the adoption overturned.” Kino drew out three business cards from his front pocket. “Here is his name.”
Gabe accepted a card and passed the other cards to Clay and Clyne.
“He said there will be a hearing. One of us should go.”
“I’ll go,” said Clay. They all looked at him. Clyne and Gabe had been up there already, and Gabe was in the middle of investigating the biggest case of his career. Clyne had council business, including electing a new member to replace the vacancy left by Tessay’s resignation. Kino had spent much of his honeymoon tracking Jovanna through the foster-care system. It was Clay’s turn to help find their baby sister.
The brothers turned to Clyne, who nodded his approval.
“How long will it take to get her back?” asked Gabe.
“I don’t know,” said Kino.
“Better be before this July. Grandma has her dress half done. She’s beading the yoke every day.”
“And she’s already spoken to the shaman,” added Clyne.
“We’re going to need another cow,” said Clay.
“Who will be her sponsor?” asked Clyne. It was a position of honor, but one only an Apache woman and member of Jovanna’s tribe could fill. It was customary for this to be a close friend of the family. This woman would act as both teacher and guide. The brothers looked blankly at each other for a moment.
“We have to find her first,” reminded Clay.
“We’ll get it done somehow,” said Clyne. “Grandma’s not the only one who wants her back. We all do. She’s our sister, and she belongs here with her people.”
“One more thing,” said Kino. “The case manager slipped up. She said that Jovanna’s parents weren’t Indian.”
“What!” roared Clyne.
“They’re white?” asked Gabe.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Not Indian, that’s all he said.”
“What does that mean?” asked Gabe.
“It means they’re not Indian,” said Clyne. “We have to get her home. Now!”
Clay had seen that look before. Clyne would not rest until he retrieved Jovanna.
Their eldest brother was a staunch advocate for Indian children being raised in their communities. Especially since so many Indian children had been removed from their families and lost to their culture.
“We need a court order,” reminded Gabe.
Kino placed a hand on Clay’s shoulder. “I heard you and Izzie are back together.”
“Yeah.” Clay grinned. He was so happy. The only dark spot in his world right now was his baby sister’s absence.
“About time. You going to marry her?” asked Kino.
His brother was always blunt, and only he could get away with it.
Clyne and Gabe exchanged a glance. They always seemed to know what the other was thinking.
Clay shrugged. “I already asked her.”
“And,” said Gabe.
“She said yes.”
Kino gave a whoop of excitement. The brothers clapped Clay on the back.
“Have you got a ring?” asked Clyne, ever the practical one.
“Not yet.”
“I have Mom’s,” said Clyne.
The brothers went silent as Clyne opened his shirt, revealing the traditional medicine bundle carried by warriors of old. Inside were items of power, and the contents of each man’s bundle was private. They had each made such a packet as part of their education in the tribe. Both Clyne and Gabe wore theirs about their necks. Gabe now pressed a hand over his, making Clay curious as to what the leather pouch contained. Meanwhile, Clyne drew his over his head and opened it. A moment later he held their mother’s diamond solitaire ring between his thumb and forefinger.
Clay felt the lump in his throat. His brother had carried this next to his heart for all these years. The ring his father had given his mother with his promise. A promise he did not keep. Clay knew that he would not ask Izzie to wear that ring.
“That should go to
your
wife,” said Clay.
Gabe nodded his agreement.
“I don’t think I will marry. There is no one.” He shrugged.
“That’s because you want to marry the next Miss Apache Nation,” said Gabe, but his kidding tone gained only a scowl from Clyne.
“How are we going to survive as a people, if we don’t marry other Indians? We’ve got a culture to preserve and a responsibility.”
It was another thing Clyne felt very strongly about, the survival of the Apache people.
“Then you better get married and have lots of Apache kids,” said Kino.
Clyne made a noncommittal sound and tucked the ring back into his pouch.
Gabe clapped a hand on Clay’s shoulder. “Does Grandmother know yet?”
“We told her.”
“What kind of wedding?” asked Gabe.
“Small, soon.”
“And you’ll return to work with Donner?” asked Clyne.
“Not sure. Izzie will need help with her cattle for a while. Until the boys are old enough to handle them.”
“Will you live there?”
Clay shook his head. “We want our own place.”
“There is a position open on the tribal council,” said Clyne.
Clay turned to Gabe to see his response, and then he realized Clyne was speaking to him. Clay laughed, thinking they were teasing him. Neither of his older brothers smiled.
“Me?” he said, pressing a finger into his chest. “They don’t want me.”
“Actually several of the council have approached me and asked me to speak to you about this. People of the tribe are all talking about you and your courage. Your heroism has gotten you noticed.”
Clay blinked in astonishment. “Me,” he said with wonder. He realized that he had lost many things the day of the robbery—his pride, his friends—but never his integrity and never his family. Izzie had believed in him, though he didn’t know it at the time. Now others did, as well. Most importantly he believed in himself.
He grinned. “Let me talk it over with Izzie.”
The brothers laughed and slapped him on the back.
“I want to hear all about what happened,” said Kino. “Everything! I already heard Gabe’s version, but he makes everything sound like a police report.”
“I gave you the facts,” said Gabe.
Izzie pulled into the drive with her mother. A moment later her two brothers spilled out of the backseat. They seemed to grow by the minute.
“Later,” said Clay, and went to meet them.
He approached with his hands in his pockets, not sure how to greet her. He wanted to sweep her up in his arms for a kiss, but with Carol and her brothers here, he was uncertain.
Izzie came bounding forward, keys jangling in her hand as she leaped into his arms and kissed him on the mouth in front of his brothers, her brothers and her mother. Clay froze for just a moment, and then he did what he had dreamed of doing all day. He kissed her back, hard and possessive. Her mouth was soft and yielding and full of promises he intended to see she kept.
Someone cleared his throat. Clay stepped back, and Izzie moved away, grinning up at him with such pride and love it made his chest swell. His brothers stood behind him, as they always had. Her brothers stood behind her.
Glendora moved between the two groups and took Izzie in her arms for an enveloping hug.
“It is so good to have you back at my table, Isabella.” Then Glendora turned to Izzie’s mother, relieving her of the large casserole she gripped. Glendora passed the glass container to Clay and then looped her arm with Izzie’s mom, steering her toward the house as if the gathering was completely natural. Clay and Izzie shared a smile.
His brothers parted to let the two older women pass.
“I hear that my grandson has asked for your daughter’s hand.”
“He asked me for her hand,” said Carol, which was true. Somehow he and Carol Nosie had both survived that awkward conversation and he had gained her mother’s guarded consent.
Clay could not hear some of the reply, but then his grandmother’s words were clear.
“Too long coming, I say.”
“A good match,” said Carol.
Clay felt he could breathe again, and Izzie beamed up at him.
“I told you,” she whispered.
Clay wrapped an arm around Izzie. It was the gift he had most wanted, her mother’s approval. The men headed for the fire pit to put the ribs on the coals. Izzie’s brothers hesitated between Izzie and the men.
Clay motioned the two after his brothers. “Go on.”
The two bounded off like deer joining the herd.
Izzie squeezed his hand. “Did you tell your brothers?”
“Yes.”
“And?” she asked.
“They’re happy. Said it was about time.”
She laughed. “And they’re right about that.”
“Izzie? I have something to ask you.”
She turned, her dark brows lifted in the middle like the wings of a perching bird. “Yes.”
“Clyne says, that is, he’s been asked by the council if I would be interested in seeking a place on the tribal council.”
“Tessay’s place?” she asked.
“You don’t sound surprised,” he said.
“Surprised? That they would pick a hero? A man of great integrity? Clay, you deserve this. Don’t you know that?”
“I’m beginning to. What do you think?”
“It will be hard work, but I don’t know anyone who could represent our tribe better than you.”
He warmed under the glow of her faith in him.
“You approve?” he asked.
“Yes, and I am so proud of you.”
He kissed her again, there on the land that had belonged to their people for longer than memory. Here in the shadow of the sacred Black Mountains where they would make a home and build a life—together.
* * * * *
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EXPOSED
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