Josh (14 page)

He looked up. “I’m obliged to tell you the following. What you have filed is a restraining order, or an order of protection, which is recognized by the State of Wyoming
as a form of legal injunction requiring the party named herein to refrain from coming near you, or contacting you, or asking a third party to contact you in his name. If this party refuses to comply with the order, he faces criminal or civil penalties that could result in arrest and possible jail time.” He looked up. “Do you have a business card or phone number of a legal representative of Mr. Delray’s, who can be notified of this legal action?”

Sierra gave him the name of the gallery in Paris. “It’s a family-owned business, so I’m sure they can put you in touch with Sebastian or his lawyer.”

“Thank you.” The chief made a notation, then folded the documents into his pocket and pointed to the jeweler’s box and notes. “I’d like you to keep everything. The two notes, the box, the wrapping, for evidence.”

Sierra didn’t make any move to touch them. “Why don’t you take them? I don’t want to even look at them.”

“I’m not authorized to take them. But see that they’re kept in a safe place.” He got to his feet. “I’ll record these documents tonight. I have to stop by my office anyway. I’ll scan them and send a copy via e-mail to Mr. Delray’s counsel, and ask him to contact Delray, since I have no idea where he’s staying. I hope once Delray realizes that you have the law on your side, he’ll be willing to let this thing go.”

Sierra managed a weak smile. “Thank you, Chief Fletcher.”

“You’re welcome. But I must warn you, Ms. Moore, that these legal documents can’t guarantee your safety. They may not be a deterrent if someone is hell-bent on taking the law into his own hands. But at least it offers a paper trail, stating that you have cause for concern. It’s a
reason for me to keep my eyes and ears open around town to see if the guy is hanging around, and to keep track of where he goes and who he sees. Once these documents are recorded, he can be found in contempt of the law if he tries to contact you. If this man chooses to ignore the warning, you’ll have the power of the law on your side.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Are you planning on staying in Wyoming?”

Before she could respond, Big Jim spoke. “I think we agreed that Sierra will stay here for a while longer. Right, sweetheart? At least until the chief can file these documents and settle this matter.”

Sierra glanced at Josh, then away. “Yes, thank you, Big Jim. I certainly feel a lot safer here than I would anywhere else.”

Chief Fletcher held up a beefy hand. “I should warn all of you to be careful. A person who is obsessed enough to travel halfway around the world may not be deterred by a few documents. If he’s exhibited violent behavior in the past, there’s no telling what he might be capable of now.”

Sierra blanched. “You think this is all going to get worse?”

“Sorry.” The chief put a hand on her arm. “It’s not my job to sugarcoat the facts. My job is to present them as I see them. This man isn’t behaving in a normal, rational manner. Therefore, I have to consider him a threat to your safety and to the safety of those who offer you refuge. As soon as I leave here, I’ll be in contact with the state police, checking out both you and Sebastian Delray.”

Josh shot her a smile meant to comfort her. “Everett’s not kidding. When the state police are finished with their
investigation, they’ll know more about you and Delray than your mothers do.”

The chief’s eyes danced with laughter. “Josh is absolutely right on that point. So a word of warning, young lady. I consider myself the guardian of Paintbrush, Wyoming. I take my job seriously. If you’re hiding anything, now’s the time to spill it.”

Sierra sighed. “It wasn’t easy telling you such personal business. But now that I have, I’m feeling so much lighter. As though a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”

“I’m glad.” The chief started toward the door. “Thanks again for the apple pie, Phoebe. Ms. Moore, you’ll be hearing from me as soon as I have any information.”

Big Jim followed the police chief from the room. In the kitchen their muted voices could be heard through the closed door.

When the lights of the chief’s truck faded, Big Jim returned to the great room.

Seeing the concern etched on the faces of his family he dropped an arm around Sierra’s shoulders. “I’m glad you’re staying, sweetheart.”

“I’m grateful for the sanctuary. But after hearing what the chief said, I’m afraid that my being here could cause all of you trouble.”

“We’ll deal with trouble the way we deal with everything here in the Devil’s Wilderness.” He looked around, hoping his words would lift all their spirits. “Head on, full steam, and all of us together.”

At the vehemence of his words, Sierra felt her eyes fill.

“Thank you, Big Jim.” Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

He held her for several seconds before releasing her.

She took a long, deep breath before saying, “But I should warn you. I wasn’t completely honest with Chief Fletcher.”

She saw the way she had everyone’s sudden, complete attention.

“I don’t mean about Sebastian. But I haven’t been honest about my family.”

She glanced at Josh, wondering how he and the others would feel about her when she had finished baring her soul.

I
told you that my father is currently playing with a band in Germany, and that my mother, a sculptor, has a studio in Italy.” Sierra stared down at her hands, aware that Josh and his entire family were listening in rapt silence.

They were entirely too silent, their attention riveted on her.

She could feel herself beginning to sweat. Hadn’t she revealed enough already? It was actually painful to have to bare her family secrets like this.

Though she kept her tone light, she couldn’t hide the hint of sadness in her eyes. “I guess you’d call my parents the poster children for the term ‘free spirits.’ ”

To ease her tension Cole said, “I believe you told us you had no brothers or sisters.”

Sierra tossed her head. “My parents were barely together long enough for me. There was no time for any others.”

Despite the flip comment, there was an underlying note of something deeper.

Big Jim kept his tone gentle. “All right. Go on, sweetheart.”

She gave a dry laugh to cover her pain. “My mother likes to say that I was born on a bus heading to a gig in New Orleans. That night my dad performed with his band and my mother wrapped me in one of his T-shirts and watched from backstage.” Her voice lowered. “That was pretty much their lifestyle in their early days together, before they split up and moved abroad.”

Josh decided to let that pass without comment, since their breakup was obviously still painful to Sierra. “Where they sent you to England to boarding school?”

She nodded. “A number of schools, in fact. By then my parents had decided that I needed some stability. You could say I was a bit of a wild child until I discovered photography. That came later, of course. I pursued art at the university, fell in love with the spontaneity of capturing images in photos, and I’ve been earning my own way since graduating.”

Josh glanced around at his family, wondering if they were as fascinated as he was, not only by what she’d revealed but by that sweet, breathless tone of voice, and the edgy nerves she seemed to exude with each sentence. It was as though she needed to say it all as quickly as possible, so it wouldn’t hurt quite so much.

He felt an instant and overwhelming desire to put his arms around her. To hold her and tell her that it didn’t matter. That her past was just her past, and that she ought to be proud of the fine person she’d become.

Instead, he held his silence, watching and listening along with the rest of his family.

“I think I ought to warn you.” Sierra was staring straight ahead, refusing to look at Josh or his family. “Since your police chief is going to delve into my background, you deserve to know everything about me. For openers, my parents never married.”

“And you’re telling us this because…?” Josh bit back the grin that threatened.

She gave a toss of her head. “I just thought you deserved to hear the truth from me, before you heard it from another source. My parents don’t believe in the need for vows, or for a legal document that would bind them forever. And when they decided to go their separate ways—” she spread her hands “—they just split. Right now my father is living with the lead singer in his band. A girl who’s younger than me. And my mother’s partner in the studio used to be her nude model.”

Josh fought to keep his tone level, though a grin tickled the corners of his mouth. “Is there anything else Chief Fletcher might find in your deep, dark past?”

She looked over. “Are you laughing at me?”

“Maybe just a little.” He couldn’t hold back the laughter any longer. “Sierra, as far as I know, we don’t ask for any kind of legal proof of your birth before offering you a room and a bed.”

She looked around at the others, who were now breaking into wide grins.

“Okay. I just didn’t want you to think I was keeping secrets, especially since all of you seem so…” She struggled to explain. “You’re all so good and decent and… traditional. You’re this large, loving family that does
everything by the book. I figured you’d be a little shocked. I know most of my teachers and the parents of my friends found my background… strange.” She ended with a shrug, as though too embarrassed to go on.

“We appreciate your honesty, sweetheart, but your family history is your business.” Big Jim wrapped a beefy arm around her and squeezed.

He was smiling when he turned to the others. “We’d better get some sleep if we’re going to join Jake and the wranglers on the tail end of that cattle drive.”

“Think they’ll make it through this snow?” Quinn asked.

“According to Jake, the afternoon sun melted enough snow to make passage possible. Unless it snows overnight, they’re planning on getting started at first light.”

One by one the men began heading for the stairs as they called out their good nights.

Cheyenne caught Sierra’s hand in hers. “It had to be awkward, telling us so much about your private business. I’m sorry you felt obliged to talk of it before Chief Fletcher learned it. I hope you understand that it doesn’t change the way we feel about you.”

Sierra looked at their joined hands, then up into Cheyenne’s eyes. “I guess it wasn’t so bad, spilling family secrets.”

“Every family has them. Good night, Sierra.” Cheyenne surprised her by giving her a hard hug before turning toward the stairs.

Phoebe walked closer and wrapped her arms around Sierra’s shoulders. “I hope you can feel safe here, Sierra. Safe and… appreciated.”

Sierra swallowed. “Thank you, Phoebe. I do. Really. Thanks to all of you.”

“Good night, dear.” Phoebe pressed a kiss to her cheek before turning away.

Sierra touched a finger to her cheek, wondering at the warm feeling around her heart.

Ela paused in front of her.

With those blackbird eyes staring intently into Sierra’s, the old woman said, “My people believe that it is good to free the soul of all that burdens it. Honor those who gave you life, but choose your own path. Remember this: there is no one else quite like you. So, as you journey, make wise choices, for each road leads you closer to your goal.”

“Those are beautiful words, Ela. But what if I don’t know what my goal is?”

Ela smiled. “As we begin our journey, we do not know where it will end. That is why we have spirits to guide us.”

“I think my spirits must be sleeping.”

The old woman smiled, softening those shrewd eyes. “Trust them. They will show themselves when you most need them.”

She touched a hand to Sierra’s fair hair, brushing it from crown to the very ends. “Believe in your own goodness.”

Still smiling, she turned away.

When she slipped from the room, only Josh and Sierra remained.

Sierra studied Josh’s hooded eyes, wishing she could read the secrets he hid in those depths.

“I’m sorry about all this trouble, Josh. I really didn’t mean to dump my messy childhood on you, on top of my problems with Sebastian. I can still be ready to leave in the morning, if you say the word.”

“Why would I want you to leave?”

“Because of what Chief Fletcher said. The danger that could come to your family because of me.”

“Is that what you think? That I’m worried about us?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Sierra,
you’re
the one being stalked. This guy is a loose cannon that could explode at any time.”

“But now that I’ve filed an order of protection—”

“—he’s going to be as mad as a nest of hornets and looking for vengeance.”

She fell silent for a moment before looking up at him. “Then I guess I’d better be careful where I step.”

He couldn’t help smiling as he looked into her eyes. Despite that air of sophistication, there was so much innocence in this woman’s soul.

He dropped an arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the stairs. “Yeah. Be careful where you step. Especially in the barns.”