Brides of Arizona, page 32
The sun shone with a golden warmth that felt good. Kathleen knew she would get too hot later in the day, but right now she needed to be warm. Since the day she’d stopped hiding behind her veil, she’d become so free. The people in Tucson proved wonderful. No one ever made her feel unwelcome. Glorianna said if Kathleen thanked her one more time for confronting her on that issue, she would give her the twins for a whole week. Kathleen smiled. Those twins were a handful.
Her only worry was that Quinn’s family would find her lacking. He’d assured her many times they wouldn’t, but she’d lived with years of doubt. Quinn even said that after they visited his folks, they would travel on to see her family. She couldn’t repress a shudder. Her mother would be horrified to see her face uncovered. Quinn insisted he would set the matter straight, and somehow Kathleen knew he would.
Since the day Quinn became a Christian, he’d changed so much. Even though he hadn’t admitted it to anyone, he blamed himself for Edith’s death. As a lawman, he felt so responsible for everyone, even the criminals. Before she died, Edith had awakened enough to talk to Kathleen. She told her the whole story of how her father, in a drunken bout of gambling, sold her sister to a horrible man. This man forced her to do unspeakable things, often beating her for the sheer pleasure the violence brought him. Edith’s father didn’t care about anything other than where his next drink was coming from. Edith’s mother was dead, so Edith knew that she was the only one who could rescue Cassie.
Edith had no money, and her ploy of getting cash or gold from men had begun innocently. She’d always been beautiful. The scar she’d received as a young girl seemed to add to her mystique. She preyed on the men only to get the means to help her and her sister make a new start somewhere they would never be found. Before she died, she told Kathleen where to find the remainder of the money so at least some of it could be returned. Quinn and Kathleen talked for hours about how Edith’s need to protect her sister rather than turning to God for protection had brought only heartache and grief.
“Are you still with me?” Quinn’s arm slipped around her shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I was thinking about Edith.”
Sadness stole over Quinn’s face. He pulled Kathleen close. “At least she has a chance for true happiness. After you talked to her, I believe she understood her need for Jesus. That’s the best gift you could show her.”
Resting her head against his shoulder, Kathleen sighed. She’d never thought she could be so content.
The buggy rounded a corner. Quinn guided the horse around a turn onto a narrow lane. Before them, a house and outbuildings sprawled against the landscape. Several horses in a corral raised their heads and whinnied. The door to the house opened, and a man stepped out. Even from this distance, Kathleen could see the resemblance to Quinn. The way he stood, then his stride as he came toward them made her wonder if she would mistake him for his son in the dark. Coming closer, she could see the strong jaw and thick blond waves of hair like Quinn’s. Even his eyes seemed to be the same color of blue-gray.
Quinn pulled the buggy to a stop and hopped down. His father halted a few feet away, and the two faced each other for the first time in years. Kathleen held her breath, waiting to see what would happen.
Mr. Kirby took a long stride forward and embraced Quinn. “Welcome home, Son. It’s been too long.”
Tears burned in Kathleen’s eyes as she watched the reunion.
“Quinn.” A woman raced out the door and across the yard. Her face shone with excitement as she almost threw herself at Quinn.
“Mom.” Quinn sounded choked as he hugged the small woman. Her head only reached his chest, and she looked as if a strong wind would blow her away.
“Who’s this?” Quinn’s father was standing by the buggy studying Kathleen.
Releasing his mother, Quinn turned to help Kathleen down. Her legs felt unsteady. Grateful for Quinn’s arm around her, she leaned against him for support.
“This is my wife, Kathleen. Kathleen, my parents, James and Mary Kirby.”
With a cry of joy, her mother-in-law embraced Kathleen. Quinn’s father shook his hand, then kissed Kathleen on the cheek—right on top of her star-shaped birthmark. “Welcome to the family, Kathleen.”
Mary shot Quinn an accusing look. “You could have sent a letter telling us. That telegram only mentioned you coming for a visit.” She grabbed Kathleen by the arm. “Let’s go into the house. It sounds like we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Kathleen followed her mother-in-law into the frame house. Bright rag rugs decorated polished wooden floors. A few wooden toys lay scattered in one corner of the room. Quinn and his father followed them in after watering the horse and turning the tired animal loose in the corral.
“I just finished baking a dried apple pie.” Mary brought out some plates and lifted the cooling pie from the counter. “Elizabeth and her family will be here for supper. She’ll be so excited to meet you, Kathleen. I can see you two have something special in common.”
Quinn sat beside Kathleen and wrapped her hand in his as if he understood her discomfort. His smile and eyes spoke of his love without a word. Warmth and peace flowed through her.
“I didn’t know Elizabeth married.” Quinn gave his mom a puzzled look. “Why didn’t you write and tell me?”
Mary gave James a glance Kathleen couldn’t interpret. She seemed hesitant to answer Quinn’s question.
“I don’t believe you’ve written in awhile.” James accepted his piece of pie, giving his wife a smile. “You sent the telegram saying you were coming, but that was the first we knew you were in Tucson. Your mother wrote to you at the last address we had in Colorado, but the letter came back to us with a note that they didn’t know where you were.”
Quinn’s face reddened. He gave his parents a sheepish look. “I guess I haven’t been too good about writing.” He cut a bite of pie. “So, tell me about Elizabeth and her family. Who’d she marry?”
Another uneasy glance passed between his parents, but Kathleen didn’t think Quinn noticed. She wondered what was wrong.
Mary began to talk in a tone that sounded contrived and unnaturally cheerful. “Elizabeth’s been married over two years. She has a boy, Seth, and a new baby girl, Emily Anne. She’s the sweetest little thing.”
Swallowing a bite of pie, Quinn seemed to catch on to the tension in the room. “Who’d she marry?” He asked the question in a soft voice, placing his fork on the plate beside his uneaten portion of pie.
James pushed away from the table and stood. “Son, why don’t you and I go outside? I’ll show you some of the changes we’ve made to the place.”
The muscles in Quinn’s jaw bunched. Kathleen rested her hand on his arm and could feel the tightness there.
“Dad, you’re avoiding the question. What happened to Elizabeth, and who’d she marry?”
Sinking into his chair, James rubbed his hands over his face and reached over to take Mary’s hand. Her brow knit as if she were worried.
“Elizabeth is now Elizabeth Magee. She married Rupert.”
“What?” Quinn surged to his feet. Kathleen caught his hand and began to pray. She hadn’t seen him this distraught since before he’d become a Christian.
“How could you let her do that? Did he threaten you? Or her?” Quinn’s free hand bunched into a fist. “I should have stayed to make sure she’d be safe.”
James rose to his feet. Anger shone in his eyes. “Sit down.” At his command, Quinn sat down, and his dad followed suit. “I want you to listen to this story before you go jumping to conclusions.”
“You told me the Magees left town.”
“They did. The day after you left, they packed up and moved. There was a lot of speculation about what happened. No one around here regretted their leaving.” Mary took hold of her husband’s hand, and Kathleen appreciated the love between the two of them.
“Three years ago, Rupert returned by himself. His father died the previous spring.” James seemed uncomfortable about going on. “I don’t know how you feel about the Lord these days, Quinn. When you left home, you were dead set against believing.”
Bowing his head, Kathleen thought Quinn must be remembering with regret the words spoken in haste before he left and the years following. “I turned my back on Jesus. I was hurt and angry and thought I could do everything on my own without God. Last fall, I found out different. I gave my life to Jesus—partly because of Kathleen’s prayers and witness.”
Mary gave a cry of joy. Tears sparkled in her eyes. She came around the table and gave Quinn a long hug. “I’m so happy, Quinn. We’ve prayed every single day for you.”
He nodded and cleared his throat. “Thank you for that. But, I’d like to know what this has to do with Magee.”
“Well, you see, Rupert returned for one reason. He came to apologize to Elizabeth for the way he treated her when he lived here. Through a series of events, he too became a Christian.” James paused to study his son. “I have a feeling you’ve changed a lot in the last few months. Am I right?”
Quinn nodded. Kathleen couldn’t help smiling as she thought of the considerate, caring man he’d become.
“Well, Rupert is the same way. He’s no longer brash and obnoxious, demanding his way. You couldn’t ask for a better husband for your sister. He treats her like a princess, and he loves those kids in a way most fathers never do.”
Kathleen could almost see the thoughts turning in Quinn’s head. Since he’d left home, he had hated Rupert Magee for what he’d done. They talked about his need to forgive and prayed about God helping him find forgiveness. All those feelings of animosity must be coming back. Once more, Quinn would have to find it in his heart to forgive with a completeness that would heal the relationship.
When Quinn found out that Rupert and Elizabeth owned the farm next to his parents, he insisted on going over by himself. “I have to settle this thing with Rupert.” He pulled Kathleen into his arms in the privacy of the bedroom they’d been given. “I trust my parents’ and Elizabeth’s judgment, but I have to make amends with Rupert myself.”
“I understand.” Kathleen breathed in Quinn’s familiar scent, contentment wrapping around her. Exhaustion made her weak.
“I want you to rest while I’m gone.” Quinn put his hand over her rounded belly. “Carrying this little one is tiring without all the traveling we’ve done. I’ll tell Mom you’re napping, and I’ll wake you up when I get back.” He put her in bed and kissed her before leaving. Kathleen drifted off, praying everything would be settled in a peaceful manner.
Lord, You have to help me here. I’m so new at this forgiveness. I’ve harbored ill feelings toward Rupert for so long, I’m not sure I know how to truly forgive. Help me do that, Jesus, and show me right from the start that he’s truly changed. Quinn nudged his horse to a faster walk as he finished praying. Peace settled over him as the buildings of Elizabeth and Rupert’s place came in sight. The hollow knock of an axe chopping wood reverberated in the air.
Pulling his horse to a stop, Quinn sat at the edge of the yard taking in the neat, welcoming appearance of the property. This didn’t resemble the Magee’s disorderly home at all. He could see Elizabeth’s happiness in the bright flowers along the house. He could also see a caring man’s touch in the well-mended fences and tall woodpile ready for winter.
Swinging down from the horse, Quinn stepped up on the porch. The door flew open, and his sister flung herself into his arms. “Quinn, I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”
He held her away and looked at her. Cupping her cheek, he fought the emotion clogging his throat. “It’s been a long time, Sis.”
The door creaked open once more. Quinn’s hold on his sister tightened for a moment, then relaxed. He looked up and met Rupert’s hesitant gaze. This wasn’t the braggart he’d fought so long ago. Quinn could see this was a man at peace with himself and God. Rupert Magee, one-time bully and braggart, exuded compassion.
“Afternoon, Rupert.” Quinn held out his hand.
“Quinn.” Rupert’s large hand engulfed Quinn’s. There wasn’t a contest of wills, as Quinn would have once had. Instead, a feeling of utter peace seemed to flow between them. Elizabeth took her husband’s hand, concern furrowing her brow.
“I hear we’re brothers in more ways than one.” Quinn grinned as Rupert raised his eyebrow. “Last fall I became a Christian. That makes us brothers through marriage and through the Lord. Welcome to the family.”
Rupert’s eyes glittered with moisture. Tears ran down Elizabeth’s cheeks. Quinn stepped forward, and the two men enfolded Elizabeth in a long-awaited hug.
Voices and the delicious smell of roasted meat woke Kathleen. She could tell from the shadows that evening approached. The bedroom door swung open, and Quinn peeked in.
“Awake at last?” He crossed to the bed and kissed her. “My sister is here. You have to meet her.”
Kathleen stretched and swung her legs off the bed. “How’s Rupert?” She tried to keep the question light.
“He’s great with my sister.” A rueful smile quirked Quinn’s lips. “Once more, I see where God’s hand was at work when I couldn’t understand. He used Elizabeth’s godly response to Rupert’s meanness to eat at him until he yielded his life. They make a wonderful couple and are even talking about taking a trip to Tucson to visit us in a year or two.”
Fixing her hair, Kathleen couldn’t help putting her hand over the birthmark on her cheek. Quinn’s parents hadn’t said a word, but she knew they noticed. How could anyone not see the mark?
Quinn’s hands settled on her shoulders. He brushed a kiss on her neck, sending a tingle down her spine. “You are so beautiful, my love. Come meet my sister, and you’ll understand a lot.”
Hand in hand, they walked into the kitchen, where Mary and Elizabeth were visiting. A tiny baby slept in a cradle in the corner.
“Here she is.” Mary beamed at Kathleen. “Your new sister.”
A young woman as tiny as Mary with wheat-colored hair turned to greet Kathleen. Her eyes were a darker blue than Quinn’s. Her smile radiated joy. Kathleen’s throat became tight. Her eyes burned. She could feel Quinn’s arms tighten around her as she gazed at his sister, a beautiful girl with a dark brown birthmark staining her left cheek.
“Kathleen, I’m so happy to meet you.” Elizabeth came forward and opened her arms. Kathleen stepped into her embrace. No wonder Quinn hadn’t looked at her star as a deformity. He’d grown up with a sister with a mark like hers. Now she understood all his comments about Elizabeth being tormented and teased. That’s why he’d been so drawn to her and so protective of her.
“Is this my new sister-in-law?” The deep voice boomed across the kitchen. Elizabeth released Kathleen and turned to the huge man standing beside her father. He came over and wrapped an arm around Elizabeth, love and gentleness radiating from him. “I hear you’re visiting from the great Sonoran Desert.”
“That’s right.” Quinn slipped his arms around her. “Rupert, I’d like you to meet Kathleen, my Sonoran Star.” He leaned around and kissed her on the cheek.
Joy such as she’d never thought possible filled Kathleen.
Sonoran Sweetheart
Chapter 1
Arizona Territory, 1870s
The ring of the blacksmith’s hammer striking against hot metal reverberated through the air, making Lavette Johnson’s heart pound in time to the beat. Like primitive, rhythmic music, the sound drew her, intoxicating and unavoidable. She moved to the doorway of the shop, past horses waiting at the hitching post, neat piles of tools, and various utensils waiting for repair. Extra aprons for protection against heat and sparks hung on hooks by the door. A workbench with a variety of hammers and tools laid in orderly rows stood along one side of the three-sided room.
Stepping out of the bright sunlight, Lavette squinted against the dimness of the forge. She blinked, then stared at the giant of a man who swung the huge hammer as if it were a child’s toy. His shirt, the sleeves torn and frayed at the shoulders, clung like a second skin to his bulging muscles. The blacksmith switched the hammer into his other hand and didn’t lose a beat. His ebony skin glistened, the glow of the fire in the forge making tiny light particles dance across his arms.
Lavette sucked in a breath, pulling hard to get more air. Black dots danced across her vision. In a recess of her mind, she wondered if this was the way Miss Susannah felt before she swooned in order to get some handsome boy’s attention. Lavette shoved the thought away. She didn’t like to remember the years she’d spent as a slave to Miss Susannah’s family before her people were liberated at the end of the war. Free! She scoffed at the word. She would never be free. She wasn’t then, and she wasn’t now. Lavette refused to listen to people talk about emancipation. She’d resigned herself to a life of servitude in one form or another. She didn’t understand why she had to be in bondage, but she knew her place.
She also knew she had no room in her life for a husband or children. She’d seen what happened to her papa and mama when their older sons and daughters were sold off one by one, many of them leaving while they were still too young to be separated from their parents.
“We need to do this while they’re young enough to train right,” Miss Susannah’s papa said. Lavette didn’t believe a word of it. He was cruel and greedy, only looking at the money he would make from the sale. He always seemed to delight in the weeping and moaning of the parting relatives.
Unable to take her eyes off the man working at the forge, Lavette knew she had to leave. This blacksmith had been recommended as the best, but Lavette knew better now. He was a dangerous man. Oh, he probably was the best in Tucson, but her heart could tell he was a threat to her. The sight of him heightened her senses. She used to dream about the kind of man she would marry. Of course, that was before she knew she would never be a wife. This man with his great height, treelike arms, and good reputation fulfilled all her girlish dreams. She always imagined a big, strong husband who could shelter her from all the pain of life. Part of her longed to race forward in excited anticipation, the other part desired to race away in absolute terror.
