As she worked, Pearl explained, “Chester Pierce was cheating Daddy for years. That’s why we couldn’t get the books to balance.”
Cal McCabe’s face darkened with fury. Before anyone could react, he caught the banker by the front of his jacket and hauled him to his feet. “You killed my best friend? You murdered Onyx Jewel?”
Chester blinked a moment before Cal’s fist smashed into his face, sending him sprawling backward against a rock. Before Cal could follow through with a second blow, Diamond stepped between them and lifted both hands to Cal’s chest imploringly.
“Please, Cal,” she cried. “I know how you feel. Everybody here feels the same way.” Her voice trembled with passion. “More than anything, I want to avenge Pa’s death. But if I’ve learned anything at all from Adam it’s this. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Let Marshal Regan handle this.”
The crowd was stunned into silence. Could this possibly be Onyx Jewel’s daughter displaying such humility?
“Looks like you’ve done a heap of growing up in the past few weeks, Diamond,” the marshal said gruffly. “Adam Winter was right. Chester Pierce will pay. The way any murderer pays here in Hanging Tree.”
The banker slithered to the ground and fell to his knees as the enormity of his crime and the manner of his punishment hit him.
Diamond returned to Adam’s side. A moment later a cry was torn from her throat.
“Someone help me.” Tears streamed down her face. “Adam’s dying.”
The gilded carriage, pulled by two matching white horses, moved smartly across the hills and valleys.
Adam lay on the cushioned seat, gritting his teeth at every jolt. At least, he thought, he wasn’t dead yet. But he almost wished he were. Anything would be better than the pain he was enduring.
So many voices babbling. None of them made sense. Deep men’s voices, all raised in anger. Higher-pitched women’s voices, sounding like the chirping of birds. And one, close by, like the sighing of the wind. He knew that voice. Soft, breathless. He tried, but he couldn’t speak to her. Couldn’t give her any consolation. It seemed supremely important that he let her know that he was still alive. But all he could do was grit his teeth against the pain and feel the warmth of her arms encircling him, holding him close each time the carriage took another jolt.
“Don’t leave me, Adam,” she whispered. “I couldn’t bear to lose you, too.”
God, how he wanted to live. More than anything, he wanted to assure her that he would fight to stay alive. Instead, he closed his eyes as the carriage bounced over yet another gully, then landed with a thud.
“Stop the carriage. He’s losing too much blood.”
“Looks bad.” Adam recognized Zeb’s voice. “He’ll never make it to town. Better take him to your place, lady boss. I’ll ride ahead and fetch the doc.” His voice faded in and out. “Hate to do this, my friend.”
“What is it?” Diamond’s words were spoken close to Adam’s ear.
“Whiskey,” came Zeb’s voice as though from a great distance. “It’ll keep him from getting infected until the doc can remove that bullet.”
Adam felt something cold, which instantly set fire to his flesh. The flames grew, until they devoured him. And then he sank into blessed unconsciousness.
“It’s a lucky thing you’re strong and healthy.” Dr. Cosmo Prentice affixed the last bit of dressing to Adam’s chest. His soft, chubby fingers had all the grace of an artist. In a bloody dish nearby lay the small-caliber bullet, which had missed Adam’s heart by inches.
“Thanks, Doc.” Adam’s tongue felt too big for his mouth. He couldn’t seem to make his lips move properly.
He turned toward Diamond, who was gripping his hand so tightly he’d lost all feeling in it. Her shirt and britches were still smeared with his blood. Her face was pale, her eyes red rimmed from crying. She had wept buckets of tears. Even now, they were too close to the surface. The least little thing might set her off again.
In a daze she looked around her father’s bedroom, which smelled of chloroform and disinfectant. The last time she’d been here, it had been to view her father’s body. The thought caused her heart to twist painfully.
“You’re sure you’re...” She couldn’t say the words. They were too important to her.
“He’ll be fine.” Doc Prentice’s pencil-thin mustache twitched as he gave her a warm smile. “But he’s going to need some time. And some care.”
“We’re going to take good care of him,” promised Pearl solemnly. “I shall read to him whenever he is bored.”
Adam tried not to groan.
“We will bathe him and dress him,” Ruby said.
At that he flinched.
“I will burn incense and pray to my ancestors,” Jade added. “And as he mends, I will teach him the ancient arts to help him grow stronger.”
Carmelita’s voice broke in. “I will personally prepare all of Señor Winter’s favorite hot, spicy foods. Oh, it will be good to cook for a man again.”
“My men and I will see to your ranch and herd until you’re back on your feet,” Cal said, grasping Adam’s hand in a firm handshake. “I want you to know, Winter, how grateful I am. What you did, throwing yourself into the path of a bullet to save Diamond, was the bravest thing I’ve ever heard of. I was wrong about you. And, if you’re willing, I’d like us to be friends.”
Adam accepted his handshake and gave him a smile. But when he turned away, Adam hissed in pain. Zeb, who had been standing in the corner, walked closer.
“Something I can do?” he whispered.
“Get me out of here,” Adam muttered.
“Sorry, friend. Doc says you can’t be moved.”
“Then get rid of them,” Adam said through gritted teeth.
“Too much gratitude, huh? Not used to all this love and kindness.”
Adam hissed again, and the old man looked up with a grin. “Come on, folks. I think it’s time to go.”
“But we must stay and take care of our hero,” Pearl protested.
“I think your...hero’s in good hands with the doc.” Zeb herded them toward the door. “Besides, maybe he and Diamond would like a few minutes alone.”
“Oh. Yes.” Three heads bobbed in sudden understanding. Three pairs of eyes glowed with visions of romance. Three voices said in unison, “Of course. Alone.”
The women began to file from the room, followed by Cal and Zeb.
In the doorway, Pearl turned. “How long must he stay in bed?”
The doctor snapped shut his black bag. “Until he’s strong enough to stand.”
“Then we will prepare a bath...”
“And incense ...”
“And supper...”
The doctor pulled the door closed, shutting off the sound of their voices. At last, Diamond and Adam found themselves alone.
The silence was a welcome relief after all the madness of the past hours.
“You were very brave.”
“Um-hmm.” He frowned. “According to your sisters, a—” he bit back the epithet he wanted to hurl and finished simply “– hero.”
Sisters. She was beginning to like the sound of that word more and more. Pearl, Jade and Ruby had been simply wonderful throughout the entire ordeal. They had stood by her side, lending their support, their strength. It felt good to know she had someone she could count on.
“You make the word hero sound like an insult. You were so noble, so –”
“I was scared to death.”
She was shocked. “Of dying?”
“Of seeing you hurt.”
At that she went very still. Those damnable tears were welling up again, blinding her. “I don’t know what’s come over me,” she sniffed. “I never cry.”
“That’s all right. You’re entitled.”
She ran the back of her hand across her eyes, leaving a muddy, bloody smear that made her-resemble a raccoon. “Are you truly all right?”
He gave her a lopsided grin and sat up, swinging
his feet to the floor, even though the movement made him suck in his breath on a flash of white-hot pain. “I’ll live.”
“Oh, Adam.” She started to hug him, then thought better of it. She leaned forward, afraid to touch him, and brushed her lips lightly over his.
At once he felt the flare of heat and cursed the fact that if he made any sudden moves, he would open up his wound.
“Think you could manage a better kiss than that?” he asked.
She sat gingerly on the bed beside him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Isn’t it lucky you fell in love with a big, strong, sturdy woman like me?” she muttered against his lips. “Instead of some pale, helpless little beauty?”
Lucky? He felt like the luckiest man in the world. But as she moved her mouth seductively over his, he couldn’t answer. He was struggling to hold back, not only a rush of feelings, but a surge of pain.
The pain won.
The room tilted precariously. He wasn’t even aware of falling back against the pillows. Or of the sound of Diamond’s voice as she anxiously summoned the doctor back to the room.
The days passed in a blur of activity. From sunup until sundown, the ranch house was filled with visitors.
Carmelita was in her glory, cooking for all the men who seemed to have begun congregating since Adam’s arrival. The marshal dropped by every day with new details of the crime. Cat and the wranglers visited Adam’s bedroom in order to report to him and to Diamond, who was reluctant to leave his side. The doctor stopped by each day to examine his patient. He always seemed to arrive at dinnertime. Even the fiery young Reverend Wade Weston came by to say how grateful he was that the town hadn’t hanged the wrong man. And to assure Diamond that her father’s soul now rested in peace. That thought was a great comfort to Diamond.
As his wound healed, Adam’s restlessness became apparent. Each day, when Zeb appeared, he bombarded the old man with questions about the ranch, the herd.
“What’s the matter?” Zeb asked as Carmelita retreated with a tray of half-eaten food. “I would think all this fuss, all this pampering, would feel like heaven.”
“Then you can have it, old man. If I don’t get out of here soon, I think I’ll go stark raving mad.”
“Sounds serious” The old man sipped the coffee Carmelita had given him. She had added a splash of whiskey, just the way he liked it. “Maybe some men just aren’t cut out for the good life.” He glanced at Adam. “What are you going to do about the lady boss?”
Adam avoided his friend’s eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Mean? Hellfise, it should be plain enough. You love her, don’t you?”
Adam nodded. “With all my heart. But I can’t ask her to give up all this for what I have to offer. And I can’t stay here any longer.”
“Sometimes,” Zeb mused aloud, “loving a woman just isn’t enough. I’ve loved a few ladies in my lifetime. But they always wanted me to put down roots, and live under a roof like other men. And I just couldn’t. So in the end, I always had to leave them and move on. But I’ll tell you, it gets to be a lonesome life.”
Adam eased himself out of the chair and walked slowly to the window, staring out at the gathering darkness.
Zeb watched him for a few minutes, then stood. “I’ll get back to the herd now.”
Adam didn’t move. Long after his old friend had ridden away, he continued staring out the window. And seeing only the reflection of his own bleak future looking back.
Diamond strode out of the barn, her boots covered with dung, her shirt and britches soiled and dirty. It felt good to be doing chores again. She’d missed the hard work. But in the beginning she had been afraid to leave Adam’s side for more than a few minutes.
It occurred to her that love was very confining. At once she dismissed such a cold, heartless thought. She didn’t mind the time spent with Adam. After all, he had risked his life for her. And she loved being with him. These past few days had been a special treasure. Except, of course, that there had been dozens of interruptions.
She didn’t really mind, she told herself. After all, Pearl and Jade and Ruby had formed a special bond with her. Sisters. She smiled as she strode toward the ranch house. She was learning to love having sisters. But sometimes, she craved the privacy she’d once had. She thought it would be heaven to ride up with Adam to one of the line camps and spend the rest of the winter alone with him, snowed in until springtime. At once she cursed herself for such selfish thoughts. She ought to be thrilled to share Adam with the others, she thought as she pried off her boots. After all, weren’t they one big happy family now?
As she entered the kitchen, she sensed the change. Carmelita was polishing a blackened kettle with such vengeance, she could almost see sparks coming from the housekeeper’s fingers.
“Something wrong?” Diamond asked.
“Senor Winter does not want supper. He is upstairs preparing to leave.”
“Leave. But...” Diamond turned toward the door. “Come with me.”
She flew from the kitchen, followed by Carmelita, and made her way along the hallway. As she passed Pearl, she saw her lips pursed in a little pout.
“What is it?” Diamond asked.
“Adam doesn’t want me reading to him today. He said he doesn’t have time, since he’s leaving.”
“Carmelita just told me. Come on. We’ll speak to him.” Diamond continued along, trailed by Pearl and the housekeeper, until she came to Jade and Ruby, who were carrying a tub of steaming water between them.
“Chérie, you will never believe—” Ruby began, but Diamond stopped her.
“Let me guess. Adam doesn’t want to take another bath.”
“Oui. And he practically snarled at us when we entered his bedroom.”
“Men,” Jade said with authority. “Once they are strong enough to take care of themselves, they begin to resent all the things they once loved.” .
Diamond’s heart skipped a beat. Was that true? Would Adam resent her now that he was back on his feet?
“I’ll...we’ll talk to him,” she managed to say before she brushed past them. “Come on.”
She knocked once, then pulled open the door.
Adam was fully dressed, and had pulled on his cowhide jacket. He was just buckling his gun belt when he turned and caught sight of her and the others.
“Going somewhere?” Her heart was hammering, but she was pleased to note that her voice was steady.
“I was just going to look for you.” He took a step toward her, then stopped. It would be best if he didn’t touch her. Especially in front of the others. What he had to say was painful enough. Touching her would make it impossible.
He turned to the others. “I was hoping to find all of you together. I want you to know how grateful I am for all you’ve done.”
“Grateful.” Diamond felt a flash of fire and bit down on her temper.
“Without all of you, I’m sure my recovery would have been much slower,” Adam said. “And I know this hasn’t been easy on any of you. But it’s time for me to get back to my ranch. I’ve been letting Zeb carry the load alone.”
“But you haven’t...we haven’t...” Diamond stopped, embarrassed. She was very close to crying. Or worse, begging. If it killed her, she wouldn’t make a fool of herself in front of the others. Besides, they all seemed so calm, so resigned to his leaving. She was the only one who seemed at all flustered.
“I understand,” Pearl said softly as she brushed a kiss over his cheek. “You have a need to return to your own ranch.”
“And to get on with your life,” Jade said as she followed suit and kissed his cheek.
“It is natural enough,” Ruby added, brushing her painted lips across his, leaving a faint smudge. “It must seem strange, sleeping in another man’s bed.”
“I will miss cooking for you, Senor Winter,” Carmelita said.
“Not as much as I’ll miss eating your good cooking.” Adam bent and kissed her.
At his words, she brightened
. But only a little.
“Then why... ?” Diamond stopped again, cautioning herself not to create a spectacle.
He steeled himself to kiss her cheek. When he did he felt the jolt and pulled back quickly. “You have an empire to see to, Diamond. And a lot of wranglers depending on you for work. I’ve kept you from it long enough. Now I’ll bid you goodbye.”
He picked up his hat and headed for the door, with the four women following.
At the front door they crowded around, watching as he pulled himself slowly, painfully into the saddle. He tipped his hat and managed a smile. Then he was gone.
They watched until he disappeared over a rise. Then each one drifted away. All except Diamond. She continued standing at the door, staring into the distance. And praying that he would have a change of heart. And come racing back to her waiting arms.
The little cabin was silent, with only the crackling of the fire to break the stillness. Zeb was tending the herd. Adam lay on his bunk, smoke curling over his head from the cigarette in his hand. His thoughts centered on the night Diamond had come to him. He’d never known a sweeter seduction. Or a more powerful explosion of passion when they had finally come together.
He missed her. Missed her with an ache that tore at his heart. But he’d had enough of Onyx Jewel’s home and bed and food. He’d had a need to be his own man again. In his own home. No matter what the cost.
The loneliness seemed all the more desolate now that he’d tasted family life again after all these years. It had reminded him how much he missed his own family. He and his brothers had been close. Closer than most. They had shared the same jokes, the same common thread of history. Though he’d been able to bury his pain, these few days with Diamond had opened up all the old wounds.
He could see that same closeness developing between Diamond and her sisters. Despite their differences, the four young women were beginning to forge a bond. One that would sustain them throughout the years.
If the timing had been different, he thought, he and Diamond might have been able to make it. But he had met her at a low point in her life. And now that she had discovered three sisters to fill the void left by the death of their father, he had no right to come between them. He had his life. She had hers. And the differences between them were too deep.