Another Dawn (41 page)

      
Restless, Luke shrugged into the wool coat Mrs. Wilson had given him and went out into the cold night air. The stillness of midnight was magical as he gazed up at the vivid stars.

      
He drew a deep breath and released it very slowly, watching its steam appear then dissipate in the darkness. Tucking his hands into his pockets, he walked toward the clearing behind the schoolhouse and stood beside a fallen log.
 

      
He would miss Redemption–the people, the peace. Remembering the first day, when he and Sofie'd been escorted at gunpoint to the makeshift hospital, Luke smiled. So much had changed since then.

      
He'd changed.

      
"Well, it 'pears we always meet up here,
Padre."
 
Zeke strolled over to stand beside Luke, then looked up at the stars. "I'm gonna miss this place."

      
The lanky hillbilly's sudden appearance didn't startle Luke as it had the first time. On the contrary, it seemed quite normal. "You're leaving, too?"
 

      
"Yep."
 
Zeke took the cork out of his jug and lifted it to his lips. After a long drink, he offered the jug to Luke.

      
"No thanks, Zeke."
 
Luke didn't want anything to affect his judgment tonight. He had plans to make. Important plans.
 

      
Zeke shoved the cork back into place and sighed. "Had me a long talk with the marshal," he said, bending down to set the jug near his feet. "Some miner jawin' in a saloon 'bout Redemption is what brung Weathers out here huntin' me."

      
"Ah."
 
Luke had wondered how Sam Weathers knew to find Zeke here.

      
"So I reckon it'd be best if'n I ain't here to find, in case somebody else comes lookin' for either Zeke or Zach Judson."
 
He chuckled quietly.
 

      
"Sam Weathers is quite a piece of work."

      
"That's a fact."
 

      
"So where will you go?"

      
"Fanny's folks need to be told what happened to her," Zeke said thoughtfully, tucking his hands in his armpits. "They got a spread out in Oregon, so I figgered I'd mosey out there and tell 'em myself."

      
"I'm sure they'll appreciate hearing about Fanny from you personally," he said quietly. "When will you leave?"

      
"Spring, I reckon."

      
Zeke looked up and Luke followed the direction of his gaze. A shooting star arced across the sky, reminding Luke of his grandma's vow to always make wishes at such times. "Make a wish, Zeke," he said, squeezing his eyes shut.

      
"I already got my wish,
Padre."

      
Luke swallowed the lump in his throat and released a long, slow breath. He wished for serenity, freedom, respectability, a life free of guilt and shame.

      
But mostly...he wished for love.

      
Remembering the expression in Sofie's eyes when he'd made his promise, he prayed she would understand and accept his decision to break his alleged vows. She had to. Nothing else mattered without her. Nothing.

      
"I been wonderin' somethin',
Padre."

      
Zeke's words startled Luke, and he jerked his eyes open and turned to face the other man. "What?"

      
"Well, no offense intended, hear?"

      
Curious, Luke chuckled. "I hear. What's on your mind?"

      
"I reckon you know by now I ain't what you'd call a big city feller like you," he said slowly, seeming to choose his words carefully. "But I be a flesh and blood man all the same, who knows what it's like to have a hankerin'."

      
"Hankering?"

      
"For a woman,
Padre."
 
Zeke wasn't laughing now. "I never could understand how some folks go all their lives without a poke now and again. Beats tar outta me."

      
"I, uh..."
 
Far from cold now, Luke tugged open the top button of his heavy coat. "What's your question, Zeke?" His voice sounded strained. Nervous.

      
Zeke turned to fully face him, his expression solemn in the moonlight. "A body'd have to be blind not to see your hankerin'."
 
The man shrugged, but didn't look away. "I seen the way you git 'round Doctor Sofie,
Padre."

      
"Oh?" Luke broke into a cold sweat and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Zeke had proven himself intelligent far beyond the image he presented to the world, and he'd seen through at least part of Luke's facade.

      
"'Course, this ain't none o' my biz'ness...."

      
Luke didn't–couldn't–say anything. All he could do was stand there in the freezing cold and hear what the man had to say. How much did Zeke know? What had he figured out about the fictitious Father Salazar? About Luke?
Besides that I'm a horny bastard?

      
"But I cain't help wonderin' how you stand it,
Padre."
 
Zeke chuckled again and shook his head slowly. "If'n I was you, I'd be harder'n a year-old hotcake all the durned time."

      
A hotcake sizzling on the griddle summed things up pretty well. "It isn't easy," Luke said, trying not to think about how long he still had to wait before he could make love to Sofie. Of course, if she decided she didn't want him after all...

      
"Like I said 'afore," Zeke continued, "I seen the way you look at Miss Sofie, an' doggone it if she don't make moon eyes at you, too."

      
I sure as hell hope so
. Luke drew another fortifying breath and released it in a loud whoosh. "Zeke, I can't answer for anyone but myself,"
and all I can do on that score is lie, lie, lie,
"but the, uh, cravings of the flesh are pretty powerful stuff. Temptation is everywhere."
 

      
"Ain't that the truth?" Zeke chuckled again and looked toward town. "I reckon the doc is givin' in to temptation 'bout now. Looked to me like old Ab was sniffin' 'round after Miss Dora, too."

      
Luke cleared his throat loudly–his only defense against uncontrolled laughter. After a moment, he rescued his dignity from his sense of humor and said, "I, uh, warned Ab about that already."

      
Zeke threw his head back and roared. "Well, I'll be seein' you,
Padre,"
he said, reeling in his laughter. "Get some shut-eye."

      
"You, too."

      
Luke walked slowly back through town, hoping no one had been out visiting their outhouse and overheard Zeke's pointed questions and observations. Man, Luke was even starting to act like a priest. He had to get out of this mess fast, and for more reasons than one.

      
Soon. The minute Roman said Sofie was able to travel...
      
Once they were away from Redemption, Luke would shed his sheep's clothing. His blood warmed at the thought of shedding clothing, baring skin, and
touching
Sofie.

      
He looked around once more, then threw his head back and howled.

Chapter 16

      
Sofie eased her healing shoulder into her dress and closed the buttons. Dr. Wilson hadn't wanted her to get out of bed yet, but it had been almost a week and she had plans to make about her future. More determined than ever to regain her memory and her life, she tied a scarf on as a sling and made her way downstairs.

      
At the base of the stairs, she paused to look toward the hearth, where a low fire now burned. The dark stains on the carpet made her shudder, until she looked beyond that to the area where she'd lain on the floor in Luke's arms.

      
Her face warmed as memory filled in every delicious detail. She closed her eyes, savoring the flood of love and longing that pervaded her.

      
After a few moments, she opened her eyes and jerked herself back to the present. There was nothing wrong with certain parts of her memory. A pity she couldn't fill in all the other missing details of her life. With a sigh, she banished the
 
stimulating thoughts of Luke's kisses and caresses and headed for the kitchen.

      
"Miss Dr. Sofie!"
 
Jenny hugged her. "I was fixing a tray to bring up to your room. You shouldn't be out of bed yet. Dr. Wilson said–"

      
"I feel fine. Just a little weak from being in bed too long."
 
Sofie stroked Jenny's neatly braided hair and smiled down at her. "I'm so happy for you. For you and Shane both."
 
She looked at Jenny's brother, as he bolted from his chair, abandoning a plate of ham and eggs. "I swear, the men in Redemption are too polite for their own good. Sit and eat, Shane."

      
Grinning, the young man returned to a breakfast large enough for three grown men. Of course, he was nearly as big as three men, Sofie decided, remembering how he'd looked the night he
 
came to their rescue wearing that diaper-like get-up. He'd looked like a pro wrestler.

      
In fact, Shane Latimer could easily give any Hollywood hunk a run for his money. Trivia Queen strikes again. Thank goodness he'd live to break a few hearts.

      
"Dr. Wilson will be mad," Jenny said, shaking her head as she went to the stove. "I think he's coming back with Father Salazar to check on you."

      
Sofie smoothed non-existent wrinkles from her skirt and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Father Salazar isn't here?" she asked casually. Too casually.

      
"Doc Wilson sent for him early this morning," Shane said between shovelfuls. "Some fella named Mr. Smith wanted to see him."

      
"Maybe he's Catholic," she thought aloud. "Mr. Smith is one of Dr. Wilson's patients."

      
"You hungry, Miss Dr. Sofie?" Jenny asked, bending to take a pan of biscuits from the oven. With a huge hot pad, she carried it to the table. "I found some honey in the pantry. I like biscuits with honey even better than with gravy."

      
"Unless that's redeye gravy."
 
Shane plucked a biscuit from the pan, earning a slap on the forearm from his sister. With a sheepish grin, he grabbed a second biscuit.

      
A yearning need for her own family spread through Sofie as she watched the loving, casual manner the pair had with each other.
Jealous, Sofie
? Yes, without a doubt. She ached to find her own mother and brother, and even if she couldn't be with them physically–after all, she didn't even know if they were living–she at least wanted the memories.

      
She could just imagine what her mother–what any mother–would think of her daughter falling in love with a priest. Though her concerns seemed more like a teenager's than a doctor's, Sofie couldn't shake the need for her mystery mother's approval. Maybe not knowing her true age augmented this need. In many ways, she was like a newborn discovering the world for the first time.