This Fierce Splendor (51 page)

Elspeth shivered. “I was so frightened when I woke and found you weren’t here.” Her eyes were suddenly blazing fiercely. “Don’t you ever leave me alone that way again. I was sitting here imagining all kind of horrors.”

“Then you imagined right.” A little shock ran through her as he turned to face her, and she saw the desolation in his eyes. He took her in his arms. “It’s always a horror.”

Her arms went around him in fierce protectiveness and her voice was almost a maternal croon. “It’s all right now. Everything will be all right.”

“Yes.” His arms tightened around her. “For now.”

It must not happen again, she thought desperately. She could feel his pain and weariness. He mustn’t ever have to go through this again. An iron-hard
resolve formed within her, even as she held him and tenderly rocked him as if he were a beloved child.

This would not happen again, she vowed silently.

Patrick came upon Shamus and his band of men two days ride out of Rosario. He reined in and quickly motioned to Consuela that all was well. The woman’s experience with bands, as ragtaggle as the Killara riders did not inspire confidence.

The surprise that flickered across Shamus’s face was immediately replaced by a sardonic smile. He inclined his head. “Patrick. Do you suppose I could be enlightened as to what the hell you’re doing down here? The last I heard you’d taken off after Rising Star to try to bring her back to Killara.” His glance shifted to the Mexican woman riding behind him, a papoose strapped to her back. The woman stared back at him without expression. “Who’s your lady friend?”

“Consuela,” Patrick said. “And she’s the lady friend of a bandit named Indino. He sent her with me to wet-nurse Kevin.”

“Kevin?” Shamus repeated.

Patrick’s gaze turned to Joshua riding beside Shamus. “Rising Star’s son.”

Shock turned Joshua pale. “My son.”

Patrick shook his head. “Rising Star’s son,” he repeated deliberately. “Not yours. You didn’t want him, remember?”

“What are you talking about?” Joshua’s voice was hoarse. “How can you have my son? What’s Rising Star doing down here in Mexico? She was going back to her village.”

“If you’d followed her when she left Killara, you’d have found out she never intended to go back to her people.” Patrick smiled bitterly. “She had no people. We Delaneys took that away from her too.”

Shamus’s eyes narrowed. “She followed Dominic and Elspeth on that wild goose chase?”

“No wild goose chase. Kantalan was there, and so was the treasure. Dom and Elspeth are on their way
back with enough gold and jewels in their saddlebags to buy everything west of the Mississippi.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Shamus murmured.

“And Kevin’s share will make him damn near rich enough to be considered a human being,” Patrick said. “Maybe not worthy of being a Delaney, but close.”

“Naturally Rising Star’s and the boy’s share will go to Joshua,” Shamus said, his thoughts on the possibilities Patrick’s news opened to him. “They’re family and—”

“No way in hell,” Patrick interrupted. “Rising Star’s share goes to Kevin and he keeps control of his share.”

“Patrick, this is none of your concern,” Joshua said quietly. “Star and I will talk about it and decide—”

“Rising Star is dead.”

Joshua made a low sound deep in his throat. His hands tightened on the reins. “No,” he whispered.

Patrick gazed at him unflinchingly. “She died in childbirth. Kevin’s twin sister died too.”

“She should never have left Killara. The journey was too much for her.”

“Killara was too much for her. We were too much for her. What the hell did you expect her to do? You told her you didn’t want the child—” He broke off, trying to stifle the helpless rage burning within him, the rage that had possessed him since he stood over Rising Star’s grave. “My God, how could you do that to her?”

“Patrick.” Shamus’s voice was stern. “Don’t talk to your uncle like that. He’s just suffered a grievous loss.”

“So have I.” Patrick’s gaze was fixed implacably on Joshua. “So have we all. God, some of you don’t even know that. She was … wonderful.”

Joshua stared at him in helpless misery.

“Patrick, I won’t have this,” Shamus said. “You straighten up and keep a civil tongue in your head.”

“I’ve said all I wanted to say to him.” Patrick’s gaze
shifted to Shamus. “Now I have a few words to say to you, Gran-da.”

“They’d better be a hell of a lot more respectful than the ones you’ve just spoken to your uncle,” Shamus said.

“Don’t count on it. I don’t feel very respectful at the moment. I feel mad as hell. There’s going to be a few changes at Killara.”

Shamus winged brow lifted. “Indeed?”

“Rising Star’s son is going to be treated as a Delaney. I’m not saying you have to love him, but by God, you’re going to accept him as one of us.”

“I don’t take orders, Patrick.”

“Too bad,” Patrick said. “Because you’re going to take this one. If you don’t, I’ll find a way of taking Killara from you, Gran-da. I’m going to be rich as bejesus in my own right and I’ll learn how to use that power.” A flicker of pain crossed his face. “I figure the treasure may come in handy to buy more than emerald watchfobs and Oriental dancing girls.”

Shamus gazed at him, his expression unrevealing. “You’re upset, boy. We’ll talk about this when we get back to Killara.”

Patrick shook his head. “This is how it’s going to be. Kevin is going to be treated like a crown prince in this kingdom the Kantalan treasure is going to buy because I’m going to be there to make sure he is. I’m moving back up to the house and I’ll be watching you, Gran-da.”

Shamus smiled genially. “Your grandmother will be glad to see you back under our roof. She never did like the idea of you down at the Mex village. There’s too much mischief a boy can get into down there.”

“I mean it, Gran-da.”

The smile faded. “I know you do. I’m not an unreasonable man. Maybe we can come to an agreement.”

“No maybe about it.” Patrick turned his horse and began edging around the column of riders. He glanced over his shoulder. “There had been no sign of Torres when I left Dom and Elspeth.”

“He was in Rosario. He’s after Dom all right.” Shamus frowned. “Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving Consuela and the baby at Rosario with Father Leon. Kevin’s too young to make the trip home to Killara yet. I’ll get them settled and then leave for the border right away. In a few months I’ll come back and bring them home.”

“Why don’t you wait in Rosario until we come back through after we get Torres?” Shamus asked.

Patrick shook his head. “I have something to do.” He met Shamus’s gaze. “I’m going after Silver.”

Shamus went still. “My, my,” he said silkily. “And are we to make her a crown princess too?”

“We’ll be lucky if she doesn’t decide to take over the whole shooting match,” Patrick said. “But if we treat her nicely, I figure she may let us keep an acre or two. And you
will
treat my cousin nicely, Gran-da.”

“Cousin! She’s no—” Shamus broke off. “You’re asking too much, Patrick.”

“I’m not asking.” Patrick urged his horse forward. “Silver Delaney is coming home to stay, and you won’t find her as easy to ignore as you did Rising Star.”

“Patrick.” Joshua’s voice stopped him. “Where is Star buried?”

Patrick turned around again. “Beside a lake in the Sierra Madres. Why?”

Joshua moistened his lips with his tongue. “I want to bring her home to Killara.”

Patrick stared at him in disbelief. Now he wanted to bring Rising Star home. Now, when it was too late. He opened his lips to blast Joshua with a scathing condemnation. Then he stopped, the words unspoken. Lines of suffering cut deeply into Joshua’s face, and his eyes were brilliant with tears. He was in pain. In his way he had loved Rising Star. Not enough, dammit, but as much as he was able to.

Patrick’s own eyes were dry as he looked at Joshua. He hadn’t wept when Rising Star had died. He had been too full of anger and despair. Now he wished he had tears to shed for all of them. Joshua, Rising Star, Ko-Do, and himself. What a godawful waste of love.

But he had no tears, he had only a purpose, and it was time he set about accomplishing that purpose. “Dom and Elspeth will tell you the exact location of Rising Star’s grave,” he said wearily as he kicked his horse into a trot. “I’ll see you back at Killara, Josh.”

It was an evening two days later that Shamus and his men rode into Dominic and Elspeth’s camp.

“Torres?” Was the first question Shamus asked.

“Dead,” Dominic answered.

Shamus nodded curtly. “Good.” His gaze turned to Elspeth. “We ran into Patrick. He tells me your journey wasn’t as foolish as I thought.”

“Is that all he told you?” Elspeth asked quietly.

“No.” Shamus motioned to the man riding to his right. “This is my son, Joshua.” He gestured carelessly to the other three men clustered about him. “Sean, Cort, and my grandson, William. This is Dominic’s wife, Elspeth, boys.”

There was a polite murmur from the young men, but Elspeth barely acknowledged it. Her gaze was focused on Joshua’s pale, tragic face. She had been prepared to dislike him, yet how could she condemn a man who was already broken by grief? “I was just cooking supper. I’m afraid there’s not enough for everyone.”

“We’ll cook our own.” Shamus turned back to Dominic. “We have some talking to do.”

Two hours later the glade looked like the campground of a small army. It was an army, Elspeth thought ruefully, a Delaney army, rushing to the rescue of one of their own. Her gaze turned to Shamus and Dominic across the campfire from her. They had been talking for nearly an hour, and by the expression on Shamus’s face, she could tell he wasn’t at all pleased by the conversation.

As she watched, Dominic got abruptly to his feet and strode over to where Sean and Cort were playing cards. Shamus stared after him for a moment and then stood up and marched over to Elspeth.

“You’re sending him on another tomfool trip,” he accused, glaring at her. “There’s no sense to it.”

She met his gaze steadily. “You have to admit our trip to Kantalan wasn’t foolish. Perhaps the one we’re about to make will be equally successful.”

“But Dominic doesn’t need any more money. The Kantalan treasure is enough for any sane man.”

A faint smile touched Elspeth’s lips. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I gathered from Dominic that you didn’t know the meaning of the word enough.” She paused. “Besides, there are all kinds of treasures in this world.”

“You’re trying to keep him away from Killara.”

“I would never do that.” She looked down at the cup of coffee cradled in her hands. “He loves it too much. He even loves you, though heaven knows why.”

“Then tell him you want to forget about running halfway across the country, and come home where you both belong.”

She shook her head.

“Dammit, what’s wrong with everyone?” Shamus exploded. “You, Patrick, Dominic. Can’t you see I’m doing what’s best for the family?”

He honestly believed what he was saying, Elspeth thought. And for the first time she caught the faintest glimpse of vulnerability beneath the old lion’s roar. “No,
we’re
doing what’s best, and you’ll have to accept it.”

“The hell I will!” Shamus fought and eventually conquered his frustration and anger. He forced a smile. “Look, I know you’re probably upset about Rising Star’s death. Perhaps Malvina and I should have been friendlier to Joshua’s wife, but we were never unkind to her. You don’t have to be afraid we’ll—”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Elspeth said clearly. “I know you now. I know you’re ruthless, stubborn, and sly. I also know you’re loyal, protective, and love your family. In many ways I respect and admire you and in others …” She shrugged. “However, I do not fear you.”

He blinked in surprise but rallied quickly. “Then there’s no reason why we couldn’t all get along very well together … eventually.”

“Perhaps.” She threw the remains of the coffee into the flames and set the cup down. “But not now.” She stood up. “Don’t worry, Mr. Delaney, your son will come home to Killara, but it will be when we wish it, not you.” She turned away. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go and try to further my acquaintance with Sean and Cort. I’m looking forward to getting to know them. The Delaneys are such an interesting family.”

She turned and walked toward Dominic, Sean, and Cort, leaving the patriarch of that “interesting” Delaney family frustrated and perplexed.

Dominic stayed up late talking to his brothers. It was close to midnight when he finally slipped beneath the blanket with Elspeth, who immediately turned to face him and came into his arms. She didn’t speak for a moment, content to be close to him with this army of strangers camped around them.

“I saw Da talking to you,” Dominic said. “He didn’t upset you, did he?”

“No.” She was silent for a moment. “I believe I’m beginning to be a wee bit sorry for him. Everything around him is changing and he doesn’t understand why or how to stop it.” She paused. “Are we going back to Killara before we leave for Illinois?”

He shook his head. “There’s no need now. Da can take the pack animals and treasure home and we can catch the stage in Tucson.”

“I see.” It was the answer she had hoped he would make. “How long will we be in Tucson?”

“The stage leaves twice a week. With any luck we won’t have to be there more than overnight.”

“Oh.” She paused. “I thought perhaps we could stay a little longer than that. I have something to do in Tucson.”

“What?”

She thought quickly. “Shopping. The only things I have with me are worn to rags.”

“They have better stores and dressmakers in St. Louis. We’ll have to stop there anyway.”

“But what would I wear on the trip? No, I need a few days in Tucson. Besides, I’m very tired. I might need to rest a bit.”

Dominic felt a pang of remorse mixed with tenderness. Of course she was tired. She had been through trials that would have tested the endurance of a strong man. “Why didn’t you say so? We’ll give you all the time you need. A month if you like.”

Elspeth closed her eyes quickly to prevent him from seeing the flicker of guilt she was experiencing. She feigned a yawn. “A few days will be quite sufficient. “Good night, Dominic.”