Whispers on the Wind (A Prairie Hearts Novel Book 5) (35 page)

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

T
hree days later, with a firm hold of Hunter’s hand, Tabitha stepped out of the Silky Hen in a haze of happiness. All the trouble that had turned Logan Meadows on its ear had calmed, and for that she was thankful. They stood for a moment in the crisp morning sunshine, taking in the scene.

“It was nice of your mother to move out for a few days,” Hunter said as he nodded to Dr. Thorn going by in his buggy.

“Yes, it was. I’m glad she made the first move to make up with Aunt Roberta. More than anything, I think her motivation was to give us some privacy. Every newly wedded couple deserves some time alone.”

Hunter smiled down into her face. She took that time to memorize every detail about him. They’d both come so close to losing each other. “More likely, it was the memory of Sundstrom charging up the stairs to kill you.” He chuckled. “Still, it’s awfully good of her. And I appreciate it, whatever the reason. I’m anxious to make new memories and chase the old away.”

“Hunter, you’re so romantic!”

“You haven’t seen nothing yet, Miss—”

She cocked her brow.

“If you’d let me finish, I was going to say,
Miss Hotty-Body
.” He ran his hand down her back, and she moved closer. “I’m glad you didn’t change your straitlaced ways until you married me.”

Tabitha laughed, enjoying Hunter’s playful side very much.

“Tabitha, Hunter,” a soft voice called out.
“Ciao.”

Dichelle hurried their way, having come out of the mercantile. She looked stunning, as usual, a cheerful smile on her face, and her eyes bright with excitement.

“Have you heard?” she asked, looking straight at Tabitha. “Your
madre
, she is an
angelo
!”

“What? I don’t know what an
angelo
is, Dichelle.” She and the Italian singer had become very close, and she adored this little songbird. She understood now how Hunter could call her that. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Your mother! She is an angel. She’s offered to take me back to New York with her when she goes, using the ticket she purchased for you! She will also try to open some doors for me once we arrive. I am speechless. Beyond words.” She dashed at a tear that had slipped from her eye.

“Well, I’ll be,” Hunter said. “That’s pretty nice. That leaves us some time to have a few more shows.”

Dichelle laughed. “That is exactly right, my
amico
. That’s precisely what we will do. A few more golden eggs for the Bright Nugget.”

Gabe Garrison rode down the street with a ranch hand from the Broken Horn, a sack tied to the back of his saddle. The two stopped in front of the laundry house, dismounted, and untied the sack. They disappeared inside.

Tabitha tugged on Hunter’s arm and gestured to Dichelle. “Let’s go see Bao. I want to check on Lan, too. That girl is always in my thoughts. I hope someday she will be able to forget what happened.”

Dichelle leaned in and kissed both of Tabitha’s cheeks, then did the same for Hunter. “
Arrivederci
, my dear friends,” she said. “I must go and write to Ned, tell him I won’t be returning to Soda Springs after all.
Fate i bravi
.”

“Fate i bravi?”
Tabitha hadn’t heard that before.

“Be good,” she said over her shoulder as she hurried away.

Entering the shop, they found Gabe and Tyler Weston waiting in the foyer. Tap Ling, his face bruised and a cut healing above his eye, stood behind the counter listening to the cowboys. His eyes brightened when he saw Tabitha, but he kept his attention on what the cowboy was saying.

“I need ta apologize to your wife, Mr. Ling,” Tyler Weston said, his hat gripped firmly in his fingertips. “May I please speak to her?”

Mr. Ling gave a small bow. “One moment, please,” he said and hurried away. The front door opened and Daisy stepped inside, coming to stand with Tabitha and Hunter.

Tabitha ran her hand down Daisy’s arm. Jake’s fiancée hadn’t been in the restaurant when they’d eaten. She looked drawn and tired. When she looked up, Tabitha couldn’t help but notice her red eyes. “How is Jake’s mother?”

“I’ve just come from the Red Rooster. Marlene is healing, but isn’t yet ready to come back to work just yet.” A shadow crossed over her face, and Tabitha wondered if she was thinking about Jake.

“Any word?”

She shook her head. “None since the first telegram. I’m worried. I pray he’s all right.”

“I’m sure he is, Daisy. It’s only been a little over two weeks. Who knows what circumstances he’s been thrust into. Jake’s smart, and loyal. You have nothing to worry about.”

She hoped she wasn’t setting Daisy up with false hope. In truth, she and Hunter had had the same conversation over their meal. Seemed everyone was worried over Jake and what was happening.

Bao appeared at the dividing door, with Mr. Ling at her back.

“Ma’am,” Tyler said softly. “I have ta apologize for giving you such a scare the other day when I was—” He paused, and glanced at Tabitha, Daisy, and Hunter as if embarrassed to go on. He swallowed. “Looking in your alley window. Especially now, after what happened.”

Bao stood quietly, her own bruises still visible on her face.

“You see, Jake’s my good friend. It was the day he left and I was on my way to the saloon. I just wanted to see his ma. I was curious over something that was none of my business. Jake said she’d come to town and was working for you. I didn’t mean any harm.”

For the size and breadth of the handsome young man, he seemed as skittish as a bunny.

“No harm done,” Tap Ling said firmly, surprising Tabitha. He turned and exchanged a few words in Chinese with his wife, then she disappeared into the back of the shop.

Gabe, quiet all this time, set the bag of laundry on the counter. When he turned, he caught Daisy’s eye. “Jessie expects you for dinner Sunday night. I’ll come pick you up around four.”

Daisy nodded. “Thank you, Gabe. I’ll be happy to come.”

Her voice didn’t carry much cheerfulness.

Gabe and Tyler said their goodbyes, as did Daisy. Now that it was just Tabitha and Hunter, she asked, “How is Lan, Mr. Ling? Is she recovering?”
As much as a child can from such a frightening experience.

“She exceedingly resilient,” Mr. Ling said softly. “She okay. Bao and I thankful to you for your help. Both you.”

Tabitha felt Hunter’s arm around her back. Thank God worse hadn’t happened.

Mr. Ling’s head tipped to the side. “Sheriff and deputy back in town. Say man who pay bounty hunter killed in riots.”

“If you can be glad over a killing, he’d be the one,” Hunter said. “You can be sure we’ll all be keeping a closer eye on your place. I’d like to say all danger is completely gone, but I can’t. But with the ringleader dead, that’s more than half the battle.”

Lan peeked her head out from the work area.

Tabitha waved. “Lan! I’d like to speak with you.”

Lan came out slowly, looked around, and when she saw it was just them, she ran into Tabitha’s arms. They stayed that way for several seconds.

Tabitha picked her up and rocked her to her chest. “I’m so happy to see you,” Tabitha said, stroking her hair and holding her tight. The warmth in Hunter’s gaze made Tabitha’s eyes sting with emotion.

Lan whispered something against her neck.

“What, honey? I didn’t catch what you said.” She looked down into the child’s sweet face.

“I will change the way people think.”

It took a moment for what she’d just heard to register, then she sucked in a deep breath at the child’s perception. This time she wasn’t able to hold in her tears. “Yes, Lan, I think you will. We
all
will.”

Lan squirmed to get down and ran off, Tabitha watching her go.

“Come on, wife. Let’s let Mr. Ling get back to business. He has other things to do besides watch you get emotional.”

Hunter’s soft tone belied his words, and his love wrapped around her heart. She may be twenty-nine, but after the peril they’d just lived through, she realized how young that really was. She had plenty of years to show Hunter just how much she loved him. And she wasn’t going to wait one more second before she set her hand to that course.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

W
ith a grateful heart, I reach out to all the wonderful people who have helped make
Whispers on the Wind
a reality. First, to every single person on the Montlake team that has made this author’s journey so special—thank you. To Maria Gomez, my editor at Montlake, for her never-ending interest and support—what would I do without you? To Jessica Poore, Author Relations, you rock! Your humorous and witty e-mail responses and FB posts keep me smiling! To Caitlin Alexander, my developmental editor extraordinaire. Working on a book with you is painless and fun. You have taught me
so
much. I’m indebted! To my husband, Michael, and grown sons, Matthew and Adam, and their wife, girlfriend, and daughter, Misti, Rachel
. . .
and
Evelyn, I cherish each and every one of you with all my heart. Your creative ideas keep me writing. To Shelly, Sherry, Jenny, Mary, and Lauren, my sisters—you know the inner workings of my soul. I love you. To my dear friend, author Kit Morgan, for your help brainstorming my hero on the ride back from the Women Writing the West Conference. If you read Mrs. Hollyhock and Hunter’s buffalo scene, you will see I took your words to heart. Thank you. To my dear readers who keep calling for more Logan Meadows and asking whose story is next. You have no idea how much your concern that each of my characters have their own HEA touches my heart. And, of course, to our magnificent God. His dreams are always better than anything we can think up on our own. Thank you for everything!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo © 2009 Family Gallery

U
SA Today
bestselling author Caroline Fyffe was born in Waco, Texas, though her father’s career in the US Air Force took her all over. After earning a bachelor of arts in communications from California State University, Chico, she embarked on a twenty-year career as an equine photographer. During long days at the show arena, she began to write fiction, blending her love of horses and the Wild West to create the award-winning Prairie Hearts series.
Where the Wind Blows
, the first book in the series, won the prestigious Golden Heart Award from the Romance Writers of America. Fyffe and her husband have two grown sons. They currently live in the Pacific Northwest.