Page 45

A ustin stood inside the doorway, staring along the length of iron bars that made up the jail cells.

He saw Loree in the cell at the far end, the cell in which he’d once slept, ate, and worried while awaiting his trial.

He hadn’t meant to abandon her, but he realized now with startling clarity that he had.

She stood on her cot beside the brick wall, stretched up on her bare toes, hanging on to the bars of the window, and looking into the night.

“What are you doing?” he asked as he ambled toward the last cell.

She spun around and nearly toppled off the cot before catching her balance. Her eyes wide, her hand pressed just below her throat, she grabbed onto one of the iron bars and stepped off the cot onto what he knew was a cold stone floor. “I was looking for a falling star so I could make a wish.”

“What’d you wish?”

She angled her head slightly and gave him a quivering smile. “If I tell you, it won’t come true. But then it probably won’t come true anyway. I was wishing you’d forgive me.”

She looked so damn tiny standing in that cell in her yellow dress and bare feet. He furrowed his brow. “That a new dress?”

She nodded quickly. “Dee brought it over. She made Larkin take me over to the hotel so I could have a bath. He didn’t want to, but when she started shouting, he jumped. I wish I had her courage.”

He smiled slightly at a distant memory. “You should have seen her when she first married Dallas. She hid under his desk on their wedding night.”

Her eyes widened. “I can’t imagine that.”

“That’s the way it was.”

She gnawed on her lower lip. “How’s Grant?”

“Missing his ma.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes.

“He wouldn’t eat much so Houston took him to Amelia so she could nurse him.”

“I wouldn’t be able to do him any good anymore. My milk dried up … on account of the worry I

guess.”

Against his will, his gaze dropped to her breasts … and her tiny waist … and her rounded hips. How would she survive the harshness of prison?

“Why did you have to come here and confess? I told you I’d take care of it.”

“By admitting that you’d killed McQueen.

Isn’t that how you took care of it? Isn’t that what you told Dallas to make him send the telegram to the detective?

” Wrapping her arms around herself as though she were in pain, she spun around.

He saw her narrow shoulders shaking. Even if he reached through the bars, he’d be unable to touch her.

“Loree?” he rasped.

She turned slowly, tears spilling onto her cheeks.

She walked toward him, and her hands clasped the bars until her knuckles turned white.

“Austin, don’t you see? You lost five years of your life because of me.

If it weren’t for me, you never would have lost the music to begin with, you could have your dream of playing your violin with an orchestra.

If it weren’t for me, you would be married to the woman you love. ”

Tears clogged his throat and burned his eyes. Reaching through the bars, he cupped her cheek. “Loree, I am married to the woman I love. Have I been so poor at showing you?”

A ragged sob broke through from her chest. Austin pulled her close and felt her arms go around his back.

“Larkin!”

The sheriff ambled over and leaned against the doorway.

“Unlock the cell so I can go in.”

Larkin removed the match from between his teeth and shook his head. “Can’t do it.”

“She’s not going to escape. Just let me go inside.”

“Every time some member of your family walks in here, I’m having to bend the rules. Not this time.” He walked away.

Loree sniffed. “It’s all right, Austin.”

“No, it ain’t.”

He released his hold on her, walked to the wall, and slid down it until his backside hit the floor. Loree strolled over and did the same. He slipped his hand through the bars and wrapped it around hers.

“You scared?” he asked quietly.

“Terrified.”

A suffocating silence began to spread between them.

“Will you do me a favor?” Loree asked.

“Anything.”

“Will you think of something nice to tell Grant about me when he’s growing up? I think that’s gonna be the hardest part, having to miss watching him grow up … and watching you grow old.”

He couldn’t argue with that. He thought of all he’d missed out on—how quickly his nieces and nephew had grown and changed and become people he’d barely recognized. “I’ll tell him how much you like sugar and how sweet it made you.”

A corner of her mouth lifted momentarily, then dipped lower than before. “I want you to divorce me.”

“What?”

Her fingers tightened around his. “My lawyer thinks I’ll get at least five years, maybe more. I’ve already told him to draw up the papers so we can sign them before I go. I want you to marry someone who’ll be a good mother for Grant.”

He shifted onto one hip so he faced her squarely. “No. I’m gonna wait for you, Loree. The day you get out of prison, I’ll be standing at the gate with Grant beside me.”

She shook her head vigorously. “We both know how easy that promise is to make and how hard to keep.”

“Ten years, twenty, twenty-five. It won’t matter, Loree. I’ll wait.”

He reached through the bars, drawing her as closely as he could with the damn iron separating them, wishing he had the power to hold back the dawn.

Dawn arrived, shafts of sunlight piercing the gloom of the jail.

Austin had brought Loree a meal from the hotel and watched as she nibbled on the toast he’d coated with butter, sugar, and cinnamon.

He’d poured so much sugar into her coffee that the bottom of the cup felt like the silt of a river when he’d tried to stir it.

Now they stood, toe to toe, fingers intertwined, words insignificant as they waited for Sheriff Larkin. The only thing Austin found to be grateful for was the fact that Leighton now had a town hall and her trial wouldn’t be held in the saloon.

“Aunt Loree?”

Austin jerked his head around at Rawley’s hesitant voice. He felt Loree’s fingers tighten around his, and he knew she wished the boy hadn’t seen her here. “Hey, Rawley, shouldn’t you be in school?” Austin asked kindly.

Rawley took a step toward him. “Ain’t no school today on account of the trial.”

Loree looked at him as though she wished she were anywhere but where she was.

“Aunt Loree, they’re saying you killed Boyd McQueen. Did you?”

“Rawley—” Austin began, but Loree pressed her finger to his lips.

She angled her head, tears glistening within the golden depths of her eyes. “Yes, Rawley, I did.”

He removed his dusty black Stetson as though he’d just walked into church. “Then I’m obliged to you.”

Loree jerked her baffled gaze to Austin, then looked back at Rawley. “Rawley, I’m not proud of what I did.”

“Didn’t figure you were. Once Mr. D told me that there’s a difference between being good and doing bad things.

Sometimes, a person does something because he don’t have a choice.

He might not like what he did … but it don’t make him bad.

I reckon that’s the situation you’re in, and I’ve been there myself.

” He settled his hat into place. “I aim to take good care of Two-bits for you till you get home so you don’t have to fret over that. ”

“I appreciate it,” Loree said softly, giving him a warm smile.

He gave her a brusque nod before walking out.

She squeezed her eyes shut. “At least McQueen will never touch our son.”

Heavy footsteps echoed outside the hallway. Larkin strolled in, twirling the key ring around his finger. “Well, it’s time.”

Austin stepped aside and Larkin jammed the key into the lock. He grated and ground it until an audible click echoed between the cells. He swung the squeaking door open. “Step out.”

Loree walked hesitantly out of the cell. Austin drew her into his arms, ignoring the scowl Larkin threw his way.

“It’s gonna be all right, Sugar.”

She nodded against his chest.

“Remember that I’ll wait, no matter how long.”

She lifted her face away from him, tears brimming in her eye. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

He gave her a warm smile and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “You were right, Sugar. If you tell me what your wish is, it won’t come true.”

He heard the clanging of chains and looked over Loree’s shoulder to see Larkin unlocking the shackles.

“Jesus, Larkin, don’t put those on her.”

“I’ve got no choice. It’s the rule.”

“Whose goddamn rule?” Austin demanded. “She turned herself in, for Christ’s sake. Show her some respect for doing that.”

Larkin rolled the match from one side of his mouth to the other. “All right,” he said reluctantly. He jerked his head to the side. “Let’s go.”

Loree took a step forward, halted, and glanced over her shoulder. Austin shook his head. “I can’t go, Loree.”

She gave him a smile filled with sympathy and understanding. “I know.”

She angled her chin proudly, squared her shoulders, and followed Larkin down the hallway and into the front office.

He waited until he heard the front door close before he gave into the pain.

His agonizing wail echoed between the empty cells.

He pounded on the brick wall until his knuckles were scraped raw and bleeding.

Somehow, in spite of all she had endured, Loree had managed to maintain an aura of innocence and sweetness. Prison would do what Boyd McQueen had been unable to do: It would kill her spirit and rip every shred of kindness from her.

He slammed his palm flat against the wall and pain ricocheted up his arm. Even knowing the hell that waited, he’d gladly go to prison in her place.

Loree decided it wasn’t a trial, but more of a hearing. People got to hear her say how she’d killed Boyd McQueen. They got to hear Duncan demand that she hang for killing his brother. And they got to hear her lawyer ask for leniency because she’d confessed.

And now Judge Wisser was pondering her fate, although it looked to her like he’d fallen asleep, his hands crossed over his stomach, his lips pursed, his eyes closed. Only the flies in the crowded room dared to make a sound.