A Killing in the Valley (57 page)

The old oak-plank table was almost bent over with the weight of all the food, dishes, glasses, serving plates, and candelabra. Shadows from the candles danced on the dark walls. They had eaten and drunk to excess, which was just enough.

As Sophia cut slices of the chocolate cake and passed the plates around, Juanita stood and raised her glass of pinot noir. Juanita had been drinking more than usual—she normally didn’t have more than a sherry and an occasional glass of wine with dinner—and the alcohol had loosened her inhibitions, so she could open her heart without embarrassment.

“When the prodigal son returned to his family, his father killed a fatted calf to celebrate his homecoming. Here, tonight, it was a mean old pig, shot dead by yours truly, but the sentiment’s the same.”

As everyone laughed, she continued, “Now that Steven has been delivered from the hell of these past eight months, we celebrate his reentry into what we all know will be a productive and fruitful life.”

The guests raised their glasses in toast. “To Steven,” someone spoke out.

“To Steven,” came the full-throated refrain.

Steven grinned and raised his glass in thanks. He had been imbibing all afternoon. He stood up unsteadily, holding on to the edge of the table for support.

“Back at ya,” he said thickly. “Especially you, Grandma. Couldn’t have done it without you.” He looked across the table to Luke. “And to my ass-kickin’ lawyer.” He shifted his gaze over to Sophia, who was sitting alongside her mother. “And a special thanks to you, Sophia. For being there for Grandma. And for me, too.”

Sophia turned crimson. “Thank you,” she said in a quiet voice.

“And to all of you,” Steven said, saving Sophia from further embarrassment. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.” He sat down heavily, forking a chunk of cake into his mouth.

Kate looked across the table. Riva was watching her and Sophia with a knowing smile on her face. She raised an eyebrow, as if to say, “Haven’t you figured it out yet?”

Kate swiveled to see her daughter, who was busy with her dessert, her head low to her plate. I can’t hide from this anymore, she realized. She had been in denial for too long. Steven was a vibrant young man. Sophia was a desirable young woman. The electricity between them was obvious.

She could do worse, Kate thought philosophically. Steven came from good stock. And he was leaving the day after tomorrow. Sophia would go on with her life, and Steven would fade in her memory. First crushes never lasted.

There was a low murmur of easy chatter as everyone had their dessert and coffee. Kate looked up as she heard Juanita telling her seatmate that Tyler was going to veterinary school in the fall.

“He was accepted at Davis, which is one of the top schools in the country,” Juanita was saying. “It’s a lucky thing I’m friendly with some of the regents, they pushed his application right to the top.” She smiled knowingly. “When he’s finished, we’ll set him up in practice right here in the valley. Lord knows we need good vets out here. He’s going to specialize in livestock,” she added, “so he can help Steven run the ranch, after I’m gone.”

“You’re going into ranching now?” Luke asked Steven. He hadn’t heard that one before. “I thought you were still headed for medical school.”

“He’s going to do both,” Juanita interjected. “He’ll be a doctor, and also a rancher. My husband double-dipped. It’s not hard. You hire good help and let them do the heavy lifting.” She smiled at Steven. “And you know I’m ornery enough to stay alive to see it all happen.” She squeezed his elbow affectionately.

“That’s great, Grandma,” he said with a mouthful of cake. “Hang in there.” He swallowed and smiled. “Tyler and me. We’re a great team, aren’t we? Like brothers. He saved my life, the way he stuck it to that D.A. Served them right for the way they screwed us.”

Luke and Kate exchanged looks of concern. This was not a topic for public discussion.

“Steven, let’s table it,” Luke said easily. He didn’t want to draw more attention to this.

“Whatever you say.” He grinned lopsidedly. “Tyler and animals. Who’d a thunk it?” He patted Juanita on the arm. “Give her credit. It was her idea. Hey,” he said brightly, “she’s paying for it. Tyler’s getting a free grad school education. No way he was going to turn that down.” He gave Juanita a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “You’re the best, Grandma.”

Juanita sipped her coffee. “I’m glad I can help Tyler,” she said. “He surely deserves it.”

Steven raised his glass again. “To Tyler, and me, and my grandmother. Living happily ever after. Or at least for a damn long time.”

Kate had driven up with the Garrisons. They stood outside, by their car. The other guests had left; they were the last to go.

Sophia came out to say good night. She was spending the night with Juanita. There was a ton of cleaning up to do here, and tomorrow morning they were going riding.

“Did you have fun?” she asked.

“Yes,” Riva answered, “it was lovely. You’re going to be a great hostess someday if you keep hanging around with Juanita.”

Sophia smiled. “She’s a great role model. Almost as good as you, Mommy,” she said, giving Kate a tired hug.

“Where’s Steven?” Kate asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Inside, helping out.” She laughed. “He’s not very much help. He had too much fun tonight. Making up for lost time.”

“You’re not going to keep up with him, I hope,” Kate fretted.

Sophia rolled her eyes dramatically. “Knowing Steven, he’ll fall asleep before his head hits his bed. Or maybe he’ll stay here. He likes it here, out under the stars.”

That would be fine with me, Kate thought. If it were up to her, he would sleep it off until Sophia came home tomorrow. Although she knew that was wishful thinking. They were going to have a last night together. It was out of her hands, and her daughter was a good kid. She trusted Sophia.

“So Steven’s going to be a rancher,” Luke mused. “That’s a surprise to me. He never said anything about that.”

Sophia made a face. “Don’t believe everything you hear. He wants to be a big-city boy. No horseshit on his loafers. He’s gone loony, isolated out here.” Instinctively, she looked over her shoulder. “Don’t tell Juanita I said that. Steven’s like a god to her. She’s got all her hopes piled up on him. And it isn’t like he’s shining her on,” she said defensively. “He knows she has these fantasies, so he tells her what she wants to hear. He figures he’ll deal with the reality of it later. Or he’ll keep playing out the string until her memory’s gone, or she dies.”

She looked back at the house again. “I need to get back inside and help Juanita. See you tomorrow.” She gave Kate a kiss, waved goodbye to Riva and Luke, and went back inside.

The three stragglers stood together for a moment, breathing in the fragrant night air. Riva broke the silence.

“Juanita bought Tyler off.”

Kate stared at her. “That’s a heavy accusation, Riva.”

“We don’t know anything,” Luke said heatedly. He didn’t need to hear this shit tonight, especially from his wife. “Juanita is a generous woman, and she’s rich. She can easily afford it. They probably have an arrangement that he’ll pay her back after he’s established.”

“She’ll be a hundred when he’s in a position to do that,” Riva told him. “But maybe I’m too cynical. And you know what? Her helping Tyler doesn’t mean he lied. Maybe it was…”

“Insurance?”

“If you want to call it that. Gratitude.” She nuzzled her husband’s neck. “You won, Luke, fairly and legitimately. You kicked their sorry asses from here to Bakersfield. You would have worked around it regardless of what Tyler had said,” she assured him.

“Riva’s right,” Kate chimed in. “You outplayed them, Luke. And whatever strings Juanita pulled, if she did, Steven’s innocent. Nothing else counts.”

Juanita was exhausted. She had been on a forced high from the months of waiting, the trial, the verdict, and now the entertaining to celebrate the end of it all, and she was ready to collapse, at least until tomorrow morning.

Sophia sat alongside her on her high wooden bed as the old woman, wearing a flannel nightgown that had been through so many washings it was almost transparent, brushed out her hair.

“We’re getting an early start,” Juanita reminded her. “So don’t stay up late.” She cocked an ear as if listening for something. “Did you hear a noise?” she asked. “I wonder if Steven’s all right.”

When they had returned, Steven had given his grandmother a sloppy kiss and staggered across the yard to his room in the back of the stable. He insisted he wasn’t drunk, but he wanted to lie down.

“No, I don’t hear anything,” Sophia answered. “He’s probably conked out. Boy doesn’t know the meaning of the word moderation.”

“Unfortunately, that’s true,” Juanita concurred. He had been indulging himself too much recently for her satisfaction, but she knew by now he didn’t take criticism well, so she’d left it alone. “He needs to be careful. It’s dangerous to be drunk and go wandering around out here.” She laughed. “But Steven can take care of himself. We know that, don’t we?”

“Yes,” Sophia agreed. “He can definitely take care of himself.”

She knew that Steven wasn’t sleeping. He was awake, waiting for her. She would go to him after she was satisfied that Juanita was asleep. Although she was pretty sure that by now Juanita had figured it out about her and Steven. That Juanita hadn’t said anything about it, hadn’t tried to be all grandmotherly and protect her, was another reason she loved Juanita. She was living proof that you could be old and still be cool.

Juanita ran the brush through her hair. “Fetch me that box, please.” She pointed to a large, square, black onyx jewelry box on the top shelf of the old triangular bookcase in the far corner of the room.

Sophia got up from the high bed and walked over to the bookcase. She reached up and took hold of the box. It wasn’t as heavy as she had expected. She brought it over, set it down on the bed next to Juanita, and climbed up on the bed again.

Juanita picked the box up and placed it in her lap. She opened the top. “Take a look.”

Sophia edged closer, so she could see inside. The box was two-tiered. The top section was hinged, so both levels were easily accessible. In the bottom level there were bracelets, mostly silver with turquoise inlays. The top level contained several sets of earrings: diamond, pearl, ruby, sapphire. Two sets were deep turquoise, in silver settings.

Juanita delicately took out one of the turquoise sets. She held them in the palm of her hand. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Very,” Sophia said. They looked like turquoise stars in Juanita’s feathery hand.

“I got them in Santa Fe, over fifty years ago. My husband and I were out there on a visit. Have you ever been there?”

Sophia shook her head. “No.”

“It’s beautiful. If I didn’t live here, that’s somewhere I’d enjoy spending time.” Juanita twisted her hand so the earrings caught the light. “We should go there, after you graduate. I love to travel, but I don’t have a companion to do it with anymore. You can be my companion,” she decided. “Would you like that?’

Sophia was taken aback. “Yes. Thank you,” Sophia told her.

“Good. I’ll start looking into it.”

She picked the earrings up between her thumbs and forefingers and held them against Sophia’s earlobes. “Excellent,” she enthused. “See for yourself.”

Sophia got off the bed and went to the mirror of Juanita’s dresser. She held the jewels up to her ears.

“Put them on.”

Sophia took out her studs and replaced them with Juanita’s heirlooms. She stared at herself in the mirror.

“Let me see.”

Sophia walked over to Juanita and stood in front of her. Juanita was beaming. “Perfect. They fit your face much better than mine.” She took both of Sophia’s hands in hers. “Wear them in good health.”

Sophia’s jaw dropped. “I can’t take these.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” She was overwhelmed. “They must cost a fortune.”

“So what?” Juanita said. “They didn’t, actually, but what does that matter? They should be worn, not hidden away in an old lady’s keepsake box.” She squeezed Sophia’s hands. “I’ll be very hurt if you don’t take these.”

Sophia was shaking. “I…”

“You must.”

Sophia touched the earrings. They felt like fairy wings on her ears. “I’ll take perfect care of them,” she promised. She leaned over and kissed Juanita on the forehead. “I can’t believe how good you are to me.”

Juanita began brushing her hair again, long, forceful strokes. “You bring me joy every moment I’m with you, Sophia.” She brushed more vigorously. “You’ve been a great comfort and support to me.” The brush dropped into her lap. “As I hope I will always be for you.”

Sophia quietly closed the door behind her and ran on tiptoes to the stable. It was a clear, starry night and the moon was only a day past full, so there was ample light to see by.

Steven sat on the edge of his bed. A lantern cast his long shadow against the far wall. He was sucking on a sweaty bottle of Corona. A baggie of marijuana and his pipe were on the edge of the blanket. His shirt and shoes were off, and his jeans rode low on his hips. Damn, he’s beautiful, she thought yet again.

He looked up with a lazy smile as she came to the doorway. “What took you so long?”

“I had to make sure she was asleep.” She breathed in the sticky air. It was warm and sweet, the smell of smoked weed. At his feet she spied a couple of empty beer bottles. “Don’t you think you ought to slow down?” she cautioned him. “You’ve been hammering it pretty good tonight.”

“More like you need to catch up.” His words were slightly slurred. He pulled a cold bottle from his Igloo and held it out to her. “Here.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to drink. I want to be clear.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He patted the bedcover. “C’mere.”

She remained in the doorway. They hadn’t had any time alone since the trial ended. Partly because of their schedules, but more because Steven was withdrawing. It was a natural reaction, she understood that; but it still hurt. Although he had used her, she had used him as well, so that wasn’t what upset her. The difference was emotional. On a pretty deep level she was committed to Steven, but she had come to understand he had never been committed to her; not honestly.