Tarnished Angel (62 page)

    Would the pain never stop? Ross wondered. Would he never stop wanting her?

    ''Ross Morrison…"

    Ross's attention swung back to the sweating judge and the distaste obvious in the man's bloodshot eyes as he looked full into the defendant's face.

    "You have been found guilty on all counts of the charges leveled against you. The sentence I am about to impose was not influenced by your previous record but by the severity of these crimes. It reflects my certainty that you were prevented from fulfilling the true, horrific potential of your crimes only by the diligence and unceasing efforts of Harvey Dale and Sheriff Chester Bond."

    Devina's protest sounded behind Ross, but the perspiring judge ignored her as he adjusted his spectacles and continued with deepening severity.

    "I think it is important for me to set a precedent at this time, to impress upon you and all criminals of your like, as well as on the spectators present, that the men of this territory value the welfare of their women and will not suffer their exploitation for criminal intent. And so it is with a true desire for justice that I sentence you, Ross Morrison, to serve twenty years in Yuma Prison, your sentence to commence not later than two weeks from this date."

    Twenty years! The shock of the judge's pronouncement reverberated within Ross's mind, even as another low, shocked gasp echoed in the courtroom behind him. The judge pulled himself laboriously to his feet and, without another glance in his direction, turned away. A rough hand took Ross's arm in an effort to push him toward the side exit, but he shrugged it off with a brief warning sneer. At a flurry of movement behind him, Ross turned toward the distressed woman in the third row and to the image of himself who sat beside her, whispering to her as he stroked her hand.

    The forceful grip clamped on his arm once more, pushing him    abruptly into motion, and Ross snapped his eyes forward. He continued toward the side exit. His mind was suddenly cold as ice, conviction firm within him. It made no difference the length of the sentence imposed. He would not serve it. He had decided long ago that he would never go back to Yuma. He was surer of that than he had ever been of anything.

    "Tell him I can't come to him now. Tell him I don't want to see him."

    Devina sank back against her pillow and pressed a hand to her forehead. She swallowed against the desolation that still assailed her, the raging despair that held her in its throes. She turned away from Lai Hua's concerned expression.

    The last person in the world she wanted to see was her father. Right now even the threat of a relapse would not be sufficient to make her hold her tongue in his presence. She could not face him, knowing full well that he was the true criminal, knowing that because of him, Ross would spend twenty years in a place where each day was a lifetime.

    The thought was more than she could bear, and Devina rolled to her side in an attempt to hide her tears. But her maid was soon beside her. Realizing the sincerity of Lai
Hau's
concern, Devina took her small hand.

    "Go, please. Tell my father I can't come to him now. He knows about the sentence. Sheriff Bond reported to him while Charles was here. Tell him I'm not well, tell him anything you want. Damn him! I can't go in there and see the victory in his eyes."

    Lai Hua left the room, and Devina closed her eyes in silent exhaustion and took a deep, steadying breath. The memory of the look in Ross's dark eyes as he had turned to her returned again, harsh, almost too painful to bear.

    Ross… Ross… Why had she never told him she loved him? Why had she waited, hoping to hear those words from his lips? How very little it meant to her now, the uncertainty about his feelings for her. She would willingly endure it all again if she could only be in his arms once more.

    Tears coursed down her cheeks in steady streams, which Devina brushed away with an impatient hand. This was all her father's fault…

    
"You're a Dale, Devina… a true Dale…"

    Ross had meant those words as an accusation. She had seen that same accusation in his friend Jake's eyes when she glimpsed him outside the courthouse after Ross's sentencing.

    Devina went suddenly still. Maybe Ross had been right. Maybe she
was
a true Dale. If so, why was she lying here lamenting Ross's fate? Perhaps only a Dale could fight a Dale…

    Suddenly incensed by her own passive acceptance of the travesty of justice being practiced against Ross, Devina sat up straight as myriad thoughts assailed her mind. The sheriff would shortly be transporting Ross to Yuma. She could be no use to him then. If she was to do something it would have to be soon.

    Devina's mind began working with a new clarity. She drew herself to her feet. Why had she not thought of this before? Why had she waited so long? If only it was not too late…

    She turned as the door opened, and addressed her servant and friend with new determination, "Lai Hua, I need your help…"

    The brilliant sun of midday shone on Lai Hua's uncovered head, as she slowed her step to cast a quick, furtive glance around her. Satisfied that her presence stimulated no curiosity on the well-traveled street, she turned down the familiar alleyway. Her rapid step took her to the foot of a staircase she had climbed once before, and she flung open the heavy door. Moving quickly down the dimly lit hallway, Lai Hua approached the numbered door and raised a trembling hand to knock on it softly.

    The response was muffled, cautious. "Who is it?"

    "It is I, Mr. Jake."

    The door opened, and Lai Hua looked up into Jake's well-loved face. His voice was tense. "What are you
doin
' here?"

    "I have come with a message."

    "What message?"

    Lai Hua bowed her head politely. "If I might enter…"

    Jake backed up to allow her entrance, then closed the door behind her, his lips forming a tight line as he regarded her suspiciously, a brief flicker of emotion moving across his features.

    "No more games, Lai Hua. I'm not up to them. You can consider that you've salved your honor. If I made you betray your friend, you've also seen to it that I've failed mine."

    Unable to bear more, Lai Hua raised her guileless eyes to his. "I do not come here to cause you suffering, Mr. Jake. In truth, I     share your torment, and would not cause you more of the same. But it is not only I who share your fear for your friend. Another, one who would help, suffers as well."

    "Another?" Jake shook his head. "What are you
talkin
' about?"

    "I ask that you speak to this friend."

    "Speak to him?" Jake gave a short laugh. "Who is this person? Why should I believe a word you say?"

    Lai Hua lowered her eyes to shield her wretchedness. Her voice emerged in a low, shaken whisper. "I ask that you believe, Mr. Jake, because of all we have shared, for the many times you have loved my body and I have loved yours. I ask that you believe because my heart is filled with a love that will not fade despite all my attempts to shake it from my heart. I ask that you believe because I am a woman of honor, honor I have proved to you. I ask that you believe because I would alleviate your pain, and thus alleviate my own."

    Lai Hua raised her eyes slowly to his. "I ask that you believe because my heart cries out to yours, Mr. Jake, to soothe the anguish I caused you when last I came here. I come to offer you a chance to help your friend, and thus relieve the burden of guilt you have assumed. I ask you to allow me to do this so we might both be free to remember, without grief, without regret, the times I came to you with love."

    Jake's eyes grew moist and Lai Hua felt a similar moist heat gather beneath her own eyelids. She took a step toward him only to see his expression again harden with wariness.

    "Who's this friend who wants to help Ross, Lai Hua?"

    Lai Hua was suddenly still. "I would take you to this friend."

    Suspicion again flickered across Jake's face. "His name?"

    Lai Hua bowed her head without response.

    A long silence prevailed before Jake's voice snapped Lai Hua's eyes to his once more. "All right."

    Reaching out to grasp her shoulder, Jake held her still while his pale eyes assessed the joy that had sprung to life in hers at his assent, but his voice was low with warning. "Lai Hua, so help me, if this is a trick…"

    "I would give my life before I would betray you, Mr. Jake."

    Jake held her gaze for moments longer before his hand slipped from her shoulder. "Let's go."

    Elation surging through her, Lai Hua turned without another   word. Leaving the room, she hurried down the hallway to the back entrance, Jake's footsteps sounding close behind her.

    Charles turned from his desk at the sound of a knock at his office door. At his response, the door opened to reveal a familiar form hesitating on the threshold. Leaping to his feet, Charles strode forward and extended his hand. "Camille!"

    Camille's warm, full lips moved into a smile. "Yes, it is I, Charles. I have come for a brief visit. I will not take much of your time."

    Taking her hand, Charles drew her inside, swallowing against the formality of her greeting. This was the same Camille, beautiful, warm to the touch, but she was also a new Camille, reserved, subdued. He was well aware that during the past month, since her plans to return to France had been announced, her former duties at Blond Marie's had ceased. He was uncertain of the reason for the change, except that she had been seen constantly in the company of the Count. He had ceased his painful conjecture on the significance of that coincidence. All he knew was that he ached to hold her in his arms, to remember with fondness the old Camille, to experience the new.

    When he tried to draw her closer, he suddenly felt the soft palm of her hand press against his chest.

    Camille shook her head. "That would be lovely, Charles, but it would be unwise. Instead, I wish to express my unhappiness at the sentence pronounced upon Ross Morrison this morning. I could not allow this day to pass without speaking to you of my feelings, without letting you know that I remember well the grief you suffered at the estrangement between your brother and yourself. Circumstances have worsened, and I wish you to know that my heart is heavy with the unhappiness you have experienced this day. I also wish you to know that were it possible, I would change all this for you. I would have you realize the happiness of reconciliation with your brother, so that I might leave Tombstone knowing you are content."

    Charles stiffened. "When are you leaving?"

    "Pierre and I leave to return to France tomorrow morning."

    "Tomorrow."

    Camille's face was sober. "So,
mon
cher
,
I come to say a final good-bye. I could not leave without that small courtesy."

    Charles felt the pain dig deeper into his heart.

    "Let us make our good-bye short and sweet," Camille said, "a memory to cherish." Sliding her arms around his neck, Camille raised her mouth to his.

    Charles savored the warmth in her glowing eyes, her breathlessness, drew from deep within him all the love and emotion stored in the long weeks of their separation. Closing his eyes as her lips touched his, he folded her lush warmth against him, losing himself in her beauty, in her glow, crushing her closer, closer still.

    His mouth grew more possessive, responding to his need, but Camille withdrew from his embrace, separating herself from him. Her gaze was suspiciously bright as she gave a low, husky laugh. "It would be so easy, would it not, Charles? It is sad that it was not meant to be." Camille took a step backward. "But I would have you know before I go that my heart is with you, Charles. It will always be with you.
Au
revoir
,
mon
ami
."

    Unable to speak, Charles watched as Camille turned and slipped through the doorway, closing it behind her, as her bright head moved past the office windows. He released a low, shuddering breath as she disappeared from sight.

    At the sound of a step behind him, Charles turned abruptly. "Devina, I'm sorry, I had forgotten you were in the other room.

    "So it was true what Father said."

    Charles paused. "If he said that I was seeing Camille, that it was more than a casual involvement for me, yes, it was true. But it didn't work out, Devina." He shrugged. "My loss, and a damned hard one."

    "I'm sorry."

    "No sorrier than I am."

    At another rap at the door, Charles grew cautious. He waited until Devina had slipped back into the other room before responding. "Come in."

    The door opened to reveal Lai Hua's diminutive form, and Charles released a short, tense breath as a familiar, youthful-looking fellow suddenly appeared behind her. "Come in, Jake. We've been waiting for you."

    Advancing with caution, Jake closed the door behind him and scanned the room warily. He looked back at Charles. "We?"

    "Yes, we," Devina answered from behind him.

    At the soft, unexpected reply, Jake whirled around, then took an instinctive step backward. "I'm not so sure I like this."