The Kissing Stars (23 page)

“Oh, Andrew, no,” Amy said. “Was it the normal malarial fever? Tell us it wasn’t the strange fever you had last time surely.”

“Oh, Amy, yes,” Andrew replied, teasingly. “And it was that new, wicked fever, not the old familiar one. It damn near killed me this time.”

At first Tess couldn’t speak because her heart was in her throat. Finally, she forced out, “You did take your medicine with you though, right?”

Andrew nodded. “I felt the fever coming on, and I was trying to reach shelter. But I got too sick too fast, and when I slid off my horse, I didn’t have the strength to stand up and grab my saddlebags. The mare ran off, taking my quinine with her.”

“Trouble, that,” said Colonel Jasper.

“To put it mildly, I’d say,” added Jack.

“But the quinine didn’t work on that fever,” Tess said. “What happened? How did this horse save your life?”

Andrew told them a fantastical tale of dreams so real he refused to name them hallucinations. He told of how the Mystery Lights came to shine and hover above him. He spoke of how Regulus nuzzled him awake and kept on pushing and nipping until in one of his lucid moments, he was able to climb upon the stallion’s back. “That’s when my adventure took a strange twist. Regulus took me to a valley, much like this one, only more green and lush. Flowers bloomed everywhere and the season seemed spring-like rather than fall. And, Colonel?” Andrew turned and looked at Colonel Jasper. “I saw diamonds lying in the brook. They sparkled like stars.”

“I must find this valley,” the colonel replied.

“Diamonds in southwest Texas?” Gabe leaned over and spoke softly to Tess from the side of his mouth. “Obviously, he was delirious with fever.”

“Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by strange and mysterious creatures. They weren’t human, but they weren’t animals, either. They had these great big heads and thin, stick-like bodies. With a touch as soft and gentle as a butterfly’s wings, they laid their hands on me and healed me.”

“Space travelers,” Twinkle declared. “Do you think that might be what we’re dealing with here? I’ve had suspicions along those lines for some time now. The way the lights have been shining…their strength. I figured I should have had contact with the spirit world by now.”

She turned to Tess. “It’s a possibility, dear. Your Kissing Stars could actually be visitors from one of those stars you study. Could be they talk to horses and heal the sick. Why, maybe the valley Andrew saw was actually their ship. They could have put a spell of some sort on him to make it appear to be a beautiful spot here on earth.”

“That’s a wild notion, Twinkle.” Gabe folded his arms. “Too wild, I’m afraid. Andrew here had a fever dream, that’s all. I’ve had ‘em a time or two.”

Twinkle tossed her head so hard her pink and green turban teetered. “And did you wake up on the back of a fabulous horse sent to take you home?”

“No, but I—
uumph
.” Tess’s elbow in the stomach ended his argument.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, warning Gabe with a glare.

He made a snorting noise, but refrained from further comment about space travelers and instead asked Andrew questions about the horse.

“He rides like the wind,” Andrew replied. “But his gait is as smooth as Amy’s vanilla pudding; I had no trouble at all staying on.”

Jack asked, “So now that you’ve caught him, what do you do with him?”

Andrew gave a rueful smile. “The more proper question is what is he going to do with me. I can already tell that he is not what I had thought. I think I’m going to need some time to figure out what part if any, Regulus will play in my life in the future.”

“While you figure all that out” Colonel Jasper said, “could you ponder a bit on this valley? I sure would like to learn more about those diamonds you spied.”

The conversation then turned to Colonel Wilhoit’s hunt for diamonds and the Aurorians each had an opinion or twelve to add to the discussion. All the Aurorians except for Tess, that is. Her attention was caught by the spit of dust rising from the trail into the canyon. A rider was coming. A rider was coming fast.

Somehow, she knew. Long before she could see him, she knew. Automatically, her hand reached out and took hold of Gabe’s. Then, her heart pounding fiercely, she swallowed hard and said, “It’s Will. He’s come home. Look, everyone. Will has come home.”

The boy galloped the horse into Aurora Springs. She spied the panic in his expression and her heart caught. Dropping Gabe’s hand, she took one, then two steps toward him. Their gazes locked and he cried, “Help! Everybody help. It’s Doc. An outlaw kidnapped Doc!”

CHAPTER 13

CHAOS REIGNED.

Gabe watched with a curious detachment as the dust covered boy threw himself from his saddle and hit the ground running. This has to be Will, Gabe thought as the boy streaked passed him.

He glanced at Twinkle, expecting to see her waiting with open arms, but found her clutching her hands in worry instead. Maybe that’s why the boy chose to head for Tess’s hug rather than his grandmother’s. Of course, any male with any intelligence at all would make that choice.

Gabe tried to tune into the babble, but Rosie drowned it out with her squeals as she came racing by, reminding Gabe of her state fair run. The boy wrenched away from Tess’s arms and dropped on one knee to hug the ham.

Maybe the kid wasn’t so smart after all.

Twinkle shouted to be heard above the uproar. “Enough of this. Will, what’s this you’re yammering on about? Oh, I’ve a feeling in my bones that this is bad news,
bad
news. Will, tell us about Doc.”

With the boy’s attentions, Rosie’s squeals faded to grunts. The Aurorians all looked anxious. Tess appeared downright fearful. Had the subject of her fear been any other man than Monty Cameron, Gabe would have gone to her and held her, offering his comfort and support. As it was, he remained rooted to his spot.

“I didn’t know what to do,” the boy said, an audible quaver to his voice. “I didn’t know if I should try and find him myself or what.”

Tess said, “You did the right thing coming home, Will.”

The small shoulders shrugged and he dipped his head. He kicked at the dirt with the toe of a boot as he confessed, “It’s been the awfulest week. I realized I needed help and I wasn’t sure I could find my way home. The stars got me here. I figured out real quick that in the daytime I was lost, but once the sun set, I knew exactly where to go.”

Amy Baker said, “Are you saying you made the trip by yourself? All the way from the Big Bend?”

He nodded and his hat slid even lower on his brow. Gabe resisted the urge to thumb it back so he and everyone else could better see the boy’s face. He wanted to know if the kid was as scared as he sounded.

“That’s where he took him,” Will said. “Snagged him right out of our camp up in the Dead Horse basin.” He glanced around the circle of concerned Aurorians, his gaze passing right over Gabe who stood outside the circle. “We’d had a black bear messing with our supplies and we’d decided to move camp. I’d taken a load of foodstuffs to the new place, and when I came back, Doc was gone. The letter was sticking out from under the coffee pot.”

“The letter?” Jack Baker asked.

Will’s head bobbed rapidly up and down. He tugged absently, nervously, on the cuff of one sleeve. “The outlaw left a letter. He gives us ten days. I’ve used a chunk of that already coming home.” The boy hurried to his horse, unbuckled a saddlebag, and threw back the leather flap. Removing an envelope, he handed it to the closest adult, Andrew Ross. “It’s all here.”

While Andrew read the note, the boy glanced at Tess and explained. “It says we have to give all of Colonel Wilhoit’s gold in return for Doc’s safe release. That’s not the hard part, though. The worst is we’re somehow supposed to get Whip Montana—you know, the Hero of Cottonwood Hollow school—to deliver the gold to a place up on Dagger Mesa.”

Colonel Wilhoit said, “I shall be happy to donate that gold to the cause. However, I can’t help but wonder how this outlaw knows of my discovery.”

“Those men from the J-Bar ranch were here the day you brought the gold in, remember, Jasper?” Twinkle said. “And that was right before the big dance they had down in Marfa. Why, I imagine all it took was for one of those cowboys to mention seeing you lugging in that gold.”

Gabe folded his arms and added to the conversation for the first time. “In that case the whole territory has heard about your find by now, Jasper.”

The boy twisted his head around. Though his eyes were shadowed by the brim of his hat, his stare was intense. “Who are you, mister?”

Tess appeared to sway on her feet and her face went a shade green.
Guess the boy’s news about her beloved Doc is just now sinking in
. Gabe opened his mouth to answer Will’s question, but Tess beat him to it. “This is Whip Montana. He’s here in Aurora Springs already, and obviously the man who took Doc knows it.”

Admiration rang in the youngster’s voice. “You’re him? The Hero of Cottonwood Hollow school? I’m right pleased to meet you, sir. How come you’re visiting Aurora Springs?”

Gabe motioned to Tess and said, “Well, actually—”

“Oh no-o-o-o,” Twinkle cried, drowning out his reply while stepping forward. She bumped into Rosie, lost her balance, and tumbled face first into the dirt. Coins, a pair of thimbles, two seed packets, a pipe, and a pocket-sized Bible spilled from her pockets.

“Twinkle!” the Aurorians cried as one.

Squeal squeal squeal
, added Rosie.

“Are you hurt?” Amy asked, hurrying to her side.

“My knee. I think I have twisted my knee.”

Rosie waddled over beside Gabe, then promptly sat on his foot. “Get up, you old salt pork,” he grumbled, yanking his boot from beneath her.

“I’ll need one of you men to carry her home,” Amy said, frowning as she gently felt for swelling in Twinkle’s knee. Gabe kept waiting for Tess to take control and direct their actions, but she remained frozen in place, a strange look on her face.

“I’ll take her,” said Andrew.

“Let me,” Jack said, stepping forward. He motioned to the white stallion. “Regulus could probably use some water and grain, don’t you think? Why don’t you see to him while Amy and I get Twinkle settled at home. Colonel, if you would support her leg it might cause her less pain.”

“You can’t carry me, young man,” Twinkle scolded. “You’ll break your back trying to tote me around.”

Jack scowled at her. “Hush and let me help. Amy? You run ahead and open the doors, please.”

“Oh, dear. I hate to be such a bother,” Twinkle said as Jack lifted her gently. “And what about Doc? We’ve got to figure out how to save him.”

“Let’s take things one step at a time,” replied Colonel Wilhoit as he helped support her injured knee. “Let’s reassemble in Twinkle’s parlor in…say…ten minutes, shall we? That should give Amy enough time to see you settled, Andrew the chance to see to this wonderful stallion, and Tess to…well…to do what she needs to do.”

The Aurorians all shot Tess a significant look. She shut her eyes and hung her head.

What the hell is going on here?
Gabe narrowed his eyes. His wife was acting downright peculiar.

As the two men carried her off, Twinkle called back. “Will, be a dear and stop by the kitchen and grab up a snack for the both of us. I do believe Amy made a chocolate cake this morning.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The smile that winged across the boy’s face gave Gabe a pause, but he couldn’t quite grasp why.

Will continued, “First, though, I’d better gather up your belongings before Rosie takes the notion to eat them. You know how she is.” As he spoke, the boy knelt and whipped his hat off his head. With quick efficient motions, he set about retrieving his grandmother’s things.

Gabe spied a dime that had rolled his way and he bent down and picked it up, then carried it to the boy. “Here you go, son. This ended up over by me.” He tossed the coin into the hat.

“Thanks, Mr. Montana.” Will tilted his head up when he spoke, giving Gabe his first quick look at the boy’s face.

And something inside of Gabe went brittle.

Will stood and looked at Tess. “Would you see to Starfire for me? I know he’ll be glad to get rid of the saddle. Hurry back to Twinkle’s, though, all right? We don’t have any time to waste. Doc is counting on us.”

“Sure, Will,” Tess said, her gaze cutting across to meet Gabe’s. “I’ll take care of your horse and everything else. First, though, I need a welcome home hug.”

As the boy stepped into Tess’s embrace, Gabe watched the moment unfold as if observing a play from the top row of the balcony. He felt detached from the scene, an observer rather than a participant. Numbed. Yet at the same time, the churning in his gut hinted that life as he knew it had unalterably changed.

The actors moved in slow motion; seconds dragged by like minutes.
Look at her eyes when she looks at me
. Cautious. Pleading. Protective. Fiercely protective. And, a little fearful. Tess was afraid.

God, so was he
.

Gabe couldn’t look at the boy. His eyes wouldn’t lower past the tuft of chestnut hair brushing Tess’s cheek. He couldn’t yet face the truth he’d glimpsed a moment before.

The boy is almost as tall as she
.

Had his heart ever pounded this hard? Had his mouth ever been this dry? Had his lungs ever struggled this much to draw a breath?

Yes. Once. Once, not long ago. He’d felt like this the day Tess had told him about his baby girl.

Hell, man. You’re a damned coward. Yellow as mustard but missing the bite. Well, it’s time to get over it. Live up to your reputation, why don’t you? Just rustle up some guts and do it. Look at the boy
.

Gabe turned his head away and dragged a hand over his jaw. Breathing deeply, summoning all his courage, he braced himself and looked.

The boy was looking back.

He gazed at Gabe through storm cloud gray eyes. A light dusting of freckles stretched across a straight and sun-reddened nose. Boyish lips twisted in an uncertain grin.

A steel band of emotion wrapped around Gabe’s chest, and he lost the ability to breathe. Looking at this boy was like looking in a mirror, one that had somehow frozen time at a date some eighteen-odd years earlier. Gabe was looking at a younger version of himself.

A son. I have a son
.

He tore his gaze away from the boy long enough to throw a look toward Tess.
How could you keep him a secret?

Her chin came up and she faced him without flinching, her eyes flashing a warning as bright as the Kissing Stars at night. No apologies there, just a blaze of maternal protection, a vixen baring her claws in defense of her kit. How like Tess. Despite his inner turmoil, Gabe couldn’t help but feel a spark of admiration.

With a nod in Gabe’s direction, the boy took his treasure-filled hat and stood. He walked passed Gabe on his way to the storeroom. Gabe wanted to tell him to stop; he wanted to reach out and touch him.

My son
.

Now he stood alone with Tess in the yard. Alone except for Rosie, that is. Funny thing about that, he was almost glad for the company.

Gabe looked at his wife and repeated the words that he’d said when he first arrived in Aurora Springs. “Tess, we’ve got to talk.”

NOW HE’LL leave
.

It was her first thought when enlightenment dawned across his face. Then her motherly instincts kicked in and filled her with determination to protect her son at all costs.

“Tess, we’ve got to talk”

She wiped sweat-dampened palms on her skirt and said, “Let’s go—”

“No, not again. Here. Now.”

All right. Here and now. Why not?
At least he won’t kill me out here in the open
. His gaze bore into her, as hard and cold and gray as a January norther.

Gabe said, “Rachel had a twin.”

Tess licked her lips. “Yes.”

“Will.”

“William Gabriel Cameron. After Billy.”

A muscle worked in Gabe’s jaw. “He’s eleven years old.”

“Almost twelve. They were born a month early.”

Now standing halfway between Tess and Gabe, Rosie snorted and rooted at something in the dirt, and reminded Tess of the most important issue in the emotional slop currently being spread between them. “Gabe, he doesn’t know. Please, please don’t tell him, not right now when he is so desperately worried about Doc.”

Fire shot from his eyes at that, and Tess felt the burn of his fury. Fine, let him scorch her with his temper. Let him burn her to a crisp.
Just don’t let him hurt his son
.

He bit off his words. “So you’ve kept the fact that the boy has a father as quiet as the fact that I have a son?”

“He knows Gabe Cameron is his father. Whip Montana…even Gabe Montana…isn’t enough for him to make the connection.”

“Yeah? What about the fact that we look so damned much alike?”

She looked away. “He didn’t know you when you were a boy, Gabe. He’ll never see the resemblance.”

“You did though, didn’t you? Bet you saw it every time you looked into his face. Sorta makes me feel good to think I haunted you that way.”

She shut her eyes, reeling on her feet, and he followed that blow with another. “Why didn’t you tell me!”

“I’ve explained this all before, Gabe. I didn’t know where you were.”

“You’ve known where I was for the past six weeks. You knew where I was when you managed to tell me about my baby who died, but not about the baby who lived.”

Her eyelids lifted and her chin came up. “The time wasn’t right then. Rachel is no less important than Will. One child is no substitute for another. She deserved your full attention. She deserved to be mourned.”

“I’ll give you that,” he said with a grimace. “But no more. You’ve had plenty of time since then to mention the little detail that I have a son. Were you ever going to tell me, Tess? Was the time ever going to be right for that?”

“I don’t know!” she snapped “I was waiting on you.”

“Waiting on me? For what?”

“To make peace with your father, that’s what.”

He snorted “Well if that’s the case you’d have been waiting until the Rangers wear dresses for uniforms.”

Tess wrapped her arms around herself. “We’re a family, Gabe. Me and Will and Doc. Doc has been part of Will’s life since the day he was born. He kept him alive those first days when I was too sick to tend him. Doc diapered him and taught him to fish. He held him when he cried and punished him when he misbehaved. He’s given our son his love, a love Will desperately needed. He—”

“Stole my place,” Gabe shot. Tension swirled in the air, billowing and brewing like a violent thunderstorm. He stood clenching his fists then releasing them, over and over as he spoke. “Those are all the things I should have done with my boy. All the things my father never did with me.”