In the Arms of the Law (Harlequin Superromance, No 759)

In The Arms Of The Law IN THE ARMS OF THE LAW by Anne Marie Duquette ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anne Marie Duquette, daughter of...

Author: Anne Marie Duquette

328 downloads 2314 Views 1MB Size Report

This content was uploaded by our users and we assume good faith they have the permission to share this book. If you own the copyright to this book and it is wrongfully on our website, we offer a simple DMCA procedure to remove your content from our site. Start by pressing the button below!
Report copyright / DMCA form

DOWNLOAD PDF

In The Arms Of The Law

IN THE ARMS OF THE LAW by Anne Marie Duquette ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne Marie Duquette, daughter of a Colorado wilderness expert and granddaughter of a Rocky Mountain miner, has always been in love with the great Southwest. Anne Marie, whose husband has Native American ancestors, feels that preserving the Southwesrs history is as important as preserving the land and its wildlife. She takes her children to as many historic sites as possible and once arranged for the whole family to spend Christmas break Tombstone, Arizona. While researching the history of silversmithing and turquoise mining, Anne Marie---a silversmith herself--was captivated by the stories about the "fighting Earp brothers." These famous Southwestern heroes inspired her Tombstone trilogy for Superromance. Her first Tombstone novel was Wyatt Earp Bodine's story, She Caught the Sheriff, released in July 1996. In the Arms of the Law features youngest brother Morgan Bodine and his romance with Jasentha Cliffwalker. Anne Marie is now working on Virgil's story, which will be published by Superromance in the spring of 1998. Watch for it! If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this'stripped'book. " ISBN 0-373-70759-2 IN THE ARMS OF THE LAW Copyright 1997 by Anne Marie Duquette. All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utiliztioof this work In whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other mesas, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Ente6)rises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9. All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books SA. Sacred Bat .

flew to me,

From the darkness of the cave. gave.

Womb-like reflections, Answers it

Birth, death, rebirth, Cycles of the whole.

Never-ending, just eclipsed, Page 1

Create PDF with GO2PDF for free, if you wish to remove this line, click here to buy Virtual PDF Printer

In The Arms Of The Law The journey of the soul. --Reprinted with permission from Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson, copyright o 1988, Bear & Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico. CHAPTER ONE TOMBSTONE'S JULY WIND blew blistering hot and desert-dry through the rugged mountains above the Silver Dollar Ranch, but the heat was the last thing on Jasentha Cliffwalker's mind. The injured bat in her hand, a juvenile with a bleeding wing, squirmed in her gloved palm. "Hey, baby, calm down!" she urged in a quiet voice. but let's see what we have here."

"I know it hurts,

The "little brown bat," its size and color giving the mammal its name, squirmed again. The poor creature was obviously in pain and--just as obviously-frightened. "There's nothing to be afraid of," she told it. "Unless my dog's making you nervous." Jasentha looked up and saw her companion, a pitch-black German shepherd, suddenly appear from behind the desert rocks. He was poised to attack. "Striker! You're scaring my patient!" Jasentha told him in Nide. She spoke English and Spanish, as well, but Nide--her native Athabaskan, the ancient Apache tongue--was the language the animal responded to best. "Down, boy!"

Jasentha commanded.

The young male, an abandoned ranch dog Jasentha had found half-starved a few years ago, didn't obey. She was instantly on the alert. "Who's out there, Striker?" she whispered. Her brown eyes narrowed as she studied the landscape. animal---either two- or four-legged--was stalking them.

Some

Jasentha shaded her eyes with one hand and peered beyond the roomy tent that was her year-round bedroom, office and pantry. She gazed past the simple cook stove outside, the line for drying laundry and the old wooden bench that functioned as chair or table, surveying the rocky shades of beige that surrounded her. Where are you, stranger?

And what are you doing here?

The desert was home to the desert batsmand the setting-for her life's work as an ecologist. But danger could and did threaten. Like now. Because of Striker, she rarely had trespassers. He guarded her and the campsite with intense devotion. Jasentha craved his company and valued his loyalty but also needed Striker for her work. Canines had fantastic heating and were the only mammals capable of hearing most of the radar sounds bats made. Thanks to his intelligence and her training, Striker could easily locate single bats for study. And he could shred to bits anything that threatened her. "Striker?" Page 2


In The Arms Of The Law The dog advanced protectively to her side, legs stiff. Jasentha rose to her feet, the bat still cradled in her hands. "Who's there? Come out into the open!" she demanded in fluent Spanish. No answer. This was Tombstone, home of the Old West, where even now strangers were considered threats until proved otherwise. She repeated her demand in English. the dog!"

"Identify yourself or I won't heel

Jasentha slipped the bat upside down into one of her shirt pockets, making certain the clawed feet had secured themselves to the pocket top, then reached for the long knife inside her boot. Desert-raised Ja-sent ha Cliffwalker was an expert in survival--especially her own. She crouched, ready to defend, but the hair on the back of Striker's neck didn't bristle. Instead, his tail wagged, his nostrils wide open and scenting. Jasen-that relaxed a little, but kept the knife in her hand. A few minutes later Striker launched himself through the air. His pounce deliberately landed short of his target; the deadly white teeth disappeared under the wildly licking tongue. Jasentha watched as her fierce-looking dog frolicked joyously around their visitor. The man laughed, a sound that was both amused and triumphant. "Down, you moose! And you, moose owner..." He tipped back his Stetson with a callused forefinger. His gaze traveled from Jasentha's long black shining hair, cascading over her Western shirt, down to her jeans, boots, then to the knife in her hand. "You're slipping, Jasentha," he said in Apache. "When we were kids you could hear me sneaking up at twice this distance---and without any dog to warn you, either." "Liar!"

Jasentha's welcoming smile took the sting

from her words. She quickly checked to make sure the bat was still attached to her pocket, then slid her knife back into her boot. "Morgan, you probably scared my patient to death!" "But not you?" "Never!

Striker, you traitor, you could have told me earlier."

Striker whined his apology while the only other human whose familiarity he tolerated scratched his ears. But Jasentha's attention wasn't on her dog. It was on the lawman before her--Tombstone's acting sheriff, Morgan Earp Bodine. "Hello, Morg," she said in English, switching to his native language--not because he couldn't understand Spanish or Nidt, but out of habit. They'd been friends and classmates since childhood, and English was the language they'd grown up with in school. "Jasentha." Morgan touched his thumb and forefinger to the brim of his hat, the traditional mark of courtesy and respect from a man to a woman in the Southwest. "It's a been a long time," he said with a smile. "Too long," Jasentha replied with a smile of her own. "Sorry I missed your last trip into town for supplies." He dropped his hand from his brim to scratch Striker's ears again. "What's it been? Weeks? A month?" Page 3


In The Arms Of The Law "I don't know, but it's great to see you again. So, what's up?" Is this visit business or pleasure? He was wearing his uniform shirt with the sheriff's star and carrying his pearl-handled revolver, a Colt45. This gun was an official law-enforcement firearm, a reminder of the Old West and the hard-edged men and women who'd survived in it. "I was in the area. Thought I'd stop by, say a quick hello. Can't stay long but" he shrugged and Jasentha felt a twinge of disappointment "--duty calls." Uh-otr Does that mean something's wrong ? it couldn't be too serious. have said so.

Still,

If any danger was pressing, Morgan would

"Thanks for coming by, anyway." A real affection for Morgan and his family prompted her to ask, "How's your sister-in-law doing?" "Caro's hanging in there, I'm happy to say. But Wyatt's a nervous wreck." Morgan removed his hat by the crown--a true Westerner never used the brim--and dropped it onto her bench. "It's understandable, what with Caro's prenatal complications. Ever since that first hemorrhaging episode..." Jasentha's voice trailed off, for Morgan himself had told her how Sheriff Wyatt Bodine had nearly lost both his wife and his child. And Tombstone, with its mere 1200 residents, had no major hospiud. "Wyatt hasn't left his wife's side since. I don't know when he's coming back to work. He's been driving her back and forth to her specialist in Phoenix." "Why not Tucson?

It's so much closer!"

"Caro's from Phoenix, remember?

She wants her own doctor."

"Well, you can't blame her for that." "No, but it seems they're up there more often than they're here. got to be hard--that long drive there and back.,"

It's

"It's worth it if Caro's complications are kept under control. She's only a month away from delivering. She'll end up with a healthy baby in her arms yet. Mother and child will be fine. You'll see." "If Wyatt doesn't drive the rest of us crazy before then." They both sat down on her" bench, Morgan watching as she examined the bat. " I understand his being worried about Caro. But he's worried about me taking over his job, and there's no reason for it. " Jasentha hid her grin at the pique in her friend's pride. "Of course there isn't. Virgil and Wyatt were training you for chief deputy while you were practically still in grade school. If it was legal, you would've been doing the job years ago." "Try telling Wyatt that, He still thinks of me as the little brother." At twenty-five, Morgan was the youngest of the three Bodine brothers who owned and ran the Silver Dollar Arabian horse ranch. But Morgan certainly wasn't inexperienced. Virgil, Wyatt and Morgan had all gone Page 4


In The Arms Of The Law into some form of law enforcement. Virgil, the oldest, was a private bodyguard in Hollywood, while Wyatt was Tombstone's sheriff. Morgan Earp Bodine had been Tombstone's head deputy, first to Virgil, then to Wyatt until Wyatt had temporarily stepped down from his lawman's duties to spend more time with his wife, forensic scientist Dr. Caro Hartlan. She'd contentedly settled into life on the Silver Dollar Ranch. Wyatt insisted on remaining close to Caro and had taken over Morgan's share of the ranching so that Morgan could take over the bulk of Tombstone law-enforcement duties. "Maybe he's afraid you want to keep his job, Sheriff," Jasentha teased. Morgan groaned. "Heaven forbid. It's always been Morg to you."

And please, skip the " Sheriff" bit.

That it had, Jasentha remembered. Even when we were children and i lived on your ranch as the daughter of your master-of-horse. Her gaze swept appreciatively over him. Like his brothers, Morgan was over Six feet tall and had the light brown hair, blue eyes and lean wiry build of all the Bodine men. But there the resemblance ended. Virgil moved as fast as a mountain cougar, while Wyatt was a bundle of blatantly coiled strength. Morgan, however, moved with a slow masculine grace that was both deceptive and, at times, deadly. Like his brothers, he could instantly change into a formidable enemy--or a powerful ally. "Like what you see?" he asked suddenly. Jasentha started. Maybe she'd been a little too appreciative. kind of question is that?" "I've seen that look from women before, but not from you. years, anyway."

"What

Not in

"What look?" "The last time I saw you look at me that way was in high school." "That was more than ten years ago, Morgan!" "Which makes it even more of a shock. there." That makes two of us.

You took me by surprise

"Guess I have been up here

by myself for a long time," she managed to say lightly. "A little too long," he murmured. "Maybe, but I haven't forgotten my manners." A quick change of subject was in order. "Let me get you a drink," she offered, the centuries-old rule of civility for any desert dweller. Not to ask would signal the end of a friendship--and in the old days it could mean the end of a life. She gestured to her fifty-gallon water dram before heading toward her tent. He patted his canteen.

"I'm all set, thanks."

"I need to get my first-aid kit," she said. Striker watched her alertly, ears and tail perked, not wanting to leave Morgan, but ready to follow her at her command. With the experience of long familiarity Page 5


In The Arms Of The Law Jasen-that read the dog's body language. It's okay, Striker. I'm not offended. I know we don't get much company. "Stay, boy. Make yourself comfortable, Morgan. I'll be right back." She gestured to her pocket, then hurried to retrieve the kit and return to the bench. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Jasentha sat down again and withdrew her winged patient. She was careful to let the claws attach to her still-gloved finger. She knew that any bat, even an injured one, was more comfortable hanging when it wasn't flying. "So ... I'm still puzzled by that, uh, speculative look you gave me, Jasentha. What was it about?" Morgan studied her as she inspected the bat's damaged wing. "The membrane's been torn. anything."

It should heal.

And that look wasn't about

"Come on, Jasentha. It was the way you looked at me when we dated in high schoolmuntil our parents put an end to it." "Come on yourself, Morgan. I already told you're that was a long time ago. We were different people then. Kids. Anyway, Morg, give me some credit. The woman you wanted to marry died less than a year ago. Even if I was interested, I'd like to think I'm sensitive enough not to make a conscious play for a grieving man." "You are, but who says I'm still grieving?"

"Aren't you?"

"Not anymore." He hovered close by, ready to help if she needed it. "Is the wing broken?" "No. I'll clean it up, dust it with antibiotics if there's any infection, then hang him in my bat box." The box, a sheltered area with perches, allowed the bat to eat and drink safely while healing. "Don't worry," she murmured, unable to resist a little sarcasm. "There won't be any more come-hither looks, I promise." "I was surprised, not worried. romance."

After all, you were my first big

Jasentha glanced up, startled. romance."

"Td hardly call a few dates a big

"I thought it was at the time.

Didn't you?"

Jasentha shifted uneasily. it." "So I thought.

"Like I said, we were kids.

We grew out of

Until a few moments ago."

"You're an attractive man, Morgan."

I was just.

noticing.

"And you're an attractive woman who hasn't dated since high school. Since me." "Grab me my kit, would you, please? I like to work with it up on the bench." Jasentha gestured toward her feet, where she'd left her first-aid kit. The bat squirmed, and Jasentha gentled him under Morgan's gaze. "Is there a point to all this?" "The point is, I'm worried about you up here all alone. Is it because of my father? I know he forbade me to date a Nide woman, but" Page 6


In The Arms Of The Law "Morgan, don't be ridiculous! My parents didn't want me dating someone who wasn't Apache. Your father and my father--they both wanted us to be With people of our own kind." "All that business about' similar backgrounds." Which really meant that the help's daughter couldn't mix with the boss's son. Oh, yeah, our fathers had it all figured out. " Jasentha was surprised to hear the trace of bitterness in his voice. True, her father, Rogelio, had worked even then as the Silver Dollar's master-of-horse, and Morgan's parents had both been alive. "Those were ... different times, Morgan. Anyway, it's in the past. We're still friends, despite them all. Why bring it up now?" "I don't know.

Sometimes I think about those old days, don't you?"

"Yes, I do," she found herself admitting. She quickly recovered. "But now you have a career and a ranch to run, and I have my bats. Thanks to you." Bodine mountains. Bodine caves. Bodine bats. All Silver Dollar property now. The Bodine home had once been a stronghold of the Nidt--The People. Her ancestors were also known by their Zuni name, apachu"--the others, the enemy," or the conquistador's mangled Spanish version, Apache. History had many names for her people. Jasentha had her own name for herself--a woman without land. That was where Morgan came in. To him she was simply "Jasentha." To her alone he had generously extended the unrestricted use of his landa privilege that had been offered to no other person not related by marriage or birth in the hundred-plus years of the Bodine family This was no small favor. In fact, it was a great honor. Like their ancestors, the Bodines were generous with their time, money and charity, but firmly drew the line at some things. They never ever shared their land with outsiders--save for Jasentha, the solitary exception to the rule, That left Tombstone's small-town grapevine to wonder exactly what kind of relationship she and Morgan shared. The answer was a close but platonic one, cemented by a particular bond--an intimate knowledge of and intense love for the: land. Every generation of Bo-dines had been deeply committed to the Silver Dollar Ranch; the current generation was no different. Of the three brothers, though, Morgan felt the greatest passion for the desert itself. The desert was no barren savage land to him or Jasentha. It was a land full of life, beauty and history, with wide-open skies of brilliant turquoise, flamed to warmth by a brilliant sun shining through the pure wilderness air. paradise.

The desert was their

And their friendship had remained as sturdy, unshaken and comfortably predictable, as their love for the landmuntil now. "Morgan, can we please forget the romance analysis?" she asked. "I do have a patient to tend." She was proud of the control that allowed her voice to remain as calm as her fingers. She gently began to clean the damaged wing. The bat reacted instantly, and Morgan commented, "Nice set of teeth. You sure it's a good idea to spend so much time here?" Page 7


In The Arms Of The Law "I have to. with bats."

You know that.

Because of my research and rescue work

"Is it just because of the bats?

Or is it the solitude?"

"Are you back in the marriage market?" she asked with the blunt familiarity of close friends. "Because if you are, take me out of the lineup. I have no intention of being anyone's rebound choice." Morgan's eyes narrowed at her response. "Wanting to know why you're spending your whole life in these caves doesn't mean I have ulterior motives. I'd like to think I'm sensitive enough never to treat you as... as leftovers." Jasentha flushed. interest?"

"Then it's my turn to apologize.

But why the sudden

"Because I think there's more to your job than just an interest in bats or ecology. Is there something here that I don't know about?" Jasentha hid her surprise. But it's a secret.

Morgan had her dead to rights.

There is.

As a child she'd discovered three sets of petroglyphs deep inside Bodine caves--petroglyphs that had been left for The People's eyes only. She'd told her father and brother about them, but not Morgan. The land might be his, but the heritage was hers. Until recently, bat guano--excrementmhad kept the petroglyphs mostly buried and safe from Morgan's eyes. Safe from anyone's eyes. She'd often thought about telling him, wanted to tell him, but the right moment had never come. Anyway, it wasn't as if he spent much time in the caves. Morgan had deserted their childhood playground years ago. There's a lot more in these caves than you know, Morgan. But now is not the time. "Let me guess.

You aren't going to tell me."

I have too many secrets in my life, she thought sadly. share, even with my closest friend Even with Morgan.

Secrets I can't

The bat nipped her hard, teeth sharp against the protective glove. "Hey, watch out there!"

Morgan warned.

tasentha put her mind back on her work. hurt."

"It's okay.

He's scared.

And

"I know they're usually quite docile." "Yep. Although most people don't believe it. My poor bats have a bad reputation. Entirely undeserved, I might add. Open that wet swab for me, will you?" Morgan obliged. Carefully Jasentha cleaned the bleeding edge of membrane--torn, she suspected, by either a hawk or an owl. "Here you go." Their eyes met as he passed her the swab. "I worry about you, Jasentha. Even bats go home to sleep with their families. But for you to spend your life alone seems like such a..." His voice trailed off and he shook his head. "Strange choice? I'll match my bats against your horses for intelligence any time," Jasentha replied tartly, well aware that her Page 8


In The Arms Of The Law response was irrelevant, that it had nothing to do with the concern he was expressing. "I wasn't going to say strange, Jasentha. I was going to say such a waste. Your life's too solitary." He looked at her closely. "Don't forget you have an open invitation to stay at the ranch, either in your father's cabin or in one of your own. There's no reason for you to camp up in the mountains during winter or to run off to Texas." "Yes, there is, Morgan. Hibernation studies are extremely important for species preservation--I'm sure I've told you that before. Besides, my presence helps protect them from intruders. As for Texas, you know that's where Bat Conservation International headquarters are. Winter's the only free time I have to catch up on the latest research. Anyway, I've only been doing this for four years." "You could do all that research here--if you really wanted to." "Thanks, Morgan, but no.

I can't."

"That's what you always say.

Don't you get lonely?"

"Doesn't everyone?" Jasentha threw the soiled swab onto the cold fire pit; she tried to leave as little trash to carry out as possible. "Sometimes. But I have family and friends--a whole town full of people to keep me company. You never seek out people, not even your father, nor do they seek you. As far as I know, I'm the only one who does." "My work's important!" she said more fiercely than she'd intended. "Without bats to pollinate the blossom, the saguaro can't reproduce. The saguaro is our keystone tree. Without it, this desert ecosystem would completely collapse!" That was all true and the bats" role in sustaining desert life was of paramount importance to her, But there were also the petroglyphs. As long as she kept the bats safe, they would keep some of her heritage safe. It was a rare gift bestowed by a way of life that required many sacrifices. "Bats are important to the land and beneficial to us," she insisted. "Why, this species alone can consume" --' "Six hundred mosquitoes in an hour. I know. I'veheard your workshops. I'm talking about you, not the bats. Need another swab?" "Please." He reached for a swab and handed it to her. Ja-sent ha nodded her thanks as she cleaned the wing a final time, then inspected her work. The torn edges seemed free of dirt and infection'. The bat had calmed down, too. "You need more emotional connections in your life--with people, not just with your bats!" "Morgan, I've made my choice. we?"

Let's just leave it at that, shall

"For now." Jasentha didn't like the sound of that. Everyone around here knew that the only people more stubborn than the Cliffwalkers were the Bodines. Page 9


In The Arms Of The Law She stood up and carried the bat to the box, making sure fresh water was easily available inside. Most bats drank nectar, or they drank from a body of water, lapping it up as they skimmed the surface. She didn't want her patient dehydrated. As for food, she'd check her bug traps later, after the bat had set-fled in. " "No antibiotic?" Morgan asked. Jasentha re-packed the kit while Morgan made sure all waste was anchored inside her fire pit with rocks, protected from the strong desert winds. "It's best to let nature do the healing whenever possible. This little guy will lick his wounds and nurse himself once he realizes it's safe." Jasentha brought the kit back to her tent. Morgan had finished with the trash when she returned. "You're wearing your uniform. Care to tell me why you're really here--aside from friendship? Is there a problem?" "Maybe, may he not.

I've spotted a trespasser."

"Local?"

"Can't say for sure. He doesn't seem to be in any immediate danger. In fact, he refused my help when I offered it. But'his expression spoke volumes "--Jaz, he's climbing that section of cliff directly above the Silver Dollar Mine." "Not that deathtrap!" The brittle rock-slide area over the old silver mine was one she'd alerted locals to avoid. "I'm afraid so." "He's bound to get stuck--if he doesn't fall first!" Morgan nodded. "I figure sooner or later our trespasser will need us. You're the expert on the cliffs. I left two men there to keep an eye on him, but he's already in trouble..." "You want me to guide him safely down." "If you're up to it.

The town'll pay you, as always."

"I'm game. Let's go." She turned to the dog, who lay quietly in the shade of a boulder. "Striker, stay. I'll be back as soon as I can." She stood up and so did Morgan. Jasentha watched Morgan Bodine's easygoing persona change into the all-business formidable lawman--a profession that made the Bodines as much a part of modern Tombstone as their namesakes, the Earps, had been in days of old. "Follow me," he ordered. CHAPTER TWO THE DESERT WIND continued to blow over the brittle cliffs that were part of Silver Dollar land. It brought no coolness, and Deputy Morgan Earp Bodine and the two men beside him had sweat-dampened shirts and shiny foreheads as they stared up at a fourth man--the climber trapped on the crumbling ledge high above. "Just what we need--another fool to rescue." Morgan's gaze left the trespasser, whose reasons for being in such a dangerous area still remained unknown. "Anyone spot Jasentha?" Page 10


In The Arms Of The Law "Can't see navy a thing," the oldest member of the party, retired miner and longtime family friend "Catfish" Chilton announced. He thoughtfully stroked his long white waxed mustache. "Nor I, jefe," Silver Dollar ranch foreman Luciano seconded, using the Spanish word for "boss." " He continued to peer through his binoculars. Morgan squinted through his sunglasses. "There she is. Off to the right." The brightness of the sun didn't stop his eyes from opening wide in awe. I'm not afraid of heights, but still .

how does she do it?

Morgan watched the woman who called these jagged Arizona mountains home. She was climbing bare-handed toward the stranded man, her moccasin-clad feet finding toeholds in the jagged ancient rock. He craned his neck farther back. There was no helicopter access, no footpath, no place to anchor a rope. Many of the rock formations in these mountains were unstable because of the natural caves below, as well the mining tunnels left over from Tombstone's silver-boom days. They couldn't always support the weight of a full-grown male. However, they were somewhat safer for a small child:-or for the agile woman now climbing toward that crumbling labyrinth. "Where's my amigo's daughter? I can't see her!" Luciano complained. Not only did the ranch foreman work closely with Jasentha's father, Rogelio, he was a close friend of the Cliffwalker family. The foreman's gaze followed Morgan's pointing finger. A lock of long glossy black hair fluttering in the wind caught his attention; then the jean-clad figure of Jasentha Cliffwalker emerged from the shadows. Catfish let out an awed whistle. for danged sure."

"That girl's one lucky penny, that's

"She'll get him down, safe and sound. said.

She always does," Luciano

"So far, but who's gonna rescue her if she ever gets stuck?" asked, drawing a black look from Luciano.

Catfish

Morgan wondered about that, too. But Jasentha Cliffwalker, daughter of a traditional Nide father, had chosen to live in what used to be Nide land. Her ancestors had spent generations in these mountains eluding their enemies, and she had their knowledge of this land, he knew. Jasentha appeared to slip, and Morgan froze. and continued her upward progress.

But she quickly recovered

"Why that gal's chosen to spend her life cavin" and climbin" is beyond me," Catfish said. "Her pa makes a good living breakin" Bodine Arabians. And her ma's a fancy sawbones in Tucson" "That's pediatric surgeon," Morgan corrected, his eyes still tracking Jasentha's progress. Page 11


In The Arms Of The Law "Whatever! The point is, Morg, she coulda done better for herself than riskin" her neck on these rocks! " Catfish was silenced by another black look, this time from Morgan. Whether he was with friend or foe, the cantankerous one to be sparing with his personal opinion--or his curses. Morgan knew that the statement just voiced Catfish. Morgan also knew that Catfish was just as Jasentha as he was; they all were.

Catfish was never old-time miner's was tame for worried about

This isn't the first time the four of us have come together on a rescue. I hope this one has a happy ending---not like last time, when Kimberly fell. Jasentha slipped again, and Morgan's tough-as-nails foreman audibly gasped, then made the sign of the cross with his callused right hand. Morgan didn't bother to pray. before. She'll do it again."

"Jaz'll be fine, Luciano She's done this

For the second time that day Morgan slipped into the use of Jasentha's childhood nickname. But she'd changed much since their school days; she'd become solitary and reticent, even with him. I wish I knew her better, Morgan reflected. There was a time when she was all I could think about. But we each went our separate ways, thanks to our parents. Funny how those memories of Jasentha refused to fade. Morgan had mostly hung out with his brothers and Kimberly Ellis, the outgoing girl from the ranch adjoining the Silver Dollar, the Bar E. Jasentha was an intelligent reserved child whose parents" divorce and brother's death had rendered her even quieter. Morgan was just the opposite. Back then, he'd been a child with a zest for life that had followed him to adulthood. He'd become a man whose ready smile, easy laugh and ability to charm the rattles off a sidewinder made him one of Tombstone's most eligible bachelors. Until the death of Kimberly, the woman he'd wanted to marry, had chased away that zest for life and his ready laugh with it. The only time I feel like my old self is when I'm with Jasentha. Morgan was startled by the sudden recognition that came to him, but put it out of his mind. No time for thoughts like that in a life-and-death situation. With whatever passion he had left, he vowed to prevent anyone else from dying the way Kimberly had. Kimberly Ellis, the pretty laughing girl he'd grown up with. The woman he'd loved . and lost in these very mountains. She'd fallen to her death, nearly taking him in the process, and all because of her greed for the precious gold ore on his land. The desert and the Silver Dollar Ranch were more than his home. The land, along with the old wooden ranch house with its family memories and its history of past Bodines, was his haven. His parents were both dead now. Virgil had left Arizona for the big-city lights of Hollywood--the brightest city lights there were. Wyatt continued to live on the ranch, but had understandably turned toward his new wife; their happiness excluded Morgan. "Without his parents, without Kimberly, Morgan felt terribly alone. Page 12


In The Arms Of The Law If it wasn't for the beauty of this land--and Ja-sent ha--I'd be in bad shape. So he kept busy. His work as sheriff and his ranching responsibilities filled his hours. Although Wyatt was doing as much as he could, Morgan was still needed on the family-owned-and-run Silver Dollar to oversee their valuable stock of Arabian horses, a popular and profitable breed to raise and sell in the desert Southwest. So Morgan kept busy--and waited. His grief had passed. Now he waited for his loneliness to pass. Waiting sure isn't my strong point.

Hey, watch it, Jaz.

Morgan held his breath as he watched Jasentha tackle another particularly rough patch. The loose crumbling rocks fell in little skips and bounces beneath her feet. A larger shower from above made him jump, not in fear for himself, since the men standing below were angled a safe distance away, but for the woman high upon the cliffs. His breath caught on an un characteristic gasp. Luciano, whom Morgan had reassured earlier, was silent. But the retired miner was not. "Stop your fussin', Morg. Miz J's as surefooted as a lizard on cactus needles." Catfish's carefully waxed mustache twitched in sympathy. "She's not Kim, and that's a fact." Morgan forced himself to release his breath. Kim, who had trespassed brutally on his land, his heart, his life. And now another person had trespassed on Silver Dollar land. Another trespasser, endangering Jasentha--,-and maybe the rest of them. But why? Has someone else discovered Silver Dollar gold? efforts to keep it secret?

Despite my best

Last summer Wyatt had reported to the newspaper that Kim's death was accidental. The people who knew the truth--Morgan, Wyatt and Cato, Jasentha, Luciano and Catfish, his dispatcher Marta and Kim's grandfather, Hugh Ellis, had all taken a vow of silence. No one wanted Kim remembered as a criminal---or wanted more people corrupted, following her bloody path to treasure. The Bodines had plenty of cash on the hoof, but treasure had a way of speaking to those who didn't. Who is this guy? I hope he's no local with local knowledge. Because if he is, if he's caught gold fever. Morgan's expression became grim. There've been enough deaths here already, going all the way back to Tombstone's Wild West days. It's time to do something about this mine, he vowed. iBut first he had to take care of business--administer the law. Just be careful, Jaz.

Very careful.

"OoPs!" Jasentha felt the stone grind beneath her feet. She looked down, watching the shower of small rocks. At least they didn't fall anywhere near the three men. Morgan. Jasentha allowed herself the luxury of a breather--and the even greater luxury of gazing on the distant figure of the man who'd been her friend since childhood. But Morgan wasn't hers--no man would ever be. All Jasentha could allow him was a close friendship and her cliff-climbing expertise when danger threatened the inexperienced. Yes, the town had long ago put her on Page 13


In The Arms Of The Law the payroll as a special consultant, but even without a cent, she would willingly have helped anyone trapped in these caves or mountains. It was a responsibility, almost a sacred one. Something she did in exchange for what this land had given her. She understood and respected the desert, the mountains, the caves. It was an intimate bond one had to be born to and willingly embrace--as she had. Her Nide knowledge, her lithe strong body and natural grace meant she could move with ease and confidence through dark caves and tunnels, across precarious mountain faces. She'd taken her mother's name, Cliffwalker, according to matriarchal custom. Had it, she sometimes wondered, defined her destiny, 'her life among these caves and cliffs? And her work among the flying mammals of the night? But her love for the land and its creatures, her dedication to her work, had cursed her with a solitary life. How could she expect any man to want to live where she did, in dangerous places far from other people? To raise his children there? How could she expect a man to change his life to match hers? She could never change hers to match any man's, There was no other job for which she was uniquely qualified, no other life she wanted to live. She had long ago accepted that her work as an ecologist, studying and protecting the desert bats, was her greatest j9y--and her greatest sorrow. Firmly pushing aside thoughts of her loneliness, Jasentha concentrated on her footing. The stranger who'd trespassed on Bodine property was motionless on a ledge twenty feet above her. She didn't recognize him as a local, but that wasn't surprising. She did recognize his balance, his trim muscles, his easy familiarity with heights--they revealed him as an experienced climber. Rarely did the land claim such men--especially those who knew to stop when they were in trouble. Jasentha's dark eyes narrowed with realization. He might not be Nidt, but no matter. He, too, was a cliff walker and his presence here was no accident. She'd just have to take her time and let her body's delicate compass direct them both to safety. FAR BELOW, Catfish let out a long admiring whistle. "Danged if that gal don't have invisible wings. bee-hind this side of the Dragoon Mountains."

And the cutest little

"Seor!" "Beggin" your pardon, Luciano.

"

"Statements like that aren't going to help you with Marta," Morgan warned, referring to his newly divorced man-wary dispatcher Catfish had been "courtin'..... She just dumped one crooked dealer of a husband. She doesn't need another." "I ain't no womanizer. But a body can look, Mr. she's got a body to soothe old eyes."

High and Mighty.

And

"Jasentha does have rare beauty," Luciano concurred. Morgan couldn't disagree with that. But his gaze wasn't glued to the feminine figure above for cheap thrills. "How can she climb so high?" he wondered aloud. "No ropes, no climbing boots..." "Rogelio's daughter has received a gift from God," Luciano said Page 14


reverently.

In The Arms Of The Law "It is a true blessing."

"Her balance or her fearlessness?" "Perhaps both. It's not for me to say, jefe." Catfish took a swig from his canteen, carefully keeping his mustache dry. "Hey, Morg, maybe you should ask the lady yourself. Unless what happened to Kim has spooked you off fillies for good." Morgan gritted his teeth. He reminded himself that the old miner was almost family, and always one to speak his mind. But Morgan wasn't about to discuss Kim. It was time to Change the subject, especially since' tact wasn't in Catfish's vocabulary. "Your wax is melting," Morgan said deliberately. It achieved the desired result, for an insult to Catfish's mustache was an insult to his manhood. Catfish immediately reached for the white waxed mustache ends, rolling them between his fingers, checking their firmness. "Cursed cow-pie heat!" he sputtered, then stopped, his old eyes wise. "I know what you're doin', Morgan Bodine." other."

"Then we understand each

Morgan saw Luciano and Catfish exchange glances. They knew the subject of Kimberly was closed as far as he was concerned. As they said in the Good Book, Let the dead bury the dead. Life was for the living. "She's almost there," Luciano said a few nerve-racking minutes later. "Do you think she can talk him down?" "Hell, I hope so, or else we've got to climb up there!" " Catfish growled.

I'm no lizard!

"Quiet, both of you!" Morgan lifted the binoculars hanging from his neck and raised them to his eyes. He should be the one up there, not Jaz. But he couldn't do what a Cliffwalker could do. Nice and easy, Jaz.

Just take it nice and easy.

"NICE AND EASY, sir---down and to your right," Ja-sent ha urged the man, who was two ledges and one crevice up. "You can see safe footing from there?"

he asked calmly.

"There's some," she said in the firm voice that usually inspired confidence in others. "That's good.

I couldn't find any myself."

He sounded like someone from the Southwest, but "Set, oH" "Beggin" your pardon, Luciano.

"

"Statements like that aren't going to " help you with Marta," Morgan warned, referring to his newly divorced man-wary dispatcher Catfish had been " courtin'. She just dumped one crooked dealer of a husband. She doesn't need another. " "I ain't no womanizer. But a body can look, Mr. she's got a body to soothe old eyes."

High and Mighty.

And

"Jasentha does have rare beauty," Luciano concurred. Page 15


In The Arms Of The Law Morgan couldn't disagree with that. But his gaze wasn't glued to the feminine figure above for cheap thrills. "How can she climb so high?" he wondered aloud. "No ropes, no climbing boots..." "Rogelio's daughter has received a gift from God," Luciano said reverently. "It is a true blessing." "Her balance or her fearlessness?" "Perhaps both. It's not for me to say, jefe." Catfish took a swig from his canteen, carefully keeping his mustache dry. "Hey, Morg, maybe you should ask the lady yourself. Unless what happened to Kim has spooked you off fillies for good." Morgan gritted his teeth. He reminded himself that the old miner was almost family, and always one to speak his mind. But Morgan wasn't about to discuss Kim. It was time to Change the subject, especially since' tact wasn't in Catfish's vocabulary. "Your wax is melting," Morgan said deliberately. It achieved the desired result, for an insult to Catfish's mustache was an insult to his manhood. Catfish immediately reached for the white waxed mustache ends, rolling them between his fingers, checking their firmness. "Cursed cow-pie heat!" he sputtered, then stopped, his old eyes wise. "I know what you're doin', Morgan Bodine?" other."

"Then we understand each

Morgan saw Luciano and Catfish exchange glances. They knew the subject of Kimberly was closed as far as he was concerned. As they said in the Good Book, Let the dead bury the dead. Life was for the living. "She's almost there," Luciano said a few nerve-racking minutes later. "Do you think she can talk him down?" "Hell, I hope so, or else we've got to climb up there! Catfish growled.

I'm no lizard!"

"Quiet, both of you!" Morgan lifted the binoculars hanging from his neck and raised them to his eyes. He should be the one up there, not Jaz. But he couldn't do what a Cliffwalker could do. Nice and easy, Ja Just take it nice and easy. "NICE AND EASY, sir---down and to your right," Ja-sent ha urged the man, who was two ledges and one crevice up. "You can see safe footing from there?"

he asked calmly.

"There's some," she said in the firm voice that usually inspired confidence in others. "That's good.

I couldn't find any myself."

He sounded like someone from the Southwest, but she didn't know if he was from the Tombstone area or not. would know, she thought. Not that it matters right now. "You'll be fine. you?"

Just do exactly as I say.

"Just my ego, ma'am."

Morgan

You're not hurt, are

There was no trace of hysteria in his handsome Page 16


In The Arms Of The Law face, for which Jasentha was grateful. "You know these cliffs?" "I've spent my whole life in them. lead?"

Can you follow me down if I

"No problem," he replied. "Okay, then. Start by moving to the ledge closest to me and farthest from you. Use the crevice to bypass the small shelf in between." "Got it." Already he was on the move. Jasentha watched him closely. He was dressed and tanned like a desert dweller, with dark hair and eyes. "Do you have a name, stranger?" Jasentha asked, curiosity blending with practicality. "Or people in these parts?" "" Fraid not. As for my name just call me. Smitty. " The man grinned, his smile not reaching his eyes. Nothing like Morgan's, Jasentha found herself thinking. This man was as handsome in his own way as Morgan, but she didn't warm to him one bit. Well, she wasn't about to debate names or smiles right now. Smitty, let's get this show on the road." "

"Okay,

"Smitty" took in a deep breath and slowly started moving toward the far ledge. The backpack he wore scraped against the rock behind him; the pack almost, but not quite, compromised his balance. From her lower off-to-the-side position, Jasentha saw the rocks where he stood begin to crumble. "Stop!"

she ordered.

The man above her immediately stilled. "Shuck that backpack. "It's heavy.

"What?"

Swing it over to me.

I'll catch it if I can."

I've got camera equipment."

"Then ditch it if you don't want that ledge to collapse." "I'll keep it with me, thanks.

My film's"

"That ledge isn't long for this world and neither are you. pack!"

Dump the

The man nodded. "Just let me grab a few things." He started to shrug off the pack, his empty canteen clanging against the rocks. "You can always get new stuff! Don't be a fool!" lasentha hissed. More of the ledge that bore his weight crumbled ominously. "You won't get safely down carrying a ton of brim" She never finished her sentence. The main shelf of the ledge snapped with a sickening thunk, and dirt, rock and man slid downward. Smitty's cry rang out in the high desert air as the pack fell into space. He scrabbled and regained purchase on what was left of the ridge as his pack landed on the desert floor. But Smitty's weight was eroding, inch by inch, even that last vestige of safety. "I should have taken your advice sooner, 'ma'am." Even though the ledge was crumbling rapidly, Smitty remained in control. "Any Page 17


last-minute suggestions?"


"Don't move!" Jasentha commanded. She tensed, coiled, readied herself---then sailed through the air for the human-size vertical crevice he'd failed to reach. She landed right where she wanted. It didn't make for the most comfortable of positions, but it was sturdy, with secure holds for all four limbs. She stretched out her arm. "Take my hand!

Now!"

Smitty needed no further urging. His hand grasped hers just as the ledge collapsed under him. Smitty's feet dangled in the air, his face blanching to the color of Arizona cotton. MORGAN FELT his stomach drop and lurch. gasped, "Madre de Dios.t"

Even the reserved Luciano

Way up above, Smitty swung in the air like a horse thief at the end of an Old Tombstone noose. But there was no secure hangman's platform beneath the precariously balanced woman. Smitty's weight was slowly dragging Jasentha from the safety of the crevice. Morgan bent down and pulled off his boots so he could climb. "CLIMB, MAN!" Jasentha managed to grant out between clenched teeth. you forever!"

"I can't hold

Smitty gingerly placed the soles of his shoes against the cliff side and tried to walk up. His movements jarred her whole body. The sharp edges of the crevice pressed against her legs and back; her muscles screamed in agony as she adjusted her balance and hung on to her squirming burden. "Hurry!"

she urged.

"I'm trying," the man gasped.

"I can't find a toehold!"

"Find one! The weight's dragging us both down! much longer!"

I can't hold on to you

That was the wrong thing to say. Smitty's fingers clamped down on hers even harder, with even greater bone-crunching intensity. "We both live or" -- Smitty didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to. Oh, no, Jasentha thought with despair. die!

Now they were both going to

BELOW, MORGAN'S FACE reflected her horror. He'd grown up climbing these same mountains. He and Jasentha and his brothers had tramped around the ancient mazes--the same mazes that had kept Ge-ronimo and others safe a century ago: He understood only too well the danger that threatened Jasentha. That was why he'd removed his boots, hat and gun belt. In his sheriff's beige shirt and beige jeans,. he climbed with stocking feet and without his Colt . 45. The slightest weight, the barest ounce, the barest movement of a drawn gun, could send him to his death, as well. Only his fingers and grasping toes in the brittle rock fractures could be relied on. Hang on, Jaz.

t I'm coming. Page 18


In The Arms Of The Law TEARS OF PAIN ran down Jasentha's cheeks. Her shoulder felt like it was being pulled from its socket, and the circulation in her hand had been virtually cut off by her tormentor's cruel grip. It took every bit of concentration she had to stay braced in the crevice. Her thighs and trembling calves ached from the effort; the broken edges of rocks bit into her legs and anchoring hand. But it wasn't enough. Little by little she was being pulled forward, pulled away from safety and toward the open air--toward certain death. "Please," she begged, her voice a mere whisper. "Please either climb up or let me go." Even as she spoke, her feet skittered forward a few more inches. "Can't ... won't," Smitty gasped. Tears of anger mixed with tears of pain. Was it all going to end now? She'd had some bad times in her life--her brother's death, for one--but she'd had blessings, too. She loved the land and the many flying creatures of the night it nurtured, who nurtured it in return. She loved her work with them. And she'd had Morgan's friendship when the bats slept and she didn't. Jasentha closed her eyes, wondering whom she should pray to--her mother's Maria and Jesu Cristo or her father's Changing. Woman and Life Giver. Then she pushed her question aside as Morgan called out her name. "Jaz, I'm almost there!" Her eyes flew open at closeness of the voice. "In the flesh, lady. or so below you!"

No, don't look down!

"Morgan?"

I'm about twenty-five feet

Jasentha almost forgot about the rock digging into her body, her legs or the tearing muscles in her hand and shoulder. "You think ... I need help ... Lawman?" she asked, although her chest was tight, her breathing labored. "Hell, yes," was his blunt answer. "You're as slow as molasses in Dakota. I want this man off the cliff now, not next year." The lazy teasing drawl she'd heard all her life' had Jasentha smiling. The warmth from his words temporarily overrode the screaming agony in her arm. "Sorry ... I'm not punching ... a time card ... like you." cracked in pain, and his drawl disappeared.

Her voice

"Save your breath." His order was snapped out, cutting through the hot desert air. "I'll be there in a few minutes." "Can't ... last that long," Jasentha whispered. "You will last that long, do you hear me?" "Listen to the man, lady," Smitty urged, still in that calm voice. He could've been drinking a beer at a border cantina, instead of hanging inches away from a deadly free fall. "I'll get you out of this. Just hang on!" Not for the first time Jasentha found comfort in his words, his presence. Page 19


In The Arms Of The Law Jasentha stared at both men, Smitty between her and Morgan, climbing up from below. It would take more than any man---even a lawman---could do, to save her now. Smitty's weight dragged her forward another few inches before she could stop herself with the bleeding fingertips of her free hand. Now her toes hung over the edge, and she could see Morgan's head and shoulders and Smitty's face below her. "One minute, Jaz. You hold on one minute, and I'll be there. at your side! I swear it!" Jasentha closed her eyes. have shown in her face.

"I'm trying," she gasped.

"Thirty seconds, Jaz! Just give me thirty seconds! behind. I'll push him and you pull!"

Right

Her despair must I'm coming up from

The strange peace that had started to settle on Ja-sent ha soul shattered and was replaced by horror. "No! Stay back! fall!"

If I fall, I'll take you with me!"

"Then don't

"Please, Morgan!" she sobbed,-as her shoulder, indeed her whole arm, felt like it was slowly, excruciatingly, being torn from the socket. "A few more seconds and I'll be there!" Jasentha chanced a full glance below and saw that Morgan was more than a few seconds away. He was a good ten feet distant, but he was underneath the larger heavier Smitty. And Smitty's fingers had finally started to release their grasp. desert heat, the exertion and the sweat produced on two joined palms--were taking their toll.

The

Her gaze fixed on Morgan, the man risking his own life to save hers. Jasentha's eyes opened wide and wild as she saw his danger, the danger he refused to acknowledge. "Smitty's slipping!

Please, Morgan, move!

Save yourself!"

She saw Morgan start at her words---just as Smitty's fingers began to slip from her hand. All she had to do was let those fingers slide a little more and she would be safe. But Morgan would be dead. "No!" she screamed as Smitty's fingers slid down. Before they could clear her hand completely, her own fingers grasped his with superhuman strength. Her exertions, her tortured muscles, "even the life of the man she literally held in the palm of her hand, were nothing next to her terrible fear for Morgan Bodine. Then an even more terrible determination swept through her. She threw her head back and with a guttural scream yanked upward with one giant pull. She felt the bones in her arm creak, her muscles stretch like the string of a loaded bow. Tears of pain ran down her face as she made that one last final effort. And succeeded. Her pull was just enough for Smitty's feet to reach a higher toehold; just enough for him to securely anchor himself above Morgan and below Jasentha. Miraculously Smitty released her numb crushed hand. His heavy dead weight was blessedly gone as he perched on a stable ledge. Jasentha fell back into the crevice, safe. Page 20


In The Arms Of The Law Safe as the trusted friend she'd grown up with. Now, where there had been humans screaming and rocks sliding, there was only silence. A desert eagle circled triumph in her heart. exhausted to sound Out feathers stark against

high above them, its cry echoing the cry of Thank you, Changing Woman, Jasentha thought, too the words. She gazed past the eagle, its golden the turquoise sky, to the

great beyond of space.

She felt tears coursing down her cheeks.

Thank you. "Jasentha!" That voice, hoarse, breathless, ragged, but still Morgan's, called her name. "You okay?" She looked down from the beautiful desert sky to an even more beautiful sight--the living breathing man who'd let his home become hers. Who had come here to save her. She saw nothing else, not the rocks, not the sun, not Smitty wedged between them. She saw only Morgan, and all the friendship and affection she felt for him was there for the world to see. "My God, Jaz'Morgan's usual deep voice was even deeper with emotion "--why?" CHAPTER THREE MORGAN STARED at the woman he'd known--no, the woman he thought he'd known--all his life. "Jaz, you should have tried to save yourself! killed!"

You could have been

"I know." "But you did it, anyway. Just like me--or you."

Why?"

he asked, "Because ... he's a life.

Morgan's mouth opened--to say what, he didn't know. something, anything.

But he had to say

Smitty beat him to the punch. "I think I'm in love." Some of the color returned to his face. "Thanks for the lift, sweetheart." Morgan physically jerked toward the other man and mentally snapped back into his role as lawman. "Are you okay?"

he asked brusquely.

"Smitty, and not a one.

"Any injuries, Mr... ?"

In fact, I'd better be on my way."

"Not a good idea. These rocks are dangerous, and you've risked enough broken bones for the three of us. Just why are you here?" "I'm" -- a slight hesitation "--a freelance photographer. I was taking pictures." Smitty stared be low to the area where his pack had fallen. "Probably not much left of my camera." "You're lucky you didn't end up in pieces yourself," Morgan spit out. "And you nearly took this woman with you!" Page 21


In The Arms Of The Law "Sorry about the lady," Smitty replied, carefully straightening himself. "But this is public land." "Wrongs" Morgan said. You're-trespassing."

"This is private property.

My property.

"Oops. Sorry about that." The man's smile seemed genuine enough on that handsome face, but Morgan wasn't impressed by charm in either sex. He believed in first impressions, and right now they were telling him this man was lying---big time, "Better follow us down," he ordered. "Only if you take me to my backpack. I really need to recover my camera gear. At least my exposed film." The reference to the alleged camera came out smoothly this time. Too smoothly. Any normal sightseer would still be shaking over his ordeal. This man wants out of herempronto, too. "I'm not interested in rescuing you a second time," Morgan said just as smoothly. "You'd better stay with me." "I can't. OUt.

But when I recover my film, I'll clear

"

"You'll stay." Morgan's voice was crisp with authority. He watched Smitty disregard his order--something else normal citizens wouldn't do. "I don't have the time. Thanks for the help, lovely lady !" He blew Jasentha a kiss from the same fingers that had nearly dragged her to her death--then silently began his descent. "Back up, mister.

That's not a suggestion.

That's an order."

"Or what, you'll shoot?" Smitty looked pointedly at Morgan's waist, without its gun belt. The man's sardonic laughter followed his descent through the same dangerous rocks. If Jasentha hadn't been there, Morgan might have gone after him. The law was the law. But there was no way Morgan would take the risk at Jasentha's expensewnot if she needed him. He took one last look at the man, committed everything about him to memory and filed it away. Then he turned his attention to Jasentha, who had regained most of her usual composure. Too bad I can't say the same. "We should get down while the light's still good," he suggested. "We've got at least an hour's descent if we take the safest way. How's your arm?" "TII live," she replied. "But can you climb?" "I think so .... " Morgan watched her mb her wrist. hand and fingers. "We'd better get that seen to." bones.

Already he could see bruising around Her hand has to be full of broken

"Forget it, I'm fine. We need to find out more about Smitty. Something about him doesn't ring true." "I agree, " Morgan admitted. "But after what you've been throughm Hey!" Already Jasentha was on the move. Morgan couldn't help noticing Page 22



that her

body was still graceful and sure, even after the punishment it had just endured. He also noticed that she moved more slowly than usual. And yet she was calm, determined. His own calm definitely slipped as he thought about what might have happenedmhow Jasentha and Smitty could have fallen to their deaths, taking him with them. All because he'd asked for her help--which he would never in a million years have done if he'd known the danger awaiting them. My brothers always did say I had the worst timing. But sometimes that couldn't be helped. A man of the law rarely knew the outcome when he went on a case. Or when a woman like Jasentha Cliffwalker went with him. "Jaz, where are you going?" "To check out that backpack. If he's a photographer, then I'm Geronimo. I don't Ixust liars, and I don't trust liars anywhere near my bats. Smitty could be dangerous." At the thought of her taking any more risks, his lawman's authority immediately asserted itself. "I'll take care of Smitty--after I see you safely down." "Who said anything about confronting him? I just want to sort through his backpack. I know a shortcut through the caves. I'll make it down he fore Smitty does." "But, Jaz!" "Sorry, Sheriff, you're the one who put me on the payroll. And duty calls." She gave him a mock salute with her good hand, carefully descended a few yards and added, "Don't try to follow me, Morgan. This area can't support your weight. "Jasentha!

"

Hold it!"

It was a fruitless demand. She slipped out of sight into an opening Morgan had never even suspected was there, let alone seen. He tried to follow, despite the fact that Jasentha never exaggerated. Smitty was his responsibility, his duty. Unfortunately--as he'd suspected--Jasentha was right; the rocks were crumbling, the opening extremely narrow. Morgan was forced to stop. He couldn't get to the man-made caves of the Silver Dollar Mine from here, and even if he could, Morgan knew he'd need a guide--and a flashlight--to negotiate the sprawling system of natural caves that ran through the mountains and connected to the mine shafts he low If he could make it to the entrance without a ledge giving way. Which he couldn't, judging by the ground that crumbled beneath his feet. "Son of a desert-whelped cur!" he swore as he backtracked to safe footing and began his reluctant descent. Jasentha, why do you always have to be right? The OTHER TWO MEN were awaiting his arrival. Catfish handed Morgan his Stetson as he hopped down the last few feet to level ground. "I saw the whole danged thing!" Catfish screwed the top off a canteen for him and passed it over. "Can't believe that jackass nearly killed ya both, then scooted like an unharnessed mule! You shoulda Page 23


In The Arms Of The Law taken your shooter along, after all! One good taste of lead would you stopped 'im short!" Morgan didn't even bother to remark on that statement, though the thought of having Smitty at the business end of a gun was most satisfying---especially considering how he'd endangered Jasentha. And what he could still do to her if those two met up again. "Where's Jasentha?"

Luciano asked.

"Is she all right?"

"She said she is, but she went back into the caves. Against my expressed wishes, I might add. Doesn't that woman listen to anyone?" "Rarely, jefe. Rarely. So who's the man?" Luciano offered Morgan his gun, then his boots. Morgan noticed that his feet were none the worse for wear as he slid the first one on. "He said his name was Smitty. "He ain't no local, then?"

But I don't believe him."

Catfish asked.

"I didn't recognize him." Morgan pulled on the second boot, then straightened. "But he sure knew his way around those rocks." "So is he or ain't he?" "Don't know. I was too busy up there to get a good look at him. I'll find out who he is. And why he was on my land."

But

Neither man argued with that. "So now what, jefe?" "You two head on back to the Silver Dollar. Keep one eye out for trouble and the other on your gun." Luciano, like most desert dwellers, kept his rifle in the truck cab. The truck and Morgan's horse were both visible an effortless hike away. "What about you?"

Luciano asked.

"I'll wait for Jasentha to surface again. I'm sticking around to make sure she's okay. I don't trust our trespasser." "You should've caught him, then you wouldn't have to worry about Miz J. Some sheriff you are," Catfish grumbled. Luciano grasped Catfish's arm, his irritation plain 'to hear as he lapsed into Spanish. "No wonder you have no woman of your own, old man! You have the manners of a goat and the diplomacy of fresh goat droppings !" "Quit pushing me around, you insolent rancher! An old man's allowed to have his say, and..." The two voices drifted off into the distance. Morgan watched them go. Luciano untied Morgan's Arabian from the back of the truck and tethered him to the nearest rocky outcropping. Then the two climbed into the truck and drove away. Finally Morgan was alone. Morgan hurried toward his horse on legs that were uncharacteristically shaky ma shakiness that couldn't be attributed merely to his climb. He and Virgil and Wyatt had grown up in this rugged landscape, and of the Page 24


In The Arms Of The Law three brothers, he was the most comfortable on foot. Wyatt had preferred to spend most of his life astride a horse on the desert flats. Virgil had always been attracted to sleek expensive cars. Only Morgan had remained true to the Bodines'--and Ja-sent ha--childhood playground, the rocks and caves and cliffs of the desert. He was as competent on the land as he was on a horse or in a truck. But he loved the connection to the desert soil and still walked the land whenever he could. Just as he had as a child. But his childhood playground wasn't a safe place anymore. Not when a woman--a woman he cared about--was still in danger from a predator. Jasentha might know how to make her way through the caves down to where the pack had fallen, but he knew how to get there out in the sun. He grabbed the reins of his mount, a beautiful mare with the shining prized coat of Arabian silver. She was a little too large for her breed and without the characteristic dish-shaped nose; both flaws made her unsuitable for breeding or the hefty profit of a papered sale. Usually such an animal would have been relegated to the ranch hands as working stock. However, the young Morgan had taken a shine to the filly and insisted on keeping her for his own. It had been love at first sight--for horse and rider. Despite Silver Dollar protocol, he hadn't named her in Arabic but called her simply Gem. He'd sworn to all that Gem was a diamond in the rough, a stone that simply needed polishing. His instincts had been right. Fifteen years later, he was still riding her; the clumsy, oversize filly had grown into a sensible sure looted mare with a sweet gait and an even sweeter disposition. While Wyatt and Morgan had eventually "upgraded" to show able more powerful mounts, both geldings and stallions, Morgan remained true to his childhood favorite. He'd been repaid many times over. Gem was as devoted to her owner as the most loyal of dogs, and led a healthy happy life despite her years, thanks to Morgan's pampering. He ran his palm over her neck, patted it a few times and rubbed the velvety muzzle--a ritual he never failed to perform before mounting. Dark eyes shining, Gem swung her muzzle toward him and gently bumped his shoulder---the marc's affectionate ritualmbefore Morgan put boot to stirrup. "Come on, Gem.

We've got a date with Jasen-that."

THe CAVe was DARK, the air musty, but Jasentha welcomed' the coolness. It was refreshing after her ordeal She could feel the throbbing from her shoulder all the way down her fingers. But that was nothing compared to" the nausea in her stomach and the shakiness of her legs. It was more than just adrenaline letdown. It was the thought of Morgan falling to his death--Morgan, her oldest dearest, most faithful friend in the world. No matter how much changed in her life, Morgan was her one constant. The person she owed more than anyone. That's why I'm going after this pack, instead of letting you do it, Morgan. I've been in your debt ever since-Dustin's death Without Morgan's comfort and support, she would never have made it through those tough times. Butshe couldn't dwell on that right now. She concentrated on the labyrinth, her footing, her speed. The coolness of the caves soothed frazzled nerves, relaxed knotted Page 25


In The Arms Of The Law insides---and fired her determinatiom No way is Smitty a photographer. No way at all. Jasentha reached for the flashlight she always carried on her belt and snapped it on. She was far enough in the caves now to need it. She could smell the faint pungent odor of uremic acid and bat guano. Her abused hand and wrist throbbed as she tightened her fingers around the torch. She ignored the pain. Better to have her good hand free to climb down the steep slippery route that should take her to Smitty's backpack. Whoever you are, mister, you'd better have a good reason for being on my tu By the time she reached the leveled-out area that led toward the sun, her shoulder and hand were screaming for attention. Jasentha ignored her body's pain. She stopped only for a sip of water from one of the water jugs she kept filled throughout various locations in the massive cave system. And then' she was outside, her bronze skin and beige jeans easily blending into the sun-baked rock. It took her just seconds to spot Smitty. He was barely fifty feet above and to the right of her location. She pursed her lips in a silent whistle. Smitty climbed much faster than she'd expected; obviously he was an expert and only the rough terrain had slowed him. Or is he a local? No, he couldn't be. Bodine land. So who is he, then?

No local would dare trespass on

With her eyes Jasentha followed his route of descent and beyond--and was rewarded by seeing the backpack. However, there was a problem. Yes, she would beat Smitty to the ground, but there was no cover there, no way she could inspect the pack without Smitty's seeing her. She bit her lip. Ordinarily she was scrupulously honest; she respected others" privacy. However, this was a man who had nearly taken two lives besides his own today, and Morgan's was one of them." Jasentha steeled her heart. If she was going to go snooping through the man's things, she'd at least be open about it. She emerged into the light, stood tall, walked straight toward the backpack, then hunkered down on the ground and unfastened it. Smitty spotted her immediately from above. "Hey!

What are you doing?"

Jasentha looked up and held out the first object she'd removed--a black semiautomatic handgun, fully loaded. "I could ask you the same thing." "I'd suggest you leave well enough alone," Smitty warned.

"Or"

Jasentha popped out the clip. The gun wasn't a . 22 caliber loaded with snake shot--a mini shotgun bullet that was occasionally used against rattlers. This gun was a 9mm loaded with teflon-coated bullets, the kind that pierced body armor--which was usually worn by lawmen. "That made these bullets highly illegal. Her eyes narrowed. "Or what?" She slid the clip back in place, deliberately flipped off the safety and placed the gun in her dominant hand for a warning of her own. She'd never taken a life, never would, but she wasn't above defending herself or wounding an attacker in the process. Page 26


In The Arms Of The Law Smitty recognized the warning immediately. "Or it might accidentally go off on its own," he said with a mirthless smile. "Oh, there'd be no accident about it," Jasentha replied, not bothering with a smile at all. "Stay where you are, please. I promise not to keep you long." Already she was searching through the pack. There was no bedding on the outside. Jasentha guessed he'd probably set up camp somewhere. On Silver Dollar land? I'll have to tell Morgan She found a rope, knife, flare, matches,. dried food, an extra bottle of water rathe usual survival gear. But no trace of film or photographic equipment. "Sorry your camera didn't survive the fall," "Ja-sent ha remarked, flicking her eyes from Smitty to his pack. " In fact, I don't see a trace of it. " " Must've fallen out," Smitty replied. "I guess," Jasentha said, recognizing his lie--and knowing he knew she recognized it. Her tense motionless stance matched that of the man above her. "Let's hope your wallet's still in here." "Sorry, sweetheart, but I carry that on me at all times. never would've taken you for a thief."

You know, I

"I'm not. And I'm not your sweet heaR either." Jasentha continued to search through the pack. She pulled out the wallet stashed deep inside a velcro pocket. "You must carry two wallets, because here's one now." She held up the wallet before flipping through it. There was no identification, although the wallet was well-worn. There was a small amount of cash, also well-worn, to go with the well-worn clothes in the pack. gun looked brand-new.

Only the

Brand-new, she said to herself, and lethal. What she Her hand that had Smitty's

found next hit her even harder than the discovery of the gun. closed on shattered pieces of rock, unnaturally colored pieces chipped off the surviving larger pieces during the fall. pack was full of . petroglyphs?

These can't be my glyphs. t Net from the caves. t Not those. t Jasentha dug deeper for more pieces, first with her injured hand, then; discarding the gun, with both. Her efforts were -wasted. The remaining shards were even smaller. There was no way to tell what artwork had been on the original rock-face "canvas." Not without putting the mess back together---even if it could be put back together. But the guano traces On them spoke volumes. They had to be from one of the three sites in the caves . Maybe all three of them! Jasentha started unloading the canvas bag, tossing out everything but bits of rock and spare ammunition. Desert instincts long honed made her look up again at a slight sound. She saw Smitty descending again, and immediately grabbed and pointed the gun straight at him. Smitty gasped in mock terror. "Come on, sweetheart, we've had enough excitement for one day. Is this really necessary?" Page 27


In The Arms Of The Law "That's for the sheriff to decide--unless you call me sweetheart one more time. Then I can't be held accountable for my actions." She slung her hurt arm through one pack strap and stood up. At her feet was the rest of the survival gear--neatly stacked on the rocky ground except for Smitty's gun still in her hand. Smitty's handsome face wasn't handsome anymore. mistake."

"You're making a big

"No, you made the mistake when you stepped foot on Silver Dollar land. Your second mistake was nearly killing all of us. The third, I suspect, is this." Jasentha stared at the gun with distaste. "If it isn't registered, you've broken the law. That's not counting possession of illegal ammo. So be warned. Our sheriff always gets his man. Especially with me as his tracker." She studied Smitty one last time. He had the lean muscled look of Morgan and his brothers---the look of a dangerous predator. But unlike the Bodines, he had a recklessness that made her very, very uneasy. It was time to leave. "Goodbye, Mr.

Smith."

"Oh, we'll meet again, sweetheart," Smitty replied. it."

"I guarantee

Despite the heat of the desert sun, Jasentha felt a chill run all the way down her neck. She headed for the caves as quickly as possible, It wasn't until she was deep inside--until she could no longer feel those angry eyes boring into her. back--that she slipped the safety back on the gun. CHAPTER FOUR THE BAKED DESERT FLOOR glared, reflecting the heat back to the sky from which it came. Jasentha saw Striker loping toward her when she was about fifteen minutes from her camp. Morgan was with him. Great. And here ! am with petroglyph remains in my bag. always did have the worst timing.

Morgan, you

Outwardly she remained calm. Despite her aching shoulder and arm, now even worse thanks to a backpack full of shattered rocks, she managed a smile. "Still riding Gem, I see," Jasentha said, hoping to distract Morgan from the pack at least for a moment or two. "I figured you might need a lift. She'll take both our weights easily enough if that pack's not too heavy. What was in there, Jaz? And how much of it was yours?" Changing Woman help your future wife, Jasentha thought. man doesn't miss a trick.

Because this

"I am tired," she admitted, deliberately avoiding his second question. "And the pack's a bit heavy. But are you sure Gem can take the weight? I'm not that badly off." Jasentha approached and softly touched Gem's flowing mane, shifting the pack over Page 28


In The Arms Of The Law her sore shoulders.

"When it comes to Gem, you never even let"

Jasentha broke off, but Morgan finished for her. "Kimberly ride her? She had her own horses. And she new saved my life. Thank you, Jasentha." Morgan kicked his left foot out of the stirrup and held out his hand for her. "Mount up." After only a brief hesitation, she offered him her good hand, placed her foot in the empty stirrup and swung herself behind him and the saddle. Her bottom" rested on the saddlebags and the saddle: blanket excess. She put her arms around him, but before she could move closer and get comfortable, Morgan reached for her hands. "Wait," he ordered. She felt him carefully examine her braised hand, then the other one. Although not bruised, it was scraped raw in places and bleeding from her grip on the rocks while Smitty had hung from her opposite arm. She hadn't even noticed it was bleeding. She heard Morgan's sharp exhalation as he tied his bandanna around her palm and knotted it just below her knuckles. "Now you can lean on me again," he said in the soft low voice that had won Jaz's heart so many years ago. "Just relax." Jaz had her cheek against him, her glossy hair whispering on his neck. Bit by bit her muscles relaxed. It wasn't until she was completely molded to his broad back that he spoke. "So ... are you going to answer my question? "Later.

What's in the pack?"

I need a breather first, okay?"

"Sure." Morgan felt her sigh. He smelled the faint tart scent of aloe vera in her hair. You're stalling, Jac Why? What's in that pack? "Hold on." He clicked gently to the mare; not bothering to touch his heels to her flanks. They understood each other, rider and mount. Ignoring the extra weight, Gem took off at a steady pace toward Jasentha's camp. I'll give her some time on that subject--for now. I have another question i'd like an answer to. What was she thinking up there on those cliffs? "I don't remember you ever being this quiet," Ja-sent ha said after a while, lifting her head from his shoulder and brushing back a stray length of hair. "Even in school, you were always writing, " I will not talk in class" one hundred times on the board." "That was on a routine day.

Today was anything but."

"I guess Smitty took us by surprise," "Smitty?

No.

You, yes."

"Me? You always knew I could out climb anyone south of the Grand Canyon," she replied in a shaky voice. "You know what I'm talking about," was his sharp response. "Don't treat what happened up there like it was some joke! It wasn't! You scared me to death!" Page 29


In The Arms Of The Law "What do you want me to say, Morgan? That I should have dropped Smitty on his head? Let him fall to his death? Let you die, as well?" "Yes!" "Just to save myself?." Exactly! " Well, I won't say it. life is a life is a life." "Yours is more important that his! You're not!" "That's your thinking. Not mine. on this subject again."

Or do it. Or mine.

Not now, not ever.

A

And I'm wearing a badge.

Don't ever attempt to change my mind

He could hear the certainty in her voice. He was shocked at her words, unwilling to believe she could believe them. Morgan actually swung halfway around in his saddle to face her, causing Gem to slow her pace at the sudden shift in weight. "Don't look so shocked, Sheriff Bodine. Just because you can and will take a life in the course of doing your job doesn't mean I have to do the same. I won't. However'she gave him a slight smile "--that doesn't mean I'm a pushover, either. I can take care of myself." "But" "Morgan, I'm tired.

Can't we just drop it for now?"

"

Morgan thought back to her scream of pain as Smitty started to fall. He remembered her panic as she begged him to save himself--and her radiant beauty when she rescued both him and his quarry. He still faced her. "For now."

"

"Thanks, Morgan."

She sighed.

That sigh was cut off when Morgan twisted around even farther in the saddle. He touched her shoulder with gentle fingers. His other hand dropped from her arm to encircle her waist. "You shouldn't have done it, Jaz. You shouldn't have even considered it. But thanks for saving my hide." His lips met hers in a kiss that was hard, fast and achingly sweet. Then it ended. Morgan turned around and Gem settled back into her pace while Striker loped slowly beside them, easily keeping pace with Gem's walk. It was a good ten minutes later before Jasentha spoke again. "About Smitty's pack, Morgan..." Morgan felt a sliver of relief that she'd brought it up; it meant he didn't have to. "I know I should're given it back to him, but..." exception. Why?"

"You made an

"There's a 9mm gun with several clips of ammunition inside." "Nonconcealed handguns are legal in Arizona, Jaz." Page 30


In The Arms Of The Law It was true. Any Arizona citizen could, wear a gun in a holster. In fact, many stores, even grocery stores, had large signs out front stating, "Please check all packages and handguns before entering." "Well, this one was concealed. the clips."

So were the teflon-coated bullets in

Morgan reined Gem to a halt and swiveled to face her again. "Teflon?

Are you sure?"

"But those are" "Sniper's bullets. Assassin's bullets. you recognize this guy?"

Illegal bullets.

I know.

Did

"Morgan, I'm sorry, but I handled the gun. Maybe you could get some prints off the backpack? I don't know much about the process," she mused. "But still " "Jaz, that's not the point! Don't you see? I can't allow you to go back to the caves with that man on the loose." "Just because I won't kill doesn't mean I can't defend myself. Besides, one disarmed claim jumper doesn't scare me, Morgan. If he's even still around. He's probably halfway to the Mexican border by now." "Or he could get his hands on another gun and come back to deal with unfinished business. We both know what that is--Silver Dollar ore." A strange look crossed Jasentha's face, a troubled expression that held a hint of something else--some-thing that set off Morgan's inner radar. He waited for her to explain, but her response only disappointed. "I agree that Smitty poses a threat to the mine and the cave system--but more to the bats than anything else." First, she's reluctant to discuss the pack and now this. something nd whatever it is, she's not ready to tell me.

She knows

"All the more reason to get you to the Silver Dollar. Those caves are trouble. They've caused enough injuries, deaths and near-deaths--including yours. I intend to put a stop to this by finding Smitty, then 'hauling in a load of dynamite." He heard her gasp. "I do.

"You can't mean it!"

Every word."

She tightened her arms around his waist to swing a leg behind Gem's rump and in seconds was off the horse and on her feet. "Not if I have anything to say about it." "Get back on the horse, Jaz. Your new address is the ranch. First thing tomorrow morning I look for Smitty. Then when I find him, I blow this whole labyrinth to kingdom come." "You can't destroy my cavesl" Jasentha's voice was so shrill the gentle mare" actually started at the sound of it. Morgan reined in the mare, steadied her. Page 31


"Bodine caves, Jasentha.

In The Arms Of The Law On Bodine land." "What about my bats?"

Still on horseback, Morgan approached her, Gem nervously adding extra steps to her walk. "You vowed never to take any life, Jasentha. i didn't. To me human life is more important than a bat's death." "Then you'll have to kill me, too, because I don't intend to ever leave the caves, Bodine property or not!" Jaz spun on the ball of her foot and determinedly strode back toward the trail that led to the caves. She hadn't gone more than a few feet when a whirl of horse and man moved to block her path. "Get out of my way, Bodine." "Can't. There's a criminal running loose, a man who's determined to get gold ore. He probably has rock-blasting equipment of his own. If the bullets are illegal, who knows what kind of explosives he's packing?

"

"If you think he's a miner, then he could kill the bats before you do! Morgan, I have to go back!" If I think he's a miner? Morgan froze as that intuitive knowledge of his kicked into overdrive. Middle brother Wyatt could think like a criminal. That was his strength. Virgil, the eldest, could successfully track the coldest trail, follow the slightest trace of a lead. That was his strength. But Morgan had an uncanny feel for moods and emotions, male or female, criminal or good citizen, that almost never failed him. Even with Kimberly Ellis, he'd suspected her involvement in theft from the Bodine mines early on. True, he hadn't acted on that suspicion quickly enough, so all right, his self-preservation skills weren't as good as his brothers'. But his deductive skills beat Virgil's and Wyatt's hands down. Always had. And his intuition now told him that Jasentha was holding back. When he addressed her this time, it wasn't as Morgan her friend, but as Morgan the law man. "What aren't you telling me, Jasentha?" Silence. "Are you going to tell me?" He saw her hesitation and knew she hadn't made up her mind, He considered her a close friend, and for that reason cut her a little slack. Just a little, and just for now. They were almost at her camp; it was up ahead, over the next rise. "You can tell me on the ride home. Give me Smitty's backpack, then pack your own. You're coming with me." Jasentha's eyes narrowed.

"I don't take orders from anyone."

"You'll take them from me. It's my duty. charge." With or without this badge.

Your life is my sacred

From any other man the words would have sounded silly, even shallow. But not from Morgan. Jasentha didn't back down, although her expression lost some of its stiffness. Page 32


In The Arms Of The Law "My life is my own to keep, Morgan," she said quietly. "I can take care of myself. I'm sorry, but my definition of duty isn't the same as yours." "Sorry?" That's a strange word to use. "Yes, sorry, because duty should merely be part of a person. But you, Morgan Bodine'her face grew infinitely sad "-duty is all you have. Kim destroyed a big piece of you when she died. She really shook you up. When you take away that uniform and badge, is there anything left?" Morgan vaulted off his horse with a savagery that startled them both. Jasentha took a jerky step backward, suddenly afraid she'd presumed too much. He didn't touch her, but the hand that held Gem's reins was like a death grip. "I expected better from you, Jasentha. kind." "Two... ?

After all, we're two of a

I don't see"

"Don't you? You've buried yourself in these caves. bats and your work, then you

Take away your

tell me, Jasentha--is there any difference between ILS? " When she faced him, her eyes were as harsh as the sun above. "There's a big difference, Morgan. Because I willingly made the choice to live as I do. fell into yours fight after high school--because it was there. Because it was expect:!. Because your brothers made it easy. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing there's no better job for me-no more satisfying work than what I'm doing. I never settled! I fought for the best in my life. Always! You never did. Not even with Kim." Her accusation lay as heavy around them as the hot desert air. Gem snorted and shifted in place, un east at the emotion she sensed in her owner. "When this is over, Jasentha, you can go straight to hell. Until then, get your dog, your things and whatever else you need from your camp." "rhy? So I can hear you talk about blasting up the caves? easy way out? No thanks."

Taking the

"Get your things, Miz Cliffwalker," was Mer" ga0's clipped reply. Now. "

"

The boy she remembered from school, and easily conquered by a pretty girl's smile, new looked like this. Now he had a powerful mascu a dangerous edge that his beige uniform didn't guise. It both frightened and excited her. But she determined to stand her ground. "Only if you ise not-to dynamite the caves." "I have to catch Smitty first." "Aaad after?" Page 33


In The Arms Of The Law "I make no promises." "That's not good enough." "It's all I can offer.

Until we find Smitty, the caves are safe."

A Bodine's word was as good as an iron-clad contract. PerhaPs she could think of something to protect the bats and the glyphs--if two of the sites were still intact--before this was all over. "I guess that's better than nothing." "Then mount up so we can get your stuff and let's make tracks." They started back toward the rugged mountains with their secret inner passages. Toward her tent-home. Once there, he had to help her down; she was becoming stiffer and sorer by the minute. That was the only reason she missed Morgan's quick movement as he helped her dismount. The quick movement of his hand at the top of the pack, the even quicker peek inside, before he lowered her to the ground. "Here, give me Smitty's things." Jasentha hesitated, then shrugged off the pack. She reached inside, drew out Smitty's gun and the ammo clips and handed them to Morgan. "I meant the whole thing" " Morgan said. "The rest of the stuff is mine."

" There's more in there.

My people's.

"

My heritage.

"Yours?" "That's right." Jasentha didn't see her answer as a lie. Yes, she might have to tell Morgan eventually, but not yet. Not until she'd studied the shards and gone back to check the other two sites. Because if tell me, Jasenthamis there any difference between US? " When she faced him, her eyes were as harsh as the sun above. "There's a big difference, Morgan. Because I willingly made the choice to live as I do. You fell into yours right after high schoolmbecause it was there. Because it was expected. Because your brothers made it easy. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing there's no better job for me--no more satisfying work than what I'm doing. I never settled! I fought for the best in my life. Always! You never did. Not even with Kim." Her accusation lay as heavy around them as the hot desert air. Gem snorted and shifted in place, uneasy at the emotion she sensed in her owner. "When this is over, Jasentha, you can go straight to hell. Until then, get your dog, your things and whatever else you need from your camp." "Why? So I can hear you talk about blasting up the caves? easy way out? No thanks."

Taking the

"Get your things, Miz Cliffwalker," was Morgan's clipped reply. Page 34



"Now."

The boy she remembered from school, laughing and easily conquered by a pretty girl's smile, never looked like this. Now he had a powerful masculinity, a dangerous edge that his beige uniform didn't disguise. It both frightened and excited her. But she was determined to stand her ground. "Only if You promise not to dynamite the caves." "I have to catch Smitty first." "And after?" "I make no promises." "That's not good enough." "It's all I can offer.

Until we find Smitty, the caves are safe."

A Bodine's word was as good as an iron-clad contract. Perhaps she could think of something to protect the bats and the glyphsif two of the sites were still intact--before this was all over. "I guess that's better than nothing." "Then mount up so we can get your stuff and let's make tracks." They started back toward the rugged mountains with their secret inner passages. Toward her tent-home. Once there, he had to help her down; she was becoming stiffer and sorer by the minute. That was the only reason she missed Morgan's quick movement as he helped her dismount. The quick movement of his hand at the top of the pack, the even quicker peek inside, before he lowered her to the ground. "Here, give me Smitty's things." Jasentha hesitated, then shrugged off the pack. She reached inside, drew out Smitty's gun and the ammo clips and handed them to Morgan. "I meant the whole thing," Morgan said. "The rest of the stuff is mine."

"There's more in there."

My people's; My heritage.

"Yours?" "That's right." Jasentha didn't see her answer as a lie. Yes, she might have to tell Morgan eventually, but not yet. Not until she'd studied the shards and gone back to check the other two sites. Because if they were still intact, it would be another argument for leaving the caves alone. If not . then she'd have to tell Morgan. She was positive he had no idea of their existence. "Let me unload my stuff in the tent. After that, I'll give you the pack. Trust me, there's nothing else of Smitty's in there." Morgan hesitated, and she took advantage of that. "Come on, Morgan. I'll be right back, but let me dump out the pack, get mine and change shirts first." She headed for the tent, but he grasped. her good arm and held her fast. She froze, fingers tightening protectively around the straps. Page 35


In The Arms Of The Law You want to take my work away from me. You won't take my heritage, as well. She stiffened, afraid he'd changed his mind about the pack. The rock shards were nothing to him but evidence. To Jasentha, they were her people's history. "May I water the horse."

"

"Of course." Jasentha nearly tripped from relief as she made straight for her tent. Once inside she dropped to her knees, removed Morgan's bandanna from her hand and dumped the shards onto the cloth. The sight of the damaged petroglyphs shook her as much as Morgan's kiss had earlier. As much as his anger had. A vivid red splash and part of a spiral circle told her where this glyph had come from. Her heart contracted. Of the three sites she'd discovered, the ancient symbol for water had been from the largest and best-preserved. May Mother Earth hide the other two murals from the greedy and keep them safe for the worthy, she prayed, even as she felt sadness at the destruction in her hands overwhelm her. For the glyphs to have survived all the mining, then come to this end was a bitter tragedy. The land around Tombstone was literally honeycombed with miles of mining tunnels. The 1880s were boom town days, thanks to the mountain of silver that would eventually pay out eighty-five million dollars to Tombstone's inhabitants--including the salaries of three famous Earp brothers, Virgil, Wyatt and Morgan. Tombstone had once been the center of Nide territory, but Edward Schieffelin had changed all that. U. S. Cavalry soldiers had warned the prospector that the only thing he'd find would be a tombstone, because of' them Apaches. " When Schieffelin struck it rich, he decided to call his claim " Tombstone. " That name signaled the shift of power in southern Arizona. It was the beginning of the end of Nide dominance and the rise of the miners" and ranchers', ending with the capture of Geronimo. In modern times much of Arizona's land had been returned to the Native Americans--while Tombstone remained in the hands of the miners" and ranchers" descendants. The new town grew into a healthy mix of all those descendants, Native American craftsmen---especially jewelersmand tourists. Tombstone's courthouse and surrounding land had been named a state historic park, Tombstone proper--though not the caves--became a public treasure with government funds and "prOtection. Everything historical was preserved and open to the publicw except the Nide petroglyphs, which even the Bodines didn't know about. Jasentha, the bats and the glyphs had been safe until lately. Her ecological work had been undisturbed--until Kimberly Ellis discovered gold in the played-out Silver Dollar Mine. That gold had brought more Page 36


In The Arms Of The Law than just hikers and horseback riders to Bodine land. It brought greed that caused danger, risked lives. Kimberly had shoved Morgan down a mine shaft, left him there to die and tried to kill Wyatt and Cato, the woman he later married. Only this time" the petroglyphs are the draw. Not the golcL There can't be much of that gold left, Morgan Trust me, I spend almost every waking moment in those caves. I know. But there might be more glyphs. Unfortunately the petroglyphs were just as commercially valuable as gold . Determined as Morgan was to prevent the "caves from killing more humans, Jasentha was just as determined to protect the heritage hidden in the caves. And to save them for the desert bats. Without bat pollination of the delicate saguaro blossoms, the giant cactus would cease to exist. Without the saguaro, the whole desert ecosystem would quickly collapse into lifeless sand and rock. Bats also helped pollinate citrus treesmand orange and grapefruit orchards now made a huge contribution to the Arizona economy. Not that it seemed to matter. The public was quick to' save the eagles" and' save the desert's burrowing owls," but saving the bats was not a priority. In fact, for most people, it was just the opposite. Those who were outside at night would realize that the bat population was as active in the sky as birds were during the day. Only an educated few, like law-makers who'd made it illegal to uproot a saguaro, or ecologists like Jasentha, knew that without the bats, the great Sonoran Desert of the Southwest would cease to exist. That was why she gave classes to local school children. Morgan had attended some of these. Obviously he hadn't listened very well! Time for some serious reviewing, Morgan Bodine. But first things first. She had to Pack up her things and her injured patient, then head for the Silver Dollar Ranch. Few horses could traverse the cliffs she called home, and even Gem and Morgan, frequent visitors, couldn't travel at night. The cliffs she loved were a weary burden todaymshe was stiff and sore and not looking forward to the ride down. The desert offered great joys and great beauties but often demanded much in return. She poured the rock fragments out of Smitty's bandanna into a plastic ziploc bag and sealed it, then placed it inside her metal storage case. They were no longer in danger of theft; they were of no monetary value to anyone now. Stalker entered the tent whining his impatience. Ja-sent ha caressed his ears, and began to prepare for her departure. Striker watched her clean her scrapes and tape her bruised wrist, put her notes, some clothes and a few toiletries into her own backpack, She finished grabbed both packs, wincing at the weight of her own, hurried back to Morgan. The dog bounded after her. "You ready?"

he asked.

"I have to check the bat box." "Want me to do it?" "No, I will. I'll have to unload him--I'll carry him in my pocket. I've got to transport the box, as well." Page 37


In The Arms Of The Law "Then give me the backpacks.

You look ready to drop."

"Thanks." She handed him the two packs. "I'll be fine. Really." Morgan didn't look convinced. "How about you? You still mad at me?" "Yep.

But not mad enough to make you walk.

have a mount for you.

I

"

"A mount?" "I radioed Jamie earlier and filled him in before Luciano and Catfish left." Jamie was a deputy and his second in command. "I told him the gun's serial numbers so the staff can get to work tracing it." Morgan checked the sun, then his watch. "Your horse should be down at the bottom. I'll bring her up--save you and Gem the hassle." "Thanks again." "Get your bat and keep Striker close and on guard until I get back. I'll be fast as I can---ten minutes, tops." For a moment, Jasentha watched him move down the trail, his body moving effortlessly as always, despite the long nerve-racking day. I wish l felt so energetic. At least I won't have to walk, she thought gratefully, heading toward her injured little brown bat. Striker rushed past her to the box, his large feet not making a sound. Jasentha put on her gloves, carefully removed the bat and slipped him into her pocket, making certain his feet were firmly attached. Her patient stirred a bit, then settled in, seeming none the worse for the wear. "Hope you like our new campsite, little guy," she told him. too, Striker. Come on, let's go."

"And you,

Striker paused. His ears and tail were motionless, his long black fur rippling in waves, in rhythm with the hot desert wind. This was his land, his territory--carefully marked, zealously protected. Jasentha could understand the dog's reluctance to leave. Ordinarily she'd feel the same way, but not this time. As soon as she saw Morgan returning with the second horse, she whistled to her traveling companion, urging him along. "Come on, boy, let's go.

It'll be okay.

You'll be with Morgan."

Striker took one last look before trotting to the trailhead beside her. At Gem's side on a lead, Morgan had a smaller daintier mare with soft eyes and prancing feet. Ja-sent ha saw she was definitely a keeper; a mare with such fine lines would be kept for breeding, instead of sold. Despite her heartache over the glyphs and the soreness of her muscles, Jasentha couldn't help exclaiming, "She's beautiful! But I thought you didn't saddle-break breeding stock." Morgan's expression softened. "Usually we don't. But this marc's Gem's daughter. My girl here" --he stroked the older marc's neck "--will want to retire one of these days, so I bred her three years ago. She did herself proud. No one but me thought she had it in Page 38



her."

He gestured to the younger mare, then dismounted. "What's her name?" Jasentha asked, distributing the contents of her backpack evenly between the young marc's saddlebags. The bat box was hinged, and she'd already folded it flat. "Shooting Star." Jasentha had immediately noticed the star-shaped blaze in the middle of the gray fore heM It tracked down to a single Streak of white and shot through the mane. The same streak of white repeated itself in the marc's tail. "Her name fits. She's yours."

She's beautiful, Morgan."

"I'm glad you think so.

Jasentha paused, her hands frozen on the buckles of the saddlebags. "What?" "She's yours," Morgan repeated. "The tack, too." He held out two hands, fingers laced. "Here. Let me give you a hand up. Is the little bat in your pocket?" Jasentha remained rooted in place.

"What did you say?"

"Is the bat" "I meant about the horse!"

;

"Oh ... Star. You risked your life for mine. I know I can't ever equal that gift, but..." He gestured to ward the young mare. "You can keep her at the ranch, right next to Gem." A strange feeling fluttered inside her. "Morgan, you're very generous, but I can't possibly accept this horse." Especially aer attacking you the way I did. This is so-o-o embarrassing! "You keep her It's enough for me just to ride her." To her amazement Morgan merely smiled. "A gift should be taken in the spirit in which it's given. What Would your father say if he heard you question my gratitude? My intentions are honorable." "I am honored by your gift," she said quietly in Apache, ducking her head and letting her hair cover her face, the traditional way of humbly accepting. "And I by your acceptance," was his formal reply, also in Apache. "I knew you'd like her." He lifted her chin with one finger. "Tears, Jasentha? But you never" She heard Morgan break off in surprise, for she almost never cried. It was something she'd learned at a young age. In the Old West, the white man thought her people stoic, even unfeeling. But crying wasted water. And crying was noisy--it gave away your position to an enemy. A mother would pinch her infant's nose and mouth shut at the first sign of a wail, protecting both the child and The People. The infants quickly learned not to cry if they wanted to breathe. Even now water was a precious thing in the desert. And here she was, Jasentha Cliffwalker, with wet cheeks. But Morgan had affected her deeply today, not once but twice. The tears told of both. Page 39


In The Arms Of The Law I never expected him to come after me, to help me. anything from anyone for a long, long time. He gently brushed them off her cheeks.

I haven't expected

"Not Apache tears."

"No way." Jasentha replied in a shaky voice. They both knew her people's history--how they had once been chased to the very edge of a cliff by their enemies. The Apache band, cruelly outnumbered, refused to be captured. All of them, the men and the women with children in" their arms, leaped bravely to their deaths rather than give up their freedom. At the base of this cliff smooth black rocks appeared. Legend said that the land itself had cried, mourning those doomed people. Even in modern times those rocks could still be found, were still called Apache tears. " Not from a Cliffwalker. " "You've got that right, lawman." She patted Shooting Star's neck, unable to meet his gaze. He had this waiting for me all the time--even when ! accused him of taking the easy way out with his job, the caves, his womar His life. Morgan grinned and continued to watch her. "Morgan, she's beautiful.

"So--you like the horse?"

I'll take good care of her, I promise."

Morgan touched his hat brim, acknowledging her gratitude, then lifted his hands and laced his fingers again. "Let me give you a boost," he said. Carefully, so as to put her weight on his palms and not his thumbs, she stepped into his supporting hands. She mounted easily, swinging her right leg over the horse and settling her feet into the stirrups. The Arabian swung her proud head back at the strange alder, sniffed, then touched Jasentha's leg with her muzzle in a gesture of acceptance. Jasentha quickly cheCked the bat in her pocket as the mare realigned herself. "I didn't realize until now how much I've missed this," she said, patting Star's glossy arched neck. "It's been a long time." Her voice trailed off in pure enjoyment as she savored the promise of equine speed, the warm flex of muscle between her thighs and calves, the pleasant smell of horse in her nostrils. Jasentha hadn't ridden much since she'd started working with bats, but she'd ridden frequently as a child. As master-of-horse for the Silver Dollar, her father was easily able to provide mounts. "The two of you were meant for each other," Morgan said. Somehow the flawless Conformation of the young mare was enhanced by the beauty of the woman riding her. Jasentha continued to caress Shooting Star, letting the animal get used to her new rider. She didn't realize Morgan was still watching until he handed her the reins. Then he mounted his own horse. "Come on," he said. "The Silver Dollar's waiting." Morgan kept a close eye on Jasentha on the fide back. She seemed to be all right. She couldn't have ridden so well otherwise, although he'd already radioed Jamie to have one of the town's EMTs waiting at the ranch to cheCk her out. It's been a long time since you were home to stay, Page 40


Jaz, he thought.

In The Arms Of The Law I hope you still love it the way you once did.

MORGAN NEEDN'T have worried. The closer they rode to the ranch, the better Jasentha felt. There was a sense of history about the Bodines" Arabian horse ranch--a sense of the real West with visible roots. A traditional wooden gate stood at the main entrance to the ranch. Ancient teddy-bear cacti, many of the clusters easily six feet high, formed untamed rings around the base of the gate post. The carefully hand-carved letters on a weathered but serviceable sign read: The Silver Dollar. Established 1882. Underneath and to the tight of the old sign hung a smaller machine-made sign with the ranch address, phone number and the words: Arabian horses for sale. Wyatt Earp Bodine, Proprietor. Jasentha felt a sudden longing for land of her own. Though she was living near her birthplace, owning property was something that had escaped her. She wasn't greedy. All she wanted was the caves---de-spite the beauty of the pastures full of horses on the tight, the huge barns on the left and the main ranch complex dead ahead. She remembered playing tag here, chasing Dustin or the Bodine boys up the long path unevenly bordered by high saguaro and occasional cottonwoods. Unlike many Plains Indians, who believed no one could stake claims to the beautiful land, the desert Apaches were territorial people. They'd had to be. Water was scarce, and they'd fought fierce wars with other tribes, like the Maricopa and the Pima, over water tights. Even though those wars were long over, Jasentha was as territotial as any of her ancestors. But the Bodine clan had been stronger than hers. She respected that; the Bodines had earned the tight to the Silver Dollar. It was the desert way. The ranch building, the land itself and the fine Arabians--still out in the open, since the evening air was cooler than the stifling heat of the barns--felt comfortable to her. Familiar. It was an easy Settled feeling that only family-owned lovingly tended ranches possessed, and Jasentha drank in its sights and sounds and smells. She remembered the Bodine home well and wondered if she'd ever have a home of her own. A real home, not the tent she now lived in. And she wondered if Morgan would ever find another woman for his home. What he was thinking tight now? Would he ever forgive her for the honest words she'd let slip in anger? MORGAN HAD NO inclination to bare his thoughts. He rode silently, still mule-kicked by the day's events. They whirled around his head in a jumble he was trying to make sense of. Another thief was stealing ore from Bodine land. This same thief had escaped after endangering lives. But Jasentha had saved him because---a life was a life? That belief had nearly killed her. And now he was duty-bound to destroy her home and her work, all to prevent the caves from becoming a threat to other lives. He gently stroked the graceful arch of Gem's neck. She was warm to his touch, her silver-and-black coat heated by the sun. But for once his connection with his horse didn't help. Page 41


In The Arms Of The Law You have it lucky, Gem, he thought. No duties to carry out. Duty. Morgan frowned at the way Ja-sent ha had spit out that word like a curse. To him, "duty" was a precious word. Duty was what kept him going. Duty to his family, his ranch, the stock and the people he employed. Duty to the law, the town and the people he pr tected. Duty was his life. Morgan was no great dreamer, had no grand passions like his brothers. Unlike Wyatt, he had no great love of horses as a species; he cared only for his own horses. Other Arabians were just a business--animals to be carefully raised, gently trained and "guarded with his life. Just like the humans he'd sworn to protect. He stole another glance at Jasentha. I envy you with your great passion for the creatures of the caves. You were right when you said I never had to fight for anything. It was all there from the moment I was born--even Kim. And we all know how that ended. But it doesn't mean I'm not prepared to give my best. It's just that my best's never been required--for anything. Not everyone could have a grand passion for a woman or a way of life. He wasn't like Wyatt and his horses, or Jasentha and her bats. Unlike Virgil, he felt no compulsion to travel the world, to see and learn everything he could. Sure, he'd tried for his own little piece of distinction by trying to follow in the footsteps of other men, the great Native American silversmiths. But his earlier experiments with turquoise-and-silver jewelry hadn't succeeded commercially. It was a hobby, nothing more. Except for his uncanny insight into others, Morgan wasn't brilliantly talented. He was, in all areas of his life, very competent. But competent men with an extraordinary sense of honor, of duty, were valuable men, as evidenced by the embroidered badge on his shirt pocket and the pearl-handled Colt . 45 at his hip. He was content to protect his own. In the best way he could, Morgan stood watch over his little corner of the world. Acting Sheriff Morgan Earp Bodine had never been ashamed of who he was or what he'd done--until today. Until a second woman nearly died on Bodine land. Jasentha Cliffwalker--who'd risked her life protecting him, instead of the other way around. Do ! really have to destroy her world to keep her safe ? he asked himself. Is she right? Am I taking the easy way out with the caves? He couldn't answer that question. Morgan lifted his chin, stiffened his spine and escorted his charge to the Silver Dollar. After all, duty called. CHAPTER FIVE JASENTHA AWOKE EARLY--and disoriented. For a moment she didn't know where she was . with no tent above her, no sleeping bag around her. The air smelled of wood floors and good things baking in the kitchen, instead of creosote and dust. Then she remembered.

I'm at the Silver Dollar.

I'm home.

No, it's

Page 42


In The Arms Of The Law not my home anymore. It only used to be. The smells reminded her of her childhood, the happy days when her whole family had lived on this ranch in the small house built for the master-of-horse, one of several staff cabins. The days when her city-bred and city-educated mother was working at the local clinic, instead of in Tucson's pediatric-surgery unit. Days when her father still smiled, and Dustin and Jasentha still laughed and romped with the Bo-dine brothers. But her mother had moved back to the city. Dustin had died. Jasentha had left for college and then the caves. Now only Rogelio still lived here. But the pleasant sense of warmth remained. Funny how she felt right at home again, even if this was the second-story guest room and not her old bunk in the cabin. Jasentha stretched and rose from the bed to gaze out the open window. Beyond stretched miles of desert beneath the turquoise sky. Closer were acres of fenced pastures, the irrigated ones a contrasting green against beige, and hundreds of Arabian horses. The Silver Dollar had managed to incorporate the shade and grass vegetation needed for Arabians while keeping much of the native vegetation, such as the towering saguaros and smaller succulents in the circular driveway, The courtyard out back followed suit. Striker was immediately on his feet, whining to be let out of the room. "All right, just a minute" Jasentha groaned, stifling a yawn. Beds sure are a lot softer than sleeping bags on the grouncL ! get used to this.

could

She reached for her clothes, regretfully passing up the luxury of a morning shower. Since she'd showered last night after arriving and settling in, she didn't really need one, but modern plumbing was a rarity she did enjoy. Unfortunately she had a dog who was used to relieving himself wherever and whenever he wanted. Even though she'd owned him for three years, she'd hardly had the chance to house-break him. Her infrequent trips to the ranch with Striker didn't include overnight visits. Unfortunately his former owners hadn't housebroken him either--something she'd learned the first time he christened the inside of her tent. That habit was gone, but territorial marking was not, and Jasentha was worded. "Don't you dare!" she ordered as Striker whined again and started sniffing around a chair leg. "Sit and stay!" Striker obeyed with obvious reluctance. She took a quick peek at her patient--still resting comfortably in the traveling bat box--then grabbed jeans and a lightweight Western shirt from her pack to throw on over the clean underwear she'd slept in. She wore a lacy one-piece teddy-panty combo that was as black as her hair--courtesy of her mother, Loren. If my only daughter chooses to live among scorpions and bat guano, the least you can do is wear something feminine underneath. Those jeans and shirts do nothing for you. Loren--named after the fierce Apache female warrior of long ago--4ent regular shipments of lingerie and the occasional pair of designer jeans from Tucson's finest stores. Jasentha still maintained an address and received her mail at the Silver Dollar--mainly Loren's packages and the occasional grant check. She enjoyed wearing her mother's gifts, although there was a price to be paid; mini-sermon sing the form of letters that accompanied the gifts of clothing. Page 43


In The Arms Of The Law After a//, Loren told her, I'd like grandchildren one of these years. "Sorry, Mother, but that'll take more than black lace," she said aloud. Jasentha quickly dressed, pulling on a pair of hiking boots. She usually preferred calf-high moccasins, because the tightly laced leather gave her feet the ability to feel and climb rocks in a way that boots never could. However, on the Silver Dollar, boots were the best protection from iron' shod hooves. Striker whined again, broke command and barked. Jasentha was surprised he'd lasted this long. "All right already!

Come on!"

She hurried down the familiar hall to the stairs and the back courtyard. Striker, with a more pressing urge, was even faster, and he barreled through the swinging back door just as Wyatt and Cato were coming in. "Whoa!" Wyatt protectively moved his body between his pregnant wife and the black-and-silver streak heading straight for the nearest clump of bushes. "Slow down, both of you!" Jasentha obeyed, stopping short of the door. "Sorry, Wyatt. He's not exactly a house dog, and I didn't want any accidents .... Caro! It's so good to see you. It's been a long time," Jasentha said with genuine warmth. "Too long. I'm sorry I missed you last night." Caro maneuvered her belly sideways to give Jasentha a big hug. "It's been a while. We're just on our way to breakfast. Come and join us, please." "Umm" Jasentha glanced nervously at Striker "--I don't know if I should leave him alone." "Then bring him with you," Wyatt said. dog included."

"Cook will feed us all---your

"Well, if you don't mind..." "I talked to Morgan before he left. He tells me you can control him, said he won't bother our dogs." "Where is Morgan?" "He went to the office early. He's still waiting for a trace on the gun. I doubt any local trespasser would be carrying illegal bullets. He wanted to make some "

calls himself.

Said you're welcome to join him there if you want.

"But you should eat first," Cato insisted. "Thanks.

"Come on."

I'd love to."

Moments later the three adults and a cautious Striker were in the kitchen, the breakfast meal of refried beans, eggs, tortillas and fresh fruit before them. Jasentha noticed that Striker, who'd been given a large bowl of dog food, ate heartily. She also noticed that Caro was merely picking at her food. Page 44


In The Arms Of The Law "How are you feeling?" Jasentha asked her. "What is it now, eight months?" She'd known Caro as long as Wyatt had, from the very first time the forensics expert had helped solve an old murder--and prevent the murder of Morgan himself by Kimberly. Dr. Caro Hartlan was an intelligent and witty woman, easy to like. The whole town had fallen in love with her, but Wyatt Earp Bodine most of all. "How's the baby?" "Doing okay, the doctor says. Unfortunately I'm still getting morning sickness." Caro sighed. "At least I can keep tortillas down. As for anything else..." She wrinkled her nose at the food on her plate. "I'm not complaining, though," she said, quickly flashing a smile to soothe Wyatt's worried expression. "After all the problems we had earlier, I'm happy to only have a little nausea." There was silence at the table. Jasentha knew, as did everyone else on the Silver Dollar, that Caro's difficult pregnancy had been hard on the whole family, especially Wyatt. But Caro and her crackerjack female specialist had gotten mother and child this far, and it looked like her pregnancy would have a happy ending. "Have you picked out names yet?" "Not yet.

Jasentha asked.

I asked the doctor not to tell us the sex.

Wyatt doesn't want to know ahead of time. mother-to-be smiled.

" " Don't you, Caro?

" The

"Caro says she already knows the sex," Wyatt replied, his eyes warm with love as he gazed at his wife. "I've been in tune with. my baby the whole time," Caro said. felt our child's conception."

"I even

Jasentha had heard of women who could make that claim. Usually they were fully in tune with their husband, as well. She felt a small stab of envy looking at the couple, but mostly she was grateful they'd found each other. Wyatt Bodine was extremely choosy in the company he kept and the people he loved. Luckily he had found his soulmate in Caro Hartlan. "I'm happy for you both," Jasentha replied. I wish I was so lucky. man. And soon, maybe no work, no caves, no bats.

No

"Thanks." When Caro spoke again, her voice was soft and kind. "Morgan told us what he wants to do with the caves. Maybe he'll be able to come up with another solution. Right, Wyatt?" Her husband wasn't as positive. "Hard to say. Old Tombstone was a mining town, and some mines are still operating today. The town's crisscrossed with both tunnels and natural caves. The caves are bad enough. When you add all those 1800s" man-made mining shafts that weren't safely dug to start with" Wyatt stabbed, at his refritos "--maybe sealing them isn't such a bad idea. It's a veritable labyrinth down there, and dangerous to boot." "The mines, yes, but not my cave system!" Wyatt lifted an eyebrow at the "my," but refrained from comment. Instead, he checked his wristwatch, then rose from his Seat. "Cato, we have to leave if we're going to make your doctor's appointment on time." Page 45


In The Arms Of The Law Cato sighed. all over."

"It's a long drive to Phoenix.

I'll be glad when this is

Wyatt kissed her cheek. "TII bring the car around front. Jasentha, I told Luciano to assign you a ranch vehicle while you're staying with us. Just head down to the motor pool." "I don't drive very much anymore," Jasentha told him. "I'm a bit rusty." And driving brings back all those memories of Dustin, too. "Then hop a ride with staff. Whatever you want. Morgan later when we get back." "Thanks, Wyatt. "Maybe?"

I'll catch you and

Maybe we can talk about the caves then."

Like his brother, Wyatt made no promises.

As soon as he was gone, Caro reached for Jasen-that's hand across the table. "Don't let Wyatt get you down about the caves. It's the lawman in him that makes him think worse-case scenario. Morgan isn't like that." "Cato, this is already a worse-case scenario! stop things, do you?"

I don't see any way to

"No, I don't," Cato replied bluntly. She paused, then went on, "But if you don't mind listening, I do have a few words of advice., Jasentha was so startled she blinked. Car , like Jasentha, was a very private person. Cato rarely of-feted---or took--advice, preferring to trust in her own decisions, again like Jasentha. So this was a rare occasion indeed. "Tin listening." "Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil have more in common than their last name or their looks. The three of them are close--closer than most brothers. Closer even than a husband and wife sometimes." Jasentha sat up straight at those words, the two women's hands separating. "Oh, yes, it's true. I've married one brother and lived in the same house with the other for over a year. if I've learned anything about these men, it's that they live by the Bodine creed. And part of that creed is integrity. Their badges have nothing to do with it. It's as much a part of them as this baby is now a part of me." Caro's hand rested lightly on her rounded belly. Jasentha smiled. "Caro, you aren't telling me anything I don't know. I grew up with this family, remember?" "Then why are you so worried about the caves? Trust in Morgan to do the right thing. Wyatt, too. They're good men." "I never said they weren't.

But in this matter, I

trust my judgment more than Morgan's. out. "

He tends to take the easy way

Caro was silent for a moment. "Just because most of his life has been easy doesn't necessarily make it bad." Page 46


In The Arms Of The Law "I didn't say that. But Morgan's never fought for anything or anyone--other than his own life last year." "That's changed him, Jasentha. know."

He's not the same Morgan you used to

"I see no improvement--in fact, just the. opposite Blasting the mine shut is something the old Morgan would never have suggested. He used to love those caves until Kimberly nearly killed him there. Now he wants to wipe out every memory of that experience." "You don't know that's true," Caro said quietly. if youlre jumping to conclusions." "I never trusted Kim, even as a child. paying the price."

"It sounds to me as

And now my bats and I are

"Sounds to me as if you don't trust anyone." Jasentha felt a flare of temper, then reined it in. "We're not talking about me, Caro. We're talking about threatened bats in Bodine caves!" "I still think you should believe in him," Caro insisted. "And let him know you believe in him. I might not have grown up with them, but when it comes to the Bodines, you can trust them with your life. Or those caves. Or ... your heart. So stop worrying!" Cato reached forward again to give Jasentha's hand a final comforting squeeze, then rose awkwardly to her feet. "Well, I'm off to the doctor's. Gotta keep baby healthy." She straightened her maternity top. "And mom." "I hope I didn't say too much." "I asked you to," Jasentha said.

"Thanks for caring."

"Well, it was just my nosy two cents. Wyatt should be out front by now. See you later, Jasentha." "Have a nice drive." Striker's ears perked as Jasentha pushed back her chair. Instantly he came to her, his muscled body wriggling closer, his nose nuzzling her hand. "Well, Striker, unless I can hitch a ride to the sheriff's office, I suppose we should pick up a truck and head for town." "I can take you, if you wish," someone replied in her birth tongue. Jasentha whirled around in her seat. "Father?" Striker growled a warning, but he quieted at Jasentha's, "No, boy." "I see you still prefer the company of wild animals to family. When did you plan to pay your respects to your father?" His chiding tone almost made her feel like a naughty little girl, but she'd stopped being a child a long time ago. "Soon. When did you plan to pay your respects to your daughter? I am the guest, you the host," she reminded him. "And easier to find than a master-of-horse among acres of pastures." "Few guests eat at the ranch owner's table at Page 47


In The Arms Of The Law breakfast or accept a valuable horse," he corrected. isn't it? I don't approve. " "Why ask the question if you already know the answer?"

" Shooting Star, "

Rogelio's dark eyes rose much like her own--frowned his displeasure. "I see you still have your mother's sharp tongue." "I haven't seen you in weeks, Father" "It's been more than a month." "--and yet the first words out of your mouth are old warnings about' the help" not mixing with' the boss. "" "Wise words." "But I'm not the help anymore." "You are on their payroll for your climbing abilities." "I'm on the town's payroll." "No. They would not authorize your consulting fee, low as it was. Your paycheck--like mine--comes from the Silver Dollar," Jasentha flushed. Morgan, how could you? Why didn't you tell me? Tombstone was a small town. The ranch and the sheriff's office shared the same bank--and the same payroll service. She'd talk to Morgan about this later; it almost, almost smacked of charity. But he would always have her help, with or without pay. In the meantime, her father was, as ever, his disapproving self. lasentha shrugged. "Even if I am still the help, what harm could there be in eating breakfast with friends?" "How can you ask me that?" harm."

Rogelio demanded.

"There is always

"I see you still fence people in your mind---white horses in one pasture; red ones in another. Don't worry," she said, a harshness creeping into her voice, "the fences you built so strongly in my head still guard my heart." "This is not about that." "Isn't it?" "Yes, but not in the way you mean. I fence the strong horses in one pasture, the weak ones in another. You are a strong woman. You need an equal who is just as strong. Morgan wasn't strong enough for you eleven years ago. I don't think he is strong enough for you now," "Father, I didn't eat breakfast. and Cam!"

with Morgan!

I ate with his brother

"You would have" sat down with Morgan, as well, if he was present.

"

"What's so wrong with that?" "If he was a strong man, he would have fought for you back in high school. He would have fought for the one he swore he loved." Page 48


In The Arms Of The Law Like you fought for Mother? Or like she fought for you? But Jasentha would never hurt her father by voicing those troths. Instead, she made light of a matter that had never been light. "Father, it's not like I'm about to elope with him. Morgan's just a friend. I don't have any would-be lovers in my life. "." "Father, please. Enough." Rogelio was silent.

!

" " That's almost as bad.

can't" tell a thing from his

expression. We really are strangers, she realized. "Shall we greet each other properly?" she asked, her voice hesitant. "It's been a long time." The two of them stared at each other. I've made my overture, Father. She waited for him to make some motion to show it was accepted. She would have given anything to kiss his weathered cheek, to hug the parent who had taught her the ancient ways of the desert. But nothing was forthcoming. Still, he did say, "I have the keys to your truck. I know you don't like to drive. If you wish, I'll take you to Morgan's office." "Thank you," Jasentha replied. nothing.

It wasn't a hug, but it was better than

The ride to town wasn't long, but it seemed that way to Jasentha, seated with her silent driver. Too bad Striker wasn't one for town. He was usually better company than anyone. Unfortunately for her Striker had elected to remain behind at the ranch, first cautiously reacquainting himself with the three Bo-dine ranch dogs, then finding a quiet shady spot in one of the empty winter barns to sleep after the huge meal he'd wolfed down. That left Jasentha to suffer the reproachful man at her side. "Have you heard from your mother lately?" Ro-gel io asked, still speaking in their birth tongue. Jasentha stuck to English. She found it easier to control her temper when she had to concentrate on her words and translation, for she thought--and argued---in Nidt. "I get my usual letters and package from her at the first of the month. Perhaps you'd like to look at them later," Jasentha offered, knowing her parents were too proud to keep in touch. "I have them with me." RogeYo didn't answer, nor did she expect him to. His pride wouldn't even allow him to ask how Loren was, let alone read her mail. So Jasentha kindly' volunteered answers to the two questions she knew were always uppermost in her father's mind. "She's healthy and she's not seeing anyone." Her father's expression, lined from decades of working out in the desert sun, relaxed a bit. That prompted Jasentha to ask, "Why don't you write her, Father? Or call her? I know you're both still of one heart." "She left me.

And she blames me for our son's death."

"And you blame her! I've told you both, it was an accident! If it was anyone's fault Dustin died, it was mine. I should have told you he was running away." "No, he ran away to come home. Your mother was at fault, separating the family despite my protests--Dustin with her in Tucson, you here with me. I will not bear the blame for my son's death. Or let you bear it. It was your mother's doing." Page 49


In The Arms Of The Law "But, Father..." She'd always insisted to both her parents that she was at fault. After all, she was the big sister Dustin confided in. She was the one who'd tried to dissuade him from running away when she'd first heard his plans during a nighttime phone call. She hadn't told her father at the ranch or her mother in Tucson about that call. it.

Not then.

Dustin had talked her out of

That had been a terrible mistakemand one she had to live with the rest of her life. She would never forget that night, that rain-slick road Not for the first time she thought, I wish I'd told them everything back then, when it happened. When he called. I know things would have turned out better. She'd eventually told them about the phone call--confessed the guilt they refused to let her accept--but she hadn't told them the details of Dustin's death. How could she? Seeing her younger brother die, feeling the warmth leave his body as she cradled him in her arms, the sobbing driver at her side--it had caused her many a sleepless night. She'd wanted to spare her parents any more pain while unfrinchingly telling them it was her fault. After all, she was the older sister, the responsible child. Her decision to meet Dustin halfway, instead of insisting he stay put had cost her brother's life. She still believed that. Her silence hadn't helped with the grief. Her parents" silence hadn't helped, either. They'd become a silent family after Dustin's funeral. And had remained that way for the past ten years, ever since Dustin Cliffwalker had been buried in the Bodine family plot on the Silver Dollar and the divorce decree had been made final. "I wish you'd call her," she said again. "Why? "

So she can fear losing yet another child?

" I don't understand.

"Morgan told me what happened yesterday." "He told you what?" Rogelio flicked her a quick glance, frowning at tone. "He told me everything. That you nearly seal the caves. That you are refusing to leave have you buried yourself in your work, but your own burial, as well."

her unusually sharp died. That he wants to them. That not only work might cause your

Jasentha felt a flash of anger. "And the glyphs? Have you ever thought of that? Not that Morgan had any right to divulge my personal business!" "As the sheriff and my employer, he had every right. He's worried about you. So am I. You're not the child we've raised, Daughter. Loren and I may not agree On much, but this I do know, We've lost one child already. We do not wish to lose another. The paintings of the dead are nothing compared to your life. Your mother's religion says to let the dead bury their dead. Wise words." "When it comes to Mother, I'd appreciate it if you'd respect my privacy." "I have told her nothing." Page 50


In The Arms Of The Law "Good. Because I'm in no hurry to die." "Considering your way of life, I'm surprised you've escaped injury so far. Caves, thieves, cliffs..." Jasentha was incredulous. "This from a man who's spent decades being kicked, thrown and hurt by unbroken horses?" "I am a man doing a man's work." Jasentha refused to back down. "I am an ecologist doing an ecologist's work," she said quietly. "My life is my own. I shall live it on my own." Rogelio slowed the track for a stop sign at the edge of the paved road that led into Tombstone and stared her straight in the eye. "That, daughter, is what frightens me the most." There was a long silence. Finally Rogelio spoke again. "I have to go pick up supplies for the ranch. Shall I pick up yours, as well?" "Please.

In the meantime, I think I'll get out here."

"But your shoulder ... your ann..." "They're fine. I need to stretch a bit. A walk will do that." Jasentha reached for the truck's door handle. "I bless you for your kindness and for honoring me with your company," she said formally in Apache. "It is I who was honored, Daughter," he said just as formally, then switched to English. "Morgan said he'll get you back to the Silver Dollar if you don't want to ride with me." He knew I wouldn't. That man must read minds. I'll be," she said politely.

"I don't know how long

"Perhaps the two of us can meet later this evening." "I'll be waiting," she replied. "Thanks again."

She wasn't looking forward to it.

Jasentha slammed the door shut and waved her father a polite farewell. There was no answering wave, no friendly beep of the horn, just a curt nod, then he was gone. Some things never change, she thought. Both Ro-gel io and Loren looked upon Jasentha's life-style as a deliberate desertion. Her father was busy trying to "guide" her, Loren kept up a steady supply of ted-dys and sermons, and now Morgan seemed ready to join the group, with his phony town paychecks and telling tales to her father. She hadn't given in to either parent. wouldn't give in to him, either.

Morgan would have to learn she

It's time Morgan learns exactly what he'll destroy if he dynamites the caves--my bats, my work, my birthright. The petroglyphs. CHAPTER SIX TOMBSTONE LOOKED the same as it always had.

Ja-sent ha walked into

Page 51


In The Arms Of The Law town smiling at the tourist buses, the families on vacation, the locals selling their wares. Even this early in the morning, there was a festive atmosphere that raised her spirits. In Tombstone it was still difficult at times to separate old from new. Nineteenth-century saloons that once offered whiskey, rye, poker and faro games had been turned into shops that sold the finest Southwestern crafts--jewelry, weavings, fine leather goods. Now as then, gunsmiths sold precision fire~ arms; the desert was a land where men always had and always would carry guns. But not in downtown Tombstone. The streets smelled of horses, the shops of rice and refritos, hamburgers and hot dogs, old-fashioned stick candy. Jasentha pushed aside her worries about the caves and gazed fondly around as she approached Morgan's office. Old memories came back, of school field trips and happier times with Dustin. They'd once even toured the sheriffs office, for Old Tombstone's 1880s City Hall continued to serve the public. The main entrance faced Fremont Street, while the rear of the building abutted the O. K. Corral.

In the old days the O.

K. Corral held the lawmen's horses. Today the site held only tourists and exhibits. But there was an area of the corral still. used by the sheriffs office, since horseback often remained the best way to travel rough country on a search or a chase. Jasentha decided to cut between the O. K. Corral and the sheriffs building toward the front entrance. But first she decided to look at Morgan's namesake. It had been years since. she'd seen the old diorama. She nodded to the docent, who recognized her from her many bat workshops and allowed her to stroll through the admission gate without paying. She continued through the dirt-floored area of the O. K. Corral, where the antique carriage-and-wagon collection was displayed. Then she walked into the open corral area, with its diorama of legendary heroes and villains. Set up beside the old shop where photographer C. S. Fly developed his famous photos of Geronimo, the diorarea had always drawn la sen-that's interest. Before her stood the life-size models of those who'd been in the infamous shoot-out at the O. K. Corral in 1881, She took a few more steps and paused in their midst. Page 52


In The Arms Of The Law Brothers Billy and Frank McLaury, along with Billy Clanton, stood a bizarre vigil over the soil where they'd died. Those three were representatives of the Southwest's first recorded crime ring, known as the Cowboys. It had included a hundred crooked judges, politicians, cattlemen and other Tombstone residents who trafficked in corruption and stolen goods, and held the power of life and death in their hands. Yet in 1881 three brothers and a friend--four men in all--had broken the ring, driven to a life-or-death fight by their pursuit of law and order. Doc Holliday and Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp had left their mark on the West's history, but Morgan paid the highest price. He was murdered by the Cowboys that December, only two months after the shoot-out. Despite surviving such dangerous work as a process server in Dodge City and riding shotgun for Wells Fargo, he didn't survive Tombstone. While playing a friendly game of pool, Morgan was shot in the back, killed at the age of thirty-two. Jasentha's gaze came to rest on the silent painted figure of Morgan Earp. It stared silently back at her. Morgan's statue was a realistic six feet tail--the same as his brothers--an impressive height at a time when the hardships of the Old West produced much smaller people. The artist had caught his lean wiry muscles and his handsome features--the straight nose, smoky blue eyes and generous Earp mouth, partially hidden by the sweep of a blond-brown handlebar mustache. But Jasentha noticed there was something missing in Morgan's expression. That predatory killing instinct wasn't as full-blown in Morgan as in the others. She frowned, wondering if this wasn't just the diorama artist's interpretation. Either way, history knew the original Morgan hadn't had his brothers" instinct for survival. Wyatt died peacefully at eighty-one, not a single bullet of all those aimed at him ever grazing his skin. Virgil continued to work in law enforcement, despite losing the use of one arm, and lived into his sixties. Not Morgan. His last words weren't for his childless wife, who was there at his side, but for his closest friend, his dearest kin. Take care of yourself. Wyatt. Jasentha shivered. She remembered something Caro had said to her about the Bodines. "I know there are no surviving Earps, Jasentha. I know no one can claim they're a direct descendant of the Earps. The records say Virgil was the only one to have a child, and his grandson died without offspring. But something about these Bodines..." Caro had grown solemn. "Jasentha, listen to me. The Bodines look like the Earps, act like the Earps and fight like the Earps. Their mother--for whatever reason--named her children after the Earps, and not everyone here in Tombstone finds that odd. Wyatt even told me once his destiny was in his name." Jasentha hadn't liked hearing that. Destiny, karmamwhatever you wanted to call it--wasn't a belief she ascribed to. Just because Morgan Earp Bo-dine was named after Morgan Earp didn't mean he'd be murdered in his prime. Jasentha had said as much to Caro. "I believe we make our own destinies." "So do I, Jasentha. But the Bodines hold tight to the past. a Bodine means you marry the family, not only the man."

Marrying

Page 53


In The Arms Of The Law "I understand the premise. I just don't happen to agree with it. Don't you feel it's a bit ... antiquated?" "Perhaps. But it takes a strong man to balance both the past and the present. It takes an even stronger woman to marry such a man. from experience. "

It isn't easy, Jasentha.

I speak

Strange how Jasentha remembered that conversation, although it had taken place more than a year ago. She believed a marriage should be between two people and two people only. That way couples were free of obligations from the past. Perhaps her parents would still be married if Rogelio hadn't expected the more modern Loren to marry not just the man but his maternal clan's traditional ways. A traditional man himself, he'd felt that his wife should also embrace the old customs. That--not her teenage heartache with Morgan--had been the main reason Jasentha hadn't married. I refuse to give up my work for any man, regardless of how much I love hirr Nor would I ever ask him to give up the things he considers important. I'd rather be alone-and happy in my work than married and useless. Even if that means I'll never have the family I want. She'd decided long ago to make her own Way, no matter how treacherous the trail she'd chosen. Yet the Bodines let their ancestors, their history, their name, mold their lives. And maybe the Earp connection was more than names--or so unconfirmed minor had it, history books or not. Old photos of the Earp brothers were amazingly like the three Bodines, especially Wyatt, But names and looks aside, their courage--and their alliance with the past--was a conscious choice. They seemed comfortable, even happy with their decision. Jasentha knew she was far too independent to be subservient to any conditions from generations ago. Yes, her father trained horses, but that didn't mean she had to. Her mother was a surgeon--but that wasn't for Jasentha, either. Maybe if Morgan Earp hadn't followed in his father's and older brothers" footsteps--all of them law men---he'd have lived a lot longer. Maybe if Morgan Bodine hadn't followed in the family tradition, he'd be a lot happier. Maybe even married to me. That thought startled her thoroughly, along with the emotions that accompanied it. She actually felt curious--and a bit cheated. Why hadn't he fought for her? she wondered for the first time in years. She'd been devastated when he left her and had found no one to replace him. We were awfully young then. And I was a real basket case after the funeral, so I couldn't fight for hirr She sighed. Trust her father to stir up old memo-ties. Well, it was time for work. Time for business. Bodine or city paycheck, she'd been hired to find a man who still wasn't found. Jasentha deliberately hurried through the rest of the O. Page 54



K. Corral.

Morgan--her Morgan--was waiting. But it required some effort to shake off the atmosphere created by Tombstone's past before she could calmly enter the coolness of the Old City Hall building and the sheriffs office inside. "Well, hi, Jasentha!" Marta Wenkert's eyes sparkled, giving the pleasant face a rare beauty. Marta looked her age--fifty-plus--and looked it heauti fully. Jasentha couldn't believe Marta's ex-husband had left her to seek out a younger woman. Marta possessed an experienced healthy sensuality, revealed by her lush fit body, tasteful dress and carefully cut gray hair. No wonder Catfish couldn't keep away from her. The recently divorced woman was more than just Catfish's heartthrob; she was also the woman who'd replaced Kimberly Ellis as the sheriff's dispatcher. She and Wyatt's wife, Caro, were close friends. The cheerful outgoing Marta also included Jasentha among her friends. Wyatt,/asentha, Marta and Catfish had all been through that terrible time when Kimberly had nearly killed Morgan, then fallen to her own death. "You look right at home in that chair, Marta," Jasentha replied with a smile. "Does this mean you might stay on a second year?" "Possibly--if I get a raise."

Marta spoke loudly and clearly.

Morgan, filling out paperwork at his desk, immediately glanced up. "I don't know, Marta," he said. "You keep gabbing with all the visitors, instead of working--especially visitors with white mustaches. I think Wyatt might have to dock your pay, instead." "Why you... I..." Marta sputtered before she saw Morgan's easy grin. She blushed, and Morgan let her off the hook by directing his attention to Jasentha. "Glad to see you, Jaz. Sleep well?" "Yes, thanks." She found herself once more admiring him as he rose from the chair. Despite his clothes and the civilized trappings of his office, was a lean male beauty in Morgan's motions' that reminded her of Striker running in the mountains or. bats winging home on the night air; he moved with the perfect balance of a creature in harmony with its environment. "Coffee?"

he offered.

"Maybe later. Morgan, we need to talk." Jasentha looked around. Marta, Jamie and the other deputies were listening to her every word. Morgan gestured toward the door, Jasentha nodded, and without further ado they stepped out of the building and into the open air. "Is this a quick chat or should I grab us a cup?"

he asked.

"I don't need coffee, just privacy." "Got it." Taking her arm, he led her to Fremont Street, directly across from City Hall. That block was mostly empty field, except for a hitching post, a private residence and a Mexican food place toward the Page 55


In The Arms Of The Law back of the lot. Neither building had doors or windows open yet. Except for the lizards roaming about feasting on unwary bugs in the cool of early" morning, Jasentha and Morgan were alone. Morgan sauntered over to the weathered yet still serviceable hitching postmwhich was actually a railmleaned against it and waited for her to begin. Jasentha knew what had to be said about the petroglyphs but was unsure how to start. MOrgan didn't rush her. Instead, he eased her into conversation. "I saw you cut through the O.K. Corral." "Yes. I haven't seen it for a long time. in fact. "

Not since I was in school,"

"Is it still how you remember it?" "Pretty much." Jasentha gazed ahead of her, past City Hall to the corral's high walls and gates. "It hasn't changed even after all these years." She stalled, not yet ready to compromise the pleasure of his company with the things she had to say, the demands she had to make. Morgan wasn't pushing for conversation, and that was typical. He generally took life as it came--another thing she liked about him. "You know, Morgan, Care can't get. over how much you and your brothers look like the Earps. Aren't you Bodines ever going to tell her why?" "If he follows Bedinc tradition, Wyatt probably will after the baby's born." "Think maybe Care will tell me?" Jasentha paused delicately, hoping he would say more about his family's uncanny similarity to the Earps, or why their late mother had named her sons after them. It was a mystery Jasentha herself had frequently wondered about, but never solved. "Sorry, family only." I could have been family, she thought. family as I can get.

As it is, I'm about as close to

"We Bodines like our little intrigues," Morgan drawled. "Just like you. So, have you decided to tell me what else you found in Smitty's knapsackmand hid in your tent?" "I didn't... I was going to tell you about" She abruptly broke off. "How did you know?" Morgan leaned farther back against the hitching post and propped a boot on the empty water trough. She joined him and they sat side by side, hands on the post. "Like most people, you're easy to read. That's something this job has made me very good at. With honest folkmand those who aren't." "Oh." Jasentha suddenly realized two things. One, his easy smile didn't reach his eyes. That bothered her; his smile almost always shone full wattage for her. And two, this was a dangerous man to cross. It was there in his expression, his body language. The old friend she'd known had been replaced by a stranger, a lawman who questioned her honesty. Ja-sent ha was relieved that she'd already Page 56


In The Arms Of The Law made her decision to come clean. And she couldn't wait to wipe that look off his face. "It's about Indian artifacts," she said bluntly. "Or what used to be Indian artifacts. And I didn't think I was lumped together with " most people. "" "Then prove me wrong."

She saw he was still watching her.

Jasentha took a deep breath. "There were glyphs in Smitty's backpack--glyphs from my ... your caves that were ruined when his backpack fell." "Were they the ones at the northeast edge of the mine just below the natural caves?" "Why, yes, that's where" --She stopped, amazed. those?"

"You know about

"Come on, Jasentha, don't act so surprised! I always loved exploring the caves. Just because you never told me about the glyphs doesn't mean I didn't know about them." Jasentha shifted uneasily.

!

thought for sure you'd

forgotten your way around that maze. How can you remember those caves so well? "You couldn't have known Smitty had stolen the glyphs. You haven't been in the caves for years." "Maybe not, but I don't forget much about Bodine land. Plus, in his pack when I helped you dismount." He reached into his and withdrew a few small shards. "You must have missed these emptied his backpack. I found them on the ground inside your

I checked pocket when you tent."

Jasentha's eyes narrowed. "You searched my tent without permission? Without even a warrant?" "I don't need a warrant on Bodine land." "Then why ask me if you knew about the glyphs in the first place? To test me? To see if I'd lie to you?" Why, you son of a desert curt "Answer me!" He neither confirmed nor denied it. Morgan, the most sociable of the Bodine brothers, could be as closed-mouthed as Wyatt when he chose. But Jasen-that, angry and hurt, already knew the answer. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sheriff." "When it comes to my job, I treat everyone the same." "Criminals and old friends alike?" A strange light came into his eyes. wondered lately." His words took her by surprise.

"Are we still friends?

I've

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I come to see you, but it's rarely the other way around. Unless there's a grant check waiting for you at my ranch and I've been too busy to play mail His words hurt. " That's a terrible thing to say! I really need those checks--not that it's any of your damn business. " "Since you're living off my land, I'm making it my business. The trail to your tent goes two ways, or have you forgotten? Why do I never see you unless I make the effort?" Page 57


In The Arms Of The Law "How can you say that?" "How could you not tell me what was in Smitty's pack? to search your tent to do my job?"

Why was I forced

She didn't answer that. "Speaking of honesty," she said, instead, "let's not forget those city checks you personally sign for me. Friends don't need to pay other friends for favors. Those checks are a slap in the face! I'm a grown woman with two parents who refuse to trust me. It appears you've decided to join them. No wonder you feel you can rummage through my personal things whenever you want. Well, you can take your checks and your horses and your presumptions and" -- Jasentha bit her lip. Hard. Even speaking in English wasn't helping her temper. Morgan was temporarily disconcerted, but quickly recovered. "It appears your definition of friendship is quite different from mine." "If it means I have to open my heart to you, it sure is! I did it your way once and it didn't work." Those words broke through all the years, all the bar-tiers she'd erected, and suddenly the pain was as fresh, as awful, as it had been years ago in high school. "I care about you, Morgan! I always have. But you walked away--right into the arms of the woman who almost killed you. And I had to go search for whatever pieces were left when she pushed you down that shaft! I visited you in the hospital when you were recovering every single day. I went to Kim's funeral and stood at your side! For your sake I pretended to feel sorry for that monster. Thanks to her, you almost joined Dustin in the Bo-dine plot. And you have the nerve to ask if we're still friends? " She closed her byes and fought for control. I should have stayed up in the cliffs. At least there I live in the present. "Is that what this is all about?"

Morgan asked.

"Dustin's death?"

CHAPTER SEVEN "How DID DUSTIN really die, Jasentha? it?"

And what did you have to do with

How did Dustin die? Morgan's question slashed like yucca spears through flesh and immediately dried her unshed tears. When she spoke, her voice was steady. "You insult me by asking if I'm still your friend, I bare my soul at your urging, and you have the nerve to ask about my dead brother. You always did have the worst timing, Morgan. The worst." "So I've heard. But I was there right after Dustin died, and I never got answers. I was there with you during the funeral and afterward, and you never said a word about him. So, my timing may be lousy, but I want to know." "It has nothing to do with the business at hand." "Wrong. Obviously you don't trust me. If you can't even trust me, I wonder if you can let anyone into your life. If it's because of the mistake you made with Dustin, I need to know and make allowances. I can't work with you otherwise." Page 58


In The Arms Of The Law "Dustin's death isn't one of my favorite subjects. And right now working with you isn't, either." She started to walk away, but he caught her arm. "Please, laz.

Talk to me."

"I live alone because that's what my work demands. Because I can't give it up. Because I can't ask anyone else to give up their life for me. My parents are a perfect example of that. Mother thought she could give up being a pediatric surgeon. Father thought she could, too. Dustin's death is the result. So is my reason for giving up dating. I have no intention of turning into another Loren Cliffwalker. She's alone, and she has her: work But she caused a lot of grief and suffering for us along the way because she didn't recognize that she should have stayed alone with her work in the first place. Believe me, we've all learned from her error." "Are you sure that's all it is? That guilt over Dustin's death hasn't driven you to live like a hermit?" "It hasn't!" "Then convince me. "I can't. you."

Tell me about Dustin's death."

It's too private to share, even with you.

Especially with

Her words, though spoken without rancor, should have hurt him, and she regretted saying them. But when she looked up at his face, his fingers still on her arm, she saw some. thing else---a kindness she hadn't seen from anyone else for a long, long time. Morgan's expression said, I care. I'm here. There was something else, too. His anger, his cold strangeness of earlier had been replaced by a vulnerability she hadn't seen since they were children--not even at Kim's funeral. She'd betrayed him by not telling hiTM about the petroglyphs. That was how he felt. He wasn't even trying to hide it, yet he wasn't focusing on himself. His-attention was on her. Jasentha started at him in wonder. with her welfare.

He was really and truly concerned

And suddenly she realized that she could tell him about the glyphs. And about Dustin. But I don't know where to start. She must have spoken that aloud. "Start anywhere you want, Jaz.

It's important to me to know."

THE MEMORIES of the day Dustin died came flooding back. home, sick. But I wasn't that sick..."

"I was at

She had an annoying cold--congestion, but no fever. After a morning of boredom in bed, She'd begged to be allowed to do something. Anything! "After lunch Father finally let me answer the business phones." His father's assistant had called in with the same virus that was making the rounds of the ranch, and Rogelio had important horse buyers in from Sante Fe. He needed to spend most of the afternoon out at the stables, so he'd reluctantly allowed her to substitute. She was sixteen then,. parked on a chair in Roge-io's office near the barns, answering phones. It was there that the nightmare began. "I remember the phone ringing," she said to Morgan "When I picked it Page 59


In The Arms Of The Law up, it was Dustin." Suddenly she was back in the past . "Dustin? aren't you in school?" Jasentha asked, her voice hoarse. "Why aren't you?" her.

Why

her little brother shot back m

He might only be nine, but he could give as good as he got.

"I'm sick." Her sneeze exploded on cue, followed by a second one. She reached for a tissue. "See?" "Well, I'm not. But I still didn't go to class." "Moro's gonna kill you!" "She'll have to find me first.

I ran away from school."

Jasentha nearly dropped the phone. miss you and Dad."

"You what?"

"I hate it here.

I

"Oh, Dustin... we miss you, too, But cutting class won't solve things." "Easy for you to say!" her brother spit out. "I miss my friends! I hate my new teacher and I hate Mom's apartment. She's never home, and I don't know anyone. I can't even have a pet. I want Dad! I want to come home!" Jasentha tried to calm her brother. remember?" "That's too long to wait!

"You get to visit next month,

And it's only for the weekend."

"I know. But, Dustin, you'll get in trouble big time if you don't get back to class." Her fingers twined nervously around the phone cord. "If you hurry back to school, maybe no one'll find out. You know I won't tell." "I'm not going back. I'm never going back!" Something in her brother's voice disturbed her. Her next question was sharp, pressing. "Just where are you?" "I'm halfway home. Benson." "Vail and Benson? Tombstone!

I'm at a gas station.

I passed Vail but not

That's almost halfway to

How in the world did you get there?

" " I hitchhiked.

"

"Dustin, how could you? That's so dangerous]" "I don't care. I wanted to find a ride all the way home, but the lady who picked me up wanted to take me to the police, instead. I jumped out at a red light and hiked this far. I tried to hitch another ride, but it's pretty deserted out here." "Dustin, you can't hitch anymore!" "I guess it is pretty stupid. But I can't walk the rest of the way, either. Can you come get me?" "Come get you?" she echoed "My feet hurt, and you just got your driver's license," he said in a tone that was Dustin at his sweetest. "I know, but I had to argue with Father just to let me out of bed today. I doubt he'd let me take a car. Maybe I should get him and we can both come" Page 60


In The Arms Of The Law "No! He'll yell at me, just like Mom! That's all they do anymore! I'm tired of it! I want your not Dad. You won't yell at me." "I don't know, Dustin.

I really think I should get Father"

"Please, Jazzie, please." his crying decided her.

Her brother's voice broke, and the sound of

"All right, I'll come alone," she vowed, frightened at the possibility of forcing Dustin to take even more drastic action. "But you have to promise never to run away again and to go straight to the police if you feel scared. Now tell me exactly where you are." Jasentha quickly wrote down what he said on paper from her father's desk. "It'll take me at least half an hour to get there, more if I have to sneak a truck." Jasentha checked out the office window to see if Ro-gel io was anywhere in sight. "It might be dark by then." "If you hurry it won't be dark. And bring me some money--I spent all mine on food, I only have change left and I'm hungry!" "I don't have much.

I might" need it for gas.

"Then grab me something from the kitchen. alone! Hurry up!" Click.

"

Just don't forget to come

The next few minutes gave Jasentha a very nervous stomach. First she had to tell Rogelio she was going back to the house to take a nap before dinner, after all. Her lie had to wait until he'd returned to the office between clients. That took care of Rogelio, but the ranch hands all knew she was home, so she had to avoid them. The kitchen was manned by Cook, so Jasentha couldn't raid the refrigerator. Guiltily she had to backtrack to get some money from the petty-cash box used for emergencies. Again she had to wait until her father was out of the office before she could snatch enough for food and extra, gas. If this isn't an emergency, I don't know what is. But all the sneaking around took time and several false starts, because she was an honest child who'd no practice with deceit. It was almost an hour before she was safely off the Silver Dollar, an hour and a half before she was even close to Dustin's location. By now she was good and angry at her whole family Her parents had caused this whole mess! And she, Jasentha, had to mop up after them. The divorce had been full of bitter acrimony. They'd gone to court six months earlier. Loren had demanded custody of both children and hired a shark of a lawyer--who had pulled out all the stops. The case became "educated doctor with a high salary" versus "uneducated man getting too old to work with horses." Then the lawyer had thrown in that Loren was a Christian and a churchgoer while Rogelio, a traditional Apache, was not. Rogelio's attorney had strongly objected and the objection was sustained, but the judge was a very conservative man and the damage was done---just as the lawyer knew it would be. The case was decided then and there on a dirty ploy that Loren neither knew about nor sanctioned, but it destroyed whatever trust Rogelio had in her. Before the judge gave his verdict, he asked if the children wanted to testify. And Jasentha, hurt at what she considered her mother's betrayal of her father, did. Though, like Rogelio, she refused to put her hand on the Bible and swear to a deity she didn't know, she flatly refused to go with Loren to Tucson. Already a capable wilderness survivalist, she spoke a vow of her own. Page 61


In The Arms Of The Law "I will not go to Tucson. I'll run to the desert and live there until I'm eighteen. No one can stop me. And no one will ever, ever find me." Jasentha didn't cry or raise her voice, but no person in the courtroom, including the judge, doubted her words. Dustin protested, as well, but due to his much younger age, his opinion received little regard. deal was cut. A frightened Loren would allow Ro-gel io custody of Jasentha if he relinquished his claim on Dustin. So the family was split right down the middle. Her father was a silent unhappy man, her mother a bitter unhappy woman. And poor Dustin had run away from home. Only now they were both going to get into troublemDustin for running away and Jasentha for keeping his secret. Here she was, far from home in the ranch truck with a half-full gas tank. The sun had set some time ago. "So help me, Dustin Cliffwalker, if I have to go looking for you, I swear..." She said a silent prayer to Changing Woman for her brother, begging that he'd stayed put like she'd ordered him. She never finished that prayer, for now the monsoon clouds decided to dump their rain in an angry torrent Jasentha immediately reached for the wiper switch, then turned on the truck's halogens. The rain came down more heavily, and she drastically reduced her speed. She wished she'd been able to grab one of the ranch trucks with a CB radio, but those trucks had either been in use or parked near someone who would have questioned her actions. "I hope you're safe and dry at that gas station you called from, Dustin. If not, you're gonna get soaked!" Then the lightning started. Only this was monsoon lightning--ball lightning, chain lightning, multiple stick bursts that flickered and flashed and heralded huge booms. Her sturdy truck seemed insignificant as it picked up the vibrations and transmitted them to her from the seat, the door, the steering wheel. Some were so close she could feel the hair on her arms raise with electricity. Jasentha slowed-her speed even more. Her congested head was pounding from the humidity and thunder, and the cold medicine Rogelio had given her at lunch was making her dizzy. Or was it her fear? She was going to have to pull over soon. "Dustin, where are you?" she asked aloud. She squinted her eyes against the bursts of lightning and peered ahead, trying to find a road sign. She couldn't be too far from his location! The wind gusted, blowing the truck sideways. Ja-sent ha a new driver who'd earned her license during the dry season, overcompensated at the wheel and almost went off the road before recovering. But she was more nervous for Dustin's safety than for her own. If another stick of lightning hadn't illuminated the standard green highway sign, she would have missed it. "Five more miles!" Jasentha moaned. Or at least that was what she hoped it said. It was hard to tell through the wind-driven rain. Tonight was a miser able night to go looking for a runaway brother. Dustin, what did you get me into? Page 62


In The Arms Of The Law Incredibly the wind grew even worse. Jasentha was down to a desert-tortoise crawl by now. Her visibility was barely a few yards, even with her halogens on and windshield wipers on high. Finally she could drive no longer. She pulled over to the shoulder of the road, careful to stay away from the drainage ditch and put the truck into Park. As she did so, a double flash of cloud-to-cloud-to-ground lightning showed a form in the darkness--a small wet boy with hair as black as hers, skin as bronze, an arm inside a soggy shirt waving from the opposite side of the highway. "Dustin!" she yelled, rolling down her window. Another gust of wind blew the words--and the rain--right back in her face and soaked her skin, hair, blouse. She tried to say, "Wait for me to turn around!" But the rain was pounding, the wind was howling, and the thunder crashed overhead. Dustin couldn't hear her. She wiped the rain from her eyes and this time yelled even louder. "Dustin!" She could see his smile of joy even through the storm. "Wait there! I'!1 turn around!" She reached for the lever to shift the truck into Drive. A simple U-turn would get her to his side of the road. And then the unthinkable happened. Dustin must have thought she'd been telling him to join her. He immediately started across the dark wet highway--just as another vehicle approached from the opposite direction. The dark blue of the van, despite its headlights, blended with the black night and black rain. Jasentha didn't see it until it was almost parallel. it at all.

Dustin didn't see

"Watch out!" she cried. It was too late. Boy and van collided, and suddenly Dustin was flying through the air. His little body flew over her hood, past her windshield, to splash into the drainage ditch at the side of the road. She was out of the truck in seconds, sliding down the muddy banks to the brown-black of the water where Dustin lay facedown. She grabbed him and pulled him onto her lap. "Dustin! Dustin!" She said his name over and over as she wiped the mud and water from his Cheeks. She bent her head over his, seeking to shelter his face from the rain. Just when she thought she would scream from sheer terror, Dustin opened his eyes. "Dustin!" "lazzie?" His voice was so weak, so unlike her brother's, "that she felt her stomach lurch, her throat tighten. But when he spoke again, his smile was the same smile she remembered from happier times on the Silver Dollar. "It's me, sweetheart. He sighed.

I'm here."

"I knew you'd come.

I knew you'd take me home."

Those were the last words Dustin Cliffwalker ever spoke. Just like all those years ago, Jasentha's face once again streamed with tears. She remembered the driver hurrying to her side. She remembered asking the man to find a phone and call her father- In Spanish she told him to take the van and leave before the police came. He was an illegal border-crosser with a truck full of men hoping to feed their families by working in Arizona's agricultural fields--not a criminal Page 63


hit-and-run driver.

In The Arms Of The Law He'd been driving carefully.

She remembered his protests, but her tears and near-hysterical protests that she didn't want anyone else near Dustin convinced him to go. Then she remembered how Sheriff Virgil Bodine, with sixteen-year-old Morgan in tow had arrived, and added his tears to hers. There in the muddy ditch water Virgil gently took Dustin's body away from her. Morgan was the one who held her when she saw the coroner's van arrive. Morgan was the one who supported her and dragged her out of the ditch and into Virgil's Jeep. He was the one who covered her with a blanket and held her on his lap, his arms tightly around her, all the way back to the Silver Dollar. And he was the one who held her hand at the funeral and the gravesite, for Rogelio was sobbing uncontrollably, while Loren was a motionless pillar of grief. Morgan reached out to pull her close---just like he had then--and suddenly Jasentha was back in the present. His ann went around her waist. When he finally spoke, his eyes were as wet as hers. "You never said aword about all this to me.

You should have."

"What was there to say? That I should have, listened to my own instincts? I know that. I should have told Father to come with me. I tried to tell them that I called Dustin to his death, too, but they wouldn't listen. They were too busy blaming each other. They didn't want to hear how my brother died. Was I right to let the driver of that van go and never tell Virgil? What could I have told them--or you? That I was the killer? That it took me years to get over most of the guiltmthat it was an accident and I did my best, but my best wasn't good enough? Or maybe I should have told my parents that they had no right to pull us apart, you and me... I never said anything, though--I'd caused enough pain already and I couldn't bear to deal with any more.

"

"My God, I didn't know." "That's right, you didn't. So don't tell me what I should have said. Or who I should trust." She drew away from him, away from memories of that long-ago time when Morgan was her sole comfort. "However good or bad my judgment was---or is---doesn't entitle you to all my secrets. Not because we were friends then. Not because you wear that badge now. You know how this whole thing started? You cross-examining me about the glyphs, preaching how I should have told you about them when we were kids. I only found them a little while before Dustin died. Telling you was the least of my priorities back then!" "Jasentha, I didn't mean to hurt you.

Then or now."

"

"No, you just decided to question my judgment. I learned a long time ago to rely on myself, and that's how I can do a job no one else wants--a job I love. I've never had the luxury of a family safety net when I fail. I don't begrudge you your family, Morgan, but don't try to force on me something that's not there. I can't live the way other people want me to. I can only live in a way that makes sense to me. At least with the bats and Striker, I'm alone and content. When I'm arbund my family, I'm lonely and miserable." She shook her head. "Trust me, I've made the right choice." Morgan, his gaze solemn, said nothing. "Well, that's a first.

Morgan Bodine not getting in the last word." Page 64


In The Arms Of The Law "Jasentha, I'm sorry." "Don't apologize.

You didn't do anything wrong,

and I'm not interested in blame. Not anymore. " She pushed back a strand of hair and pushed back her emotions, as well. " And now, since the glyphs are a priority and you hate secrets, let me add this " "We don't have to talk about them if you don't want." "I'm on the payroll and I'm being paid to deliver." Was she wrong or did he actually flinch at her words? "You know of one set of glyphs. But I doubt you know where the other two are.

" Silence.

"This is your cue to say, " There's more? "We were so young back then. you. With us."

""

I didn't realize what was going on with

"" Back then" is over. I don't live in the past. But I can guess the future. If Smitty hasn't found the other glyphs, that's where we'll find him. I'll lead you to both." "No." "No?" Suddenly he was the lawman again. directions."

"I want you to give me

"Sorry, Morgan. I need to catch up to Smitty or whatever his name is. He's a real threat to the eaves." " "And to you. Which is why I want to go alone." "You either go with me," she warned, "or you can travel with all the officials I intend to call." She could tell he didn't like the sound of that. "Such as?" "Investigators from the state of Arizona, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Apache Tribal Council and every single TV and newspaper reporter within a hundred miles." She stared him straight in the eye. "Let's not forget the conservationists I'll be calling-since so many of the bats are threatened as it is." "I don't like being threatened myself, Jasentha." Morgan's demeanor was white-hot dangerous, like a freshly molded bullet. Jasentha faced it full on and stood her ground. "We both have a vested interest in finding Smitty," she said. together." "That's my choice to make, Ms.

"We work

Cliffwalker, Not yours."

"Think again, Sheriff." "You could be making a deadly mistake.

You know that."

"As in, it wouldn't &e the first time?

Just like with Dustin?"

"I didn't say that{" Morgan clenched his fists.

"Jasentha, please!"

"I make my own decisions, Morgan. Right or wrong, friends or foes, I always have. Get used to it. And get used to this. When we find the Page 65


glyphs, we'H find Smitty.

In The Arms Of The Law When do we start?"

The new-bullet heat of his blue eyes answered before he spoke. " " Now.

" "

CHAPTER EIGHT IN LESS TIME than she thought POssible, Morgan had checked out of his office and driven the two of them to the ranch for horses. They were on the trail within an hour. Morgan could move fast when he wanted, especially when he was all business. He'd announced that he wanted to visit the first glyph location. Only then would he decide on their next course of action. "I want to confirm for myself that the shards came from where you said. If we're lucky, Smitty might've been careless. Maybe left us some information." Personally Jasentha didn't think Smitty was the careless type. But Morgan was the sheriff, and she wouldn't mind checking out the original site herself. "Tell me about the glyphs," he said. moving Gem as close to Shooting Star as the trail and their stirrups permitted. "Are they Apache? Or Anasazi?" Jas/ntha was surprised he was in the mood for conversation. "The Ancient Ones.,." Jasentha found herself thinking in "Apache, Every local knew that the An" asazi had set fled in the Southwest long before the seven Athabaskan---or Apache-speaking--tribes arrived from Far North. The Anasazi were cliff dwellers, not cave dwellers, and when they disappeared from such places as Mesa Verde in the Four Comers are if Athabaskans like the Pueblo set fled into the dwellings they'd left vacant. "Probably Anasazi," she said. toPOgraphy, I'd say Anasazi."

"I'm no expert, but based on the "Why?"

"Your ranch has always had a water source. Tombstone isn't that far from the San Pedro River." She didn't bother explaining what he already knew--that migrating tribes always needed information, and glyphs usually functioned as maps. They were commonly drawings of game, edible plants and their locations. A drawing of spirals indicated the presence of all-imPOrtant water. For these tribes, the caves were like old stagecoach way stations where travelers could stop for rest, food and drink before moving on. "And since the Apache settled here, they didn't need to map information for later generations? Hence, Anasazi glyphs?

"

"Yes." "What about the handprints? mean?"

I saw those in the mine.

What did they

"Those could be either of two things. A pair of hands outlined in paint meant a sacred place. A single hand dipped in paint and Pressed against the rock simply said, " I was here. " Man's always been compelled to leave his mark." Page 66


In The Arms Of The Law Morgan adjusted his hat. "Remember in high school when I painted our initials inside the old mine with the vegetable dye we had to make for a school project? I wanted to use spray paint inside, but you wouldn't let me.

Said the fiunes were bad for the ozone layer.

"

"I guess some things never change--graffiti and all." "At least my initials were better than your heart Was.

"

"When Dustin found that lopsided heart, he teased me for weeks." Jasentha smiled at the memory. "But he never told anyone, I'll say that for him." "It's good to see you smile again," Morgan said, then quickly added, "I wasn't throwing Dustin's death in your face earlier, Jasentha. Truly I wasn't. And if I'd known how much you needed me after he died--but my father said you needed your space. That I should back off." "Yeah, well, it wasn't your problem. And you're right. told you about the glyphs, too. They're on your land."

I should have

SOmehow the mention of that lopsided heart had broken the tension, and they were the old Jasentha and Morgan again. "I kept waiting for you to tell me even after all these years." "Morgan, it's just that ... well, I didn't think you'd be interested. We went our separate ways after graduation Me to play college girl, and you..." "To play cops and rob betsY "Well, at least we're good at our professions, even if our Social lives need work. Thank goodness my job is as fulfilling as I hoped it would be. And you seem happy in yours, as well." Despite Kimberly Ellis. "Right?" "I suppose." Morgan abruptly changed the subject. over, I'll still need your help." "Name it.

"When this case is

And no paychecks, either," she warned.

"Tell me what I can do about the bats. I suppose blowing the cave to kingdom come is a bit" -- "Testosterone-driven?" He gave her a sharp glance. "Unrealistic. the distress it would cause the bats." "And your horses.

And the land.

"I get the picture, Jaz. "Good."

Considering your work and

And the watershed.

And"

No need to rub it in."

This time her smile was even wider, but Morgan ignored it.

"I didn't think bats were important in Apache mythology. Am I wrong? Is there some cultural reason you're so concerned with the bats" weft are or has it always been a personal thing? " "Personal.

And you're right---bats have held a major role in some Page 67


In The Arms Of The Law cultures, but not with the Niche." "Who, then?" lasentha straightened in her saddle, glad that the earlier tension had eased. "The Tolucan, Mayan, Aztec and Toltec peoples. They believed that the bat was a symbol of rebirth. Would-be healers turned to the bat when they wanted to become shamans." "How?" "They had to die to the material life and be reborn to a spiritual life. It's a common theme in any religion." "I don't see the connection." "Think about it from a physical perspective, and you will. Bats hang upside down in the dark like a child in the womb. The bat emerges from its cave like a child being born. Before modern medicine only the strongest children could survive the birthing process. Someone worthy enough to be a tribal healer had to imagine himself a bat--and emerge reborn, spread his wings, take flight into the sun. Since Central Americans worshiped the sun and since the bat's movements are timed to sunsets and sunrises..." She gestured above to the morning star. "They were a very sacred mysterious symbol of a shaman's power. " " "Tve never heard of that, Jasentha. Not once." "I'm not surprised. In North America all we know about bats comes from vampire movies and Halloween cardboard cutouts." Morgan reflected on her words as he continued to scan the surrounding desert floor and approaching mountains. "So the Apache religion never revered bats." "Nope. Bats were just bats--and then the miners moved in. But the ore that threatened the bats later proved to be their salvation," she said. "You're kidding." "No. In some cases, they were even better off than before. The abandoned mining shafts enlarged their breeding and nursery capacity. So the bats were safe--until a new treasure was found." "In this case, petroglyphs." She nodded. "Suddenly the caves--and the bats--are threatened again. It's much worse this time. Now the miners and treasure-seekers have cars and planes, helicopters, high-tech tools." "I imagine there are real problems' with endangered species that aren't land-based," Morgan said. "Tell me about it. Bats are mobile, so they can't be as easily caught and transplanted. Their migration patterns to the seven major cave systems in North America are etched into their brains. Bats and their specific foods are unique to the areas they've occupied for centuries," Jasentha said urgently. "They aren't prolific breeders, either. Only one or two pups per litter per year." "What about a breeding program?" "Timing's a big problem. Bats mate in the fall, then the females store the sperm during winter hibernation. They don't ovulate until the spring, so it's a delayed fertilization?" Page 68


In The Arms Of The Law "That means if their caves are destroyed," he said, "the bats have to wait another whole year before the process starts again." "Exactly. And it's happening all over this part of the country. Look at California. In the county of Riverside alone, there are more than three hundred old mining shafts listed as dangerous and slated for sealing or destruction. And since it's cheaper to blow the opening shut than to put up barred doors or hire rangers to keep trespassers out, there go more bat habitats." "And more bats, too." Morgan shook his head in dismay. people would have more sense!"

"You'd think

Jasentha wisely refrained from pointing out that Morgan himself had wanted to blow the caves shut. "So we have the bats to worry about--and the glyphs. Caving's become quite trendy. And if that wasn't bad enough, the locations of what were once protected ancient sites are public knowledge, thanks to so many historic and anthropological magazines with their articles and maps. Or even worse, caves are owned by private parties with no protective safeguards in place." A pause.

"Like the Silver Dollar?"

"No way.

Your caves have me."

By now the sun was high in the sky. But the early morning's turquoise had given way to leaden gray and even darker thunderclouds. Already the air was sticky and humid; it was Arizona's monsoon season, when violent summer rains poured from the heavens, enabling the desert to survive the other three seasons without water. Jasentha's blouse was soon soaked, and Shooting Star's silver neck was spotted with dark damp patches. As Jasentha threw her straying single braid back over her shoulder, she glanced up at the thunderheads It was now late morning; usually they didn't mushroom into ripe vicious storm clouds until late afternoon or evening. These looked as if they'd behave normally, but still, it never hurt to allow an extra margin of safety. I don't want to climb if it's raining or be deep inside some cave that's flash flooding. More important she didn't want the less experienced Morgan climbing wet slippery rock. The glyph location she suspected the shards were from was lo ca ted in rocky terrain without a good runoff area, and that posed potential problems. As any old miner knew, water in below-ground caves had no place to go. And neither did any creature unfortunate enough to be caught there. Except, of course, the bats. Even Striker, who'd joined them on the trek, had little protection against flash floods with their violent chain, ball and stick lightning. Avoiding the elements was really the only protection. Too bad emotional storms couldn't be avoided, too, Jasentha thought wryly. She decided to broach an unpleasant topic before the trail narrowed so much that they could no longer ride in tandem. "Morgan, about your talk with my father..." Obviously Morgan knew what she meant and didn't even try to defend his actions. "Your father's worried about you." Page 69


In The Arms Of The Law "You've. made things worse. I asked him to keep Mother out of this. Her coming down here is the last thing we need!" "It wouldn't be so bad. Your father still loves her. probably use a little support."

He could

"Father's not sick, is he?" Jasentha swiveled toward Morgan, concerned, but she could read little in his expression, masked as it was by his Stetson and sunglasses. "No, he's not sick.

But his son's having a tough time."

"His son?" Jasentha's voice rose in shock. what's going on?

"BUt Dustin's... Morgan,

"I'm sorry, Jaz," Morgan said quickly. "I should've said the boy he's fostering.

And wants to adopt.

"

"Adopt?" "You've been ... out of touch with Rogelio, Jaz. on you don't know about."

There's a lot going

Was it her imagination or was there a trace of censure in his words? She didn't bother to hide her anger. "Since you have no problem telling him my business, perhaps you could fill me in on his." "You know your father's always been active with the 4-H Club." Jasentha nodded. Rogelio often assisted young people with their horses, cows and sheep; mostly he worked with horse owners. "There's a nine-year-old boy there named Ben Kodaseet." "He's Nidt?" "His mother was. His parents died a few years ago and he's being raised by his grandmother. I don't think you know her." Morgan was right. Jasentha searched her mind for a Kodaseet family and came up blank. Am I really that out of touch? "Ben has an old pony he rescued from the animal shelter. The original owners abandoned her when she got sick. Due to her age and the vet's poor prognosis, they asked the shelter to bolt her." Jasentha grimaced at the word--a bolt was a miniature projectile killer that fired a single bullet into a horse's brain. It was quick and humane, more humane than trying to put a big animal down with drags. Horses could suffer the pain of. broken legs while falling before any barbiturate could work on their massive weight. But still. "Father helped this boy nurse the pony?" "It was Ben's 4-H project. The pony took a shine to Ben, and Ben really took a shine to Rogelio. They've been spending a lot of time together. grandmother's approval? "

" " With the

Page 70


In The Arms Of The Law "Yes." His voice grew sober. "The grandmother's in her nineties, and she's in poor health at the nursing home. There are no other relatives, Apache or otherwise." " "So Father decided to become this boy's legal guardian?" "Yes--with Mrs. Kodaseet's approval." Jasentha carefully guided Shooting Star past a rocky patch that the older more experienced Gem gingerly stepped around. "What does all this have to do with me?" on track.

she asked once Star was back

Morgan gave her an odd look. "I imagine he wants you to get to know the boy ... become a real sister to him, like you were to Dustin." Or does he want this boy to become a real son to him man who has lost his own "Jaz?

You okay?"

"It's hot," she said, avoiding his question. She made a fuss of adjusting her bandanna. It rested around her forehead and tied in back, the traditional Nit16 protection from the sun. "Too hot to talk." He tipped back his hat with one forefinger to study her. But she wasn't going to enlighten him. Morgan didn't press for any explanation, either, and for that, she was grateful.

They rode the rest of the way in silence.

By the time they reached the entrance to the Silver Dollar Mine both horses and riders were wet, although the mounts hadn't worked up a lather. "Why don't I picket the horses while you open up the mine?" Jasentha suggested, her first words since hearing about her father's plans. "There's some nice shade over there." She gestured toward a rocky overhang with a trio of mesquite trees. The pods from the trees were tasty and good for horses, while the shade would keep them cool. "Sounds good." Morgan dismounted, passed her the reins and slowly headed toward the Silver Dollar Mine. The old entrance, a simple arrangement of boards, had proved too tempting and eventually deadly to Kim. The new entrance was a heavy iron door, custom-made and fitted, as was the tamper-proof lock. A barred opening at the top of the door allowed air to enter and exit. Welt, here we go again, Morgan thought. He was surprised that his fingers didn't tremble as he turned the key and pulled open the door. This was the first time he'd returned to the mine since Kimborly's death, but somehow the old pain no longer stabbed. Somewhere along the way I've started thinking of these caves as Jasentha's home, not Kimberly's killing groun& The iron hinges, offset and cemented into rock, squeaked loudly with the door's movement. Jasentha rejoined him---her pack on her back, Striker at her side. "Shall we leave the door open behind us?" "No.

I don't want anyone following."

she asked.

He made sure Striker was inside, Page 71


In The Arms Of The Law closed and locked the entrance himself, then reached into his pocket for a duplicate key and held it out to her. "Here. I had this spare made up for you, and another for Jamie back at the office. Wyatt, too." "Thanks, Morgan." "It makes sense for both of us to carry a key. it..." "I won't lose it." "Or falls.."

If one of us loses

"Morgan, will you please stop worrying about the caves?" "It's not the caves I worry about, but who might be inside them." Morgan unfastened the leather guard that snapped over the top of his gun. "You know how rough the going is here. asked.

Think that's wise?"

Jasentha

"About as wise as a pushy civilian chasing after an unknown trespasser." Morgan shut off the police radio clipped to his gunbelt. Both knew it would be useless inside the caves and a waste of the batteries. "Ready?" Jasentha pulled out two flashlights and slapped one into his hand. "Now I am." Striker immediately reappeared, and the three of them began their trek into another world. A dark world. Her world. Her steps were almost as quick as Striker's. just as surefooted; he'd traded

Morgan was slower, but

his sheriWs black cowboy boots for treaded hiking boots like hers. Even she preferred boots among the bats. After just a few minutes the light from the entrance was gone. Morgan was the first to turn on his flashlight, but then, his eyes didn't have years of adjusting to the dark. Hers had. It didn't take long, though, before she was forced to turn on her own. Striker stayed close to her side, his eyes picking up her light and refracting it much better than human eyes could, Finally even Striker slowed, and then she stopped. asked.

"Now what?"

Morgan

"Don't laugh," Jasentha cautioned. She shrugged off her backpack and pulled out two sets of infrared goggles. One she handed to Morgan. The other she held out in front of her. "Here, Striker! Come get your glasses." The canine trotted over and stock his head through the head straps she'd specially adapted for his use. "Don't tell me..."

Morgan began.

"I've trained Striker to wear infrared for one who leads me to individual bats who're colony:.I don't lead him. So, goggles are placidly let her adjust the sWaps. "Where "You're wearing them."

our cave work since been separated from safer for us all." are yours?" Morgan

he's the the Striker asked.

"For someone who prefers nature at its simplest, I'm surprised to see Page 72


In The Arms Of The Law you so high-tech. From Cato I expect itmwith her electronic mapping device and all. But you?" Just because I prefer a simple life-style doesn't mean I cut corners on my work. Anyway, Caro doesn't know these caves by memory. I do. And even if I didn't, I couldn't use her equipment---the mapping device uses radar pings, which disturbs the bats" natural behavior. So do flashlights. When I'm observing as an ecologist, I have to be as non intrusive as possible. My goggles are as necessary as ... as Dad's office computer that I use to write my grant requests. Besides," she said with a grin, "Striker looks cute in them." "You asked for two sets of goggles?

And you actually got them?"

Jasentha smiled. "No, silly. I only asked for one set, but the grant society sent me two in case I ever got a partner. Well, Striker's the only volunteer I've found, and I figure he's entitled to use the backup pair. Let me show you how they work." "Fd still rather you wore them," Morgan said, refusing to take the proffered set. "No, I'll be fine. I could almost find my way around in the dark." She turned on the batteries and activated the night vision. "Keep the goggles, okay? You've got the gun. And Striker has the ears and nose. He'll smell Smitty long before we will. Lt. him spot, as well." "Makes sense." Morgan took the set, studied them, then whistled as he looked around with his enhanced vision. "Wow! I wish we'd had these as kids!" "They're great, aren't they? At first I didn't think I'd use them much--they only turn body heat into light. people.

But now I'm spoiled. It's much easier to spot bats. Come on, Striker, this way. "

Or

The dog bounded ahead. Jasentha went to follow, but Morgan's hand on her arm stopped her. "You stick close to me. Like you said, I've got the gog glesmand the gun. Understood?" "Understood." The pair started forward, trailing the dog. For a while they hiked in silence; old mines and caves, no matter how familiar, were no place to lose one's concentration. Even when they stopped for water and a breather, they talked in low soft voices. Sound carried easily in the still air. It would be foolish to let Smitty know they were inside. "Jazw" Morgan's forefinger traced random patterns over the expensive headgear he'd removed prior to drinking "wI've been Wanting to ask this for a long time. How do you support yourself out here?" She shrugged, her shadow making eerie patterns in the dim illumination of. her flashlight. "I told you--the occasional government grant. Plus, payments or donations for my bat workshops ... you know." "No, I don't. Who pays your living expenses?" He flipped his own light back on, "Your food, your clothes, your medical expenses?" She frowned.

"That's kind of personal, isn't it?"

She poured some

Page 73


In The Arms Of The Law water into a nearby depression for Striker. The dog, still clad in the glasses, immediately began to lap it up. "Anyway, I manage. Don't worry about me." "I care about you. And except for your mother's packages--which I know about because they come to the ranch---you probably haven't taken a penny from your parents." Jasentha capped her canteen and restrained herself from saying, "Mind your own business." Morgan shone his flashlight over Jasentha, studying her with a careful eye. His own lips thinned as he gazed at her threadbare jeans. "Flimsy shelter, dangerous cliffs, anhoalthy caves, sick bats---and now an armed trespasser. Not to mention very little money in the bank." "So?" "So what are you trying to do, lasentha?

Kill yourself?."

CHAPTER NINE JASENTHA COULDN'T BELIEVE Morgan's accusation. She, Jasentha Cliffwalker, a reckless fool? "Nide have been happily and successfully living off this desert for centuries! I'm doing the same." "At the cost of your health?" "Trust me, Morgan, I'm as healthy as they come. I do quite well out here with the money I get. Not all of us need big bank accounts to survive." Morgan drew a sharp breath. "Until you're sick. Or injured, with no one to nurse you, to be there for you during tough times," he said angrily. "The Apache people were never town-dwellers. tribes--they lived in small

They never even lived in

"What's that got to do with anything?" he exploded. "You're alone--by your own choice. You don't have a band. For all intents and purposes, you don't even have a family. And you don't need to preach to me about ancestral ways of life. I know damn well how the Apache lived. And I know that the quality they prized most was their close-knit community--their hard and fast bonds with the others in their group. That's how they survived so long, so successfully.

You don't have that.

"

"We've already covered this subject once today, Morgan. end up arguing. I'm tired of it." She rose to her feet.

All we did was

In seconds she and her dog were off.

Nice going, Morga There's your lousy timing again. He was a fool to upset her here, where Silence and stealth were so important. He couldn't even call after her. All he could do was replace his goggles and hurry to catch up. ! wasn't trying to start an argument, Jasentha, Not now and not earlier. But I'm worried about you. Where was her family? Why hadn't they done anything? True, the caves were her work, but where was her home? She was practically sleeping out in the open! It wasn't right. Even the bats slept with their own Page 74


kind.


She could be in serious trouble and no one would know it--except maybe him. Maybe not even him, judging by the way she's pulled back lately. If only she'd move to the ranch. He'd offered to provide her with a cabin and so had Wyatt. But she hadn't accepted. At least I know the reason. She's as proud as any Bodine. ! walked away from the friendship we once shared She'll never be as open with me again. That realization hurt him more than anything had ever hurt him in his life. Even Kim's betrayal, terrible as it had been, hadn't hurt this much. Morgan had never expected much from Kim, but he'd taken for granted that Jasentha, his touchstone, would always be there. Part of his life. Her brush with death had told him otherwise. This was one problem without an easy solution, which was why he'd talked to Rogelio. However, he couldn't allow any of that to distract him right now. He had a job to do. But later--later they'd hash this out. He trusted Jasentha in a way he'd never trusted anyone, not even Wyatt. I thought you felt the same. The stench of the bats became overpowering, but it was nothing compared to the sudden anguish that stopped him in his tracks. He remembered the single kiss he'd shared with her, on his horse. He'd felt no awkwardness, no embarrassment, just a soothing peacefulness, a pleasure. Despite everything that had happened to them both, there was a sense of closeness between them. He didn't think it would ever be extinguished. Could that closeness grow into more? Was it too late to try again? I want back what we had, Jusentha. And not just your fjendship, either. Is it too late for us to break new trails? And horror of horrors, What if it is? Morgan actually tripped. Jasentha slowed with him, once even whispering, "You okay? Do you hear something?" "I'm fine. Keep going." and they went on.

She seemed to accept his answer at face value

After they'd traversed a maze of man-made and natural tunnels and a few more winding corridors, the area opened up wide before them. Striker lagged back, flopping down, goggles and all, in front of a water barrel with an empty bowl beside it; this was obviously a familiar routine. Jasentha poured some water into the bowl, then, left him lapping and moved on with Morgan into the huge cavern. Morgan went first, his hand on his gun, the other on the flashlight, ready to target and blind the enemy. "Don't bother with that gun," Jasentha whispered, her hand on his gun arm. "This cave dead-ends, remember? if Smitty was here, Striker would be attacking." His face fell with disappointment. that lucky."

"Well, we could hardly expect to be

"Maybe we'll do better at the other two sites." "We can't possibly make those today. We need to start earlier. They're far above us," Jasentha said. Page 75


In The Arms Of The Law "But I can give yOU the dime tour since we're here." "Don't you want to check out the site itself?." "It can wait. I'm probably not going to like what I see. But you'll enjoy this. Follow my finger with your goggle vision." Morgan gasped. "Look at them all! I could never make out this many with the naked eye." The infrared vision of his goggles picked up the body heat of hundreds upon hundreds of bats, their eyes closed in sleep, their claws clinging to the rocky vaulted ceiling. He wanted to see them more clearly and started to raise his flashlight. Jasentha's hand immediately covered his wrist. "Don't wake them!" energy!"

she warned, her voice low.

"Just waking up?" Morgan had never heard that. removed her hand from his arm.

"It depletes their "Yes."

Jasentha

"Arizona bats are mostly insect-eaters or nectar-drinkers. They have to eat almost constantly to keep up their energy. It's even worse in the wintertime when they're hibernating. They don't hibernate deeply, and interrupted hibernation means death." "Can't they just go back to sleep?" "Not always. It takes a great deal of energy to rouse from hibernation and to increase the metabolism to waking levels. With no food sources and not enough energy to keep warm in winter temperatures, a bat usually freezes to death. Even if they do return to hibernation, they'll definitely starve in their sleep long before spring." "This isn't winter, Jasentha," Morgan argued. He did lower his flashlight, but his goggles remained trained above. "They still need extra energy since you blocked their exit with that iron door. They have to fly farther and higher--and hover longer--to get in and out of here." " " Hover?

" "

"It's like an airport landing pattern. Bats" wings beat around six times a second. That takes a lot of calories. Smaller cave openings can only be accessed in smaller numbers, and Wyatt closed off their main portal. " "You should have come to me, Jaz.

Why didn't you?"

"I unlock the door at sunset for the bats and lock it again at sunrise against trespassers." "But ... I only just gave you the key." "I, uh, have another." "You have? "It has to be Caro's key. and you have cooked up here?" "You always were quick, Morgan. him. Are you going to?"

"Does Wyatt know what his wife

And no, he doesn't.

We didn't tell

"Not unless he asks. What my brother's wife does with her personal possessions is none of my business." Page 76


There was a moment of silence.


"Do you think Smitty has a key?" "No way.

Jasentha finally asked.

Why?"

"Oh, just curious as to how he entered this place. Because if he didn't have a key... Morgan, I know you've never seen him before---but is there any chance he's a local?" Morgan shook his head. extremely hard to get.

"Not if he has teflon-coated bullets. They're Around Tombstone, I'd say it's impossible."

"I'm glad. That's a scary thought." discovered another cave entrance." Or a local partner.

"We'll find him.

Jasentha shivered. What next?"

"He must have

he asked softly.

"You wanted to see where the petroglyphs are," she said, her voice normal again. "Let's go." Morgan peered through the darkness with his technologically enhanced vision, but as the temperature was constant, he saw nothing. "Um, where am I supposed to look?" "Straight ahead.

Under the guano."

"Are we going to be safe if I have to dig?" Guano was a foul-smelling combination of urine and feces that sometimes required oxygen masks due to its gaseous release. The Silver Dollar Mine and the natural cave system above it was usually ventilated enough to provide breathable air for humans. Morgan wanted to be positive that digging didn't require a mask--not that he wouldn't have welcomed one right about now. The stench was the worst he'd ever smelled. "Yeah, I've been in parts of the caves where it's worse and had no problem." "Too bad they don't relieve themselves outside the caves, instead of in here. This is like walking on glass." Morgan carefully picked his way toward the deeper side of the cave, careful to watch his footing on the slippery surfaces. "Don't fall!"

Jasentha warned.

"Don't worry.

I have no intention of wearing this stuff."

"At least it's biodegradable," she reminded him. make great fertilizer."

"Insect-eating bats

"Give me good old-fashioned cow pies any day." "They aren't as rich in nitrogen.

Even the Ancient Ones used guano."

"They didn't have feed stores and bagged steer manure back then." "But this is free." "Then you haul it out! I swear, Jasentha..." He heard her soft laugh, and realized she was deliberately baiting him. Page 77


In The Arms Of The Law "I do believe you're enjoying this," he said. Almost as much as I'm enjoying you. Morgan watched as she bent over, actually picked up a small amount of guano and rubbed it between her fingers. "Come on, it's not so bad. Bat droppings support unique ecosystems. And the bacteria's useful in waste detoxification, gasohol production and human antibiotics." She gave a brief laugh. "Sorry. Didn't mean to go into lecture mode." "Well, at least the stuff's good for something." "It also hides and protects archaeological treasures. petroglyphs." "So you've said." anything."

Morgan walked slowly ahead.

Like

"I still can't see

"You won't. I never leave them exposed. When I want to see them, I uncover them, then I cover them up again when I'm done. There's a shovel against the wall somewhere. Do you want me to do it?" Morgan exhaled hard, trying to rid his nose of the foulness of guano. A fresh portion fell and splattered perilously close to his boot--most likely evidence of an awakened female nursing a hungry pUp. He sidestepped, then saw a small folding shovel. He refused her offer with easy grace. "I don't mind." Morgan started to dig as quickly as he dared, for the concentration of bats overhead was thick. So was their waste production. "This isn't exactly how I pictured capturing our man--digging out glyphs for Smitty-bait. I thought he'd be doing the digging himself." "It's a dirty job; being a lawman." Morgan groaned at her pun, then threw another shovelful of rank guano over his shoulder. He straightened just in time to catch a fresh brown splash on his watch, it ooz down the face and settled on his wrist. This time Morgan swore. "Such language.

I may have to find a new assistant"

Morgan stopped, leaning on his shovel until it began to slip. He settled for standing carefully in the muck. "Have you ever considered doing that? Joining forces with Someone else, I mean?" "The grant money barely covers my expenses. I don't know anyone passionate enough about the work to do it for free." He noted her honesty about the money, but didn't refer to it. "I'm talking about a spouse to help you out." "Spouse?" Her voice floated to him across the rancid smell of guano. "Right. I mean, look at my job. It isn't pretty." "Neither is Caro's. She works with murder victims and comes home smelling of formaldehyde. Wyatt still married her." "They're both in law enforcement. I don't know anyone except you who'd willingly step foot in these caves. And you certainly couldn't earn a living in them like I do." Page 78


In The Arms Of The Law He scooped more guano out of the way. someone with the same job as yours?"

"Who says you have to marry

"Becausedespite what books and movies tell you--opposites don't attract. Look at my parents. Look at Virgil and his wife. It's important to have the same values, interests, ambitions. The same background. That's one lesson I've learned well." Virgil's marriage to a rising Hollywood star was constantly on-again, off-again. Virgil wasn't a happy man, nor was his young son. The family had been worried about them for some time. But" Morgan was about to protest her blanket statement when his shovel sank deep into a hollow between the wall and the ground. His attention was diverted as he nearly slipped and fell, then recovered. "What the..." "What?" "I found a soft spot here against the wall. remaining guano around the hollOw.

"He shoveled away the

"I'll be right there!" Jasentha left her relatively dry location on the other side of the cavern to hurry over. : "Don't. You're not going to like this, Jaz. The glyphs are gone." And the thief's covered his tracks. Which means he somehow knows this area is frequented Which means he's gota partner from Tomb stone. That thought didn't'make him feel any better. "I want to see for myself." Morgan backed away from the wall as Jasentha joined him. They dropped their goggles to see, the damage done to the rock. The freshly chipped hole on the "wall gaped before her flashlight's filtered beam; the few edges of petroglyphs on the borders were barely recognizable. The rock edges were crude, violently splintered. Jasentha dropped to her knees, ignoring the mucky ground. She traced the vestiges and there wasn't much--of ancient paint. Morgan placed a hand on her shoulder as she continued to survey the ruins. "I'm such an idiot," she said. mine." "Yeah.

Me, too."

"I was really hoping his glyphs weren't

Morgan meant it.

He helped her to her feet.

"What kind of person would do such a" thing? this happen? "

How could something like

"I don't know, Jasentha. Not yet." He wiped away a smudge on her dirty cheek, then on a sudden impulse, drew her against his chest. She didn't resist. He welcomed her body's physical warmth--the air was chill--and delighted in the feel of her hair against his cheeks. Her fragrance filled his nostrils and chased away the smell of bats. Then he felt her arms tighten around his, and the quietness that was always Jasentha changed into something he recognized immediately as passion. There had been hints of it while-they were innocents in high school--but not like this. This was as subtle as a mule kick in the gut. His own body responded instantly, but his brain threw up Page 79


In The Arms Of The Law arguments. Even as she pressed closer to him, as her lips met his, he thought, Not now, Jasentha. Of all the rotten timing, not now. We can't. He put her away from him as gently as his passion, frustration and longing allowed. "Come on. Let's get your dog and go home." The hike back didn't take as long as the hike in. Not only was the trail somewhat familiar to Morgan now, but the prospect of fresh evening air urged them both toward the exit. They reached the outer door. Morgan removed his key, unlocked it and the three were out in the open, the Silver Dollar Mine behind them. He removed his soiled sheriff's hat and set it down on a nearby rock. He saw her frowning. "Guess I'll need a new one," he said casually. "And a clean uniform." "Is that all you can talk about after I kissed you? and uniform?"

Your stupid hat

"Jasentha, what do you want from me? The glyphs are destroyed. You'll never get to see them again. I really didn't think you were in the mood for a make-out session!" "I was in the mood for a little comfort!" "That was more than a " little comfort," lady. wasn't." "It wasn't!"

Jasentha flushed.

Don't pretend it

"At least ... not at first."

"We have better things to do than neck in caves like teenagers." "You used to like doing that!" Morgan groaned; his usual insight was failing him miserably Where was her strange mood coming from? What had triggered better question--what had triggered her passion back in the had no answers. His only hope was to stick to business and out later.

right now. it? A cave? He sort things

"I don't have time to play around, Jasentha. I know Smitty's a trespasser and antiquities thief. But anyone who carries a gun with a silencer and teflon-coated bullets has either killed before--or plans to. Right now I have to focus on this case---and the remaining glyphs. hope the others are still intact.

I

Maybe I'll get a chance to see thefts" She flinched at his words. "Did you ever take any photos, Jaz?" No reply.

Morgan felt a sinking feeling.

"But you have a camera!"

"I didn't use them on the glyphs." "Why not?" His words sounded harsher than he'd meant them to. always use it for the bats!" "I know.

"You

But my prints are developed locally, and on slow days the Page 80


In The Arms Of The Law techs get bored. They Snoop through the photoswI've seen them do itwso I never trusted..." Her voice trailed off. "You never trusted anyone, Jaz. Not even me. Not about this." He didn't conceal his anger. "Those glyphs and their cultural and historic value are gone forever! It's such a waste!" It's not even your land, he thought, although now was not the time to throw that in her face. "All because you had to keep your little secret to yourself!" "Why not? "Huh?"

You keep yOUrs!"

His mind reeled.

"Don't act the innocent, Sheriff. because of that uniform you wear. didn't have the guts to admit it. life, just tell me!" "Who do you think I am?

You didn't back away from my kiss You had some other reason! But you If there's another woman in your

The local loth ado There's no one."

"Then why wouldn't you kiss me back?" "Because it wasn't the time or the place." seconds. "Because Smitty has a partner." "Partner?

He paused for a few

I don't see"

"Don't you? Smitty's no local. I didn't recognize him. You didn't recognize him. But he stole a set of buried glyphs, Jaz. Someone from Tombstone has to be helping him!" Her eyes narrowed. "You can't possibly think I'm his partner? because I know my way around these rocks doesn't mean re

Just

He held up his hand. "I didn't say you, Jasentha. I would never suspect you. But there are two other people at home in those caves. I'm one. You know the second." He saw her face blanch, felt her shock. as dark and hollow as the cave itself.

When she spoke, her voice was

"My father..." CHAPTER TEN "MY FATHER.9 The partner of an antiquities thief?." Back at the ranch, Morgan could still hear Jasen-that's words, still see her shock. Rogelio Cliffwalker? No way, no how. Morgan reached for the bath sponge and sluiced more soapy water over his shoulders as he remembered the ride back. The dark thunderclouds added a pail to the tense silence. A silence broken only by the horses" hooves against stony trails and Striker's audible panting. Now he sat in a tub of hot soapy water, trying to sort everything out. It would be easier if he wasn't being bombarded by questions from his brother. "I don't believe for a minute that Rogelio's involved," Wyatt said. Page 81


In The Arms Of The Law "Neither do I, but I still have to check it out. Not looking forward to that. Who else could it be?" "You'd better find out." You needn't state the obvious, Wyatt. Morgan shook wet hair out of his eyes to watch his brother in front of the mirror. "Can't you shave in the other bathroom?" he asked irritably. "Jasentha's still in the shower." "Don't remind me." Morgan reached for the shampoo and dumped a glob onto his head. "A man needs his privacy," he grumbled. "Why don't you shave in the morning like norm ai folk?" "Because this man's lady doesn't like stubbly kisses." Wyatt peered in the mirror, added a little more lather and scraped at a spot he'd missed on his chin. "If you ever need the subtleties of married life explained, you know who to ask." "Even if I did--which I don't--I Wouldn't." Morgan's voice softened. "I can see how happy you and Caro are." Everyone knew that Caro Hartlan had brought out the best in Wyatt. "Too bad you haven't been as lucky." "Or Jasentha, either. I worry about that woman. At least I have a brother within shouting distance. She doesn't really have anyone--let ai one a good home, proper medic ai coverage or bucks in the bank." "Mmm-hmm." Morgan missed Wyatt's sharp gaze. Wyatt finished, rinsed his face, patted it dry, then slapped on some aftershave as Morgan lathered his hair. "Vultures at a feast smell better than you," Wyatt remarked. "Following the fair sex into guano must mean you're hot on a wail. do you plan to catch first? The villain or the lady?

Who

Morgan threw his bath sponge at Wyatt, who ducked with the quick Beeline reflexes. "Smart money says you should go for both." Wyatt combed his own wet hair. "I never mix work and women," Morgan responded stiffly. "Neither did I--until I met Care. First time I ever broke that rule. Glad I did." Wyatt studied his appearance one last time something he'd never bothered to do until he'd married--then "reached for the clean shirt hanging from the hook on the door. He pulled it on and started buttoning it. When he spoke again, his tone was deep with the emotion that only family ever heard. "You tell me if you need help, Morg--with this case, with Jasentha--and I'll come running." Morgan's heart warmed. Love of the land, its creatures and family--especially family--were a way of life on the SilVer Dollar. "If I do, Wyatt, I'll let you know." Wyatt stared in the minor again, adjusting his collar. "Damn right you will. I nearly lost you Don't care to repeat that. You need help, you so." There was an awkward silence between two who were more comfortable showing their talking about it. Page 82


In The Arms Of The Law Morgan consciously moved away from the moment emotion. "Heaven forbid I should ever your help. I'd grow old waiting for you to walk from that mirror," he drawled. "Ever since you married, you live in front it. Afraid your wife shop around for a prettier face?" "Not a chance." Wyatt bent over, scooped up bath sponge and tossed it back in the tub. "See and Jasentha at dinner?" "We might be late. We have things to discuss. father and those petroglyphs. Wyatt grinned, "TII bet. etchings?"

Starting with her

In front of the fireplace, a sunset or your

Morgan started to rise, fists clenched. "You son of a'He stopped. Wyatt was teasing and he'd fallen for it. Wyatt studied himself one last time. "Sit your scruffy bee-hind back down, Morg. I'm leaving. I've got someone waiting downstairs. And the sight of me will put a smile on her beautiful face." Morgan snorted. "Pregnancy must have affected Caro's eyesight, as well as her dress size." "Hey, Morg?" Wyatt picked up his wet towel from the sink and flipped it over the towel bar. "What?" Wyatt opened the bathroom door, then paused and gave his parting shot. "There's guano in your ear." Morgan checked---and his next words didn't bear repeating. Wyatt closed the bathroom door.

Laughing,

A half hour and a third sluicing later, Morgan himself stood in front of the mirror, certain that his appearance was both presentable and hygienic. He left his evening stubble as it was. Wyatt does things his way--I do them mine. Besides, it wasn't as if he had a wife to kiss in bed at night. Though if he did. For the first time in years, his fantasy woman didn't have creamy white skin and red hair. In fact, the thought of Kimberly wasn't tragic, sad or abborrentwjust outdated. Outgrown. Kimberly Ellis belonged to a younger man, a Morgan who hadn't paid for his love by being hog-tied, shoved down a precipice and left to die in the desert sun. That Morgan was gone, tempered in ways few could ever understand. If it wasn't for Wyatt, Caro, Jasentha--and his own iron determination to survive--he'd be dead right now. Wyatt had found him, but Jasentha had been the one to figure out where he Was. Jasentha We've always been together--been through so much together. Maybe we can be together as lovers. and Caro.

As husband and wife.

He refused to go any further in his mind. until he knew how Jasentha felt.

like Wyatt

He couldn't, not yet.

Not

Page 83


In The Arms Of The Law Morgan picked up Wyatt's hairbrush, ran it under the tap and slicked back his hair one last time. Suddenly aware of what he was doing, he stopped. He started to set down the brush, but then carefully finished with his hair, took a final glance at himself in the mirror and headed outside for the courtyard. And Jasentha. THE HiNT OF AN EVENING breeze blessed the desert; the cool evening wind carried the tantalizing scent of distant rain and Mexican lime trees. Above the Dragoon and Huachuca Mountains the thunderheads had mushroomed high and purple, already releasing their rain just beyond the front range. Flashes of lightning could be seen in the growling twilight. However, the Spanish-style courtyard, an oasis of green and shade, old wooden benches and even older adobe bricks, whispered a cool dry haven. The European trees with rustling leaves and the yellow-orange and green-fruited citrus trees gave shelter and comfort on scorching afternoons and rainy nights alike. He could see Jasentha, sitting on a bench with Striker at her feet. Could hear her. She was speaking, her voice more soothing than the faint splash of water from the blue-and-white-filed Spanish fount airt---his father's extravagant gift to his mother on their wedding day so many years ago. For a startling moment Morgan felt a surge of longing that took him by surprise. He tried to shake off the feeling as he waited for Jasentha to finish her conversation. She was with Ben, the small boy Ro-gel io planned to adopt. She's brave, I'll give her that. I didn't think she'd go to Ben so soon. Children do take to her. Dustin always did There Was never any sibling rivalry between the two. Morgan hung back, as much to give them privacy as to get his emotions under control--emotions as foreign to him as limes to the desert. The effort was wasted, for the breeze blew her voice to him. His impatience at finding her occupied built into a fierce possessive urge. It was a strange feeling, a compelling drive Morgan had never experienced this strongly, this completely before. Not even with Kimberly. "I'm about ready to let this little guy go," she was saying to Ben. "His wing's all healed. But first I wanted you to meet him." Morgan found himself watching the black head bend over the blond one, gloved hands cradling the injured bat. "No, don't touch him, Ben." Morgan saw the boy's hands jerk back, heard the small voice ask, "Will I get my blood sucked?" "Heavens, no," Jasentha lifted the bat for Ben to see. "I thought all bats were vampires." "Heavens, no" she repeated.

"Two-thirds of them eat bugs." Page 84


In The Arms Of The Law "And the rest eat blood, right?" Ben pressed on with yOUth's ghoulish fascination. Jasentha tousled the boy'S hair with a free hand. "No, silly. You've been watching too many cartoons. Almost all the rest are fruit bats and nectar eaters, They help Our desert by POllinating more than a hundred species of agave plants and cacti," "i thought the birds did that." "Only a few, like hummingbirds and owls. Most birds Can't sUrVive in the desert heat. But bats can." "BeCause they fly at night?" "Yes, and because they don't have feathers.

Look at these wings."

Jasentha gently stretched out one wing, showing the almost elastic membranes. "they're nice and thin, and they cool easily, Of course bats fly differently than birds, but they're just as effective." "But what about the vampire bats?" Ben asked with single-minded determination. "I know they're real." "Yes, but they're a very small minority. There are only three species of vampires, and they all live in Latin America." Morgan watched the woman and child draw closer together. The little brown bat settled in Jasentha's hands, secure despite the boy's presence. "But vampire bats can still kill you, right?" drain you dry!"

Ben insisted.

"They can

Jasentha smiled. "Maybe in Halloween monster movies. Or scary campfire stories. In real life, vampires take a minute amount of blood from animals mainly cattle. The only way a bat can kill you is if it's carrying rabies, and that's rare. Bats are really quite gentle, quite intelligent and very beneficial. The desert would die without them." "I kinda hoped to see a vampire." disappointment.

Morgan smiled at Ben's

"Maybe you will someday," Jasentha said. "If you ever have one. will you show me?" "Sure." She nodded and her hair rippled with the gesture. Morgan. saw that, for once, her hair was unbound. Its heavy black length. damp from her shower, floated in the strong evening wind. Her hands full, she couldn't correct the situation. Fascinated, Morgan found himself moving closer to see her. "So all the other bats are good and only vampires are bad?" after a moment, his eyes on the little broWn.

Ben asked

"Tell you a secret. Vampire bats are good, too. They have an anti-coagulant in their saliva. It's very special." "Special?"

The boy's skepticism carried loud and clear.

"Doctors want to use it as a treatment for heart patients to prevent blood clots from forming in their veins and arteries during surgery." "Bat spit for medicine?" Jasentha tousled the boy's hair again. "Enough questions for now. wing's all healed and the sun's almost down. It's time to let him

His

Page 85


free."


Ben immediately jumped to his feet, then scrambled to stand on the bench for a better view. Jasentha stood and stepped onto the bench beside him. She carefully checked the band she'd placed on the bat. Ben. Just watch."

"Don't move,

Ben stood motionless, staring. MOrgan stared, too, as Jasentha slowly lifted her hand. The bat hung from her finger as its wide dark eyes---brilliantly crafted to absorb the least amount of light--explored its surroundings. They all watched as the bat opened its sending out inaudibly pitched sounds and ones--ticklauts, the faint but clear component of sonar--to map out its flight plan. Suddenly the bat spread one wing, uckex and dropped--making a falling roll to right itself. As soon as it was right side up, it reopened the tucked wing and was airborne. The transparent membrane of the wings stretched wide for maximum speed; bones in the wings curved for maximum lift. In onds the bat was high above the trees of the yard. A few seconds more and it was gone. "Time for you to go now, too." "Aw, Jasentha..." "Father doesn't like to be kept waiting," Jasentha said quietly, giving the boy a friendly touch on the shoulder. "Good night, Ben. Tell him I'm sorry I missed him earlier." "Wait till he hears about this!" Ben dashed away, disappearing into the house with a speed matching the bat's. Only then did Morgan emerge. Striker trotted to his side and accompanied him to the bench where Jasentha sat, removing her gloves. "You've been there a long time, Morgan. she said.

You should have joined us,"

"I didn't want to intrude." "Don't be silly." Her smile suddenly made Morgan wish he'd followed his brother's advice and shaved, after all. "Come sit down." Morgan sat with her in the failing light, enjoying the coolness and the scents of the windy night. "He's a great kid," Jasentha said after a while. "Too quiet, though. It was bad enough when his parents drowned a few year ago. Boating and no life jackets." Morgan's expression was grim; in summer, locals loved to escape to Southern Arizona's few lakes "and rivers. Drownings were all too common. " And soon he'll be losing his grandmother, too. " "I understand she's old--in her nineties, isn't it?" "Yes. Ben's hoping that when Rogelio's guard Janship is approved, She'll rest a little easier." "I'm sure she will." "Speaking of your father ... should I talk to him about the glyphs or Page 86


would you rather do it?"


"I will. But I couldn't track him down earlier. I don't know if it was deliberate on his part or not. Morgan, Father would never be a partner to theft." "Not deliberate, I'm sure. But he could have let something slip, and that's what we need to find out." Jasentha sighed. him right now."

"He's probably getting Ben's dinner.

I'll go talk to

"Tomorrow morning's soon enough. It's too late to make any difference today. I do have to go into the office early, so why don't you talk to Rogelio and meet me there later? You can catch a ride with Wyatt and Caro. They're off to the doctor's again. they be leaving? "

" " What time will

"Around ten. That's plenty of time for us both." "When are we going back out to the mine?" "Tomorrow. I had Jamie post a guard on the side entrance near the place we first spotted Smitty. And one in front of the locked main entrance. If Smitty is in the caves, he's not going anywhere tonight." "We hope." Morgan rested his hands on his knees as they watched the storm over the distant mountains in a companionable silence. "So ... how do you feel about having a brother again?" "I don't know. Strange. He seems to like me, so I guess that's a start. Let's hope I do better this time around." Morgan was surprised at the remorse, the naked pain, in her voice. "Are you still beating with that old stick? Jaz, when are you going to outgrow that nonsense?" "I have.

It's just ... after Dustin, this isn't going to be easy."

"Roping a horse isn't easy, either, unless you practice. one mistake drive you away altogether."

You can't let

"Morgan, this is getting real old, real fast." Ja-sent ha flung herself off the bench, can sing Striker to scurry away from his spot in the open for the safety of the bench. "I'm going in." In a flash Morgan moved to intercept her: His body blocked her way, and they stood chest to chest. "You've pushed everyone else out of your life, Ja-sent ha I knew you'd get around to me sooner or later. Only, guess what? I refused to be pushed." "Why won't you let this be?" "Because I owe you. find me."

When Kimberly left me for dead, you helped Wyatt

"That was nothing." "That was everything, Jasentha, everything.t I would have died without you!

"

"You don't know that re "I know death when I see it. I saw it then in myself. different way I see it now in you."

And in a

Page 87


In The Arms Of The Law "You can't compare our situations. "You're right, they're not.

They aren't the same!"

Only my flesh was dying.

Not my soul."

"Spare me the psychobabble, Morgan. I've heard enough!" She pivoted on the ball of her foot to leave, but Morgan caught her arm and whirled her back to face him. "This is your local sheriff talking. Jasentha Cliff walker, I consider you another case to solve. First I'll find Smitty, then the glyphs, then I'll find out what you're really hiding from. I want to know what drove you into the darkness. You claim it isn't Dustin. You say it's your parents" divOrCe. I think there's more. I won't stop until I find out. " " You have no right! " " So there/s more. " " Shut up! Just shut up! " "I won't quit until I find out. She didn't hear him.

On that you have my word."

She was gone.

Morgan heard her anger, which his instincts told him wasn't anger at all. It was desperation. Panic. Fear. He had never before known Jasentha Cliff walker to fear anything or anyone. Certainly not me. But she was afraid now. Morgan sat slowly down on the bench, his chest aching, his throat tight. He reached between his knees to scratch Stdker's ears. "Better go after her, Striker," Morgan Suggested. "I figure she needs a friendly face right about now, and she sure as shooting doesn't want to see mine." Striker merely remained hunched under the bench and whined. tried to wave him on.

Morgan

"Go, Striker. I've done all I can for now, But the dog lowered his head to his paws, his tail around his body and flattened his ears. Obviously he wasn't going anywhere. With a rueful press ion Morgan fondled the big black ears. "I always knew you were a smart mutt."

stone's sheriff sighed.

CHAPTER ELb';"VEN T}m MIDMORNING sun was already hot and the night coolness long gone when Jasentha made her way to the stables, where her father's office was. She'd risen late and so had missed breakfast and missed seeing Morgan, even seeing Striker, who was probably in the barn again, sleeping off his meal. A restless night hadn't only made rising difficult, it had left her with a quiet house; Wyatt, who had been up all night with a difficult foaling, and Cam had both slept in. Tracking down her father would be difficult. Ro-gel io schedule was full, for the Silver Dollar had more than three hundred head of Arabians at any given time, and his job as master-of-horse required long hours both in the pastures and in his office. Ja-sent ha who didn't wear a watch, had to go by the clock radio in the guest bedroom. When she left her room, it was already close to nine-thirty. She might just catch Rogelio in his office if she hurried. That would give her Page 88


In The Arms Of The Law half an hour before Cato and Wyatt left. She could use a ranch vehicle, but she so rarely drove, the process felt almost foreign. Besides, she truly enjoyed Caro's company. But there was no point in going to the sheriffs office without the information she knew Morgan was waiting for. Who was Sraitty's partner?

Did Rogelio have an explanation ?

Jasentha broke into a run that sent some of the horses along the adjacent pasture scattering. But for once she didn't have the time to stop and admire them. She was late, late, late. This keeping a timetable sure isn't for me. As it was, she caught her father leaving his office next to the main broodmare barn. She also saw Striker emerge from the barn at the sound of her running footsteps. "Father, Wait!" Rogelio glanced at his watch and shook his head, continuing his determined pace. "I don't have time, Jasentha," he said in English as he kept walking; "You always used to have time for your daughter," she replied in Apache. "But that was before you started wearing the white man's watch. Rogelio stopped abruptly and faced her. in their own language, too. "I had time when held your elders in esteem. When you did not dishonor yourself with disrespect. Or to put it in my employer's tongue" --- Rogelio switched to English "---cheap shot, Jaz." Jasentha flushed with embarrassment and spoke in Apache again, as a courtesy to him. "I apologize, Father. My manners are lacking." "So I see. Morgan told me last night that he informed you about Ben and my wish to make son. Too bad you had to hear it from someone other than me, and after all these months, as well." Jasentha's flush deepened. "You. know I only make a few supply runs into town. I visit if I have time." "Usually you don't! It's out for supplies and back to the caves. You care more about dropping off old film and buying fresh than keeping ties with family. It is unwise for you to continue as you are. Morgan agrees." "What did he do?

Repeat our conversation word for word?"

"He is worded about you. He also respects family. That was why he came to me. Perhaps it is time you moved back onto the ranch. The Bodines do not object, nor do I." She switched to English. "First of all, neither you nor Morgan. had any business discussing this behind my back. Second, this is a temporary arrangement. I have no intention staying here. I don't need walls and wristwatches. That should make the traditionalists Page 89


happy--even you.,"


Rogelio's eyebrows scrunched together. "For you to play our heritage against the Bodines" heritage is the most disturbing thing of all! The desert belongs to those who can survive in it, Jasentha, no matter what their heritage! " "Which I do.

I live off the land."

"You live off government grants and your mother's clothing gifts! even if you did live off the land, so what? What does that mean without family? Nothing! alone? "

How do you think the Nide survived?

And

By hiding in caves all

Jasentha blinked at the onslaught. Her father was usually the most tranquil of people---it was why he -was so good with horses. Yet now he was raising his voice in both languages. "No, Daughter, we did not! We survived by staying together. It is the natural way. The right way. The only way! What do the Navajo, the Mescalero, all of us, call ourselves? The People! People, plural. Look around you, Daughter!" Rogelio took his daughter's arm and pulled her over to the pasture fence. "See how the horses group themselves into herds? See how the vaqueros group themselves to talk? The bats--the creatures you so adore--group themselves into great colonies! Even your mother, although she left me, has her friends and colleagues in the medical professions. And the Bodine brothers, they bond together always. Unlike you, they value their blood kin!" "Father, please" "Yet youmyou, my Only living child--continue to stand alone. I see no Nide, no people around you, Jasentha. All I see is aloneness. My only hope is that someone, someday, can help you find your true path. Because not only have I failed your mother and your brother, I have also failed you." To Jasentha's horror she saw tears fling down her father's face. He had cried only twice in his life---when Dustin died and when her mother left. She reached out to him, but her hand on his shoulder, her tentative gesture of affection, only made him move away. "I have. work to do," he announced gruffly. else you wish of me, please say so now. " "

"If there is anything

"Father" "Now, Daughter." Jasentha took a shaky breath. happened to the petroglyph sT

"Very well.

Did Morgan tell you what

"Yes. I will tell you the same thing I told our sheriff. I would not waste my mouth's water on the earth for this Smitty. I would never associate with such a dishonorable man. I would tell that criminal nothing about the ancient Writings. For you to even hint such a thing... " No One's accusing you of wrongdoing! " Jasen-that clenched one hand in exasperation. " But Smitty's obviously working with Page 90


someone local. "

In The Arms Of The Law Morgan thinks you could help him discover who that is.

"That person is not me.

Nor do I know who it could be."

A sudden idea flashed in Jasentha's mind. She remembered the long-ago times when she and her father went to the caves. "Did you show Ben the petroglyphs?" she asked, barely concealing her excitement. "Not yet, although I do intend to show him at a later safer time." Rogelio's tone was defensive. "He is family, even if you do not wish to acknowledge it." "Well, he's new family." "

Jasentha deliberately

skipped over that loaded topic.

Maybe he talked about it to others.

"Ben lives with me now, Daughter. You think I would allow a young child of mine to associate with a thief?. To leave the safety of this ranch without me?" "I didn't say he talked to Smitty! I was going to suggest other kids in town. Perhaps they talked to Smitty." It was too late. Back stiff, an insulted Rogelio was ready to leave. "Excuse me, Daughter. I have others waiting for me. As do you." At her father's pointing gesture, Jasentha heard, then saw Wyatt and Caro's truck approaching the house. "Can we talk later?" she asked frantically, her tone so disturbed that Striker rose and hurried to her side. "I would prefer you question Ben yourself, since you have no trust in me. Trust, like a river, must have two sides to exist." "Father..."

Jasentha was near tears.

"Your ride is waiting." With those parting words Rogelio stalked off. He was already halfway across the pasture to the waiting group of ranch hands when Wyatt drove up. "Ready to go, Jasentha?" She nodded, heading for the truck bed, instead of the cab. her head out the window.

Care poked

'"Is everything all right?" she asked as Jasentha hopped into the truck beneath the welcoming shade of the cab. "You can squeeze up front with us." "That's okay. " "You sure?"

You need" the room.

I'll ride back here with Striker.

Caro persisted.

"Yes. He's not used to being driven. back."

I don't want him jumping out the

"Okay." Caro pulled her head back inside and signaled to Wyatt. Within seconds the truck was heading toward Tombstone. Jasentha watched her father's bowed figure grow even smaller in the distance. Page 91


In The Arms Of The Law My life isn't all that terrible, Father. But she. herself.

It isn't/

wasn't sure who she was trying to convince.

Her father---or

"ABotrr TIME, Sheriff," Catfish said, his mustache twitching with disgust as he checked his old pocket watch. "Late for sure. Wyatt always came in early." "Tin not Wyatt," Morgan replied calmly. "Dam tootin'.

You're out of uniform, too."

Catfish grumbled.

"So I am." Morgan hung his own Stetson, instead of the ruined uniform hat, on the rack and greeted the three other deputies, including Jamie, who formed the morning shift. "Morning, boys." They returned Morgan's greeting as he headed past them toward Marta, Catfish at his heels. "Catfish, don't you have anything better to do than hang around pretty ladies?" "Nary a thing." "Then find a seat and sit on it. Good morning, Miz Marta."

You're buzzing like a fly around pie.

Morgan directed an easy smile to his day-shift dispatch her and the object of Catfish's buzzing. "Shall I phone in an order for a new hat, Sheriff?." assume your previous one needs replacement."

Marta asked.

"I

"Always did like smart women." Morgan gave her a flirtatious wink, knowing Marta would realize he was teasing Catfish. She giggled, a deep sultry sound that was nothing like a young girl's. As Morgan expected, Catfish scowled. "Wyatt never flirted with the ladies, either." He pulled up a chair next to Marta's desk, deliberately blocking Morgan's view of her. "Wyatt has his own lady. I'm still shopping around," Morgan replied. "It's not my fault he hired such a beauty. I'm not blind, Catfish." "She's too old for you!" "On the contrary, you're too old for her," Jamie threw in. Catfish swore, Marta smugly patted a strand of silver hair into place, and the other deputies openly sniggered as MOrgan settled into his chair and picked up the night shift's report. There wasn't much of interest And nothing on our missing mar "Quiet night, I see" he said. take off?. Marta?"

"Anything else I: should know before I

"I got the word back on our gun trace ri you walked in, Sheriff." "And?" "Nothing." Damnation! "" Jamie? " "Nothing major here either, boss.

We've got things under control."

"Under control?" The whole atmosphere in the room changed as he rose to his feet, every eye on him. "I have a man running loose--a man who Page 92


In The Arms Of The Law owns a gun with a silencer and teflon-coated bullets. don't consider that having things under control. Wrong choice of words. "

I

" " Sorry, boss.

"Did you notify every supply store in this town that we have a dangerous man on the loose like I asked?" Morgan asked. "I, uh ... not yet. as they could."

They aren't all open.

The night shift did as many

"Then I suggest you get on it. Anyone you can't contact at work in the next fifteen minutes gets called at home. Marta, try the Mexican police for a trace on that gun. I know it's a long shot, but do it, anyway. Also, I left a message for you to get a flyer of this guy's description so the men can distribute it to all the..." Marta lifted the top copy off a stack of already completed flyers. Morgan nodded. The woman's always on the ball. "I know it's not the weekend, but we still get tourists during the week. Make sure you keep up the street patrols, Jamie: Mobilize our part-timers to full-time on all three shifts until we've found Smitty. Catfish, you're with me. I need every extra man I can get." "Well, why didn't ya say so? I'll be outside await-in'." miner grabbed his hat from the rack

The old

and moved with a speed others---except the Bo-dineswhad rarely seen. Morgan continued, "Contact me immediately if you even think you have a lead on this man. I'll have my radio and cell phone. If you can't reach me, get Wyatt. I don't want this man anywhere near the town. He's trouble, and he might have rearmed or had a backup iece." "Where are you headed?"

Jamie asked.

"To find Jasentha." She should have been here by now. back with you all later."

"I'll check

Suddenly the office was a flurry of activity, except for Marta, who moved at her usual steady unhurried pace. "I made you some coffee," she announced, pointing to a large sealed thermos near the coffee machine. "I know you said you can make your own, but I figured you'd need it today. It's got your extra sugar and dash of milk, too." "Marta, you treasure!" Morgan made a bee-line for the coffee. As long as he was there, he looked in the doughnut box. What he saw made his mouth water. "Smitty's flyers all done and bear claws to Morgan clapped on his civilian Stetson, grabbed one of his favorite past des--the huge apple fritters shaped like a bear's claWs--and hooked a finger through the handle on the thermos. " Remind me give you a raise," he said, taking a bite of the fritter before heading out the door. He stopped to his steps and grab a second for Catfish, just in time to see Marta place a memo on his desk. "Did I forget something?"

he asked.

Marta shook her head, held up a sheet scrawled with bold red letters Page 93


saying, "Give Marta a raise."


"I'd better watch out for her, boys. She'll ply me with food and have my job yet." Morgan gave Jamie a parting nod as he left. Then he locked his rifle in the Jeep, double-checked his Colt, gave Catfish a spare and was on the road. Tt-m Tm pounds ADULTS and Striker stood in the middle of the road, halfway between the ranch house and the main exit from the Silver Dollar ranch. "You worthless piece of junk!

How did three damn bolts"

"Wyatt, calm down." Caro's soothing voice had no effect on her husband. Wyatt wiped the sweat off his brow and struggled again with the rusted-on bolts that refused to release the flat truck tire. "We're going to miss your appointment if I can't get these off." "And Jasentha will miss Morgan--yes, I know," Caw said calmly. "Maybe if you hold the tire iron over the bolt and I stand on it, we can loosen the nuts," Jasentha offered. Flats were common in the desert, and all Silver Dollar vehicles were equipped with spares. But they couldn't use the spare if they couldn't get the flat off first. "Your shoulder strength and my weight should do the trick." "And maybe the whole truck will fall off the jack and onto both of you! It's too sandy underneath, Ja sent ha so don't even think it! get away from the truck," Caro ordered.

Wyatt,

Wyatt did, but only after performing the totally useless male ritual of kicking the tire in frustration. Caro sighed. "Well, that'll help." She wiped her perspiring forehead. "Maybe we should just start walking back to the ranch." "Oh, no, you don't!" Wyatt retorted, reaching through the open window of the cab for the car phone. "It's too hot. I'll call someone to come out with a compressor and pneumatic wrench." "By the time they get here we'll have missed the appointment," Caro said. "Do you want to go back home and reschedule?"

Wyatt asked.

"I'd rather make this appointment. I hate to miss, and my doctor usually runs late, anyway." Cato rubbed her belly. "Wyatt, can't you think of something else?" "I have a solution," Jasentha said. Normally Wyatt was calm and controlled, but Caro's rocky pregnancy had taxed his habitual calmness. "How about if we lower the truck, get rid of the jack and then I stand on the tire iron while you hold it in place?" she suggested. "No jack?" "No. With my weight, we can safely loosen the bolts, jack up the truck again, then change the You should still be able to make it in time." Wyatt gazed from the flat tire to Jasentha, Page 94


In The Arms Of The Law at her side.

"That just might work.

I think of that?

Now why

"

"Because you're a nervous wreck," Caro said. Ain't that the truth, Jasentha thought. It's a good thing you quit sheriff-ing until Caro has the baby. Your mind's on her and her alone. With a pang of longing for a relationship like that, Jasentha passed her canteen to Caro. She didn't take it because just then she noticed the dust down the road. "Thank goodness! Here comes the cavalry. I think that's Morgan." Jasentha sighed with relief. It was hot, and Wyatt was getting even hotter under the collar. When the Jeep stopped, Morgan and Catfish hopped out. "No wonder you didn't show up at the office," Morgan said to Jasentha. "Any news from your father about Ben?" "Nothing we can use," Jasentha replied. Sorry. " " So am I. That gun trace came up negative. If we're dealing with a gun brought into this country illegally, we may never get a trace. Marta's trying the Mexican police, but their computers are nothing like ours. I'm afraid that's probably a dead end. " Morgan turned his attention to his brother. " You know, Wyatt, you're going to miss Caro's appointment" if you don't hurry." "Tell me something I don't know! Are you two guys going to help or not?" Wyatt demanded. "I've got a pregnant wife standing out in the sun." "Tm fine," Caro said, looking frazzled, but not as frazzled as Wyatt. "I think maybe you're the one who needs a doc, Wyatt," was Catfish's dry comment. "And I don't aim to help if I ain't asked purty." Morgan ignored Wyatt's muttered curse, rolled up his sleeves and bent over to help his brother. Between them, they managed to remove the flat; the spare was soon in place. "Wyatt, why don't you throw the flat in my Jeep? I'll get it fixed for you later," Morgan suggested as Wyatt lowered the truck to the ground and returned the jack to the truck bed. "Fine, fine.

Come on, Caro, let's go."

"Wait!" Catfish said. "Wyatt, you oughtta stay. found our crook. Maybe he needs your help."

Morgan here hasn't

There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone stared at Catfish. Even Wyatt appeared to take the suggestion seriously. It was Jasentha who spoke first. "Morgan knows what he's doing." "Yeah, but maybe he could use my help," Wyatt said. "If I need help, Wyatt, I'll ask for it," Morgan said quietly. now I'm not asking." "Two heads are better than one," Wyatt insisted. Jasentha could go with you."

"Right

"Cato, do you mind?

Page 95


In The Arms Of The Law Jasentha was already shaking her head. "I was hired to help track this man. Sorry." Her refusal was polite but firm as she moved to Morgan's side. "Morgan's in charge here, Wyatt. I take orders from him." Wyatt swung his attention to Catfish. "Don't you be ogling me!" Catfish blurted. "Tin needed here, right, Morg? Not that you'd ever catch me anyplace where private fee-male parts are being exposed! Just thinking about it gives me the willies." The old bachelor, who'd experienced one rattlesnake bite, two scorpion stings and more than a few dangerous cave-ins in his mining days, actually shivered. "Wyatt, Morgan says things are under control." Caro glanced at her watch. "TII be late as it is if we don't leave now." "Whatever you say, Cam." Wyatt brushed what dirt he could off his jeans. "No offense meant, Morg." "None taken.

Drive carefully."

"Maybe you should try to draw a picture of that man," Wyatt suggested. "You're right fair with a pencil." Caro's eyes flashed a warning. "Let your brother do his job, Wyatt, and quit insulting his intelligence!" "I was just offering to help." Caro sighed heavily. She retrieved her own set of keys from her purse, and headed defiantly for the truck. She climbed in and started the engine. "Wyatt, come on !" "Better do it," Catfish urged, giving Wyatt a little push. "You get her any madder and She'll be dropping that bundle right here in the sand." "Okay, but if you hear anything, call me on the cell phone, all right?" "Wyatt Earp Bodine!"

Caro shouted.

"Now or never!"

Wyatt quickly slid into the passenger seat and Caro drove off in a cloud of dust. Catfish shook his head. "That's why I never married. Women are too bossy. And bun-warming fee males are moody. In my day a real man never let his lady drive or change a tire. It was bad manners." Jasentha faced the older man. "So are yours, accusing Morgan of not being able to do his job! And asking Wyatt to step in..." "Hey, Wyatt knows his stuff. sketch our vermin." "You have no manners, old man!

That was a good idea of his, having Morg For all you know, he already has."

Catfish lifted a white eyebrow at Jasentha's heated defense. reached for her arm. "Jasentha, it's okay." "They just threw mud at you.

Morgan

Your brother and his friend here!" Page 96


In The Arms Of The Law Morgan smiled, not upset in the least. "I already started a sketch. It's not finished yet, but it will be." "I knew it!

See?"

Jasentha glared at Catfish.

"You owe him an apology."

Catfish merely grunted.

"You do!"

"TII decide when I owe someone a sorry." "Both of you, calm down. We have work to do." Morgan released lasentha's arm, but not before saying quietly, "I'm not upset, Iaz. Wyatt always plays big brother, and Catfish is Catfish. But thanks for sticking up for me, anyway." "I guess it isn't easy having two older brothers." are you."

"It's okay.

And so

Her smile for him came straight from the heart, but Catfish's gruff voice prevented any further con-versafion. "Might as well lead up that tire," he said. "Morg, I'll leave it to you. said pointedly.

No sense all of us getting" dirty," he

But Jasentha approached the tire, thinking to spare Morgan's uniform, which, unlike his hands, had escaped most of the dirt during the tire change. She righted the tire, fobbed off Catfish's protests and was ready to roll it toward the leep when Morgan noticed a strange glint of metal. "Let me get that tire," he said quickly. "I wanted to see what caused the flat," she returned. "Exactly what I had in mind." Morgan moved with that easy grace Jasentha found much more restful--and intriguing--than Wyatt's bursts of energy. He'd make some woman one heck of a lover, she thought as she let him take the tire from beneath her hands. I wish that woman could be me, but how? When? We never seem to get our timing right. "Here we go!"

Morgan pointed at the metal glinting in the sun.

"Whatcha got there, Morgan? Nail?" Catfish remained at distance, apparently not wanting to risk being asked to help. "I don't know." Morgan reached into his pocket for his knife and unsheathed a blunt blade. Jasentha watched as he pried a long shiny piece of metal loose from the tire. "That's one dang-big nail!" Catfish marveled. "That's not a nail." a piton!" "Huh?"

Jasentha snatched it out of Morgan's hand.

Catfish mumbled.

"It's

"A what?"

"A climbing spike--see the big eye for ropes?" "Maybe if you'd leave your spikes home, Miz Ja-sent ha them Bodine tracks wouldn't get flats," Jasentha looked up, but not at Catfish. Her gaze met Morgan's. "There's no landscape to climb anywhere near the ranch house--why would I bring them? Besides, I rarely use pitohS." Page 97


In The Arms Of The Law "Well, somebody did!" Catfish spluttered. "Morgan, pitons are extremely strong. There's no way they'd bend enough to cause a flat if a tire ran over them. They'd have to be deliberately hammered into a tire." Catfish pulled at his whiskers in confusion. "Are you trying to get arrested? Why in blue blazes would you want to sabotage a Bodine track?" "I didn't!" You oMfool, she thought in frustration. It was all she could do not to berate the obtuse Catfish to his face. I'm the last person who'd sabotage the Bodines. Morgan took the spike. "But someone else might." moment of silence. Ja sent ha broke it.

There was a frozen

"Smitty?" "Smitty's partner!" Morgan declared. "You don't mean Father. He'd never" -- "Someone else!" Morgan ran for the Jeep with a speed that surprised her. "I've got to warn Wyatt!" He cranked the engine and gunned the accelerator. "Wait for me!" Catfish yelled, but he wasn't as fast as Jasentha; who'd jumped into the opposite seat. Morgan left Striker and Catfish behind. Jasentha fumbled for her seat belt and braced herself. A small hill was before them--she should be able to see Wyatt's truck from there. She glanced at Morgan, seeing a strangeifs face; he'd become a dangerous predator fully involved in the chase. She grabbed the Jeep's roll-over bar to brace herself and prayed. Please protect this couple from evil. Her prayer was short. There wasn't time for more. The Jeep had barely cleared the top of the hill when she saw Wyatt's truck way up ahead, and Wyatt lying in the road--motionless. Morgan increased his speed, jamming on the brakes and stopping only yards from his brother. Ja-sent ha ran to Wyatt's side, "her breath coming hard as she saw he was bleeding. But Morgan was there first. "Wyatt?

Is Care"

"He took her! That bastard shot me and took her!" him, Morg! Go after her!"

Wyatt gasped.

"Get

Blood was pouting out of his shoulder---the spurting fountain evidence of a cut artery. Jasentha immediately pressed hard against the wound with her knee, kneeling right on the injury as she reached for her bandanna to make a tourniquet. Already Morgan was on the Jeep radio. Jasentha could hear him snapping out the truck's license plate to his dispatcher, calling for a state roadblock, an ambulance and a State Police helicopter. "Carol" Wyatt screamed. He tried to rise, but his shocked body was no match for lasentha's strength. "Let me go, Jaz! Dammir, Morgan! What are you waiting for?" Morgan left the Jeep and the radio, hurrying back Page 98


In The Arms Of The Law to Wyatt's side with the first-aid kit. Wyatt shoved his brother's ministering hands away. "Get back in the Jeep!

Go after them!"

"It's too late, Wyatt.

Jamie's setting up a roadblock."

Morgan gestured with his chin, and Jasentha moved her knee. Wyatt applied the direct pressure with a sterile swath while Jasentha switched her bandanna for the kit's tourniquet. She was about to offer words of comfort, but Morgan cut her off. "Descriptions, Wyatt.

Clothing, weapons... Now!"

"Blue jeans, khaki long-sleeved shirt. Brown hiking boots. of handgun. With a silencer, the' son of a bitch."

Some kind

"So he did have a backup piece." "He has the rifle in the truck, too." pain.

Wyatt's lips thinned with

"I radioed that Care was wearing blue maternity jeans and a white top. Did she have a jacket with her?" "No." "Was she hurt?" "Thank God, no. She was fighting him off, though. He jumped us from out of nowhere when she slowed for the curve. Caro's window was open--he grabbed the steering wheel. Shot me in the shoulder, said if she didn't stop the truck, my skull was next. Morgan, I begged her not to stop--told her to speed up--but she wouldn't listen. If only I'd been driving..." Wyatt's head fell back onto the ground. "If you'd been driving, he would have shot her, instead of you," Jasentha said. "So quit beating yourself up." Morgan gave her a quick nod of approval, then his attention was back on his brother. He pressed harder, trying to stem the blood the tourniquet couldn't'keep back. "What else?" "He looked familiar, Morgan. familiar."

I didn't know him, but he looked

Morgan nodded silently. He doesn't seem surprised. t She suddenly wondered if Morgan hadn't told her everything about this case, either. "Anything else, Wyatt?" "He said he'd be calling you. Left you his card." Wyatt opened his hand. There, on the bloody skin of his palm, was a red-stained object--a newly cut piece of petroglyph. Jasentha gasped. Morgan moved one hand to take over the tourniquet so Jasentha could use both hands, instead of her knee, on Wyatt's shoulder. "Is that all?" "No."

Wyatt's voice was harsh, his face pale.

"Caro's in labor..."

CHAPTER TWELVE Page 99


In The Arms Of The Law IN THE HOSPITAL waiting room, Jasentha checked the clock for the umpteenth time. I've looked at a clock more these past few hours than I have since school-days. And still no word from the surgeon. t If only Wyatt had been flown to Tucson by medi-chopper. But that chopper was busy with a multi car pileup, and now Jasentha and Catfish were sitting in a tiny waiting room staring at the old grandfather clock and praying the hospital's emergency doctor knew what he was doing. That wasn't counting all their worrying about Caro, who'd told Wyatt just before Smitty's appearance that she'd been in labor since early morning. That was why she'd been insistent about getting to her own doctor in Phoenix. Doctors in nineteenth-century Tombstone had plenty of practice in treating bullet wounds. Fortunately the frequency of that kind of injury hadn't continued into the present. But unfortunately for Wyatt Bodine Tombstone's tiny hospital wasn't exactly a big-city trauma center. Which was something else to worry about. "This waiting" is driving me crazy! " Catfish declared. to get us some java. How do you take yours, Miz J?"

" I'm goin"

"Black, thanks." Jasentha looked at the clock again. It had been two hours since she and Striker and Catfish had arrived in the Jeep, following the ambulance with Morgan and the unconscious Wyatt inside. Leaving the faithful Striker to wait in some shade near the door, they'd all entered the hospital. Morgan had signed the papers consenting to surgery, then asked Jasentha--not Catfish, but Jasentha---to stay with Wyatt until it was over. "Jaz, I can't stay. Fve got to hook up with Jamie and the State Police. But I don't want to leave him--don't want Wyatt to wake up alone, worried and without family," Morgan had said. "Will you...? Could you possibly...?" "Of course I'll stay!" Impulsively she'd put her arms around him, then was surprised to find him clinging to her for dear life. It was the first time anyone, besides her brother, had drawn on her strength, asked for her comfort. More surprisingly she realized she actually had reserves of strength--strength she hadn't ever tappedmuntil Morgan needed it. She laid her cheek against his, held him tight, let him take from her whatever he needed. When he finally straightened, he'd looked at her strangely, kissed her cheek, then left without another word. Catfish had returned later with a change of clean clothes for her and a message from Morgan. "MOrg'iI send someone back for us later. They found Wyatt's truck and towed it to the sheriff's office but that lowlife must're taken Wyatt's missus with him. Morg's still lookin', the State Police, too, but he's holed up somewheres good" Catfish went on with a few earthy comments about lowlifes in general as Jasentha's heart sank. There was no way that truck could make it out of Tombstone without being spotted. There was only one road in and out. Smitty had to be in the caves. And those caves were no place for a woman in labor--a woman with a high-risk pregnancy; "We haven't heard from our kidnapper?" Page 100


"Navy a cursed word."


Jasentha felt like cursing herself.

"Did Morgan say anything else?"

"Just sit tight, he'd be back sooner or later.

Probably Mater."

Catfish went for coffee, and now here she sat on a much-used waiting room couch, waiting for news on Wyatt, on Caro, watching the clock. And praying like she hadn't prayed since her brother's lifeless body had been brought to this very place. She almost wished Catfish hadn't bothered coffee, hadn't left her alone. Maybe her father was right. Here she was, wishing for company--any company--even that of a man who was just a nodding acquaintance. What happened to all my people? They"'re either dead or gone Her thoughts were interrupted by the doctor who'd just stepped into the room. " Ms. Cliffwalker? " Jasentha immediately rose to her feet. The doctor gave her a tired smile. live."

"How's Wyatt?"

"Weak as a new pup, but he'll

Jasentha exhaled a grateful sigh. Thank you, Changing Woman, or Jesu Christo's Maria. Whatever name you. go by, you have my heart's thanks. She couldn't haven't borne it, telling Morgan his brother was dead. "Wyatt's demanding to talk to someone about his wife, Ms. I don't suppose the sheriff...?"

Cliffwalker.

"He's not back yet." The doctor frowned. him to calm down."

"Wyatt needs his rest.

Perhaps you could convince

That's one burden I can take off Morgan's shoulders. the way, Doctor."

"I can try.

Lead

The normally hearty Wyatt looked anything but, his face pale against the pristine white sheets. The moment Jasentha walked in the door, before she even had a chance to ask, "How are you feeling?" Wyatt's eyes flipped open, and he lifted his head from the pillow. "Is Cato all right? in it."

Did Morgan find the track?"

"Yes, but Caro wasn't

"Oh, God..." His head fell back again, his face even whiter as he demanded, "What's going on? Tell me !" " Jasentha took the room's only chair and told him, starting with finding the piton in the flat tire and relating everything she knew about the case--which wasn't much. "How did he puncture the fire?" has a partner--someone

Wyatt asked.

"Morgan suspects Smitty

local, It's the only way he could be at the ranch and in the caves--two places at one time. Wyatt, I'm SOrry. " "And you found the truck, you say?

Was there any trace ofm"

His voice caught, but Jasentha already knew what he was asking.

"The

Page 101


In The Arms Of The Law only blood found at the scene was yours--not Caro's. There was no trace of injury to either driver or passenger. Morgan specifically checked." "She's in labor! road?"

Did he have the State Police barricade the main

"Yes ... but Morgan thinks he's hiding out in the caves with Caro." "So he's planning to use my wife to buy him a quick escape? her to shield him while he steals more artifacts?"

Or to use

"Isn't that a worst-case scenario, Wyatt?" Jasen-that said calmly, although she was thinking along the same lines herself. "It's all rather vague right now. As far as I know, Morgan hasn't received any word from Smitty. I expect to hear if anything new develops." Her careful statement didn't fool Wyatt one bit. "You have someone contact me the moment you do! I want to know what this man wants in return for my wife's safety." "I will." "Swear it." "The second I hear anything.

I promise."

Wyatt relaxed just a fraction, enough to allow her to settle comfortably in the chair. That didn't last long. "What are you sitting around for?

Go help Morgan!"

"He said to stay with you until he comes back for me, when he's ready to search the caves again." WYatt reached across the short distance separating them and grasped Jasentha's arm. She was amazed at the strength he possessed, even in his weakened state. "You fool! He's not coming back for you! He won't risk your life again. if I know Morg, he's probably headed for the caves right now--if he's not already there." "No, Wyatt, Morgan wouldn't go without me," Jasentha assured him. "I tell you, he's there. I know I'd be. I'd also leave Catfish behind to baby you with coffee and shoulder-patting--to keep you out of the way. Am I right?" Her gasp gave Wyatt his answer. "Go, Jasentha, go! God help me, I can't." Jasentha fought down her panic. She rose to her feet, her arm still in Wyatt's grasp. "I'm on my way. Don't worry. Morgan? "

I'll look after Caro.

" " Not Caro--I mean Morgan!

" "

"Yes!" An agitated Wyatt actually sat up in the bed, wincing with pain. "I'm worried sick about her and the baby, but Caro knows how to watch her back. She always has. Morg doesn't. When he sets out to. do something, he does it or bust. did! "

He doesn't know how to wait.

Never

Jasentha bit her lip. Morgan always did have the worst timing, but that doesn't mean he'll. She blinked, suddenly afraid. And saw that Page 102


In The Arms Of The Law same fear mirrored in Wyatt's eyes. "You know him, Jasentha. than bide his time."

We both do.

He'll die for that badge rather

"I'll watch him and then some," Jasentha vowed. find him. and Caro.

But first I have to

Her words were enough for Wyatt, who sank back on the pillow. "He values others" lives more than his own. Maybe if he had someone to come home to at night. " Wyatt's voice faded out. " Take a gun, Jaz," he managed to whisper. " Please. Striker. " " Is that enough? " "For me, yes.

I won't kill, Wyatt.

"At least don't get yourself hurt! "Smitty's dangerous."

" " I don't own one.

I have

You know that." Be careful, Jaz," Wyatt warned.

Jasentha's smile was mirthless as she headed for the door. those caves---except to me."

"So are

T}m HOSPITAL was "in Tombstone proper, and Jasen-that hurried to the nearest pay phone on the street, instead of calling from inside. She didn't want to risk of running into Catfish, although Striker immediately left his place in the shade to join her. She had Morgan's cell-phone number and hoped to catch him before he left for the caves. If not, I'll meet him there.

Because I've got

"Please, please, please, go through!" she begged the pay phone. As it was, she had to borrow change from a friendly local passing by. She rarely had inlet alone carried--money. Even her store purchases were made on credit until those small grant checks came in from time to time. "Connect already!" she begged again. At last the phone connected, and Jasentha's knees buckled with relief as she heard, "Bodine here." At least he hasn't left yet. "Morgan, it's Jasentha." "How's Wyatt?" Morgan asked immediately. talking to him."

"He's fine.

I just finished

There was a pause while Morgan no doubt assimilated the good news. Jasentha took advantage of it. "Morgan if Smitty's in the caves..." "He's there. He called." "When?" "Half an hour ago. Marta got the call from Wyatt's cell phone. stand back while he chisels out the other two sets of glyphs"

If we

Jasentha gasped. "He knows about those, too?" "Yes. He said he'll release Caro unharmed from the caves at the main entrance-to the mine--when he's finished. He plans an alternative escape routo one we won't be able to follow." "Surely you don't believe him?" "No." Morgan's voice was grim. he is."

"Especially since I think I know who

"Tell me !" Page 103


In The Arms Of The Law "It's a long story and there isn't time. him."

I have to go after Caro--and

"Let me help!" "I have all the help I need, Jaz. I have a search party already assembled here at the Silver Dollar. We're almost ready to leave." "Forget any large party.

Call it off!"

"Call it off?." "Yes!" Jasentha wiped her brow. She was sweating in the airless booth, both her forehead and the receiver hot to the touch. "Morgan, a big group of men will spook the bats. They'll chatter or disperse or both! Smitty will know every move you make, every step you take." "We have a lot of ground to cover.

I need the manpower."

"You need the element of surprise more. You and I know those caves better than anyone. Two silent people have a better chance of rescuing Caro than some noisy rescue party rustling maps and beaming unfiltered flashlights!" She heard Morgan exhale at the other end of the line. enough."

"Two isn't

"We can call my father." "Rogelio went into Tucson for the day with Ben. He had to see the adoption lawyer and the social worker for Ben's last interview." "Father would never have left during a crisis like this!" "They left before Smitty jumped Wyatt. us, Jaz."

That means there's just two of

"Three, counting Striker. And I've got the infrared scopes. What's more, I know where the petroglyph sites are. Morgan, there's an obvious way to pinpoint Smitty's exact location. He's stolen one set of glyphs. he's either at the second or third site. "

That means

Striker's ears shot up, which alerted her to another person. tourist approach the pay phone and lowered her voice.

She saw a

"Think about it, Morgan. We don't have to search the whole caves, just the two sites. How he ever found them... Are you sure he knows where they are?" "He knows," Morgan said grimly. The tourist cleared his throat and tapped his foot impatiently. Jasentha ignored him. "Morg, call off the expedition! If you rush in there with all your men, Cato could... I mean, not that she won't be fine, but..." "I get the picture," was Morgan's terse reply. "Jamie and his partner are at the main cave entrance. I'll have them stay put. Where are you? And where's Catfish and the Jeep?" Page 104


In The Arms Of The Law "I'm a block down from the hospital at a pay phone. Catfish is out buying coffee. Your brother told me to ditch him or I'd never get hold of you." "He said that?" Jasentha managed a smile. "If the fact that Wyatt's giving me orders right after surgery doesn't tell you he'll be fine, nothing will." "I'm in charge, not Wyatt. follow my orders."

if you expect to come with me, you'll

"I will, Sheriff." As long as you know what you're doing. knows those caves like me. Not even you.

No one

"Take my Jeep. There's a spare set of keys in the glove compartmenL Meet me at the mine trailhead. We'll go by horseback from there." "Get me something of Caro's. track her."

If Striker can track bats, maybe he can

"I hope you're right." For a moment the lawman's tone faded, then was back full strength. "If you see Catfish, tell him he stays with Wyatt. I'll see you in fifteen minutes." "See you then." "And Jasentha?" "Yeah?" MORaA WAS AS CsOOD as his word. Within fifteen minutes he met Jasentha at the trailhead, riding Gem, Shooting Star in tow. She quickly mounted and they were soon traveling toward the caves, Striker loping beside them. Morgan kept the horses" early pace at a canter, but when they reached rougher ground, he pulled Gem to a walk. The sun appeared and disappeared behind the overcast sky; the purple-black monsoon thunder-heads were building again, not yet developed into the mushroom like heads that signaled violent rain. Jasentha stole a glance at Morgan, his face set, his body tensed in the saddle. "Are you going to tell me who Smitty is?" "I will, but not yet." Is it my imagination?

Does Morgan look .

guilty?

"First," he said, "what else can you tell me about these petroglyphs? Not their history. I need to know about now--from a thief's angle, not a historical angle." "The problem with the glyphs started during the early silver and gold rush days," Jasentha said. She explained that the natural caves were extended, new shafts and tunnels were made and the whole earth became unnaturally hOneycombed. Mining obliterated many of the glyphs, probably more than most people realized. The ones that remained were destroyed by tunnel collapse when the mines were abandoned. Worse yet, other caves with shaky foundations were blown shut to prevent human injury or death--destroying petroglyphs, as well as bats. "But Morgan, you know all this so how" "Tell me what I don't know," Morgan urged, his eyes not on her but on the landscape, continually searching forward, backward and to either side. "The bats, the glyphs and Caro's safety right now are all related, Morgan. Even with help, it's going to take Smitty a lot longer to recover those glyphs than anyone realizes." Page 105


In The Arms Of The Law "How so?

Because of the guano?

That's all I can think of."

She nodded. "The older guano is practically solidified, and the fresher guano is slippery and hard to work in. It could take days for Smitty to get the petroglyphs They each cover a much larger expanse of rock than the first set." This time he did look at her.

"Days?"

"Maybe even a Week. It's rough going for a healthy man, let alone a pregnant woman. If she's even.

" Jasentha bit back the words.

If she's even still alive.

But Morgan, too, was a realist. Jasentha knew you couldn't be a lawman and not have a realistic view of the world. "Do you think Smitty has his partner with him? on, Morgan, I have a right to know!"

Who are these men? Come

She heard his-sigh catch and carry on the humid breeze. He reached into his breast pocket, withdrew a folded piece of paper and passed it to her. "What's this?" she asked. "You'll see." She unfolded the paper to see a sketch. It was a head shot done in fine detail, the same detailed attention Morgan had once paid to his silversmithing. "Smitty." Morgan nodded. "You always were a great artist, Morgan. "Skip the compliments and study the face. anyone?"

Even as a kid." Does he remind you of

Jasentha stared at the pencil sketch and bit her lip. "He looks kind of familiar, but I said that when we first saw him. I don't know the man." "Maybe not. But you might know him." Morgan handed her another folded sheet of paper. As soon as she opened it, she gasped with recognition. "This is the Bar E's foreman! Kimberly's fore-man--and her grandfather Hugh's!" She stared at the sketch of the older man, then at the sketch of the much younger Smitty. "No wonder we thought Smitty looked familiar. Relatives?" "With that reSemblance, they have to be. right now."

I've got Marta checking on it

Jasentha's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. "Kimberly's foreman could've been helping her with the gold-ore theft at the Silver Dollar Mine. I'll bet that's how he and Smitty stumbled on the glyphs!" "You're wrong," Morgan said. "They didn't stumble on the glyphs. Kimberly told them about the sites." "Kimberly? "Wrong. set."

So she was the One who found them?,

She didn't just happen to find them--at least, not the first

Page 106



"Then how... ?"

Morgan took off his sunglasses and met her gaze.

"I told Kimberly."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN "You TOLD Kimberly about the glyphs?"

"Yes."

"But, Morgan, why?" She was flabbergasted. Morgan hesitated, then said, "I knew she was stealing, Jasentha. I told her about the glyphs in the hopes she'd give up her secret mining operation." Jasentha's jaw dropped.

"Couldn't you have just sent her to jail?"

"She was stealing from Bodine and, so that left me free to act in an unofficial capacity. I didn't want to press charges." "You should have pressed charges!

Immediately!"

"No, Jaz. I grew up with Kim. She was as much a part of my life as you were. I owed her a chance to come clean. Remember, this was before she tried to kill me and Caro. I asked her to give up the mining..." "But she refused." "Yes, So I told her about the glyphs, hoping to convince her." "We all know how that turned out," Jasentha said bitterly, shocked at this latest betrayal of Morgan's. "You were shoved down a shaft. Caro was shot at and nearly killed. And my glyphs were hacked off the wall and later destroyed. You trust the wrong people, Morgan. I can't believe you could be so stupid!" He matched her bitterness with his own. "Oh, I was stupid, all right. And that wasn't the only time. I trusted you, and look what happened. In your own way you're as bad as Kim." Jasentha reeled at his accusation. excuse for a human being! I never betrayed our friendship!

"How dare you compare me with that

" " Yes, you did.

" " I didn't!

"

Morgan swung her way with a savagery she'd never seen before. "No? You accused me of not fighting for you in high school! How could I? Our parents made it impossible. You made it impossible. Then you took off for the most distant Arizona college you could find. You stayed in Flagstaff for four years!" "I was finishing my education." "Nice excuse, but it won't wash. You were hiding! And when you finally, finally came home, you ran away to these caves. You've spent your whole life running, Jasentha! I couldn't keep up with you. God knows I tried! But no, you had to leave us all behind. You always leave us all behind!" "That's ... that's not how it is!" "That's exactly how it is! Because in your world there's only you. your world you never think of anyone else. Not your parents."

In

"Certainly not me." "I do so!" Page 107


In The Arms Of The Law "Did you realize how lucky you were? That your parents were only divorced? Mine died a long time ago! Did you realize that I lost a brother, too, when" Virgil--the man who raised me--took off for the bright lights? Where were you then? My whole life's been spent phoning you, writing you, driving to Flagstaff. I've hiked to your camp countless times. Did you ever once realize I was lonely, too? " "I didn't think..." To her horror her with tears. her rein hand, leather grazing her cheeks.

She wiped them with

"No, you didn't." His voice was filled with disdain, and disappointment. "You never think thing but your problems, your pain. Of turned to Kim! She was there! I need a woma!. love, Jasentha. I'm not like you--I don't spend the rest of my life alone. It's not natural. you ever think that maybe I got tired of waiting you to figure that out?" Jasentha swallowed hard. died.

She hadn't felt this asta ted since Dustin

"Morgan," she managed to say, "I'm so " Grow up, Jasentha! Just . grow the hell Maybe then the people who care for you can sleeping nights. " Jasentha wanted to ask, Do you still care; Morgan? stopped caring I ruined everything ?

Because I never

But before she could,

rough rocky patch ended. Morgan his horse into a gallop, his accusations still ringing in her ears. "Morgan, wait!" she called after him. For the first time ever Morgan ignored her, That hurt her more than all his accusations combined. For a moment she felt physically, almost violently, ill. It wasn't until Striker whined that she remembered where she was and the task at hand. Caro needs me, even if Morgan doesn't. She whistled to the dog with dry lips, touched her heels lightly to the marc's side and galloped toward the old Silver Dollar Mine. and what awaited them deep inside. THE SHERIFF'S VEHICLE was parked under cloudy skies at the mine entrance just as Morgan and Jasen-that rode up. Jamie and a female deputy sat in their Jeep, waiting to deliver more bad news. "I just heard from Marta with an update, Sheriff. You were right. Kimberly's foreman--Hank Em-shaw--does have a son. Only his name isn't Sraitty. It's Spencer Ernshaw. He uses an alias--Shawn Spencer. He's got a rap sheet, too." Jamie handed Morgan a fax, which he immediately scanned. "I want Hank picked up, Jamie. Now." "We've already got him, boss. He's a nervous wreck--said he and Spencer were partners to raise cash, but Hank never planned on any shooting or kidnapping. He's cooperating all the way. Hank says Smitty--Spencer--was the one who set this up. The Bar E's been losing money ever since Kimberly died, and Hank has a gambling problem. Hugh Ellis.found "Certainly not me." Page 108


In The Arms Of The Law "I do so!" "Did you realize how lucky you were? That your parents were only divorced? Mine died a long time ago! Did you realize that I lost a brother, too, when Virgil--the man who raised me---took off for the bright lights? Where were you then? My whole life's been spent phoning you, writing you, driving to Flagstaff. I've hiked to your camp countless times. Did you ever once realize I was lonely, too?" "I didn't think..." To her horror her eyes filled with tears. wiped them with her rein hand, the leather grazing her cheeks.

She

"No, you didn't." His voice was filled with disdain, and disappointment. "You never think of anything but your problems, your pain. Of course I turned to Kim! She was there! I need a woman to love, Jasentha. I'm not like you--I don't want to spend the rest of my life alone. It's not natural. Did you ever think that maybe I got tired of waiting for you to figure that out?" Jasentha swallowed hard. died.

She hadn't felt this devastated since Dustin

"Morgan," she managed to say, "I'm so sorry" --- "Grow up, Jasentha! Just ... grow the hell up. Maybe then the people who care for you can start sleeping nights." Jasentha wanted to ask, Do you still care, Morgan? Because ! never stopped caring for you! Have I ruined everything? But before she could, the trail's rough rocky patch ended. Morgan immediately urged his horse into a gallop, his accusations still ringing in her ears. "Morgan, wait!" she called after him. For the first time ever Morgan ignored her. That hurt her more than all his accusations combined. For a moment she felt physically, almost violently, ill. It wasn't until Striker whined that she remembered where she was and the task at hand; Caro needs me, even if Morgan doesn't. She whistled to the dog with dry lips, touched her heels lightly to the marc's side and galloped toward the Old Silver Dollar Mine. and what awaited them deep inside. THE SHERIFF'S VEHICLE was parked under cloudy skies at the mine entrance just as Morgan and Jasen-that rode up. Jamie and a female deputy sat in their Jeep, waiting to deliver more bad news. "I just heard from Marta with an update, Sheriff. You were right. Kimberly's foreman--Hank Em-shawl does have a son. Only his name isnYt Smitty. It's Spencer Ernshaw. He uses an alias--Shawn Spencer. He's got a rap sheet, too." Jamie handed Morgan a fax, which he immediately scanned. "I want Hank picked up, Jamie.

Now."

"We've already got him, boss. He's a nervous wreck--said he and Spencer were partners to raise cash, but Hank never planned on any shooting or kidnapping. He's cooperating all the way. Hank says Smitty--Spencer--was the one who set this up. The Bar E's been losing money ever since Kimberly died, and Hank has a gambling problem. Hugh Ellis found Page 109


In The Arms Of The Law out, fired him and hired a new foreman. Which means Hank is even more strapped for money. He's the one who spiked Wyatt's tire, Sheriff. " "Save those details for later. There's only one thing I want to know. Where are Smitty and Caro now?" "Hank says definitely in the caves. Says Smitty found glyph sites while he was running Kj'mberly's mining operation." "How's Cato doing?

Wyatt said she was in labor.

Can Hank tell us anything there?

"

"No." "Can he tell us if she's still alive?" "He has no idea.

But the way he said it worried me."

Morgan's expression wasn't pleasant. Even Jamie shifted nervously before adding, "Uh, Boss, Marta wanted to warn you that Smitty's an escape artist and can slip handcuffs, as well as jails," Jamie announced. "He won't be escaping once I get my hands on him. Anything else?" Morgan asked, kicking one boot out of the stirrup. Jasentha took both horses to picket after they dismounted, listening all the while. "I guess that's it, Sheriff. You saw the sheet. He's wanted in two states---including this one---on suspicion of three murders." Please don't let him hurt Caro or the baby, Jasen-that prayed. "He's also broken parole for a previous conviction--assault with a deadly weapon during a robbery. I'll tell the family we'll be denying bail." "Thanks, Jamie." His deputy nodded. "I'm going in.

"Now what, Sheriff?."

Ms: Cliffwalker will help me navigate"

"Sure you two should go in without backup?" "He's a son of a desert-whelped cur if he does," came the gravelly voice. Morgan glanced up, surprised.

"Where'd you come from?"

"Got tired of waiting'." Catfish said irritably. "Drove here under my own steam---in Wyatt's track. Your office was done with it, so I just took them keys and floored it. Now fill me in afore I..." He frowned when he saw Jasentha. "Excuse me, Miz Cliffwalker. I thought you was still sittin" with a sick friend. Obviously I was wrong. " "Change of plans," was all she said, noticing Striker slink past the horses, enter the cave, then return to keep a suspicious eye on Jamie and the other deputy; whom he didn't know. "She was acting under my orders, Catfish." Morgan's voice was sharp. He was in lawman mode again, and the others recognized it immediately. Page 110


In The Arms Of The Law "Jamie, where's some of Caro's clothing?" The female officer passed Morgan a. maternity blouse. her laundry hamper just like you said."

"I got it from

"Thanks. You and Jamie can head back to the office after I bolt this door. Have someone pick up the horses, too. We'll take the truck. There's more room for any injured party." "Or a killer's corpse," Catfish added. "Jasentha, unsaddle your horse." Morgan looked up at the building thunderheads. "I don't want our tack soaked it if rains. Catfish, get me the canteens and first-aid kit out of the Jeep, then we'll load the tack in the bed of Wyatt's track. Make sure the cap windows are closed tight." "Do I look like a fool?" requested.

Catfish grumbled, but he did as he was

"Jaz, get the. scopes, lights and ropes out of the saddlebags. Let's hustle." He looked up at the sky again. "We're working on borrowed time here." "Miz Jasentha will show us how to keep our feet dry, Sheriff, if she don't give us the slip like at the hospital." The old miner threw Jasentha a pointed glance. "You'd better keep up," Morgan warned. than dry feet."

"We have more at stake here

No one, not even Catfish, argued with that. Tm CAVES wg COOL, the air carrying the familiar mustiness of dust, mold, time and bats. The deeper the three of them went, with Striker tracking in front, the more Catfish swore. But wise old miner that he was, he shut up as soon as they'd gone far enough to require the flashlights and night-vision scopes. Ja-sent ha passed them out. "You take mine, Morgan, and Catfish, you use Striker's." Catfish muttered some choice words about wearing dog accessories, but he complied. "What'll you use?" Morgan asked Jasentha. "My flashlight. I've already put on the special filter. The beam won't be noticeable to bats or humans, or shine very far. That's all Striker and I need. We know our way around, right, boy?" She let Striker take another whiff of Caro's blouse, then grabbed the end of her long braid, coiled it and stuffed it inside the bandanna tied around her head. "If you men value your hats, I'd leave them here." "I'd prefer the guano to land on the hat, not my mustache." clapped his hat more firmly on his head. Morgan left his on, too. guano ruining it."

"It'll protect your SCope.

Catfish

I don't want the

"It won't. They're pretty hardy. Here." She gave him one of her bandannas, a dark navy paisley that couldn't be easily seen with a roving flashlight beam. "You know what happened to your hat last time." Page 111


In The Arms Of The Law She'd hoped for a friendly smile, but she was disappointed. He was all business. "Yeah. Thanks." She watched him fasten it, Apache-style, over the top of his head--low and rolled on the forehead, the bulk of the material covering the top of the head, the side ends tied in the back and twisted under. "Ain't you just the purtiest thing, Sheriff," Catfish sniggered. confess to being a mite jealous."

"I

"You can always trade," Jasentha suggested knowing full well he wouldn't. Catfish snorted. Morgan made one last adjustment to his goggles, then ordered, "Let's go." Jasentha and Striker led the way. Onward into the dark they progressed, through the old mining shafts of the Silver Dollar toward the up-sloping areas that led to the larger natural caverns and the bat colonies. They were silent, their breathing easy, since the going wasn't hard in this part of the caves. They traveled at a good speed, too. Striker didn't waver on the trail. until they reached a fork. With the help of $a-sent ha filtered torch, they watched Striker run into passageways, whining in frustration. Then he hurried back to Jasentha's side. She took a chance on speaking; Striker's large wolf ears were laxed, his canine nostrils normal, instead of flared. "Hold up," she said quietly. "Problems?"

Morgan asked.

"Caro was here, according to Striker." The dog calmed a little, sat on a flat area and panted. Jasentha scratched his head fondly. "There are glyph locations either way. But we have to decide which one to take," "That's what the dog's fer, right?" "He's confused.

Caro's been down both trails."

Morgan didn't like the sound of that. the fresher trail."

"So have the dog lead us down

"Sorry, Morgan, but I don't know how to ask him that. He isn't well trained when it comes to tracking humans. We usually do bats." "That's a fine howdy-do." Sheriff?. Split up?"

Catfish spit in frustration.

"So now what,

"What distance are we talking here, Jasentha?" She reached into her pocket for the plastic-covered map she'd drawn years ago. She didn't need it, but earlier had stopped at one of her storage bins to retrieve it and bring along for the others. "The two glyph locations are circled in grease pencil," she murmured. "I can give you a compass, Catfish." "I don't want no compass. Let's just go the way with the fewest bats," he suggested as Morgan studied it. The older man's mustache twitched with disgust as he swiped at some guano that had fallen on his Page 112


In The Arms Of The Law shoulder. "Why couldn't them Anasazi fellers paint their pictures in a nice clean spot?" "They usually did," Jasentha replied. "But these petroglyphs are ancient--maybe even prehistoric. The topography of the caves, especially taking into account all the mining, has been drastically changed." Catfish scowled. me, what?"

"Well, Morg, what's it gonna be?

Left, right, you,

Morgan folded the map and started to hand it to her. said. "I don't need it."

"Keep it," she

He stuffed it in his pocket. "I'd rather we all went together." said. "But with that storm brewing..."

he

"You know," Jasentha mused, "if I were Smitty with a very pregnant woman in tow, I'd take the glyphs on the easier trail. And since it's going to take a while to dig and chisel them out ... they could still be there." "Makes sense," Catfish agreed. "Striker and I could take the rockier trail and check out the second location. I doubt anyone's there yet, but I'll make certain." "Don't let Miz J go alone!" numbers!" "I have Striker.

Catfish protested.

"There's safety in

And we're wasting time!"

"But" "We don't have any other choice, Catfish. Jasen-that, you be careful," Morgan ordered. "My radio doesn't work in here, so I want you back at the split in, say... How long's the hike?" "A little less than an hour for both trails." "Then we'll all rendezvous here in two hours. "Um ... Morgan?

Two and a half, max."

I don't wear a watch."

Morgan glanced at Catfish, saw he was wearing one and slipped his Own turquoise-studded silver band off his wrist. "Here. Take mine. It lights up with the top right button." Jasentha shoved it high onto her arm, for the band could not be adjusted for her smaller wrist. "Remember now, two and a half hours. And Ja-sent ha don't try to play hero. If Smitty did take the more difficult site first, you backtrack immediately and get us." "Will do." hunting."

She headed for the smaller side of the split.

"Happy

"Bat-free hunting would be better," Catfish grumbled. Morgan grasped her shoulders and, despite Catfish's presence, gave her a quick hard kiss on the lips. "Keep safe, Jaz." Page 113


In The Arms Of The Law "You, too," she replied. Face glowing, she watched him depart before she headed off down the tunnels she'd trod for so many years. He still cared! The Morgan she'd always known--and loved--had parted from her on their old easy terms. She was grateful. And determined to take advantage of this second chance. MORGAN TRAVERSED the old haunts of his childhood without difficulty. In the past hour he'd only needed to consult the map twice. Funny how some things never left you. He hadn't been this deep inside the mine and cavern system for years. But he'd originally spent much more time in them than Wyatt or Virgil. That's because Jasentha was always here. "Hey, slow down a bit," Catfish puffed. "Do I look like a spring chicken?" "We can take a breather. I need a drink, anyway," Morgan murmured in a low voice. Sound carried easily in the dead silence of the cave, and neither man was foolish enough to give away their position. Catfish immediately stopped, parked his bulk on a rock and reached for his canteen. "That little gal sure has spunk," he whispered. "She reminds. me of" Marta. Feisty as a bag full of bobcats. Almost as many curves, too. " "Speaking of Marta, you ever going to propose?" Morgan carefully checked the map to confirm he was where he wanted to be. Extra caution never hurt. "I would if i thought she'd say yes. younger'n me," Catfish sighed. "All the more reason.

But she's a good twenty years

Like you said, you're no spring chicken."

"I don't need no reminder from you, Sheriff." "Marta's what--in her fifties? want children." "She got her own grown kids.

I don't think age matters unless you Besides, I have my

hands full helping out you Bodines. my brain's still working. "

I may be long in the tooth, but

Morgan refolded the map and slipped it back his pocket. "Well, if you'd rather hang around with us Bodines, instead of a real live woman re "I never said that!"

Catfish hissed.

"Then you'd better get cracking and ask Marta might get tired of waiting. She mi you're just stringing her along. I know a few bachelors who're thinking the same. They give you some competition." "Damnation ! If her smarts and cute bee-hind bring " em on, those pies of hers will, And her cobbler--I surely would miss that. It's good as her kissin'. " Catfish shook himself out " But that's none of your biz-ness, Sheriff. You care of your own. If you don't rope and $ and soon, then you're the first stupid B'me ever known--and that's three generations, Know-it-all. Right now, we got work to doff this was an ordinary situation, Morgan have smiled at the sudden change couldn't smile now. He was worried about her baby, worried about Jasentha, worried aft, and now he was worried for Marta if happened to Catfish. Page 114


In The Arms Of The Law How do Virgil and Wyatt do it? How do aside everything they care about--all tempt ions--when they put on this uniform and gun? Two of the three Bodines had found gil's rocky marriage had produced a son, baby on the way, and Morgan himself had marry Kimberly and start a family. It was time Catfish settled down with a woman the whole town knew he genuinely loved. It was time he did the same--with a woman with cave-dark hair who fought for life in all its forms, good or bad, human or otherwise. A woman who risked her life for him. As soon as this is over, I'm going to marry that woman I love her. I've always loved her. But I never told her because I was too proud. Because she was always leaving me. Maybe if I had, she would've stayed. i will say it, as soon as this is over. Right now it's time to find a killer. And stop him. JASVrA At'O STm'V were rapidly covering ground, despite the tough going. The bats were thicker in this section of the cave, the up-slope steeper, but this was nothing to either of them. Both were in familiar territory; they were partners who looked out for each other. Striker trusted his mistress implicitly and always waited for her to light his way in the darker places. Jasentha trusted him to alert her to any dangers. When about an hour had passed, she came to the location of one of her water barrels. She'd started the system years ago, carefully setting up collection areas wherever freshet groundwater seeped down, bypassing the limestone. She used that water for Striker and any injured bats; also, for washing herself when her work caused her to be especially soiled. In other areas were huge plastic kegs containing the pure drinking water she'd carted in, gallon by gallon. It was at one of those kegs that Striker abruptly stopped. Jasentha figured it was more from habit than anything, since he wouldn't be thirsty in the coolness of the caves. Nor was she yet. "No, I don't need a drink, pup," she whispered. The black wolf ears swiveled her way, hearing every syllable. "But let's see how we're doing on time." Striker held his ground. Jasentha knelt in a dry spot to give her feet a break, setting down the flashlight and pushing up her sleeve to expose the large watch face Her Sensitive fingers traced the circumference until she found the light button. She pressed it just as Striker growled, low and threatening. Alarmed, she swung her head toward the dog, but already a tiny circle of luminescent blue lit the cave. And provided a perfect target. The bullet's report ripped through the silence. It hummed past her cheek and tore through the keg, releasing a gash of water. Jasentha grabbed for her wet flashlight, then threw her arm around Striker's neck and rolled them both to a new location. A second shot rang out, reverberating throughout the caves and sending bats flying upward to escape to open air. Striker didn't stop at the water keg from habit. t He stopped because he heard something, and I didn't catch it. t Damn my carelessness. t And, Morgan, damn your cursed watch. Even as she was thinking, she was moving. Jasen-that now had Striker's collar, allowing him to right her and himself. She hunkered down for Page 115


In The Arms Of The Law safety, grateful that the dog's feral instincts prevented him from any further growling. They both knew two things: one, sound would give away their position, and two, bullets could kill. They froze in the moment that came after scenting danger--and before fight or flight. Bless those big beautiful ears of yours, baby. She silently pressed her lips against the warm furry skull for reassurance, then lifted her hand to rest it just behind the dog's ears. Whatever direction they swiveled would tell her where her enemy was. But until she knew where he lurked. we go nowhere. THE GUN'S REPORT echoed through the caverns, re-verb crating off the walls. Oh, no Jasentha? Care? froze in their tracks.

Morgan and Catfish turned off their lights and

For Morgan there was no question. He lifted the leather strap of his holster, pulled out his Colt and flipped off the safety. Catfish tapped him on the back You with me? Morgan wondered. Catfish nodded in answer to the silent question. Then Morgan turned on his flashlight again, now wrapped in his bandanna. The light barely glowed, but between that and the goggles, there was enough to see where he was putting his feet--and to see a target for a lawman's bullet. Morgan pantomimed for Catfish to leave his light off, since he didn't have a bandanna. Both men listened carefully. Morgan was confused as to the direction of the sound, but old miner Catfish was not--especially when a second shot bounced through the caverns. Catfish clicked his torch back on, bright light and all.

"We're okay," he whispered.

"The sound's coming from there," He pointed. The old man's voice was doleful. section Miz J took."

"Not here?"

"From the other section of cave.

The

THE THIRD SHOT was nowhere near Jasentha, thanks to the decoy rock she threw. She listened carefully, but her pursuer was as sure-footed, and as canny, as she. It was only Striker's ears that told her when and which way he was advancing. She threw another rock. Only this time Smitty--for it could only be Smitty---didn't fire in that direction. Nor did Striker's ears track the man toward the sound of the rock. Judging by the bristling of the dog's fur and the direction of his ears, Smitty was heading straight their way. Which could mean only one thing. He's got infrared goggles of his own! Which made her and Striker like sitting ducks. Caro's not here--at least, not alive she isn't. Ja-sent ha felt sick at the thought. If she was, Striker or I would have heard her. Caro would have warned us, no matter what. Sorry, Morgan, but it's up to you to find her. I've got Smitty--that is, if I can find a safe place for defense and even the score. The only way was to get outside in the light. Smitty could' easily track her down if she backtracked toward Morgan. The alternative was a tortuous twisting route that required all one's concentration--but it just might keep her alive. Her smile was grim as she hugged the dog Page 116


In The Arms Of The Law one last time, then whispered into his ear, "Fetch Morgan." Striker reluctantly obeyed, retreating with stealth and loyalty. Jasentha watched him go. Her thoughts now were in Apache, her every motion and emotion tuned to the centuries of knowledge her people had of the harsh terrain. You want to catch me? are.

Let's see how good a cliff-walker you really

These thoughts were accompanied by yet another gunshot. MORGAN FLINCHED at the sound of a fourth gunshot. This time there was no doubt at all--it had come from Jasentha's direction. He and Catfish turned to retreat, to go to Jasentha's aid, when a scream stopped them both. Caro. Morgan recognized the voice. "Over here!"

"Caro, where are you?"

he yelled.

Morgan didn't hesitate; he and Catfish hurried another fifty yards or so into a large side chamber. "Are you okay?" He and Catfish tracked their flashlights around the room, but it was huge and the beams would only go so far. They couldn't see, but they could hear. "Yes.

How's Wyatt?

Is he...?"

"Alive and awake and asking for you." "Oh, God."

There was a long pause and what sounded like weeping.

"Caro, can you come to us?" "No." "Then keep talking so we can find you." "That bastard shot him, Mort!" she wailed. "Wyatt didn't want me to stop the truck, but Smitty said if I didn't he'd shoot again. So I stopped and he left Wyatt to die like a snake in the road. That filthy rotten..." Caro let go with a venomous string of words. The bats awoke, and their chatter and pings joined Caro's fury. "Are you hurt? How's the baby?" At last Morgan's flashlight revealed the edge of her white ma-teruity blouse, and the men started toward her, keeping up the conversation. "Wyatt said you were in labor!" "It was a false alarm. "And you?"

The baby's staying put for now.

" "

Morgan asked.

"I'm hungry and tired, and my wrists hurt. They're tied. My feet, too. I managed to spit out the gag. I knew you'd come sooner or later." "Tying up a gal with a bun in the oven?"

Catfish was outraged.

"He said I moved too slow for a hostage, so I could just sit tight until he was ready to leave the caves." "That manure-fly really is a..."

It was Catfish's guru to utter Page 117



curses.

"Is Wyatt really going to be okay, Morgan? would you? His face was so white..."

You wouldn't lie.

to me,

Morgan reached Caro. "I swear on the family Bible that he'll fully recover." He opened his knife, slashed the rope on her wrists and ankles, then held the canteen to her lips. She didn't drink.

"Wyatt's okay?

Honest?"

she asked one more time.

"Yep. He even had advice for Jasentha telling me how to run this case." He held the canteen to Caro's lips again, and this time she did drink. "Jasentha's here, too. There'was a fork in the tunnel and she took the other side." "Those shots I heard? Caro gasped. her!."

They weren't yours?"

"No."

"Jasentha doesn't carry a gun!

"I intend to." without me?"

Morgan's words were grim.

"I'm fine, Morgan.

You have to go after

"Will you be all right

Go!"

He capped the canteen and carefully lowered it into her lap. Then he shrugged off his pack and set it beside her. "There's a first-aid kit in here and some dried rations. Take care." " Caro kissed Morgan's cheek, "You, too. and I want you at the christening." "Wild horses couldn't keep me away.

Watch your back, Morgan.

Wyatt

Catfish, see to her."

Then he was gone, leaving the old miner to help Caro to safety. It was a good fifteen minutes before Caro's circulation returned, She was able to stand, albeit with Catfish's help. "I hope I did the right thing, lying to Morgan like that." "You lied?"

Catfish's voice rose in shock.

"I heard those shots. Jasentha needs Morgan's help. him to worry about me." "Worry about you?" kit in the other.

I didn't want

Catfish paused, flashlight in one hand, first-aid

"He would if he knew I wasn't all right."

"You ain't?"

"Not exactly." Cato sighed. "I said I was having false labor, but I'm not. It's the real thing." Catfish dropped the flashlight. " " Lordy! " "If I'd told Morgan, he would have worried even more. So I kept quiet. I just couldn't tell him this child has decided to arrive today." Catfish dropped the first-aid pack. "Lordy, Lordy.t" Page 118


In The Arms Of The Law "I know it's a month early, but there's not a thing I can do about it. I've been having contractions since this morning. That's why I was so adamant about keeping my appointment in Phoenix." Caro lifted her chin and looked the old miner straight in the eye. "Catfish, you're going to have to deliver my baby." Catfish dropped Caro's arm, staggered and fell to his knees. "Lordy, Lordy, Lordy." CHAPTER FOURTEEN The CLIMB WAS TERRIBLE. Jasentha was positive it had started to rain outside. The water running down into the shaft mixed with old dried guano and made the footing slick and unsteady. And once the storm well and truly broke, things would get worse, she knew. Desert monsoons were torrential. Even the bats hated leaving the caves during monsoons, unless scared into it--by something like gunshots. Changing Woman, watch my steps.

And help Morgan find Caro.

It took all her concentration to climb straight up the slick rock--and with no illumination from her flashlight, for the keg water had shorted it out. She'd given her waterproof light to Morgan. If Morgan did his job, she would do hers and keep Smitty occupied until he rescued Caro, then came after Smitty. That's not going to be easy. This man is just as skilled a climber as I am And smart. He'll retreat once he thinks I'm out of his hair. Which means I have to let him know I'm not going anywhere. Which was why she stopped at a bend in the shaft. It was narrow enough to let her stretch out on her stomach. It also made for a perfect air. From there she could see most of the shaft. if Smitty decided to retreat, she had plenty of guano bombs to send his way. The guano certainly wouldn't stop or hurt him, but it would keep him occupied. It was a good position, a good plan. He'll need both hands to keep climbing. I doubt he'll chance a shot at me. The climb's dangerous enough with the seeping rainwater. She glanced down the shaft--and was met by a fifth bullet. Pieces of rock flew about her, as did a few panicked bats. A splinter struck her in the face, but she ignored the sticky warmth running down her cheek. She was ready with a weapon of her own--a fresh wet pile of guano. She doubted it would knock him over, but it would let him know she was no easy target. She shoved it over the ledge, letting it fly. I have to give Morgan time, she said to herself. She gathered another, larger scoop, took another glance over the side and shoved it over the edge at her pursuer. This one's for shooting Wyatt. She had the grim satisfaction of hearing Smitty curse when he was hit, see him stop his advance. Come on, Morgan, cuff this guy. t I want Smitty in jail. We have a lot to talk about, you and I, like how I love you. How I've always loved you. Page 119


In The Arms Of The Law She scooped more guano from behind her, suddenly realizing how small her ledge was. There wasn't much guano left. She had enough for two, maybe three more bombs. And he'd used up only five of his bullets. Looks like I'll run out of ammo before he will . MORGAN MOVED as fast as he dared through the caves where he'd played as a child. But this was no childish game. His brother had been shot, his broth-efts wife and unborn child were endangered, and now Jasentha was, too. if anything happens to her. This was like a nightmarish replay of that day with Kimberly--only worse. When Kimberly died in these caves, a piece of him had died with her. Morgan suspected that more than just a piece of him would die if anything happened to Jasentha. Halfway to his goal, h drastically reduced the light in his torch, leaving just enough to see his footing. Suddenly his scopes picked up heat and translated that heat to light and movement. Immediately Morgan tensed for action, then relaxed a little as Striker advanced out of the darkness. "Take her to me, Striker," he ordered in Apache.

"Find Jasentha!"

"You CAN'T BE HAVING a baby now, Miz Cam}" Catfish protested. with no womenfolk around ! " "

"Not

"Tell that to the baby. if we hurry, we can make it outside. has got to be better than all this muck for a delivery."

A track

Color rushed back into Catfish's face. He scrambled to his feet. "Now there's a plan. I don't relish you being near some shooter in your del-ee-cate condition. But don't you worry none. I got my gun." "Right now I need a doctor more than a bodyguard." tensed as a contraction swept through her lower back and abdomen. grabbed his arm to steady herself.

Cam groaned and

She reached for Catfish and

The color that had just pink cA his face disappeared again. "We'll make it to the exit ma'am. I got a strong shoulder for you to lean on." There was a sudden sound of something splashing near his boots. out for them bats!" Catfish warned. "Another just let loose!" Caro straightened. "Miz Caro!

"That was no bat.

"Watch

That was me."

Couldn't you have wait cA to water them bushes?"

"We're talking amniotic fluid, Catfish.

As in ruptured membrane."

"Huh?" "My water just broke." Catfish closed his eyes, unwilling to see such a horror of horrors. This was even worse than letting loose! "Don't you worry none, Miz Caro. carry you!"

We'll make it out even if I have to

JASENTHA SCRAPED the last of the guano from behind her. She'd thrown a total of five bombs and barely had enough for a sixth. She knew it. Page 120


In The Arms Of The Law After this bomb, so would Smitty. And still no Morgan! "I don't want to hurt such a lovely lady? he called up to her. " Why don't you go home, let me finish my work and we'll both make it out of here in one piece? " I can't!

Not until I know Caro and CaOfsh and Morgan are safe.

"You stop tossing the muck, and I'!1 stop shooting at your pretty head. Then we both win." Jasentha's answer was to shove the last of the guano down the shaft. She smiled as Smitty curs cA again. You really do have a limited vocabulary, Mr. Smith. No, Ernshaw. "Look, sweetheart. I have a semiautomatic with five full clips in my pack--and an infrared sniper scope. So if you're counting shots in the hopes that I'll run out, think again." Jasentha refused to speak to him, to give him any target at all. L/ar. Kidnapper. Killer. "And if you think I'm bluffing about my shooting ability, think again. Watch the bats, lovely lady. How abouta shot to roust a couple, then I'll pick off five in a row. That ought to convince you," Shock cA Jasentha almost reveal cA her exact location with an involuntary shriek of protest, raising herself on her arms. But another shot and the death cry of the first bat, the reverberation of the report in the shaft, had her lying flush and flat against the rock. Her body jerked at the sound of the identical sequence four more times. The report, the shriek, the echoes. Inside she was screaming, No! even as she covered her head against flying rock shards. All but one of the bats fell to their deaths---if they weren't dead already. That exception was a pair that tumbled onto her ledge, the adult crying from a hole blown through the elbow of the wing, the twitching mortally wounded baby clinging to its mother. Ignoring her own wound, the mother tried to stem her baby's flow of blood with frantic licking and grooming. The bat blood mixed with Jasentha's tears as she watched the tragedy unfold inches before her face. The bat pup stopped twitching and the mother gradually stopped moving. The two curled around each other in death--innocent victims. Changing Woman, please let these two rest in your arms. And please, please, please let Caro and her baby have escaped unharmed Guide Catfish to her and Morgan to me. Protect us all. Jasentha gently pushed the dead back into a small crevice, where they wouldn't be disturbed by her exit. She didn't want them to tumble down the long shaft. It didn't seem right to separate them. No one should have to be alone in life or in death. No one. Not Morgan. Not me. We're perfect complements, she realized with a start. We always were. Why did I never realize that before? "Get the picture?" Smitty called up to her. "Now I'm going to start back down this shaft. if you don't want to end up like those bats, you'll leave things be. Got it, sweetheart?" I'm not your sweetheart, you murderer. Jasentha pushed back her grief, pushed back her anger, pushed back everything but the need for her survival, for her friends" survival. Morgan needed time to find her. There was only one rule right now--stall for time, stall for Morgan. Page 121


Morgan will come for me.

In The Arms Of The Law He always comes for me.

She carefully rolled onto her back, ignoring the puddle of bat blood under her shoulders. She reached for her sheathed knife and slid it into her waistband. Then she quietly removed her boots, silently rolled back onto her stomach and edged toward the side of the rock. She didn't bother to draw her black hair against her face for camouflage. Smitty's infrared would pick up her body's heat once she left the protection of the rock. But she wouldn't expose herself yet. Not until Smitty thought he was safe--not until his back was turned. Motionless, she waited, straining her ears for any sound. She knew that he, too, was motionless, straining his own ears for any sound, waiting . watching . in that timeless moment between fight or flight. These boots won't kill like your bullets, but I bet I can leave a bruise or two on your head. Come on, Morgan, where are you ? "WERE THOSE MORE GUNsHoTS?" another contraction. "Are you sure?

Cato asked, huffing and puffing through

TM

"Yep." Catfish stared at the kneeling woman in shock as she accepted his bold-faced lie. Did birthing make a woman stupid? Of course those were gunshots! Cam knew about gunshots--or she did ordinarily. But this was hardly an ordinary situation. "It's, urn, nothing" fer you to worry about, Miz Cato. You just keep thinkin" happy thoughts for that baby." He patted her shoulder awkwardly until the contraction was through, then helped her to her feet again. we're two-thirds there already." Cato rose, then sank to the ground again with a sigh. tired and my back hurts."

"Come on,

"I can't.

I'm

"If you'd spend half the energy walkin" as you do talkin', we'd be out at the truck right now! Now get those legs in gear, Miz Caro. You want your bun leaving your oven in this dirty cave? " "I want Wyatt," Cato moaned. pillows."

"Wyatt and a pillow.

Wyatt and two

Catfish started to swear, then caught himself. It couldn't be good to swear at a birthin'. It might be bad luck, and his luck was bad enough already. He bit his lip---hard--then bent over and picked up Caro, "bun" and all. "You can't carry me out," she said. chest.

But she set-fled against his

"I've carried ore on my back that weighed twice as much as you. I ain't the old gray mare yet," he replied, feeling very much like one, however. "But I gotta ask ya for two things." "What?"

Caro asked, rubbing her palms over her swollen belly.

"Keep the flashlight pointed so I can see my footing." Page 122


In The Arms Of The Law "I'd planned to.

What else?"

"Promise you'll let me set you down ... ouce the bun starts acomin'." "Don't you call my baby a bun!"

"Sorry.

Once your bundle" "Baby !"

"--arrives. You should be lyin" down then. plentymand I mean plenty--of notice! " "I will.

So make sure you give me

I'll need help getting off my jeans and panties, anyway."

Catfish bit his lip again. sinner. " .

"Lordy, Lordy, have mercy on this o1"

"It's a little late for prayers," Caro grunted as another contraction began. Catfish took in a deep calming breath. torch!"

"Miz Caro, please aim that

"Wait just a damn minute, old man!" He did. As soon as her contraction finished, Caro shone the torch properly, and Catfish started hiking out as fast as the circumstances allowed. "I don't appreciate being sworn at, ma'am," he said stiffly. "Sorry, Catfish," Caro said in a small voice.

"You oughtta be."

"I'm not. myself I shouldn't have insulted you." "Darn tootin'! Calling me names and swearing like a miner while I'm carting you out of here! Hellfire and damnation, woman, there's only so much an old man can take!" MORGAN HEARD more gunshots--and felt cold sweat break out anew each time. He didn't need Striker to locate the venting shaft that led to the outside. The smell of gunpowder was carded straight down to his nose. He kicked off his boots and socks, dropped his canteen, removed his gun and shucked the gun belt. He'didn bother grabbing extra ammunition from the belt. It would only slow him down, and in this terrain, he doubted the battle would be settled with heavy firepower. He shoved the gun deep in his side pocket. Jasen-that needs me. out there alone against a mad man She needs me. And I need her!

She's

Striker whimpered and poked his nose into Morgan's hand. Morgan gave him a quick reassuring scratch behind the cars. "Don't you worry, boy. I'll bring her back safely--even if it kills me." Morgan gave the dog a final pat, then began to climb. JASENTHA HEARD SOMETHINCr---the sound of someone moving on the rocks! Immediately she leaned over the edge and looked down, just in time to catch Smitty doing the same. She aimed her boot and threw it with the keen eyesight and physical dexterity that had given her mammal clan the name CYdfwalker and kept generations alive in these rocks. The boot--steel-toed with a reinforced sole--hit Smitty square on the hand. Her victory cry rang inside her head. Gotchal Smitty slipped and fumbled with his gun. Jasentha heard it clank and fall down the shaft. And your weapon, too! Page 123


In The Arms Of The Law She watched in grim satisfaction as Smitty scrambled for purchase. His balance was greatly compromised. She thought of all the people he'd killed, all the antiquities he'd stolen or destroyed. She thought of Wyatt lying in a hospital bed, of Care and the baby, whose fate was still uncertain. And she thought of the bats whose lives he'd wasted, the bats whose pollination had kept these deserts alive. She didn't believe in killing--she truly didn't--but she did believe in self-defense. Jasentha thought of all these things--and took aim with her second boot at the same time as the storm broke directly overhead. The flash of lightning and boom of thunder were simultaneous, filling the shaft with overwhelming light and sound that spoiled her vision and mined her aim. The boot missed its target, but struck a loose section of the lower shaft, sparking a chain reaction of falling rocks and guano that hit Sheriff Morgan Earp Bodine dead on. "WE MADE IT! Look, Miz Care, there's our exit!" Catfish announced. The words had hardly left his mouth when there was a huge flash of lightning, accompanied by a boom of thunder, just outside the entrance of the Silver Dollar Mine. A downpour of biblical proportions began. Catfish gently set Cato down and ran to check on the truck. A blast of wind blew rain into his face. It made no difference; the rain was almost a solid mass of water. He couldn't see the track as anything more than a blur, yet it was only a few yards away. Catfish had lived through seventy-some Arizona monsoon seasons. He knew there was no way the windshield wipers could keep up with such ferocity. Wipers aside, flash floods were a very real danger in this terrain. Water was already halfway up to the wheel wells. There was no point in running for the track; it was too dangerous to even try. Reluctantly he retraced his steps, reached for the open cave door and pulled it closed. "What are you doing?" "Gotta keep the warm in and the water out." "What ... about ... the truck?" hit. "It's a no-go, ma'am.

Caro panted as another contraction

We ain't goin" nowhere.

"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN LIOHTNINO FLASHED and thunder exploded again and again, making the atmosphere in the shaft surrealistic. The light was enough to. keep Morgan from falling outright when he was hit by the boot. But he wouldn't stay secure for long. The waterfall from above was getting worse. "Morgan! Morgan, is that you?" Jasentha's.

The question was in Apache, the voice

Morgan blinked, his fingers and bare toes crammed into tenuous slippery holds. He slid again, his gun snagging on a sharp outcropping, the metal slowly working itself up and out of his pocket as he continued to slide downward. But his purchase was too precarious to try to save the Page 124


In The Arms Of The Law weapon, let alone holler an answer loud enough to be heard. "Morgan?" she screamed again, just as he stopped his downward slide and the gun cleared his pocket. He didn't even try to grab it as it fell. "Are you all right? No, don't answer that!" I'm a lot better knowing you are, he thought, his relief at hearing her voice, knowing she was alive, in truth almost overwhelming. But I'm not exactly home free. Where's Smitty? He had to be nearby or Jasentha would have used English. "Smiuy's between us! Use my voice as twelve by the sun," she said in Apache; he knew that no word for wristwatch existed in her language. "In that time circle, Smitty's at four!" Morgan was immediately glad she'd warned him to keep his silence. The enemy was directly above him. Talk about being a perfect target for a rock the head. "Morgan, if you can hear me, I hope you're okay. pray Caro is, too!"

I'm Safe for now.

I

He could hear the panic in her voice, despite the noise of the thunder and rain and water. He must be close, very close, to be able to hear her this well. Which meant Smitty was even closer. "Morgan, listen carefully. I didn't knock the man loose--he's playing dead right now--but I might have disarmed him with my boot. He'd be shooting at me otherwise." Morgan smiled grimly. You dMrs. "t just disarm my fierce warrior-womarr You disarmed me, that's okay. Now I won't worry about you lead. "We're too high up now to try to get sent ha continued in Apache. " We have to surface before the rain gets worse or we'll all I washed to our deaths. I'm almost at the Smitty will have to climb out before you can safety. I'll be waiting for you! " The hair rose on the back of his neck. wait for me to catch him. You'll be alone with him.

,

He'll be climbing up to save his own hide.

Chain lightning flashed again and again. was almost at the surface, Smitty only a few body lengths behind her, Morgan that much behind him, Jasentha, be careful! "BE CAmcCt" would you? protested.

You're splashing water all over me!

Catfish continued to pour canteen water over his hands. in bat dung."

" Cam

"I'm covered

"Yeah, Well, join the club." Caro leaned her head back on Morgan's pack, her face sweaty, her hands cradled protectively around her abdomen. "I can't do a thing with dirty hands, Miz Caro. " "Yeah, right.

It ain't san-ee-tary."

Like you're going to be any helP, anyway" " Caro said in Page 125



a dispirited voice. Catfish was all indignation.

"I got you here, didn't

I? " "" And complained about it the whole way. I wish you were Wyatt! At least he'd want to be here. The most special time of our lives and he's lying in some hospital! I get kidnapped, my baby's coming a month early, and you can't even open your eyes when I have a on traction Cato began to cry. "Why don't you go back and help Morgan? You'll be more use to him than me;" Catfish almost took her at her word. In his mind's. eye he was already gone--until he thought of Marta, What would Marta say if he left Caro alone? Would she praise him Or damn him? Catfish stroked his formerly immaculate mustache. She'd probably call him a yeller coward. And she'd be right--abandoning "Smitty's between us! Use my voice as twelve by the sun," she said in Apache; he knew that no word for wristwatch existed in her language. "In that time circle, Smitty's at four!" Morgan was immediately glad she'd warned him to keep his silence. The enemy was directly above him. Talk about being a perfect target for a rock on the head. "Morgan, if you can hear me, I hope you're okay. pray Caro is, too!"

I'm Safe for now.

I

He could hear the panic in her voice, despite the noise of the thunder and rain and water. He must be close, very close, to be able to hear her this well. Which meant Smitty was even closer. "Morgan, listen carefully. I didn't knock the man loose--he's playing dead right now--but I might have disarmed him with my boot. He'd be shooting at me otherwise." Morgan smiled grimly. You didn't just disarm him, my fierce warrior-woman. You disarmed me, too. But that's okay. Now I won't worry about you eating lead "We're too high up now to try to get down," Ja-sent ha continued in Apache. "We have to reach the surface before the rain gets worse or we'll all be washed to our deaths. I'm almost at the vent. But Smitty will have to climb out before you can get to safety. I'll be waiting for you!" The hair rose on the back of his neck. Smitty won't wait for me to catch him He'll be climbing straight up to save his own hide. You'll be alone with hint Chain lightning flashed again and again. Jasentha was almost at the surface, Smitty only a few body lengths behind her, Morgan that much behind him. Jasentha, be careful! "BE CAREFUL, would you? protested.

You're splashing water all over me!"

Catfish continued to pour canteen water over his hands. in bat dung."

Caro

"I'm covered

Page 126


In The Arms Of The Law "Yeah, well, join the club." Caro leaned her head back on Morgan's pack, her face sweaty, her hands -cradled protectively around her abdomen. "I can't do a thing with dirty hands, Miz Caro. san-ee-tary."

It ain't

"Yeah, right. Like you're going to be any help, anyway," Caro said in a dispirited voice. Catfish was all indignation.

"I got you here, didn't

I? " "And complained about it the whole way. I wish you were Wyatt! At least he'd want to be here. The most special time of our lives and he's lying in some hospital! I get kidnapped, my baby's coming a month early, and you can't even open your eyes when I have a contraction." Caro began to cry. "Why don't you go back and help Morgan? You'll be more use to him than me." Catfish almost took her at her word. In his mind's. eye he was already gone---until he thought of Marta. What would Marta say if he left Caro alone? Would she praise him or damn him? Catfish stroked his formerly immaculate mustache. She'd probably call him a yeller coward. And she'd be right--abandoning Wyatt's wife like this. The whole town, Wyatt in the lead, might string him up from the nearest tree. Not that he gave a Ionghom's scrawny backside what the whole town, Wyatt included, thought of him. He was his own man. Always had been. But Miz Marta was special. He'd do anything for her-anything. "Stop your caterwauling," he said in a firm voice. "What would Wyatt say if he heard you bawlin" like a branded steer? " "I don't know." "Yes, you do, Miz Caro, and so do I." He deliberately made his voice soft and soothing, the way he'd done in his younger days before the mines claimed him--those days when he talked to edgy cat-He or had to ride green-broke horses. He used the voice he used then, a long stream of steady words that had never failed to calm the most restless beast. "Now, I know I'm not your sawbones or your ma, but I've seen plenty of mares and cows drop their bundles. Don't you worry none. Wyatt comes from good stock. YOu, too. You got breeder's hips, nice and wide, not like them skinny magazine ladies. And the baby's early, too. He'll slide out easier than a greased pig in a chute. I'm here to help--but ya gotta let me finish washing up. I don't want no bat dung touching my godchild." Cam actually stopped sniffing to protest. the baby's godfather."

"Wyatt wanted Morgan to be

"Morgan, my aunt Fanny. if I gotta deliver this baby, then I'm aclaimin" the right to be the godfather. Morgan can wait for the next one. Better yet, he can get hitched and start his own. " Page 127


In The Arms Of The Law Catfish finished with his hands. "That's about as clean as they're gonna get." He looked down at his good friend's wife. When he fully took in the fear and fatigue in her. dirt-streaked and tearstained face, he impulsively clasped her hand in his callused one. He patted it the way he'd pat the neck of a horse under saddle for the very first time "You can't fight nature, Miz Cato. You got ha show your good breedin" and be brave for the baby. Sta'm" now." "Okay," Caro replied in a much calmer voice. beef, you know."

"But I'm not a side of

"And I ain't no midwife. But I think we two'll do. He patted her hand again. "And now, Miz Caro..."

this bun proud."

"Hmm?" "Drop them knickers!" JASENTHA WAS GREETED by the full fury of the desert storm when she reached the top of the shaft. This wasn't a warm friendly desert shower that nourished" and refreshed. This was an icy onslaught that battered and attacked. Her feet had barely touched rocky ground before her teeth were chattering from the cold, her bandanna was ripped from her head and her hair was a dripping mass down her back. And. the man she hated was climbing out--right above the man she loved. She had to let the enemy out to protect the lawman below. There was no other way. The wind howled. The huge rocky pillars all around, which narrowed in strange formations, trapped and compressed and amplified the already screaming wind. Massive bleached boulders, pressed in their tighter and tighter patterns, hardly even allowed the rain itself to find an exit, let alone a cleft for a human to find. You either climbed straight up or straight down, because boulder by bare boulder, pillar by desolate pillar, a tight circle had been formed--a deadly arena that let only those with wings, or only those who could walk the cliffs, in and out. But no one could walk these water-drenched cliffs now. Not even her. She said a prayer for courage as Smitty emerged--knife in hand. Until Morgan emerged--/f he emerged---there were only the two of them. And this enemy faced death as the penalty for his many crimes, while her death meant survival for him. She knew what was coming--a fight for life. She wasn't ready to kill. She couMrs't kill. She valued all life far too much. If Dustin's death had taught her anything, it had taught her that. She felt more alone than she'd ever felt in her life. I don't stand a chance. "COME ON, Miz Care! "You can rest later. "Push!" "Can't..."

Time to deliver the goods!" Now push!"

Catfish ordered.

"I'm too tired..." "I can't..."

Her wail was barely a whisper.

The weakness in her voice frightened him, and Catfish wasn't easily Page 128


In The Arms Of The Law frightened. But he'd seen mares give up like this--mares that had too much asked of them, mares that had died with the foals still inside. And Care had suffered more kicks than a mule-team farrier today. If he had to tell Wyatt that he'd failed his wife. Dear Lord, if he had to tell Marta that he'd failed her friend. All those dreams for two couples" futures, all those dreams for happiness--his and Marta's, Wyatt and Caro's... Catfish buried his face in his washed hands. We don't stand a chance. MORGAN SLOWLY, laboriously advanced up the rock against a torrent of water and wind. He remembered. that terrible time Kim had pushed him down a shaft very like this one. He remembered his bones breaking, his body bleeding. He would have died except for one thing--the knowledge that his family would. never leave him would never abandon him. Morgan knew they would never stop searching, never stop helping him, protecting him. The Bodines looked out for their own--always. That knowledge had given him strength and kept him alive for three horrible days. But what did Jasentha have to draw on? A spirit-Jess father? An absent mother? A dead brother? A nonexistent lover? She had no family, no friends, no one except him. But that's all you need, Jasentha! Me. And your all I need. t Morgan loved her. He wanted to tell her. Wanted to hear her say it back. But it was too late.

Because Jasentha was up there

alone with a crazed killermwithout the certainty he'd had; the certainty that family would support her no matter what. Dear God, she doesn't stand a chance. JASENTHA WATCHED her enemy pause to gather in his strength before the fight. She did the same. But while he caught his breath from the strenuous climb and rested, she did something besides rest. She did something she hadn't done since childhood. Jasentha Cliffwalker, daughter of Cliffwalkers, drew on the strength of those who loved her. She didn't have to be alone, didn't have to let things stand that way. Perhaps all her pain over past misfortunes, past misunderstandings, past tragedies, still remained in her heart because she chose to let it remain. She thought of her father, the man who'd taught her the joy of life, the delight in every second of every waking moment. She thought of her mother, the woman who'd taught her integrity and honesty. She thought of Dustin, the brother who'd taught her determination and courage. She thought of Morgan, the man who'd taught her restless lonely spirit how to laugh, to share, to love. Suddenly an endless stream of people she had helped and taught and loved, people of all ages from the Silver Dollar staff to children in classrooms and friends in Tombstone, filled her head and her heart. Her Nidt, her people, surrounded her, fortified her, strengthened her for this" fight. Whether she lived or died, this she knew. Against their combined might, Smitty doesn't stand a chance. ANOTHER BOLT of lightning flashed nearby, followed instantly by the boom of thunder. Before the last vestiges of sound cleared the air, Jasentha and Smitty moved toward each other. Page 129


In The Arms Of The Law It was Jasentha who made the first move---a feint that allowed her to get between Smitty and the shaft. She couldn't risk Smitty attacking Morgan when if--he emerged. Already the water rushing down the sides of the surrounding pillars was filling the arena. Much of it was funneling down into the caves, and Morgan needed to get to open air in a hurry, before the force of the runoff made the climb impossible. Morgan will have to emerge soon--or die, Jasen-that realized. If he succeeded, it would be two against one, She doubted Smitty would want those odds. The death penalty awaited him unless he escaped. Her present position had her back to the wind and driving rain, and her face-clear. Already Smitty was circling toward her. Jasentha was forced to retreat, keeping the shaft a safety zone between them. Hurry, Morgan.

t Hurry.

The wind howled through the pillars, but the sound of the rain was louder. The heavy runoff was starting to rise within the circular walls; the narrow shaft, barely able to accommodate a person, wasn't large enough to drain the torrent of water rushing down from the higher areas. Already the level was as high as her calves, in places over her knees. And still no Morgan. Smitty made his move when she reached the deeper water. He rushed her full speed. She didn't try to avoid him until the last minute--then dodged and pushed him hard. He staggered and lost his footing on the uneven ground. She kicked at his knife hand, but he was already moving away from her, the knife still firmly in his grasp. Jasentha herself was off balance from her kick. She grabbed one" of the pillars. She and her enemy rose and faced each other, Smitty's knife poised to throw, her own still in her waistband--just as Morgan's head emerged from the shaft. The FAN'r's HEAD crowned. baby!"

"Come on, Miz Caro, push!

Here comes the

"I'm trying!" she gasped. Catfish watched her push as hard as she could, but the stress of the kidnapping, the lack of food and water, and the shock of seeing her husband shot must have been too much for her. Her pushing wasn't doing the trick. Catfish thought of all the gravid mare and cow bellies he had leaned into with his massive bulk to assist tiring womb muscles. He looked at the pale woman who, even pregnant, wasn't even a third his weight. His hands were huge compared to her belly. But what choice did he have? Catfish leaned forward, fingers spread over her belly. never, Miz Caro. Now or never

"It's now or

As MORGAN'S ARMS followed his head from the hole, Jasentha wished her back was still to the driving rain. She could barely see Morgan, but she could see Smitty well enough to register the knife in his hand. As the waters rose, she reached for her own knife, not to throw but to bury in a rock crevice as an anchor against the current. An accurate knife throw in this storm would have been miraculous--but Smitty never had a chance to even try, thanks to the force of the water. The falling water suddenly gained more strength, and one of the torrents turned into a huge gusher, a waterfall that leaped away from the pillars. It hit the pooled water with the weight of a falling saguaro. Page 130


In The Arms Of The Law Separating Smitty from Jasenthamand Jasentha from Morgan. Smitty free access to Morgan.

Leaving

Knife still in hand, Smitty fought his way toward the nearest pillar. Jasentha threw caution to the wind as she saw one of Morgan's arms pulled back into the hole by the strength of the water. The torrent poured into his mouth, his eyes, his ears, and stole his breath, his sight, his hearing; his hand lost its grasp on the lip of the shaft. "Morgan!"

Jasentha screamed.

"Morgan, hold on!

I'm coming!"

But she couldn't. The angle of the rocks and the topography-induced current fought her. The water that pulled at Smitty near one end of the shaft pushed Jasentha away from it. He was fighting to hold on to his pillar, Jasentha was fighting to get away from hers, and Morgan was in the center of the arena. She saw him sink even lower in the shaft. Her last attempt to fight the current caused her knife blade to snap. She almost overbalanced, broken knife shaft in hand. She tossed it away, clinging to the rocks with both hands. "I can't reach him!" Please!"

Jasentha yelled at Smitty.

"Help him!

But Smitty couldn't, wouldn't. Jasentha's breath caught on a sob as she again tried to fight the force of a full-blown desert flood. Hang on, Morgan. on!

I won't run away this time, I swear it!

Just hang

MORGAN MANAGED to bring his other arm up again. He fought for every inch that it took to get his head above water so he could breathe, but with the water fighting him back, he could do no more. He doubted he could hold out much longer. Through the rain in his eyes he saw Jasentha circling around the arena's huge pillars, going from rock to rock--with the current, not against it. Each step, each pillar, took her closer to Smitty. Jasentha, the man has a knife!

What are you doing

Then suddenly everything fell together--his position, hers, the water, the current. And Smitty. She was coming after him the only way she could---with the current, and right past Smitty's deadly blade! JASENTHA KEPT her eyes on the two men. She would nit-have to pass Smitty on her circular track, but she'd have to get awfully close and actually turn. her back on him when she let go the pillars to cross to the shaft opening. In a blinding flash of insight, she knew what would happen. He plans to shove us both down the shaft. But there was no way to get to Morgan other than to go with the current. And she wasn't about to let him slip away to his death. She gave Smitty one last glance and turned toward Morgan. Don't give up, Morg. t I'm here! MORGAN, TOO, HAD PREDICTED the conclusion of this fight. No, Jasentha You aren't riSking your life for me this time! He fought the water's weight with every reserve he had, but it wasn't enough. He made one last final try, one last surge against nature. He didn't bother drawing on the strength of generations of Bodines. For the first time Page 131


In The Arms Of The Law in his life, he drew solely on his own strength--a strength he had never before possessed . A strength that a woman's love, his woman's love, had given him. Then he was rising above the rock, rising above the water, tackling the current to get to Jasentha's side. He saw the fury and desperation in Smitty's eyes. The storm swallowed Jasentha's cry--then everything happened at once. The wind and rain let up for just a whisper of a second, just a whisper of eternity. And in that whisper of calm, Smitty raised his knife, the muscles of his arm rippling. Morgan reached Jasentha, hugged her to his chest and placed himself between her and Smitty . A rallying Caro gave one mighty shove, her body bearing down against the bulk inside her. Catfish pressed down one last time on her contracting womb, then made ready to catch the child . Smitty let the knife fly. Jasentha saw if and jerked Morgan around so that the knife would strike her. In that whisper of time, the knife passed between their bodies, between their chests as each fought to protect the other. Smitty was torn from his pillar, the current carrying his unbalanced but still upright body to the knife's location . Catfish Screamed his encouragement. Caro screamed in pain . And Morgan, unwilling to let go of Jasentha to pursue Smitty, screamed in fury and fought back with the only weapon he had left. His foot.

Sheriff Morgan Earp Bodine stuck out his foot.

Smitty tripped and fell into the current, the force of the water sucking him toward the shaft. He cried for help before his voice was choked by the water. He thrust up one hand and Jasentha reached for it, just as she'd reached for Smitty the first time the cliffs had trapped him. Morgan couldn't believe it. stared at her.

"Help him!"

Jasentha begged.

Morgan

"It's a life, Morgan!" she cried. "Help him! TM He remembered his badge, remembered his vow and forced himself to remove one of his two arms from Jasentha's waist and stick out his hand. He missed Smitty, but Jasentha did not. With that precise hand-eye coordination he'd always envied, she grabbed Smitty's hand just as Morgan once more grabbed her. She tried to pull Smitty up out of the water, but the whirlpool suction was too strong. "Let go of me and help, Morgan !" she screamed against the rushing sound of rain and torrent. "Without a pillar I can barely keep us upright, Jaz! you, we all go under!" "Morgan, I need two hands! "Not this time, Jaz! again !"

If I let go of

You have to let go of me!"

Do you hear me?

I'm never letting go of you

She met his gaze, even as she clung to Smitty. "Morgan, I'm never leaving you again." Then the water tore at her with one last ripping Page 132


In The Arms Of The Law force; her slippery hand was suddenly empty, and Smitty sank into the water. He was sucked toward the shaft, his facedown prone body unable to fit through the narrow opening but obstructing the downward flushing motion of the water, temporarily stopping the current. The foaming, swirling, now waist-high water momentarily calmed, thanks to its human plug. It was Morgan whose bare feet found toeholds for them both, Morgan who found the strength to climb sheer faces even Jasentha had never attempted, Morgan who brought them to a ledge of safety, high above the semi placid pool. He scaled the rock with a strength Jasentha had never seen, because it was Jasentha he now held--and saved. The force of the water was great and the rain continued to fall. and loose pieces of rock and dirt

Soil

whirled down the pillar sides onto the still-kicking Smitty. But bit by bit the desert waters stole his air and" squeezed his prone body. Another moment, and his spine snapped; his body folded and he was pushed down the narrow shaft .... Caro gave one last mighty heave, pushing her screaming infant into the light.... Morgan dragged an exhausted Jasentha out of the water and up to' the safety of the ledge, and as he did, her soul treasured her beloved's promise. He's never leaving me again. We'll never be apart again. The last thing a physically, mentally and emotionally spent Jaz registered before she passed out for the first time in her life was Morgan holding her in his arms, his hand stroking her hair, his sweet, sweet voice saying, "I love you, Jasentha. I love you." She missed the rest, but that was okay. heart would never be lonely again.

Jasentha Cliffwalker's lonely

CHAPTER SIXTEEN THE RAIN HAD STOPPED when Jasentha opened her eyes. she saw was Morgan's face.

The first thing

"Not every woman can sleep through a mon soon," he said tenderly, cradling her body closer. "It's over?"

"Yes."

"Smitty?"

"Dead."

"Caro!"

"I left her safe with Catfish." "Thank the heavens above." "Careful," Morgan cautioned.

Jasentha started to sit up. "Don't bump your leg."

Jasentha suddenly realized one calf was burning. She reached for it and found his bandanna tied tightly over her jeans. "Ouch! That hurts." "Sorry. You must have sliced it on the edge of the rock. I, uh, was a little rough when I dragged you up here. You're going to need stitches." "Dragged me... Where?" "Take a look.

But careful.

It's a long way down."

Jasentha slowly turned her head and stared down. dizzying drop. She realized. they were

It was a sheer

Page 133


In The Arms Of The Law on a small ledge, straight up one of the pillars. Most of the water in the aren alike circle below was gone. All that remained was clean scoured rock and the black opening of the shaft. Jasentha couldn't believe it. She blinked, then carefully looked around, above, beneath, beside her. "How..."

She had to start again.

"Damned if t know."

"How did we get up here?"

:

Jasentha stayed in his arms, staring at the long drop from the ledge. Save for it, the pillar's sides were slick and smooth as glass. She whistled. "Exactly." Morgan held her tighter; "Morgan?" "Hmm?" "Any idea how we're going to get down?" "Sorry, Jaz.

I thought you might know."

Her man looked so chagrined, so helpless, so very Morgan that Jasentha couldn't prevent throwing back her head onto Morgan's arm, the arm that both protected and cradled her, and letting her laughter spill and flow and dance into the clean desert air. CARO'S LAUGHTER filled the entrance of the Silver Dollar Mine and bubbled out past the open door. She had just finished giving her daughter her first meal" and was now rocking her in her arms. "She's beautiful! Just beautiful! Look at her fingers, Catfish! They're so tiny, so perfect! And her toes!" Catfish was already looking. "She's a humdinger, all right," he agreed, fascinated by the tiny arms and legs. "She's got her daddy's hands, I think. And her daddy's appetite. Lucky for her, she's got her mama's face. She's real purty, Miz Caro. Real purty indeed." Caro beamed with maternal pride. Catfish couldn't get over the beauty of mother and child--a beauty he'd actually played a part in! "Whatcha gonna name her?" "Catherine--after her godfather. And we won't be calling her Cathy or Katie, either. We'll call her Cat for short." The old miner felt tears threaten. "Why, Miz Caro, you don't have to do that! Catfish ain't even my real name. Maybe you should check with Wyatt..." "Wyatt's not here. You were. Case closed." Cato was her old self again. She lifted her naked baby--naked except for the shoelace from the miner's boot dangling from her navel cord--high in the air, the perfect feet curling. "Here you go, Cat. Go see your namesake." Catfish took the tiny bundle in his arms. godchild before," he said in awe. "Well, you better get used to it. birthday parties from you."

"I ain't never had no

I expect lots of baby-sitting and

His breath caught. Suddenly the idea of baby-sitting held great appeal. He'd let those crazy Bodine brothers and their almost-as-crazy women traipse all over the countryside. He, Catfish, would sit on the porch and tell the young' un tales of the good old days. Not that these {fays weren't good, too. They were Page 134


In The Arms Of The Law Maybe he'd invite Marta over, as well. Catfish tucked the baby inside his shirt against his warm chest. "Hey, little Catfish, you need some duds or yer gonna catch your death! I oughtta get a blanket out of the truck, Miz Cato." "Drop the Miz, you sweet man, and get me the overnight bag. hidden in the truck bed." "Hidden?"

It's

"Yeah. I didn't tell Wyatt I was having pains until after we drove away, but I did want to be prepared. There are clothes for me and the baby inside. Blankets. Diapers, too." "You want me to dress her first or dress you?" he asked. Today had certainly taken care of his old bachelor shyness. He didn't think anything about fee males could ever make him blush again. Save Miz Marta's kisses. "Dress Cat.

I don't want her getting cold.

I can manage."

"You okay if I leave you, MizwI mean, Caro?" all the answer he needed.

Her contented smile was

WYATT EARP BODINE wouldn't rest. He wouldn't eat, take his pain meds, anything, until he heard about his wife. Marta's shift had ended, and when her replacement arrived, she'd come to sit with him. Together they kept vigil. "You know Cam and the baby will be fine," Marta said firmly. like I know Catfish and Ja-sent ha will be fine."

"Just

Wyatt stared at the clock on the wall. Marta had said those same two sentences so many times he thought he'd go insane if he heard them again---or dMrs't hear them again. Too much time had passed. Too much time. And then the phone rang. Wyatt reached for it, but Marta was quicker. She snatched it up, held it to her ear, gasped. Tears fell from her eyes and she couldn't speak. Injury or not, Wyatt grabbed for the phone as Marta buried her face in her hands. "Hello?" he said, fighting the pain in his shoulder and the sick feeling in his gut. "Hey, Sheriff, this is Catfish! I'm in your truck and I've got someone here who wants to yammer at you." " Wyatt's fingers tightened on the receiver. "Darling." It was Cato, and her voice was full of love, pride and joy. "Say hello to your daughter." MORGAN CONTINUED to help Jasentha down from the mountains above the caves. Somehow she'd found a way off. the ledge. Cons'ering everything they'd gone through, the descent didn't seem so insurmountable, after all. "Where are we going?" she asked as he helped her through a particularly rocky passage. "You don't know where we are?" Page 135


In The Arms Of The Law "Unfortunately I do." She limped alongside him, her arm around his neck, his arm around her waist. "We dead-end pretty soon." "No, we don't.

I'll show you."

She merely smiled. It was all he could do not to take her in his arms and make love to her right there. But it was late; her leg injury, while not lifo threatening, definitely needed medical attention, and they were wet, cold, tired and hungry. Or at least Jasentha had to be. As for himself, all he felt was a calm inner peace, a deep inner joy. All the years behind him, all the fruitless time wasted on Kimberly--it seemed like another era, and he seemed like another person. And he was content to let things stay that way. "Here's where it looks like a dead end," Morgan said, "but it's not. Right behind these pillars." Ie guided her toward the hidden vent. "It's a tight squeeze, so I can't help you. But I'll be right behind you." Jasentha didn't hesitate. Taking him at his word, she slipped between twin columns. Morgan turned sideways and pushed himself through. He emerged in a small hollow that led to a partially lit natural cavern. There he watched Jasentha stare at formation after formation of crystalline yellow. It was below them, above them, to the left, to the right. The clear untarnished color of gold---the only corrosion-free metal in existence--shone bright and true. Jasentha gasped: "Morgan, you knew this was here?" "Yes. I was after Kim and she was after this. Here's where she left me and where Wyatt found me." He approached her side and supported her again. "This shaft will take us through a few more natural caves, then out at the valley floor and Silver Dollar land." "And I thought I knew everything there was to know about these caves. And you." Her smiie was full of love as she touched the gold ore lightly with her fingertips. "Why aren't you mining this?" "Bodine money's on the hoof. We've always done well with horses. Wyatt and Virgil wanted things kept quiet, and so did I. We thought it was for the best." "And no wonder! You'd have every fortune-hunter in the country canvassing your land!" "That's what I thought. treasure in them?"

Who'd have guessed the caves held more

Jasentha's hand fell away from the gold.

"Like the glyphs."

"And your bats." He gently turned her toward him, one arm still supporting her waist, the other now resting on her cheek. "And you." She lifted her head to him, and in her expression was everything he'd hoped, dreamed, prayed to see in her face. All the love, all the joy, all for me. "I was thinking maybe I could mine some of the gold by hand to fix up the caves. You know, to purchase those barred doors you wanted, to keep peopl* out and let bats in. Once that's done, you'd have time to Page 136


In The Arms Of The Law decide what to do about the glyphs." You could notify the Arizona State Anthropological Society. " " And the Apache Tribal Council? " " Yes, or bide your time. It's up to you. " " Really? " She hadn't quite taken everything in yet. He could see it in her eyes. He smiled, then resumed walking, his arm around her for support, letting her compose her thoughts They were halfway between the gold and the exit; amid the naturally formed close-to-the-surface shallow corridors, which allowed in enough light to see by. Enough light to discourage the bats. "I'd eventually like to open the caves to the public," Jasentha said thoughtfully. "With proper staffing and lighted trails away from the remaining glyphs sites, we'd make it that much harder for people to steal. We could even bar up the sites. Or cover them with plexiglass." -' Morgan helped her past a rocky patch. bats..."

"But your work ... your

"A little publicity would be good for them, too. Look at Carlsbad Cavern. Going public was the best thing that could have happened for those colonies. You know, if we could get the cave system certified as an endangered-mammal preserve--I mean, if your brothers don't mind giving up the old Silver Dollar Mine..." "They won't mind making " it a preserve, as long as a Bodine retains title to the land. That's you and me, in case you're wondering. Wyatt can't graze horses in guano, and Virgil never did care about these caves. " "You did.

Always."

"Yep." "Why?"

she asked.

"Because you came with them," he said as they hiked toward the exit. They could now see daylight streaming through it. It was Jasentha's turn to grin--something she hadn't done in a long time. "I guess you're stuck with me." " " Guess so. "Not that !

" mind," she added.

"I love you, Morgan.

I think..."

They spoke simultaneously. "I ... always have." The words were the truth. They had been friends as children, friends as adults, friends through good times and bad. Only now the time was right to take it one step further. Friends. Lovers. Soulmates. Their kiss said the rest. I always will. out into the clean open air.

And arm in arm, they stepped

Morgan ignored the faithful Striker, Gem, even Shooting Star, who, though drenched, stood waiting for their humans. He reached for his wife-to-be and pulled her tight against his chest, holding her heart against his. Then he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the horse he'd given Page 137


In The Arms Of The Law her. Only when he'd placed her safely on Staffs back and checked the bandanna over her injured leg, did he mount Gem. As he picked up the reins, his gaze swung toward her and he saw that her expression mirrored his love and gave it back tenfold. "Come with me, my heart," he said in Apache. unnecessary.

His words were

She was already at his side. THE STORM WAS OVER outside the caves, the evening sky calm, but inside there was still a flurry of activity. The bats were getting ready for their sunset forage into the desert. Rainstorms meant water, and water meant all kinds of insects to feast on. Some female bats nursed their pups, others disengaged them and began to clean their wings in preparation for flight. They licked and preened and groomed and oiled the transparent membranes. Those wings needed to be clean for precision flying, because during the feeding rash, navigating the narrow shaft was always difficult. And after feeding, there was still the return trip. The small opening meant a long pre landing circular flight pattern. The bats would form a huge funnel and await their turns, circling outside to move into the circle inside. Then they'd drop into the lower tighter circle that would funnel a few bats at a time into the caves--not unlike Monday-afternoon commuter flights stacked and circling and waiting their turns to land at a major airport. And that wasn't even counting the magnificent flying it would take to follow the hundreds and hundreds of insects required to sustain one bat. The bats, prompted by centuries of instinct, layered on heavier coats of oil. Much would wash off in the damp still-dripping shaft. But enough would remain to guarantee the flexibility of wings that could beat six times a second, could completely wrap around themselves and a pup, and could spread to full distance and fly faster than a horse could run. The bats were ready now. It was time to fly free, to feed, to do what they had done for centuries. Survive. THE WATER that had already bypassed the bats" living area and exit shaft continued to spill, fall, splash and gush through the smaller caves, the same water that had thwarted miners dreaming of treasure. Water could never be conquered, only sought for, taken from, lived with. Never conquered. No one knew that better than the desert creatures, miners included. In the mighty Sonoran Desert, there were only two kinds of water: too much or not enough. The desert was a study in extremes, and the water was no different. As it had for ages, ton and tons of runoff settled into the lowermost regions of the caves, through natural and man-made shafts alike, tearing at ore-laden and common rock alike. Old timber from the Silver Dollar Mine, plus other refuse, washed into the water, changing its purity to a murky darkness. The flood-head bashed against a narrow corridor; water amassed. With groaning, crushing, snapping noises, the waste clogged the flow of water and added to the buildup. The rock refused to give, but the water had to go someplace. Page 138


In The Arms Of The Law And so, with one last groan, it surged forward, a liquid battering ram, toward the old timbers, the ancient waste pile from Old Tombstone days, and smashed through a wall that man, not nature, had put there. The water swept through the rocks" ancient track, its truest track--and washed centuries" worth of guano toward the locked metal door at the entrance of the Silver Dollar Mine. Once more the water and debris built up, but only for a shuddering second before forcing the door flat to the ground. A huge wall of monsoon water, flash-flood strength, scoured the entrance clean before dispersing over the valley floor. Nothing was left of any wingless creature, two-legged or four; nothing of man or beast when the flood passed through. The vast mural walls of an ancient people had been wiped. clean of their protective coveting of guano. Nothing was left .

except the spiral glyphs that stood for water.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN ThE CROWD in the hospital waiting room was huge. Catfish, Jamie, Luciano, Ben and almost everyone else who claimed kin or friendship with the Bodines and Cliffwalkers was there. Jamie was busy with crowd control. Marta was inside with Caro while the doctors examined her and the baby. At Jasentha's insistence, Morgan was inside with a weak postoperative Wyatt, trying to keep his stubborn older brother from ripping the IV line out of his ann and racing to his wife's side. Jasentha was in the emergency room, waiting for the lidocaine to take effect before the doctor on call, a woman, sewed up the long deep gash in her calf. The ER nurse, a quiet young man, had stepped away for a minute, then returned with a message. "Your father wants to know if he can come in," he said. "My father?" The young man smiled. "It's not that busy in here, and we won't be ready to start on those sutures for a couple more minutes. So if you want..." "Okay ... sure." "I hate seeing people alone when they're hurt." I'm not alone--I'll never be

Before she could say,

alone, the nurse said, "Be right back," and was gone. returned with him.

Rogelio

"I'll give you a few minutes. If you need anything, Ms. Cliffwalker, just holier." The nurse retired to his desk and charts and paperwork as Jasentha's father approached. Rogelio studied her exposed leg peeking out from the hospital gown and warm blankets, and the bandage covering the spot where the rock chip had cut her cheek. "How are you feeling?" hand, then stopping.

he asked, moving as if he wanted to take her

"Good." Jasentha took the initiative and clasped his hand in hers, surprising them both. Rogelio's gaze traveled from her face to her leg. Page 139


In The Arms Of The Law "That'll leave a nasty scar," he said quietly. "Morgan won't care. certainly don't." "So your childhood dream has finally come true? returns your love? You are to be married?" "Yes.

I

The youngest Bodine

Oh, yes."

"I thought as much. I misjudged you both. Forgive me for having interfered in your youth. I share your joy, Daughter." Rogelio switched to the formal" Apache as he patted her hand. " I know this might not be the right time---but I have a favor to ask. " " Favor? Jasentha frowned. " Now? ""

"

"I know this is a bad time" --- Rogelio's words came out in a rush "--but it's about Ben. Would. you and Morgan consider taking him in?" Jasentha lifted her head, propping herself on her elbows. The nurse frowned from across his desk, but Jasentha's attention was on Rogelio. "I thought you wanted to be Ben's father! "i do, but..." Rogelio sighed. been a failure as a father."

I know you love the boy."

"I shall be honest, Jasentha.

I've

The sadness in his eyes was so profound, it stole some of her joy. "No, you haven't." "But I have." Rogelio reached for a wheeled stool and, without releasing her hand, sat down at her bedside. "Where is Dustin? Dead. Where are you? Lying in a hospital bleeding. Where is your mother? Gone. I wasn't able to keep any of you safe or happy." "After a certain point one is responsible for one's own safety, Father. And happiness. You know that." "I only know that I failed you both." Rogelio looked every day of-his advanced years. "Ben deserves better than the likes of me. You and Morgan should be his parents." "No, you're wrong!" Jasentha actually sat all the way up just as the doctor and nurse hurried to her side with requests that she please lie back down before her leg started bleeding heavily again. Jasentha lowered herself onto the pillow. But she refused to let go of her father's hand. And she did something she rarely did, for it was considered bad manners, but this wasn't the time to worry about etiquette. She switched to Apache, a language she was certain the nurse and doctor didn't speak. "Father, you are wrong about yourself. You are the best parent Ben could ever have." Rogelio made a sound of denial, but Jasentha didn't give up. "You are the best father for Bern You taught your son--and your daughter--some-thing all children need to learn." The doctor reached for the suture kit; the nurse had the needle ready. They busied themselves, speaking quietly in English, while Jasentha reached out to her father's heart. Page 140


In The Arms Of The Law "You taught your children how to fight for happiness. No matter that we sometimes made the wrong choice. We knew never to give up," And then, in a shaking voice, she told Rogelio how high in a mountain monsoon she had fought for her life and Morgan's--and won. But only, she said, because she had drawn on the strength of The People, as her father had taught her. Only because she realized she could not go on alone. She told Rogelio how accepting Morgan's love had made her invincible. Morgan, who gave her his heartmand set hers free. Morgan, who would never leave her. "You must understand, Father. You are the man who made it possible for me to make such a choice. The right choice this time. You taught Dustin the same thing. Yes, his death was a terrible thing. But no matter where we place the blame, Dustin died fighting for his own happiness. His way was wrong--the way of a child--but that wasn't your fault, Father. He knew he had to be with his people. His Nidt. As do I. You did right by us both." Tears filled her eyes, like those in Rogelio's. "Ben's lost his parents and soon he will lose his grandmother. I cannot be his mother and teacher, Father she whispered. " I can be his sister. Ben will have all the Bodines and Cliffwalkers as family, but he will need you the most. He must learn how to find his own happiness wisely, and from a wise elder, not a reckless woman like me. " Rogelio bowed his head, his fingers holding her so tightly that his grip actually hurt. But it was a good kind of hurt, like the pain in her leg as the nurse began to wrap her now-sutured calf. It was a healing pain and would soon pass. The strength of her heart, like the strength in Morgan's arms, like the strength in Rogelio, remained undiminished. "Jasentha, my fierce wise daughtermyou are no reckless youngster. thank you." This time it was Jasentha who made the sound of denial. me, Father. I am the one in your debt."

I

"Do not thank

"That is not the truth." A trace of humor glimmered in Jasentha's eyes as she switched to English. "Dad, let's just say we're even and call it quits." Rogelio lifted his head.

"Agreed," he said in English.

Father and daughter were quiet as the rest of her leg was wrapped. "There! All done! Someone will be here to take you to your room in a few minutes," the nurse informed her. "There's no need for that," Jasentha protested. After everything that had happened today, a hospital stay was the last thing she wanted. "We'd like you to stay a couple of days.

At least

overnight. " The doctor removed her gloves with a snap. " I want to run an antibiotic IV and make sure no infection sets in from all that cave filth. " "She'll stay," Rogelio said in a strong parental voice Jasentha hadn't Page 141


heard since childhood. room myself!"

In The Arms Of The Law "Even if I have to nail shut the door to her

For a moment he was her hero of old, her laughing warrior-father who shared her secrets, gave her joy;-fought all her demons and kept her lovingly safe. Then with a flash of insight she realized that her father was still that same man, the same father young Ben would have. She had helped him realize that: Something else to thank Morgan for. "Besides, you know Morgan would worry if you were home," Rogelio wisely added. "Then he'd have to leave Wyatt for you, and Wyatt would promptly hop out of bed and bleed to death trying to get to his wife. Better to have all of one's desert bees in one hive." "Better to put them all in one room," Jasentha suggested. me." "Morgan's already suggested it.

"Except for

A wise man, your betrothed."

"Morgan..." She sighed his name with happiness, a sigh followed by a big yawn. The blankets were warm, her heart was warm" and her father still held her hand. "I am so tired," she murmured in her childhood tongue. Rogelio's free hand gently stroked her still-damp hair. I will stay and guard your dreams."

"Then sleep.

"But Ben needs you," she drowsily protested. "Catfish and his woman are taking Ben home. Until your man returns, I remain at your side. If'the last little trace of doubt crept into his voice you want me, Daughter. " "Always, Father."

She closed her eyes.

"I need my Nide."

BEN WAS SIT YIN(3 in the backseat of the Jeep, his arm wrapped around the huge black dog that belonged to the bat-lady. That Jasentha was pretty neat, maybe she'd let him help her with those bats, even if they weren't vampires. Strange to think he'd have a father and a sister and a brother-in-law in a few weeks. He'd actually be related to the Bodines! And now he had his own dog! Well, Striker wasn't really his dog, but it belonged to a family member, so it was kind of like having his own dog. And there were three more dogs back at the Silver Dollar. Even before she went into the nursing home, Grandma was too sick to let him have any pets. Pets always meant more work--but outside pets like Striker here couldn't be that much work, could they? He wondered if Mr. Cliffwalker would" let him have pets. Maybe a nice Labrador retriever--yellow so it'd reflect the heat of the desert sun. Striker was black, no wonder he was always panting so muc. Ben scratched the big shepherd's ears above the lolling tongue. Striker looked thirsty.. Ben's own canteen was empty.

He wondered if Catfish or Marta had water left.

Ben wanted to ask, but the two adults in the front seat kept and talking! He sighed. Well, he'd just have to wait until stopped. Grandma said children should be seen and not heard adults were talking. He hated that saying, but it seemed to

talking they when be true,

Page 142


In The Arms Of The Law so. "I just can't believe you delivered that baby yourself!" was saying. "I thought for sure you'd have ... have..." "What? Run off and left the little mother on her own?" indignantly.

Marta

Catfish asked

"Well, no, but mercy sakes alive!" Marta shook her head. "I never would've believed it! And Care naming that baby after you, too! I never heard of a baby named Catfish," she marveled. "Her name's Catherine," Catfish said in a proud voice. "It's just Cat for short. And I knew what I was doing. I just took charge like a man oughtta and..." He hesitated, then flushed. He even stopped the Jeep and pulled over. Now was his chance to ask about the water for Striker, Ben thought. But he was wrong. "Miz Marta, I just done told you a whopper. almost did run scared."

I wasn't brave at all.

I

Ben watched Catfish hang his head, then lift it again, Something in the man's face made Ben decide he'd better keep quiet a while longer. "You see, ma'am, I don't know much about fee-males. Never had one of my own. But I do know one thing. When Care was birthin" her babe, I was wishin" like I never wished-before that you was there to help me." "I wish I could've been. To think I wasn't!" "No, you wasn't. You surely wasn't." Catfish's mustache drooped. "But I knew you wouldn't turn your back on a friend, fee-male or not. Caro's your friend. So I decided to stand in for you. I just knew I couldn't let Miz Care down, because that would've let you down, too." "Oh, Catfish, it must have been so awful for you "It weren't no walk in the park, ma'am. Care was hurtin" something" bad, and I was ... well, I ain't no woman. But I'd do anything for you, Miz Marta. Anything at all. Even birthin" babie. " Ben heard Marta gasp and watched her cover the old man's scarred hands on the steering wheel with her own. That was the strangest way to hold hands he'd ever seen. He heard Catfish take a deep breath. "Now I know I'm an old feel. I know a purty young thing like yourself could have any man in this town she wanted. But I'm still gonna ask you for yet hand, anyway, Miz Marta. I may be a bit long in the tooth, but I got my own land, my own house and money in the bank for any fancy dee dads you might want. I know ladies like to buy flowered dishes and frilly knickknacks and all. I don't mind one bit." "I don't need your money," Marta protested. "Even so, I don't mind sharing. I don't mind changing my ways, either. I'm a God-fearin" man, even if I don't take kindly to preachers. But if yotr want me to sing hymns in that church you go to every Sunday, I'm willin'. I gave up cussin', too. " " You gave up swearing? " "Yep. I have a godchild now---don't want to be a bad example. And I'll give up the chaw. I won't promise to give up the spirits, but drunk or sober, I ain't'never hit a woman. I ain't been drunk since my mining days ended and I never drink on Sundays." Page 143


In The Arms Of The Law "I like a glass of wine now and again myself, you know," was the soft reply. "And I make a fine Sunday dinner." Ben rolled his eyes. What were those two talking about? Was there a point to this conversation? He was getting thirsty himself, all this talk about drinking. And hungry, too. He watched Catfish take his hands off the steering wheel and place them on Marta's shoulders. "What I'm asking', Miz Marta, is this. I know your last man was a rotten cow pie, but I swear on the Good Book, if we was to get hitched, I'd do right by you." " Marta ducked her head. "Will you marry me, Miz Marta?" Ben and Catfish waited for an answer. Striker panted. Catfish panted harder. Then Marta threw her arms around the old miner and kissed him. "Oh, gross." Ben hid his face in Striker's fur. Double gross--Catfish was kissing her back! Mustache and all! Old people weren't supposed to do that! "We're never gonna get home!"

Ben moaned out loud.

The two adults abruptly pulled apart. rumpled hair.

"I'm hungry!"

Marta laughed and patted her

Catfish cleared his throat and started the Jeep again. "Don't you worry, Ben," she said. "I have some cold fried chicken I cooked up last night for dinner. And a lovely dessert." "Peach cobbler?" drive. "Yep.

Catfish said hopefully as he put the Jeep into

Apple, too."

Catfish sighed with pleasure. "I knew there was a reason I loved you, woman. You surely do cook a mean dinner." "I cook a mean breakfast, too. Care to find out?" Marta winked at him, a saucy wink that left no one, not even Ben, in doubt of her meaning. "Without no license?

Miz Marta!

And in front of the boy, no less"

"It's okay, Mr. Catfish," Ben said helpfully. bull mounts a cow. I learned in

"I already know how a

"Don't you talk about such things in front of a lady, boy! For shame!" Catfish snorted. "And you, too, Miz Marta, suggesting that we... ! You'll wait until we're hitched good and proper, not a moment before!" Marta giggled like a teenager. Ben sighed again. He'd never understand them, never in a zillion years. Grown-ups. "WHram's MY WiFE and daughter?" Wyatt Earp Bodine demanded. "When are they going to let me see them? The bed next to me is empty. The maternity ward's right down the hall. How hard can it be?" "As hard as the fist I'm going to use to shut your mouth," Morgan said wearily. That empty bed across from Wyatt looked awfully Page 144


In The Arms Of The Law tempting--much better than the chair he slouched in---but there was no rest for him yet. He'd taken Jasentha to the emergency room, then checked back on her before Wyatt started giving the staff trouble. Morgan had left Jasentha in Rogelio's care, sending Catfish home with Marta and Ben, and Striker in tow. The dog had become very protective of the boy and so, with little coaxing, hopped into the Jeep with them. Next, Morgan had Luciano check on his horses and was informed that Gem and Star were safely back at the Silver Dollar Ranch, munching on warm bran. He'd run back and forth between Caro and Catherine's doctor to Wyatt with bulletins that the baby was fine, mother was fine, but the circumstances of the birth meant blood samples and checkups and eye treatments and yellow lamps for the baby, plus consultations with the Phoenix doctor because all Caro's records were there. And Lord knew what else had to be done before Wyatt could be reunited with his family: The baby was a month early, and precautions had to be taken, but Wyatt had run out of patience. Trying to keep Wyatt in his bed was no easy task for Morgan. And then there were Jamie's questions, which had to be answered for the sheriff's office, the Arizona State Police, the FBI and Hank Ernshaw's lawyer, along with Hank himself.

His son--aka Smitty--hadn't been found.

"Trust me, he's dead," Morgan had insisted, but no one, especially the FBI, wanted to leave it at that. The Ernshaw relatives, especially Hank, wanted proof, he was told, and Morgan couldn't blame them. But no amount of verbal or physical persuasion could have blasted him away from his own family and back into those caves right now. "You want a body found tonight, you go look for it. My people are exhausted. I sent them all home. We'll start fresh tomorrow." As Catfish would say, he'd had people yarn reefing at him from all sides. Morgan was about at the end of his rope, and putting up with Wyatt was the last straw. "If you don't lie back down in that. you to the wedding!"

bed, I swear, bro, I won't invite

"Marta's not ready to say yes to Catfish and right now I don't care. lY want to see "I'm talking about my wedding," Morgan interrupted. Wyatt was actually caught by surprise.

"Yours?"

"Mine." Morgan was deliberately silent, knowing it would drive his brother crazy. It did. "Who is it? demanded.

Jasentha?

Are you going to talk or not?"

"Don't know. The doc said I had to keep you calm. excited to me."

Wyatt

You seem far too

It took Wyatt a full three seconds to realize he was being blackmailed. "Why, you lousy son of a snake in the cesspool" Page 145


In The Arms Of The Law "Really, Wyatt, is that any way to talk about our mother?" Morgan lifted his booted feet, propped them on the edge of the metal trash can and laced his fingers behind his neck. "Especially since the doctors said you have to keep quiet." Wyatt swore under his breath. "I'll give you quiet---quiet like the corpse you're gonna be if you don't spill, little brother." Morgan merely crossed an ankle over a shin, sighing with feigned comfort. "Always did like this pair of boots. They've stood up well. Yep, got my money's worth on these." He studied the toes. "Though they need a good cleaning after today." Wyatt scowled, but he leaned back on the pillow. Morg."

"I get the message,

"What message?" Morgan absently studied his ragged fingernails, gauging Wyatt's sincerity. "Morg ... please." The quiet tone assured Morgan he finally had a calm captive audience. "I'm marrying Jasentha Cliff-walker," he said. "That much I figured out. Details, man, details." So Morgan gave him the details--everything except those private words of love he and Jasentha had shared. By the end of his story, even the restless Wyatt was still. "Lord, Morgan, you're both lucky to be alive! And to think Jasentha tried to save that lowlife yet again!" Wyatt whistled. "I told her to watch your back, not Smitty's." Morgan's fingers traced the embroidered yellow sheriWs star on the clean shirt one of the hands had brought him. Then he abruptly stood and crossed to the room's single window to gaze out at the mountains. When he turned around, his voice was low and intense. "You had it wrong, Wyatt. Jasentha's the one who needs her back watched. She's too generous with herself. She's different from us Bodines." Morgan's blue eyes darkened. "We fight for justice. We protect the lives of the good. She fights for life, period. All life is sacred to Jaz. Maybe it's her culture. Maybe it's just her. I don't know." "It's one of the things we admire about her," Wyatt said. "Yes, but it puts her at risk. She isn't safe from the Smittys of this world." Morgan shook his head. "I can't have that, Wyatt. Jasentha Cliffwalker fights for the world, but someone has to fight for her. Protect her. Guard her. And keep her safe for everyone else. She needs me." As I need her. "I won't leave her side again. Starting now." There was a long moment of silence. "I guess you'd better call Virgil, then," Wyatt said. "We'll need someone to fill in until I get back on my feet." "Jamie can handle things until Virgil gets here. concerned, this case is closed. I know Smitty's dead, even if we can't find his body. " "I'm sure.

As far as I'm " " If you're sure.

The force of that water destroyed everything--He's part of Page 146


the desert now.

In The Arms Of The Law We'll never find him, Wyatt. Never."

"So what happens next?

You're turning ecologist on me?"

"No. Protecting others has always been my way of life. Only this time I'll be protecting a bat sanctuary. Petroglyph sites. And Jasentha." " Wyatt must have seen the determination in his brother's eyes; he didn't even try to argue. "Damn it, Morg, I'll miss you." "Hey, it's not like I'm leaving the Silver Dollar. Jasentha will be moving in with us. I'll be wearing a park ranger's uniform, instead of a deputy's shirt. Same job really." "But you were the best deputy a man could have!" "When it comes to sheriff-ing, you don't need me at your side. You just don't want to have to break in anew man. Admit it, Wyatt." "Don't put words in my mouth---even if they're true." Wyatt sighed. "Well, Jamie's oldest needs braces. And Marta says his wife is expecting again. I suppose he could use the promotion to chief dep " He's a good man, Wyatt. He won't let you down. " Morgan heard a noise down the hall and crossed to the door to pop his head out. "I see a wheelchair and portable incubator. Looks like your wife and baby are coming this way. They'll be here any minute." He grinned and held out his hand. "Congratulations, Wyatt." Wyatt grasped it and shook. the plunge?"

"You, too, Morg.

So you're really taking

"Didn't hurt you any." "That's the truth.

Now help me sit up quick.

don't want Caro seeing me like this. controls? "

I

Where are those blasted bed

"Right here. I'll do it." Morgan cranked up the back of the bed with the flip of a switch and straightened his brother's bed covers. "Your hair looks like a flea-dipped mongrel. Let's hope your daughter's sleeping or you'll scare her to death." Wyatt shoved his fingers through his hair. "I wouldn't talk, Morg. You look a little rough around the edges yourself. You may have showered, but you still have guano in your ear." Alarmed, Morgan reached up and found nothing. Your sense of humor needs work."

"Very funny, Wyatt.

"So Caro says." Wyatt'S mood improved as the sounds of wheels and footsteps came closer and closer. "But at least I have horse sense. I'm not leaving a perfectly good job to go watch over some bats." The new mother and child were almost there. Morgan propped open the door, and just said, "No bats, Wyatt. I'm watching over the bat-keeper. Jasentha's a Bodine now. To me, she always was. We look out for our own." As Morgan stepped out of the room, Wyatt felt a little saddened. His youngest brother had been in his charge ever since their mother and Page 147


In The Arms Of The Law father had died and Virgil left home. But Morgan was his own man, now. He didn't need Wyatt anymore. But that was okay. Caro did. Little Cat, too. Morgan, like Virgil, like Wyatt himself, would go his own way. The Bodines always did. As did their women. And here was his, right now; His wife and daughter were wheeled to his side. Wyatt held out his hands to the woman he loved and saw his child for the very first time. "My God, Cato," he whispered.

"She's beautiful."

IN ANOTHER PART of the hospital Jasentha Cliff-walker dozed in a single-bed room. She heard a tired lawman's boot heels--her lawman's---echo down the hall and she immediately awoke. Her father stood, discreetly vacating his chair for Morgan. Jasentha sat up and reached' out for the man who had always been hers. "Morgan!" Morgan took her hands in his. daughter, Rogelio?"

"So I have permission to marry your

"You will have to ask in the traditional Apache way. traditional man." "Father, please! ignored her.

This is so outdated!"

After all, I am a

Jasentha protested.

The men

"I shall expect delivery of my daughter's bride price soon," Rogelio continued. "I think she is worth, what--six horses?" Morgan sat on the bed and put his arms around her. Jasentha listened as the two men in her life haggled over her bride price. "Make it four geldings and a mare, and I promise you healthy grandchildren." Morgan looked at Jasentha. "We do want children, don't we?" She smiled.

"Yes."

"Not enough," Rogelio said. "I also swear that your grandchildren will speak only Apache to their grandfather. And to Ben." Rogelio nodded. "With the five horses, that is a fair deal, but I want four mares and a gelding." "Three mares, two geldings, one small enough for Ben, and this." Morgan let go of her, and he opened her bedside drawer and removed the silver-and-turquoise watch he'd lent her. He'd made the band himself out of the finest quality Sleeping Beauty Mine turquoise, and commercially it was worth more than two mares. Rogelio's eyes grew wide and Jasentha's twinkled. Her father had often coveted such a watch with turquoise from the famous Arizona mine, but had never been able to bring himself to purchase one. He seemed unable to take this one, either, until Morgan tossed it to Rogelio, forcing him to catch it. "Morgan doesn't need it, Father," she said.

"Accept it, please."

Rogelio was sorely tempted, but his ingrained politeness reasserted itself. "Are you sure? Your bride price is more than fair." Page 148


In The Arms Of The Law "Ah, but your daughter is the fairest of the fair. Take the watch," Morgan urged. "I have better things to do than worry about the time. Right, Jasen-that?" Bandaged leg or not, Jasentha's expression said she was more than willing to let Morgan do those "better things." Morgan's lips obliged. Rogelio was long gone when the two finally came up for air. "You're worth more than an old watch and a few geldings.

Three thousand horses wouldn't be enough;"

Jasentha's face glowed with joy. "Perhaps. But my father has long wanted what he refers to as a tourist timepiece." "For a minute there I didn't think he was going to put it on. doesn't try to give it back as a wedding present."

Hope he

"I won't let him. What do you need a watch for, anyway.?" Jasentha ran her fingers through his hair. She barely managed to finish her sentence before he kissed her again; "Right.

We have all the time we need,"

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN THE WHOLE TOWN of Tombstone turned out for the event of the year: an adoption, a christening, and a double wedding! The ceremonies would start in the Old Courthouse, where Rogelio Cliffwalker would formally adopt Ben Kodaseet. As was Apache custom, he would take the matriarchal name of Cliffwalker. From there the guests would gather at the old Southern Pacific Station and hop onto a tourist train, which had been rented for the occasion. The train would take them to the church, the scene of the next event. St. Paul's Episcopal---built in 1882 during the mining heyday and the oldest Protestant church in Arizona--was where Catherine Hartlan-Bodine's christening would take place. Directly after that the godparents, Catfish and Marta, would be married by the same minister. Finally everyone would move across the street to a private home owned by a friend of Rogelio's. In the huge yard Morgan and Jasentha would be married by a justice of the peace, with an Apache elder there to bless the union. Afterward the whole group would be bused out to the Silver Dollar Ranch for the biggest barbecue Tombstone had seen in years. It was a perfectly planned gala event, and everyone was positive it would go Without a hitch. And it would have, except for one thing. The group waiting outside the courthouse for the first event, the adoption, wasn't" complete. "Where are they?" Rogelio said fretfully, checking his new turquoise-and-silver watch for the third time in'as many minutes. anyone seen my daughter? Or Morgan?" Luciano stared at his friend's wrist. watch?" "Morgan's?"

"Has

"Hey, isn't that Morgan's

Wyatt echoed, his healing shoulder no longer in a sling, Page 149


In The Arms Of The Law his good arm supporting his sleeping daughter. "Your brother presented it as a bride price." Ro-gel io quickly pulled his sleeve down over his wrist concealing the watch from Luciano's envious eyes. Only when Ben asked to see the watch did Rogelio take it off and carefully placed it in the boy's palm. "Morgan doesn't have a watch?"

Wyatt moaned.

"Great.

just great."

Virgil Earp Bodine, newly. arrived straight from the airport and a long flight, stifled a yawn. "Morgan always did have the worst sense of timing?" "That's why we scheduled their wedding last. That, and to give Loren plenty of time to drive down from Tucson---even if she runs late at the hospital," " Cato said calmly. She was a little fired herself, for Cat was a hungry infant and seemed to be hungriest when everyone was sleeping, but otherwise, Caro was doing fine. " We'll give them another half hour, Wyatt. If they don't show up, we can just start without them. Otherwise, the baby's going to want to nurse right in the middle of the christening. Or Marta's wedding. You know how Cat gets when she's hungry. " Every single person from the Silver Dollar winced at the thought of Cat screaming. The infant, like her parents, did nothing halfway. "No runt of the litter, that one. My goddaughter can out bray an overloaded mine mule," Catfish said proudly. He twisted a freshly waxed mustache with one hand, and with the other, squeezed a radiant Marta's fingers, complete with diamond. "That's what I'm afraid of," Wyatt said. "Well, Caro, you're right as usual, We can wait for Morgan a little longer, then he's out of luck." life smoothed the soft blond hair on his daughter's head, the angular lines of his face softening. "If Uncle Morgan is late for his own wedding, little sweetie, he can kiss the barbecue goodbye!" THE TWO HORSES stood motionless in front of the Silver Dollar Mine, their riders already out of the saddles. Morgan was dressed in black hat, suit, long-sleeved white shirt and black string tie--the time-honored outfit for men at Tombstone's formal occasions. Jasentha was in her grandmother's beaded and shelled buckskin wedding dress and moccasins, her hair loose around her shoulders. Instead of the traditional bandanna around her head, she wore a shelled buckskin band. As his wedding gift to her, Morgan had made her the concha-and-turquoise belt, matching bracelet and silver-and-onyx bat-shaped earrings. And now he had picked her up in his arms, with Striker prancing around his feet. "Morgan, really, I can stand," she insisted.

"My leg's much better."

"You just got the stitches out yesterday, and the doctor said to Use the cane for at least a week." Morgan carried her toward the entrance of the mine. "Besides, it's still damp inside from all the rain. I don't want you to ruin your fancy slippers.

" " We're going in?

"

"Yep. And since you don't have your cane..." For the sake of the delicate old moccasins, which she planned to give to her own children Page 150


In The Arms Of The Law and grandchildren someday, Jasentha allowed him to continue carrying her. "I still don't see why you wanted to come here in the first place," she said. "We'll be late for our own wedding!" "We won't." "But I don't want to miss anything else!

What about Ben's adoption?"

"We'll be back in time for everything, don't worry. show you your wedding present."

But I wanted to

"Another one?" Jasentha said in surprise. "Morgan, you've given me too much already! Shooting Star, my jewelry, my engagement ring. And designating this section of your land as a bat preserve." The other brothers had no problem with Jasentha's plans for the old cave system. Much interest had al ready been generated among bat ecologists. Jasentha had contacted Bat Conservation International in Texas and been promised help to organize her dream for the futurthe Silver Dollar Bat Sanctuary. Silver Dollar gold, and Jasentha and Morgan themselves, would take care of the rest, with Virgil's and Wyatt's blessings. Morgan had recently hired a contractor to cover the larger entrances, including this one, with open-barred gates, keeping humans out but letting bats in. "What more could I want? You're spoiling me," she protested as Morgan unlocked the gate and silently pushed it open on new well-oiled hinges. "This isn't from me," Morgan said. "Turn on that flashlight I gave you, then close your eyes." "What?" Morgan kissed her nose.

"Do it, my heart," he said in Apache.

Jasentha did and Morgan carried her in. She felt the familiar coolness of the cave surround her, heard Striker's nails click on the rock. "Just how far are we going?" "Not far.

We're almost there.

I'll set you on.

the ground cloth."

"What ground cloth?" "The one I left here yesterday so your feet would stay dry." "But, Morgan" "Be patient. It's a surprise. eyes until I say."

Okay, down we go, but don't open your

Jasentha's feet touched the cloth--she could hear it rustle beneath her moccasins---but his arms remained firmly around her. "Give me the light," he ordered. She felt one of his arms leave her waist to grab the flashlight she held and the other slip away to take her nearest hand. "Now open your eyes." Jasentha did--and gasped. "Oh, Morgan!" Her eyes opened wide in joy and amazement at the huge petroglyphs. Ancient recreations of wildlife and plants danced before Page 151


In The Arms Of The Law her eyes. The paint glistened in the light, the old colors bright and Compelling. Her heart and soul were filled with whispers from the past and promises for the future. It was long seconds before she found her voice. "I don't understand..."

His hand tightened around hers.

"It's always been here, Jaz. From what I've seen, the old mining timber diverted the natural flow of water. The last storm broke through the tailings and debris and restored the original flow. And washed away a good hundred years of guano." "You went exploring without me?" Morgan's grin was boyish, but the love in his eyes wasn't boyish at all. "Sorry, Jaz, but I had to make sure these caves were safely secured. I couldn't wait until your leg healed." "You mean you've always been fascinated by these caves and couldn't wait for met" she scolded. "Hey, I was doing my duty as lawman. notice something else, too."

If you'll look around, you'll

Morgan pointed the flashlight straight up. panic. "The bats!

Jasentha felt a moment's

They're gone!"

"No, not gone. They've moved to the section of cave where the old tailing and lumber shoring was washed away--which was probably their original home. And this section of the caves was probably the home of the Anasazi. It was the mining operation that screwed everything up. Now it's back the way it's supposed to be." "And it's up to us to keep it that way," she vowed softly. "We will, I promise." "But not until after the weddings and the baby's christening," Jasentha said firmly. "And the adoption! I'm the sister of the adoptee. I want to be there! Morgan, we have to get back to the horses." "You got it," Morgan said, picking her up in his arms again. He carried her back out into the sun--which seemed awfully high in the sky to her. "I think we're late, after all!" it?"

she said anxiously.

"What time is

Her man's laughter carried through the desert air. "Who knows? Who cares?" He lifted Jasentha onto Shooting Star, handed her the reins, then mounted Gem. "We don't, right, Striker?" "Morgan!" Jasentha protested, but she was laughing, too. "I hope that elderly mare of yours can run, because I refuse to miss Ben's adoption!" "I hope your dog hasn't gotten soft feet sleeping on your bed, because Gem and I intend to beat you there!" And Morgan yelled a wild cowboy yell and Gem was off. "You cheater!"

Jasentha touched her ankles to. Page 152


In The Arms Of The Law Shooting Star's flanks. With Striker racing alongside, the two Arabians were stretched out in full gallop, tails and manes streaming, hooves pounding the still-damp desert floor. "You'll never catch me," Morgan yelled to his bride. outrun Gem!" "Until now!

"No one's ever

Eat my dust, Morgan Bodine!"

"In your dreams, lady! barbecue."

Last one to the church -washes dishes after the

"Better find an apron, Sheriff!" Jasentha wheeled her mount toward a dying pin oak and a shortcut she was certain Morgan would never use. " Come on, Star, we can't let them win!" She urged her horse toward the gully wash that would cut a good thirty seconds off their ride. Gem was too old to be sliding down washes on her rump, but Rogelio had already broken Star into the fine desert art of rump-sliding the many washes that remained after the monsoon season. She beard Morgan's shout of dismay as he watched Star slide down the wash in a perfect descent, then regain her footing on the bottom before tackling the side of the wash going up. But suddenly something about the pin oak struck Jasentha as very odd, and she abruptly pulled the confused Star to a halt. Striker was already at the opposite bank, waiting for her to join him. "Whoa, Star. It's okay, girl." She patted the marc's neck, calming her, even as she studied the old tree. "Hold on, Striker." The pin oak had been dying for a long time. There were a few hardy scrub oaks in the desert, since oak trees, especially desert oaks had long tap roots that descended hundreds of feet. But this oak had done poorly during the last monsoon season. The wash where it had imprudently sprouted years ago had swept away crucial soil, exposing its roots to predators and insects. Those roots were sickly, and even the oak's strong tap system couldn't get enough water to keep the tree healthy. But the tree wasn't dying anymore. new leaf buds.

Some of the branches actually had

Morgan approached from the far upper side of the. all right?" he asked.

wash.

"We're fine. But I had to stop and check out this oak. the last time I saw it, and now..."

"Everything It was dying

With the knowledge of a landowner who had walked or ridden every inch of his land, Morgan shared her surprise. "Amazing. I was planning on milling it in the fall. I was waiting for it to season." "Look at iL" Jasentha gestured at the roots. "The flood must have packed the roots in guano and flood debris. It actually looks like it's going to live, after all." "Too bad." "What?" Page 153


In The Arms Of The Law "I was going to make you an oak rocking chair this winter. hard to come by out here."

Good oak's

Jasentha gazed at the new growth, the fresh life. "I'm afraid this tree isn't going to cooperate, Morgan. I guess I'll have to settle for a pine rocker." She smiled. "Or maybe a baby cradle, instead. If we ever make it to our wedding." This time it was Morgan who reacted. spur that horse!" "I will.

"Then quit gawking, Jaz, and

But still, it's so peculiar..."

"What?" "The black rocks near the roots." "They look almost like Apache tears.

Are they?"

"Yes, but... I've never seen them this far from the cliffs." "The flood must have washed them here." "It's almost like ... the tree is crying for joy .... " "Well, you and I are going to be crying if Wyatt catches us late for the christening!" Morgan was becoming the nervous groom. "Hurry, my heart!" "I'm with you, my heart!" Jasentha took one last look at the pin oak, then gave Star free rein. The mare tackled the wash, and side by side, Striker at their heels, Morgan and Jasentha put away the old and rode happily, joyously, toward the new.

Page 154


In the Arms of the Law (Harlequin Superromance, No 759)

Treasure (Harlequin Superromance, No 1403)

Captive of Desire (Harlequin Superromance No. 13)

Cloud over Paradise (Harlequin Superromance No. 5)

Snowbound (Harlequin Superromance)

The Right Woman (Twins) (Harlequin Superromance)

The Secret She Kept (Harlequin Superromance)

An Honorable Man (Harlequin Superromance)