The Heart of Mary: A Thorn Novel

by Brandy Golden

  He shifted uneasily in the chair and propped his booted foot up on the window ledge. He and Joseph, together, had discovered his father's body in that alley in El Paso. It had been a long time ago, but as he remembered, he had been waiting at the hotel for his father to bring back some food. Joseph had been with him the whole time, except for the time he said he was going out back to use the privy. He said he didn't care for the indoor ones. He hadn't been gone long, though. Was it long enough for him to have killed his father and then come back and pretend to wait for his father to get back?

  Nelson shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think back. His gut crawled with disgust and disbelief. Finally, he sighed and stretched to loosen his tense muscles. It was just too long ago to remember how long Joesph had been gone. Part of him was glad for that.

  It was just breaking sunrise about 5:30 AM, when Billy came rushing into the sheriff's office, his eyes shining with excitement. "I'm supposed to tell Mr. Nelson that he's here and headed for the stables," he said proudly. "That's what Mr. Coleman told me to tell you."

  Nelson stood up and handed Billy a dime. "Good job, Billy, now you get off the streets and stay inside for the next little while, you hear me?" Billy nodded and was off like a shot. Nelson took a deep breath and looked at Charlie. "Take the back way, Charlie, and be careful. Joseph has the instincts of a cat."

  "Yes, sir," responded Charlie, slipping out the back door of the jail and heading down the alley.

  Nelson checked his pistol and his rifle and then he stared at Holden. "Let's hope this isn't Joseph," he said grimly.

  "I wish I could back you up," said Holden. "You be careful out there, don't take chances. You aren't a gunslinger."

  The man in black paid for accommodations for his horse and briskly rubbed him down. He needed a cup of coffee and some breakfast. No one here knew him. In fact, not many people knew him anywhere. He didn't make friends, except long enough to get done what he needed to do, and then they were eliminated if they represented a threat. He blended in easily anywhere, in spite of his size, and he worked hard at making himself unmemorable. He was just a tall man dressed in black. That could describe any number of people.

  When he stepped out into the morning sun, a man was walking towards him, his rifle laid carefully across one arm. He knew that stance, he used it himself. He slowly stopped and waited until the familiar blond man, almost as tall as he, stopped to face him. "Nelson," he said evenly. "It's been a long time. What are you doing here?"

  "Hello, Joseph, it has been a long time. What brings you to Potluck?"

  Joseph sharp eyes didn't miss the deputy badge on Nelson's chest. Alarm bells went off in his head, but he didn't miss a step. "I thought the local law enforcement around here was a man named Holden. Did you quit working for the Diocese?"

  "Nope, was just passing through, when I found out Uncle Abe had been hurt, so I stayed to help him out for a few days. I'll be leaving for El Paso when he's back on his feet."

  "Well, why don't you come to the Chuparosa and have some breakfast with me, I'm dying for a cup of coffee. We can catch up on old times," Joseph said with a tense smile.

  "Did you assist Investigator Harrison as a bodyguard for the Diocese?"

  Joseph's eyes narrowed. "What's this about, Nelson?"

  "Did you just come from El Paso?"

  "Yes, but I wasn't the bodyguard this time. I was there on business for Father Vincent. Why?"

  "Because Harrison is dead," replied Nelson flatly.

  "That's too bad, but what's that got to do with me?"

  "I was asked to arrest and hold a man fitting your description, if you came through Potluck today."

  Joseph's eyes narrowed. "And just what was this description?"

  "Big, tall, dressed all in black, riding a totally black horse—Charlie's checking the horse now, by the way—and wearing a shield of the Mission San Xavier Del Arc."

  Joseph snorted derisively. "I haven't worn that thing in years. Is that all you got?" He opened both sides of his duster but there was nothing pinned to his shirt.

  "Where's your pearl handled pistols?" asked Nelson, frowning.

  Joseph shrugged. "I didn't wear those this time around, either. I wasn't planning on running into trouble. My single six-shooter and rifle are all I planned on needing." Joseph could feel the man behind him cautiously approaching. Instinct told him he had a gun drawn and it was pointing at his back. "Want to call off your helper?" he drawled.

  "Put it down, Charlie," instructed Nelson. "We're all good here."

  Joseph smiled, his eyes gleaming. He had won for the moment, but he wasn't sure he wanted to stay in Potluck any longer than breakfast. Might be better to wait on Thorn and Boxcar in Tucson. Dropping his stuff off at his usual stash had been a good thing. Looked like that kid or Fife had a sharper eye than he'd bargained for. His money was on the kid, though. "So you're not arresting me?"

  Nelson put his rifle over his shoulder and grinned. "No, I guess not. I am asking you to stay in town, though, until Thorn and Boxcar get here. They should be back sometime late tonight or early morning, I'm guessing."

  "And who are they?"

  "Thorn is the acting sheriff right now for Potluck, but he and Boxcar work for the governor. I'm surprised you don't know them, given the traveling you do." Nelson studied him, his gaze still suspicious.

  Joseph shrugged. "I never had occasion to run across them."

  "So this isn't our suspect?" asked Charlie, his eyes narrowing. He was pretty sure this was the man he'd seen coming out of the Sleepy Inn, the day before yesterday—not long after Thorn and Boxcar had left town. His hat brim had been down, though, and he hadn't seen his face clearly, so he couldn't be positive.

  "I reckon I can do that if you think it's necessary," replied Joseph, his instincts screaming red alert. It looked like Thorn was on the hunt, and he was damned if he was going to be the prey. "But if I get called back to the mission, I'll be going, Thorn or no Thorn. I should be hearing from Father Vincent this morning and, if I have to leave, tell Thorn he can come see me there. Now, I need my coffee, you coming?" He started to walk around Nelson, and the younger man finally stepped aside.

  "No, I have business to attend to," replied Nelson briefly. "But if you leave town, make sure you swing by the sheriff's office first."

  Joseph touched his hat and nodded his head as he sauntered off.

  Nelson and Charlie watched him go. "You find anything on the horse, Charlie?" he asked, finally.

  "No, nothing. He sure fits the description, though, doesn't he?"

  "All except for two key elements, the mission badge and the pearl handled pistols. Go check the horse again and all the saddlebags. I'll do some looking around."

  Charlie looked uncomfortable. "Can we do that? I mean, when we thought he was a suspect, I did that, but since you let him go, I can't really do that again, can I?"

  "He still is a suspect," growled Nelson. "Even if he's not under arrest at the moment." He headed towards the telegraph office as Charlie headed back into the stable.

  Thorn watched the sunrise from his position on the roof of The Tarnished Rose and smiled in satisfaction. He had been right; there had been no sign of the man in black or anyone else trying to get into Mary's windows or the kitchen door. And Fife had even left the door unlocked. He and Boxcar had taken turns all night, one of them in Mary's room and the other on the roof. Doc had slept on the settee, and Cole and the deputy had taken turns watching Maria's room and window while Mary slept in her mother's bed.

  Making his way down from the roof, he quietly entered through the front door of the brothel and into the kitchen. One of the cooks had arrived and was already bustling around starting breakfast. He sniffed the air appreciatively as the smell of frying bacon ghosted past his nose.

  He made his way into Mary's room, opened the door carefully and tiptoed up to the figure lying under the cover in the bed. He was just reaching for the quilt when a pistol was suddenly staring
him in the nose. "Take it easy, it's just me," he growled, pushing the pistol away and staring into Boxcar's laughing brown eyes.

  Boxcar shoved the quilt off and sat up on the side of the bed, reaching for his boots just under the edge. "Heard you coming a mile away, old buddy. Looks like you were right, though. Thanks for the nap!" He stood up and stretched, a huge yawn leaving tears in his eyes. "So what's the plan for today?"

  A few minutes later, and Thorn had everyone gathered into the living quarters and shut the door into the kitchen. He looked around at each one. "I think it's safe to say the man in black left town yesterday evening," he began. "Cole, I'd like you and Deputy March here to ask around town regarding the man with the red brocade vest, his dead friend, and the man in black. Check with the stables regarding the horse, see what you can come up with. Can you do that for me?"

  Cole nodded. "Sure, we need to investigate Ventermin's and Harrison's killer, anyway, that's our jurisdiction."

  Thorn's whiskey colored gaze swung to Doc and Mary. "Doc, you're the closest thing Mary has to family right now. You're as much an uncle as a blood uncle would be, maybe more. I think you should help Mary with getting things settled, as far as what Frank's left her and what to do with the brothel. I know the girls are worried and wondering what's going to happen to them."

  Doc swallowed a lump in his throat. "If Mary will have me, I'd like to be her official guardian and help with all her business affairs and offer her a home," he croaked hoarsely. "I don't think she belongs in this whorehouse anymore."

  Mary took Doc's hand and squeezed it gently. "I can't think of anyone better, Senor Doc," she said softly, her eyes bright with tears. "You've already been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. And even though Mama tried to hide it, I know she thought a lot of you, too. I just didn't know what it meant, until now."

  "Then, that's settled," replied Boxcar cheerfully. "What about breakfast?" He rubbed his hands together and made a growling noise.

  The sheriff looked at Thorn. "What are you two going to do?"

  "I suspect me and Boxcar will be leaving for Potluck in a short while. Right now, we have some other business to tend to. But we'll check back with you to see what you've found."

  Cole nodded and jammed his hat on his head. "First thing I'm going to do is check in with the missus and get something to eat. You coming, Deputy?"

  Deputy March stopped staring at Mary long enough to stand up and follow Cole. "Uh...yes, sir, I'm right behind you, sir."

  Mary's eyes followed the young lawman out, and she blushed when he looked back and waved goodbye. After they left, she turned to face Thorn with a determined air. "If you're going to Potluck, I'm coming, too. I want to be there when you find the ruby, it's mine," she cried passionately.

  "Ruby?" queried Doc, looking suddenly confused. "What's this about a ruby?"

  "The Heart of Mary," replied Thorn slowly. "It wasn't Father Benedict's reputation Maria was protecting, Doc. It was the secret of the ruby he was leaving to the church. When she realized she was carrying his child, she wanted her baby to, eventually, inherit his or her father's property, and she knew they would have to be of age first. Girls are under the protection of their family until they are twenty-one so that was even longer that she would have to keep it hidden for her. And she did a great job until now, but someone finally figured it out."

  They filled Doc in on all that was going on, and he was stunned. "I can't believe she kept such a secret from me all these years," he whispered, tears in his eyes.

  "She did it to protect all of you," said Boxcar thoughtfully. "She didn't want anyone to put two and two together, when it was plainly registered that your foster sister had joined the mission. It had to look like she was dead so there were no leads back to her."

  Doc nodded and sighed. "Yes, and I know why she did it, too. After we were both left in the streets, with no family and no money, life was very difficult. She didn't want that to happen to her child. She wanted him or her to have a future, and when Father Benedict was killed, the ruby was the best way she could see to make that happen. He told her about the ruby in their trysts, I'm sure, but where in the world would she hide it, all these years?"

  Thorn turned back to Mary. "You need to stay here, Mary, where you are safe, for now. You and I both know what your mother told us, and the man in black is still out there. I have little doubt; he will try to follow Boxcar and me, to see where we go. He is going to let us lead him to it, and I know he's not afraid of killing any and all of us, in order to take it."

  "But...but I want to be there," Mary protested. "I want to lay my claim to it!"

  Doc's eyes gleamed, and he took Mary's hand. "And you can, my dear girl. I have a friend, who is a highly respected lawyer. You are going to have to lay claim to that ruby through the courts. The Diocese isn't going to give it up easily, it was in contract to them, and therefore, they have a right to it, as well. Your claim will hold more force over theirs, but you need to have a lawyer petition your rights to it before the governor."

  Mary sat back down. "So that's why Mama wanted me to go to the governor. To legally claim my rights to the ruby."

  Thorn nodded appreciatively. "She was a smart woman, your mother. Within the next few days, I expect a representative from the Diocese will meet with me and the governor in Tucson." He turned to Doc. "Doc, only the four of us in this room knows what I'm going to say. So it's paramount that it stays that way."

  Doc nodded vigorously. "Of course! I think I've proved I can keep a secret." His eyes twinkled.

  "That you have, Doc," Boxcar said with a chuckle.

  Even Thorn smiled briefly, and then went on, "I intend to make arrangements with them to have the body of Anna exhumed and searched for the ruby. We believe that's where it's hidden."

  He turned back to Mary. "And I know the idea of a treasure hunt sounds really exciting to you, Mary, but with a ruby as valuable as the one you're named after, we can't take chances that the man in black doesn't have other people out there to help him, just as he has in the past. We don't even know for sure what he looks like."

  Mary's face fell in disappointment. "Don't I need to have the ruby in my hands? I mean, if the Diocese gets it first, then they can hang onto it and cheat me out of it. It's three more years until I'm twenty-one, they could have spent it by then."

  "Mary!" exclaimed Doc. "Men of God are not in the habit of cheating people!"

  "My father cheated my mother!" she pointed out, turning pink in the face. "He was a man of God, and he got my mama with child!"

  "Out of the mouth of babes," muttered Boxcar.

  "I want to get it and hide it myself," she retorted her eyes flashing. "I don't trust them."

  "Mary, your mother has taught you better, God rest her soul. She was a nun and loved the church," Doc said firmly. "She would not approve of this attitude."

  Mary's little fists clenched. "The church is what ruined her life," she insisted, her voice thick with anger and tears. "He used her! Do you think he would have given up his holy position, once he found out she was with child? Of course not, he would have sent her away!"

  Thorn actually felt a little sorry for Mary. She was so young to be so cynical already.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Doc took Mary's hands and looked into her eyes. "Now, Mary, that's enough," he said firmly. Neither of us was there to know what happened. Life gives us choices, and we make the best choice we can at the time. It's easy for us to sit back and judge, but I know my sister, and she would not have done what she did if she hadn't loved your father."

  "She never loved my stepfather but she did it with him!"

  "She has a point, Doc, you're losing ground," muttered Boxcar to himself. So far, Mary was two for two in this argument.

  "She did it with him, as you so indelicately put it, because she loved you! We will do anything for our children, sacrifice everything, even our own lives, to make things better for them. There is a difference, dear girl." Doc's eyes were pa
ssionate as he talked. "You must not hold such views; it would greatly hurt your mother."

  "Well, she's not here," Mary replied sullenly. She pulled away from Doc and folded her arms protectively across her bosom.

  "You're going to have to trust us to take care of this for you, Mary," insisted Thorn, trying to be gentle in spite of his impatience with her attitude. She had been through a lot in the past few days, and he knew she was missing her mother.

  "And what if you are killed? People seem to be dying all around me." Her voice wobbled painfully as she tried to control her emotions.

  "Don't you worry about that. I have some things in play, and we aren't alone in this. Just trust me, okay?" He tried to smile encouragingly at her but it wasn't his strong suit. Boxcar was better at comforting distraught women. He nudged his erstwhile partner sharply in the ribs.

  Boxcar stood and put his arm around Mary and took one of her hands. "Listen to him, little one. We'll get this taken care of for you. You just stay safe and figure out how you can help all these girls. You're going to be a rich woman, think what you could do with all that money!"

  Mary wiped her face with the back of her free hand and stared up at Boxcar, her eyes suddenly lighting up. "I could help them, couldn't I? I always hated that name, The Tarnished Rose. It's like a slap in the face! It's not like they want to be here, maybe I can free them and help them on their way."

  Thorn coughed slightly and jerked his head towards the door when Boxcar met his eyes. Mary was still regaling the things she could do to help the girls of The Tarnished Rose when they slid out the door, leaving her to a beaming Doc. Young or old, women do love to spend money, thought Boxcar with a satisfied grin.

  "Nice save," Thorn said grudgingly as they swung up on their mounts.

  Boxcar chuckled. "It almost makes you want to be around just to see the look on the girls' faces when she offers to save them."

  "You never know, some of the girls might take her up on her offer."

  "Maybe." He nodded his head cheerfully. "So where we headed, old buddy?"