This Fierce Splendor

could hear Ben Travis shouting a litany of curses as he brought the coach to a halt.

Dominic drew his gun swiftly. “Get down on the floor, Elspeth.”

“Dad blast you, Patrick. I warned you I’d blow your head off if you pulled this foolishness again,” Ben yelled.

Patrick!

“Easy, Ben. I missed Dom and Elspeth in Tucson and I just wanted to say good-bye.”

“Then say it and let me get going. I have a schedule to keep.”

A moment later Patrick climbed into the coach. He was dusty and travel-stained and Elspeth had a fleeting memory of the first time she’d seen the boy in circumstances almost identical to this.

But it wasn’t a boy who faced her now. There was a new maturity looking out of Patrick’s dark brown eyes, and Elspeth experienced a pang of poignant regret for the lovable, mischievous lad who had vanished when Rising Star had died.

“Gran-da told me when I rode into Killara with Silver that you were going east,” Patrick said. He held out his hand to Dominic. “Don’t stay away too long. We’re going to need you.”

Dominic shook his hand. “A year or two.”

“I have a favor to ask. I’ve been thinking about sending Silver to school in St. Louis.” His lips twisted. “Oh, not for a while. Not until Gran-da gives in and accepts her as a Delaney. I’m not about to remove the bit until he gets used to it. But afterward it may make it easier for Silver if she has some of the wildness tamed out of her.”

“And you think a fancy school will do it?” Dominic asked dryly. “Heaven help them.”

“It’s worth a try. Will you and Elspeth keep an eye on her? St. Louis isn’t far from where you’ll be digging, is it?”

Elspeth shook her head. “Not far at all. Of course we’ll take care of her.”

Patrick breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. This isn’t easy for me. I’m not used to looking after anyone but myself.”

“You’re doing very well, Patrick,” Elspeth said gently.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Good-bye, Elspeth, and thank you.”

“Good-bye, Patrick.” She could feel the tears brimming in her eyes and determinedly blinked them away. “Take care of yourself.”

He opened the door and jumped to the ground. Then he turned to face them, and for an instant Elspeth was sure she saw the glint of mischief she had thought gone forever. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Dominic. I brought you a present from Killara. I’m sure it will prove to be just what you need when you’re working around the dig.” He slammed the door of the coach and disappeared from view.

Elspeth frowned. “What did he mean? I don’t see any present. Do you-”

A blistering round of curses from Ben Travis turned the air blue. “Patrick, dammit, you come back here!”

“Can’t, Ben. I’m in a hurry to get home to Killara.” There was the sound of hoofbeats and the ghost of a breath of laughter.

“But you can’t leave him tied to my coach. I have a schedule to meet,” Ben shouted.

There was no answer from Patrick.

“Patrick, you bastard, he’s sitting down in the middle of the road!”

“Oh, no.” Dominic groaned softly. He pulled his hat over his eyes and slid down in the seat. “He wouldn’t do this to me.”

Elspeth began to laugh helplessly as she scooted over to poke her head out the window and take a look for herself. “I’m afraid he already has, Dominic.”

Azuquita.

Iris Johansen

***