This Side of Heaven

'No. I've already called Romero. I'll be meeting him.'

Cyn walked on unsteady legs toward her bedroom. Paus­ing momentarily in the doorway, she turned slightly. 'You're going after Ryker, aren't you? You're not going to wait for him to come to you.'

'He's already come to me,' Nate said, his voice deadly soft. 'He knew exactly what he was doing when he called. you. By threatening my woman, he issued me an invitation, one he knows I won't refuse.'

The blessed numbness inside her began to dissolve, leav­ing her with the tiniest emotional sensation. He had called her his woman. 'Is that what I am?' she asked. 'Your woman?'

'The Conquistador's woman. That's what Ryker thinks you are,' Nate said, and saw the spark of hope die in her eyes.

Chapter 12

Nate decided that Mimi Burnside was not only a sensible woman, but a human being with a heart of pure gold. He had liked the older woman the minute they met, but seeing her motherly concern for Cyn made him like her all the more.

'Don't worry about a thing,' Mimi said as Nate laid Cyn's suitcase at the foot of her bed. 'I'll call Brucie in the morning and tell him that I've come down with the flu or something and that Cyn is going to be playing nursemaid so neither one of us will be in to work.'

Nate couldn't help but smile as he watched the big red­head, her graying hair rolled on soft pink curlers and her five-foot-ten-inch body wrapped in a blue chenille robe. Large-boned and buxom, Mimi Burnside looked more like an aging burlesque queen than a former factory worker turned housekeeper.

'You go ahead and put on your gown, honey child,' Mimi told Cyn, then turned to Nate. 'You come out in the living room with me while she changes.'

Nate obeyed, following Mimi. Once outside the closed bedroom door, she leaned over and whispered, 'I've got a gun. A .25 automatic. I don't usually keep it loaded, but I've got the bullets for it.'

'Do you know how to use it?' he asked, not in the least surprised that she had a gun.

'Yeah. My first husband taught me how. Good thing, too, since I had to run off that no-good bum I married the second time. He tried to use me for a punching bag one time too many.' Mimi pointed to the sofa covered with a bright flowered slipcover. 'Sit.'

'Are you sure you were never in the service? You sound a lot like my old boot camp drill instructor.' Nate sat down, relaxing just a bit, certain that he had brought Cyn to the right place.

Mimi laughed, the sound hearty and unrestrained. 'That Dundee fellow a friend of yours?' She nodded toward the front door.

'He works for me.'

'A hired gun?'

'Something like that.'

'When should I expect that government man?' Mimi asked.

'Possibly by morning. When I leave here, I'm meeting Nick Romero.'

'You two going a-huntin'?' Mimi widened her slanted cat eyes.

'You just take care of Cyn and don't worry about me.'

'We'll both worry about you,' Cyn said as she opened the bedroom door.

Nate looked up. His heartbeat accelerated. She looked so small and fragile standing there in her aqua satin robe, her hair hanging loosely to her waist.

When she neared the sofa, he stood. He wanted to reas­sure her that everything would be all right. But he couldn't lie to her, and if he took her in his arms, he might never be able to let her go.

'This will all be over soon,' he said. 'Whatever hap­pens—'

Her tormented cry ripped at his heart like the talons of a mighty bird. 'Don't say that.'

'Cynthia Porter has always been a strong woman, some­one people could depend on. Be strong now.' Silently he added, 'Be strong for me, Brown Eyes. I need your strength.'

'Go and do what you have to do.' Silently she added, 'I'll be waiting for you...forever.'

Hastily, before his courage deserted him, Nate left. Mimi came up beside Cyn and placed a comforting arm around her shoulder. As Nate walked out into the hallway, Cyn no­ticed Dundee step out of the shadows. He came inside and closed the door.

'You ladies go on to bed whenever you like. I'll just sack out here on the couch.'

Mimi squeezed Cyn's shoulder. 'Come on, honey child.'

'I don't think I can sleep,' Cyn said, leaning her head against her friend's arm. 'How can I rest not knowing what's happening with Nate, wondering if he's killing or being killed?'

Mimi led Cyn into her small bedroom. The light from an imitation Tiffany lamp spread a colorful glow over the un­made bed. 'If you can't sleep, then we'll just have us a slumber party. We'll sit up the rest of the night and talk.'

'It's not fair to involve you in this.' Cyn turned to Mimi and was reassured by the smile on her face. 'Nate seems to think we'll be safe with Dundee keeping guard over us.'

Mimi gave Cyn a persuasive nudge, suggesting she sit. Cyn slumped down on the side of the bed. Mimi went around to the other side, got in, and propped several pil­lows behind her as she sat up against the headboard. 'Nate knew what he was doing bringing you here. The only way that Ryker fellow could get to you would be through me.'

Burying her hands in her face, Cyn cried silent, painful sobs. Mimi reached out and touched Cyn's back. 'Go ahead and cry it all out. Better do it here with me than to let Nate see you like this. He's already worried enough about you.'

After cleansing her heart with a torrent of uncontrolled crying, Cyn wiped her eyes with her hands, scooted up in the bed to sit beside Mimi, and pulled a blanket up over her legs. 'I thought that losing Evan was the worst thing that could ever happen to me, but I was wrong.'

'You're not going to lose Nathan Hodges,' Mimi said.

Cyn tried to smile at the firm conviction she heard in her friend's voice. She wanted to believe. 'I never knew you could love someone the way I love Nate. It's...it's as if I've always loved him.'

'Since you were fifteen and dreamed about him for the first time?' Mimi asked.

'It was Nate in my dreams. The same eyes. The same body. The same strength.' Cyn fumbled with the frayed edge of the blanket with which she'd covered herself. 'But the man in my dreams was more than just Nate. He was... oh, Mimi, you'll think I'm crazy if I tell you.'

'So, tell me anyway. I'm probably crazy enough to be­lieve you.'

'Do you know what Nate's nickname in the service was?'

'Does this have something to do with your dreams?'

'Yes.' Cyn cleared her throat. 'They called him the Conquistador.'

Mimi sucked in her breath. 'Who... but that's just a co­incidence, honey child.'

'Maybe. Maybe not.'

'You think the man in your dreams was the ancient war­rior whose soul is supposed to roam the beach at Sweet Ha­ven with his Indian bride?'

'Part the ancient warrior and part Nate, the modern warrior who will set the lovers free to enter paradise.'

'Well, I'm not sure I actually believe it.' Mimi's ner­vous smile could not disguise her doubts.

'I'm not sure I do, either, but...every time Nate touches me, it's as if he's touched me a hundred times before. I've known him for such a short time, and yet I feel as if I've known him forever.'

'I think you're tired and stressed out. In the last few weeks, your whole world has been turned upside down. If your belief that you and Nate are the lovers in the prophecy who will set a couple of ancient souls free helps you get through this ordeal, then who am I to think you're crazy?'

'He told me he didn't love me,' Cyn said.

'When?'

'Tonight.'

'Did you believe him?'