Glory stopped snuffling. “I don’t remember where I put it. How’d you find it in the bunkhouse?”
Fiona said, “I was looking for Olympia and thought she was visiting one of the buckaroos. I went to the house and saw the old gun on the couch.”
Glory shook his head. “The gun is my good luck piece. I usually carry it with me. I couldn’t remember where I put it, and I didn’t have it when I rode out to the stock pond.”
“Alcohol does that to one’s memory,” Fiona said softly. “It sort of takes it away a little at a time. Days get all muddled, and it is hard to keep track anymore.”
Jake sat nodding his head. He said, “Who did it to you, Glory?”
Glory sighed and looked down at his hands. “One of them fellers that used to work for you. Least ways that’s what he said. He knew a lot about the ranch and how you run it.”
“What is his name?” said Jake.
“I don’t remember.”
“Yes, you do.”
“He said he’d kill me the next time.”
“Why did he beat you?”
“Because I didn’t set the hay barn on fire like he wanted me to do. I said I wouldn’t do it, that I had already caused enough trouble for Opal.”
“So he tried to set the hay barn on fire himself except the dog scared him off.”
“I guess so.” Glory looked red-eyed at Jake. “Opal’s been good to me, and I didn’t want to cause her any more trouble because she already had enough. I thought if I just started a little fire and made a little extra money that would be the end of it. But it wasn’t. He wanted me to do more.”
“What’s his name?” Jake asked. “We have to stop this, and the only way is if you tell me who is behind this.”
“I don’t want to go to jail.”
“I don’t know if I can prevent that. Opal will decide in the end if she is going to press charges. One thing she’ll demand is that you change your way of life and get clean and sober.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Your choice, but you are going to tell me who is behind this.”
Glory sighed and fumbled with the edge of the sheet. “Name’s Walt. I don’t know his last name. He approached me one day I was in town. He paid me the money after the bunkhouse burned down. Said I had done a good job and there was more he wanted help with. The money was easy but then I found out Opal was sick, and I felt bad about causing her problems when she was always so nice to me.”
“Do you know why Walt wants to give Opal problems?”
Glory shrugged. “He didn’t say. I didn’t ask. I needed the money and it seemed like an easy way to get some. But things got out of hand, like I said and I’m sorry about it.” He slumped forward and buried his face in his hands.
Fiona spoke up. “Glory needs to rest. Thank you for telling us who did this to you. I’m as sorry about the bunkhouse as you, but maybe we can get this all sorted out.” She walked to the door and waited for Jake.
Jake was reluctant to leave. He wanted more information, but Fiona was right. The man was overwrought and needed rest. But he had the uneasy feeling that Glory was not safe in the hospital.
In the hall Fiona turned to him. “We need to take him home.”
Jake said, “I’m afraid Walt will be back and finish the job. Glory hasn’t told us all he knows. I’ll call Hoover. Maybe he can send one of the deputies to watch him.”
Fiona nodded. “I’m afraid for his life, too.”
“Let’s find the doctor and see when he can be released.”
Jake got into the truck but didn’t start it. They sat in silence. It seemed to Fiona like they needed time to process not only the argument over what Lauren had said, but also Glory’s disturbing revelation. She was sorry now that she had blurted out what Lauren had told her. Why hadn’t she made some discrete inquiries first? Here it was again. Another incident of someone swearing something bad had happened, and another person swearing it was lies. It might be the same with Glory. He could be lying to save his skin. But he might not be. Who did one believe?
As far as Jake was concerned, she knew she wanted to believe him. If she didn’t, then everything she felt about the man was false. Her instinct told her Jake was a decent human being, not a wife beater. While she liked Lauren, she didn’t know her that well. Jake was right, she saw dollar signs when Fiona walked into her store. If she had set her sights on Jake, and he had rebuffed her, then the old adage was right. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
She let go a big sigh.
Jake reached over and took her hand.
“I love you, Fiona. I’d never hurt you. I would never hurt any woman.”
“I know. I shouldn’t have confronted you with hearsay. I’m sorry.”
“I can take you to the women’s shelter and let you talk to the director. She’s been there a long time. You can hear for yourself that my ex-wife was never there. I don’t want this hanging over us. I’m glad you brought it up so we can clear the air.”
Fiona squeezed his hand. “There’s more I need to say. I must confess that I’m afraid to love you, Jake. I’m afraid of getting hurt again.” And she told him about Rob Calloway. When she finished, they were quiet for a time, processing another revelation.
Jake said after a while, “We’ve both been hurt. I loved my wife, and I love my little girl though I haven’t seen her in years. But I learned that I couldn’t keep retreating into alcohol to keep the hurt away. I learned that I needed to live life with all its pain and sorrow, because there’s a lot about life that is good, and love is one. I wanted a woman to love again, even after all the hurt. You’re that woman. I know it in my bones. I know you don’t fit here. I know you think there’s more exciting things to do than be married to me. But I can give you something I think way down deep you need and that is love and stability and a home. You keep making homes for other folks, but what you need is a home of your own and a man to love you.”
“That was quite a speech, Jake Manyhorses,” said Fiona. She leaned into his side of the seat, pulled his face to her and kissed him. “You may be right.”
It was late when they got back to the ranch. They had found Hoover and told him Mort Glory’s story. Hoover said he’d talk to Glory and keep an eye on him. The doctor would not release Glory. He wanted to keep him for observation. They were to call tomorrow to see how Glory was. Maybe he could go home in the afternoon, if he showed signs of improvement. Fiona would come to the hospital in the morning to check on him.
Sammie was sitting in the living room reading a book when they entered the ranch house, and she greeted them with a smile. “How did your day go? Opal and I spent a quiet day resting. She turned in early. She needed some down time. Tomorrow I’ll take her for the next treatment.”
“I could do it, if you want a break,” said Fiona. “I’m going to town to check on Glory.”
They sat in the big couches in the living room and brought her up-to-date on Glory. Soft light from the table lamps cast a warm glow on the room.
Sammie listened to the story in amazement. “I’m with you. I think there is more to Glory’s story. I’m glad you’re looking out for him. I’ll hang around here tomorrow, if you are going in, Fiona. Opal’s been worrying about her garden, and it will give me a chance to do some weeding and watering.” She picked up her book and rose. “I think I’ll finish this book tonight in bed. Pleasant dreams, you two.”
Jake stretched out his legs after she left. “I could use some pleasant dreams about now,” he said.
Fiona studied his legs. Her eyes traveled up his body the whole way to his face.
He lay with his head against the back of the couch, eyes closed.