Read Online Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona by Miralee Ferrell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Miralee Ferrell
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family now, that it? You been gone so long you forgot what it’s like to be poor?”
Christy felt the blood drain from her face. “Poor? Like that?” She flicked her fingers toward the closest hut, where a woman stepped out of the door and onto the dirt road. From her scanty attire, barely covered by a shawl, her occupation was apparent. Was she going to work at one of the saloons, or did she bring her business home with her? The door opened again, and a grizzled, balding man emerged, snapping his suspenders and grinning.
Christy stared in horror as Joshua sped up again, then a block later slowed in front of a fence badly in need of paint. “Do you mean to tell me you actually live in one of these…houses?” Christy’s heart lurched into her throat. She couldn’t get out of this neighborhood soon enough to suit her.
“Yeah. What of it?”
“Joshua.” She touched his arm, but he drew back. “What’s happened to you since I last saw you? Why are you so…angry?”
“Ha. Angry, is it? Good question, big sister.” The last two words came out with a sneer. “You’re off livin’ the high life with your fancy ranch friends while Ma and I are strugglin’ to survive here in this hole.”
“But I thought Logan left money for you before he headed to his mining claim. If you were careful, it should’ve lasted a long time. Ma could’ve had a nice little house in a good part of town. What happened?”
“Nothing. Everything.” He dragged his fingers through his dark red hair, the only thing they shared in common besides their mother.
Her pa had died when she was young, and Ma didn’t waste any time marrying again. Christy had loved her stepfather, Michael Grey—also Joshua’s pa—and taken his name. When Michael died, though, Ma took up with a no-account miner turned gambler named Logan Malone. Joshua idolized the man…even more so when he’d left them a sack full of gold before hitting the trail a year or so ago. Ma sent her a telegram at the time, asking if she wanted to come live with her and help celebrate her good fortune. Christy had gently declined.
“What do you mean, everything?” She placed her hand on her hip. “Where’s the rest of the money?”
“We don’t have much of it left.”
Christy narrowed her eyes. Suspicion mounted as she pushed aside the throbbing in her arm. Dropping her voice to a whisper, she took a step closer. “What happened, little brother?”
“Never you mind. It’s gone, and we can’t get it back.”
“Gone?” Christy grabbed his hand and drew him toward her. “Did you gamble it all?”
He jerked away as though her fingers were iron bands ready to clamp around his wrists. “Let’s go home. Ma’s gonna worry.”
“Huh. Funny you’d think of that now.” She knew when to back off, but one way or another, she’d get to the truth. A thought drifted through her consciousness—something she’d heard Alexia say more than once. When all looks lost, don’t believe what your eyes tell you. Pray instead.
Christy hadn’t put too much stock in prayer over the years. But peace appeared to be coming to an end, and prayer might be something she’d need to consider.
Joshua stomped away and rapidly covered another half block to an area parallel and behind the main business district. He then swerved and entered a weed-strewn yard through a gate hanging by one hinge. He beckoned her forward. “Forgot to ask. Where’s your bags? Didn’t you bring nothin’ with you to wear?”
“Yes. I couldn’t carry my trunk. The stage driver told us to pick up our belongings at the livery stable anytime today or tomorrow. Maybe we could rent a wagon and you can help me? I can’t use this arm to lift much.” She waved her bandaged limb away from her body.
“I don’t have money for a wagon. What happened to your arm?” He walked the last short distance to the squat adobe house that didn’t look big enough to house one person, much less three.
“The stage got
Christy felt the blood drain from her face. “Poor? Like that?” She flicked her fingers toward the closest hut, where a woman stepped out of the door and onto the dirt road. From her scanty attire, barely covered by a shawl, her occupation was apparent. Was she going to work at one of the saloons, or did she bring her business home with her? The door opened again, and a grizzled, balding man emerged, snapping his suspenders and grinning.
Christy stared in horror as Joshua sped up again, then a block later slowed in front of a fence badly in need of paint. “Do you mean to tell me you actually live in one of these…houses?” Christy’s heart lurched into her throat. She couldn’t get out of this neighborhood soon enough to suit her.
“Yeah. What of it?”
“Joshua.” She touched his arm, but he drew back. “What’s happened to you since I last saw you? Why are you so…angry?”
“Ha. Angry, is it? Good question, big sister.” The last two words came out with a sneer. “You’re off livin’ the high life with your fancy ranch friends while Ma and I are strugglin’ to survive here in this hole.”
“But I thought Logan left money for you before he headed to his mining claim. If you were careful, it should’ve lasted a long time. Ma could’ve had a nice little house in a good part of town. What happened?”
“Nothing. Everything.” He dragged his fingers through his dark red hair, the only thing they shared in common besides their mother.
Her pa had died when she was young, and Ma didn’t waste any time marrying again. Christy had loved her stepfather, Michael Grey—also Joshua’s pa—and taken his name. When Michael died, though, Ma took up with a no-account miner turned gambler named Logan Malone. Joshua idolized the man…even more so when he’d left them a sack full of gold before hitting the trail a year or so ago. Ma sent her a telegram at the time, asking if she wanted to come live with her and help celebrate her good fortune. Christy had gently declined.
“What do you mean, everything?” She placed her hand on her hip. “Where’s the rest of the money?”
“We don’t have much of it left.”
Christy narrowed her eyes. Suspicion mounted as she pushed aside the throbbing in her arm. Dropping her voice to a whisper, she took a step closer. “What happened, little brother?”
“Never you mind. It’s gone, and we can’t get it back.”
“Gone?” Christy grabbed his hand and drew him toward her. “Did you gamble it all?”
He jerked away as though her fingers were iron bands ready to clamp around his wrists. “Let’s go home. Ma’s gonna worry.”
“Huh. Funny you’d think of that now.” She knew when to back off, but one way or another, she’d get to the truth. A thought drifted through her consciousness—something she’d heard Alexia say more than once. When all looks lost, don’t believe what your eyes tell you. Pray instead.
Christy hadn’t put too much stock in prayer over the years. But peace appeared to be coming to an end, and prayer might be something she’d need to consider.
Joshua stomped away and rapidly covered another half block to an area parallel and behind the main business district. He then swerved and entered a weed-strewn yard through a gate hanging by one hinge. He beckoned her forward. “Forgot to ask. Where’s your bags? Didn’t you bring nothin’ with you to wear?”
“Yes. I couldn’t carry my trunk. The stage driver told us to pick up our belongings at the livery stable anytime today or tomorrow. Maybe we could rent a wagon and you can help me? I can’t use this arm to lift much.” She waved her bandaged limb away from her body.
“I don’t have money for a wagon. What happened to your arm?” He walked the last short distance to the squat adobe house that didn’t look big enough to house one person, much less three.
“The stage got
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