All eyes turned toward him, curiosity in their gazes.
“I was a marshal in Albuquerque before coming here.” He accepted the mug of coffee Hilde slid in his direction and continued telling them as much as he wanted them to know, which really wasn’t very much.
“I’ve heard some very good things about you, Marshal,” Tia Evie said, her smile wide. “I also heard you hired Tresia Morgan to take care of your daughter.”
Lucy Hart was her niece. She would have told her. And if she didn’t, then someone else in town probably did. It wasn’t asecret, even though he doubted anyone had a secret in Serenity. “Yes, I did.”
“You couldn’t have made a better choice. Tresia is a lovely woman.”
“Yes, she is.” He smiled. “Avery adores her.”
“Tresia embodies the spirit of kindness, but don’t mistake her kindness for weakness. She’s a smart, strong, self-reliant woman, given all she’s been through.”
He’d already seen that much for himself. “Yes, ma’am.” He took a sip of coffee then raised his mug to Hilde. “Good coffee.”
Hilde beamed then offered him a cookie. “Have aLebkuchen.”
“No, thank you.”
She passed the plate to Rafael, who didn’t hesitate and grabbed several, which he cradled in his hand. “One? I could eat them all.”
Devlin laughed, wondering how Rafael could eat so much and still remain thin. “I’ll be making regular rounds, like Marshal Kimble did.”
“That’s good to know,” Antonio said. “We haven’t had any problems out here. No stolen cattle or horses. Esteban’s reputation is well known.”
“Yes, I heard.”
“Banditoswould be foolhardy to set foot on Montaña del Trueno.” Antonio gestured to those around the table. “None of us would hesitate to protect this place or each other.” He turned to Hilde. “And she may not look like it, but my wife here can wield a cast-iron skillet with the best of them.”
“Oh stop!” She blushed to the tips of her ears. “I haven’t hit anyone in a long time.” She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m sure my aim is off now. But I still wouldn’t test it if I were you.”
“No, ma’am.” Antonio laughed.
Devlin laughed as well. There was so much love around this table. It was there in the way these couples looked at each other, teased each other. There was respect, too.
“You ready to meet my family?” Rafael asked, breaking into his thoughts as he finished his coffee and rose from his seat.
He was enjoying the company of these people, but he stood. “Of course.”
“Come back any time, Marshal.” Tia Evie grasped his hand as she rose and patted it. “And give Tresia my best.”
“Will do, ma’am.” He picked up his hat from the spindle of the chair and glanced around those sitting at the table. “It was a pleasure meeting all of you.”
Devlin followed as Rafael led the way out of the garden toward a gate near the corner of the house. Once outside by their horses, he said, “I like them.”
“I knew you would. I’ve knownTiaEvie most of my life. She and my mother are very close—closer than most sisters. I spent a lot of time here when I was younger, which is why I call them my second family. My wife, Ventura, loves them as much as I do.” He untied his horse’s reins from the post. “Someday, I’ll tell you howTiaEvie and Jake met. You might find it interesting.”
“Interesting? Why?”
Rafael laughed. “Jake is a mail-order husband. Lucy arranged it.”
Devlin stopped in his tracks, surprised. “A mail-order husband?” He turned though he couldn’t see the patio from where he stood then shook his head. “Seems like it worked out all right.”
“It did.” He mounted up, seemingly anxious to be off, and spurred his horse down the dirt road with Devlin at his side.
It wasn’t a long ride to Hacienda Zepeda. Again, Devlin was impressed with the house at the ranch and thought Rafael was lucky to have grown up here. Unlike the two-story home atMontaña del Trueno, this house was a long and rambling one story, made of adobe, and had a courtyard instead of a porch. There were flowerpots everywhere, filled with bright blooms and several wrought iron benches on the flagstone patio surrounding the front door.
They dismounted, tied their horses to a metal ring on a post, and walked up to the big double doors where Rafael opened one. “Come on in.” As soon as the door closed behind him, Rafael shouted, “Hello! Anyone home?”
