It was Linc who replied. Both surprised, their eyes clashed and held while time seemed to stand still. Then, hastily, Kerry rose and rushed toward Jenny, who was waiting at the car. But her feet didn’t move as fast as her beating heart.
The two women made several stops. Kerry, using a line of credit Cage had arranged for her through his bank, bought several changes of clothes, underwear and shoes.
“I never knew a drugstore could be such a wonderland,” she exclaimed. She rummaged through the contents of the sack she held in her lap on their return trip to the ranch. “I feel like I’ve discovered the mother lode. Skin lotion, hair conditioner, nail polish. I’m not accustomed to such luxuries.”
“Maybe you should treat yourself to a week at some posh spa. Let yourself be pampered.”
Kerry shook her head. “No. Not yet anyway. I’ve still got too much to do.”
Jenny looked at her in alarm. “You’re not thinking of going back to Monterico?”
“No. It’s gotten too dangerous. I don’t have a death wish.” She carefully replaced her toiletries in the sack. “But there’s still plenty to do here. Raise money for food. Medicine.” Her voice trailed off and her eyes stared sightlessly at the passing landscape.
When Jenny spoke, her voice was quiet. “You can’t go on making amends for your father’s corruption, Kerry. Sooner or later you’ve got to get on with your own life.”
She sighed heavily. “I know.”
“Cage and I let the cat out of the bag this morning, didn’t we?”
Kerry started, but she kept her face perfectly composed.
“Don’t worry about it. Linc had to find out sooner or later.”
“I’m sorry. We assumed that he knew who you were. Then when we realized that he thought you were—”
“Please!” Kerry held up a hand to forestall her friend from saying the word aloud. “I’m ashamed enough as it is. Don’t remind me of the dirty trick I played on him.”
“I know I’m being rude, but I have to ask. Why did you lead him to believe that you were a nun?”
“Jenny, you couldn’t be rude if you tried. Naturally you’re curious.” She chose her words carefully, wanting her friend to understand her motivation. “You know how I coerced him into leaving the cantina with me.”
“By pretending
to be a prostitute.”
“Yes. Well, I did things that I thought were, uh, you know, prostitute-like.” She glanced away. “Linc is a virile man and he, uh...”
“I think I get the picture. He wasn’t ready to call it quits when you explained your situation.”
She nodded. “In my position, what would you have done?”
“Probably nothing so ingenious,” Jenny said with a commiserating smile. “He was somewhat...upset...this morning when he found out the truth.”
“To put it mildly.”
“Had he calmed down by the time he found you?”
“No.”
Jenny was too tactful to pursue it further. Whatever had happened out there had had an impact on them both. Linc had looked as bleak as Kerry when they returned. And, as Jenny had noticed before, they avoided touching or looking at each other, carrying the avoidance to ridiculous extremes.
“Linc accused me of being a user, just like my father,” Kerry said expressionlessly. “And I suppose he’s right. I manipulated him.” Tears filled her eyes and slipped from her lower lids. When Jenny saw them, she reached for Kerry’s hand. “You and Cage are so lucky to love each other the way you do.”
“I know. But what we have didn’t come easily, Kerry.”
Jenny had never confided to anyone, not even to Roxie, about Cage and her. Now was the time. If her story would help Kerry, it needed to be shared.
“The night Hal left for Monterico, he came to my room,” Jenny began. Kerry turned her head in an attitude of listening. “He made love to me. It was my first time.” She drew a shaky little breath. “Only it wasn’t Hal. It was Cage.” Ignoring Kerry’s gasp of surprise, she went on before she lost her nerve. “Then when I discovered I was pregnant—”