Of course Christian didn't know that, or he wouldn't be attempting to replace her at next Sunday's service. Kezia quashed a niggle of conscience.
She followed John Jason, running ahead up a narrow spiral staircase that led to the tower's small ringing room below the belfry. Near the top she held him back, put a finger to her lips. "Let's listen first, shall we?"
The six bell ropes, each woven with a colorful tuft of wool to mark where the ringer caught the rope, hung through holes in the twelve-foot stud. Four ropes had been hooked out of the way, leaving two for Christian and his tutor.
Bob Harvey was dressed for church in a bright blue suit, circa 1970. In deference to the stifling air of the tiny room, Christian had abandoned his shirt and the faint sheen of sweat on his tanned back was disturbingly pagan. Kezia felt her own temperature rise.
Muscles bunched as Christian pulled the bell rope. "Too bloody hard!" bellowed Bob. "Lightly, lightly." The rope slithered upward as the unseen bell swung through its full circle to the up position. Christian pulled again to send the bell through another 360 degree spin in the other direction-mistimed, thought Kezia, counting automatically, a view confirmed when Bob sucked air through his teeth in noisy disapproval.
"Stand!" he ordered, and Christian tried to park the bell. It clanged through another turn and his curses turned the air blue and John Jason's ears pink.
"Halloooooo," Kezia called to drown them out, and his swearing stopped abruptly.
"How the hell did you get here?"
"I drove," said John Jason proudly. "And you said shit again! And hell."
"Watch your mouth, young man," Bob growled. "And stay away from the ropes-these bells can pull a grown man into the air." He glanced at Christian and received a warning glare. Bob's mouth twitched but he said no more.
Looking at Kezia, Christian's expression grew anxious. "It's good news," she reassured him, but her tears were already welling again. "Marion's going to make a full recovery." Unable to help herself, she grabbed him and held tight. "I had to tell you as soon as I could."
He stilled, then pushed her away and left the room. She took no offence, hugging Bob instead, who smelled of yeast and hay and Old Spice after-shave. "That's grand news, grand … " He patted her back awkwardly. "Bloody hell, I'll start bawling myself if I don't watch it." He pulled away, his eyes wet. Kezia pretended not to notice.
"Where's Christian gone?" John Jason wondered.
"He'll be back, young fellow. Why don't you come up the tower with me and I'll show you the bells, eh?"
Though she longed to follow Christian, Kezia stayed where she was, too emotional to trust herself. He wasn't gone long-his self-control was too good for that-but his eyes were red. He hesitated when he saw her there, alone. "I can't touch you right now," he said awkwardly, "or I'll make a fool of myself."
She nodded and his expression grew rueful. "Ah, to hell with it." He pulled her into his arms. His ribs expanded in a deep tremulous sigh and Kezia buried her face against him. Only when they heard footsteps clobbering down the stairs did they pull apart.
"Your friends," Kezia said awkwardly. "I'd better get back before they arrive."
"I'll come with you."
"No, you bloody won't," contradicted Bob, John Jason at his heels like an eager puppy. "Not until you can stand that bell."
"I'll never be able to stand that bell," Christian muttered, but there was no heat in it. Grinning, he ruffled John Jason's hair. "And you need to be in bed, little guy."
"My daddy's coming back."
The good humor vanished from Christian's face. "I don't think so," he said, looking to Kezia for confirmation.
"We'll talk later," she soothed.
"Bob, can you amuse John Jason for a couple of minutes?" Christian put a hand under Kezia's elbow and propelled her toward the stairs. "We'll talk now." A single bell tolled behind them, musical and haunting.
"It's none of our business," she insisted outside.
"Of course it's our business. The sonovabitch is taking advantage of Marion when she's down." Christian paced in his agitation, his shoes crunching on the gravel driveway. The bell rang again, momentarily distracting him. Why couldn't he get the damn thing to ring like that?
"She says he's changed … AA, counseling."
Christian snorted. "That's exactly the line he spun me when he came to the hotel a couple of weeks ago. I sent him packing."
"What?" Kezia stared at him. "And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't tell anybody, figured he wouldn't be back. Guess I underestimated his nerve."
"And overestimated your authority." Kezia looked as mad as a hornet. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"I did what I thought was best. You should thank me."
"Thank you?" Okay, mad as two hornets. "You had no right to keep this from me, let alone Marion." Her brow furrowed. "She never mentioned it on the phone, I don't think he's told her."
"Maybe he's ashamed of backing down." Except honesty compelled Christian to admit Joe hadn't backed down, not really.
"Maybe he's giving you the benefit of the doubt because you were trying to act in Marion's best interests," retorted Kezia.
"Him giving me the benefit of the doubt-"
She cut him short. "You don't know him, Christian. I do. And I believe Joe is capable of changing. Anyway, what you and I think is immaterial. Marion's a grown woman, able to make her own decisions without your paternalistic interference."
"We'll see about that," he said grimly.
"Look!" Kezia grabbed him by the biceps, forcing him around to look at her. "She hasn't done this lightly but she loves him and she's willing to give him another chance so-"
"If she wants to kid herself, fine," Christian interrupted, "but there's more at stake here than her fantasy happy ending. She has John Jason to consider."
"Joe never struck John Jason. Never. The incident with Marion was a one-off."
He shook free. "And that excuses him, does it?"
"No, of course it doesn't." She wasn't cowed in the least. "But he had the sense to leave before he did any more harm. This is not your fight."
Christian moved away. "I'm not prepared to sit by and watch John Jason get screwed over because Marion is in denial."
"I don't want to say this, but your attitude is forcing me to," she said in a low voice. "Joe is not your father and John Jason is not you. Some people deserve another chance."
So much for trusting her with his secrets. "Are you going to help me talk her out of this or not?"
"I'm reserving judgment. So should you."
Christian shook his head in disgust. "You know, I will stay here with Bob. I can't stand being anywhere near you right now." The hurt in her eyes made him feel better-for about a millisecond. But his pride wouldn't let him take it back.
"Ditto," she retorted. "Let's hope your friends have better manners, because I've had it with pig-headed men!"
Christian thought of what they could tell her, and blanched. "Just don't listen to anything they say about me," he warned.
Kezia gave him a withering look. "Why the hell would I want to talk about you?"
"IN ALL THE YEARS YOU'VE KNOWN him, has Christian ever mentioned me?" Kezia put her glass of whiskey down harder than she'd meant to and some of the liquid spilled onto the table. Didn't matter, the bar closed at nine-thirty on a Wednesday, she didn't have to behave herself. She squinted at the grandfather clock. Nine forty-five and still no Christian. Okay, she was officially miserable.
"No," Jordan admitted. "We didn't know you existed until a few weeks ago."
"Essactly." Kezia stopped dabbing the spill with a napkin and stabbed one finger into his chest to emphasize her point. At least it was supposed to be one finger; if it would just keep still she'd know for sure. "Nice pecs." Distracted by his resilient muscle, she poked again. "Course not as nice as Christian's."
"In his defense-" Luke brought her back to the subject "-who did you tell about Christian?"
Kezia tried to think. "Nobody."
"And I hate to disagree with a lady," said Jordan, "but this nicer pecs thing is debatable."
"Now see, there you go calling me a lady when I'm not." Kezia propped her head in her hands; it was getting sooooo heavy. "I used to be good before Christian came back and then I forgot to be good and things started going wrong, which was a shame because sometimes it's so good to be bad … "