Page 84 of Kissing Kin
“The flash…the explosion? Yeah.” Busy inspecting the damage, Luke spoke over his shoulder. “What was it? Ball lightning?”
“No, the gho…” Weaving on my feet, I grabbed his arm to steady myself. I moved my lips, but my words couldn’t keep up with my thoughts. “I…I think I saw a ghost…”
“You’re pale enough to have seen one.”
I attempted a smile. “For a split second, an image appeared in a Rough-Rider’s uniform. Who’d have worn that outfit?”
“Both Ramon and Mateo fought in the Spanish-American War, but since Mateo once owned this cabin, I’d guess—”
“Mateo, my thoughts exactly.” I reached for Luke’s hand. “Now what?”
“Beats me. Your vision, the flash, the explosion—none of it makes sense, but whatever it was, it exposed a concealed compartment.” His hand shaky, he pointed to the fireplace.
“What?” Still cuddling the pup against my chest, I examined the partitioned shelf. “I thought that thin strip was part of the mantle, not a wall safe.”
“It’s such a tight fit, a master craftsman must’ve made it.” He fingered the hinge and shallow drawer. “I had no idea this mantle hid a false bottom.”
“Think anything’s inside?” My imagination grappling with the possibilities, I peeked inside the narrow slot. “I see papers and a small box. Sorry, Teddy, but I need both hands.” I set him on the floor and removed the safe’s contents.
“Let’s examine this under a better light.” He strode toward the counter’s track lighting.
Carrying the cache, I couldn’t hold back a giggle. “I feel like a kid on Christmas morning.”
He grinned. “Open it.”
I held my breath as I lifted the cover off the tiny cardboard box, yellowed with age. Inside was a delicate ladies’ watch with a folded note. “…until doomsday.” With a gasp, I unfolded the paper to read the other side. “I’ll love you for all time, from now”—catching Luke’s gaze, I flipped over the note—“until doomsday.”
“Marianna read only one side.”
“This note wasn’t a threat. Mateo loved her.”
“But she never knew.” He bit his lip. “What a shame.”
“I wonder if she misinterpreted his other actions. We’ve read Marianna’s side.” As the implications sank in, I grabbed his arm. “Do you think—”
“Mateo’s giving us his side of the story.” Luke echoed my earlier words as his slow smile spread across his face. “My thoughts exactly.”
“Finishing each other’s sentences, we sound like an old, married couple.” I chuckled as I returned his smile. Then without warning, a physical sensation gripped me—a visceral ache to mold my body to his, sternum to sternum, heartbeat to heartbeat.
The physical pull from my solar plexus to his was so compelling, it seemed magnetic. With the electrical energy surging through my body, I was an open circuit impatient to complete the loop.
Get a grip. I breathed slowly, catching my breath. This is the second time I’ve felt this way…why? What’s causing it? I eyed the watch and note, afraid to raise my gaze to his. If he feels the same way…I swallowed, refusing to finish the thought. Instead, I opened the tri-fold documents, fingering the embossed seal on the first page as if it were Braille.
“Is that a deed?”
His words jolted me from my reverie, and I read the print aloud. General Warranty Deed. The State of Texas. County of Abe Lincoln. January 7, 1899. Know all men by these presents…
“Read that paragraph.” He pointed to the words.
“To have and to hold…” From this day forward…I squirmed at the familiar phrasing. “…the property belonging unto the said Mateo Ramirez. Grantor does hereby bind itself, its successors and assigns the said premises unto the aforementioned Marianna Rodriguez Ramirez and her successors…”
“Do you realize what this is?”
Too agitated to grasp the significance, I shook my head.
“It’s the deed to the Ramirez ranch. Look at the address.” He ran his finger beneath the property description and embossed notary stamp. “Mateo deeded it to Marianna, and he had his signature notarized. I wonder if he recorded the deed with the county clerk.”
“What difference would it make?”