With All My Heart by Jo Goodman

Author:Jo Goodman [Goodman, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780821761458
Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp
Published: 1999-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Nine

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Grey stared at Berkeley. Nothing about his features changed but incredulous was inadequate to describe what he was feeling. After a moment he shook his head as if recovering from a blow. "The man I killed?'' he repeated under his breath. Before she could answer, Grey held up one hand. "Never mind." His hand stayed in midair long enough to halt Berkeley, then went to the back of his neck. He bent his head and rubbed the corded muscles. When he looked up again he noticed her expression was one of concern. She was concerned for him . Clearly she had no idea that he was at all worried about her. "Why in the world would you think I've killed someone?" he asked gently.

Berkeley's mouth flattened a little. "I'm not a child," she said. "And I'm not addled. There's no need for you to condescend to me."

Grey thought it best not to say anything.

"Are you denying it?" asked Berkeley.

That he had been condescending? he wondered. Or that he had committed murder? Grey thought one of them should strive for clarity. "Berkeley, I haven't killed anyone." To the best of his knowledge, it was true. "Now, tell me why you don't believe me."

"I know what I felt when I held your hand," she said.

"That was your reasoning when you expected Mike to die."

Berkeley looked away. "I'm not sorry Mike's recovering. I never wanted him to die to prove myself. But I wasn't entirely wrong either. I did sense he was going away. I merely mistook the cause. And I told him he would see his family."

"Those things are going to happen because I'm making them happen," he reminded her. "I'm the one making the arrangements and paying for his passage."

Berkeley's head came up. Her expression was earnest. "Don't you understand, Grey? It doesn't matter how the end comes to pass, just that it does. Your interference was critical to make things come about. You were part of the outcome all along."

"With that sort of thinking you can make most anything seem as if you predicted it."

"Isn't that the point downstairs?" she asked. "Isn't that what I've been hired to do with the Phoenix's patrons?"

"Yes," he said slowly. He could tell Berkeley was warming up to something.

"But you don't like that I believe I can do it. Is that it?" She waved a hand dismissively, not waiting for his reply. "Don't bother to answer. You're quite content thinking it's all a parlor trick. I don't know why I'm surprised. Anderson my father was the same way. He was never really certain about my gift, but he never took any chances with it either. He kept me close. He was always watchful. He insisted I do exactly as I was told." Berkeley gave Grey a frank look. "You're not so very different."

"I don't think you're a performing bear," he said.

Her short laugh held no humor. "I've been to Sydney Town, Grey. I've seen that poor animal chained in front of the Fierce Grizzly.

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