Chase Wheeler's Woman (26 page)

It was the honorable thing to do.

Chase switched directions and strode purposefully toward the house. He only hoped it wasn’t too late.

I forgive you, Father
.

Chase stared down at Seth Johnston’s grave in a small picketed cemetery on the ranch, recalling the last words he’d spoken to his father. Chase was glad they’d had a chance to speak one last time by his bedside, Seth doing most of the talking, reliving the past and relieving himself of ten years of guilt. There’d been a peaceful look on Seth’s face at the end, as he’d uttered Snow Cloud’s name quietly and left this earth.

They were together now, Chase believed, for two souls so much in love should share everlasting life. That thought brought with it a sense of peace. It helped to ease Chase’s mind and give him more than a bit of solace.

He returned to the house slowly, breathing in the crisp night air, reflecting back somewhat and also thinking of the future, his future. He owned the ranch now, a startling revelation that he’d only found out this morning when his father’s attorney came by to read the will after the funeral. Chase could hardly believe it. Seth Johnston had left the majority of his holdings—the house, the ranch, his great wealth—to Chase. Aside from a comfortable allowance provided for Marabella, Chase had pretty much inherited everything.

He entered the house quietly, noting shadows dancing along the walls in the parlor. A feminine scent, strong and exotic, wafted to his nostrils. Marabella. Chase kept walking, heading up the stairs to the
bedroom next to Seth’s, which she’d insisted he take in case the ill man needed him during the night. Chase hadn’t argued, since Marabella did have a point.

But tomorrow he planned on heading back to the Double J and to Letty Sue. There were things that needed clearing up, words that needed saying.

“Chase, is that you?”

Chase hesitated only briefly on the stairs. “I’m going up, Marabella. It’s been a long day.”

“May I have a word with you? Please, Chase.”

Chase rubbed his neck, frowned, then turned and strode back down to the parlor.

She stood in the firelight, wearing a pale green nightdress full of frills and lace, her blond waves curling down past her shoulders, a beckoning look in her eyes. “Have a drink with me, Chase?”

She walked up to him, placing a snifter of brandy in his hand.

“I’m leaving in the morning,” he said, taking a sip. He’d been gone four days and was itching to get back to the Double J.

“That’s what I want to speak with you about.” She set her glass down, came closer and laced her arms around his neck. Her voice was sugary sweet. “Don’t go, Chase. Stay with me. Remember how it was between us? We can have it all again—the house, the ranch, all of Seth’s wealth. Lord knows we deserve it.”

Chase set his drink down and unfolded her arms from about his neck, but she clutched his hands. “Marabella.”

“Think of it, Chase. We’d be rich and together. I can’t think of anything more perfect.” She tightened her grip.

Chase broke her hold. “No.”

Her tone reached a desperate pitch, losing all that sugary sweetness. She spoke rapidly now, with determination. “We don’t have to stay here. We can travel, go East if you’d like, or west to California. Anything you want, Chase. As soon as you dump that trollop of a wife, you’ll be free, and we can be married.”

He shook his head. “We tried that once, Belle. But you set your sights higher than a half-breed ranch foreman, as I recall.”

“Pierce was a mistake. He was nothing but a down-and-out gambler posing as a refined gentlemen. He wooed me, but he was only after Seth’s money. That’s why I got rid of him.”

“You got
rid
of him?” Men seemed to turn up dead when Marabella was around. Chase shook off that niggling thought, dismissing it as a result of sheer fatigue.

With a wave of her hand, she replied, “You know what I meant. I broke off our engagement.”

“Too bad, you two seemed suited for each other.”

She brushed her body up against Chase, crushing her chest to his. The intimate contact stirred in him nothing but disgust. “We’re suited for each other, you and me. Chase, don’t make me beg. Stay with me tonight. You won’t want to leave in the morning.” She began unfastening the buttons on her nightdress.

He halted her. “I
am
leaving in the morning. I’m
going back to my wife,” he announced, before stepping away.

“You couldn’t possibly want that woman over me, Chase. You don’t love her!”

Chase turned his back on Marabella and headed for the staircase. “That’s where you’re dead wrong, Belle,” he muttered under his breath, realizing now just how much he did love Letty Sue. She was who he needed right now. And who he wanted. And by tomorrow night, he hoped to make her his, forever.

The next night, Marabella stood over Chase as he lay in his bed. She shook her head. “Poor Chase, you seem to have caught the same virus Seth had. I sent for the doctor, but he’s delivering a baby across the county. He’ll be here in the morning to see to your affliction, I’m sure. Have some more broth. I made it up special for you.”

Chase’s mind felt like mud, a thick layer of it clogging his senses. His last recollection was of sipping coffee that morning, as he was ready to leave. Then the world had spun around him, he’d lost all sense of himself, his knees had buckled and he’d collapsed. Next thing he knew, he was in bed, with Marabella watching over him.

Now his stomach clenched as if a giant snake was squeezing it tightly. He didn’t think there was much left of his gut, since he’d emptied it so many times. Sweat poured down his face, his body was soaked and his legs felt like Letty Sue’s oatmeal, cold and
mushy. There was no strength in his limbs. Weak and exhausted, Chase could only lie on the bed.

Marabella wiped him down with a cloth. “Chase, it could have been good between us. Pity you didn’t see it that way.”

Dizzy as he was, Chase couldn’t lift his head off the pillow. But keen instinct told him not to take any more broth.
Don’t eat, don’t drink, Chase
.

If only he could get himself off this bed.

Chapter Twenty-One

L
etty Sue sat in a crimson, tufted velvet chair facing a beautifully sculpted oak desk waiting for Jimmy McCabe to greet her. She glanced around his office, noting the finery. He’d done quite well for himself, this young man who used to tease her unmercifully and chase her around the schoolyard. She’d always held a special place in her heart for him, that being one of the best memories of her childhood.

He entered, looking trim and professional in a three-piece, pinstriped suit. Funny how she preferred a man
with
mud on his boots now. She preferred a man of strength. She preferred… Chase.

No other man would do.

But Chase wasn’t the reason she was seeking her friend out. She needed legal advice. This was most important to her.

“Morning, Letty Sue. You’re looking as lovely as ever.” Instead of a stiff handshake, the way he’d greeted her at the ranch when Chase was about, he
bent to kiss her cheek. She watched him circle around to the other side of the desk and take a seat.

“Jimmy, this is such a fine office. I hope you do well in Sweet Springs.”

“Thank you, Letty Sue. People tend to trust one of their own. My law practice is growing and I’m happy here. Now, what can I do for you, since marrying you is out of the question,” he said with a teasing glint in his eye. “Seems you’ve done quite well for yourself.”

“Yes, I suppose,” she replied, although she wasn’t at all sure what he meant by that. And she wouldn’t mention that perhaps Jimmy would have to tend to more unpleasant legal affairs for her, if Chase chose not to return. He’d always vowed to dissolve the marriage. With pain in her heart, she’d come to accept that fate, if that was what Chase really wanted.

Letty Sue straightened, getting back to her reason for seeking Jimmy out. “I’d like to adopt Jake.”

“Ah, I see.” He leaned back in his chair and she witnessed a softening in his eyes. Jimmy really was a nice man. “I’d heard the boy’s family was found. All of them are dead.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s unfortunate, but Jake has a home with me. He’s very happy on the ranch now. Did you know he started speaking again?”

“No, no. I certainly didn’t. Does he have any recollection of his folks?”

“I don’t know for sure. He doesn’t ask about them. Doc Ramsey thinks he’s put the whole tragedy out of his mind. Says he might never remember. His
nightmares stopped weeks ago. He really is adjusting well and I hope to see that continue. I want to adopt Jake officially. Do you see any problem with that?”

“I’d have to check into it, but no, I don’t see any problem. The boy has no family and you’re willing to give him a home. Besides, with your husband’s wealth now, that would play in your favor.”

Letty Sue took a big swallow. “Excuse me? My husband’s wealth?”

“Yes, his inheritance.”

Letty Sue blinked, trying to hide her shock. “I don’t understand.”

“I thought you knew. Pardon me for speaking out of turn.”

“My husband was summoned back to Abilene. Seems his employer is dying and wanted to speak with him.”

“His employer? Then you don’t know the whole story,” he said, more to himself than to her.

“Jimmy, just tell me what you’re talking about!”

Jimmy rubbed his nose, hesitating. There was a debate going on in his head, she surmised, but finally he dropped his professional tone and continued. “A few days back, a woman came by my office speaking of a will she’d read. Pardon me for saying so, but I’ve never laid eyes on a more striking woman.”

Letty Sue frowned. “Marabella Donat?”

“Yes, that’s her name. She had spoken of her stepfather’s last wishes and wanted to know if there was any way around it. Seems the dying man is your husband’s…” Jimmy stopped and twisted his lips. “You
didn’t hear this from me, Letty Sue. I shouldn’t be repeating it.”

Letty Sue’s heart pumped hard in her chest. She needed to know what Jimmy had to say. “It’ll go to my grave, Jimmy. I swear. This is important. I need to know. Please go on.”

With a wary nod, he continued. “Seth Johnston is Chase Wheeler’s natural father.”

She gasped aloud. “Oh my!”

“Yes, and I’ve never seen a more enraged woman. Seems this Marabella wanted to know if the will was legal and binding. She was fit to be tied when I told her that, yes, from what she’d told me, Chase Wheeler had every right to his father’s holdings. She started ranting about the unfairness of it all. And that—again excuse me for saying this, Letty Sue—that no filthy half-breed bastard should get what was her due. The woman walked out of here with murder in her eyes.”

“Oh!” Letty Sue was speechless after that, her mind reeling with all she’d just heard. The man Chase had worked with for the past ten years was his true father. Chase hadn’t known. The shock must have devastated him. And what of Marabella? If what Jimmy said was true, she’d be out for revenge. Yet the woman hadn’t seemed vengeful when she’d come to the ranch that day. No. She’d appeared more the temptress. Was she hoping to ingratiate her way back into Chase’s life, just for the money? Either way, Chase might encounter trouble with her.

“Letty Sue?” Jimmy walked around the desk to check on her.

“I’m fine, Jimmy. Really. This is all such a shock.”

“Yes, well, I hope it all works out. But I’d be careful with that woman. She didn’t strike me as the kind to let this drop.”

“I was thinking the same thing, Jimmy. Thank you,” she said, reaching for his hand, “for trusting me with this news.” She rose from her seat, amazed at how wobbly her legs felt. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her strength and smiled.

“I’ll get working on the adoption today,” he offered. “Can I walk you out?”

“No, Jimmy. I’m fine. I can see myself out.”

He kissed her again on the cheek. “Letty Sue, should I be worried about you?”

“Oh, Jimmy. You are a dear. Just see to the adoption and I’ll take care of the rest.”

The concern on his face escalated. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

Letty Sue was afraid, too, of what she’d heard today and of what it all meant. But most of all, she was afraid for Chase.

“I can’t thank you enough, Sam. This is asking almost too much of our friendship, pulling you away from your wife of less than a week.” Letty Sue reined in Starlight at the foot of a hilly rise. Faint predawn light fought off the night. Letty Sue’s sore backside reminded her how far she’d traveled in a scant amount of time. “And I made her take little Jake in, when she’s got her hands full with her own siblings.”

“She offered, Letty Sue. And her brothers love playing with Jake.”

Letty Sue let out a deep sigh. “I know. You two are the best friends in the world.”

They were just outside of Seth Johnston’s spread near Abilene. She could see over the entrance to his property the wide arches with the initials S.J. carved out of cedar. Chase was there, somewhere. She didn’t know if following him here had been wise or just plain foolish. She might very well humiliate herself if Chase turned her away in favor of his first love.

But if that wasn’t the case, he might need her now, more than ever.

Either way, she had to know. She wasn’t fighting just for herself anymore, but for little Jake, too. Chase had to know that Jake was theirs now. They could be a real family.

Sam steadied his mare with a soft whisper, then added, “Besides, Sally wouldn’t have it any other way. With all that talk of you riding to Abilene in the dead of night alone, she insisted I come.”

“So did you, my friend. I know you worry about me.”

“Geez, Letty Sue, when are you and that husband of yours going to get it right, so
he
can do all the worrying over you?”

Letty Sue rubbed wearily at her neck. “I’m working on it, Sam. That’s why I’m chasing that man down. He could be in trouble.”

“All the more reason to let me come along. I could lend a hand if needed.”

“Sam, you’ve already done enough by giving me a quick lesson in shooting, and leaving Sally last night to bring me here.”