Chase Wheeler's Woman (3 page)

She lay down and turned away from him. He brought his body close, meshing his chest with her back, and began rubbing her cold arms. She trembled under his fingertips.

“You’ll be warm in a few minutes. Close your eyes.”

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Can’t have you freezing to death.”

“I…I didn’t think you liked me.”

He let out a wry chuckle. “I don’t.”

“Oh,” she said, sounding sincerely hurt by his admission. Something unraveled in his gut from that one small word.

For years he’d thought kindly of the woman and child he’d rescued from the two renegade Cheyenne who’d struck down white settlers in retaliation for Lean Bear’s untimely and unjust death. Chase, too, had been appalled that Lean Bear, who’d fought for peace and had worn a medal given to him by the white man’s leader, had been brutally slain. Lean Bear had died holding a written letter of peace given to him by President Lincoln.

But even then, more boy than man, Silver Wolf had realized murder wasn’t the answer.

The brave white woman and child he’d rescued had stayed with him in his heart, filling it with a sense of peace. Somehow, in his mind, he’d remained their
protector, feeling a kinship, a special bond to those whose lives he’d saved.

Hurting Letty Sue now hadn’t been planned or calculated. He’d only spoken the truth. He didn’t know her, but he’d known her kind before, having firsthand knowledge of women who played one man against another. Still, the need to protect and keep her safe warred with the contempt he’d felt for her when he’d watched her tempt that young man the way she had earlier today.

She shifted restlessly, wedging herself closer to him.

“Try to rest.” He lifted up slightly, stroking life back into her shoulders and neck, warming her, but attempting to relax the stiffness, too.

“Do you think the storm will last long?”

“With the way it’s thundering, we might be here for a time.” A booming thunderclap seemed to prove his point.

There was silence inside the shack while the rain pummeled the roof above, and Chase thought she had finally fallen asleep. He closed his eyes.

“You don’t speak like an Indian,” she whispered softly, minutes later.

“My mother was Cheyenne. I never knew my white father. But after Snow Cloud died, I lived with the white man. Got a job breaking horses on a big spread in Abilene.”

“Is that when you changed your name?”

“I’ll always be Silver Wolf to the Cheyenne. But
I took a white name when I started at Seth Johnston’s ranch. Been Chase Wheeler for ten years.”

“Mama thinks the sun sets on your shoulders.”

There was resentment in her tone. It was something he was accustomed to, the price he paid for his mixed heritage. He would never quite measure up, and no matter how much good he might do in the world, a single questionable deed would see him hanging high from the rafters.

Or maybe he was mistaken. Perhaps it was the woman’s own inadequacies that caused her resentful tone. Could it be that Joellen, with her kind and generous heart, had spoiled her daughter overly much, and high praise came on a short rope where she was concerned?

“Are you going to tell her about today?” she asked with trepidation.

He began working the chill out of her legs. Stroking gently, massaging up and down, he heard a small moan escape her throat. Damn. He’d never felt softer skin. His hands slid over the smooth contours, bringing an unwanted surge of pleasure. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard on her question, the distraction of her body more than taking up all the space in his addled brain. “Haven’t decided.”

“W-will you tell her about before, with Albert?”

“I should,” he said, in a warning tone.

“Please, I don’t need another lecture right now.” She twisted around to face him, her eyes bright, the blue orbs capturing his gaze with determination.

“Damn well deserve a lecture.” But it wouldn’t be
coming from him. He’d learned a hard lesson from getting involved with a beautiful, spoiled woman once before. He’d not be a fool again.

Snow Cloud’s dying words were always with him. He’d made the mistake of not taking heed of his mother’s wisdom, and the pain had wounded his heart, turned it cold, unyielding.

Do not make the life mistake I made with your father, Silver Wolf. When you find a spirit who will reside forever in your heart, walk as one with her. Stand together and you will find happiness.

Walk as one. Stand together.
Chase wondered if there was such a woman for him.

He glanced down at Letty Sue. Certainly, the woman who lay quietly in his arms—the stillness before the storm—wasn’t such a woman. Inwardly he scoffed at the notion. Letty Sue was a responsibility he’d rather not have.

She broke the silence with a softly spoken question. “What will you tell Mama about this?”

This? The fact that he was holding the most beautiful woman in the entire territory in his arms and both of them were nearly buck naked? “She doesn’t have to know the particulars. We got caught in the storm and waited it out in this supply shack.”

Letty Sue let out a compressed breath. “Thank you.” Her voice was soft and sweet. She didn’t seem the spoiled temptress at the moment, only a cold and exhausted young woman.

He wove his fingers through the long waves of her hair, fanning it out to keep her as dry as possible.
Bringing her closer, he wrapped both arms around her and spoke into her ear. “Don’t thank me. I’m not doing it for you. Your mother would be real upset if she found out about this. Might even change her travel plans.”

Angry sparks lit Letty Sue’s blue eyes like a match to kindling. When she opened her mouth, he muffled any protests she would make with his hand. “Quiet now. It’s time we both got some sleep.”

She wrestled free and scooted inches away, turning her back on him. Fine by him, he thought. Holding her soft body brought too many unwelcome notions.

Once again, Chase cursed his bad luck.

This woman was trouble. No doubt about it.

It would serve him well to keep his distance. Joellen’s daughter was strictly hands-off.

He had a job to do and he wouldn’t let Joellen down.

The slightest hint of jasmine, diluted by the scents of earth and of rain, invaded his senses. Letty Sue wiggled deeper into the grain sack, but kept close enough to feel his heat.

And he, hers.

Chase gritted his teeth.

All of a sudden, three months at the Double J sounded like a long stretch of time.

Hell, this was only the first day.

Chapter Two

J
oellen set a plate of hot chili in front of him. The spicy aroma made his mouth water. “This is hardly the welcome I’d anticipated for you, Chase.”

“It’s all right. Nothing like a Texas storm to thwart your plans.” He stirred the chili slowly, letting the steam rise up. Glancing at Jasper, then at Joellen, both of whom were watching him intently, he took a spoonful in his mouth. “This sure is good.”

“Thank you.” Joellen said, facing him across the kitchen table. “It’s one of Jasper’s favorites. And Letty Sue’s. Too bad she isn’t joining us for dinner. Appears she’s had a tough time today. Good thing you came along when you did, rescuing her from the storm.”

He shrugged. The less said the better. He hated lying to Joellen. “Glad to help out.”

“You know, Chase, my daughter is…well, at times you might find her…difficult to deal with. I’ve made it clear to her that your word is gold. She’s to abide by your rules while we’re gone.”

Jasper added, “I’ve become quite fond of her myself, but on occasion, and I’m sure my wife won’t mind me saying, Letty Sue can be…well, impetuous.”

Chase hid a smile. “You don’t say?”

“She’s a good girl, but she’s also headstrong and, well, you’ve seen her. I don’t think I’m bragging to say my daughter’s a beauty,” Joellen added.

Chase nodded, not wanting to add that her skin was soft as silk, her body was created for pleasure and her sky-blue eyes could render a weaker man completely helpless.

“That’s part of the reason I summoned you here,” Joellen said.

Chase stopped eating, his spoon in the air. “I don’t understand.”

“Jasper and I have sold off the majority of our cattle. It’s always been my husband’s dream to breed horses. We’re converting the ranch to that end. I knew you’d be the best one for the job. You have a way with horses, Chase. Your mother would often boast to me about your abilities. Not that she had to, since I’ve seen them firsthand, but it gave her great joy to speak of her son so highly. I know we have you only for the three months we’re away. Do you plan to head back to Seth Johnston’s spread when we return?”

“Don’t know yet. I left for personal reasons.” In truth, Joellen’s request for him to work temporarily at the Double J couldn’t have come at a better time. Marabella’s deceit had left him cold inside. He didn’t want to be in the same town as her, much less on the
same ranch. “Johnston understood why I had to leave when I did. He’s given me the time off I needed to come here. After that, he expects me to return.”

“Then we should be grateful to him. He’s letting go a talented man,” Jasper said.

“He’s a fair man. I’ve been with him since Snow Cloud died.”

Joellen sighed. “I miss your mother, Chase. She and I had become close friends.” She turned to Jasper, explaining, “I’d visit her on the reservation whenever I had the opportunity.”

“She valued the visits, too,” Chase added.

With softness in her eyes, Joellen continued explaining to her husband, “I enjoyed watching this fine man grow up. And later, after his mother was gone, I looked him up whenever I was near Abilene. It was a promise I made to Snow Cloud.”

Jasper patted her hand. “And you kept that promise, didn’t you?”

“She did,” Chase said. “And I, too, valued your friendship.”

He didn’t say it, but he’d come to think of Joellen Withers as family. She’d been the only white woman who’d cared about him, keeping in touch through letters and rare visits.

Jasper turned to him. “Your horse knowledge was one reason we asked you here. But Joellen had another reason. Want to explain, darling?” Jasper’s loving gaze fell on his wife.

Joellen smiled, then drew in a breath. “I’m afraid Letty Sue’s too strong-willed for most of the ranch
hands here, Chase. She can easily persuade them to do her bidding. That’s the other reason I wanted you as foreman—to look after my daughter. I needed someone I could trust, someone a bit older than the boys she’s used to.”

“I believe I can handle her.” Chase had no doubts in that regard. He’d seen Letty Sue in action, had figured her out, and had known her kind before. He wasn’t some besotted suitor, willing to allow the woman her way just because she turned her blue eyes in his direction.

“I know you can, Chase, because I can trust you. I’m asking you to watch out for Letty Sue.”

Chase cleared his throat and straightened in his seat. “You don’t have to worry. I’ll do my best with the ranch, and with your daughter.”

“I know you will.” Joellen’s smile was wide with relief. “Well, thank heavens. I feel so much better about leaving her now.”

“Mama?” Letty Sue stood in the doorway, her eyes darting from her mother’s to Jasper’s, then settling on Chase. She’d cleaned up and looked well rested. Had it only been a few hours since he’d brought her back to the ranch?

“Letty Sue, I’m glad you decided to join us. Are you feeling better?”

“I am. I, uh, just needed some rest.” She glanced at Chase, her blue eyes searching his in question. He would just let her stew a bit. She must be dying to know what he’d told Joellen about their encounter this afternoon.

“Are you hungry for dinner now? Come and have a seat. I made your favorite,” Joellen said.

Letty Sue sat down next to Chase, in the only available chair. “No, Mama, I’m not at all hungry.”

“Poor dear. I guess it was fortunate for you that Chase came along when he did today. I understand Albert’s buggy broke a wheel. You would have had to walk all that way back to the ranch in the pouring rain. Whatever did happen to Albert?”

Letty Sue’s face flushed ruby-red. She swallowed hard and found her lap real interesting. “Uh, Mama, I, um—”

“He was determined to fix that broken wheel, Joellen. Couldn’t talk him out of it,” Chase explained.

Letty Sue fixed her startled gaze on him. “Yes. Yes, that’s right, Mama.”

“Oh, well, I suppose he made it back to town all right then.”

“I don’t expect we’ll be seeing much of him for a while,” Chase added, rubbing his jaw.

“Really? Why is that?” Joellen asked.

“Uh,” he began, capturing Letty Sue’s wide-eyed, fearful expression. “I imagine the man’s caught himself one heck of a chill.” He raised his eyebrows at Letty Sue. She froze, sending him a stony look. Chase cleared his throat. “What with trudging all the way back to town in the downpour.”

“Oh, dear. Maybe we’d better check on him before we leave, Jasper,” Joellen said, deeply concerned.

“No!” Letty Sue exclaimed, shaking her head. “I
mean… I think Albert’s going to be just fine, Mama. Really, there’s no need.”

Chase kept his expression blank. “I agree. Men don’t usually like to be coddled. He’ll be fine. You and Jasper have more important matters to tend to. You’re leaving day after tomorrow, isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. We’re almost all packed. And Jasper and I have some details to go over with you about the running of the ranch. Tonight you’ll bed down in our spare room, but I’m afraid, once we’re gone, you’re going to have to sleep in the bunkhouse.”

Chase glanced at Letty Sue. The ruby-red color singed her cheeks once again. She was a beauty who could tempt a man to distraction, so how on earth was it possible the woman was still as innocent as a newborn foal? Yet he’d bet his bottom dollar that she was. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Jasper stood and slapped him gently on the back. “Good, then let’s retire to the parlor and have us a smoke. We’ll go over those details Joellen was referring to.”