by Rita Hestand
"Like it?" Just the way she said that answered his question. She shook her head. "When a boy grows into a man, he can leave home, go anywhere, find a job and live. When a girl grows up, there's few options. She can get married, become an old maid school-teacher, open a sewing shop, or live with her parents all her life. But she doesn't have the option to just pick up and leave. I've had no choice in the matter. No woman in her right mind would choose this kind of living, Chance. I had nowhere to go. I was a kid. Oh, they were gonna send me to one of those orphanages, but I wasn't having any of that."
His head quirked, "What do you mean? Why not?"
He recognized the reprimand in his voice and regretted it, because her expression registered disappointment.
"Heard too many horror stories about them. Now, I've been doing this so long, I don't know, don't have any place to go…and nothing to compare it to. I hate it, but until I can do better, I have to like it, as you call it. I've been saving my money a little along the way too."
"I saw you giving that kid the milk." Chance smiled at her. "Do you often help others out with your money?"
"He's a kid, Chance. His mother's having a hard time. If I can help someone I will. I make pretty good money, and I don’t have a thing to spend it on, except dresses."
"You are beautiful, through and through."
The compliment shocked her, but she remained skeptical.
She shrugged. "We live in a stagnant little town that hasn't changed its opinion of things in a hundred years. Someone had to help the poor kid. I know his mother, and she wouldn't have sent him unless she really needed it. I work there, but I don't have to put up with narrow mindedness. Leroy wouldn't help a dying dog."
His smile widened. "I like your spirit Jen."
"My spirit?" She wrinkled her nose. "Well, no one's told me that before."
"You stand up for what you believe, don't you?"
"I try. Sometimes it lands me in a world of trouble, but I keep on trying." She chuckled.
But he wasn't laughing. He was thinking. He took her soft hand in his, studying it.
"I don't think I've ever held hands with a man before." She glanced at her hand in his.
He winked at her.
"You got a choice now, that is…if you want it…"
Her mouth dropped open, but she didn't say anything. Her brows nearly met at her nose, she frowned so hard. "What kind of choice? What are you talking about?"
"With me. I'll take care of you."
"Oh for crying out loud. Take care of me!" She nearly hollered. Heads turned their way. She lowered her voice once more. "It's a little late for anyone to do that, Chance. I'm twenty-one now. Fully grown. I'm not some kid anymore. I make a living; I take care of myself."
He stared at her now, and a frown formed.
"I can sure see that. I wish you were a kid; it'd be a little easier for me. But you never deserved this kind of life." Chance told her. "You came from a good family."
"Did I? Did I really? Not many around here think much of the Carter family anymore. And you are going to take care of me? Just like that. You waltz into this town again after what, ten years and suddenly you’re the daddy I never knew!"
His glance swept her. "I'm a little young to be your dad."
"Brother, then?"
"How about friend! I don't want to be kin to you." He amended.
"Well, I don't blame you for that."
"That's not what I meant. If you'll let me. I mean, I live kind of rough, but we'll manage. I won't let anything happen to you. And you won't have to sleep with anyone…"
She stared at him, and her expression changed from grim and foreboding to disbelief. "I think you mean it!"
"I do!"
"But why?" She asked her mouth hanging open. "You certainly don't owe me anything."
He looked into her eyes now. He saw so much looking through to her very soul. The physical tension between them was like a live wire. It hadn't been there before, but it was there now. His gaze became focused on her lips momentarily. He wondered what they might taste like. Then he scolded himself for wondering.
His fingers ran gently over the top of her hand, soothing her. He pried his eyes from her. "Maybe I owe Rebecca and your father something. Maybe I'm lonesome. Maybe I've lost my mind, who knows. I just don't want to leave you here in this rotten little town with all these rotten people. What do you say?"
Her mouth hung open, again. "We're strangers now. I've grown up, and I'm not like Rebecca. I'm not my sister. you can't just come in here and pick up where you left off. I will not be her shadow any longer. I know you probably mean well, but…"
He reached to close her gaping mouth with a warm finger. He sensed her reserve. "You never were your sister. And you'll never be a shadow with me. You always spoke your mind, even at twelve. What do you say Squirt?"
She smiled despite her determination not to, "You used to call me that…"
"I know." He smiled, his own face taking on a new persona. "I thought a lot of you when you were little, and nothing has changed that…"
"Do you have a place?" She asked, bewildered that he had put her under his spell.
"Nope. I live out on the prairie." He smiled temptingly.
"And you want me to just leave…with you? And live…on the prairie with you?" It sounded absurd and yet…
"Why not. It's better than that, isn't it?" he motioned the saloon.
She glanced out the window toward the saloon, and then back at him, and hanging her head, she nodded. "This is pretty crazy, even for me."
"Good, now eat up and we'll get a few things and be on our way." Chance told her. He didn't want to give her time to change her mind.
"Just like that, we're leaving. No goodbyes, no pack a bag. Nothing. Wait a minute…I know why you are here, now. You're after Hank, aren't you?" She asked, as their meal was served.
The waiter poured him more coffee, Chance nodded and smiled. "Thanks."
The waiter smiled, "Si…"
His eyes met hers over the rim of his cup once more, "That's an assumption, that I understand. But no, I'm just passing through. And yes, we are leaving with no goodbyes, no packing a bag."
"Well, I have few personal things I want to stop off and get before I just leave." She shook her head. "After all this time, you still want revenge? Things have changed since you left, Chance. But I'm not sure you have. We need to talk about those changes."
"We'll have a lot of time to talk."
"Hank is an important man here in town now. He owns most of the land between here and Red Rock." She told him. "He's been watching out for me for years."
"You! You and Hank?"
She cut him with her glance, "No, it's not like that. We never… I don't have a man, Chance. Men have used my body, but none of them have used my heart. Including Hank. Especially Hank. He's a good friend, and I don't want to see him hurt."
Chance sent her a serious look. "All right, we'll talk, later."
A slow smile broke over Chance's face now, and she was startled at how handsome it made him.
***
She'd always thought him handsome, even dreamed of him when she was young. But now that she'd grown up and known half the men in the area, pretty smiles didn't impress her as much. She'd hardened her heart long ago, and she had no plans to open it for anyone. Not even Chance.
She studied him a while as she ate. His hair was a lot longer, and he had a mustache and beard. He looked dangerous now, and she didn't doubt he was very dangerous. Just from the way he carried himself, she knew he'd used his guns before.
"There's nothing holding you here, is there?" He asked as he finished his meal.
She'd only taken a couple of bites and he was through.
"No, but…he'll be mad when he finds out I'm gone," She said not realizing that she had already accepted his offer.
"Good, mad men do foolish things." He smiled.
"Chance, don't mess with Hank. He's got a lot of men working for him. He's got
money and power. He's changed. Anyone can change in ten years. Even you!"
Jace thought about it a minute. "The land he's sitting on belongs to me, rightfully, Jen. I can't ignore that." He told her. "It's time to settle up."
"Then I guess I won't go with you. It was a thought but only a thought."
"Why?" His head jerked up suddenly to stare at her.
She paused wondering if she should tell him about Hank. But knowing Chance as she did, he'd have to see it for himself.
"No use making friends with someone who is bound and determined to get their fool head blown off."
"It's my land…"
"Is it worth dying for?" She asked staring with a frown. "You're starting something that doesn't have to be started. I tell you, he's changed. Don't you believe it?"
He stared back. "You don't have much confidence in me, do you?"
She narrowed her eyes on him, and frowned. "If I didn't I wouldn't think of leaving with you!"
He stared and then that smile returned. "Then you'll go with me!"
"I must be crazy, but I guess so…Maybe I can talk some sense into you."
Somehow Chance had talked her into going with him. She wasn't sure it was a good idea, but after nearly eight years in a saloon, anything else looked good. She needed to talk to him about Hank though, make him understand.
Still Chance was special to her, and she couldn't turn away from him that easily.
Chapter Two
They walked on the boardwalk down the street, occasionally looking at each other and grinning. The clashing sound of his boots and spurs and her high heels made a strange music. A slight breeze filtered across them. A few people mingled on the boardwalks and pounding from the blacksmith shop sent a strange music through the air.
As far as Chance was concerned the day had picked up when Jen said she'd go with him.
Truth be known, Chance always had a special place in his heart for her, but had he realized she was a woman now? And she knew it would be dangerous going with him. Sooner or later him and Hank would have it out, and she'd be right back where she started from. With another death to get over.
At the General Store Chance bought Jen plenty of clothes, some riding clothes, some feminine things. He got a few things he thought he might need and they were about to leave when Mrs. Cox the store owner questioned her.
"Going somewhere Jenny?" The older woman eyed her but her real interest was Chance and she made little secret of it. She kept patting her dull brown hair and smiling at him.
"Maybe…" Jen replied with a half smile.
"With this gentleman?" The woman asked.
"Mrs. Cox, he's my long lost cousin, and yes, I'm leaving town with him."
"Hank might not like that…" She said softly as her eyes flew to Chance now, looking him over like a side of beef.
"I guess you didn't know I had any family, did ya?" Jenny looped her arm in Chance's.
"No, I didn't, you didn't even introduce him…" Mrs. Cox fluttered her lashes at Chance as Jen grabbed his arm and headed toward the door.
Jenny laughed haughtily and turned to look at the woman. "No, I didn't, did I?"
When they left the store, she looked up at him. "She's a noisy lady. And she sure had eyes for you. No one does anything in this town without her knowing about it. What I told her will be all over town in an hour."
"Don't worry, you won't have to deal with her anymore. And I'm real glad you didn't tell her my name too."
"No use feeding a fire, now is there?"
"Let's get your things and get out of here." Chance suggested.
She nodded and headed for the hotel. She had a back room at the hotel and it was cheaper than any of the others. The clerk nodded to her but watched as she took Chance with her to her room. She knew only too well what the clerk was thinking.
Chance noticed the bare necessities in her room. She got her bag and filled it with her regular clothes, then there was a small box she put that in her bag too.
"My money," she smiled.
When they walked out to the lobby, she wrote a quick note and handed it to the clerk, "See that Dorothy Jean gets this. I want her to pick up some clothes in my room. I'll be leaving now."
"Oh, with him?" The clerk's brow shot up.
"Yes, with him. I'm twenty-one now Mr. Dodd."
"Of course…"
"I need to tell Leroy too." She insisted.
"All right."
They walked over to the saloon and Leroy was staring at her. "I wondered where you got off to, you're supposed to be working, you know."
"I'm leaving Leroy. I won't be back." She insisted.
"Leaving…when did this happen?"
"Today. I just wanted to tell you. And I want you to be sure to give that kid milk any time he asks for it. I'm leaving this to pay for it." She handed him a hundred-dollar bill. And Leroy, I'll check back to make sure you do."
Chance chuckled.
Leroy grimaced. "All right, I'll give the kid some milk."
Chance bought her a horse at the stable and they left. When they got to some old adobe ruins, about twenty miles out, he stopped.
"This is home?" She asked with a smirk.
"For now it is." He nodded. "Any complaints?"
"No, believe it or not, not a one. I'm just a little shocked, you bought me a horse and clothes, I figured you had lots of money." She smiled at him. But something occurred to her. "What have you been doing the last few years? I mean, obviously, you haven't settled down. Are you wanted somewhere? Got a wife somewhere with a bunch of kids. No one's heard a word from you since you left." She avoided eye contact, until he answered with a rasp.
"Not hardly. You don't want to know what I've been doing. And the less you know about that, the better. Just suffice it to say, I'm turning over a new leaf. You have a past, and so do I, but from this day forward, we leave those behind. We're both going to better ourselves."
"Really," she studied him with slight indifference from a large but comfortable rock she found to sit on. "Just like that."
"Yes, I'll be getting a job soon. I'm also going to have to change my name though. No one in town recognized me, because of the hair and beard, but some would recognize the name."
"A job, huh? Where?" Her voice was sharp edged with interest.
"On one of the ranches around here." He announced boldly.
"Why you changing your name?" Her head cocked to the side as she continued to stare at him.
"Because I prefer not to be known to anyone. I've changed my appearance enough not many would recognize me."
"Yeah, I noticed the hair. I kind of like it. Makes you look wild, like a real desperado. What's your name, then…"? She stared at him curiously.
"Jace, you know like ace, only with a J." He shrugged. "How do you like it?"
"Jace, okay, I can deal with that. What about your last name?"
He stared out on the prairie a minute then added as though thinking on that for a minute. "Jace Harrison."
"Where did that come from?" She nearly chuckled.
"It's my middle name…" He glanced over at her and grinned.
"You're kidding. Harrison? You were Chance Harrison Montgomery?"
"A mouthful isn't it. Actually it was my mother's maiden name. My ma was a southern lady, my Pa was a Yankee and they married. She was bound and determined the Harrison's wouldn't be lost in the shuffle. But…no one knows that but me, the doc, and my folks. And my folks are gone and so is the doc, so now you are the only one that knows that for fact."
"When did you find out about your folks dying?"
He was looking at her now, but thinking back to the time. "Remember Johnny Sayers?"
"Yeah, another fella that wanted to date Rebecca." She grinned.
"Anyway, Johnny came through town one day, ran into me at a saloon over in Beaverton. Told me they'd been sick, with the small pox. I had their bodies shipped back here to be buried in the old cemetery. Knew I'd be back this way. I visited them before
I came into town. Who put the headstones up for them?"
"Hank Hardin found out they had no stones and he had it take care of. Said all respected citizens should have a headstone. What do you mean they aren't really there?"
"I mean they are in a better place now."
She nodded, "Oh! Yes, they are."
They were silent for a while then she looked over at him as she folded her arms over her knees. "You never told Rebecca? She said she didn't know your middle name." She didn't want to sound anxious but she seemed to wait for his answer.
"Nope…my mother was proud of the name, but let's say I found it…somewhat embarrassing."
She chuckled.
"You're not embarrassed that I know?"
His glance galvanized her, making her heart flutter.
"No, not a bit. Funny huh? I guess I grew comfortable with you a long time ago. That hasn't changed. The only thing that's changed," He cleared his throat and stared at her, "Is you growing up. And you sure did that well."
The way he looked at her had her squirming though.
"Why around here, why not go somewhere fresh, to start all over?" Jenny complained ignoring his flirty nature. Then she figured it out, "You are after revenge, aren't you?"
"Justice, is more like it. He stole that place from my folks. I aim to see that somehow justice is served. But I'm not after blood…I know better than that. I've had ten years to cool down Jen. But I got to see him, justify it in my mind. I'm not after a war with him. But to put closure on an old sore."
"Call it whatever. Rebecca died from hitting her head on a rock. Get over it Chance. You can't bring her back. I'd have thought you might have grown up since then. I mean it's been ten years. Hank was a banker back then and foreclosed on your folk's house. That was his job. That's all it was." Jenny protested trying to talk some sense into him. She turned and started to walk away from him, obviously not liking what his grin did to her.
He walked up to her and took her in his arms.
Her mouth fell open in shock.
"I got over her Jen, believe it or not. But, I can't say I got over Hank. The man bought that land after he foreclosed on it. That's like stealing something for nothing. He stole their land; he's living on it to this day…" Chance argued. "I came here to test myself. I wanted to see if I still hate, or if I can lift my head up and go on and really start all over. Until I know I’m not good to anyone."
