“You might just have to get Sally to rub that liniment on it again,” Chase said, teasing.
Sam peered over at the young woman with the blond curls. He chuckled. “Now that ain’t a half-bad idea.”
Chase grinned and his gaze followed the women, but the one that caught his eye, the one who always seemed to get into his sights, the one who regularly captured his attention, was Letty Sue. Both women were pretty, Sally with her wheat-colored hair, expressive eyes and slender frame, but dammit if Letty Sue didn’t outshine her and every other woman here.
“You know, you missed a real fine meal.”
“I apologized to Letty Sue,” Sam said. “I guess she sort of expected me to be there.”
Chase nodded, taking his eyes off Letty Sue. Instead, he concentrated on the races. “She did.”
“But I heard some ranch foreman bid the highest ever for her basket. Geez, Chase. Ten dollars? That’s gonna bust me next year. What got into your head? Not that Letty Sue ain’t worth it, but ten dollars? ”
Chase took off his hat to scratch his head. “Yeah, I know. Damn fool thing to do. But this old dough puncher insulted her with a two-bit bid.”
“And you laid down a week’s wage because of it?”
Chase shook his head. “At least it was the best meal I’ve had in a while.”
“That’s something,” Sam agreed, then his mouth split into a grin. “I heard Emma Mayfield cooked it. Letty Sue said her lunch flew off the wagon when it hit a hole in the road. The whole thing dumped onto the ground. Guess that was sorta lucky on your part.”
“Guess so. Letty Sue was mad about it.”
“Mad at you, you mean.”
“That’s nothing new, Sam. That woman and me, we don’t see eye to eye on anything.” Chase slapped Sam on the back, making sure not to injure his sore side. “Now that you’re here, you can spend the rest of the day with her.”
Sam’s gaze darted directly to Sally, who was busy pinning red ribbons on the winners of a three-man relay race. “Uh, Chase… I was sorta gonna spend some time with Sally, if you don’t mind. I was hoping you’d see Letty Sue home tonight. I promised Sally I’d escort her home later, you know, as a thank-you for her helping me today.”
“That so?”
“Do you mind?”
It meant spending more time with Letty Sue. Something he didn’t want to do, especially not after that talk he’d had with her earlier. Being honest with himself, he admitted it had been nice sharing bits of his Cheyenne life with her. He’d not spoken about his mother and father to anyone, really, and Letty Sue seemed to understand. She hadn’t made judgments, but simply listened, seeming truly interested. He’d begun to feel something akin to friendship with her, but he wouldn’t fool himself into believing they could be friends.
Chase had never had a woman friend, much less one as beautiful and tempting as Letty Sue.
He’d best just stick to his original plan of keeping his distance. But he wouldn’t refuse Sam the favor, even if that favor meant having to spend the rest of the day with Letty Sue. “Sally’s a nice girl, Sam.”
“I’m just now learning that,” Sam said. “She’s real sweet.”
Chase agreed, keeping his reluctance to himself. “I’ll see Letty Sue home tonight. You go on and court Sally.”
“Court her?” Sam’s forehead wrinkled.
Chase laughed. “Sam, that’s what you’re doing, isn’t it?”
“Well, I suppose. She is nice…and real pretty.”
“Sweet, too,” Chase said, repeating Sam’s words. “Go on and have fun.”
Sam took one more look at Sally. “Appreciate it, Chase. Hope you and Letty Sue manage to have a pleasant evening.”
Doubtful, Chase thought. Every time he thought about her, it was as if he was pushing her away with one hand and pulling her in with the other. “I think we can manage that,” he answered tightly.
“Chase told you he had a woman in Abilene?” Sally asked, her interest piqued. They sat on a picnic bench folding napkins. The festivities had died down some. Most of the younger children had been taken home; now just the dance was left. Letty Sue didn’t feel much like kicking up her heels.
And she wished she hadn’t spoken about Chase to Sally. Letty Sue wanted to put thoughts of him aside. And now Sally had nothing but questions. “She hurt him real bad. He didn’t have kind words to say about her.” She didn’t add, “And he thinks I’m just like her.” The pain of his silent comparison was still with her. Chase didn’t hold her in high regard. He probably didn’t much like her at all. But he had to be civil to her because of Joellen and his job at the Double J.
Sally’s green eyes gleamed. “Any man who’d bid ten dollars on your basket can’t still be hankering for another woman. Letty Sue, why, nearly the entire town’s talking about how he bid so high for you. It means something. You and him, out on the ranch. No chaperons.”
“He’s my chaperon. He’s forever telling me where I can go, whom I can see, what to do, what not to do. I swear, he treats me like a child, Sally.” Except when he took her into his arms and showed her his passion— Letty Sue hadn’t felt like a child then. Chase made her feel like a real woman.
“I think there’s more to it than that, Letty Sue.” With the napkins folded, they stood and went to different ends of the picnic table. Lifting the tablecloth easily, they brought the points together. Letty Sue dropped her end and Sally finished squaring off the folds.
“I really don’t want to think about him anymore today.”
Sally chuckled then and peered over Letty Sue’s shoulder. “Well, doesn’t look like you’re going to have much choice. Here he comes now, with Sam.”
Letty Sue watched Sam twirl Sally around the dance area. The picnic tables had been moved to form a large circle, much like a wagon train, so that the center arena could be used as a prairie grass dance floor. Nobody minded. It was far too lovely an evening to be indoors, anyway. In an hour, dusk would settle on the land.
A fiddler played a lively tune, and Sally, with skirts swishing, laughed at something Sam had said. They looked good together, happy. Letty Sue smiled, glad that her friend was having a good time.
“Care to dance, Miss Letty Sue?” Toby asked.
Letty Sue had to let the ranch hand down gently. She cast him a sweet smile. “I’m so tired, Toby, my feet refuse to move. I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right. Maybe next time, then.” Double J’s youngest employee sauntered off.
“You really don’t feel like dancing, do you, Letty Sue?” Chase came up to stand next to her. He handed her a glass of punch. “That’s about the fifth man you refused.”
“Normally, I love dancing. Just not tonight,” she said, taking a small sip of the punch. Chase hadn’t asked for a dance. Not that she’d have danced with him, but he didn’t even have the courtesy to ask her. “We can leave anytime you’re ready.”
He nodded. “I’ve got the wagon all packed up.” He took her cup and placed it on the table. “Let’s go.”
Letty Sue waved her goodbyes to Sam and Sally, and had turned to leave with Chase when she nearly collided into the chest of Sheriff Singleton. He made a quick apology, then turned his attention to Chase. His face was solemn, as were the faces of two other men, lawmen, whom she didn’t recognize.
“Chase Wheeler, I believe you know Sheriff Mercer from Abilene, and this is Deputy Bodine. They, uh, they came here to speak with you.”
The three men encircled Chase, leaving her out. She stood there listening, a sense of dread creeping up her spine.
“What’s this all about?” Chase asked, looking each man straight in the eye.
Sheriff Mercer stepped forward. “I’ve got some questions for you. We can do it here or back at the jail.”
“Here is fine,” Chase said.
“Okay,” he said, “did you work for Seth Johnston over the past years?”
“You know I did, Sheriff. You’ve been to his ranch. You’ve seen me. I wo
rked there for ten years.”
“And were you involved with his stepdaughter, Marabella Donat?”
Chase’s lips thinned to one grim line. “Now, that you’re going to have to ask her yourself.”
“We did, Chase. She said you and she, well, you were nearly engaged.”
Letty Sue gasped. Engaged? She didn’t know it had been that serious with Chase and the woman.
Chase slanted her a quick sideways glance, then focused all his attention back on the sheriff. “I’m sure you didn’t travel all this way to Sweet Springs to ask about my love life, Mercer. What’s this all about?”
A small crowd began to gather. They stood back, but were close enough to hear the goings-on. Letty Sue pushed forward, wedging herself between Chase and Sheriff Singleton.
“A man’s dead, Mr. Wheeler, murdered. That’s what this is all about. Did you know a Mr. Pierce Mainwarring from Georgia?”
Chase flinched. His body went rigid. “I met him…once.”
“And when he showed up at the ranch, did you and he argue?”
Chase nodded. “We did.”
“Over Miss Donat?”
Chase nodded again.
“He shows up and next thing you know, Marabella Donat is engaged to him. Would make just about any man angry enough—”
“To kill?” Chase interrupted. “I didn’t kill Pierce Mainwarring, Sheriff, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“It is, exactly, what I’m getting at. Man’s body was found halfway between here and Abilene. A long night’s ride would be just about enough time for someone bent on revenge. He’d been tied up and shot, dumped down a ravine. Where were you three nights ago, on the fifteenth?”
“Where I always am, on the Double J Ranch.”
“Did you see anybody, talk to anybody late that night?”
“No, I went to bed.”
Sheriff Singleton came forward then. “Chase, I got no quarrel with you. Lord knows, Joellen Withers thinks mighty highly of you, and aside from last night at the saloon, you’ve had no trouble in this town. I already explained to Sheriff Mercer that last night wasn’t your fault. But to be truthful, I’ve asked around and none of the Double J ranch hands laid eyes on you that night.”
“Doesn’t mean I killed a man.”
“No, but this might.” Sheriff Mercer turned to his deputy. The man handed the sheriff a hemp rope. “We found this on the dead man. The boys at Johnston’s place said it was yours. They recognized the different way you braid it up and tie it off—the Cheyenne way. Is this your lariat?”
Chase glanced at the rope and nodded. “It could be. I left more than few things behind when I came here. Anybody could have used that rope.”
Mercer took his hat off and scratched his head. “But seems you’re the only one with no alibi, and good cause to want to get rid of the man. Jealousy and revenge make darn good motives.”
Chase’s face went hard as stone, an unyielding mask of anger and indignation. “You arresting me, Sheriff?”
“I’m afraid I am.” He lifted his gun from his holster. “Josh, get the rope and tie his hands. Chase Wheeler, I’m placing you under arrest for the murder of Pierce Mainwarring.”
Up until that point, Letty Sue had stood ramrod stiff, taking in all that was happening. She couldn’t believe her eyes or her ears. They were arresting Chase for murder!
“Stop!” She set herself between Chase and the deputy. “You can’t do this.”
“Letty Sue, what are you doing?” Chase asked harshly.
“Back away, Letty Sue.” Sheriff Singleton kept his voice calm, but his gaze warned her off.
She didn’t care that she was obstructing so-called justice; she had to put a stop to this ridiculous claim.
“Not until you listen to me. Chase Wheeler is not a murderer. He didn’t commit this crime. You can’t haul him off to jail. It’s not right.”
The deputy sidestepped Letty Sue, put both of Chase’s arms behind his back and began tying him up.
“Stop this,” she pleaded with Sheriff Singleton. “You can’t let them arrest him. Do something!”
“Nothing I can do, Letty Sue. Now, move aside and let these men do their job.”
Letty Sue didn’t hesitate. She knew what she had to do. Chase wasn’t a murderer. He couldn’t be. There was too much honor in him to shoot a man, then dump him down a ravine. Chase would never do such a thing. He’d saved her life countless times, and her virtue, too. Her heart spoke and she listened, all else be damned.
“He was with me that night and every night since!”
Murmurs went through the crowd as nearly the entire church congregation witnessed the scene. The fiddler quit playing, and she was sure everyone on the dance floor stopped and turned to listen. Letty Sue held her head high and fixed her gaze on John Singleton.
The sheriff stared at her in disbelief, his patience nearly tried. “Now, Letty Sue, you know that ain’t true.”
“You’ve known me since I was a tot, John. Do you honestly think I’d admit that in front of the whole town if it weren’t true?”
“Don’t, Letty Sue,” Chase warned.
She ignored Chase’s admonition. “We spend our nights together. He’s trying to protect me, but it’s the truth, Sheriff, I swear.”
“She’s lying, Sheriff. Don’t believe her,” Chase declared rigidly, his silver eyes now burning black with anger. And he turned those black eyes on her. There was dire warning in his voice. “Don’t do this, Letty Sue. Tell them you’re lying.”
Letty Sue stood her ground. She couldn’t let them take Chase to jail for murder. If it meant losing her pride, then that was the sacrifice she’d have to make. “Chase Wheeler and I spend all our nights together, that’s how I know for sure. He was with me three nights ago. The entire night.”
She didn’t dare look at Chase. She could almost feel his anger scorching her skin. Instead, she shot Sheriff Singleton a look of indignation. “Well?”
“Uh, just a minute.” Sheriff Singleton took Mercer aside, while the deputy trained his gun on Chase. They spoke in hushed tones and finally, after several minutes, Sheriff Mercer approached.
“Let him go, Josh. Sheriff Singleton vouches for her word.” He turned away from his deputy and shot her a sharp, cautioning look. “But if I find out you’re lying, miss, I’ll be back. And Mr. Wheeler won’t be the only one getting arrested.”
She held her breath and nodded. No words would come. At least now she’d repaid Chase for all the times he’d come to her rescue. With a glance, she noted the deputy removing the ropes. Chase rubbed at his wrists and marched over to her. She cast him a tentative smile.
He grabbed her arm and yanked her off to the side, away from the curious onlookers. “You little fool. You don’t know what in the hell you’ve done!”
“I do know what I’ve done, Chase. I kept you out of jail. Or do you want those ropes that were on your wrists a bit higher—say, around your neck?”
“I’m innocent. I could’ve proved it.”
“I don’t see how. Seems Sheriff Mercer’s mind was made up before he spoke with you.”
“Letty Sue, damn you! I’m not going to let you ruin your reputation.”
She cringed then, acknowledging that her reputation was, in fact, ruined. The whole town had heard her admit to spending nights with Chase, sharing his bed. “It’s too late for that. Besides, all I truly care about is our own friends on the ranch. And they all know it’s not true.”
A dubious look crossed Chase’s face, replacing the anger. “And how’s that?”
“Why, because they all know you sleep in the bunkhouse with them. They know you don’t come to me at night.”
His mouth twisted and his dark look frightened her. “That’s where you’re dead wrong, woman. I haven’t spent one night in the bunkhouse. Not one. I sleep way out back beyond the barn.”
Letty Sue flinched as though she’d been slapped. “Oh.”
“And now not only the whole town
, but all the men at the ranch believe I’ve been bedding you all this time.”
Heat flushed her cheeks, the implications of what she’d done coming full circle now. Her heart pounded wildly, frantically. She’d gotten herself in trouble before, but nothing compared to this.
Chase’s lips twitched angrily. He spat out, “You’ve given me no choice. I’m going to have to marry you.”
Chapter Ten
“M-marry m-me?” Letty Sue’s eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t be serious. Her racing heart speeded up even more. “Y-you don’t w-want to do that.”
“No, I don’t. But I will.”
“Chase, it’s not necessary. I’ll…I’ll find a way out of this mess. You—”
His face went hard like granite and his dark gaze bored into her with such powerful intensity she thought she’d split in two right on the spot. “You’ll marry me and that’s the end of it.”
“The end of it?” She raised her voice. “I’m sorry, but when I marry, the joining won’t be the end of anything…but the beginning of something grand. My answer is no.”
He took her arms and shook her gently but thoroughly. She felt his restraint, what it cost him not to shake the dickens out of her. “You will marry me. Tonight. Now.”
“But—”
“Letty Sue.” Sam came forward, interrupting. “He’s doing right by you. It’s the only thing a man can do. I’d do the same if I were in his place.”
She stomped her foot. “Sam, you’re my friend.”
Sam shook his head. “I’m telling you like it is, Letty Sue. It’s best you get married. The sooner the better.”
“Oh,” she said, bewildered. She hadn’t thought Sam would side with Chase. Letty Sue wasn’t ready for marriage. She didn’t want a man who felt obliged to marry her. Chase would never love her. He hardly tolerated her. What kind of marriage would that make?
“Let me have a minute with her.” Sally took Letty Sue by the arm, away from Chase’s scrutiny. She spoke softly, calmly, once they were out of earshot of the men. The crowd stood back, but watched curiously, most likely wondering about the outcome to the most scandalous occurrence Sweet Springs had ever seen. “Letty Sue, my friend, I’m afraid this is one fix you can’t get out of on your own. You helped Chase, and I understand why you did it, but honey, he’s trying to help you now.”
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