Gabe slipped out from under her arm and walked to the stairs. It’d been some time since he’d put Sarah down. He wanted to run up and see if she was still asleep.
Quietly walking down the hall, Gabe peeked into the shadowy little room where he had left Sarah. He was alarmed when he saw her sitting silently on the edge of her bed, not making a sound.
“Sarah, honey, you’re awake. Why didn’t you call out for me?” Gabe crooned.
When Sarah saw him, she threw her arms around his neck and hung on for dear life.
“I was right downstairs in the mercantile and thought you were asleep. Don’t be scared anymore.” Reassuringly he rubbed her back and rocked back and forth.
“Ma,” Sarah cried.
“You’ll see her tomorrow, and until then you’re going to have a real fun time here with Mrs. Hollyhock and me. You remember Mrs. Hollyhock, the nice lady who brought us here?”
Sarah nodded her head but didn’t say anything.
“She has a cup of hot cocoa for you downstairs just waitin’ for when you wake up. You ready for it?” Gabe asked, hoping he was right and the little girl wouldn’t be disappointed. Again Sarah only nodded.
“Good, let’s go find it.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
Jessie spent her wedding night alone in her bed.
After supper she’d busied herself cleaning up and baking some bread. Chase had sat quietly by the fire, rubbing oil over his reins and bridle. The smell of leather filled the room.
Chase had seemed perfectly comfortable with the silence between them. Sometimes an hour would slip by without a word spoken.
But for Jessie, now accustomed to Sarah and Gabe’s shenanigans, the silence had grown long and burdensome. The stillness put her on edge, and she would sometimes refill Chase’s coffee cup before it was empty just so she could hear him mumble out a “Thanks.”
The evening had worn on like any other until Jessie, tired from the events of the day, crawled into bed and soon was fast asleep.
Rising before sunup, she quickly splashed cold water on her face and ran a comb through her tangled hair. Hastily, she braided it and threw it over her shoulder, dressed, then peeked out the door.
Chase was nowhere to be seen, but his bedroll was still laid out by the fireplace, rumpled and disarrayed. Relief filled her. After their argument yesterday she worried he might up and leave. She wouldn’t have blamed him if he did. She cringed at the memory of her mocking him for his gallantry. She must be touched in the head!
She put the coffeepot on the hot stove next to a pot of warming water, appreciative Chase had started the fire. The warmth in the little cabin felt good, and she silently thanked God for sending someone as thoughtful as Chase.
Jessie practically ran to the outhouse and then down to the stream. She wanted to be back quickly to have a nice breakfast ready for Chase when he returned from wherever he’d gone.
By the time she made it back to the cabin, Jessie could feel her skin tingling from the cold and exercise. She scrunched her toes and wiggled her fingers to get the blood flowing. No need to pinch her cheeks this morning.
Yanking open the door, she stopped. Chase stood in front of the stove in only his pants, his chest glistening wet and soapy. His stomach muscles were stretched taut above the top of his belt. The cords in his neck stood out as he washed.
His hand stopped in midair. “I thought you’d be gone longer. I planned to be finished by the time you returned.”
He dipped the cloth back into the basin and wrung out the excess water.
“I have to confess, it’s mighty nice having warm water to wash with on a chilly mornin’.” He reached for a towel. “There’s plenty left for you.”
“Thank you.” Jessie turned around. The vision of his stomach, hard with ridges, was impressed on her mind. It reminded Jessie of something. It was almost like…
“I could wash a shirt on it,” she mumbled.
“What was that?”
“I said, I’ll have your breakfast whipped up right away.” Jessie whirled into action, banging pots and pans.
“Whoa now, there’s no need to hurry so. You’ll burn yourself again if you don’t slow down. Besides, my ears can’t stand much more of your clamor.” Taking the heavy cast iron from her hands, he set it on the stove.
“There, that’s better.” His fingers brushed hers as he took the skillet, sending little chills racing up her arm.
Chase shrugged into his shirt. “I think we should make some plans today. The weather’s been cooperating so far, but it’s bound to snow soon. I want to fix this place up a little. Possibly patch up the barn and fix the fence that’s falling down out back.” Chase pulled out a chair and sat.
“That’s a fine idea.”
Minutes later, Jessie set a plate full of fried potatoes, gravy, and sliced venison in front of Chase. She filled a mug of coffee for herself and Chase and sat down beside him. She was much too keyed up to eat.
Taking his fork, he scooped up a big bite. “What things would you like to see mended?” Chase asked after swallowing. His eyes closed briefly. “These sure are good, Jessie.”
“Thank you. There’re plenty more.”
He nodded. “I’ll start on the fence today. I figure the barn roof is a job that can wait until I have Gabe’s help.”
“You don’t have to do all that.”
Wiping his mouth, he looked at her. A faint light twinkled in their dark depths. “I know. But this place is not ready for winter. And the repairs shouldn’t take too long with Gabe helping.” He took a sip from his cup and looked at her again. He smiled.
Jessie couldn’t help responding to his warmth with a smile of her own. It was amazing how his boyish grin made him look years younger. His freshly shaven face had a warm glow, and she ached to reach out and feel its texture. It would be so easy to forget he meant to leave someday.
A bit breathless, Jessie pulled her gaze away. “It sounds like you’ve given this quite some thought.”
Chase pushed the empty plate away and rubbed his flat stomach. “Just about all night.”
“Fine then. I’ll start thinking on what needs to get done. Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No, I’m full down to the hocks.” He stood and stretched. “I’m going to check out the new horses and see if their equipment needs any repair.” He shrugged into his coat. “I’m going to work each horse and see how they go. Check out their soundness and temperament. I don’t want anyone getting hurt. I’ll be around, not too far off. Just give a shout if you need anything. Then later we’ll ride into town together and collect the young’uns.”
“Chase…,” Jessie said, stopping him as he opened the door to leave.
He looked at her expectantly.
“I’ve been thinking, too.”
His brows rose over his expressive eyes. She readied for a playful remark, but one never came.
“Yes?” he prompted.
Nervously, she bit her lip. It had seemed like a good idea when she was thinking about it last night in bed, but now that the time had come, she was doubtful.
“What’s your idea?”
“Well,” she began slowly. “You’re doing all these things for me and the children, and…” She stopped.
Chase closed the door and waited patiently. “This doesn’t have to be so hard, Jessie.”
“Okay, I’m just going to say it straight out. I’d like to do something for you in return for your kindness. I’d like to teach you to read and write, if you want to.”
His face clouded. She was afraid he’d storm out again and they would lose this wonderful friendship that was growing. She should’ve left well enough alone.
It felt like an eternity before he responded. “I’d like that very much. At least so as I can sign my own name.” He chuckled, and her worry was chased away by the endearing look in his eyes.
“Chase, it’s easy! With a little practice you’ll be reading everything. And,” she added excite
dly, “I’m a good teacher, too. You’ll see. It’ll be fun.”
Wanting to get things done before leaving for town, Jessie sat down to make a list. She was so filled with happiness, she could hardly get her thoughts together. First she’d list the things Chase had already mentioned. The barn roof. The fence. Hmmm, the chimney flue on top of the cabin had started to smoke now and then. Maybe that was something he could fix. The leaky roof and drafty walls. So many things. She hadn’t realized how run-down the place had gotten.
Lands, he could be here for years if he intended to repair everything that needed fixing. The thought made her giggle. She surely wouldn’t complain.
She put on her coat and went outside to the woodpile. Chase was nowhere in sight. Probably on his way to town with one of the new horses, she mused.
A jay screamed from the top of a tall pine tree. She turned and glanced behind. Seeing nothing, she tried to relax. Still, a niggle of fear danced along her spine. She had the distinct feeling of being watched.
The sun disappeared behind a cloud, casting the area into darkness. Coldness edged its way around her heart as she quickly gathered some logs. “Quit being such a ninny,” she scolded herself.
Just as she came around the back corner of the woodpile, a hand reached out and gripped her arm tightly. With a screech Jessie dropped the logs and went flying.
“Told ya I’d be seein’ ya again, sugar pie.” Lonnie pushed her up against a tree, knocking the breath from her lungs. Her head cracked against the trunk so hard, stars danced before her eyes. Inhaling was painful as she tried to fight him off. Her futile struggles only made him laugh. Grasping her around the throat, he smiled, victory shining in his eyes.
“Ain’t no woman ever hit me and got away with it,” he snickered as he leered in her face. “I was gittin’ mighty impatient waitin’ for that cowboy ta ride out.”
Jessie opened her mouth to scream, but he smashed his hand savagely over her lips. A sob lodged in her throat, burning, hot. She would suffocate if she couldn’t get a breath. She twisted her head to the opposite side. Sarah’s doll was lying on the porch.
With renewed vigor, Jessie struggled. She wriggled one of her hands free and gouged her fingernails into his face, pulling down. Four bright red lines appeared from his forehead to his chin.
“Aaaahhh!” He pressed his hand to his face, then looked at his palm. Seeing the blood she’d drawn, his face contorted.
With all her might Jessie stomped her boot heel blindly trying to find his foot. She needed air! He easily avoided her attack and they fell to the cold, solid ground, his hand releasing her mouth, and she gasped. He took a hold of her bodice and ripped.
Chapter Twenty-nine
The fabric of Jessie’s dress gave way, and cold air and the rocklittered earth tortured her skin. She struggled to breathe and continued to fight her attacker, refusing to let him know how frightened she was.
A string of obscenities filled the air. Chase’s enraged eyes were all that she could see as he seized Lonnie and threw him against a tree, causing needles to rain down on them both.
Chase pummeled Lonnie’s face and torso. Lonnie brought his knee up, knocking the wind from Chase, giving him opportunity to dive away. Chase was on him instantly, and they rolled together, stopping a few feet away. Lonnie’s hand came to rest on the handle of Jessie’s ax. He gripped it quickly, but Chase pinned his hand, then wrested the ax from Lonnie’s grasp. He pressed the razor-sharp blade to Lonnie’s throat. A frightening sound escaped from Chase, and grew until it was all Jessie could hear.
Jessie gasped. “Chase! No!”
Still growling like an animal, Chase flipped the ax over and struck Lonnie on the head with the flat side of the blade, knocking him out cold.
Shaking, Jessie fumbled with her torn dress. She turned away.
“Jess, you’re hurt,” Chase blurted, as he rushed to her aid. “My God, your shoulder!”
“No, I’m all right.”
“But…”
“They are old scars.”
The violence Jessie had just experienced seeped into every pore of her body. Her lip and neck stung, and she hurt all over. She couldn’t hold back tears any longer.
Chase picked her up, wrapping her in his arms. “Shhh, it’s all right,” he crooned against her ear. He cradled her gently next to his chest, carrying her like a baby inside the cabin and laying her on the bed.
Chase took in her every detail. Ripped dress. Bloody lip. She’d have bruises from head to toe. Leaves and dirt clung to the back of her hair, resembling a bird’s nest. But she was alive. And his relief over that was enormous.
He covered her with a blanket and sat on the edge of the bed in silence. He couldn’t imagine what had happened to disfigure her shoulder in such a way. His heart trembled.
“I’ll be back. I need to take care of things outside.” He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Will you be all right here for a few minutes?”
Jessie smiled, unaware her teeth were covered with blood. She nodded. “Thank you.”
He couldn’t respond. The emotions swirling around inside were threatening to spill out.
By the time Chase was back, Jessie had slipped out of her ruined dress and was wrapped in a warm blanket. He watched as she wiped blood from her face and neck with a damp cloth and then put on the kettle for tea. “Is he the man from the mercantile?”
“Yes.”
“Lonnie.” Chase paced back and forth in front of the fire like a caged animal. He remembered vividly every detail she had told him. “Had you ever seen him before that day?”
“No.” Jessie’s fingers went up to her neck, and she carefully touched the angry welts Lonnie had left behind.
“You said there were two men. Who was the other?” Chase asked, stifling his anger at the sight of the abuse Lonnie had inflicted.
“It was his brother, I think. He called him Joe.”
“Nathan didn’t smoke, did he?”
Jessie turned at his odd question and looked at Chase. He held up a half-smoked cigarette. “I found this behind the barn. It has been out there for a while. Could it have been Nathan’s?”
Her eyes grew round, and she shook her head.
“I didn’t think so. I’d bet this isn’t the first time Lonnie and Joe have been out here, Jessie. No telling how long they have been sneaking around.”
Jessie pulled out a chair and slowly sat down, her hands shaking as she cupped her tea.
“This changes everything,” Chase said. She didn’t realize it, but Jessie was in more danger now than ever before.
“What do you mean?”
With frustration he ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t you see? When we take Lonnie into town, he’ll stand trial and probably hang. You saw what kind of man he is. Well, his brother can’t be much better. He’ll want revenge.”
Jessie’s eyes widened. “They’ll hang him for hurting me?” She tried to get up, but Chase gently nudged her back into the chair.
“No, not for hurting you, although I’d like them to hang him for that. A girl was raped and murdered over in Clancy a short while ago, and I’d bet a month’s pay Lonnie was the one responsible. A skunk can’t change his stripes that fast.”
At the thought of Lonnie getting what he had coming to him, Chase calmed down considerably. “He’ll get a trial, be found guilty, and then he’ll hang. Or at the very least he’ll end up in the territorial prison down in Laramie.”
Jessie took a sip from her teacup.
“I can’t leave you and Sarah here. Gabe would try, but I’m not sure he’d be able to protect the two of you against vermin like Lonnie or Joe.”
She started to protest, but he put up his hand to silence her. “I know you don’t want to leave, but you have to think of Sarah. How would she suffer in the hands of someone like that…especially, bent on revenge?”
“Where will we go?” A note of apprehension had crept into her voice.
“To Logan, I figure.”<
br />
“Logan?” Jessie said in surprise. “Like ‘Chase Logan’?”
“I’m from there, but it’s not named after me. I named myself after the town.”
“Oh.”
“I was young. All I went by was Chase. When I was getting ready to ride out, I picked the name Logan. One, I was tired of not having a name like all the other men I rode with, and two, I didn’t want to forget the name of the town where I banked my savings. I told you about the little place I own there, the one I’ve never settled on.” He pushed down the gnawing of guilt that whispered that the ranch was Molly’s place. His and Molly’s. “I figure it’s as good a place as any, and it’ll only take a couple of weeks to get there.”
Excitement and trepidation coursed through Jessie at the same time. It was wonderful, the thought of a new home. But where would that leave Chase? It was his. Was he planning just to ride off once they were settled?
“It’s your place, though. We couldn’t take it and leave you with nothing.”
“Like I said, I’ve owned it for years. Never could settle on it. Once you see the place you may not want to stay. It’s pretty small—run-down. Makes this place look like a palace.”
Small and run-down or not, it sounded wonderful to Jessie. She couldn’t help feeling hopeful.
“Okay,” Jessie said, sitting forward. She could feel her heart somersault at the thought of actually going someplace new…with Chase. “What should our plan be?”
“Today when we go into town to get Sarah and Gabe, we should check around for the things we’ll need. A large sturdy wagon, preferably one with a cover. Extra clothes and warm coats for the young’uns and you. We already have two extra horses. They can pull, Gabe will drive, and I’ll ride shotgun.”
Home. The thought of a fresh start on life was like a breath of spring air. It caressed her inside and out. Sighing, she envisioned calling her family into a Sunday afternoon supper from a freshly painted porch. A swing hung from a beam in the corner and a beautiful white picket fence circled the yard. Potatoes and gravy, and heaps of fresh corn from her garden adorned the table. A freshly baked apple pie waited in the kitchen window.
Where The Wind Blows Page 15
