Chaney still sat in the passenger seat of the truck. Shock was the only way to explain her present state. His leaving her didn’t cause the shock. If she were honest with herself, she had been surprised they’d lasted three weeks under the same roof. Then again, most of it had been for Ash’s benefit, or rather Jed’s benefit to win a custody case.
No, the shock came from him telling her he was leaving instead of just doing it like before. Some of the shock wore off as she realized he’d blamed his leaving on her this time. Said it was her desire.
Like he’d really wanted to stay.
The thought zipped through her mind but didn’t linger long. As if Jed would want to stay with someone as common as her on a ranch, when he could have someone as beautiful as his wife in the city where he belonged. She conveniently ignored the fact that he’d divorced Johanna and returned to Colorado.
Shaking off the last vestiges of the shock, Chaney slid over to the driver’s seat and put the truck in gear. Before she could backup, a car slid to a stop beside her. It was Steve. She cut the engine and climbed out.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, coming around the car as he climbed out. “Jed told you he’d take care of things at the ranch. You should be with Dale.”
“He’s resting,” Steve told her, but his gaze was on the barn. “Belle’s there. She’ll call if anything happens. Jed’s right, I should be out here taking care of Dad and the ranch.”
“No,” Chaney said placing a restraining hand on his arm as he slammed his car door and started to walk toward the barn. “Jed isn’t right, he’s upset. You know how irrational he can be when he’s worried or scared.”
“Jed? Worried and scared?” Steve looked at her shaking his head. “Jed doesn’t get scared, Chaney. He’ll do anything for anyone, especially family. If I was half as considerate of my father as Jed is, Dad wouldn’t be in the hospital now.”
“That’s not true, Steve. Jed is the one who encouraged you to become a lawyer. He knows you’re not a rancher, any more than he is.”
“But you don’t see it stopping him from taking care of things, do you?”
“Fine, if you want to see him as St. Jed, that’s your business. Personally, I think he’s worried and scared and hard work is the only way he can deal or rather, not deal with it.”
Steve was shaking his head. “Jed isn’t afraid of anything, Chaney. Well, maybe once but that was a long time ago.”
“If you say so. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t recommend going after him right now. Go back to the hospital. Stay with Dale. Give Jed time to cool down before you try and talk to him.”
The self-recrimination she’d seen growing in Steve’s eyes abated a little. Chaney wasn’t sure she liked what she saw taking its place. He was looking at her with something bordering on pity.
“He said something to upset you.”
“Me? No.”
“Then why are you mad at him?”
“Who said I was mad?”
“I did.”
Chaney gave him a weak smile and taking his hand gave it a squeeze. “Well, you’re wrong. I’m not mad.” She reached beside him and pulled the door latch on his car door. “Go back to the hospital and don’t worry about the ranch or anything else. Jed will take care of it. If he needs any help all he has to do is ask.”
“So that’s the problem,” Steve said lifting one foot into the car. “He won’t let you help.” He leaned on the door and took Chaney’s chin in his hand forcing her to meet his gaze. “You two are so much alike it’s spooky. I was honestly amazed when you two got married knowing how determined you both are to do everything on your own. Stubborn is actually a better word for it.”
“I’m not stubborn,” Chaney told him smiling as she pulled her chin from his grasp. Seeing a grin on Steve’s face made the aggravation worth it.
“Of course, you’re not. You’re a pussy cat, just like Belle.”
Chaney laughed out loud. “Oh boy, does she have you snowed. You haven’t seen stubborn until you’ve tried to change Belle’s mind.”
Steve chuckled as he climbed in the car and pulled away. Chaney relaxed a bit as she waved. Steve was wrong. She wasn’t stubborn. She was just protecting her heart.
Climbing back in her truck she glanced at the barn one last time. If she were honest, Jed was right. Distance was what she wanted and this was the perfect solution.
She drove down the long drive to the road. Glancing back as she made the turn toward her ranch, she saw a lone rider set out from behind the barn. A quickening began in her stomach. Her hands began to sweat. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind as to the rider. Only one man she knew of sat a horse like Jed.
Pulling her gaze back to the road Chaney tried to forget how good Jed looked on a horse. Tried to forget how much her body had longed for his the past weeks. How he had made it sing just hours earlier. Tried to forget how desperately she had wanted to wrap her arms around him and comfort him when she’d seen the fear in his eyes as she told him about Dale.
“Damn it, Chaney, he’s not an orphan anymore. He’s a grown man and obviously doesn’t want or need you.” Pressing harder on the gas, she refused to look back across the pasture again. It was only a matter of minutes before she pulled into her own driveway and remembered all the work to do before dark fully settled over the land.
Martha rushed out from the kitchen.
“Dale will be fine, Martha,” she said, taking hold of the other woman’s hands. “Besides, being as ornery as his nephew, he’s tough. You know that. You can’t be a rancher and not be tough as nails.”
“He’s not tough,” Martha argued. “He’s old and shouldn’t be working himself into an early grave like your father.”
Again Chaney was reminded how stupid she was with regard to the attitudes of people she thought she knew well. Martha had grown up with Dale and her father. Having been close to them both so long, she felt like family. Hell, she was family. Dale’s heart attack so soon after Chaney’s father dying was bound to worry the woman.
Wrapping an arm around the older woman’s shoulders, Chaney turned her toward the house and started walking with her. “First, Dad didn’t work himself into an early grave, he had cancer. He fought it for a long time, but eventually it won the war. Second, Dale has excellent hired hands. They were quick to respond and call for help. Third, I can promise you those same men know they could call me for help if they or Dale needed anything. I am not my father and they know it. So, please stop your worrying. Oh, and Jed is going to stay at Dale’s to take care of things while his uncle is laid up. He asked if you could pack some of his things for him. One of the hands will be over later to pick them up.”
“Why is he staying there?”
Before she had to answer, Chaney caught sight of Smitty walking toward the house. There was a grim set to his face. She didn’t believe it was concern over her neighbor. She hoped her intuition was wrong. Still, she was thankful for the interruption to a conversation she didn’t want to have.
“I’ll talk to you later, Martha,”
“What’s up, Smitty?”
“We need to talk.”
***
Chapter Seven
Jed stared hard at the computer screen in front of him. He’d spent the better part of the week loading programs and entering information his uncle should have done years ago. Jed didn’t enjoy computer work, but knowing it would make life easier on his uncle made it bearable. His problem right now was the discrepancy in figures.
The number of cattle Dale said he had and the numbers the men had come in with this week didn’t jive. Even allowing a margin of error, the numbers were wrong he thought as the phone on the desk rang.
“Sampson,” he barked into the phone expecting another problem from one of the hands.
After a moment of silence across the line Chaney’s voice reached him. “I’ll call back later.”
“No,” Jed replied quickly. As angry and hurt as he’d been when he’d left her in the truc
k more than two weeks ago, he craved a connection with her. “Now’s fine.”
He leaned back in his uncle’s big desk chair and rubbed his eyes trying to rid them of the strain from the screen. He wished ridding his heart of its desire for her were as easy. The silence coming across the line made him wonder if she had hung up. After his greeting, he couldn’t blame her, but then again, he couldn’t imagine why she’d called in the first place.
“How are you?”
That soft voice pulled at him and that fact irritated him. He’d been working himself ragged trying to keep from thinking about her, wanting her. Now, she says three simple words and his blood pressure zinged at the sound. When was he going to get it through his cement block of a brain that she didn’t care about him, she just needed to use his name for a while.
“Peachy,” he finally answered not caring about the sarcasm that dripped from the single word. If she had really cared, it wouldn’t have taken this long for her to call.
You didn’t call her either.
No reason for me to call, he told himself. She had everything she wanted. Her ranch, his name, her distance. Chaney was just fine without him.
“Dale?”
This time Jed didn’t doubt the concern in her voice. Though technically they were competition, he knew Chaney truly cared for Dale and his family, minus himself of course. Jed also knew that she had called every day and spoken to his uncle. Dale had made sure Jed got a full report every evening.
“He’s chomping at the bit, as you well know. What do you want, Chaney? Is there some paperwork for the ranch you need me to sign or something?”
“No. Dale said you were running yourself ragged. I just wanted to see if I could help.”
Dale said, of course. She wasn’t calling because she cares about me. She’s calling for Dale’s sake.
“Dale is bored, so he’s making up stories. I’m fine. I haven’t run the ranch into the ground yet.”
“I didn’t mean to insinuate you had. I was just concerned.”
“About Dale, I know.” Jed was finding it harder and harder to keep an edge out of his voice.
“And you.”
Her words were barely audible. So soft Jed wasn’t positive she’d said them. When nothing else followed, he decided she hadn’t, he’d imagined it. Chaney doesn’t care about you. She hates you. Remember that and move on. Still, there was something he needed to get off his chest. One less load to carry around.
“Look, I’m sorry about the way I left. I guess it was my day to be a jerk. First you, then Steve, then you again. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, but you have to agree,” he paused knowing he might set off another battle. “This is the best arrangement. You don’t have to pretend you care.” And I don’t have to pretend I don’t.
“It isn’t pretense. If you knew me at all, you would know that.”
The line went dead.
Jed replaced the receiver in the cradle with extreme care because what he really wanted to do was hurl it across the room. Why did it always seem that things ended up being his fault? What had he ever done so terrible he deserved all this misery?
You don’t need anyone else feeling sorry for you, Sampson; you’re doing a fine job of it yourself.
His hands fisted and he closed his eyes.
Anger, frustration, fear, and exhaustion were waging a battle within. A battle Jed was losing if his self-pity were a measure.
The frustration and exhaustion from doing work he wasn’t accustomed to he could handle. All the hands on the ranch had adjusted to his being in charge quickly. Aside from the computer work and discrepancies he’d been looking at before Chaney called, Jed, much to his surprise, was enjoying the work.
The fear over Dale’s health was receding some. Jed was even considering asking Dale about becoming his partner. That way, he could do his woodwork, but still be around to keep an eye on the ranch.
It was the anger, frustration and exhaustion caused by the woman that had just hung up on him that was the real problem. He was angry because he missed her. It wasn’t purely physical, though much of his frustration and exhaustion stemmed from that. Jed missed talking with her. Hell, he missed just being in the same room as her.
“Damn it!” he cursed pounding his fist on the desk then pushing back from it. The door to the office opened as he stood. Glancing up Jed forced his features into a semblance of calm.
“Hey, Dale, what can I do for you?” he asked hoping his voice sounded more upbeat than he felt.
Dale walked in and took a seat in front of the desk. Jed smiled and sat back down despite the tension that filled his body.
“First you can tell me what’s wrong between you and your wife.”
Don’t beat around the bush Dale. Just spit it out.
“Wrong?” Jed asked, cringing inside. “We haven’t been married long enough for there to be something wrong.”
“Horse pucky. You haven’t seen her in a week and I doubt you’ve even spoken to her.”
“You’re wrong.” It’s been two weeks. “I was talking to her on the phone just a few minutes ago. So, what else is on your mind?”
“Don’t try and snow me, Jed. I have eyes. I see how you’re driving yourself into the ground. From what Martha says Chaney’s not doing much better.”
“What’s wrong with Chaney?” New fear shot through Jed’s system. New guilt heaped on his shoulders. Had she sounded tired? Had he really been listening or was he too intent on his anger to hear?
“All I know is Martha says she’s working all hours of the day and night, missing meals, won’t talk about anything but business, and is short-tempered.”
Jed relaxed a little. The only part that wasn’t typical Chaney was the missing meals. “That sounds pretty normal for Chaney.” Dale’s eyes narrowed and Jed knew he had more to say.
“When was the last time you heard Miss Martha worry over something unnecessarily? If she says Chaney’s acting out of character, then she damn well is.” Dale’s voice had risen and so had the color on his face. Jed did not need his uncle having another heart attack.
He stood and walked around the desk. “Calm down. I’ll check into it. Don’t worry about Chaney or me. We’ll be fine.”
“Don’t molly-coddle me, boy,” Dale thundered.
“Then calm down, damn-it! I’m not losing another father!”
They stared at each other for a long silent minute. Jed broke the connection first, turning away and stalking to the window across the room. He couldn’t believe he’d said that. What the hell was wrong with him lately? Dale didn’t need more stress right now. He also didn’t need another son. He had a fine son.
“I’m sorry, Jed. I didn’t-”
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from.” He turned back to his uncle. “I guess I’m more tired than I realized, and you’re right. Things are a little tense with Chaney and me.” Anything to keep him from feeling sorry for me. “But, we’ll work it out, Dale. Don’t worry.” He crossed the room in a few long strides and helped his uncle to his feet. “Why don’t we go get something to eat? It has to be dinner time isn’t it?”
“Well passed, actually. You mean you’re actually going to sit at the table like a normal person tonight?” his uncle chided.
Thankful the touchy subject was behind them, Jed allowed his uncle to tease him. “Sure, that is if you haven’t eaten yet. Hey, I might even stay through dessert.” The phone rang as they started to the door. “You go on ahead, I’ll be there shortly,” he told his uncle as he walked back to the desk and lifted the receiver.
“Sampson.”
“Jed, it’s Chaney. I just wanted to call and apologize.”
Jed leaned a hip on the edge of the desk and scrubbed a hand over his face. “It’s not necessary.”
“Yes, it is. You were partly right. I mean, I well. . .”
This was not the Chaney McBride he knew. The Chaney he knew never had trouble speaking her mind. Maybe there was something to Dale’s
concerns. “Honey, if you would say one whole sentence it would be easier to understand what you meant. I was partly right about what?”
He heard a huff of breath and it was easy to visualize her puffing her bangs out of her eyes. Then again, she was probably getting ready to read him the riot act again for calling her honey.
“Okay, I didn’t call just to see how you were doing. I was, am, I am interested in how you are. The guys have mentioned seeing you.”
“And now they believe what that idiot foreman you fired said, right? That I married you for the ranch. You should know better.” Would they ever get beyond this?
“No, no, not at all. I do know that isn’t the case, and though I know my dad didn’t get along with Dale very well, he and I have never had any problems. My hired hands and yours are friends. They, well, they’ve said you look tired.”
Jed was silent for a moment. He wasn’t sure how to deal with people being concerned about his welfare. It had been a very long time since he’d known anyone that cared one way or the other about him. Now his uncle and Chaney within such short a time, he was confused.
“Just proves I’m not a rancher, I guess,” he said, trying to chuckle. “You were right. Chasing those cows around is more work than it looks.”
“You don’t have to do it all yourself, you know. You have good hired hands.”
“Chaney, I’m fine and I know the men are good at their jobs. Take me off your list of things to worry about. You said you didn’t call just to see how I was doing. So, what else is on your mind?” She was quiet so long Jed thought she’d hung up again. “Chaney?”
“I need to talk to someone about some problems over here and, well, you were the only person I could think of.”
An eerie feeling stole over Jed’s skin. It was the same sensation he’d gotten the night before Chaney’s father had paid him a visit. “What kind of problems, and why call me? Wouldn’t Smitty be a better source of information?”
“I don’t want to talk about it on the phone. Some strange stuff is going on and I need a sounding board. Someone not connected with the ranch, but knowledgeable of business. Someone I can trust.”
A Daring Proposal Page 12
