When she was gone, Rita Mae cast Anna Mae a disapproving glare.
“Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one who cursed in front of our niece.”
“Oh, the hell I did. For God’s sake, Mary Louise isn’t a child. She’s a grown woman. I, for one, hope she ties one on and has herself a good time tonight. Hopefully, she will meet up with Tate Johnson and who knows. Maybe she won’t come home at all.”
Shaking her head, Anna Mae sighed. “Do you really think Tate Johnson is a good match for Mary Louise?”
“It’s not our call. It’s hers. I saw the way she looked at him at the barbeque. And Tate and Hannah are no longer a couple, so why not have Mary Louise step in and have something for herself? Tate isn’t a bum. He’s like his dad. He’s a community man and he has political aspirations. She could do a whole lot better with him than our brother did by her when he dropped her on our doorstep.”
She couldn’t argue the point. Mary Louise had been crushed by the events of her life, and at such a young age.
“This isn’t easy for me, Rita Mae.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, she’s a grown woman.”
“I’m not talking about Mary Louise. Sure, Tate Johnson is a fine man. So is his father. He was always a good friend to me. Especially after Chase left.”
“But now he’s back.”
“Don’t start,” Anna Mae warned. “I ran into him at the barbeque. I saw him. It’s done. Now it’s time to move on.”
“And that’s it? You’re just going to let him off the hook after the way he broke your heart?”
“I acted like a damned fool at the barbeque!” She groaned and looked at the ceiling. “I’m not some lovesick youngster. I had my time for that and it’s passed me by. I don’t need this at this point in my life. I wish…”
“What?”
“I wish he’d never come back to Storm. Things were fine before he came back.”
Her sister’s expression was sympathetic. “Well, he did come back to Storm. It’s his home. So he’s here now. As for you, it’s either hide in this house for the rest of your life or deal with having Chase Johnson in town for as long as he stays.”
“What if he never leaves?”
Rita Mae let out a belly laugh that filled the kitchen. “Oh, sweetie, men like that don’t stay. Hasn’t he already proven that? He’s only been back a handful of times and he never lingers. He’ll catch a whiff of something on the wind and he’ll be gone all over again. But that doesn’t mean you have to hide. In fact, that’s the last thing you should do. So you had your little moment at the barbeque and it caught you off center. Big deal. I say it’s time to show the man he didn’t break you in two when he left. If you’re really over him, as you keep arguing you are, then there is no reason not to go on living life as normal.”
Anna Mae cocked her head to one side. “When was the last time we went to Murphy’s Pub on a Saturday night?”
“That’s beside the point. It’s high time we go.”
Chapter Three
People were packed wall to wall in Murphy’s Pub when Chase walked in at half past eight. An old Johnny Cash song was playing on the jukebox and could barely be heard above the laughter and the chatter of the room. If Chase put his money down, he could easily be drunk by nine o’clock. But tonight, he wasn’t going to get that lucky.
The meds he’d been taking since his Parkinson’s diagnosis warned not to have alcohol, but after today, he needed at least one drink before going back to the ranch and dealing with his brother.
He wasn’t sure how long he was going to be able to hide the truth from Zeke. So far Chase’s symptoms weren’t easily visible because he’d taken pains to make sure he took his meds on time and he played his guitar regularly. No one had to remind him to do that.
Music therapy was often used to lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Some patients were able to walk steady and even dance after music therapy. For Chase, music was part of his DNA. He didn’t have to remember to listen to music every day. He didn’t need to learn how to play an instrument like many Parkinson’s patients did. It was just a part of him. As long as he could play guitar, his music would help heal him.
Michael Murphy was standing behind the bar telling a story to a man who was a younger version of himself. Must be a grandson, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember which one. Before Chase could make it to the only empty stool at the bar, Michael let out a booming laugh that filled the space around him. As soon as his gaze landed on Chase, he stopped laughing and his expression turned to surprise. His blue eyes twinkled with pride. Chase guessed it came from living a happy life surrounded by family.
“Well, if it isn’t Chase Johnson back from the music city. I heard you were in town. How come it’s taken you so long to stop by and see me, son?”
Michael’s thick Irish brogue was still evident even after decades of living in Texas. It surprised Chase just how much he missed the sound of it, and the smell and atmosphere of Murphy’s.
“I’m due for a good lashing for that, Michael. No excuse other than just getting myself acclimated again. But it’s good to finally see you,” Chase said, claiming the recently vacated barstool. “How’ve you been?”
The older man leaned across the bar to shake Chase’s hand. His hand was weathered from age and the dark hair that Chase remembered Michael having was now mostly gray. But his old friend looked the same as he had back when Chase and Zeke were still close brothers and the best of friends. Back then, he and Zeke used to frequent Murphy’s nearly every evening Chase didn’t have a gig.
“I’m still here. That’s saying something. It’s been a while but you remember my grandson, Logan. He’s a war hero, but even more than that, he’s my hero.” Michael’s pride was so strong it was impossible to ignore.
Logan rolled his eyes at Michael. “Gramps, please. Why don’t you just put a neon sign in the window?”
Michael laughed. “That’s a hell of an idea. I think I will.”
Chase extended his hand and shook Logan’s. “Actually, I think we talked at the barbeque the other day.”
“Yes, we did. Good to see you again,” Logan said. “You played a great tune on that guitar. It was amazing.”
“Thank you. Do you play?”
Logan looked surprised. “Me? No.” He lifted his right hand to show his pinky finger, which was a little crooked. “Thanks to this I don’t think I could.”
“Are you left or right handed?”
“Right.”
“You can do a lot without a pinky finger on the guitar if you’re playing right handed. I knew a guy in Nashville with only three fingers on his right hand. He put me to shame.”
“After hearing you play, I find that hard to believe. What can I get you?”
What he wanted was a tall glass of whiskey to melt away the unsettled feeling he’d had since seeing his Annie last week at the barbeque. He’d hoped that seeing her would give them both some closure from the past. But that hadn’t happened and he realized he was a bigger fool for thinking time had taken care of a lot of the things that hadn’t been said years ago. It hadn’t.
But despite wanting to drown himself in a glass of whiskey, Chase knew it would interfere with his medication. To keep his secret from his brother and Alice, he’d need to keep that in mind.
“A beer would be good.”
“Any particular?”
Chase smiled and looked at Logan. “Give me your best.”
Logan tapped the bar top with his fingers. “Sure thing, Chase.”
To Michael, Chase said, “You’ve got a full house tonight already.”
“Usually is on a Saturday night. There’s not much to do around here so most everyone wanting company ends up at Murphy’s.”
“Same as always.”
“That’s the way I like it.”
Someone from across the room caught Michael’s attention. He waved to whoever it was on the other side of the room and then said, “Excuse me. I ha
ve to see about a pretty girl.”
Logan dropped a napkin in front of Chase and then placed his beer on top. Chase put a twenty down on the bar to pay for the drink and took a sip of his beer. By the time he put the glass down again, Logan was back with his change, which he placed on the bar next to the beer.
The person on the stool next to him vacated the seat and dropped a tip on the bar. He waved to Logan when he left.
“Thanks!” Logan said, then turned back to Chase. “If you want something to eat, the kitchen is still open. I can get Dad to make you a sandwich or something.”
He lifted his hand and shook his head. “This is fine.”
Then Logan disappeared to the other end of the bar where there was a lot of noise and laughter.
Another song came on over the jukebox. Chase could barely hear it over the laughter and chatter around him. He loved the sound. Always had. It was second only to the feeling of being on stage and it made the lonely feeling of going home to an empty bed a little more tolerable.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see his nephew Tate behind him.
“How far ahead of me are you?” he asked Chase.
Chase picked up the beer and said, “First one.”
“I don’t have far to go to catch up to you then.” Tate slid onto the empty stool and raised his hand, peering down the length of the bar to get Logan’s attention.
“Logan’s filling in for Uncle Aidan, I see,” Tate said. “I wonder what’s up with that?”
“He said his dad is back in the kitchen.”
Tate chuckled. “The kitchen? Not to sound sexist but that’s best left to Aunt Sonya, unless Uncle Aidan is making a roast beef sandwich.”
Logan appeared in front of them. “What’ll you have?”
“Same as Chase.”
“Sure thing.”
“Ever since he broke up with Ginny Moreno, Logan’s looked a bit lost,” Tate said, watching his young cousin work the bar.
“He seems pretty quick on his feet here.”
“You didn’t see him when he returned from Afghanistan.”
Chase took a sip of his beer. “I’m sure that was rough.”
Tate looked around the room quickly.
“Meeting someone?” Chase asked.
“Maybe.”
“Would that someone be a girl named Hannah?”
Tate gave him a sidelong glance as Logan set down his beer. Chase took a ten-dollar bill from the change Logan had given him earlier to pay for his nephew’s beer. Tate then lifted his glass of beer and gestured a thank you to Chase before taking a sip.
“What do you know about Hannah Grossman?” Tate asked.
“Well, it’s been a long time, but I know the family. I know she’s a pretty girl. And I know that the two of you were an item for a time.”
His jaw clenched. “We still would be if Tucker hadn’t seduced her.”
“Ah, so that’s the reason for the chill at dinner the other night.”
“It’s best you stay out of this, Uncle Chase. It’s between Tucker and me.”
“True enough. But what about Hannah? She was part of it too. Seems to me she couldn’t have been taken by Tucker against her will.”
“I really don’t want to talk about this,” Tate said.
“Okay, fine. So I’m guessing you’re not here to see Hannah. So who is it?”
“I was supposed to meet with Mary Louise Prager this afternoon but I got caught in a meeting so I told her I’d meet her here for a drink.”
“Mary Louise Prager. Is that George Prager’s little girl?”
Tate smiled. “She’s no little girl anymore. We weren’t all caught in a time warp while you were away.”
He shrugged. “I suppose not.”
But it sure felt that way to Chase. The lines on his face showed he’d aged, but in his mind Anna Mae had stayed as young and beautiful as she was the day he’d left her. After seeing her at the barbeque, he knew she was still as beautiful. But life had taken away some of that spark.
Michael had returned to the back of the bar and now he stopped in front of Tate and Chase.
“Are you talking about Mary Louise?” Michael asked. “I was just talking to her. She mentioned she might meet you here, Tate. She’s over there with her aunts.”
Both Tate and Chase turned in the direction Michael was pointing. Chase couldn’t believe that he hadn’t seen Anna Mae when he’d walked into Murphy’s. She had to have been here when he’d arrived. There was no way he could have missed her coming through the door.
Tate picked up his beer and slid off the stool. “I’m going to go say hello to Mary Louise. Good to see you, Uncle Chase.”
He looked in the direction Michael pointed. He couldn’t see the back table given the movement of people in the room. But he knew where to go.
“I think I’ll join you, if you don’t mind.”
Chapter Four
They made their way through the crowd to a booth in the back near the tiny stage. Chase felt a tug in his chest when he saw the small spotlight shining on the chair and empty music stand. That was his place. That’s where he felt most like himself. But not tonight.
“You were hiding from me,” Tate said when he reached the table where Mary Louise and her aunts were sitting. The smile on Annie’s face collapsed when she saw Chase.
She might not be happy to see him, but he didn’t share that feeling. It surprised him just how much he’d wanted to see Annie again.
They both were a lot older than they’d been when they’d been lovers years ago. Her blonde hair had turned to gray and the long curly locks she used to wear hanging down to the middle of her back were gone. Her hair was short now, making her curls even tighter. Her eyes were still that gray blue that had driven him wild as a young buck and her laugh, well, that had always been his undoing.
But she wasn’t laughing or smiling now. She climbed out of the booth and stalked over to the jukebox before he could utter a word.
“Sorry about that,” Mary Louise said with an embarrassed shrug.
“Why? You didn’t do anything,” Chase said. “It’s good to see you again. And you too, Rita Mae.”
Rita Mae’s smile was tight. “Tate, why don’t you have a seat?”
He would have laughed at the way Rita Mae was blowing him off, but he didn’t want to sit anyway.
“I have to see about a girl,” Chase said.
He didn’t wait to hear Rita Mae’s protest. Instead, Chase made his way through the crowd in the direction where Annie had disappeared. He found her over by the jukebox looking at the songs. She gave no indication that she’d heard his approach. However, when he was finally standing behind her, she glanced up at him and didn’t seem surprised at all that he’d followed her.
“Find anything good?”
“What are you doing here?” she asked. Gone was the anger she’d had last week at the barbeque when they’d talked briefly.
“Same thing you are. Looking for a dance partner.”
She laughed cynically. “You flatter yourself.”
“You’re as beautiful as you were before I left for Nashville.”
He’d meant the compliment, but her stricken expression made him question voicing his thoughts out loud to her.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“Since when have I not meant that?”
“I wouldn’t know. It’s been a long time and I’m sure a whole lot of women between then and now.”
One of the things Chase had always loved about Annie was that despite the fact that he dwarfed her small stature, she had a spitfire personality that hadn’t changed over the years. She turned to walk around him but he caught her by the arm. She glanced at his hand but didn’t pull away.
“There’s never been anyone like you, Annie. I wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
Her bottom lip trembled. Chase longed to brush his thumb across it and then follow with a kiss.
“Don’t do that
,” she whispered.
“Do what? I have no illusion that I can change the past. But I don’t want you thinking I left here for something that wasn’t true. It wasn’t other women. I’m not going to say that I was a saint because I’d be lying.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” she said, shifting her feet and looking away.
“Don’t do that.”
“You have no right to tell me what to do. You’re the one who left me.”
“You didn’t stop me. You told me to go.”
She paused for a second and then took a deep breath. “Yes, I did. I didn’t want you to resent me for wanting you to stay.”
“I could never resent you.”
She shook her head and her curls bounced, making her look like a young woman again.
“You say that now. But I know what it’s like to give up on dreams. I did that, remember? If my parents hadn’t died the way they did and Rita Mae…well, I probably would have stayed in New York and…”
He finished her sentence for her. “We never would have fallen in love. I hope that’s not something you regret. Because I don’t.”
The song that Annie had chosen on the jukebox started to play. It was an old Temptations song they used to dance to. By the look on her face, she was lost in that memory.
“I don’t want to talk about this, Chase.”
“Dance with me.”
Her eyes widened. “Here?”
He took her by her hands and started swinging to the music. “Why not?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yes. But that’s beside the point.”
She straightened her back and pulled her hands from his. “I don’t want to dance. I have to go.”
She took off through the crowd and Chase didn’t follow her. It was just as well. The music was being eclipsed by the noise in the room and wasn’t having the healing effect it always had. Dancing was good therapy for Parkinson’s patients. But he wasn’t thinking about therapy. He was thinking of his Annie being in his arms.
Brave the Storm, Season 2, Episode 3 (Rising Storm) Page 2
