But they had both forgotten Little Hawk. Chase released Jessie as soon as he heard the horse galloping toward them. In a second, the Indian was leaping off his horse. Chase didn’t even have time to raise his hands in defense before Little Hawk, flying through the air, caught him at the throat and threw him to the ground.
Jessie stared, wide-eyed. She had never seen such a graceful leap from a galloping horse. But why wasn’t Chase getting up to fight? He wasn’t moving. Little Hawk pulled out his knife.
“No!” she shouted at him. “Little Hawk!”
She ran forward, getting there just as he reached Chase, and stepped between them. She and Little Hawk stared at each other for several moments. Finally he put his knife away and looked down at Chase. He spoke angrily, then fired rapid signs at her.
She was confused, interpreting as best she could. “You want to know what he is to me? But I don’t see—”
She stopped, remembering that he couldn’t understand her. “Maybe you’re just crazy,” she muttered. “I can’t explain... He means nothing to me.”
“Then why did you kiss him?”
Jessie gasped. “Why, you bastard!” she cried. “You knew English all the time. You let me rack my brains to try to remember sign language, so— Oh! When I think how frightened I was, and all you had to do was tell—”
“You talk too much, woman,” Little Hawk grunted. “Tell me why you kissed this man.”
“I didn’t. He did the kissing, and he did it so you would go away; There was no other reason for it, since he doesn’t like me and I can’t stand him. And why the hell am I explaining this to you? Why did you attack him?”
“Did you want his attention?”
“No, but—”
Little Hawk didn’t stay to listen, but went to his horse. He mounted and came back, sitting looking down at her.
“White Thunder has returned to his winter camp,” he said casually.
“So you do know him?”
“I have made his acquaintance since I met you. He tells me you have no man, only your father.”
“My father recently died.”
“Then you have no one?”
“I need no one,” she answered, exasperated.
Little Hawk smiled, surprising her yet again. “We will meet again, Looks Like Woman.”
“Damn!” she swore, turning back to Chase as Little Hawk rode away. He was lying still but breathing normally. She examined his head for damage and found a thick lump. She went to the creek, filled her hat with water, and threw the water in his face.
He came up sputtering and groaning, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Did that sonofabitch attack me?” Chase asked, feeling his head. He winced as he found the tender bump.
“He could have killed you,” Jessie said harshly. “You’re not much of a fighter.”
He frowned. “What are you so riled about? Did you have to shoot him?”
“No, I didn’t have to shoot him. And I wouldn’t trade his life for yours, anyway.”
Her venom stung him. “You really hate me, don’t you?”
“Does it show?”
She moved away to saddle her horse. He was okay. She didn’t have to tend to him anymore.
With care for every movement, Chase went to his own horse to saddle up. “Why did he attack me? Do you know?” he asked.
“Figure it out for yourself, tenderfoot.”
“Damn it!” he swore. “Is it too much to ask for a little kindness from you? I’m the one who got hurt, you know.”
“And do you know why?” Jessie sneered. “Because of your showing off, that’s why.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Is that why you’re so angry? Because I kissed you?”
She didn’t answer. She silently mounted and rode off, leaving him to follow if he could. Chase climbed into the saddle, his head throbbing. He wasn’t sure anymore why he had kissed her, but it had been a stupid thing to do. He would make sure he was never tempted to do it again, ever.
Chapter 10
TROUBLE began soon after they rode into Cheyenne. They left their horses at the livery stable, and Jessie went on to the hotel to get a room. She hadn’t told Chase her plans, so he was obliged to follow her, wondering what she had in mind. They were barely speaking. Jessie told him where he could find a doctor if he thought it was necessary, and then she continued to ignore him. Her set features and angry stride told him she didn’t want his company, and he knew damned well that if he asked about her plans she would tell him it was none of his business.
At the hotel, Jessie signed the register, and then Chase started to do the same. But before he could even finish, the book was suddenly snatched out of his hands.
“It’s just like he said, Charlie,” the man next to Chase called over his shoulder, chuckling. “There’s a K in front of her name.”
“Do you mind, friend?” Chase said angrily.
“Oh, sure thing, mister.” The man shoved the register back in front of Chase. He grinned. “Just wanted to check something.”
As he walked away, Chase glanced at Jessie’s name. Yes, there was a K in front of it. He then turned around to see that her path to the front door had been blocked by a squat, barrel-chested fellow. The lanky man who had just left Chase came up behind Jessie and slipped her gun out of her holster before she could stop him.
Chase waited for her reaction. It would be nice to see her let loose her terrible temper on someone else for a change.
But Jessie was just standing there, her back stiff, her hands on her hips, glaring.
“So Laton wasn’t joshin‘.” Charlie laughed. “He said the name on the deed was Kenneth Jesse Blair. But I said no, old Blair must have a son somewhere. That’s who he’s left his ranch to. Couldn’t be no girl named Kenneth. Didn’t I say that, Clee?”
“Your exact words,” the lanky Clee agreed, nodding.
“But Laton was right as usual,” Charlie went on. “We got us a bona fide Kenneth here. Don’t she look just like a Kenneth?”
“Britches and all,” Clee agreed again, snickering.
“You’ve had your fun, mister, and I’ve had enough of you,” Jessie said in a low voice, looking at Clee. “I’ll take my gun back now.”
“Will you?” Clee grinned. “What for, unless you’re man enough to use it. Are you man enough?”
The men laughed, delighted at the jest. Jessie didn’t think twice before she threw a punch at Clee’s mouth. Her gun dropped out of his hand, and Charlie’s face mottled with rage. He kicked her gun out of reach and grabbed her arms.
Chase had seen enough.
“Let the lady go, friend,” Chase said, shoving Clee against a wall.
“You call this wildcat a lady?” Charlie growled.
He released Jessie, however, and she retrieved her gun. “Did Bowdre send you to harass me?” she demanded, facing Charlie squarely.
Charlie didn’t like this turn of events. Laton wouldn’t like to hear about this. If she went to him and made a fuss in front of others, he would be furious. Laton wanted to be sure no one would point a finger at him.
“Laton don’t want no trouble with you, gal. All he wants is his money. It was Clee’s idea to have a little fun with you. And we were only funnin‘. You just ain’t got no humor, gal,” Charlie grumbled.
“Oh, I’ve got humor.” Jessie smiled unpleasantly. “I’d think it was real funny if I put a ball in your gut.”
And then she said, “Just stay away from me, mister.”
“Real pleasant, ain’t she?” Charlie sneered as he and Clee watched her stalk out the door.
Chase caught up with her in the middle of the street. “Hold up, kid.” He had to grab her arm to make her stop.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
He looked at her incredulously. She was actually angry because he had interfered!
“I swear, kid, someone ought to take a stick to you. You can’t go around throwing your fists at anyone you please. Next
time you might not be so lucky.”
“Who the hell made you my guardian angel, Summers?” she spat.
They were at a standoff—again. And she was right. He wasn’t her keeper.
He grinned. “I thought we agreed you would call me Chase.”
“I have a name, too, and it’s not ‘kid,’ ” Jessie said stonily.
He laughed. “Touché.” She continued walking and he fell into step beside her. “Where are you going now—if you don’t mind my asking?”
“To the sheriffs office.”
“Because of what just happened?”
“Now why would I bother the sheriff about that?” She seemed truly puzzled.
“Then why?”
“Who would know better who’s in town, who’s just passing through, who’s looking for work? I’m hoping he’ll have a few suggestions so I can finish my business today and head back to the ranch in the morning.”
“Then I’ll just come along with you, if you don’t mind,” he said. “The sheriff should be told about our encounter with that Indian.”
Jessie stopped short. “Why?”
“There could be others in the area,” Chase replied. “Don’t you think he should know?”
“No,” she said emphatically. “Look, the sheriff would only laugh at you if you started jabbering about hostiles in the area. He knows better. But if other people heard you, it could cause a ruckus. Then you’d look mighty foolish, because Little Hawk was alone, and I’m sure he’s already gone back north.”
She walked on, but Chase didn’t follow any longer. He stared after her with eyes like burning coals. She’d done it again, made him feel like a complete ass. Damned if she didn’t do it on purpose!
He found a saloon without much searching. After several drinks he was able to cool down. He even joined in a card game. It was a surprise to find himself introduced to Laton Bowdre, sitting in on the game. The skinny, mustached man with thin, wispy hair, sharp cheekbones, and a decidedly avaricious look about him was just what Chase had pictured. The day wasn’t going to be a total loss after all.
Chapter 11
THE knock on the door caught Jessie as she finished pulling her boots on. It was Chase. She had decided to make an effort to be nicer to him, so she let him in with a “good morning” that was almost cheerful.
He looked terrible. His chin was darkened with stubble, his clothes were rumpled, and his eyes were red from too much smoke and not enough sleep. Maybe he hadn’t slept at all.
Chase wasn’t too tired to notice immediately the change in Jessie. Besides looking fresh and clean and lovelier than any girl had a right to look first thing in the morning, she was actually smiling.
He came to his own conclusion. “I take it you hired your hands and are pleased to be going home?”
“As a matter of fact, I only found one man worth his salt,” Jessie replied. “The other two I talked to didn’t know a cow from a steer.”
Chase chuckled. “City boys.”
“City boys,” she agreed, grinning along with him.
“So you won’t be leaving today after all?”
“I guess not, unless I get lucky this morning. I sent Ramsey, the fellow I hired, on out to the ranch. No point in wasting him here, even for a day.”
“Are you sure you told him how to find the ranch?”
He was teasing her, showing her there were no longer any hard feelings about the day she had given him the wrong directions.
She grinned. “I reckon he’ll manage, since he’s from near here.”
It was pleasant to see her in an agreeable mood for once, and he said impulsively, “Look, there’s really no point in your hiring another man when I’ll be at the ranch, anyway. I might as well do something to earn my keep while I’m here.”
Jessie didn’t take him seriously. “You don’t know cattle,” she said, startled.
“Who says I don’t? I’ve driven cattle from Texas to Kansas.”
“How often?” she asked.
“Once,” he admitted. “I hired on for the trail drive just for the company, since I was heading in the same direction and I wasn’t in a hurry. Once was enough.”
She was amazed. “So you really know cattle? I never would have guessed it.”
“I’ll admit I’ve never done any branding, but I learned to handle a rope fairly well. And I can carry a tune passably. And I know the difference between a steer and a cow.”
She laughed. “Then I guess you’re hired Chase.”
He smiled. “Give me an hour to freshen up, and we can start back together.”
She smiled again. “I’ll meet you downstairs for some breakfast.”
But Jessie shook her head as she watched him leave the room. She never would have believed it. He didn’t have to earn his keep at the ranch. Rachel had invited him as her guest. So why had he made the offer to help out?
Chase was wondering exactly the same thing. What made it especially confusing was that he had Thomas Blair’s note in his pocket. It had taken him all night to win it from Bowdre, but he had done it.
Why he hadn’t come right out and told Jessie about winning the note, he wasn’t sure. Perhaps he had the feeling she’d be angry with him—again.
He sighed. He wasn’t at all sure her worries were over, not as gracelessly as Bowdre had lost the note. Chase recognized that he might actually have made things worse.
They returned to the Rocky Valley late that afternoon. Jeb eagerly told them about the big pronghorn that had been dumped on the backdoor steps sometime after Jessie rode to Cheyenne. No one had seen who brought the animal, freshly killed. No one knew who it might have been. If someone was going to give away fresh meat, he usually waited around for a thank-you.
But Jessie knew instantly who the mysterious provider was. It could be none other than Little Hawk.
As they bedded the horses down, she said to Jeb, “You remember the young Sioux I told you about? Little Hawk? Well, we met him on the plains yesterday afternoon.”
“Is that a fact?” Jeb whistled. “He’s the one?”
“It looks that way.”
“Mighty nice of him.” Jeb chuckled.
Jessie glanced at Chase. He was rubbing down the golden palomino, pretending he wasn’t listening.
“I suppose you don’t agree?” Jessie asked pointedly.
He didn’t look up. “I’m sure you both have good reason for thinking it was Little Hawk. I’m just dying to know what his purpose was, that’s all.”
“You don’t know much about Indians, do you, young feller?” Jeb chuckled.
“I’m beginning to think not,” Chase answered without rancor.
“Indians don’t like to be indebted to anyone, especially to a white. Little Hawk took Jessie’s food and shared her fire without givin‘ anything in return.” Jeb cackled. “That must have rankled him. So now he’s paid his debt and then some. Generous of him, too. That big pronghorn would’ve fed his whole tribe.”
“Now you see why he was so far south,” Jessie added. “He had to let me see him, or I’d never have known he had paid his debt.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t explain the rest of what happened yesterday,” Chase said shortly.
Jessie laughed as she approached him and put her hand on his arm. “Come on. I’m sure Billy will love to hear how you were attacked by a savage Sioux and lived to tell about it. And I promise not to interrupt you if you embellish the tale.”
She was teasing him, but he didn’t mind. In fact, what they were talking about went right out of his head the moment she touched him. Her touch seemed to burn his arm, even after she had moved away.
Chapter 12
EXHAUSTED though he was, sleep still eluded Chase that night. His mind wouldn’t let him rest. What the hell did a man do when he found himself desiring a girl who was off limits?
Jessie was just a kid. Well, maybe not a kid. But she was Rachel’s daughter. So even if she were willing, he couldn’t have her without marrying her, not R
achel’s daughter.
Chase wasn’t anywhere near ready to settle down. He was only twenty-six, and there were too many things he wanted to do first. Finding his real father was one thing. He had put it off for quite a few years after he’d had no luck in California, where his mother claimed to have met Carlos Silvela. Perhaps now was the time to continue the search. Should he go to Spain, where his father’s home was supposed to be? Anyway, it was better thinking about that than about an eighteen-year-old woman-child he had no business thinking about.
But it didn’t work for long. Nothing did. He kept seeing those bright turquoise eyes, that pert nose and stubborn chin, that softly rounded bottom.
“Damn!”
He jumped out of bed as if he’d found her there. He needed some air, some cool air, maybe even a swim in the stream that ran behind the house.
Throwing on some clothes in the dark, Chase stepped out of his room, only to have the cause of his turmoil step right into his arms. For a second, he wondered if he was dreaming. But the warmth, the smell of her was real. Then he saw that her falling into his arms had been an accident. She pushed away from him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t see you.”
“It’s so dark here,” Chase managed to reply, having no idea what he was saying.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Jessie explained. “I thought I’d go for a ride. The moon’s bright enough.”
“I’ve been having the same problem. Why don’t we go together?”
“If you like,” she said, walking on toward the kitchen without waiting for him.
Chase didn’t move. He wanted to wring his own neck. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand why he had offered to go with her. That was the last thing he wanted. He needed to get away from her. Then Chase pulled himself together, chastising himself for being afraid of a slip of a girl. He couldn’t very well let her go off alone, anyway.
Jessie led the way up into the lower hills of the mountains, rather than out over the plains, prodding her horse upward to a spot that offered a beautiful view of the valley. It wasn’t too long before they reached the place. Trees parted on a ridge before a view so breathtakingly beautiful, especially in the moonlight, that both were enthralled.
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