Jake nodded. “Mama.”
“That’s right, Jake,” Letty Sue replied with a trembling voice. “I’m your mama.”
“Papa go?”
“Yes, he has to leave us right now.” Letty Sue pressed the boy to her chest.
“I’ll be back, Jake,” Chase said, “so you practice up on all that talking, you hear?”
“He’ll be talking up a storm by the time you get back, won’t you, little one?”
Letty Sue’s brave smile pulled at Chase’s heart.
“Mr. Wheeler, Miss Donat says it’s time to go,” the driver called out from the front door.
Chase glanced once more at Letty Sue, then at Jake, before whirling around and striding outside.
He couldn’t help feeling he was turning his back on them both.
Chapter Twenty
If one good thing came from Chase’s leaving, Letty Sue mused, it was that Jake started speaking again. She’d spent the next day coaching him with words, just as she’d always done, but this time the boy responded. His words were unsure at times, but so very endearing. It was a balm to her ears, and his sweet voice helped to soothe her aching heart.
“Papa horse,” Jake said, pointing toward the empty corral.
“Tornado?”
Jake nodded and pointed again. “’Nado.”
“Tornado is with Papa,” Letty Sue said quietly, turning Jake’s attention to three young chickens wandering about the yard. She couldn’t very well tell the child that Chase would be coming home soon, since she held no faith in that happening. She’d not subject Jake to any disappointment.
In truth, Letty Sue held little hope of Chase’s return. He knew Joellen would be home shortly, his services no longer needed on the ranch. He’d always planned on dissolving the marriage. And even though their lovemaking had been wonderful, he’d not once claimed to love her.
Lust was the word he’d often used. She’d known he wanted her in a purely natural way, but she hoped that she hadn’t imagined his tenderness, a warming of his cold, unyielding heart. When he’d held her and kissed her and joined their bodies, he’d seemed to truly care for her. She’d given herself to him fully, completely, knowing no other way to show him her love. She’d planned on telling him in the morning how she felt, how much she loved him, and pride aside, she would have asked him to stay, to try to make their fake marriage real.
But then Marabella had shown up. Beautiful. Elegant. Refined. Letty Sue would never forget the heart-stopping emotion she’d felt watching that woman touch Chase. She’d laced her arm through his while they spoke, as if staking her claim, and it was as though a boulder had crushed Letty Sue’s chest, making it hard to breathe. Chase hadn’t backed off from the woman, either, not until he’d glanced at the house and seen Letty Sue watching them.
Anguished images came to mind, of Marabella and Chase reuniting. What if she wanted to patch things up with Chase, make amends? What if after Chase left the Double J, he’d found it in his heart to forgive Marabella her deceit? After all, he’d wanted to marry her. Unlike their marriage, which had been nothing but a way to uphold Letty Sue’s reputation. Chase had been honor-bound to marry her.
Letty Sue closed her eyes to the deeply entrenched pain within. She’d lost Chase, she was certain.
Jake tugged on her hand, pulling her out of her self-imposed misery and toward the barn, where baby chickens scurried throughout the yard.
“Chicks,” she offered.
Jake chuckled when one sunny-yellow ball of fluff nipped at another, putting on a bit of a show, before scampering off. “Chicks,” he repeated.
“That’s good, Jake.”
Jake smiled, beaming with pride.
Sheriff Singleton rode up and Letty Sue’s breath caught. The sheriff never came to the ranch unless there was bad news. Immediately, she thought of Chase. Had something happened to him?
Then her mind went to Jake. What if the sheriff had word of the boy’s parents?
A welling sense of dread crept up her spine. It was all she could do to welcome the sheriff with a smile.
“Hello, John,” she said, taking hold of his horse’s reins as the man dismounted.
“Letty Sue. You’re looking well. Marriage agreeing with you?”
“Yes,” she replied quickly.
“I hear your ma’s due home any day now.”
“Yes, should be quite soon.”
“That’s good.”
The sheriff removed his hat and fingered the rim. “I, uh, got some news for you.” He glanced at Jake, who’d latched on to her leg. “It’s about the boy.”
“Oh?” Letty Sue’s stomach clenched. She bent to Jake’s level. “Jake, why don’t you wait for me on the porch? We’ll have ourselves a molasses cookie in just a minute. Okay?” She turned him by the shoulders and patted his bottom. He took off running, eager for his treat.
Letty Sue didn’t think she’d ever feel like eating again, if the news the sheriff had was what she feared it’d be. “Did you find Jake’s parents?”
The sheriff drew in a big breath. “I’m afraid we have.”
Letty Sue squeezed her eyes shut. “And they want him back.”
“No, Letty Sue.”
Her eyes flashed opened. “They don’t want him? Why, I’ve never heard of such an awful—”
“They’re dead, Letty Sue. One of Toby McFarland’s ranch hands found a wagon about five miles past where you picked up the boy. It had careened off a cliff and got covered up by some tall brush. That’s probably why no one’s seen the wagon until now. Three bodies were found. Probably the father, mother and an older child. Appears that the boy was thrown deliberately, to save his life, or else he flew off that wagon before it went over that ridge.”
“But how can you know it was Jake’s family?”
The sheriff reached into his saddlebags and brought out a Bible. “This was found in the wreckage. According to the inscription, there were four in the family. Name’s Swenson. Olga, Johann, Elise and the boy’s name is—”
“No, don’t tell me. I can’t bear to hear it right now. He’s Jake. Named after my father, Jacob. That’ll be his name from now on.”
The sheriff looked at her curiously. “You mean to keep the boy?”
“I do.”
“Then I suppose I should give you this.” He handed the Bible over. “He might want something of his family, when he’s older.”
“We’re his family now,” Letty Sue announced, a sense a relief mingling with sympathy over lives lost in such a terrible tragedy. There wasn’t anything she could do about Jake’s family loss, but she could offer him a loving home from now on. “I’ll see that he gets this, when the time is right.” She flipped through the front pages of the Bible. “There’s no mention of any other family.”
“No, doesn’t appear he has any. We think they were planning on settling west of here, maybe California. It’s a shame about his folks. That boy was real lucky you found him when you did.”
Letty Sue smiled, grateful she wasn’t losing Jake. “I think both of us were lucky, John.”
Chase stared down into the light gray eyes of Seth Johnston. The once vital man appeared defeated, his face pale, his eyes watery. He’d opened them just moments ago when Chase entered the room and pulled up a chair by his bed.
“Seth, it’s Chase Wheeler.”
“Thank God, you made it, Son.” Seth’s hoarse voice displayed his weakened state. He reached for Chase’s wrist. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Marabella said you wished to speak with me.” Chase spoke softly, amazed at how this apparently healthy man had taken ill so quickly.
“I know I don’t have much time left on this earth. I have things to say to you. I must ask for your patience, and your forgiveness.”
“My forgiveness? Seth, you’ve been nothing but fair and generous with me. I have nothing to forgive you for.”
“Yes, you do.” Seth drew in a breath slowly. Chase could see how hard the simple act
of breathing had become for this man. “You see, many years ago, I was bushwhacked and left for dead in Indian country. A Cheyenne woman found me, nursed me back to life. We fell in love and married. I loved her very much, Chase, but she wouldn’t leave her tribe and I, well, I know now I should have found a way to keep us together.”
Chase listened patiently, as Seth had asked, but his gut knotted with each word the man spoke.
“Her name was Snow Cloud.” Seth’s gaze sharpened on his. “Your mother.”
“Then, are you saying—”
“I’m your father, Son.”
Chase drew in air. Unable to speak, he nodded slowly, taking it all in, trying to absorb the import of what he was hearing.
“I didn’t know about you. Snow Cloud and I parted and never spoke again, but then this tall, proud young man came looking for work on my ranch. He had my gray eyes, and my grandfather’s name.”
“Chase Wheeler was your grandfather?” Chase’s mind spun, thinking back to the time when he’d tried to come up with a white man’s name for himself. Snow Cloud had suggested it. She said it was strong and powerful.
“That’s right, Charles Wheeler Johnston was my grandfather. He was known as Chase. When I heard your name and looked into your eyes, I knew Snow Cloud must have sent you here.”
“She did. She mentioned that she’d heard of a white man who was fair-minded, who would give me a job.”
Seth had a fit of coughing then and Chase grabbed for the glass of water on the bedstand. He held it up, carefully dripping the liquid down Seth’s throat.
Seth calmed, resting his head on the pillow. He took many deep breaths, then continued. “I didn’t know you existed… I left well before you were born. But when you came here that first day, I knew who you were.”
“And you didn’t say anything.”
Regret filled the sick man’s eyes. “No. I’m not making excuses for that. It was wrong. I should have welcomed you, like a father would his only son. But you see, Marabella’s mother wouldn’t have understood. She was already ill and I feared upsetting her with the news.”
“And after she died?” Chase asked. He wanted to know why he hadn’t been acknowledged all those years.
The man slumped even further down in his bed, shamefully admitting, “I lost my nerve. I should have told you, but so much time had already passed. And then Marabella and you seemed to hit it off, and I thought you’d be in the family, anyway. It thrilled me to see you two together.”
“It didn’t work out, as you know.”
“Yes, I do know. It’s a pity. But I understand you married. That’s good, Son. Keep her close. Love her. Or you’ll regret it the rest of your life.”
Chase listened, only half hearing, the newness of the situation still dawning. Seth Johnston was his father. Chase had lived on the ranch, worked here for ten years, and only now, on his deathbed, had the man decided to share the news.
“I hope one day you’ll forgive me.”
Chase could only nod. There wasn’t much he could say right now. “You need to rest. I’ll be back later.”
Seth called to him before he reached the door, his voice a strained whisper, “Chase, I really am sorry, Son.”
“I know.”
Chase made his way down the staircase to the parlor. He helped himself to a glass of smooth amber whiskey and sank down on the plush velvet sofa. He thought of all he’d heard today, the magnitude of it slowly sinking in.
He had a father.
The man was dying.
Could he find it in his heart to forgive him?
Liquid poured into his emptied glass. Chase glanced up. Holding the decanter in her hand, Marabella smiled, a charmingly sexy lifting of lips that turned men’s heads. Her charm no longer worked on him.
“Care for some company?” She didn’t wait for his answer, but sat down beside him. “So Seth told you?”
He turned sharply to face her. “You knew, too?”
“Yes, I knew,” she said, stroking his arm. “Seth explained your parentage after you left the ranch. He was heartsick that you and I, well, that it didn’t work out. Then when he took sick, he asked me to come get you.”
“All those years, wasted,” Chase said aloud, shaking his head. He braced his head in his hands.
Marabella ran her hand through his hair, fingering the locks. “It was wrong of Seth. He should have told you. I can only imagine how you’re feeling, darling. Let me help ease the pain.” She whispered in his ear, “Like I used to, remember?”
Chase removed her hand from his hair and stood abruptly. “I need to be alone right now, Belle. Leave me be.”
“I understand, Chase. But I’m here, whenever you need me.”
“Marabella, it’s over. There’s no going back.” Chase strode out the door. He had enough to think about right now—his father, his mother. And his mind kept returning to Letty Sue, his wife, and the way they’d made love. She’d been everything he could ask for and more. Surprisingly.
And seeing Marabella again sparked in him no interest, no feeling at all. He didn’t need her. It was Letty Sue he wanted right now. Only she could help comfort him. She’d been on his mind since the moment he’d ridden off the Double J. She and little Jake.
His family.
Chase took a long walk, heading west along a low ridge. Seth Johnston’s spread was large, ten thousand acres, but Chase had always liked this area the best, where a shallow stream splashed against the rocks and moved fluidly, turning and twisting, not entirely unlike his life. Certainly the past few years had changed course, and the path he’d chosen had twisted unexpectedly.
He thought of his mother now, and how much she’d loved his father. Chase had seen it in her eyes on those rare occasions when she’d spoken of him.
He knew her to have a tender heart.
She would have wanted Chase to forgive the man his wrongs.
Chase decided he wanted that as well. He couldn’t send the man to his maker without a clear conscience. Seth could die in peace, knowing Chase held no animosity for him.
It was the honorable thing to do.
Chase switched directions and strode purposefully toward the house. He only hoped it wasn’t too late.
I forgive you, Father.
Chase stared down at Seth Johnston’s grave in a small picketed cemetery on the ranch, recalling the last words he’d spoken to his father. Chase was glad they’d had a chance to speak one last time by his bedside, Seth doing most of the talking, reliving the past and relieving himself of ten years of guilt. There’d been a peaceful look on Seth’s face at the end, as he’d uttered Snow Cloud’s name quietly and left this earth.
They were together now, Chase believed, for two souls so much in love should share everlasting life. That thought brought with it a sense of peace. It helped to ease Chase’s mind and give him more than a bit of solace.
He returned to the house slowly, breathing in the crisp night air, reflecting back somewhat and also thinking of the future, his future. He owned the ranch now, a startling revelation that he’d only found out this morning when his father’s attorney came by to read the will after the funeral. Chase could hardly believe it. Seth Johnston had left the majority of his holdings—the house, the ranch, his great wealth—to Chase. Aside from a comfortable allowance provided for Marabella, Chase had pretty much inherited everything.
He entered the house quietly, noting shadows dancing along the walls in the parlor. A feminine scent, strong and exotic, wafted to his nostrils. Marabella. Chase kept walking, heading up the stairs to the bedroom next to Seth’s, which she’d insisted he take in case the ill man needed him during the night. Chase hadn’t argued, since Marabella did have a point.
But tomorrow he planned on heading back to the Double J and to Letty Sue. There were things that needed clearing up, words that needed saying.
“Chase, is that you?”
Chase hesitated only briefly on the stairs. “I’m going up, Marabella. It’s been a long
day.”
“May I have a word with you? Please, Chase.”
Chase rubbed his neck, frowned, then turned and strode back down to the parlor.
She stood in the firelight, wearing a pale green nightdress full of frills and lace, her blond waves curling down past her shoulders, a beckoning look in her eyes. “Have a drink with me, Chase?”
She walked up to him, placing a snifter of brandy in his hand.
“I’m leaving in the morning,” he said, taking a sip. He’d been gone four days and was itching to get back to the Double J.
“That’s what I want to speak with you about.” She set her glass down, came closer and laced her arms around his neck. Her voice was sugary sweet. “Don’t go, Chase. Stay with me. Remember how it was between us? We can have it all again—the house, the ranch, all of Seth’s wealth. Lord knows we deserve it.”
Chase set his drink down and unfolded her arms from about his neck, but she clutched his hands. “Marabella.”
“Think of it, Chase. We’d be rich and together. I can’t think of anything more perfect.” She tightened her grip.
Chase broke her hold. “No.”
Her tone reached a desperate pitch, losing all that sugary sweetness. She spoke rapidly now, with determination. “We don’t have to stay here. We can travel, go East if you’d like, or west to California. Anything you want, Chase. As soon as you dump that trollop of a wife, you’ll be free, and we can be married.”
He shook his head. “We tried that once, Belle. But you set your sights higher than a half-breed ranch foreman, as I recall.”
“Pierce was a mistake. He was nothing but a down-and-out gambler posing as a refined gentlemen. He wooed me, but he was only after Seth’s money. That’s why I got rid of him.”
“You got rid of him?” Men seemed to turn up dead when Marabella was around. Chase shook off that niggling thought, dismissing it as a result of sheer fatigue.
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