by Janet Dailey
Childlike, Cat threw herself into Chase’s arms and hugged him tight. “You’re alive. You’re really alive,” she murmured, reassured by his solidness. “I was so afraid it wasn’t true.”
Chase smoothed a big hand over her sleek black hair and tilted her head up. His dark gaze moved over her face and halted on the sheen of tears in her green eyes.
“I had forgotten how much you look like your mother.” There was a note of wonder in his voice.
Closing her eyes, Cat caught hold of his hand and pressed a kiss into his palm, a deeply felt joy and gratitude all mixing together to steal her voice. She felt the light touch of his hand on her shoulder and opened her eyes to again drink in the sight of his familiar craggy features.
“Logan told me about O’Rourke. I’m sorry, Cat.”
She nodded in response. The loss of her uncle was still too fresh. Culley had been a constant presence in her life for too many years, not always seen but always there, her own personal guardian angel. Cat doubted that many people understood just how much she would miss that so-called crazy old man.
“Hi, Grampa.” Quint’s quiet voice reminded her that this reunion wasn’t hers alone.
Cat turned in her father’s arms, letting a hand slide behind his back while she directed his attention to her son. Uncertain of how much memory he had recovered, she said, “I don’t know if you remember, but this is your grandson, Dad.”
A smile gentled his hard features. “Are you sure this is Quint? This young man is about an inch taller than the boy I remember.”
“I am not, Grampa.” Quint managed to smile at the half-teasing remark and gazed at the man with his heart in his eyes.
Chase crouched down to eye level. “Maybe not a full inch,” he revised his earlier opinion. “I’m glad about that. It means you aren’t too big to give me a hug.”
Quint was in his arms almost before he opened them. Chase had only a glimpse of the tears that sprang into Quint’s eyes before the boy buried his face in the crook of Chase’s neck, wrapping his arms fiercely around him.
“I missed you, Grampa.” His voice was choked to a throaty whisper.
The sun was nearing its zenith when Jessy returned to The Hometead for lunch. The twins barely gave her time to close the door before they planted themselves in front of her and assaulted her with questions.
“Where’s my grampa?” Trey demanded with an impatient scowl.
“You said he was coming home this morning,” Laura added in quick reminder.
“Yeah,” Trey echoed the thought. “Morning’s over. How come he’s not here?”
“He’s on his way. I promise,” Jessy assured them as the phone rang. Judy Niles answered it, her voice coming from the living room.
Laura sighed with great annoyance. “That’s what Gramma said, too.”
“How come it’s taking him so long?” Trey put his hands on his hips, adopting a challenging stance.
“Because your aunt Cat had to drive all the way to Miles City to pick him up, then drive all the way back again,” Jessy explained.
Trey’s dark eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Did Quint go with her?”
“Probably,” Jessy admitted and mentally braced herself for the uproar the news was sure to cause.
“How come he gets to see Grampa first?” Trey protested.
“That’s not fair.” Laura’s lower lip jutted out. “He’s our grampa, too.”
“I know.” She tried a change of subject. “What did Grandma fix for lunch today? Shall we go see?”
Trey wasn’t about to be steered into the dining room. “I don’t want lunch. I want my grampa.”
“I’m gonna see if he’s here yet.” Laura dashed to the door.
Trey raced after her. Turning, Jessy started to call them back then sighed in defeat and let them go. Two sets of hands fought briefly to pull the heavy door open.
Before she even crossed the threshold, Laura squealed with excitement, “I see him! He’s here, Momma! He’s here!”
At almost the same instant Jessy caught the crunching sound of tires rolling across gravel. She moved quickly toward the door as her mother hurried out of the living room.
“You’re so stupid, Laura,” Trey accused with contempt. “That’s not Grampa. That’s Mr. Markham.”
The announcement tingled through Jessy’s nerve ends like an electrical charge, halting her in mid-stride for a fraction of a second. Head up, Jessy continued to the door, reaching it as Trey came back inside, shoulders slumped in disappointment.
Halfway into the hallway, Judy Niles changed direction. “I’ll go set another place for lunch,” she said to Jessy.
Offering no response, Jessy walked onto the veranda, cognizant that she couldn’t let her new wariness of Markham show. Laura’s presence made it easy. Ever the social butterfly, Laura ran to the top of the steps to welcome their arriving guest.
“Hello, Mr. Markham,” Laura issued her breezy greeting as he approached the front steps. “I thought you were my grampa. He’s coming home today.”
The vaguely preoccupied look vanished from his expression as Monte paused with one foot on the steps, his hazel eyes locking on Jessy. “Then it is true,” he said with a slightly incredulous frown. “Chase is alive.”
“Amazing, isn’t it.” The rejoinder came easily to Jessy, thanks to all the practice she’d had fielding phone calls from others seeking confirmation.
“Amazing hardly describes it,” he declared, mounting the steps. “It rightly should be called a miracle. How did it happen? Where has he been all this time?”
“In Texas, I guess. We don’t have many details,” Jessy told him. “I’m not sure Chase does, either. He has amnesia. From what Logan told me, not all of his memory is back yet. There are still parts that are missing for him.”
“What a frightening experience it must be not to know who you are or where you live.” An eyebrow arched in idle contemplation of it.
“It had to have been awful,” Jessy agreed. “We were about to sit down to lunch. Why don’t you join us?”
“It seems I always arrive at mealtimes,” Monte replied with a touch of rueful amusement.
“You can’t refuse. Mother has already set a place for you at the table,” Jessy told him.
“Yeah, if you stay, you can see Grampa when he comes,” Laura inserted.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude at such a personal time,” Monte began, then sharply turned his head to stare at the Suburban pulling into the yard.
“That’s Aunt Cat.” The words were barely out of Laura’s mouth before the significance of them registered on her. She breathed in sharply, her mouth rounding in a silent “o” of excitement as she looked up at Jessy. “Grampa’s here,” she murmured. “I gotta tell Trey.” She scampered across the veranda, pushed the door open, and stuck her head inside, issuing a very unlady-like yell, “This time it really is Grampa!”
“I think she’s excited,” Jessy said to Monte, using the comment as an excuse to observe him, alert for any hint of apprehension.
“She should be,” he declared and turned to face the drive with a look of avid interest.
Trey tore out of the house, nearly knocking Laura down in his haste. He launched himself down the steps and reached the passenger door when it opened. Chase swung his legs out. But Trey didn’t give him a chance to get out as he scrambled onto his lap.
“I knew you’d come back, Grampa,” Trey stated as Laura crowded close, seeking to claim her grandfather’s attention. “I knew it all the time.”
Jessy was content to observe the touching reunion between her children and their grandfather. Not until her mother emerged from the house, hastily wiping her hands on her apron, did Jessy remember that she should be showing some eagerness to welcome Chase home as well.
“My, but he looks wonderful, doesn’t he?” her mother remarked with a mixture of surprise and relief.
“He certainly does.” Jessy crossed to the steps, conscious that Monte remained behin
d.
“Oh dear, do you see that awful scar above his temple?” Judy Niles murmured.
Jessy made an affirmative sound, but she was too busy looking at Laredo as he crossed the ranch yard with long, unhurried strides. Even from this distance, she could tell it was Monte he was watching.
Almost as quickly as Trey climbed onto Chase’s lap, he scooted off it and grabbed hold of his hand to pull him out of the Suburban. “Come on, Grampa. Ya gotta see my new horse. His name’s Joe.”
“Joe. That’s a good name.” Chase stood up, a little stiff after the long ride.
“You can show him your horse later.” Jessy briefly placed a detaining hand on Trey’s head, then stepped forward to give Chase a light kiss on the cheek. “Welcome home, Chase.”
“It’s good to be back,” he told her, but each knew it was part of an act they were going through and only they knew it.
“Grampa’s not sick, Momma,” Laura informed her and tipped her blond head way back to look up at Chase. “Momma said you got ’nesia, but you remembered me.”
Jessy experienced a moment of unease, aware that Monte had to be listening to every word. But Chase simply chuckled.
“I can remember a few things, and I am very glad you are one of them,” he told Laura.
With that settled, Laura moved on to more important matters. “Did you bring me a present, Grampa? You were in Texas an awfully long time.”
Chase didn’t immediately answer and glanced at Jessy instead. “Do I usually bring presents for them?”
Jessy couldn’t tell if he genuinely didn’t remember or was merely pretending. “No, you don’t. And you shouldn’t be asking,” she admonished Laura and drew her aside, making room for her mother.
Taking no chances, she introduced herself, “I’m Judy Niles, Chase. Jessy’s mother.” She fairly beamed at the sight of him. “It’s so good to have you back with us.”
“I remember you, Judy.” Chase’s smile was wide. His glance went past her. “Is Stumpy here, too?”
“No, but I expect he will be,” Judy declared. “He’s just like all of us at the Triple C. It’s such a miracle to have you back with us that we’re half afraid to believe it until we see you with our own eyes.”
While her mother chattered away to Chase, Jessy stole a glance at Monte. He stood near the pillar at the top of the steps, looking perfectly at ease, but his gaze was locked on Chase.
“Doesn’t he look good, Jessy?” Cat murmured near her elbow, pulling Jessy’s attention away from Markham.
“He certainly does.” She smiled at Cat’s glow of happiness.
“He told me on the way here that one of the first things he remembered was Captain. A longhorn steer, for heaven’s sake.” Cat shook her head in amusement. “Isn’t that just like a Calder?”
Catching a movement in her side vision, Jessy turned her head. Monte was coming down the steps at a casual pace. She knew at once that he intended to approach Chase.
He waited until Judy Niles finished her sentence before he stepped forward. “I don’t mean to intrude,” he interrupted with a smoothness that was completely natural to him. “But I wanted to add my welcome to all the others. I’m Monte Markham.” He extended a hand in formal greeting. “I am glad that, like Lazarus, you have come back to walk among us.”
“Mr. Markham.” Chase took his hand and stared intently at him. The impression he gave was that of someone straining to recall something important.
“Monte is the Triple C’s newest neighbor, Dad,” Cat inserted in an attempt to help him identify Monte. “He bought the old Gilmore place.”
Chase responded with a slow and thoughtful nod. “It was good of you to be on hand today, Markham.”
“Sheer coincidence,” Monte assured him with a bluff heartiness.
There was a faint narrowing of Chase’s eyes. “You are in cattle.”
“Indeed, sir, I am. In fact, you were to be my guest when you returned from Texas. An invitation I extend to you again. I am very eager for you to see the herd of Highland cattle I recently imported.”
“Highland cattle,” Chase repeated.
“The finest, I assure you,” Monte insisted, then added dismissively, “But don’t let me get started extolling the many attributes of the breed. We’ll save that for another occasion. I am certain you are anxious to go inside and relax after your long flight. I won’t keep you.”
When Monte retreated toward his vehicle, Judy Niles protested, “Aren’t you joining us for lunch? I set a place for you at the table.”
“Another time,” Monte said and glanced at Chase. “Your first hours at home should be spent with family.”
“If you won’t stay for lunch, then you must come to the barbecue we are having for Chase on Sunday,” Judy insisted. “It will start at one and last until the cows come home.”
“I would enjoy that. Thank you.” Monte nodded his acceptance and continued to the Range Rover.
Laredo arrived just as Monte started up the engine. “Hello, Chase. Remember me?” A twinkle of impish humor was in his blue eyes.
Chase stared at him for a full second before he murmured with amazement, “What are you doing here?” His surprise looked so genuine that Jessy wanted to applaud.
“Working,” Laredo replied and gestured in Jessy’s direction. “Your daughter-in-law put me on the payroll.”
Chase pumped his arm with a two-handed shake. “Where is your mother? Did she come with you?”
“She did.”
“Wonderful. It will be good to see her.” Chase turned to Cat. “I may have just found the solution to the trouble you mentioned Jessy was having finding someone to take charge of the house and cooking chores. Laredo’s mother is an excellent cook, as I recall. Have you met her?”
“No.” A flicker of discomfort crossed Cat’s expression. Jessy suspected Cat was recalling her skepticism that Chase knew these people. It was a well-founded skepticism, but that wasn’t something they could tell her yet. “I haven’t had the pleasure.”
“We’ll soon correct that,” Chase said with an easy smile and glanced at Jessy. “In the meantime, you might want to talk to Hattie and see if she would be interested in taking on the responsibility.”
“That’s a good idea,” Jessy agreed. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Speaking of food, what are we doing standing around out here. Lunch is ready.” Judy Niles shooed them toward the door.
Jessy lagged behind to have a quick word with Laredo. “Chase deserves an Oscar,” she said in a low undertone.
“It was quite a performance, wasn’t it?” Laredo said with a grin. “Just about the equal of Markham’s.”
“He said he was coming to the barbecue,” she told him.
“I expected that.”
“I’m half surprised he didn’t stay for lunch.” Her glance strayed to the thinning dust cloud that lingered over the ranch lane, left by Monte’s departure.
“Right now I imagine he’s worried, not so much about what Chase might remember, but when. This is one time when Monte has to be hoping that out of sight really will mean out of mind.”
“So why would he come on Sunday?”
“I don’t know. But in the meantime, you can bet he’ll be making some plans. Stay alert.” It was more of a reminder than a warning.
“I will.” She paused, angling toward the steps. “I’d better go in. There is bound to be a fight over who gets to sit next to Grampa at the table.”
Laredo nodded his understanding. “I’ll talk to you later. And don’t worry. I’ll be sticking close by.”
As Jessy climbed the veranda steps, she couldn’t help thinking that a man with a rifle wouldn’t have to get close.
Chapter Nineteen
T-bone steaks as large as dinner plates sizzled side by side with thick rib eyes on the massive grill. Three cowboys-turned-chefs kept watch over the meat. One was armed with a spray bottle to douse the grease fires that frequently erupted.
Smoke and heat rol
led from the grill area, but nobody minded. The gathering was a celebratory one, and the mood was festive. Pennants were strung about the large gazebo near the river’s edge, their bright colors fluttering in the light breeze, while a huge homemade banner hung above its entrance. Written across it in big bold letters were the words WELCOME HOME, BOSS!
A few of the cowboys who were musically inclined had taken over the gazebo, turning it into a country-western bandstand.
Mixing in with the laughter and constant hum of voices were rhythmic guitar strummings and lively fiddle licks, underscored by the thump of an upright bass with a harmonica occasionally taking a ride.
Most of the cowboys lounged in their lawn chairs, nursing a cold beer, alternately swapping stories and listening to the music. A couple of the older ranch hands stood guard at the beer kegs to make certain no youngsters snitched a taste. Which made a few of them more determined to do so.
As always, the women were in charge of setting out the food. Everybody brought something, usually two or three different dishes. In all, three banquet tables were set up to hold the array of salads, vegetables, breads, and desserts. The arrival of each new guest required a rearranging of the bowls and platters already on the tables.
Jessy paused to chase a fly away from the edge of a cellophane-covered dish. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a small hand reaching into the potato-chip bowl.
“No snacking before mealtime,” she admonished, quick to intervene. At gatherings the size of this one, everybody parented everybody else’s child.
“But I’m hungry.” The Simmons boy scowled in protest.
“Have a carrot.” She took a stick from one of the many relish trays and handed it to him.
He took it, mumbled a disgruntled “thanks” and walked off, none too happy with a carrot but resigned that it was the best he could do. Automatically Jessy scanned the crowd for a glimpse of the twins. She quickly spotted Trey twirling his rope a few yards from Chase. Since Chase had returned, Trey had rarely let him out of his sight.
Jessy’s gaze made another sweep over the area, but failed to locate Laura among the scattering of blond heads. If Trey had come up missing, she wouldn’t have been surprised, but she had never known Laura to wander off.