Chasing McCree

by J. C. Isabella

  “A sheriff.”

  “Are we talking the cowboy kind that says, this town ain’t big enough for the two of us?”

  “Nah,” laugher rumbled in his chest. “Politics… I’d like to run for sheriff.”

  “You’re a hero in the making Chase McCree.”

  “No I’m not.” He sighed. “I just want to take care of my family and my ranch. I know to some people it may seem strange.”

  “This really all belongs to you?”

  “Yes, since the day my father died at the age of six. Mille and Jerry run things, but I’m taking over more and more now that I’m old enough.” He hugged me closer. “My dad told me the McCree’s lived by a saying when I was little. Passed on for generations.”

  “What is it?”

  “The land doesn’t belong to you. You belong to the land. You work to provide for the animals, and the animals will provide for you.” I followed his gaze across the room and laid eyes on a small wooden plaque hanging on the wall. The words he recited to me were beautifully carved into the surface. “To rule and control the land is selfish, but to protect and nurture is selfless. It is what you are born to do, like every McCree before you.”

  Part of me felt like crying, hearing him speak those words as if he’d done it a million times before. And I knew it was because he missed his father. Sadness filled his eyes. It was so deep. When he smiled at me it faded, and I liked to think I made him feel better, just being with him. “What does that feel like, to have a job that you didn’t choose?”

  “It feel’s scary, I’m not gonna lie.” He said. “But then it feels amazing to know that I’m part of something big. I know where I come from. I know where I’m going. I know that one day my kids are going to have the best life anyone could have.”

  I shook my head. “Kids, Chase?”

  “Comes with the territory. This place will only go to a McCree.”

  “You don’t feel like it was forced on you?”

  “No, I could sign it all over to Millie and Jerry tomorrow if I wanted. Then it would go to Grant and his kids.”

  “But you love it here.”

  “You’re right. I do.”

  “I’m happy I came with you.”

  “Me too.”

  I closed my eyes and began to drift, thinking maybe I could love it that much too. I’d never been on a ranch, or around so many antlers, or even a bearskin rug. This place though, felt more like home than my parent’s house. It was warm and inviting. I could feel the love. Literally. In my house there was a chill in the air, nothing welcoming about it. This place was a real home.

  I was almost asleep when Chase nudged me. “Come on, lets turn in.”

  “No, I’m too tired.” I laughed, trying to fight my lethargy. I wasn’t ready to go to bed yet, I wanted to stay up and talk about the ranch. I wanted to know more.

  Chase pulled me to my feet. “What about beauty rest?”

  “A myth. I look the same either way.”

  We started laughing, and Chase gave me a kiss on my cheek outside of my room. “Night.”

  “Good night,” I said, closing the bedroom door behind me.

  When I woke up the next morning the entire ranch was revved for haying, which would start over then next couple days. I spent most of the day with Millie, helping her bake a few things to bring to the dance. Chase was busy helping Jerry so they could get their work done early. I only got a passing glance and a wink from him, but it was enough to make me soar the rest of the day.

  Early afternoon Millie had to run into town to pick up a few supplies. I went with her, and was finding myself growing attached to her quickly. She was a lot like Grandma, but stronger and more physical.

  While we were in town we passed a leather shop and a pair of crisp white cowgirl boots sat in the window. I wasn’t in the mood to be frivolous, but I couldn’t pass them up. So I gave dear old dads credit card one last big charge.

  While I was checking out, she eyed my new boots. “You got a dress to match?”

  “For what? The dance?”

  She nodded, her round face pulling a motherly smile. “You can’t go in jeans, we’re all dressing up.”

  I sighed, taking the bag holding my new boots from the cashier. “Chase never told me it was fancy.”

  “It’s not that fancy, but Chase is a member of the male species. He doesn’t think about that sort of thing.” She spun around and headed for the back of the shop. “Come on, girly, times a wastin’.”

  So I got a dress on my dad’s card too.

  It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it.

  I was leaving the last store with Millie when I saw something sitting in a glass case next to the register.

  “Can I see that?” I asked.

  The man behind the register opened the case and pulled out the one I wanted. “What is it?”

  “A watch and a compass.”

  I soothed my fingers over the leather band and smiled, pulling out my money, not my father’s. “It’s perfect.”

  After helping Millie unload the car, I hurried to my room. It was big and comfortable, had an attached bath, and there was a mini antler chandelier over the bed.

  The colors of my room were deep greens and earthy blues. The bed was massive, piled with pillows and covered in a quilt with the shape of a black wolf in the center. Its frame was carved out of oak logs, and the same pine fresh and cinnamon smell hung in the room.

  Best of all, Chase’s room was right across the hall.

  I took some time to get ready. The dress I bought was a deep red. It had short sleeves and the skirt flared out at the waist so that when I spun it whipped around me.

  The final touch was a white cowgirl hat Millie let me borrow. It matched my boots.

  I glossed up my lips, checked myself in the mirror and headed downstairs.

  “Briar, you look beautiful.” Millie exclaimed.

  I stopped on the bottom stair wringing my hands. Nerves were getting the best of me. I wanted to bolt. Would people think I was playing dress up? Trying to look like a cowgirl when I was just a cheerleader? Well, an ex-cheerleader?

  “Briar,” Chase stopped dead and his eyes took me in from head to foot. My knees started to shake and I hoped he wouldn’t laugh. I felt a little like an imposter. “You look…wow. Really, amazing.”

  I glanced down and back up at him. “Really?”

  “For a second, I was speechless.” He put his hand over his heart and backed up a step.

  “Thank you.”

  “You have no idea…”

  “Way to make me blush.” I smiled. He looked good too, in his usual brown boots, but he’d swapped his worn jeans for a nicer pair of dark washed denim and donned a beep blue western style shirt. His belt had a shiny buckle with an M engraved on the front and gold roped around the edges. “You look like a real cowboy…I mean, of course you’re a real cowboy…you just look really nice. Like, the belt is cool… I think I’m babbling.”

  He tipped his head back and laughed, and he deepened his voice and put on a thick twang. “Thank you kindly, Briar. Shall we?”

  I nodded, heading outside with him.

  Chase gave me a hand into the truck. We followed Millie and Jerry in their truck. He told me that last year the dance had gone well into the night, and some guests even left at sunrise.

  It was a short ride, according to Chase. The Callahan’s were their neighbors…and it took thirty minutes to get to them.

  We were just pulling down the dirt drive, parking behind a barn decorated in lanterns and twinkle lights when my purse vibrated. I fished around and found my phone.

  “Crap.” I held it up for Chase to see my dad’s ID flashing across the screen. He shook his head and threw the truck into park. “Hey, Dad.”

  His voice wavered. The connection was horrible. “Briar, how’s Boston?”

  I put on a cheery voice. “Oh, great.”

  “What did you and Grandma do today?”

  I bit my lip and glanced a
t Chase. “We went shopping?”

  He rolled his eyes and waved to Jerry and Millie as they passed the truck.

  My dad’s voice crackled. “That’s great. Your mother wanted me to call and tell you to have a safe flight. Shame you have to cut the visit so short. We’ll see you when you get back tomorrow.”

  “Okay, bye.” The pit of my stomach dropped as I hung up. “Chase, I’m dead. I’m so dead.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “My dad thinks I’m coming home!” I groaned. “Tomorrow.”

  “Shit. I thought your grandmother spent her whole summer in Boston?”

  I shook my head and dialed her number and I didn’t like what I heard.

  Grandpa hadn’t gone to Boston. He’d stayed home because he was feeling tired and not in the mood to socialize.

  He wasn’t just tired. He was sick. He wouldn’t take his antibiotics because he was too stubborn. Grandma was flying home to be with him.

  When I asked why she told my dad I was coming back with her, she said she’d almost let slip where I really was. It was an accident. In her words, the cat would be out of the bag soon, and I’d better get ready for battle. She would go to war with him if she had to, but he’d find me. He was good at getting what he wanted.

  “You need to go home.” Chase shook his head and opened the door after I hung up with Grandma. “I’m going to tell Jerry and Millie.”

  I scrambled out of the cab, caring less about how mad my father got or that I’d lied to him. I only cared about Chase. I would rather risk being grounded for the rest of my life, just to have more time with him, than leave and wish I had stayed. “I don’t care. I want to stay.”

  “I care,” he ground out. “I really care. And as much as I’d like to keep you here with me, we don’t have a choice. I’d rather be on good terms with a man I’ve never met then have him hate me.”

  “You care about what a shallow, money and power hungry man thinks?” that came out a little harsh, but I really had to know.

  “No, I care about you. I know how they treat you, and I don’t want to even imagine what they’ll be like if we piss them off.” Anger vibrated in his voice. He paced as if he was torn, kicking at a rock. “I don’t want to lose you, but I never really had you, did I? You can’t stay here forever. We didn’t think about the future. Not about you leaving…” His voice hardened and he looked back up at me. I felt like I was loosing him too. Like he was right. We never had each other. “We haven’t even talked about booking your return flight. What does that say?”

  “It says a lot.” I whispered. “You don’t want me to leave and I don’t want to go.”

  “I wish I could freeze time, Briar. That tomorrow never had to come.” I felt tears welling up as he turned for the barn. “I’m going to find Millie. Wait here.”

  “Chase McCree don’t walk away from me!”

  His back went ridged and he spun around, stalking toward me. I planted my feet, thinking he was going to yell like my father. But he didn’t, he spoke softly. “What do you want me to do, Briar? I will do anything.”

  My legs shook. My head was spinning.

  I knew exactly what I wanted.

  I’d known it for a long time.

  “Kiss me.”

  He reared back. “What?”

  “Kiss me.” I fisted my hands at my sides and waited. “Just kiss me, Chase.”

  “We shouldn’t…”

  “You want to. I know you want to!”

  He took a step toward me, throat working as he swallowed. “It will change everything.”

  “I want it to change.” I took a step towards him.

  “No going back, Briar.”

  “I don’t want to go back.” I was crying now and he didn’t seem to care. My tears didn’t scare him and they didn’t scare me anymore either. “I don’t ever want to go back, Chase.”

  He nodded and pulled me close. “You’re sure?”

  I nodded. “Yes. Very. Now kiss me.”

  A grin spread across his face, wider than I’d ever seen. “Yes, Ma’am.”

  I closed my eyes and tipped my head back. Millie’s hat fell to the ground but I didn’t care. Chase’s lips pressed against mine. I knew I’d made the right choice. For the first time in my life I felt like I was where I was supposed to be.

  Chase kissed me slow and sweet in the cool night air. I changed. He changed. We changed. I wasn’t a cheerleader anymore or a rich man’s spoiled daughter. My life before meeting Chase didn’t define me.

  Everything changed. Things would never be the same.

  And what a great adventure it would be.

  Chapter 15

  Chase smiled at me from across the barn while he talked to a few of the local guys. I was sitting in a chair against the wall next to Millie. Her feet were tired and she needed to sit this dance out.

  I was waiting on the punch Chase had gone to get. Every time he looked at me my heart soared and my face hurt from the smile I had plastered on it.

  “Things are changing.” Millie pushed a few stray hairs back into the bun she’d neatly arranged and shook her head. “Changing fast.”

  I didn’t quite catch her meaning and tore my eyes from Chase. “I’m sorry?”

  “Between you and my boy.” Millie gave a hearty laugh. “Well, he’s not really my boy.”

  “He’s yours Millie.” I smiled.

  “Not since we left the house.” She said, kicking off a shoe to rub her foot. “Between the time you left and the time you came to dance. I can see it.”

  “You’re very perceptive.”

  “Uh-huh,” she kicked her other shoe off too. “He was also wearing your lip gloss.”

  My face went red and I looked away. “Oh, boy.”

  She patted my leg with her free hand. “Look honey, I was your age once. What I want to know is, where this is going?”

  I swallowed. “Going?”

  “Where you two are headed?” she clarified. “Back to Florida?”

  “No,” I bit the inside of my cheek and found my boots suddenly fascinating to look at. I even had a scuff on the right toe.

  “Oh, so you’re going back at the end of summer and he’s going to visit you?”

  “Er…” well, maybe not.

  “Thought so.” She snorted and picked up her shoes. “You two are going to get hell from your parents.”

  My mouth fell open and I met her eyes. Same chocolate eyes as Chase. I’m thinking it was a family trait. “You’re not going to give us hell?”

  She shrugged, waving to another woman and asking her how she was before speaking again. “Chase is a responsible young man and he knows what he wants. One of those things just happens to be you. Since I like you, and you seem to be just as smart and responsible, how can I argue?”

  I floundered for a good answer, but she wasn’t finished talking.

  “Are you young? Yeah, really young. Will it work? I don’t know. Do I think you’ve both lost your minds? Little bit.” She beamed at me, her pink cheeks even more ruddy from dancing. “But I think life is all about learning and growing. I’d rather do it with someone than go it alone.”

  She stood, planted a kiss on my cheek and went off to find Jerry, barefoot.

  I was so shocked I didn’t even notice Chase when he sat next to me and held out a cup of punch.

  “Hey, Millie and Jerry are leaving. Said they’d leave the kitchen door unlocked for us…not that they’ve ever locked it…are you feeling alright?” he waved his hand in front of my face.

  I hoped things didn’t blow up in our faces. “Millie caught me off guard.”

  His dimpled smile did funny things to my heartbeat. “Oh, yeah?”

  “She’s got us figured out.”

  “Millie’s smarter than she lets on.” He wrapped his arm around me. “You’re scared she was going to get mad.”

  I laughed nervously. “Yep, pretty much.”

  “We don’t get mad like the people you’re used to. Trust me.”


  “I will, and I do.” I said, feeling the beat of the country music almost like it was pounding through my veins.

  “Come on and dance with me,” he set the punch down on an empty seat and tugged me onto the floor. I let everything worrying me go. Tomorrow would take care of itself.

  This was our first dance together. I had rhythm and so did Chase, surprisingly good rhythm. He led me in a two-step, and after a couple songs I had the moves down and we were laughing and flying around the dance floor. He spun me, dipped me, and I was dizzy from it all. We were laughing, and people were staring. Neither of us cared.

  As the night wore on though, I felt a little of Millie’s pain. There hadn’t been any time to break in my new boots. I asked Chase for a break and sat on a bale of hay by the dance floor while he went to find the bathroom.

  The barn was expertly decorated inside. Red and white-checkered tablecloths covered rows of picnic tables the far side. There were lights and lanterns strung crisscross over the dance floor. A big American flag had been hung from the rafters in the center of the barn.

  It was a real shindig…according to Uncle Jerry.

  “Hey,” I glanced up at an unfamiliar blond boy with freckles. He was tall, and maybe a bit gangly, but grown mostly out of it. He had bright blue eyes and a boyish smirk. “I’m Tuck.”

  I smiled. “Briar.”

  He sat next to me and stuck a piece of hay in his mouth. “You must be new around here, never seen you before until you danced with McCree.”

  “You know Chase?” I wasn’t sure about the whole chewing hay thing, and shook my head when he held out a piece.

  Tuck chuckled. He was one of those welcoming types. “Yeah, my whole life. I’m a Callahan.”

  I raised my eyebrows, guessing that meant something. “Okay.”

  “Callahan’s and McCree’s used to be enemies.” He lowered his voice to a secretive whisper and grinned. “But it’s okay, we don’t even remember what we fought over.”

  “Land,” another guy came up with darker features and he was chewing, but it wasn’t hay. “I’m Dustin O’Brian.”

  “Briar,” I said, smiling. He sat on the other side of me. “I take it you’ve known Chase all your life too.”