A goofy accident, nothing serious. Cleaned and bandaged the wound and told the boy to stop wearing that perfume that aggravates the stallion so much.
Chuckling, Kate remembered Doc telling her that's how he'd gotten his nickname – by administering first aid to some of the townspeople and recommending treatment for simple illnesses over the years. Not that he'd ever overstepped his bounds by dispensing prescription medication or trying to take care of a serious condition. But Bitter Creek was a small town without a physician, and people were reluctant to make the drive to find one unless the situation truly called for it.
A knock at the door surprised her. Setting down the journal, she left the study, wondering if Chase had chosen to meet her here rather than at the bar. Opening the door gave her another surprise.
"Annie."
"Hi. I was in town to buy groceries, and I decided to take a chance that you'd be in. I was hoping we could talk... if you're not too busy."
Dark hair swinging along her cheek, Annie peered around into the living room as if she were making sure they were alone.
"I can spare a few minutes. Come on in." Kate led the volunteer around several boxes she'd brought from her old quarters but had not yet managed to unpack. "Sorry about the mess. I'm not even totally moved in yet. Can I get you something to drink?"
"No need."
Annie perched on the couch, and Kate took the threadbare chair that had been Doc's favorite.
"So what's up?"
"I need to talk to you about Chase," Annie said without preamble. "I'm worried sick about him."
Immediately on edge at the volunteer's possessive tone, Kate asked, "How so?"
"He's worn out with hard work and terrible stress. I, uh, know about the problems he's been having at the refuge. He used to talk to me about them, actually. But not lately and I don't understand why." Expression forlorn, Annie sighed. "All of a sudden, he's keeping his concerns to himself, and I don't think that's good for him."
Considering her upcoming rendezvous with Chase, Kate squirmed inside. He was talking to her now and she didn't think Annie would appreciate knowing as much. She was getting the distinct impression that Annie and Chase had had something personal going until recently. So what had changed? she wondered. Her walking back into his life?
She tried placating Annie. "He probably needs to think things through himself."
"He's been doing that ever since Doc's death... such a terrible accident."
Kate had to hold herself back from contradicting Annie. Until she and Chase had more to go on, they'd agreed to keep their suspicions to themselves. And she certainly didn't want whoever had been shooting at her to make a more serious effort to shut her up.
So all she said was "Doc's death was terrible, all right."
"I guess you were pretty close to him."
"Since I was a kid. I became a vet because of Doc. He was my mentor."
"Sorry." Hardly taking a breath, Annie swiftly turned the conversation around. "As I was saying, Doc's death really affected Chase. And now those horses vanishing into thin air haven't helped things."
"He's not too happy." Kate agreed.
"Of course not." A strange glint to her normally soft blue eyes, Annie asked, "So what does he think is going on?"
Kate realized the other woman was subtly pumping her for information, as though Annie felt she had a stake in Chase and was afraid of being replaced. She wanted to tell the pretty volunteer that she had nothing to worry about in the personal department, but the words wouldn't come.
"I guess you'd have to ask Chase what he's thinking, Annie. Though so many things have gone wrong lately, it would be difficult for anyone to believe it's all coincidence."
"There are some people around here who'd like to see the refuge fail."
"Like Thea Lockridge."
"Not just her. Other folks... including Nathan."
Startled, Kate asked, "What about Nathan?"
"He thinks the Lakota have a right to the land."
Something she hadn't realized. She wondered if Chase had. "He actually told you that?"
"Not anything about the refuge failing. But one day, we were talking about the pictographs cut into the limestone bluffs. That's when Nathan said the land was sacred to his people and that they'd lost out on their chance to reclaim it."
Which made Kate wonder exactly how resentful Nathan Lantero might be. And if he felt so strongly about the issue, why would he have gone to work for Chase?
Unless being part of the refuge staff suited some dark purpose...
As a kid, Nathan hadn't been able to contain his jealousy of her because of the attention she received from Delbert. He'd found numerous ways to get even, though she had to admit he'd been pretty straightforward about his animosity. He'd never sneaked around behind her back, rather had always challenged her to her face. Besides which, she'd thought Nathan had gotten over his youthful insecurity and had reformed his ways.
But what if he hadn't?
What if he were getting even with Chase because of hard feelings over the land? Kate hated the thought, but she couldn't banish it.
"Have you told Chase what Nathan told you?"
The other woman's blue eyes went wide. "I wasn't implying that Nathan was doing anything wrong! I just meant that not everyone thinks so much land being used to let some old mustangs run free is the right purpose. I personally can't see it being used for anything else."
And now that she'd done some exploring herself, had formed a tenuous bond with Sage's band, neither could Kate. "I understand you've volunteered to work on the refuge three summers in a row. That's very dedicated."
"After teaching remedial reading skills to a bunch of unruly teenagers the rest of the year, coming out here is a breath of fresh air. I think of my time around the wild horses as a vacation for my soul."
The horses? Or Chase himself?
They talked for a few more minutes before Annie departed, leaving Kate wondering about her true purpose for dropping by in the first place. While she'd expressed an appropriate amount of concern about Chase in relation to the refuge, Annie hadn't made any suggestions as to lifting his burden. Nor had she asked for counsel.
Leaving Kate with the distinct impression that Annie had been trying to feel her out to see what was going on between her Chase.
If only she had an answer.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD got into Chase?" Buck mused. "He never comes into town."
"Unusual," Merle agreed, blowing cigarette smoke at him. "Maybe he's taken leave of his senses. Too much responsibility can do that to a person."
"Can't say I feel sorry for him," Buck muttered, drowning his loopy smile in his beer.
Neither was she.
Propped on a barstool in Rowdy's Bar and Gruel, Merle glanced at the table across the room where Chase sat alone. After nodding to them when he'd entered a few minutes ago, he'd parked himself in the shadows. His hat rode low on his forehead, as if he'd meant the wide brim to hide him from the other patrons. As usual, he was nursing a mug of coffee rather than something more potent.
She remembered a long-ago time when he'd been fun and full of the devil. My, my, how life had changed him.
Then again, look what life had done to her.
Her insides clutching, Merle took a long drag on her cigarette and turned her attention away from Chase to a closer table where Thea Lockridge held court like some kind of queen bee. What a piece of work that bitch was – bringing her California money to Bitter Creek so she could ruin it for the people who'd lived here all their lives.
Three strangers accompanied the blonde, all city-slick men dressed like dime store cowboys. No doubt they were searching for a piece of the authentic west and Thea had brought them to Rowdy's for the atmosphere and greasy burgers. Smoke-filled, thin walls vibrating with a twangy country tune, decorated in Formica, vinyl and chrome, floors strewn with sawdust to absorb liquor spills and splatters off the grill, this dump was as authentic as it got.
&nbs
p; Her gaze settled on the youngest of Thea's companions. The dark-haired man was of special interest to Merle, not because he was particularly good-looking, but because his well-muscled body made her thighs quake. She'd get to him eventually. Anticipation was part of the fun. Meanwhile, she'd enjoy admiring him from afar.
Buck's poking her in the arm disrupted her fantasies before they ever got started. "Uh-oh. Look who just walked in."
Merle spun around on her stool as Kate Farrell crossed to Chase's table. Without moving his butt off his chair, he indicated she should sit. The vet tossed her crimson ponytail, plunked herself down and signaled the waitress. But their casual attitudes didn't fool her. The sparks between them were obvious to anyone with eyes in their head.
Buck edged closer. "What do you think they're up to?"
So maybe Buck was a little dense. Shaking her head, Merle gave him a sideways look.
"Getting rid of some of that stress he's been under. Not that it'll do him any good in the long run. Chase is too spooked by all those horses up and disappearing to let it alone. I figure he means to find out what happened to them no matter what it takes."
"Good luck to him, then," Buck muttered. "For all he knows, the sky coulda opened up and they all rode straight into heaven."
Someday, Merle thought, the sky would open and issue Chase an invitation in the other direction.
Though she'd like to hide her feelings, she couldn't help but glare at him and Kate. Why should he have everything when she was left with nothing? His fault she was alone. His fault she turned out like her mother.
Deciding she didn't want to wait, after all, she crushed the remaining life out of her cigarette. "Listen, Buck, I'll catch you tomorrow."
"You going home?"
"Yep." Merle winked. "Eventually and not alone."
Opening another shirt button to reveal the hollow between her small breasts, water falling her newly washed silky hair over one shoulder, she sidled over to Thea Lockridge's table. Standing slightly behind the blond beehive, she set a hand on her waist, stuck out her hip and stared at the dark-haired young man until he noticed her. Definitely appreciative.
"Hey, stranger, know how to Texas two-step?"
"No, ma'am," he said, rising, "but I been told I'm a fast learner."
Merle glanced over at Chase's table. He and the vet seemed to be arguing about something. Maybe Chase wouldn't be relieving his stress tonight, after all.
But she would. Hank's coming home with her would make her feel a whole lot better. And while she and the dime story cowboy were setting off the fires of passion, she'd imagine Chase beating off the fires of hell.
No more than he deserved for ruining her life.
WATCHING MERLE HEAD FOR the small dance floor with Thea's friend disgusted Chase. Bad enough she let the locals take advantage of her. But another land grabber? He'd like to have a serious talk with her, but he didn't think she'd appreciate advice on her love life coming from him.
The waitress broke into his thoughts, setting down a beer in front of Kate and refilling his coffee mug. "Your food'll be up in a minute, hon."
"Thanks, Ina." Kate sipped at her beer and barely waited for the waitress to turn her back before saying, "About last night. You were riding to Lockridge Acres to look for the mustangs, weren't you?"
Startled by the unexpected accusation, he glowered at her. "Watch your mouth, woman."
"Excuse me?"
He shot a glance at Thea a few tables away, but she and her companions were intent on their conversation. "Keep your voice down. You want everyone to hear?"
Appearing smug, Kate said, "Then I was right. Are you going to try again? Tonight?"
Her questions were getting his back up. "Whatever I do is my business."
"I'm going with you."
His mouth got the better of him. He said, "And put yourself in possible danger," before realizing he'd confirmed her suspicions.
"Big deal. I don't even know if I'm safe in my own bed anymore."
"That's easily enough taken care of." He tried to rattle her. To make her think twice about clinging to him. "You don't have to sleep alone."
Kate narrowed her gaze when she said, "And I'm sure you'll be happy to volunteer."
"I was thinking of Wrangler. Good watch dog."
He was only half-serious about the dog and if Kate's heightened color were any indication, she knew it. She tried to hide behind her beer mug.
The blush softened her, made her prettier, reminded him of the first time he'd kissed her. She'd blushed then, too. After which, she'd kissed him back. How the hell it was possible to remember was a mystery to him, but he recounted every detail as if the eighteen years that had passed since had been no more than eighteen days.
Chase resigned himself to taking Kate with him when he rode onto Lockridge Acres later that night. She had his number. And he had hers. She would be safer with him than following him as he had no doubts she would do. By involving her more directly, he could keep his eye on her, could protect her from running headlong into danger as she would do otherwise.
"All right. You can come with me. As long as I'm in charge. Agreed?"
He figured it irked her to say, "Agreed," rather than arguing the fine points. "Why?" she added.
Recognizing that suspicious narrowing of her eyes, he said, "Because I know how you felt about Doc."
He'd liked the old man himself. And, considering Doc's death had something to do with him, Chase felt the need to learn who was responsible for that stampede. On the other hand, Kate's emotions were tied up in the situation. She'd loved the old man as if he'd been her father, something he had trouble relating to. He hadn't had so much as a sorrowful thought when he'd heard his old man had died.
Kate shoved the past aside when she said, "We're getting off the subject."
"I didn't know we'd started."
"Now's as good a time as any. Let's start with Annie's unexpected visit a little while ago."
"Don't tell me you're suspicious of her. She has nothing at stake."
"But Nathan Lantero does."
"Nathan?" he echoed.
"Annie said he told her the refuge was sacred to his people."
"I heard the Lakota wanted the land and that my deal with the governor didn't make them happy," Chase admitted, "but I didn't know Nathan felt one way or the other about it."
"Annie seemed to think he did, although she quickly assured me she didn't mean to imply that Nathan was guilty of anything."
"All the same, she came to see you to tell you about it."
"Uh, not exactly. We were talking about a different issue when the subject of who might be happy to see the sanctuary closed down came up."
Chase sensed she'd just skipped over something he should know about. He was tempted to worm the information out of her, but he was too tired to wear her down. He had to trust that, if it were important, Kate would tell him.
"Here you go, hon." Ina stood over them with two plates in hand. They moved their beers and the waitress set down their burgers and fries before them. "Anything else I can get you? Another beer?"
Kate shook her head. "I'm fine."
"Nothing for me," Chase said, his juices flowing at the first whiff. Not used to having supper so late, he was over-hungry. He took a big bite of his burger and washed it down with coffee.
"I'll leave the tab, then. Holler when you're ready to pay. No rush."
Chase continued eating like the starving man he was. When the record on the jukebox ended, he glanced over at the dance floor. Merle had herself wrapped around the wannabe cowboy. Neither of them seemed to notice the lack of music. And when the next tune started up, a throaty-voiced woman wailing about a lost love, he looked away.
Picking at her food, Kate was staring at him, her hunger all in her eyes. Caught, he imagined asking her to dance. Imagined feeling her hand in his as they made their way to the dance floor. Imagined holding her close. Smelling her hair. Feeling her flesh pressed up against his as they b
arely moved to the music, rather got in tune with each other...
He swallowed hard and warned himself not to repeat past mistakes. But he was hard-pressed to obey.
He had to force himself back to the subject. "Where were we?"
Kate blinked and swallowed a mouthful of nothing. "Nathan," she choked out.
Making Chase believe he hadn't been doing all the imagining on his own.
"Right," he said. "I guess we should be taking a close look at anyone who has anything to do with the refuge... not to mention anyone who badmouths the land usage." His gaze strayed to the man hunkered over the bar now that Merle had deserted him. "Or anyone who has reason to dislike me personally. Buck, for one."
"I did think it was a little weird that he was working for you."
"Being lame in an area of the country where the majority of jobs depend mostly on a body's being fit is a serious drawback. Considering my part in what happened to Buck, I couldn't turn him down when he came to me for work this spring."
Chase glanced over at the bar again even as Buck pivoted on his barstool and waved someone over. Whit Spivey had just walked through the door. A mean smile cracking his leathery face and showing off his rotting teeth, Spivey joined Buck and signaled the bartender to give them both drinks, the unexpected camaraderie giving Chase a peculiar feeling. He'd never noticed the men being particularly friendly with each other.
What had changed?
Kate interrupted the thought, saying, "Buck does seem to have put the past behind him. And then there's Doc. Buck wouldn't kill the man who saved his life."
Only half-listening, Chase frowned. "When did this happen?"
Giving him a strange look in return, she said, "The accident."
Something Chase couldn't forget. But he wasn't aware of what had gone on after he'd made it to the barns. He'd hightailed it out of there the moment he'd heard Buck blaming him. He'd been used to being a scapegoat, and his fear had been stronger than his remorse.
The McKenna Legacy Trilogy Page 50