by Bobbi Smith
Roni knew whatever Stacy had to tell her was serious if she'd ridden all the way into town to speak with her. "Sure. We'll go upstairs."
She turned her office sign to CLOSED and led the way up to the sitting room. Stacy sat on the sofa while Roni took the chair across from her. She could tell Stacy was nervous and deeply upset about something.
"What is it? What's troubling you?" Roni asked encouragingly.
Her concerned, gentle tone touched Stacy's heart. It had been so long since her mother had died and she'd had any real female companionship. She'd found it again now—with Roni.
"If I knew what it was, I'd fix it," she began painfully. "It's just everything that's happened. It was terrible enough when Walker was sent to prison, but now, to know he's dead and all because someone framed him for a murder he didn't commit—" She gave a weary shake of her head as she looked at Roni, her expression bleak. "And now Chet—"
"What about Chet?" Roni urged her to go on, surprised to hear there was trouble between the couple.
Stacy started by making excuses for him. "I know he's being kind and trying to take care of me, but he wants to move our wedding date up. He doesn't like me being alone at the ranch. He thinks it would be better if we just eloped."
"He loves you," Roni said, trying to be helpful.
"I know, but after everything that's happened I'm just not ready to think about getting married right now. I know Chet's excited about it. He's impressed that we're going to have the biggest ranch around, but I don't care about that. I keep expecting Walker to ride up like he always did—I keep expecting him to come home."
Roni completely understood. "I feel the same way, too. I still can't believe he's gone. I don't want to believe it."
Stacy lifted her gaze to Roni's. "I don't either."
They shared a deep, heartfelt moment of complete understanding in their loss of the man they both loved.
"And then . . ." Stacy went on, her voice emotional and a little shaky. "And then, there's Jim."
"What about Jim?" Roni was surprised that Stacy had brought him up. He had been so supportive of them during this terrible time. She couldn't imagine why Stacy was upset with him.
Stacy looked up at her, seeming torn about whether to go on.
"What is it?" Roni asked.
"He kissed me," she whispered.
"Jim kissed you?" Roni repeated, completely surprised by the revelation.
"Yes."
"How did you feel about it?" Roni asked.
"I don't know."
"What did Jim say?"
"He actually apologized and said it should never have happened!" Stacy still couldn't believe how much his words had hurt.
"He was being a gentleman," Roni suggested.
"But how could he have regretted it?"
Roni couldn't help smiling slightly. "Jim regretted doing something that might compromise your honor. You're engaged to another man. He knows that. He would never do anything to hurt you. He would never take advantage of you."
Stacy looked down at the engagement ring Chet had given her.
"Do you love Chet?" Roni asked, voicing the hardest question.
Stacy was silent for a long time before finally answering, "I'm not sure anymore. Everything is so confusing—"
"Sometimes life is hard, and there are no simple solutions," Roni told her. "You've been through a terrible time lately, and the decisions you're being forced to make now are big ones that are going to affect the rest of your life."
"That's why I needed to talk to you. I don't know what to do. When Chet first proposed, it was so romantic, but he's changed since Walker's been gone."
"Like I said, he loves you, and I think he's concerned about you."
"If he's so concerned about me, why doesn't he try to help me, instead of putting more pressure on me?"
"I would imagine, to his way of thinking, marrying you would be helping. He figures you need a man around to run things."
"My father and Walker taught me all I need to know about running the ranch. With Zach and the boys, the Dollar will be fine. I expected Chet to understand what I was going through, losing my brother this way—"
"What are you going to do?"
Stacy looked down again at the ring she wore. "I don't know."
Roni was quiet for a moment, and then advised her, "Pray on it. Pray for the fortitude to get through this hard time and to do the right thing."
"But how do I know what the right thing is?"
Roni met her troubled gaze and answered, "Follow your heart."
Stacy sighed. Until Jim had kissed her, she'd thought she was following her heart.
"You're a strong woman, Stacy. Walker was so proud of you."
"I was proud of him, too. It wasn't easy for him, coming to live with us like he had to do, but he did it, and he turned out to be a fine man."
"Yes, he did. I'll never stop missing him," Roni admitted.
Stacy reached out to Roni and hugged her. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being my friend—and Walker's."
They talked for a little while longer, then Stacy started back to the ranch.
The ride gave her plenty of time to think about what Roni had told her. She had to follow her heart.
Three days later, Stacy was hard at work in the stable when she heard one of the men call out that Chet was coming. Stacy couldn't decide if she was glad or bothered by his unexpected visit. She'd spent these last days hard at work on the ranch, using the time to try to figure out what she wanted for her future, and she had come up with no real answer. True, the memory of Jim's kiss was still with her, but so was his quick expression of regret. If only . . . She pushed thoughts of Jim away as she went to welcome Chet.
"Afternoon, cowboy," she called out with a smile as he reined in nearby. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
Chet quickly dismounted and went to her. He was aware of the ranch hands working near them, so he didn't kiss her. "I've got some news."
She could sense his excitement. "Let's go up to the house."
"Good idea," he agreed.
When they'd moved inside, he grabbed her and gave her a quick kiss.
"That's just what I needed," he told her with a grin. "Now, sit down, this is important."
"All right," Stacy agreed, going to sit in the parlor and watching him a bit warily as he sat down beside her.
"I was in town today and heard that the Thompson place is about to be autioned off—and it's going cheap. We can buy it up right now and have—"
"Stop!" She couldn't believe after everything she'd said to him the last time they were together that he was still thinking about buying the other ranch.
"What?" Chet looked at her, frowning.
"Please stop this!"
"Stop what? What are you talking about?" He was surprised by her anger.
"I'm talking about the big plans you've got! Just stop it! I'm still in mourning. My brother—an innocent man—died for no good reason, and all you can think about is buying the Thompson place!"
"Stacy," he began tersely, "this is important."
"Not to me, it isn't," she told him fiercely.
"What are you going to do, crawl in a hole and stay there forever just because your brother's dead?"
His snide comment stabbed at her heart, angering her even more.
"Chet—"
"You've got to get over it—"
"Get over my brother being convicted of a crime he didn't commit and then dying while he's in prison? I never even got to tell him good-bye!"
"Stacy, we can't change anything that's happened. We can only start living again and look to the future. We're going to have a wonderful life together, and buying up the Thompson place is part of it. We've got to act quickly on this."
"Don't you understand? I don't want to act quickly on this!" she countered, her fury growing at his arrogance. "I don't want to act on this at all! I'm not interested in buying that ranch! I've got all
I need right here on the Dollar!"
He tried a coaxing tone on her. "Stacy, you don't know what you're saying."
It didn't work.
"I know what I'm saying, Chet," she countered. "And I know I'm sick and tired of you trying to tell me what to do!"
"Somebody has to!"
She stood up and glared down at him, the look in her eyes icy. "You'd better go, Chet. Right now."
Chet had never realized Stacy was so stubborn and had such a hot temper. He'd thought she'd be an easy woman to dominate and that she'd always do just what he told her to do, like a good wife should. He knew now he'd been wrong, and it infuriated him. If she'd been his wife right then, he would have beaten some sense into her, but he controlled his anger with an effort and tested his acting ability to the limit as he stood up, too. "Stacy, honey, I—"
"Don't 'honey' me, Chet! Just leave!" She stepped away, distancing herself from him, her body rigid as she struggled with her fury. "Get out!"
Chet had come to the Dollar in a good mood. He'd been ready to sweet-talk Stacy all he had to, in order to get what he wanted. He'd never expected he'd have to deal with outright refusal. He was going to go, but he wasn't going to let Stacy have the last word. As he strode out of the parlor, he stopped once to look back at her. "I'm sorry you feel this way. I just want to make a good life for us."
With that, he turned and walked out of the house.
Stacy didn't move until she'd heard him ride away. When he'd gone, she looked around in a blind rage.
How dare Chet talk to her that way!
How dare he tell her to get over Walker's death!
Furious, she picked up a glass vase that was on the end table and threw it as hard as she could across the room, watching as it shattered against the wall.
Stacy stared down at the pieces of broken glass strewn about the floor and knew that was what her life was like—shattered beyond repair.
She looked at the engagement ring she still wore and wondered . . . .
Chet's mood was black as he rode away from the Dollar. He'd intended to go home, but he changed his mind and headed for Two Guns and the Ace High. He needed to do some serious drinking.
Chet couldn't believe what had just happened. He'd known Stacy was a spirited girl, but he'd never figured her to be so hard-headed. The thought of being married to her and having to put up with her temper for the rest of his life didn't sit well with him. Only the thought of the money that came with marrying her made the prospect tolerable.
The trip to town seemed to take forever, and he was glad when he finally reached the saloon. He wasted no time getting inside and bellying up to the bar.
"Whiskey—and leave the bottle," he ordered Antonio.
The bartender eyed him with interest as he set a glass on the bar and filled it with an ample amount of whiskey. He placed the bottle beside the glass. "What brings you to town today?"
Chet didn't answer him right away. He just picked up the glass, drained it and poured himself another. "I needed a drink."
"I can tell that. Where's your money?" Antonio waited as Chet dug out the cash to pay him for the whiskey; then he moved away. He could tell something wasn't right with the man, and he intended to leave well enough alone.
Chet continued to drink heavily. He didn't talk to anyone, but he overheard several conversations going on around him about the Thompson place. Thinking of Stacy's refusal to buy the other ranch only deepened his rage and kept him at the bottle.
It was late afternoon when the working girls made their appearance. Suzie spotted Chet at the bar right away. Antonio had sent word to her that Chet was there and drinking heavily, so she knew she was in for a big night. Chet always paid her handsomely for their time together.
"See, he is here," Brenda told her on the sly. They all knew Suzie wasn't supposed to acknowledge Chet in public since he was engaged to the Stevenson girl.
"I know."
"Enjoy your evening," Brenda teased her as they both moved off to work the room.
Suzie was deliberately playing coy with Chet. She knew better than to do anything that would draw attention to them. She paused at the bar for a moment to speak with Antonio.
"Well, Suzie, it's good to see you," Chet slurred, leaning toward her to ogle her cleavage.
She was surprised by his action since he was always so careful about keeping their encounters secret.
"It's good to see you, big guy," she returned, looking him over quickly. "What brings you to town today?"
"I wanted to see you," he declared. "Let's go upstairs."
He grabbed her arm and his bottle of whiskey and started to move toward the staircase.
"Chet—" Suzie cautioned him in a low voice. "Don't—"
"Come on. I'm ready for a good time." He ignored her slight resistance and drew her with him.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked as she went along, trying to act as if nothing unusual was happening.
"Yes."
Nothing more was said as they went upstairs.
Chet knew the way and opened the door, pushing her in ahead of him. Once he was inside, he put his bottle of whiskey on the bedside table and just stood there. Then he slowly turned and closed the door.
"Get naked, woman." It was an order.
Suzie was surprised. There had been many times in the past when he'd been in a hurry, but he'd never been like this before. He sounded harsh and unfeeling. She decided to play with him a little, to taunt him and arouse him by playing coy with him.
"No, I don't want to," she teased, moving away from him.
Suzie didn't realize her mistake until it was too late.
Chet heard only her refusal, and it was the last refusal he was going to hear that day. He was fed up with women telling him no. He lost control, and with one violent move, he went after her. He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her on the bed. "You don't tell me 'no,' woman!"
"Chet! What are you doing?" Suzie was shocked at being so manhandled.
"I'm teaching you a lesson," he snarled.
He threw himself upon her, shoving her skirts up as he groped her. His touch was deliberately cruel and painful.
"No—Don't—You're hurting me!" Suzie realized then something was really wrong with Chet, and she tried to fight him off.
Her effort was no match for his strength, though. Pinned down as she was, there was no escape from Chet's wrath.
With brutal force, he took her, his pleasure coming from her misery and subjugation.
In Chet's mind, it was Stacy beneath him.
In Chet's mind, it was Stacy he was forcing to his will.
His satisfaction was complete as he collapsed on top of her a short time later.
Suzie was in shock from his assault. She'd known there were other men in town who were rough and mean to the girls, but Chet had never been this way before. Chet had never hurt her. She lay beneath him, unmoving, fearful of doing something that might set him off again. Her body ached from his assault, and she was certain she would be bruised from the force he'd used on her.
Chet stirred and pushed himself up a little so he could grab his bottle of whiskey off the bedside table. He took a deep drink and then set it back. Only then did he look down at Suzie to find she was staring up at him with hatred and a touch of fear in her eyes. The knowledge that he'd struck fear in her heart pleased him.
He felt good.
And powerful.
"Get off me," Suzie told him in a low voice, "or I'm going to scream for Antonio."
Chet gave a snort of defiance and quickly clamped a powerful hand over her mouth. "Listen to me, bitch. You can try to scream all you want, but nobody's going to hear you. I'm going to do exactly what I want to do, and there's no one around who's going to stop me! Do you understand?"
Terror filled her eyes as she nodded.
Satisfied, Chet took his hand away and made short order of stripping off her clothes. He had her where he wanted her, and he was enjoying the feeling of
power. He was determined to prove he was in control, and he did—long into the night, beating her whenever she resisted him in any way.
Chapter Eighteen
Brenda and Honey weren't surprised when Suzie didn't come back downstairs to the saloon all evening. Chet was one of her regulars, and it wasn't unusual for him to spend a lot of time with her. It was late when they finally saw Chet leave, and they expected Suzie to come down shortly thereafter. When she didn't, Brenda went up to check on her.
Brenda had just started down the hall toward Suzie's room when Suzie appeared in the doorway, wearing only her chemise.
"Oh, my God! Suzie—What did he do to you?" Brenda rushed to her side and slipped an arm around her abused friend.
Suzie's face was bruised and her right eye was swollen shut. She barely had the strength to stand, and Brenda helped support her weight.
"He beat me," she managed weakly.
"We have to get you over to the doctor. Are you strong enough? Do you think you can make it?"
"I think so."
There wasn't much strength in her voice, but Brenda knew her friend was a fighter. "Let's get some clothes on you and we'll go."
Suzie only nodded, and a short time later, Antonio and Brenda were helping her to Roni's office. They knew it was the middle of the night, but they'd also heard talk around town about what a good doctor Roni was, so they believed she would help them.
The late-night knock at her office door woke Roni, and she hurriedly dressed and went downstairs to see who was there. She opened the door to find the badly beaten saloon girl standing outside with the bartender and one of her friends.
"Doc Reynolds, Suzie's been hurt."
"Come in, please."
Roni held the door wide as they helped the injured woman into the office. Roni directed them to take Suzie to the back room.
"I'll be all right now," Suzie told Antonio and Brenda after they'd helped her to sit on the examining table. "You can go on."
"No. We're not leaving you here alone." Antonio was firm. He was angry about what had happened and concerned about her condition. "I don't trust him not to come back and cause more trouble tonight."