How perfect Sally’s wedding would be! Both she and Sam deserved such a fine celebration. Letty Sue couldn’t be more pleased for her friends, but she realized during all the planning that she didn’t need any of that to make her happy.
No, what would make Letty Sue happy was far different than flowers and dancing and a fancy celebration.
Chase entered the kitchen after seeing Sam and Sally off. “I’ve never seen two people better suited for each other.”
Letty Sue smiled in agreement and walked into the parlor. It was late, she was tired, and most of all, she needed some time apart from Chase. Tonight especially, after entertaining their friends, the marriage felt almost real, but Letty Sue had to let go of those feelings. She knew that now. “I know. I’m so glad they found each other. Some people go their entire life and don’t find what they’re looking for.”
Chase stepped closer to her, searching her eyes. “Sam found Sally, your mother found Jasper. Sometimes it works out.”
“And sometimes it doesn’t,” she said softly. “I’m tired, Chase. I’m going to bed.”
She turned to leave, but his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close. He had a look about him tonight, a dangerous, dark, seductive look. Letty Sue didn’t want to delve into what that look meant, not now. She just wanted to shut her mind off, close her eyes and lose herself in sleep.
“You did real good tonight. The meal was wonderful.”
She nodded and pried herself out of his arms. “Thank you. I’ve been working at it.”
When she stepped back, he followed her, his eyes gleaming, calling to her. She landed smack against the parlor wall. He moved in closer, trapping her with his legs widespread. “You look real pretty tonight, too.” His index finger traced the edging of lace around her bodice, until he met the first of her pearl buttons, just above her breasts. He toyed with the button and dropped his gaze to it. “I like this dress.”
Letty Sue’s body stirred. Every time the man touched her she had to subdue the rapid rumblings of her heart and the incessant tingling his every caress evoked. “Chase, don’t.”
“Can’t a man compliment his wife?”
“I’m not really your wife, remember?” She spoke in hushed tones, her back pinned against the wall.
“Sometimes I forget.”
“Well, it’s best you remember because I—”
His finger brushed her lips. “Shh. No more talking,
darlin’.” And his mouth replaced his finger, covering her lips in a fiery kiss.
Letty Sue thought she’d melt from the heat, the flaming fire of his kiss was so potent, so incredibly intense. He pressed his body close, his solid strength overwhelming her. She could get lost in him, in his power and vitality.
His mouth consumed hers, commanding her to respond. And she did respond, thrilling to his nearness, his absolute, unyielding passion. The intimate way he possessed her, parting her lips and driving inside as though staking his claim, made her head spin crazily.
His arms wound around her, pulling her in tight, the carnal need in him evident and breathtaking. He didn’t try to hide his desire, and there was no mistaking it.
The top button of her dress popped open under his nimble fingers. And then the next. He drove his hand inside the material, cupping her breast and letting out an anguished groan of pleasure.
She felt it, too, this pleasure, this unwavering spark of passion. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to know him this way, to give herself up to him. His kisses were hot and heady as he continued his primal assault. She relished the feel of him stroking her, making her tips go pebble hard. Oh, it felt so good, so right.
Did he not feel the love pouring out? How could he not see what his touch did to her? How could he not see how much she wanted to be truly his?
Lordy, Letty Sue, she thought frantically.
I love him
.
She did, and there was no more denying it. A sense of futility set in. No matter what occurred, Chase would leave the Double J. He’d leave as soon as her mother returned. Letty Sue wouldn’t fool herself into thinking otherwise. He’d spoken of lust many times in the past. That was all he felt for her.
There was no grand love or devotion on his part. She might wait a lifetime and not hear the words she so desperately needed from him. She feared she never would. She’d give him her all and in the end she’d be left, once again, with nothing. No marriage, no husband, no heart.
As right as his caresses felt to her, the whole of it was wrong, because love did not enter into the picture. At least, not for him.
Letty Sue wanted his love.
She was proud enough not to settle for anything less.
With all her might, she shoved at him. Catching him off guard, she was actually able to move him off her. He fell back a step.
Stunned, he simply stared.
She redid the buttons on her dress with trembling hands and pleaded, “Don’t compliment me, Chase. Don’t say nice things. Don’t kiss me until I want to die from the pleasure and don’t touch me so tenderly my heart nearly bursts from my chest. Just don’t do it. I really can’t take it anymore.”
“Letty Sue—” he began gently, but she interrupted, pointing her finger.
“And don’t…don’t say my name like it means something to you. I’m asking you, Chase. Please, just leave me be.”
She pushed away from the wall, leaving the parlor and an astonished, dumbfounded husband behind.
Letty Sue closed her bedroom door, slumping against it. “And most of all, Chase Wheeler,” she whispered in her dark, desolate room, “don’t make me fall deeper in love with you.”
Chase stared at the empty hallway, his body still tight with undisguised desire. He dragged a hand down his face, wondering what had just happened.
He had entered the house after seeing Sam and Sally off, fully intending to say a brief good-night to Letty Sue before turning in. But then he saw her—looking so damn beautiful, wearing a pride-filled, satisfied expression—and realized he, too, had been proud of her accomplishment tonight. He’d only wanted to tell her so, but then something had fairly snapped in his brain—or farther down, below his waist, more likely—and he’d nearly seduced her.
He’d wanted to.
She was his wife, dammit.
But Chase didn’t think he’d ever lose control that way. She hadn’t tempted him or teased him. She hadn’t connived or played havoc with his mind, and Lord only knew, she certainly could if she wanted to. But she hadn’t done any of those things.
Instead, she’d been sincere in her efforts, making for a most pleasant, entertaining evening. Chase
enjoyed watching her bustle about the dining room. He couldn’t quite get that vision out of his head, of her sweet smiling face, her cordial ways, her courteous behavior. She was a true friend to Sam and Sally, wanting only to please her friends with helping to plan the wedding.
The spoiled, inept woman he’d married, Twisted-foot Woman, seemed to no longer exist. Maybe she’d grown up. And if that were the case, Chase was in real big trouble.
He let loose a weary sigh and began to undress. Tossing aside his shirt, removing his boots, then undoing his pants, he laid his blanket down and cursed his predicament.
He had a wife and child.
He couldn’t keep either of them.
He was leaving in less than a month.
That was the way it had to be. Besides, Letty Sue had told him she’d not ask him to stay even if he had a mind to. She didn’t want this marriage any more than he did.
It’d be smart to remember that. He’d have to keep his distance. There were only weeks left before Joellen returned and life would get back to normal.
Whatever that was.
Chase lay down on his blanket, vowing to uphold the pledges he’d made. He’d not lose control again. It wasn’t fair to Letty Sue; he could see that now. He couldn’t ease the lust in his body, no matter how much he wanted to, and then simply walk away.
She was right to push him away.
At least one of them had kept a clear head. Surprising that it had been her this time.
Half an hour later, Letty Sue appeared in the doorway. Her sweet scent wafted into the room before he’d lifted his head to confirm her presence. Her eyes were bright red, holding back tears. She held an agitated little Jake in her arms.
Chase stood, throwing on his pants quickly. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s having nightmares. I can’t seem to settle him down. Don’t let us disturb you. I thought some warm milk would help.” She headed past him toward the kitchen with little Jake rubbing his eyes, moving restlessly in her arms.
Chase strode toward her and reached out. “Let me have him.”
She hesitated, clearly uncertain whether to give him the boy. Chase lowered his voice, stroking Jake’s head, using the same smooth tone he did for his horses. “I bet you’d like to hear a Cheyenne legend or two, wouldn’t you, Jake?”
Slowly, with eyes rounded, Jake nodded.
Letty Sue peered at Chase cautiously, then kissed Jake’s forehead and turned the boy over to him. Jake was clammy, sweating, clearly upset.
“He didn’t make a sound, but thrashed and thrashed in the bed. I think he’s remembering something awful,” she whispered.
Chase nodded. “Let’s sit him down. Letty Sue, would you turn up the lamp a bit?”
As she did so, Chase sat down on the sofa and
cuddled the boy in his arms. “My grandfather told me this legend for the first time when I was just a mite older than you, little Jake.”
Jake gazed up at him silently, but his eyes seemed to clear a bit, the fear Chase witnessed there vanishing. “Letty Sue, go on to bed. Me and little Jake here, we’re going to get to sleep a bit later.”
Letty Sue hesitated a moment, appearing downcast, and Chase wondered if what had happened earlier was still on her mind. She had trouble meeting his eyes, but apparently Jake’s welfare far outweighed her own discomfort. Quietly, she said, “I’d rather see that he’s settled first before turning in. I’ll just sit with you both for a little while.”
Chase nodded and turned his attention back to Jake. He felt the sofa sag just a bit, and was surprised when Letty Sue sat down next to him. But then, when she stroked Jake’s hair lovingly, he realized she only wanted to be near the boy.
“A long time ago the great spirit Nesaru had charge over all of creation,” he began, feeling Jake settle more comfortably in his arms. “And below his blue sky was a lake that went on for as far as the eye could see. In this beautiful lake two ducks swam ever so peacefully. But then the ducks saw Wolf Man and Lucky Man approach them. They asked the ducks to bring up mud to make the earth and…”
Jake’s head fell onto his chest, his eyes closed.
Softer now, Chase continued, “Wolf Man made a great prairie for the animals to live in, but Lucky Man
made hills and valleys where the Indians could hunt and find shelter.”
The scent of jasmine invaded his senses. Letty Sue. She’d closed her eyes moments ago, and now her head dropped onto his shoulder. She made sleepy sounds and he smiled. He wound his arm around her, carefully tucking her against him. She snuggled close.
“And between these two regions, a great river began to run….”
Chase slumped down lower on the sofa as he finished the story, careful not to awaken either of his two sleeping charges.
He, too, closed his eyes then, knowing sleep would surely claim him as well.
For Chase had never known a greater peace.
Chapter Eighteen
L
etty Sue handed Sally her wedding bouquet, made up of colorful springtime flowers, then fluffed her blond curls. They stood inside Sally’s bedroom, waiting for the wedding music to begin. “You’re absolutely beautiful, Sally. Sam’s a lucky man.”
“I think I’m the lucky one, Letty Sue,” the bride-to-be exclaimed, her face beaming. “Who would have thought I’d find such a fine man right here in Sweet Springs? Oh, I do love him so.”
Letty Sue smiled graciously. “I’m happy for you both. Just think—my two best friends, married. Those little ones you’re going to have had better call me Auntie.”
“Oh my gosh! Children? Bite your tongue, my friend. I’ve had about enough of raising my brothers and sisters for a while. I want Sam and me to have…time, before a little one comes along.”
“Hmm,” Letty Sue replied wistfully. “Sometimes fate takes that out of your hands.”
“You mean, your little Jake?”
Letty Sue brightened. “Yes, he’s so…”
“You love him, don’t you, honey?”
“How can anyone not love that sweet child? He’s precious to me.”
Sally adjusted the taffeta skirt of her wedding gown, swishing when she turned to face Letty Sue in the cheval mirror. “I sneaked a peek at Chase and Jake sitting up in the front row. What a handsome family you have, Letty Sue.”
“Th-thank you,” she murmured, unable to meet Sally’s eyes in the mirror. Instead, she smoothed out the back of Sally’s gown. Letty Sue didn’t want to dampen Sally’s special day with her own troubles, but inside, her stomach churned. Three days ago she’d gotten a wire from her mother. Joellen and Jasper had had enough of the East and decided to shorten their trip. They could be home as soon as the end of the week. Letty Sue wondered if they truly were tired of traveling, or if her news was responsible for their early return. After all, learning that their daughter had a husband and a child certainly would raise a barrelful of questions.
Deliberately, Letty Sue hadn’t elaborated on either situation, but Joellen had wired her back, congratulating her on her marriage to Chase. Her mother had said Chase was a fine man and it gladdened her heart that they’d married.
Joellen’s homecoming meant only one thing of importance to Letty Sue. Chase, her husband, the man she’d fallen in love with, would have no more reason to stay.
She had balled up the wire in her fist when she’d received it, denying its contents in her mind. She’d thrown the telegram into the fire that evening and hadn’t told a soul, Chase especially. But the reality of her destiny could no longer be ignored.
Faint sounds of music from downstairs wafted up to the room. Sally jumped to attention. “Oh my! This is it!”
Letty Sue momentarily forgot her own distress and embraced her dear friend, kissing her cheek. “I’ll be going now. It’s time. Give me a minute before you come down. I want to watch your entrance coming down the stairs. Oh, Sally, I’m so glad this has all worked out for you.”