The organ music faded and Pastor Downey stepped forward to offer a short prayer. As Letty bowed her head, she could feel someone’s bold stare. Her unease grew until she felt herself shudder. It was a sensation her mother had often referred to as someone walking over her grave. An involuntary smile tugged at Letty’s mouth. That analogy certainly hit close to home. Much too close.
When the prayer was finished, it was all Letty could do not to turn around and find out who was glaring at her. Although she could guess…
“Mommy,” Cricket whispered, loudly enough for half the congregation to hear. “The man who likes chocolate chip cookies is here. He’s two rows behind us.”
Chase. Letty released an inward sigh. Just as she’d suspected, he was the one challenging her appearance in church, as if her presence would corrupt the good people of this gathering. Letty mused that he’d probably like it if she wore a scarlet A so everyone would know she was a sinner.
Lonny had warned her that Chase was different. And he was. The Chase Brown that Letty remembered wasn’t judgmental or unkind. He used to be fond of children. Letty recalled that, years ago, when they walked through town, kids would automatically come running to Chase. He usually had coins for the gumball machine tucked away in his pocket, which he’d dole out judiciously. Something about him seemed to attract children, and the fact that Cricket had taken to him instantly was proof of his appeal.
An icy hand closed around Letty’s heart at the memory. Chase was the type of man who should have married and fathered a houseful of kids. Over the years, she’d hoped he’d done exactly that.
But he hadn’t. Instead, Chase had turned bitter and hard. Letty was well aware that she’d hurt him terribly. How she regretted that! Chase had loved her, but all he felt for her now was disdain. In years past, he hadn’t been able to disguise his love; now, sadly, he had difficulty hiding his dislike.
Letty had seen the wounded look in his eyes when she’d walked into the kitchen the day before. She’d known then that she’d been the one to put it there. If she hadn’t been so familiar with him, he might have been able to fool her.
If only she could alter the past…
“Mommy, what’s his name again?” Cricket demanded.
“Mr. Brown.”
“Can I wave to him?”
“Not now.”
“I want to talk to him.”
Exasperated, Letty placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder and leaned down to whisper, “Why?”
“Because I bet he has a horse. Uncle Lonny won’t let me ride his. Maybe Mr. Brown will.”
“Oh, Cricket, I don’t think so….”
“Why not?” the little girl pressed.
“We’ll talk about this later.”
“But I can ask, can’t I? Please?”
The elderly couple in front of them turned around to see what all the commotion was about.
“Mommy?” Cricket persisted, clearly running out of patience.
“Yes, fine,” Letty agreed hurriedly, against her better judgment.
From that moment on, Cricket fidgeted. Letty had to speak to her twice during the fifteen-minute sermon; during the closing hymn, Cricket turned around to wave at Chase. She could barely wait for the end of the service so she could rush over and ask about his horse.
Letty could feel the dread mounting inside her. Chase didn’t want anything to do with Cricket, and Letty hated the thought of him hurting the little girl’s feelings. When the final prayer was offered, Letty added a small request of her own.
“Can we leave now?” Cricket said, reaching for her mother’s hand and tugging at it as the concluding burst of organ music filled the church.
Letty nodded. Cricket dropped her hand and was off. Letty groaned inwardly and dashed after her.
Standing on the church steps, Letty saw that Chase was walking toward the parking lot when Cricket caught up with him. She must have called his name, because Chase turned around abruptly. Even from that distance, Letty could see his dark frown. Quickening her step, she made her way toward them.
“Good morning, Chase,” she greeted him, forcing a smile as she stood beside Cricket.
“Letty.” His hat was in his hand and he rotated the brim, as though eager to make his escape, which Letty felt sure he was.
“I asked him already,” Cricket blurted out, glancing up at her mother.
From the look Chase was giving Letty, he seemed to believe she’d put Cricket up to this. As if she spent precious time thinking up ways to irritate him!
“Mr. Brown’s much too busy, sweetheart,” Letty said, struggling to keep her voice even and controlled. “Perhaps you can ride his horse another time.”
Cricket nodded and grinned. “That’s what he said, too.”
Surprised, Letty gazed up at Chase. She was grateful he hadn’t been harsh with her daughter. From somewhere deep inside, she dredged up a smile to thank him, but he didn’t answer it with one of his own. A fresh sadness settled over Letty. The past would always stand between them, and there was nothing Letty could do to change that. She wasn’t even sure she should try.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, reaching for Cricket’s hand, “there are some people I want to talk to.”
“More people?” Cricket whined. “I didn’t know there were so many people in the whole world.”
“It was nice to see you again, Chase,” Letty said, turning away. Not until several minutes later did she realize he hadn’t echoed her greeting.
—
Chase couldn’t get away from the church fast enough. He didn’t know why he’d decided to attend services this particular morning. It wasn’t as if he made a regular practice of it, although he’d been raised in the church. He supposed that something perverse inside him was interested in knowing if Letty had the guts to show up.
The woman had nerve. Another word that occurred to him was courage; it wouldn’t be easy to face all those people with an illegitimate daughter holding her hand. That kind of thing might be acceptable in big cities, but people here tended to be more conservative. Outwardly folks would smile, but the gossip would begin soon enough. He suspected that once it did, Letty would pack up her bags and leave again.
He wished she would. One look at her the day she’d arrived and he knew he’d been lying to himself all these years. She was paler than he remembered, but her face was still a perfect oval, her skin creamy and smooth. Her blue eyes were huge and her mouth a lush curve. There was no way he could continue lying to himself. He was still in love with her—and always would be.
He climbed inside his pickup and started the engine viciously. He gripped the steering wheel hard. Who was he trying to kid? He’d spent years waiting for Letty to come back. Telling himself he hated her was nothing more than a futile effort to bolster his pride. He wished there could be someone else for him, but there wasn’t; there never would be. Letty was the only woman he’d ever loved, heart and soul. If she couldn’t be the one to fill his arms during the night, then they’d remain empty. But there was no reason for Letty ever to know that. The fact was, he’d prefer it if she didn’t find out. Chase Brown might be fool enough to fall in love with the wrong woman, but he knew better than to hand her the weapon that would shred what remained of his pride.
—
“You must be Lonny’s sister,” a feminine voice drawled from behind Letty.
Letty finished greeting one of her mother’s friends before turning. When she did, she met a statuesque blonde, who looked about thirty. “Yes, I’m Letty,” she said, smiling.
“I’m so happy to meet you. I’m Mary Brandon,” the woman continued. “I hope you’ll forgive me for being so direct, but I heard someone say your name and thought I’d introduce myself.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Mary.” They exchanged quick handshakes as Letty sized up the other woman. She didn’t wear a ring. Single—and eager. “How do you know Lonny?”
“I work at the hardware store and your brother comes i
n every now and then. He might have mentioned me?” she asked hopefully. When Letty shook her head, Mary shrugged and gave a nervous laugh. “He stops in and gets whatever he needs and then he’s on his way.” She paused. “He must be lonely living out on that ranch all by himself. Especially after all those years in the rodeo.”
Letty could feel the excitement bubbling up inside her. Mary Brandon definitely looked like wife material to her, and it was obvious the woman was more than casually interested in Lonny. As far as Letty was concerned, there wasn’t any better place to find a prospective mate for her brother than in church.
The night before, she’d lain in bed wondering where she’d ever meet someone suitable for Lonny. If he hadn’t found anyone in the past few years, there was nothing to guarantee that she could come up with the perfect mate in just a few months. The truth was, she didn’t know whether he’d had any serious—or even not-so-serious—relationships during her years away. His rodeo success had certainly been an enticement to plenty of girls, but since he’d retired from the circuit and since their parents had died, her brother had become so single-minded, so dedicated to the ranch, that he’d developed tunnel vision. The Bar E now demanded all his energy and time, and consequently his personal life had suffered.
“Your brother seems very nice,” Mary was saying.
And eligible, Letty added silently. “He’s wonderful, but he works so hard it’s difficult for anyone to get to know him.”
Mary sent her a look that said she understood that all too well. “He’s not seeing anyone regularly, is he?”
“No.” But Letty wished he were.
Mary’s eyes virtually snapped with excitement. “He hides away on the Bar E and hardly ever socializes. I firmly believe he needs a little fun in his life.”
Letty’s own eyes were gleaming. “I think you may be right. Listen, Mary, perhaps we should talk….”
—
Chase was working in the barn when he heard Lonny’s truck. He wiped the perspiration off his brow with his forearm.
Lonny walked in and Chase immediately recognized that he was upset. Chase shoved the pitchfork into the hay and leaned against it. “Problems?”
Lonny didn’t answer him right away. He couldn’t seem to stay in one place. “It’s that fool sister of mine.”
Chase’s hand closed around the pitchfork. Letty had been on his mind all morning and she was the last person he wanted to discuss. Lonny appeared to be waiting for a response, so Chase gave him one. “I knew she’d be nothing but trouble from the moment you told me she was coming home.”
Lonny removed his hat and slapped it against his thigh. “She went to church this morning.” He turned to glance in Chase’s direction. “Said she saw you there. Actually, it was her kid, Cricket, who mentioned your name. She calls you ‘the guy who likes chocolate chip cookies.’ ” He grinned slightly at that.
“I was there,” Chase said tersely.
“At any rate, Letty talked to Mary Brandon afterward.”
A smile sprang to Chase’s lips. Mary had set her sights on Lonny three months ago, and she wasn’t about to let up until she got her man.
“Wipe that smug look off your face, Brown. You’re supposed to be my friend.”
“I am.” He lifted a forkful of hay and tossed it behind him. Lonny had been complaining about the Brandon woman for weeks. Mary had done everything but stand on her head to garner his attention. And a wedding ring.
Lonny stalked aggressively to the other end of the barn, then returned. “Letty’s overstepped the bounds this time,” he muttered.
“Oh? What did she do?”
“She invited Mary to dinner tomorrow night.”
Despite himself, Chase burst out laughing. He turned around to discover his friend glaring at him and stopped abruptly. “You’re kidding, I hope?”
“Would I be this upset if I was? She invited that…woman right into my house without even asking me how I felt about it. I told her I had other plans for dinner tomorrow, but she claims she needs me there to cut the meat. Nine years in California and she didn’t learn how to cut meat?”
“Well, it seems to me you’re stuck having dinner with Mary Brandon.” Chase realized he shouldn’t find the situation so funny. But he did. Chase wasn’t keen on Mary himself. There was something faintly irritating about the woman, something that rubbed him the wrong way. Lonny had the same reaction, although they’d never discussed what it was that annoyed them so much. Chase supposed it was the fact that Mary came on so strong. She was a little too desperate to snare herself a husband.
Brooding, Lonny paced the length of the barn. “I told Letty I was only staying for dinner if you were there, too.”
Chase stabbed the pitchfork into the ground. “You did what?”
“If I’m going to suffer through an entire dinner with that…that woman, I need another guy to run interference. You can’t expect me to sit across the dinner table from those two.”
“Three,” Chase corrected absently. Lonny hadn’t included Cricket.
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. Three against one. It’s more than any man can handle on his own.” He shook his head. “I love my sister, don’t get me wrong. I’m glad she decided to come home. She should’ve done it years ago,…but I’m telling you, I like my life exactly as it is. Every time I turn around, Cricket’s underfoot asking me questions. I can’t even check out the news without her wanting to watch cartoons.”
“Maybe you should ask Letty to leave.” A part of Chase—a part he wasn’t proud of—prayed that Lonny would. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since he’d found out she was returning to Red Springs. He worked until he was ready to drop, and still his mind refused to give him the rest he craved. Instead, he’d been tormented by resurrected memories he thought he’d buried years before. Like his friend, Chase had created a comfortable niche for himself and he didn’t like his peace of mind invaded by Letty Ellison.
“I can’t ask her to leave,” Lonny said in a burst of impatience. “She’s my sister!”
Chase shrugged. “Then tell her to uninvite Mary.”
“I tried that. Before I knew it, she was reminding me how much Mom enjoyed company. Then she said that since she was moving back to the community, it was only right for her to get to know the new folks in town. At the time it made perfect sense, and a few minutes later, I’d agreed to be there for that stupid dinner. But there’s only one way I’ll go through with this, and that’s if you come, too.”
“Cancel the dinner, then.”
“Chase! How often do I ask you for a favor?”
Chase glared at him.
“All right, that kind of favor!”
“I’m sorry, Lonny, but I won’t have anything to do with Mary Brandon.”
Lonny was quiet for so long that Chase finally turned to meet his narrowed gaze. “Is it Mary or Letty who bothers you?” his friend asked.
Chase tightened his fingers around the pitchfork. “Doesn’t matter, because I won’t be there.”
—
Letty took an afternoon nap with Cricket, hoping her explanation wouldn’t raise Lonny’s suspicions. She’d told him she was suffering from the lingering effects of jet lag.
First thing Monday morning, she planned to contact the state social services office. She couldn’t put it off any longer. Each day she seemed to grow weaker and tired more easily. The thought of dealing with the state agency filled her with apprehension; accepting charity went against everything in her, but the cost of the surgery was prohibitive. Letty, who’d once been so proud, was forced to accept the generosity of the taxpayers of Wyoming.
Cricket stirred beside her in the bed as Letty drifted into an uneasy sleep. When she awoke, she noticed Cricket’s yellow blanket draped haphazardly over her shoulders. Her daughter was gone.
Yawning, she went downstairs to discover Cricket sitting in front of the television. “Uncle Lonny says he doesn’t want dinner tonight.”
“That’s tomorrow
night!” Lonny shouted from the kitchen. “Chase and I won’t be there.”
Letty’s shoulders sagged with defeat. She didn’t understand how one man could be so stubborn. “Why not?”
“Chase flat-out refuses to come and I have no intention of sticking around just to cut up a piece of meat for you.”
Letty poured herself a cup of coffee. The fact that Chase wouldn’t be there shouldn’t come as any big shock, but it did, accompanied by a curious pain.
Scowling, she sat down at the square table, bracing her elbows on it. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how much she wanted to settle the past with Chase. She needed to do it before the surgery.
“I said Chase wasn’t coming,” Lonny told her a second time.
“I heard you—it’s all right,” she replied, doing her best to reassure her brother with an easy smile that belied the emotion churning inside her. It had been a mistake to invite Mary Brandon to dinner without consulting Lonny first. In her enthusiasm, Letty had seen the other woman as a gift that had practically fallen into her lap. How was she to know her brother disliked Mary so passionately?
Lonny tensed. “What do you mean, ‘all right’? I don’t like the look you’ve got in your eye.”
Letty dropped her gaze. “I mean it’s perfectly fine if you prefer not to be here tomorrow night for dinner. I thought it might be a way of getting to know some new people in town, but I should’ve cleared it with you first.”
“Yes, you should have.”
“Mary seems nice enough,” Letty commented, trying once more.
“So did the snake in the Garden of Eden.”
Letty chuckled. “Honestly, Lonny, anyone would think you’re afraid of the woman.”
“This one’s got moves that would be the envy of a world heavyweight champion.”
“Obviously she hasn’t used them, because she’s single.”
“Oh, no, she’s too smart for that,” Lonny countered, gesturing with his hands. “She’s been saving them up, just for me.”
“Oh, Lonny, you’re beginning to sound paranoid, but don’t worry, I understand. What kind of sister would I be if I insisted you eat Mama’s prime rib dinner with the likes of Mary Brandon?”