Brave the Wild Wind

Chapter 29

JESSIE lingered at the table with Rachel after Billy had excused himself. She hadn’t eaten a meal in such uncomfortable silence since those terrible meals she and her father had suffered through when they were angry with each other. No wonder Billy had left as soon as he could.

At least Jessie was used to it and didn’t let it affect her appetite. That was important, because evenings were the only time Jessie could make up for the other meals she was missing. She wasn’t going to let a little tension keep her from taking full advantage of the times she felt perfectly normal, as if there were no changes taking place in her body.

The silence continued, both avoiding the other’s eyes. Finally Jessie’s plate was empty, and there was nothing left to do but get it over with. She sighed deeply.

“He won’t have to stay here long, Rachel. A week at the most, until he can sit a horse without opening up his wound. A week isn’t that long.”

Rachel’s eyes were stonily unsympathetic. “But why did you bring him here?”

“Look, I don’t like this any more than you, but there was no one else to look after him. I couldn’t just turn my back on him, could I?”

“How did he get hurt?”

“The thief who was robbing him panicked and stabbed him in the back.”

Rachel lowered her eyes. “Well, I suppose things like that are to be expected,” she said harshly, “

considering his occupation.” It was the most condemning remark Jessie had ever heard from her.

“You knew he was a gambler, Rachel. It didn’t seem to matter to you before.”

“He is not the boy I used to know,” Rachel said coldly.

“It’s none of my business what kind of man he is, Rachel,” Jessie said. “And it’s none of yours, either. He’s not answerable to either of us.”

“Well, that’s a fine attitude after what he did to you,” Rachel said tearfully.

“Are you ever going to put that to rest?” Jessie demanded. “What Chase and I did, we did together. You’re the only one crying over it!”

“If you feel that way, why didn’t you marry him when he asked you?”

“His asking came a bit too late,” Jessie replied bitterly. “He didn’t want to marry me, and I knew it. Whose pride would have been served if I had accepted? Only yours, Rachel.”

Rachel’s voice turned soft suddenly. “You mean... you would marry him if he loved you?”

Jessie shook her head. “Where on earth do you get these ideas? That man doesn’t love me. I mean no more to him than any of his countless other women.”.

“Are you so sure, Jessica? He may very well love you now but hasn’t realized it yet. He did stay in town instead of moving on,” she pointed out.

“To get drunk.”

“But why, unless he loves you so much he—”

“Are you defending him? I wish to hell you’d make up your mind!”

Rachel looked away. “I’m not defending him, not in the least.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear it, because I wouldn’t marry a no-good, carousing—”

“So you do care!”

Jessie could have pulled her hair out by the roots, she was so exasperated. She leaned forward and banged her fist on the table, her cheeks high with color.

“I don’t care! I care so little that he can starve to death before I’ll put one foot in his room again. He’s in this house, but I’m not going near him, not going to set eyes on him again. Now, you brought him here in the first place, so he’s your responsibility. You tend him!”

Rachel stood up stiffly, rigid. “I refuse to care for the man who ruined my daughter.”

Jessie’s mouth fell open as she watched Rachel walk away from the table. She jumped up, tore around the table, and followed Rachel up the hall. “I am not ruined! Do you hear?”

“I cannot help but hear, you’re shouting so,” Rachel replied without stopping. “But it does not change the facts. I won’t help him.”

“But he’s your friend!”

“Was my friend,” Rachel said stubbornly, stopping at her door. “If someone must see to him, get Kate to do it. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

“Of course she’d mind!” Jessie rasped. “You can’t foist him off on her.”

“And you can’t foist him off on me, Jessica,” Rachel countered coolly, going into her room and closing the door.

Twenty minutes later, Jessie carried a platter of food into Chase’s room. It would have done her a world of good if he had been awake so she could vent her spleen at him, but he was sound asleep. She simply left the food on the bedside table, made sure he was warmly covered, and left the room.