Brave the Wild Wind

Chapter 32

WITH the sky a solid sheet of clouds, it didn’t look like the sun was going to do much warming. Without a clear dawn, there was only a hazy blue light over the land when Chase left camp. But it was light enough to define Jessie’s tracks, distinctive as they were on the frost-covered ground.

In the mood he was in, he didn’t care if the men noticed he was taking off in the same direction she had gone. They might wonder about his relationship with her, but what was his relationship with her, anyway? He certainly didn’t know.

Chase rode on over the cold plain, the icy wind biting at his cheeks. He had his jacket fastened clear to the neck and wore his bandanna over his ears as Baldy had suggested. But even the old pair of woolly chaps he’d borrowed from Jeb weren’t helping. Nothing was helping. He cursed himself for leaving the camp fire to go chasing a woman it would probably take him all day to find.

It didn’t, though. He had ridden no more than half a mile when he topped a low-lying hill and pulled up short, seeing Jessie’s big-boned Appaloosa grazing on the next rise. On the level plain between the two hills, Jessie lay on the ground. Had she taken a fall from the horse?

Chase felt his chest constrict. He raced down the hill, holding his breath. It was only when she turned her head at the sound of his horse that he let out that breath.

He got off his horse so quickly he nearly stumbled. He knelt beside her, taking in her ashen pallor.

“For God’s sake, Jessie, what happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing,” she repeated in a groaning voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He drew back, frowning. “Damn it, Jessie—”

“Will you go away!” She cut him off forcefully.

“Of course not. You’re hurt.”

“I’m not.”

Jessie started to sit up but paled even more and lay back down, closing her eyes. God, why did he have to find her like this? She had been lucky so far, managing to get away by herself while she was plagued with the morning sickness. This wasn’t the first time she’d curled up on the cold ground until the waves of nausea passed. She’d always managed to do it in secret.

“Jessie, please, tell me what’s wrong.”

There was genuine concern in his voice. That warned her. She had to tell him something— not the truth, but something.

“I’m just not feeling too good, is all. I suppose I’ve been overdoing it.”

“Well lying on this cold ground can’t help. You’ll catch your death.”

“I tried to make it to the supply shack, but I couldn’t this morning.”

Too late, Jessie realized she’d said more than she should have.

“This morning? Is that where you’ve been going all these mornings? Why?”

She wanted to say,“ ‘Cause it’s warmer there for what I have to go through.” But she couldn’t very well say that, so she lied. “I’ve been riding the northern range. Why shouldn’t I stop off there for a bite to eat? You got any more questions?”

“I’m getting you back to the ranch.”

“No! Damn it, I just need to lie down for a while. If I could ride, do you think I’d be lying here?” she asked caustically.

“You’re not staying here. I’ll take you to the cabin. You can lie down there.”

“No, Chase.” He reached for her, and she panicked. “Don’t touch me!”

He ignored her. But Jessie had known the slightest movement would stir her stomach, and it did. She jerked away from him and turned just in time to lose every thing she hadn’t lost already. As soon as she was finished, he gently picked her up and carried her to his horse, set her sideways in the saddle, then mounted behind her, gathered her against him, and went to collect Blackstar. She didn’t protest anymore, but rested against him, snug in his arms all the way to the cabin. He carried her inside, putting her down on the cot closest to the fireplace. Immediately he got a fire going, then helped her remove her jacket, boots, and gun holster so she would be more comfortable.

“Can I get you something to eat, Jessie?” Chase offered.

“No!” she said quickly, but added in a softer tone, “But you can boil me some water if you would. I’ve got some wild mint in my saddlebag that’s good for... settling the stomach.”

Chase didn’t question the home remedy but did as she asked and put some water on over the fire before he went out to get her saddlebags. While he was waiting for the water to boil so he could add the herbs, Jessie fell asleep. He didn’t wake her. Sleep was probably the best thing for her, and the tonic could wait until she woke. He sat down to watch her, wondering if he should go for a doctor. But the nearest one would be at least a day’s ride away, and he couldn’t leave her alone that long.

The more he thought of it, the more he figured it was probably just as Jessie said. She had been overdoing it. Getting up well before dawn and working till sunset—even she wasn’t used to those hours. And she was worried, damn near wiped out by the theft of her cattle.

Chase went out to bed down the horses in the lean-to. When it started snowing, he cursed. Then he realized that if it continued, they might get snowed in. And they wouldn’t have to worry about the cattle, either, because the weather would put a halt to Bowdre’s activities as well. As soon as he saw the horses had plenty to eat, Chase hurried back inside the shack.