They raced out to Rex’s truck. Ceil lay slumped and unconscious within, a blood-soaked rag wrapped haphazardly around her head. Blood on her face was beginning to dry and crack on her cheeks, but the top of her head was still bleeding. The sheepskin lining around the neck of her heavy coat was saturated.
“It looks like she’s lost a lot of blood. We’ve got to get it stopped now!” Randee took charge as the two men stood by, waiting for her orders. “You two, carry her into the house. There’s no time to get her to the doctor.”
“How far is the nearest hospital?” asked Chase.
“We’ve got a clinic in Ennis, but Dr. Hatch is out of town this week,” Rex said.
Rex and Chase carefully carried Ceil into the house. Ceil had never been slim, and during the last few years she had added quite a few pounds to her large frame. Rex didn’t mind. He always said there was just more of her to love, and Randee knew he meant it. Right now, Randee knew his only concern was to save Ceil’s life.
They quickly carried her to Randee’s bed, while Randee ran for a basin of water and clean white towels. When she joined them, the pale lamp light cast long shadows over the bed and Ceil, making her look almost dead.
“I want to clean the wound as quickly as possible. With all this blood, I can’t even see how bad it is.”
“What happened, Rex?” Chase asked.
“I’m not sure,” Randee’s uncle said, scratching his head. “When I got there, I thought somethin’ was peculiar. Ceil’s truck was there, but I couldn’t find her anywhere in the house. She’d mentioned one of her horses didn’t look good, so I went out to the barn. That’s where I found her. She was just layin’ in the doorway, her head covered with blood.” His voice broke for an instant. “God, I thought she was dead, but I could feel a pulse so I pulled the truck around, loaded her in, and came right here. I talked to Doc Hatch yesterday and he said he was leavin’ right away to visit his grandkids for a few days. And I don’t trust that dingbat nurse of his. Randee’s had as much training as she has.”
“What hit her?” Randee asked, applying pressure to the gash. She worked quickly and confidently, dabbing here and there. “Did you see anything lying by her?”
Rex shook his head, “I didn’t even think of lookin’. My only concern was to get her some help as fast as I could. How bad is she?”
“What’s worrying me is that she’s still unconscious. And, like I said, she’s probably lost a lot of blood. But it’s stopped now. A head injury is the worst kind for bleeding.” As she talked, she’d swiftly cleaned the area surrounding the wound. “Here’s the cut. It’s a nasty one, but the bleeding is stopping and it’s not nearly as serious as I first suspected. She’s going to need some stitches, though.”
Ceil began to stir and then moaned softly. Her eyes fluttered open for an instant and then shut again.
“Ceil, Ceil! It’s Randee, can you talk?”
“No,” Ceil said, groaning. “What happened?” Her usually clear blue eyes were hazy, but one of the pupils was larger than the other.
“We’re not sure. It looks like something fell on your head. I’m sure you’ve suffered a concussion. Can you remember anything?” Randee questioned.
“No. The last thing I remember was opening the barn door.”
“Ceil, you’re going to need a few stitches, but Dr. Hatch is out of town. Do you want us to take you in to Miss Fletcher?”
“Not only no, but hell no! That old bag isn’t gettin’ within ten feet of me. You do it, Randee,” Ceil said, slumping back on her pillow. For a woman of sixty, she had incredibly smooth skin that usually held a healthy glow, but tonight she looked pale and scared.
Randee didn’t argue. “Okay, I’ll go get my things.”
Chase turned a questioning eye on Rex, who explained. “We’ve had to rely pretty much on our own selves out here. Randee’s sewn up plenty of wounds on cowhands and livestock.”
Randee retrieved a jump kit she had purchased when she trained as an EMT. The kit had everything she needed to sew the wound. With her eyes shut, Ceil swore twice or so with every stitch, but the job was done in no time.
“There.” Randee turned and grinned at Chase. “Chase, I’d like you to meet Ms. Cecelia Croft.”
Ceil opened one eye and looked up into Randee’s face. “Good Godfrey, girl, can’t you see I’m not fit to be meetin’ company?”
***
Chase loved Ceil the minute he heard her speak. Her voice reminded him instantly of his mother.
She also reminded him of his mother’s sisters. Her silver hair was matted with blood, but that didn’t matter to him at all; he could tell she was a woman of substance and rugged determination. There was a certain charm about a ranch woman, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Maybe it was their passion for the land, life, and the men they loved. His mother and aunts used to sit around the kitchen table at the ranch where he grew up and gab for hours on end. Chase loved to sit on the floor in the corner and listen to them. Their talk was colorful, salted with swearwords here and there, and filled with information about life.
“I’m very glad to meet you, Ceil.” He stepped forward and leaned down over her.
“Good Lord,” she said, staring up at him. “You’ve got the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. Will you marry me?”
Chase laughed. It was just what he would have expected his mother or aunts to say. They always teased men, young and old. “I’d love to. Just name the date.”
“Now wait a minute here,” Rex interrupted. “Don’t think you can walk into town and take my girl away. We shoot people for less than that around here.”
At the sound of his voice, Ceil’s eyes filled with tears. “Come here, darlin’.”
Rex sat down on the edge of the bed and tenderly put his arms around her. “You had me scared to death, woman.”
It was a touching moment between lovers that outside eyes should not have seen. Chase felt out of place, as if he’d walked into someone’s bedroom. Yet the glow of the pair’s love filled him and he basked in its warmth.
Randee shoved a basin into his arms. “Chase, come help me get some clean water,” she said haughtily, and she walked from the room.
Apparently Randee felt the older couple’s love too. But she seemed angry about the whole thing, almost as if she were jealous. What could she possibly be jealous of? Chase knew she loved Rex, and he was sure she wanted her uncle to be happy. Was it the fact Ceil and Rex had something she didn’t have? Could he possibly be starting to understand this woman?
Impossible.
“Chase,” Randee whispered as he entered the kitchen. She moved closer to him, her hand gently resting on his chest, and Chase’s pulse raced at the feel. The faint scents of lavender in her hair made him want to loosen her braid and drown in the fragrance.
“Chase, listen to me carefully. I’m worried about Ceil.”
“Why? I think she’s going to be all right. She seems coherent and the cut isn’t that bad.”
“I know she’s going to be all right this time, what worries me is next time.” Randee shoved her hands in her front pockets and peered out the window overlooking the yard.
“What are you talking about?” Chase said.
“I think somebody hurt her on purpose. Somebody who wants to scare her.”
“Do you mean the mining company? What makes you think they would do something this drastic?”
“They’ve threatened her before. They told her that if she didn’t cooperate, they would have to take serious steps. Chase, I’m scared.”
Chase heard the fear in Randee’s voice. “How can I help?” he asked.
“Take Rex and go over to Ceil’s. See if anything’s out of place.”
“How can I tell if there’s anything out of place? I’ve never been there before.”
Randee nodded and reached for her coat on its hook. “Maybe I’d better go.”
“Wait a minute.” Chase stepped in front of the door, blocking her path. “You’re not going over there alone. If someone is there, you could get hurt too. Rex can stay to look after Ceil. I have a feeling she’d rather have him anyway. I’ll go with you, but first let me stop at my cabin.”
She silently considered his offer, biting her bottom lip. Finally she said, “It would be better if we didn’t worry Rex about it yet. If he thinks someone intentionally hurt Ceil he’ll go berserk. I’ll go tell them we’re going to ride over to Red Rock and do the evening chores. Then they won’t worry.”
She walked through the bedroom door, and Chase watched her go, admiring the swing of her jean pockets. In spite of the situation, he was glad he was going to get to spend some time alone with her. But even as he thought about it, he knew the only thing on her mind was Ceil and the danger they might run into. That’s what Chase should be thinking about also.
He had a hard time concentrating on anything but Randee on the way to the Red Rock Ranch. She talked about the Madison Valley, almost as if she were willing herself to think of anything but the problem as they traveled east toward Ceil’s. Driving the twelve miles in a hurry, she pulled her Bronco right up to the barn. She left the vehicle running and the headlights on as a source light in the early evening.
Chase got out. He said, “I’m going to open the barn doors. You stay in the truck. Tell me where the light switches are.”
Randee got out of the truck. “Just inside the door to the left.”
Then Chase heard her muffle a gasp with her hand. He saw it too: the spot where Ceil had been lying. It was easy to see. Blood darkened a square foot area of straw right in the entryway.
A five-pound pulley was lying next to the bloodstain.
***
Two hours later, after all the necessary Red Rock chores were done, Chase and Randee walked back through the kitchen door at Triple Creek.
Rex still sat by Ceil’s bedside, talking quietly, and Randee knew the news she had would upset them both. But she and Chase had discussed it all the way home, and she’d finally agreed with him. Ceil and Rex had to be told, if nothing more than for their own protection.
Ceil lifted up from the pillow. “Thanks, you two, for taking care of my animals. Was everything all right?”
“The animals are fine.” Randee looked over at Chase for support. He nodded his encouragement, and Randee felt a twinge in her belly at the kindness she saw in his eyes. She took a deep breath and added, “Ceil, we found what hit you on the head. Have you been using a pulley around the barn lately?”
“Nope, not since last fall when I used one to stack the hay in the barn. Why?”
Randee didn’t answer. “Where would it be?”
“On that old set of shelves in the back corner. Are you tellin’ me I got thumped on the noggin with that pulley?”
“Probably. We found one on the floor by the barn door.”
Rex intervened. “How in the hell did that happen?”
Randee looked at Chase, who took over. “Rex, from what we can tell, we think the pulley was placed on the edge of the barn door. When Ceil opened it…it fell on her head.”
Both Randee and Chase waited for the full impact of their words to sink in. When it did, Rex and Ceil seemed visibly shaken, and then Rex did exactly what Randee expected.
“Why, those bastards!” Everyone knew whom he was talking about. “They’ve gone too far. They coulda killed her!” He was on his feet, pacing like a caged animal.
“Calm down, darlin’, or your ticker will be settin’ off an alarm again.” Ceil patted the bed for Rex to sit by her side.
“Calm down? Calm down? How in the hell am I supposed to do that? That mining company tried to kill you!”
Chase’s quiet voice seemed to settle them all somewhat. “I don’t think they were trying to kill you, Ceil. As disgusting as it is, I think they were just trying to scare you into selling. If they’d wanted to kill you”—he hesitated before finishing—“they probably would have.”
A shudder ran the length of Randee’s spine. Chase seemed to know quite a bit about these things, maybe too much. Where had he gained his knowledge?
A thought resurfaced in Randee’s mind, one she had tried to keep at bay for the last few hours. They hadn’t had any trouble until today—at least not physical trouble, just the harassing phone calls and obnoxious letters. Suddenly here was Chase, and here was trouble. Did he have anything to do with it? He didn’t look much like a cowboy, and Lord knew he didn’t act like one. Could there be a link between him and the accident?
No one would be foolish enough to fake almost dying of frostbite like he’d done this morning. And if I truly believed he was that deceptive, I would kick him out immediately, she thought. Or maybe it’s better to keep him where I can watch him closely.
And he couldn’t possibly have gone over to Ceil’s today. He wasn’t left alone except for the hour she’d been back out to feed her cattle…and he was sick with hypothermia. As far as she knew, Chase didn’t even know where Ceil lived.
Randee walked briskly out of her bedroom, away from the three people crowded there. She didn’t want to believe Chase was working for the Allan Mining Company. Whenever she looked into his blue eyes she saw a warmth she couldn’t deny that made her feel every inch a woman. She liked the feeling tremendously. How could someone look at you so openly and be living a lie?
Well, she couldn’t call it living a lie, exactly. He wouldn’t reveal his past. And like some lovesick schoolgirl, she had hired him anyway.
She walked into the kitchen and began to bang pots and pans as was her manner every time she was disturbed about something.
Chase entered the kitchen. “Can I help?”
She turned to face Chase with a coffee pot in her hands. She had a strange urge to throw it at him. “No! Get out of my kitchen and let me work!”
Before he turned away she saw the hurt look in his eyes. It made her want to cry. Why was life so damned complicated? Why couldn’t her knight in shining armor ride up to the front gate and simply become her reality? Was there a knight in shining armor for her? An image of one came into her head. In her fantasy, he was riding Inferno right up to the kitchen door. When he lifted his visor, it was Chase.
Randee just shook her head and went back to banging around the kitchen.
***
Chase didn’t say a word after Randee’s tongue-lashing, just left the house immediately for Rex’s cabin. Ceil spent the night in Randee’s bed. Rex insisted on sleeping in the chair next to her.
Randee felt uncomfortable in her guest bedroom, sleeping fitfully through the night. She dreamt she was walking across a frozen desert. In the distance she could see a green valley dressed in its spring regalia, wildflowers in blue and pink, and she moved in slow motion toward it. As she drew nearer, she could see Chase sitting on Inferno and smiling at her. He reached out a strong hand to draw her up onto the horse, but as he extended his hand a force pulled her away, sucking her back into the cold lonely desert.
Waking with a start, Randee knew she wouldn’t be getting any more sleep. She was freezing here tonight; the upstairs had been shut up too long. And the dream left her wary of sleep. What had it meant? Was her subconscious trying to tell her something? If so, what?
Randee looked at the clock on the nightstand. 4:15 a.m. She usually got up at five o’clock. It was a little early, but she decided to get up anyway.
She slid to the edge of the bed. Standing, she straightened her flannel nightgown and grabbed her wool socks. She pulled them on, wrapped herself in a quilt, and walked down the stairs. Tiptoeing across the hardwood floor, she quietly opened the door to her bedroom. Rex was sound asleep sitting up, his head drooping to one side. Ceil seemed to be resting comfortably in bed. A soft snore pervaded the room, but Randee couldn’t tell which person it came from. She shut the door quietly.
Not bothering to turn on a light, Randee wandered over to the fireplace in the main room and put another log on the glowing embers. She settled into one of the two big chairs, tucking her feet underneath her to keep warm, then took an afghan off the back of the chair and snuggled up in it. Finally comfortable, she gazed into the fire, thinking of the past two days.
A sound interrupted her thoughts. Randee froze, knowing she was almost completely hidden from view.
Quietly the door opened. Someone walked across the kitchen toward the fire. Randee remained completely still, wondering what to do. Then she relaxed, recognizing Chase. Not seeing her, he walked past and leaned close to the fire, rubbing his hands together. It was strange, but she didn’t feel threatened by his presence.
Chase turned, startled to see her.
“Your hair is amazing, hanging down like that,” he whispered. A log popped and then sizzled. He turned his gaze back toward the fire, and Randee had to strain to hear his next sentence. “It’s the same color as these flames.”
Randee looked down at her shimmering hair and then at the fire. She wanted to pull her red tresses back and restrain them; they made her feel vulnerable like this.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said. “The upstairs room was cold.”
“I couldn’t sleep either. I’m worried about what we discovered at Ceil’s.”
“I’ll make some coffee,” Randee told him. She wrapped her blanket tightly around her, stood and shuffled in her wool stockings toward the coffeemaker.
***
Chase stared into the fire and listened to Randee slowly move around the kitchen. He knew he should pack up and leave today; this whole thing was getting way too complicated. But deep down he didn’t want to leave. He already cared for Rex and Ceil, and he needed to help.
And then there were his feelings for Randee. She was obstinate, demanding, beautiful, bright, independent… After his marriage, would falling for this woman be a good idea?
She brought two cups of steaming coffee, handed one to Chase without a word then sat back down to have a sip. Along with the heady aroma of coffee beans came cedar wood from the fire. A log rolled over heavily, sending sparks flying up the chimney.
Chase thought about Ceil’s situation and what he could do to help. Maybe he could go over to Ceil’s and do the chores for a few days. It also might be best to keep his distance from Randee for a bit. Never before had he felt so drawn to—yet reserved around—a woman. Usually when he liked a woman he let her know it, but Randee was an altogether different story. The feelings he experienced with her were unlike any he’d ever had before, even with his ex-wife.
Monique. For years he’d seen his ex-wife’s signature every month on the canceled alimony checks, but other than that he never heard from her. It scared him to death to think about getting seriously involved again.
Come on, man, who said anything about getting seriously involved? Randee won’t even let you get near her.
“Randee, I’ve been thinking,” Chase blurted as he set his cup on the counter. “What would you say if I went over to Ceil’s and helped out there for a few days? She’ll be needing some rest, and I could do her chores and keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”
“I don’t know, Chase, things are getting too complicated,” Randee said, reiterating his earlier thoughts. “Why don’t we wait until daylight and see what Rex and Ceil think?”
“Sounds good,” Chase agreed. He went back to drinking his coffee.
***
Randee was not about to commit herself one way or another. Why was Chase offering to go to Ceil’s instead of helping out here and letting Rex go? He hardly knew Ceil, so why would he rather be there? Could she trust him or not?
Fears kept circling in her head like an Indian war party circling a wagon train, so she abruptly changed the subject. She went on the offensive. “How long have you been out of work?”
“For about three months.”
“Did you get fired?” She showed no mercy.
“Nope, not exactly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Either you got fired or you didn’t.”
“Well, I just quit.”
“Why?” Randee wanted some real answers before she got in any deeper. But if she thought she was going to get them now, she was wrong.
“Look, Randee,” Chase said, rising to his feet, walking to the stove and refilling his mug. “My former job has nothing to do with the work I can do for you here. I told you before that I can’t talk about it yet.”
Yet. He’d said yet. Randee took that as a step in her favor. Her heart lifted, and she rose from her chair and walked to where he stood. The sky outside the kitchen window was turning a soft grey. Daybreak was almost here.
“Chase.” She reached out and put her hand gently over the top of his. “Us ol’ cowgirls are kind of set in our ways. Please don’t give up on me yet.”
Chase’s gaze traveled from her hand on his and back to her face. He said nothing.
Don’t give up on me yet. Randee wondered what had made her say that, and she knew Chase was just as puzzled. Hell, how could he not be? Had she been talking about the ranch and being his boss, or about something more intimate? Even she wasn’t sure.
He spoke after a long pause. “I won’t give up on you if you won’t give up on me. I’ve got some bad wounds that need to heal before I can go down that road. I’m sorry, but that’s where I’m at.”
Randee looked deep into his shadowed eyes and could actually see his pain. She wanted to erase it from him and lift his spirit. Her fingers reached up to touch his stubbled cheek and then wrapped around the back of his neck where they wove their way into his thick black hair. Gently she pulled his head down to her own uplifted face and placed her warm lips on his cheek. She glanced up long enough to see his serious blue eyes close before shutting her own.
Then she felt his moist lips softly touching hers.
The kiss was long and sweet, not demanding. Chase’s arms wrapped around her waist and held her tenderly, with fragile care. She was touched to the very core by his gentleness. It was as if he too felt how important this was, and that it shouldn’t be rushed. At that moment, Randee trusted him with all her heart.
Emotions long denied rose to the center of Randee’s being. And as this incredible kiss finally ended, a timid light began to shine softly through the window from the east, bringing to each of them the promise of a better day.