Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (26 page)

“Chase has no intention of asking for me. He wants to go home,” Sarah said solemnly. Aimee didn’t know how to console her.

“Sarah. The man is in love with you. That is a powerful thing. It probably scares him. He doesn’t know what to do. All I can say is, give him time.”

“Papa wants to find the thing that brought Chase . . . and you, here. Will he find it?”

“Chances are, he won’t.”

“Good,” Sarah said firmly.

Aimee smiled softly. “Sarah, do you love him enough to let him go?”

“What do you mean?” She looked up, confusion evident on her face.

“Sometimes, you have to let the person you love be free. You can’t force him to stay if he doesn’t want to. Would you rather he be miserable if he truly doesn’t want to stay here?  If your father does find that device, you have to be strong enough to let Chase go if he chooses.”

Sarah nodded. She wiped her hand across her face, and stood. “May I speak with him?” she asked softly.

“Of course,” Aimee answered. “Just because we’re home doesn’t mean you two can’t interact.”

“Papa won’t allow it, I know it.”

“You let me deal with your father, okay?” Aimee rose from the log, and patted Sarah on the shoulder. She led the way down the hill. The Tukudeka had strict rules about courting, and she realized it must have been difficult for her daughter to go against all the customs she’d grown up with, to have a man live under the same roof with her for over a month. And Chase’s modern ways no doubt added to the confusion. She smiled to herself. Hadn’t it been similar with her and Daniel so many years ago? Her unconventional ways had perplexed him at the start of their relationship. Fond memories came flooding back, warming her insides.

*******

Sarah opened the door to the little cabin, the hinges squeaking loudly, and walked in. Her mother had told her she’d keep her father occupied in the house so she could speak with Chase.  Mama understood the need for the two of them to talk, after all that had happened this day. Sarah hadn’t expected to find such a strong advocate in her mother. More often than not over the last few years, they’d argued over the most trivial things.

Chase was busy shoving trunks against the wall opposite the bunk. He turned when she walked in. His tightly drawn lips relaxed. A wide smile lit up his face. He covered the space between them in two strides, and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her to him. “I thought I’d never get you alone again,” he said in a husky tone. His hand swept loose hair off of her face, and he brought his lips down on hers.

Sarah stood stiffly for a moment. Her parents were home. She shouldn’t be this close to Chase. His lips on hers quickly made her forget about her parents. Her body relaxed, and her arms crept around his neck. She leaned into him and let the warm sensations of being in his arms wash over her.

“I missed you, Angel,” he murmured against her ear, then pulled back.

“I missed you, too. If my father finds me here . . .” she let her words trail off.

Chase grinned. “Yeah, I’d better watch my manners. I already got the lecture from him. He’s not one to mess with, is he?” His warm hands at her waist sent shivers through her. “The trouble is, I’m willing to take the risk. I can’t stay away from you.” He bent and nuzzled her neck.

Sarah wrapped her arms around him. She leaned her head against his chest, his strong heart beating against her ear.
Then why don’t you want to stay with me?
Her mother had said to give him time. How much time would he need? And would she really be strong enough to let him go if her father found the device?  Would he choose to leave?

Chapter 27

Chase walked up to the cabin and knocked on the door. His first night spent in the old cabin had felt odd. He missed Sarah’s scent on her bed, but he knew it was better that way. It would feel even worse living under the same roof with her parents.

He recognized Aimee’s voice inside, inviting him to enter. His eyes swept the room when he stepped in. Sarah stood with her back to him at the workbench. She turned, and their eyes met. An imperceptible current seemed to flow between them. His gut tightened. The urge to rush to her, pull her in his arms, and kiss her senseless was overwhelming. His toes curled in his moccasins, as if they would root him to the ground and prevent him from moving towards her.

“Sit down, Chase. Breakfast is ready.” Aimee’s soft voice broke the invisible tie between him and Sarah. She ladled food out of the skillet onto plates, and Chase took a seat at the table. He glanced around, wondering why Daniel wasn’t in the room. He hoped he hadn’t sat in the man’s chair, but no one told him to move. Sarah brought him a steaming cup of coffee. His hand darted out and touched hers when she set the cup in front of him. She didn’t move, and the longing in her eyes when she met his gaze was almost his undoing.

“Thanks,” he said, clearing his throat. He pulled his hand away when Aimee set a plate in front of him. Sarah turned and headed back to the workbench.

“Sleep well?” Aimee asked cheerfully.

“I guess so.” He shrugged, taking a bite of the pancake-looking things on his plate.

“Sarah and I are headed to the Tukudeka village after breakfast. We should be home before dark.”

His eyes lingering on Sarah’s turned back.  He wouldn’t see her all day. The thought left an odd empty feeling in him.  He almost groaned at the thought of spending the day with Daniel. If he got lucky, maybe the man would have things of his own to do. Chase would simply have to make himself scarce somehow.

“Is there anything you’d like me to do while you’re gone?” he asked.

Aimee didn’t have a chance to answer. The door to the bedroom opened, and Daniel walked into the main room, a rifle in each hand. Without warning, he threw one towards Chase, who caught it in his left hand, looking at the older man in surprise. His expression was unreadable.

Score one for you, Russell. You passed the reflex test.
It was hard to maintain a poker face. He stared at the flintlock in his hand, and all smugness left him. What was he supposed to do with that?

Daniel’s eyes assessed him without a hint of what he was thinking behind that dark stare. Abruptly, he turned toward his wife. “We’re headed north. We may not be back before dark.”

Chase watched the man’s hard face turn suddenly soft when he looked at Aimee. His hand rested on the small of her back, and she smiled warmly up at him. The love between Sarah’s parents was quite obvious. He didn’t have a single memory of his mother and father ever sharing a tender moment. He recalled plenty of yelling and door slamming, before his old man walked out on them for good.

His eyes wandered to where Sarah stood by the workbench. She was watching him.
I love you, Angel.
He formed the words with his mouth. She smiled before darting a glance at her father.

“Have you finished eating?” Daniel’s voice startled him. His focus had been on the dark-haired beauty standing in the corner. Knowing her smile was only for him gave him an almost euphoric feeling. Why didn’t he tell her weeks ago how he felt about her? Then they could have explored their relationship without the constant presence of her parents. Aimee seemed more open-minded. But then, she grew up in a time where open displays of affection between unmarried couples were socially acceptable. Daniel seemed to be the stereotypical old-fashioned father, who would sooner shoot him rather than let him within a hundred yards of his daughter.

Chase hastily stuffed the rest of the food in his mouth, and washed it down with coffee. He pushed his chair back from the table, still holding the rifle in his hand.

“Ah, what am I doing with this?” he asked, raising the rifle slightly, hoping he didn’t sound too stupid.

“Where’s your weapon belt?” Daniel asked, instead of offering an answer.

“I left it in the other cabin.” Chase shrugged.

“First rule in the mountains. You never leave your weapons unguarded. Always carry them with you.” The impatience had left his voice. He sounded more like an authoritative teacher. “Let’s go.” He motioned with his chin towards the door.

Chase shot him a questioning look, his eyebrows raised.

“We’re going hunting,” Daniel said, as if that was obvious. He motioned again towards the door.

Chase’s eyes sought Sarah’s. He couldn’t help it. An invisible magnet drew him to her, and he couldn’t just walk out the door without one last look. Her eyes were wide as saucers, and she wore an almost panicked expression on her face. They both smiled at the same time. He wished he could have five minutes alone with her, but knew that wouldn’t happen, at least not for the rest of today.

“Chase.” Daniel’s stern voice prompted him to finally turn and head out the door.

After Chase retrieved his belt, Daniel led him through the forest behind the cabin, heading into the hills to the north. He cut through the dense growth of lodgepoles, following some imperceptible path. Chase had to conclude it was some kind of trail, since they seemed to avoid most of the downfall that lay about everywhere. At times, the older man picked up the pace, at other times he slowed to a brisk walk. He didn’t speak for, what seemed like hours.

Perspiration beaded Chase’s forehead, even in the crisp early morning air. The sun’s rays didn’t quite reach the forest floor. He hadn’t done this much walking and jogging since that day . . . Anger welled up in him anew. He gripped the rifle he held in his hand. Perhaps if Daniel taught him to shoot this thing, he’d feel more confident the next time he came across some Indian. The tomahawk hanging off his belt felt more familiar. At least he knew how to use that.

“Are you paying attention to your surroundings?” Daniel’s voice broke into his thoughts. Without warning, he had stopped, and Chase nearly ran into him.

“What am I supposed to be paying attention to? There’s nothing here but trees. I figured you had a plan on where we’re going.”

Daniel cocked an eyebrow, and Chase knew that was the wrong answer. What was he supposed to say?  Daniel hadn’t said two words to him since leaving the cabin. What did he expect? At least if he’d tell him what to look for, or what they were doing, he could focus on the task at hand. Having an attitude with Daniel was probably not a good idea. Chase inhaled a deep breath, trying to curb his annoyance.

“Can you find your way back to the cabin from here alone?” Daniel turned and raised both eyebrows at him.

Chase looked around. The forest was as dense as ever. Everything looked the same to him.  His sense of direction was nonexistent. “No,” he reluctantly conceded, working his jaw. He felt like a kid who hadn’t studied for his algebra exam. He’d found his way back to the valley from the Tukudeka village that ill-fated day he left, but he had a river to follow then. The middle of the forest was completely different.

“How did you outrun twenty Blackfoot warriors, yet you cannot focus on what is in front of you right now? The spirits must have smiled on you that day.”

More like a dark-haired angel.

“I had help. Sarah gave me some pretty good directions.”

Daniel’s face darkened. “My daughter gambled with her life that day. I hope you know that.”

Chase met his stare, his annoyance growing. “Yes, sir, I do know that, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel guilt over what happened.” He threw his hands in the air.  “Maybe you should try coming to the twenty-first century, and see how well you get around when you don’t have a clue about your environment.” His voice raised in anger. Wheeling around, he kicked at the dirt. Shit! He felt bad enough as it was. He didn’t need a constant reminder as to his incompetence.

“I have been to the twenty-first century, and I understand about not knowing your environment.” Chase had to strain his ears to hear Daniel’s quietly spoken words. Slowly, he turned around.

“You’ve been to the future?” he asked. He couldn’t picture Daniel Osborne in a modern city.

“I went in search of my wife, after she was taken from me.” Daniel nodded. “I didn’t know what to expect. I had very little information to go by in order to find her, and to this day I believe it was by sheer luck that I managed to track her down.” He paused, and put his hand on Chase’s shoulder. “But I was determined. Never lose sight of what is important to you once you figure out what that is. Then focus to achieve your goal.”

Chase could only stare at the man, dumbfounded. His high school football coach had said those same things to him. Back then, he had been focused. But after Coach Beckman died, he’d lost that inner drive. What did he have to focus on now? His sole motivation since coming here was finding a way back home.

Sarah.

She’d become the most important thing to him, he realized with sudden clarity. The elated feeling that had swept over him that day, running for his life, when Sarah’s vision had spurred him on and he’d realized he loved her, suddenly came flooding back. He had to focus on her, doing what was right for her.
Is she more important than going home, Russell?

Daniel smiled suddenly. “I see you are understanding what I say.”

Was the man a mind reader, too?

“I’ve been intent on finding a way home,” Chase said slowly. “It’s all that’s been on my mind. That, and . . . Sarah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. Daniel dropped his hand, and Chase looked him in the eye. “Teach me how to shoot this rifle.” He moved his arm in front of him in a sweeping motion. “Show me how to find my way out of this forest.”

Daniel nodded. “There will come a time when you will be faced with making a choice, Chase Russell.  And it will be a choice only you can make.”

*****

Sarah listened to the rhythmic chirping of crickets in the evening air. She sat by the woodpile on an overturned log, stroking Grizzly’s fur. The dog lay faithfully at her feet. The sun had long gone down, and there was no moon to give off even a little light in the distance. How long were they going to be gone? She and her mother had returned hours ago from visiting Little Bird and Snow Bird. The baby had grown in the nearly three weeks since his birth.

Her cousin Touch the Cloud had hovered outside the birthing hut most of the day, bringing water and firewood when Snow Bird requested it. Another week and he would finally get to meet his son. Sarah could tell he was anxious to be reunited with his wife as well. Hawk Soaring had, thankfully, not been in the village. Elk Runner made sure he informed her that he would be coming for a visit soon, then in the same breath, had inquired about Chase.

Grizzly’s head suddenly jerked up from its resting place on his huge front paws. His tail thumped the dirt. Sarah strained her eyes into the darkness. Her father’s familiar form emerged from the darkness, and several paces behind him, a taller figure that sent her heart beats racing.

She rose from her perch on the log. The light from the window in the main cabin softly illuminated the approaching figures. Her father moved with his usual confident stride. There was a noticeable difference in Chase’s gait. Sarah squinted her eyes. Chase was definitely limping. She rushed up to meet them, and her father’s hand prevented her from reaching the man she wanted to throw her arms around.

“It’s late. Go inside, Sarah,” her father’s firm voice commanded.

“Please, Papa, just a minute,” she asked softly. He slowly removed his hand from her arm.

“You have five minutes.” She caught the reluctance in his tone.

Chase hadn’t stopped walking. Without a glance her way, he headed for his cabin.

“Chase,” she called out, catching up with him when he reached his door.