Kate was in the kitchen, and she served Jessie steak and eggs as soon as she sat down at the table. Kate sniffed at the flowery scent coming from Jessie and raised a brow, but made no comment. Jessie stared after her, grinning. Of course Kate wouldn’t say anything, she never did.

Then Jessie frowned, looking at Kate’s slumped shoulders. “Why don’t you go back to bed after you serve Mr. Summers his breakfast, Kate? You’re looking tired,” Jessie said. “Rachel can see to herself.”

“I do not mind.” Kate spoke softly. “And Mr. Summers has already eaten.”

That surprised Jessie. She wouldn’t have expected him to be up so early. She finished eating quickly and hurried to the stable with the cold lunch Kate had prepared. Chase was talking to Jeb, his horse ready to go. She greeted him with a smile, determined to start the day out right, and he returned it more than generously.

She was pleased by the admiring way Chase looked her over, watching closely as she saddled and mounted. She had never been so conscious of her own movements as she was just then. It was exciting, this game. Could she hold his interest long enough to make him admit she wasn’t a child, a brat?

The sky was growing pink as they rode out, Jessie leading the way out of the valley. The trail was still in shadow. As soon as the sun was up, they rode side by side, but they didn’t talk. It was not a leisurely ride. Jessie needed to reach town by early afternoon, and she kept them at a steady pace, even breaking into a gallop on the plains.

Five hours later, they stopped at the little creek she always rested by when she went to Cheyenne. It was a nice spot, tree-shaded, level all the way to the water, beautiful with red and gold autumn leaves. It was safe, too, because the land all around them was flat. A stranger’s approach could be seen right away.

They saw to their horses first, then sat down under the trees to share a loaf of bread, sliced beef, and cheese. Jessie washed up when she’d finished eating and leaned back against her saddle to rest for a while. Chase, still eating, sat near her.

Jessie put her arms behind her head, forcing the brim of her black felt hat over her eyes. She raised one knee and lazily moved it from side to side so he’d know she wasn’t sleeping. The position thrust her breasts forward and drew attention to the flatness of her belly, as she’d intended. His eyes were on her, and she kept the hat over her face, allowing him full freedom to look.

Jessie’s voice was startlingly loud when she asked, “How long have you known Rachel, Mr. Summers?”

He sighed. “If you’re going to start to get to know me, don’t you think it’s time you called me Chase?”

“I suppose so.”

She didn’t see him grin. “I’ve known your mother for about ten years.”

Jessie stiffened. Ten years ago Rachel had left Thomas Blair. Jessie had been eight. She didn’t realize that Chase could only have been about fifteen or sixteen ten years ago. So she immediately assumed that Chase had been Rachel’s lover just after Rachel left Thomas.

“And do you still love her?” Jessie asked tightly.

There was a pause.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

Jessie changed her tone, trying to make light of it, as if she didn’t care one way or another. “You’re one of her men, aren’t you?”

Chase took a deep breath. “Hold on, kid. Is that what you’ve been thinking?”

Jessie sat up then and faced him squarely. “You came running when she called, didn’t you?”

He laughed at her hard, accusing look. “You’ve got a dirty mind, Jessie. Or is it that you just think the worst of your mother all the time?”

“You haven’t answered my question,” she said stubbornly.

He shrugged. “I suppose I do love her, as much as I can love any woman.”

That stopped Jessie. It took her a while to decide what she ought to say next. “Sounds like you don’t like women very much.”

“Now you’ve got me all wrong. I like all women. It’s just that settling for one in particular isn’t necessary.”

“You like to spread yourself around?” she said nastily.

“You could say that.” He grinned. “But only because I’ve never found a woman I could bear staying around for any length of time. Once they think they have you hooked, the romance is over and the pettiness begins, the nagging, the jealousy. That’s the time to move on.”

“Are you trying to tell me all women are like that?” Jessie asked quietly.

“Of course not. There are all kinds back East, but you have to understand that certain, well, types come west: those already married, their daughters looking to get married, and women who pretend they’re not interested until they’re asked.”

“This latter group of women includes saloon and dancehall girls, I take it?”

“They are the most fun,” he said, knowing he was in dangerous territory.

“Whores, in other words?”

“Now I wouldn’t call them that,” he said indignantly.

“Is that how you met Rachel?” she sneered.

He frowned, annoyed. “Obviously no one’s told you, so I might as well. Rachel was alone, starving, and obviously pregnant when my stepfather Jonathan Ewing brought her home.”

“Your stepfather?”

“That surprises you?”

Jessie was a good deal more than surprised. She had thought Ewing was Billy’s father, but obviously Will Phengle was. Did Billy know that? And then it came to her that Rachel was thirty-four now. Ten years ago, at twenty-four, she would have been a lot older than Chase. So they probably hadn’t had an affair.

“Where was your mother?” Jessie asked.

“She had died not long before.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said flatly.

There was obviously bitterness there, but Jessie didn’t want to know about it. She had enough bitterness of her own.

“So your stepfather married Rachel, even with her carrying another man’s child?”

“Because of that child,” Chase replied curtly. Good heavens, Jessie thought, what was going on? “The bastard waited to marry her till after she’d given birth to a son. I’ve no doubt he would have kicked her out if the baby had been a girl.”

Jessie gasped. “Another man just like Thomas Blair! And I thought he was one of a kind.”

“Well, there was a reason. Your father could have children. Jonathan Ewing couldn’t. He was a rich man and wanted a son to take over his small empire. It was the only reason he married my mother. He didn’t love her, he just wanted me. And she didn’t care about anything except his wealth. Well, I cared all right. I hated his guts.” He was silent, then went ahead.

“I was old enough to understand his motives, old enough to resent his high-handedness. He thought wealth could buy him anything. I wasn’t willing to accept him, because I already had a father somewhere.

So Ewing and I had a long, drawn-out battle. It never ended. Rachel made it easier, though, in the last year I was there. She was kind. She cared about me, and she was a good buffer between us. She helped me then. Do you see now why I want to return the favor?”

Jessie was silent. His childhood had been awful, fighting a father, losing a mother. But his earlier confession showed him to be a philandering bastard nonetheless.

“You don’t really know Rachel,” Jessie said.

“I think I know her better—” He stopped, staring into the distance behind her. “Someone seems awfully curious about us.”

“What?”

“One of your friendly Indians, no doubt.”

Jessie swung around quickly and followed his gaze. An Indian sat on a spotted pony a good distance away. He just sat there, staring toward them. Was it White Thunder? No, he would have come forward to greet her. Jessie got up and rummaged through her saddlebags, got her field glasses, and turned them on the Indian.

She lowered her glasses after a moment and said, “Now why would he be here, do you suppose?”

“A reservation Indian?” Chase asked.

She glanced at him and shook her head. “All Indians are reservation Indians to you, aren’t they? God, but you’re a hardhead. I tried to explain to you... Oh, what’s the difference!”

Chase’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying we’re in danger?”

“I’m in no danger, but I don’t know about you,” she replied cruelly. “Look,” he said impatiently, “will you explain?”

“That’s a Sioux warrior out there. They don’t leave their territory unless it’s for a good reason, and they don’t sit and watch you without a reason, either.”

“You think there might be more of them?”

Jessie shook her head. “I don’t think so. When I met Little Hawk last week, he was alone.”

“You met him last week?” Chase echoed.

She turned away to put her field glasses back, delighted by the confusion she was causing him. “He shared my food and camp one night. He wasn’t very friendly about it. He was quite arrogant, in fact. But that’s often their way.” And then she grinned at Chase. “Actually, he did want to be friendly with me in one sense, but I said no.”

Chase managed to conceal his disbelief. “So he wanted you? I suppose that’s why he’s here now.”

Jessie looked at him sharply, but his expression revealed none of what he was thinking. “I can’t imagine what he’s doing out there, but I’m not conceited enough to think he would come looking for me.”

“Well, just in case he did, why don’t we show him you’re not available?”

Before she caught on, Chase pulled her into his arms, and his mouth came down on hers. The contact was as jolting as being knocked off a horse. She was stunned, leaning back against his arms, letting herself succumb to the pressure of his lips. But even as she came to her senses, she didn’t move. She liked the feel and taste of him, the heady sensation overcoming her. She’d certainly never been kissed like that before, and she realized it was because he knew what he was doing.