Chase the Wind (48 page)

“Not all of them, but often enough.” Jenny’s face began to flush, but Chase continued. “The best part was early in the morning when you would kick off your blankets and your gown would be all tucked up underneath you and your legs were bare. That was the sight I liked best.”

“You are no gentleman.” Jenny raised her nose in the air as Chase began to laugh.

“No, I’m not, and most people can tell that by looking at me.”

Jenny tilted her head to get a better look as he pushed his long hair behind his ears and closed his book. “I think you are just
teasing me, so I’ll let it go this time. Just don’t let it happen again.” Chase threw his hands up as if seeking protection. “Thanks, ma’am, I’d hate to end up gimping around here like Zane.” He got up from his chair and limped away, his legs spread apart in mock
pain, turning once to look at Jenny, who stuck her tongue out at
him. Chase stopped at the door and watched her walk away, her stride strong and sure as she went up the porch into Grace’s cabin.

Chapter Twenty-two

The weeks passed quickly, filled with work, play and talk until the
past became like a bad dream, banished to the back of Jenny’s mind, only to come out and haunt her in the fleeting moments
before she fell asleep at night, or right before she woke up in the morning. She felt uncomfortable sleeping in the big house with
Jason and Cat, then working with the hands during the day, but there was no place else for her to go unless she moved in with
Grace, and though no one mentioned it, everyone knew it would
make things uncomfortable for Jamie and Grace. So Jenny kept on
sleeping in the big bed, and kept her distance from Cat, who was growing ever more concerned at the attention that Ty was paying
to Jenny.

Ty’s courtship of Jenny was nothing like the full-speed-ahead onslaught of Zane’s. He was very casual, always working his way around to where Jenny happened to be, just talking to her, behaving like the Southern gentleman he was brought up to be. Ty was always ready to open a door or pull out a chair, which the boys found amusing, since Jenny had demonstrated that she could ride, rope and shoot as well as any of them. As time passed, Jenny and Ty wound up together more and more, which led to Cat spending
more time complaining to her father and Grace. Concurrently,
Chase began to spend more time alone, away from the main group. Jamie noticed his absences but could not figure out the reason why, and Chase refused to talk to him about it. Jenny, meanwhile, began
to blossom under Ty’s steady attention, the lines of worry and
fatigue fading as she grew more comfortable with each passing day.
Talk around the bunkhouse turned to the spring dance to be
held in town at the end of the month. The cowboys all pulled out
their suits and dress shirts so Grace could freshen them up, and
Cat began to go through her wardrobe to find just the right gown to bring Ty’s attention back where it belonged. Grace made Jenny
try on the dress she had been stitching and convinced her that it had been intended for her all along. Jenny’s pride made her want
to argue the point, but the sight of the soft blue calico swirling around her legs, and the glow of pride on Jamie’s face, won out. Her bare toes sticking out from under the unfinished hem brought up another point, however, and Jamie declared that they were go
ing shopping for shoes on the following Saturday so his sister would no longer be an embarrassment to him. Jenny responded by throwing a tin mug at his head, but agreed that he was right, and he owed her a pair of shoes anyway for the way she had to
put up with him.

The day of the dance soon was upon them, and Jason, knowing he wouldn’t get any work out of them, gave everyone a half day
off to prepare for the festivities that night. Grace did Jenny’s hair up for her. Jenny’s wide blue eyes shone with excitement in the mirror as Grace pinned and wrapped until an elegant cascade of
golden curls was dangling against her swan-like neck. Grace then
tried to soften Jenny’s work-hardened hands by soaking them in a special concoction she had made up while Jenny squirmed impa
tiently in her chair.

“Hold still so I can work on your nails,” Grace said impatiently
as Jenny tried to get up.

“Grace, you’re spending so much time with me that you’re not
going to have time to get yourself ready.”

“I’m not going.”

“Why?”

“Jenny, young men and young women go to dances to meet each
other, and I am not a young woman anymore.”

“You’re still young, and attractive. Why don’t you go?”

Grace smiled sweetly at Jenny, the scars almost disappearing into the laugh lines that rimmed her eyes and mouth. “My time for dances is over. This is your time, so don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

Jenny looked intently at the head that was bent over her nails, shaping and polishing. “Jamie’s not going either.”

Grace looked up, her face going pale as she realized that it was a statement more than a question. “No, he said he would like to stay here and keep me company tonight.”

“I know it’s been hard on him, with the scars and all, hard for him to meet a girl who would be special to him.” Grace started to interrupt, but Jenny went on. “I’m glad he has someone to talk to, someone who knows how he feels. He said I would never know how it was, and he’s right. The truth of the matter is, I don’t even think about his scars any more than I think about him having a nose or a mouth or eyes, but sometimes I remember his screams and the pain he was in and I can’t stand it. . .”Jenny’s voice trailed off as her emotions threatened to overcome her. Grace gripped the hand she had been working on.

“Tell me, Jenny. When it happened—was it bad? He just skims over it like it was nothing, but you were there.”

“I think the worst part for Jamie is thinking that if he had not gotten burned, he could have saved our parents. I just remember his screams, and the smell of burned flesh, and seeing my father lying in a pool of his own blood. Jamie was unconscious for a week after it happened, they kept him that way because of the pain. I know he dreamed horrible dreams, but he never talked about them. When they took the bandages off, he decided that he was a freak and that his life was pretty much over. He was all right with the people he knew and trusted, but if anyone eke came along, he would hide under his hat or in the barn. It’s nice to see him so free and easy here.”

“It’s his home, Jenny, and he knows we don’t judge him for what he looks like. I feel the same way.”

“I know, and I’m glad he’s found someone who understands how he feels.” The women smiled at each other through tear-filled eyes.

“Oh, my goodness, look at the time. We’ve got to get you ready,” Grace exclaimed and went back to work on Jenny’s hands. She soon pronounced them adequate, which brought a rueful grin from
Jenny, who realized that she was a far cry from the lady her parents
had wanted her to be, but it couldn’t be helped. Fate had made
her who she was.

The soft blue dress was put on. Grace wished it were fancier,
but to Jenny it was just fine. She found it hard to believe that the
tall young woman in the mirror with the done-up hair and the
pink cheeks was she.

“He won’t be able to take his eyes off you,” Grace said softly as
she came up behind Jenny.

“Who?”

“Does it matter?”

Jenny thought about it, tried to picture the dance and a crowd
of young men standing around, fighting for her attention. Some
thing was missing from the vision, so she closed her eyes, drawing images of Ty, Caleb, Jake and Zane along with faceless others into a circle in her mind, but beyond, in the shadows, there was another
man standing, watching, waiting, patiently giving her every op
portunity to choose.

“Jenny?”

Jenny shook her head as Grace called her back to the present,
scattering the images like droplets of water.

“Where did you go, girl?”

“I guess I was at the dance.”

There was a great banging of boots on the steps and then a
thundering at the door.

“Are you about ready? Jason is bringing the buggy down.” It was
Jamie beating on the door. Grace made a huge ceremony of presenting Jenny in her new dress, and Jamie beamed proudly at her as she twirled gracefully before him. He handed her a flower he
had found along the trail and she tucked it into her hair. “You look beautiful,” he said, grinning. “Maybe I need to come along to keep
you from being carried off.”

“I might want to be carried off, thank you very much,” Jenny
sniffed daintily at him.

“And if you don’t, I’m sure you’ll let them know with your usual good humor,” Jamie added, playfully tweaking a curl that was lying on her shoulder. Grace handed her a shawl, and Jenny stepped out
onto the porch.

The cowboys were all combed and polished, and mounted on horseback, teasing each other about the coming festivities. When
she appeared, they went slack-jawed, overcome by the change in her. They had become used to Jenny working alongside them, giv
ing back what they dished out, but now she looked and moved like a lady, and they didn’t quite know how to act.

“Where’s Chase?” she asked.

“He’s not going,” Jamie answered.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. Go ask him yourself—he’s in the barn.” Jenny
was confused by Jamie’s brusque tone, but decided he must have argued the point with Chase and grown exasperated with him. She gathered her skirt and made her way to the barn, stepping into the
dim light to find Chase saddling his horse.

“Jamie said you’re not going to the dance.”

“No, I’m not.” He didn’t look up, just continued at his task.

“Why?”

Chase stopped and looked at her over the back of his horse. “It’s
not a place where I feel especially welcome.”

Jenny drew her brows together and stepped into the stall.
“Chase, you’ll be surrounded by friends. Why wouldn’t you feel
welcome?”

“I’m a half-breed, Jenny. I’m not welcome anywhere.”

“That’s not true.” Chase went back to saddling his horse. “I wish
you would come.”

“You don’t need me there. You’ll have plenty of men who will want to dance with you, and none of them would like seeing you
dance with me.”

“I wouldn’t care if they liked it or not.”

“Go to the dance, Jenny. Have a wonderful time with Ty, or any
other fellow you want to be with.”

“What makes you think I want to be with someone?”

“Isn’t that what everyone wants, to be with someone special, someone you arc meant to be with for all time, for eternity, from this life to the next?” His dark eyes were piercing, looking down into her soul, tugging at her heart, while her mind was whirling, screaming in protest, afraid of what his eyes might see in the inner
recesses she had kept hidden for so long.

“Jenny? Jason is here with the buggy.” It was Ty, dressed in a suit, his hair combed back. Chase angrily slapped the stirrup down as Ty entered the stall. “Sure you don’t want to go, Chase? It’s not
too late,” Ty said.

“No, go on, have fun. Don’t worry about me.”

Ty held out his arm to Jenny, who placed her arm in the crook of his elbow, turning to look at Chase as Ty led her out. He gave
her a half smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and she almost turned
to go back. Ty put his hand over hers firmly, as if he could sense her hesitance, and she went on to the buggy, where Jason and Cat
were waiting.

“I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look,” Chase said when
she was gone, but no one heard except the horse.

The dance started out well enough. The music drifted towards
them on the cool evening air as they approached town, bringing with it a sense of excitement and promise that nearly lifted Jenny out of her seat in the rear of the buggy. She enjoyed the aimless
chatter of the boys who rode alongside, Zane’s endless monologue
making Jake roll his eyes in disgust while Caleb laughed at his
every word. Ty carried on polite conversation with Jason, who was
sitting next to a strangely quiet Cat. She had exchanged a few words
with everyone, even acknowledging Jenny’s new dress, then sat
quietly on the seat, her shawl pulled around her intricately upswept
hair, and watched the countryside roll by in the twilight. When they arrived at the dance, Cat waited for her father to help her down, then took his arm after he helped Jenny from the buggy.