Free Brave the Wild Wind by Johanna Lindsey Page A

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 likeThomas 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 wouldhave 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. “Sohe wanted you? I suppose that’s why he’s here now.”
    Jessie