Chase Wheeler's Woman Read Online Free PDF Page A

stampeding cattle. With Jasper and Joellen’s chest packed, all details taken care of on the ranch and Chase Wheeler firmly in place as foreman, Letty Sue said a tearful goodbye to her mother. They stood on the sidewalk in Sweet Springs in front of the stagecoach that would deliver the newlyweds to the railroad station in Fort Worth. There, the journey would truly begin, and her mother would return East for the first time since she was a small child.
    “Oh, Mama. I do hope you’ll have a great experience, but I’m going to miss you so much.” Letty Sue hugged her tightly, reluctant to end the embrace.
    “Letty Sue, darling, I’m going to miss you, too.”
    Letty Sue tugged her lower lip in, contemplating. “Maybe one day soon you’ll see fit to let me do some traveling on my own, Mama. I’ve dreamed of it thousands of times.”
    Joellen chuckled. “Letty Sue, you do exaggerate. I’m going to miss that, and so much more.” Her mother’s expression changed then, and taking Letty Sue’s hands, she said, “We’ll see. But darling, you’re in the best of hands with Chase Wheeler. I want you to honor the promise you made me…that you’ll not give that man one ounce of trouble. He’s a fine man, admirable and trustworthy. He deserves your respect.”
    Letty Sue flinched, hearing her mother speak more highly of Chase than she ever had of her. “Mama, please. Let’s not go over this again. I made the promise. Now, you have to promise me something—thatyou’ll wire me whenever you have the opportunity. I want to hear about everything you do, everywhere you go.”
    “I promise, darling. You’ll be hearing from me often.” She glanced down the street. “Well, then, I guess this is goodbye. Looks like Jasper is heading over here with Chase. The driver is ready to go.”
    “Oh Mama, you do look lovely in your new blue traveling suit.” Suppressing the tears threatening to flow, Letty Sue watched as her mother climbed into the stagecoach. She managed a big smile for Joellen’s sake, but her mind whirled, contemplating the day she’d be getting on that stage herself.
    Jasper reached her then, gave her a big bear hug and wished her well. She returned his embrace and sighed. “Take care of my mother. Please.”
    Jasper’s eyes met hers as he cast her the fatherly smile, warm and loving, she was becoming accustomed to. At times Letty Sue believed the man actually cared for her. “I shall, Letty Sue. You know how much your mother means to me. You take care, too, and listen to Chase, here.” His gaze fell on Chase, who was talking with the stage driver. “Three months won’t seem like any time at all, I’m sure.”
    Letty Sue ignored that statement, turning once again to her mother. “Bye, Mother. I love you.”
    Joellen blew her a kiss from inside the stage. “I love you, too, Leticia Suzanne.”
    Chase came up to stand beside her. Letty Sue felt his presence—the quiet, calm, commanding man who would now run the Double J. “Enjoy your trip,” hesaid to Jasper, shaking his hand. “And Joellen,” Chase said with a sly wink, “don’t you worry about a thing.”
    Joellen smiled widely, deepening the fine crinkles around her eyes. “Thank you, Chase.” She waved to them both as the stagecoach pulled away.
    Letty Sue and Chase stood there watching until the dust settled and the stagecoach was completely out of sight. “Leticia Suzanne?” he finally asked, rubbing his jaw in a pitiful attempt to hide a grin.
    “Yes, that’s my formal name. Is something wrong with it?” She lifted her chin.
    “No, no. It’s a fine name, I suppose. ’Course, if you were Cheyenne, you’d have a much different name.”
    “I’m sure I would,” she said, feeling forlorn, as if she’d just been abandoned by her mother. But she had to admit Chase had her curiosity sparked. “What…would it be?”
    Chase took her arm and guided her toward the buckboard wagon they’d come to town in. “Brave Spirited