Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Summer
As Chase dismounted the horse, his muscles ached from the ride from the hunting cabin. It had been almost a year since he was released from prison, but returning to his childhood home every other day still brought a sense of unease. The memories of his past mistakes weighed heavily on him as the sun set over the familiar horizon.
He'd worked his ass off in prison to get his degree, obsessively learning everything he could about accounting, stocks, investments, and computers. He'd done in-depth book studies for years before he'd transferred to a low-security facility that allowed him to pursue his accounting degree.
Yet here he was, just another ranch hand, according to his parents. He'd had such hopes and dreams as a teenager, before the accident when his life had gone to shit.
He led Gladys to the barn to brush her down. At least Hunter trusted him enough to give him some responsibility. A stab of guilt made his stomach clench because honestly, Hunter shouldn't trust him. Not after what he'd done the summer before he'd gone to prison, and again that Thanksgiving and Christmas. The past few months had slowly confirmed that suspicion, and it was eating him alive inside.
Jewel's steps echoed in the barn as she made her way to the first stall, her voice a gentle melody as she cooed to the foal inside. The sweet scent of hay and manure permeated the air. He leaned against the wall of an empty stall in the middle of the row, waiting and watching her with bated breath.
When she stepped up to the stall and peered inside to look for the foal he'd moved earlier, he grinned and said, "Fancy meeting you here."
Her gasp echoed in the dim light, her eyes growing wider. It was approaching midnight, and she had dropped by earlier with her older sister Gemma and their dad, Henry. Gemma was completing her veterinarian observation hours under Henry's supervision. Jewel most likely joined to observe the process, as she had just finished her first semester of vet school.
Only Jewel had opted to go down to College Station's A&M campus instead of the much closer UT Denton like Gemma. Now she was home for a week on Christmas break, and he was desperate to talk with her.
"I don't want to talk to you," she whispered furiously, her eyebrows turning down in a scowl as she walked off.
He quickly opened the stall door and followed her. "Because I'm irresistible?"
She snorted. "Hardly worth writing home about, so no. We can't be seen together. I haven't talked with Hunter yet."
His heart sped up, and he grabbed her wrist, turning her to face him. "So you're going to tell him what, exactly? Are you going to give us a real chance?"
Her scowl deepened, but her body came closer into the protective curve of his arms. He didn't even tug on her wrist, she just stepped into him like she knew that's where she belonged.
Her hand rested on his chest above his heart, and his other hand slid to her waist.
"There's no point, Chase, not with me at college and you still in high school."
Her body language said one thing, but her words said another, confusing him.
"But you're still going to break up with him?" Chase asked, his voice full of ridiculous hope that he couldn't seem to stop himself from feeling. He yearned for her, had obsessed over her for too long. He never thought she'd take a chance on him. Compared to his oldest brother, he was nothing.
Her gaze softened as she tilted her head up. "Yeah." She sighed, her breath teasing his chin. She smelled of wildflowers and lavender, and it soothed the restless part deep inside.
"Thank God," he said, nuzzling his nose into her temple. "I won't ask you to date me or be exclusive, but there's not going to be anyone else for me. I'll finish high school—I have an appointment with the counselor in January to talk about skipping another grade and graduating early—then I'll go to A&M with you."
She pulled back, her frown now concerned for him. "Are you sure that's what you want? A&M is a big school, and tuition is expensive."
He nodded. "I know, but I've started playing the stock market with my savings, meager though it is, and I think I can make it work. Between that and scholarships and student loans ? —"
"You don't have to, though. You already have the full ride to UT Denton."
He released her wrist and placed his hand over hers on his chest, kissing her temple. "I know, but you're worth it, my Jewel."
Her body relaxed into his, her sigh in his neck giving him goosebumps. "We can't keep doing this, Chase. It's not right."
"Then break up with him."
She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her lush body flush against his. His cock took notice as she leaned her head back and kissed his chin. "I know. I'm going to do it tomorrow after church."
"Then you'll be mine?" He hated how hopeful his tone was, but she was the first girl he'd ever been interested in, his first crush. He thought he'd get over it and move on to someone else once he hit high school, but none of the other girls had ever compared.
"No, Chase, I go back to school on Monday, remember? Christmas is over. Besides, you said we wouldn't be exclusive."
His arms automatically tightened around her, crushing her to his chest. He grumbled, "I know, I know, we need to give Hunter time to get over you, and I need to graduate. Once we're both out of Crimson Creek, we'll be able to be together."
She sighed and hugged him, her head resting against his shoulder. "I'm glad you're not the jealous type, because I don't know that I could've handled you being jealous along with Hunter."
He snorted, running his hand up and down her back. "I don't know why he's so worried about Kevin when he's clearly gay."
She giggled. "I know, right? It's so obvious, but I guess Hunter just doesn't know how to read the signs. It's sad, though, that his family didn't want him to come home for Christmas."
Chase nodded. "It was good of you to invite him here for the holiday. You're a good friend."
She groaned, "Not a good girlfriend, though. If I was, I wouldn't have slept with you while dating your brother."
He kissed along her jawline, his stomach in knots at her words. "I know, and we'll make it right somehow. But for tonight, I do believe you owe me a kiss."
She smiled, her eyes closed as she tilted her head up for his kisses. "Oh I do, do I?"
He hummed. "Yep, since we're standing under the mistletoe."
Her eyes flew open and searched, and when she saw it, she grinned. "How did that get up there? I swear it wasn't there a few hours ago when I did the rounds with Gemma and Dad."
He grinned and lowered his mouth to hers. "Oh, I know. I put it up there, knowing you'd be back to check the foals."
She groaned as his lips teased hers softly. "Fine, one kiss. But that's it, I swear. Gemma and Dad are inside talking with your folks, and we'll be leaving any minute now."
He crashed his mouth to hers, and she opened to him immediately, their tongues instantly dueling. His mom would talk for hours about the farm, and he wasn't worried. He had to take advantage of this time with her while he had her. The memories would have to sustain him for the few months until she returned for spring break.
"Chase? You alright, man?" Hunter asked, walking toward him from the barn with Gemma behind him.
Chase swallowed hard and nodded, his mind returning to the present. The memories had sustained him for fifteen years, but Gemma had said last week that Jewel was moving back to Crimson Creek.
His stomach had been a knot of nerves ever since. He cleared his throat and pushed down the guilt he still felt anytime he saw Hunter. "Yeah, I'm good. Just enjoying the sunset."
Gemma smiled softly, reminding him of Jewel and making his chest tight. "I bet you didn't get to enjoy many of them in prison, did you?"
He shook his head. "Not so much."
She nodded and sighed sadly, turning to her truck. "Well, y'all enjoy your evening. Don't forget that Jewel's arriving this weekend. You need to talk to her, Hunter, whether you want to or not."
Chase's hand tightened on the reins, his other stroking his horse's nose as he listened.
Hunter scowled. "I don't want to talk to her. We don't have anything to say. She cheated on me with that Kevin guy. We talked it all out at Christmas sixteen years ago, and that's that."
Gemma paused with her hand on the truck door, turning to them and rolling her eyes. "Oh please, she wasn't cheating with Kevin. You obviously need to hash it out, preferably in private. There's no need to repeat that Christmas fiasco."
Hunter's hands balled at his sides, but Chase was the one who asked, "Is her number still the same? How does he reach her?"
Hunter glared at him, but Chase didn't care. He needed to know for himself.
Gemma nodded and opened the truck door. "Yeah, same number as always. And Hunter? There's more to clear the air than you think. Call her."
With that cryptic comment, she hopped up, and the engine turned. Chase led Gladys into the barn for the night, his mind whirling with possibilities. He carefully thought through what to say, how to say it, and all the ways she could respond.
She probably didn't want to hear from him. She'd not come home that spring break like they'd discussed and by April, he was knee-deep in legal trouble. He'd not heard from her for almost sixteen years, but it was time he moved on.
Hunter and his brothers had taken him to the Electric Cowboy a few times in the past year, and there were always girls looking to hook up with the big, burly convict fresh out of prison.
It was too awkward and uncomfortable though, and definitely not worth the trouble. Not for the first time, he shook off the deep knowledge that he differed from other guys.
For starters, he wanted a relationship, someone who wasn't embarrassed by his past like his parents were, someone who'd love him and not abandon him in times of trouble like Jewel had when he'd gone to jail. She hadn't bothered to check on him, didn't write any letters or send any messages.
Gladys tossed her head, and he eased up on the pressure on the brush. He rubbed her soft coat and purred, "Sorry, girl."
With a sigh, he dropped the brush back in its spot and reached for his phone. He'd programmed all his family's numbers, but he'd also put in Jewel's.
He texted, knowing that was the preferred method of contact these days from his intense study of pop culture in the past year.
Hear you're coming to town. Would love to talk and clear the air.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and locked up the barn for the night. Hunter wasn't the only one who needed to clear the air, but no one else knew that. Only he and Jewel knew their personal history.
Over the past year of working and partially rooming with Hunter in the bunkhouse, he'd grown increasingly guilty for betraying his brother like they had. He'd thought Hunter knew that Christmas all those years ago, but he'd never once brought it up and Chase hadn't volunteered the information. The past few months had confirmed that Hunter probably didn't know, and it left his stomach feeling like lead.
He never should have slept with her while she was dating Hunter.
When they'd made him go to group counseling in prison and the other guys had talked about drug addictions, a lot of what they'd said had resonated with him. It was how he thought of Jewel. She'd been addicting, and his withdrawals had led him down a dark path.
Actually, that wasn't fair. It wasn't her fault he'd tumbled in with the wrong crowd when he'd gotten super stressed over his double class load that spring and offered tutoring to his peers.
It was all his own fault, and now he needed to start fresh. That included facing Jewel and moving on with a brighter future. If she didn't text him back by next week, he'd call her.