Brave the Wild Wind by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online Page A

after her.”
    “I’m beginning to think your Jessica is perpetually angry. You want to know why she took off that night? It’s because I was here.”
    “Did she tell you that?”
    “She didn’t have to,” Chase replied. “She happens to be the kid I told you about, the one who sent me off in the wrong direction that day, lying to me. That’s why she left, I’m sure. She didn’t have the guts to face me after she saw I’d made it here after all.”
    “But, Chase, you said that girl was with a man, that they were—”
    “I know what I said. But that was Jessica, one and the same.” And then he added spitefully, whether he believed it or not, “I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where she was that whole week, with a man somewhere.”
    “You’re going too far, Chase Summers,” Rachel said defensively.
    “Okay, but what are you going to do about her? You are her guardian, Rachel. Her father left her in your care. Are you just going to let her run wild?”
    “What am I supposed to do when she won’ttalk to me? She doesn’t believe I care about her. How do I reach her when she hates me?”
    “I’ll tell you what I would do.”
    “I’ve seen what you would do,” she said sternly. “And that’s not the answer. There has to be some other way.”
    “You ought to just find her a husband and get her off your hands. Let someone else worry about her.”
    Rachel didn’t answer, but she looked at him thoughtfully. An idea began to take shape in her mind, an idea Jessica wouldn’t have liked at all.

Chapter 6
    “H AVE you seen my sister?” Billy asked Chase as he joined him on the porch.
    “Not since yesterday,” Chase grunted. “At least this time your mother didn’t ask me to go after her when she didn’t come home last night.”
    “But she did come home,” Billy said. “It was late, but I heard her come in and go to her room. I missed her this morning. I was hoping she would let me ride with her today.”
    Chase smiled at Billy’s enthusiasm. “I take it you like it better here than the city?”
    “Well, sure! Who wouldn’t?”
    “I kind of like city life myself.”
    “But you’ve been out West a long time, at least that’s what Mother said. This is all new to me.”
    “And what about your schooling? As I remember, that was one of the golden rules in the Ewing household—thou shalt be educated, or suffer the consequences. Or has that changed now that Jonathan Ewing—” Chase stopped, cursing himself for his stupid blunder. Why had he said that?
    “That’s all right.” Billy rescued him. “Father’s been dead three years now. It doesn’t hurt to talk about it anymore. But as for schooling, I wish you hadn’t reminded me. Mother was saying she’ll probably send me back to Chicago soon, since the nearest schoolroom is a day’s ride from here.”
    “And you don’t want to go?”
    “Not alone,” Billy admitted. “But Mother says she can’t leave Jessie alone, either, and Jessie wouldn’t consider coming back with us. I can’t blame Jessie for that, though. I wouldn’t give up this ranch, either, if it were mine. I just wish I could stay here, too.”
    “Well, I don’t imagine your mother is eager to part with you.” Chase grinned. “So you’ll probably be around here for a while. Enjoy it while you can.”
    “Oh, I will,” Billy replied. Seeing Chase unconsciously rubbing the bridge of his nose, he asked, “What happened yesterday?”
    Chase looked at him sideways, ready with a sharp retort. Then he shrugged. Billy meant no harm. “Your sister punched me.”
    “Did she really?” Billy grinned, his blue eyes lighting up with wonder.
    “I don’t see what’s so funny about it,” Chase said testily, his eyes narrowing.
    “It’s not funny,” Billy assured him quickly. “It’s just, well, I mean, she’s not much taller than I am, and here you are twice her size. But then, it’s not so unusual when you consider Jessie. She can do any thing.”
    Chase