A Cowboy Worth Claiming. Charlene Sands
Chance gazed down at the walnut box carved with the letter W.
“I had the box made when I arrived home from Channing.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Times were better then.”
Chance knew what was inside. Taking a deep breath, he opened the lid and there, resting on the white silk lining, was a thin gold chain with a pear-shaped ruby pendant. The sparkling deep crimson gem was the size of a plum pit. He stared at his mother’s necklace—it was the only thing of value Chance Worth had ever owned. He was almost afraid to lift the chain, to touch the ruby. He remembered the day that he’d protected this necklace from three robbers who were intent on taking the one thing Chance valued above his own life. And after that beating, he realized he couldn’t hold on to the necklace. One way or another, he’d never reach adulthood with it in his possession.
Take it, Mr. Mitchell. Take it and keep it for me.
Chance had pleaded with Edward to keep the only remembrance he had of his mother. Losing his parents to marauders and then struggling to survive in an orphanage, he’d learned early on there weren’t too many people he could count on and trust. But Edward Mitchell with his kind eyes and generous spirit had been one of them. In a sense, Chance’s life had been whittled away to the sum total of that necklace and he entrusted Edward with its safekeeping.
I’ll know it’ll always be safe. With you.
Edward had agreed to keep the necklace until Chance could retrieve it. “Why are you giving this to me now, Edward?”
The older man glanced at the closed bedroom door and lowered his voice. Any minute now Lizzie would step out, and Chance noted his urgency to speak before she did.
“I’m dying, Chance. I had to be sure to give this back to you.”
Chance inhaled sharply. He couldn’t say he wasn’t expecting this. The minute he laid eyes on him, he’d seen the weariness in the old man’s body.
“I’m growing weaker every day. Lizzie knows, too, but we don’t talk about it. It’s easier for her to deny it.”
“That’s why you sent for me.”
“It’s one of the reasons. I’m trying to keep the ranch from failing. I need your help. If you’re willing.”
The necklace would have brought Edward Mitchell enough money to keep the ranch going for a time, yet he’d held on to it, saving it for Chance. Just like he promised. Chance’s throat got heavy with emotion. He hated the thought of the older man dying. There weren’t too many men on this earth of such honor and honesty. He took a moment to assemble his thoughts and conceal feelings he rarely showed anyone.
On a shaky breath he said, “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me.” He held up the jewelry box. “For keeping this safe. It’s the only thing I have left of my life before my parents were murdered.” Chance spoke with firm resolve. “You can count on me, Edward. I’ll do whatever you need.”
Chance thought about Lizzie’s crazy notion that he was brought here to marry her. Now, it seemed possible that’s what Edward had in mind.
“Thank you.” Relief crossed Edward’s features as he nodded. Chance could, at the very least, give him that much peace of mind. But then the old man’s face turned beet-red and he began coughing. Chance rose to help him, but he quickly gestured for him to sit back down. When his coughing fit ended, he leaned back against his chair.
Once he’d caught his breath, he explained, “We’re in a bad way financially. Got barely enough to make it through the month. It’ll break Lizzie’s heart, but this here furniture, her mama’s furniture, is next to go. Won’t get all that much for it, that’s why I haven’t brought it up to Lizzie yet. That girl is dang upset about her dolls. She had orders and was rushing off to collect the money in town. Took her more than a month to sew those dolls and the girl feels she’s let me down.” He stopped. Squeezed his eyes shut and pinched his nose. He was near tears. “Only, I’m the one letting her down. My granddaughter has calloused hands from working the ranch. She cooks our meals and at night, she fashions her dolls until she about collapses into bed.”
“I have some cash saved up,” Chance said, wanting to spare the old man any more pain. He’d give him everything he had.
Edward shook his head. “I’m a prideful man. It was hard enough asking you this favor, I won’t take your money.”
“Then what can I do for you?”
“My last ranch hand quit a month ago. Can’t say as I blame him. Toby stuck around without pay for three weeks. Just as a favor to Lizzie and me. Fact is, I need to get my Longhorns to the railhead. We got thirty head that’ll bring a good price. But I got no one to go with Lizzie on the drive.”
“Lizzie? She drives cattle?”
Edward’s eyes lit with pride. “She’s been going on drives with me since she was a youngster. The railhead is in Prescott. Should only take five days to get there.”
His cough took hold again and plagued him for the next half a minute. Chance rose up as he’d done before, wanting to help, to give the man some aid, but once again Edward gestured for him to sit down. Each cough took more life from him, as if an evil force counted down the breaths until he took his very last one.
“Grandpa?” Lizzie called from the other side of the door.
Edward sat up and caught his breath quickly, hiding his true condition from his granddaughter. “I’m fine, Lizzie. Don’t fret.”
Chance questioned him. “She know what you got planned?”
He shook his head. “Nope. But we haven’t got much choice. She won’t put up much fuss once I explain.”
Chance had doubts about that. He’d seen some of Lizzie’s fussing. “Why not sell the steers to a neighbor? Have them drive the cattle.”
“I thought of that. They’d take too big a cut of the profits. Wouldn’t leave us enough to live.”
Chance didn’t like the idea of driving cattle with a female, but Edward wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t think it necessary. And it wasn’t much of a drive. Hell, they’d be back in a week. “Then it’s settled. I’ll go.”
Edward leaned back in his seat and rested his head on the chair’s carved wooden backing, closing his eyes. His voice became a mere whisper. “Thank you, but there’s more. And this…this is going to be a mite more difficult.”
Chance braced himself. “You want me to shoot someone dead?”
The old man smiled. “Of course not.”
“Then how bad could it be?”
He opened his eyes and Chance was hit with the impact of the old man’s determined gaze. “I want you to find Lizzie a husband.”
Chapter Two
After she’d dried off and changed into a brown dress, Lizzie pushed through her bedroom door, keeping her misery close to heart. It wouldn’t do to have Grandpa knowing how desperate she was. She found him and Chance Worth sitting in the front room, head down, whispering, in obvious cahoots about something. The second they spotted her they clamped their mouths shut. What in heaven’s name were they up to? And why did her Grandpa see fit to summon him here in the first place?
“Lizzie, dear girl, come sit with us for a spell.”
“I will for just a little while.” She smiled at her grandpa and plopped down on the sofa as far away from the stranger as possible. She wasn’t afraid of him, no sir, but she’d been close enough to feel his warm breath on her throat, to feel his arms tug her close while riding his mare. Why, she’d practically seen him naked at the lake and didn’t like for one minute the warm sensations he’d stirred in her.
“That’s my girl.” Her grandpa leaned