Under Threat

the pile.”
“What brought you to Big Sky?” Mary asked, seeing that she’d made the young woman uncomfortable.
“Wanderlust. I had a job waiting for me in Spokane, but I found exactly what I was looking for right here in Big Sky, Montana. Is this the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?”
Mary had to smile. “I’ve always thought so. Where are you from? I detect an accent.”
Lucy laughed. “Texas. I can’t seem to overcome my roots.”
“I’d keep it if I were you.”
“You think?” the woman asked as she set down the go cup on the counter in front of her.
Mary nodded. “I do. I hope you enjoy it here.”
“Thanks. I know I will.”
Chase was relieved when he got the call from Mary. He’d had a lot of time to think, and he didn’t want to spend any more time away from her. He’d gone over to her place last night in the hopes that they could talk. But she hadn’t been home. Was she out with the deputy? The thought made him crazy.
But he had only himself to blame. He’d broken her heart when he’d left Montana. Even now though, he knew that he’d had to go. He was definitely too young for marriage back then.
But he’d grown up in the years he’d been gone. He’d learned a trade he loved. He’d seen some of the world. He wasn’t the kid Mary used to hang out with. He’d known for some time what he wanted. It wasn’t until he’d gotten her letter that he’d realized there was still hope. He’d been afraid that Mary had moved on a long time ago. But like him, she hadn’t found anyone who tempted her into a relationship. That was until the deputy came along.
“I’m sorry about the other day, surprising you like that. You were right. I should have called.”
“That’s behind us,” she said in a tone that let him know there was a lot more than a simple phone call to be overcome between them. He’d hurt her. Had he really thought she’d forgive him that quickly? “Just understand, I wrote that letter to tell you about the package that came for you. The rest of it was just me caught in a weak moment.”
“I didn’t think you had weak moments,” he joked.
“Chase—”
“All I’m asking is for a chance to prove myself to you.” Silence. “There’s something I didn’t tell you. My mother contacted me. She’d been sick off and on for years, in and out of remission. This time she was dying and wanted to see me. That’s why I went to Arizona. She recently died.”
“Oh, Chase, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t heard.”
“She asked me to bring her ashes back here. To Big Sky.” He could almost hear Mary’s hesitation.
“Did she...?”
“Tell me who my father was? No. I was with her the night she died. She took it to her grave.”
“I’m so sorry.” Mary knew how not knowing had haunted him his whole life. It was a mystery, one that had weighed him down. He wanted to know who he was, who he came from, why his mother refused to tell him. Was his father that bad? He’d known there was much more to the story, and it was a story he needed to hear.
“She did tell me one thing. She’d met the man who fathered me here in Big Sky. It’s why she wanted her ashes brought back here.”
“But that’s all you know.”
“For now. Listen—”
“I called about the package,” Mary said quickly. “If your mother met your father here, well that would explain why a woman saying she was once your mother’s friend left you the package. If you’d like to stop by my office to pick it up—”
“I can’t come by before tomorrow. I’m working on the Jensen Ranch to earn some extra money. I had pickup trouble on the way back to town. But I was hoping we could go out—”
“I need time. Also I’m really busy.”
“Is this about that deputy?” he asked, then mentally kicked himself.
“I’m not seeing Dillon right now either, not that it is any of your business. You don’t get to just come back and—”
“Whoa, you’re right. Sorry. I’ll back off. Just know that I’m here and that I’m not going anywhere. I want you back, Mary. I’ve never stopped loving you and never will.”
As if Mary could forget that Chase was back in town. After the phone call, she threw herself into her work, determined not to think about the handsome cowboy who’d stolen her heart years ago. Dillon kept leaving her messages. She texted him that she had a lot of work to do, and would get back to him in a day or two.
That night, she lay in bed, thinking about Chase, her heart aching. He’d hurt her, and angry, she’d broken up with him only to have him leave. She’d lost her friend and her lover. After all the years they’d spent growing up together, Mary had always thought nothing could keep them apart. She’d been wrong, and now she was terrified that she’d never really known Chase.
In the morning, she went down to work early, thankful for work to keep her mind off Chase even a little. Midmorning she looked up to see the new barista from the Lone Peak Perk standing in her doorway.
“Don’t shoot me,” Lucy said. “I just had a feeling you might need this.” She held out the ultimate caramel frappaccino.
Mary could have hugged her. “You must be a mind reader,” she said as she rose from her desk to take the container of coffee from her. “I got so busy, I actually forgot. I had no idea it was so late. I can’t tell you how much I need this.”
“I don’t want to interrupt. I can see that you’re busy,” Lucy said, taking a step toward the door. “But when I realized you hadn’t been in...”
“Just a minute, let me pay you.”
Lucy waved her off. “My treat. My good deed for the day.” She