Sons Of Chance: Ambushed! Part 14

"WHERE'S MORGAN?" Gabe's mother pounced on him the minute he appeared in the small family dining room adjacent to the one they used when they were feeding the hands or entertaining a big crowd.

"She asked me to tell you how sorry she was to miss this." Gabe made it up as he went along. "She's not feeling well, and she decided to leave in case whatever she has is contagious."

Jack held the chair for Sarah. "I'd be willing to bet it's contagious," he said. "If I were you, Gabe, I'd monitor myself. You could be coming down with it, too."

Sarah glanced at Gabe in surprise. "It must have come on quick. She looked fine this afternoon."

"That was before she took a gander at the ranch," Jack said as he sat down. "Gabe, maybe you should tell Sarah what you told me, about contacting the lawyer."

"It's not a good time to discuss that." Gabe glared at his brother. They had a score to settle, but they weren't going to do it at the dinner table.

Gabe's mother sighed. "Jack, I really think, especially now, that you could call me Mom instead of Sarah."

"Yeah, Jack." Nick helped Dominique into her chair.

"It's time."

"I'll add my vote." Pam Mulholland was seated next to Emmett.

Gabe hadn't thought about it before, but he suspected his mother of matchmaking between Pam and Emmett, too. Come to think of it, they were about the same age. Pam looked as if she'd put extra effort into her appearance tonight. She'd done something different with her blond hair, sticking some fancy jewel things in it, and her light blue blouse showed off a bit of cleavage.

Emmett had taken time to wash up and get in a quick shave. His ears turned pink every time he glanced over at Pam, and Pam looked at him as if he were the last piece of fudge on the plate. Gabe wondered how long this attraction had been going on.

Emmett cleared his throat and looked across the table at Jack. "It would be a courtesy if you would do that for Sarah, son."

If Gabe hadn't been so angry with Jack, he might have felt sorry for the guy. Jack wasn't used to being chastised in front of the entire family. Well, it was his own fault.

"Oh, never mind." Gabe's mother unfolded her napkin and put it in her lap. "I guess it's not that important."

Nick glanced between the two of them. "I think it is. And I'm in a better position to understand than I used to be, Jack."

"I don't think so," Jack said quietly. "You grew up thinking Sarah was your mother, and just because you found out that wasn't exactly true, it doesn't really change anything. I grew up knowing that my mother is still out there somewhere."

Gabe couldn't stand seeing the pain in his mother's eyes. "No, she isn't. Your mother is right there. Sarah Chance is the only person who's ever loved you as a son. Her son. It's only right that you-"

"Are you lecturing me about what's right?" Jack pushed back his chair. "Aren't you the guy who brought a real estate agent on the property today?" He stood.

"Jack." Sarah put a hand on his arm. "Have a little faith in Gabe's judgment. If he says Morgan's not out to exploit her friendship with him, we should believe him. I want you to drop this prejudiced behavior."

Jack turned to her. "Then explain to me why, within minutes of her slinking away-"

"She did not slink away!" Gabe shoved back his chair.

"That's enough." Emmett stood. "If you two boys are determined to get into it, then you will take it outside."

"But we're having dinner!" Sarah stood, too. "I demand to know what's going on."

Jack threw down his napkin and left his seat. "I'll tell you what's going on. Gabe wants to sell off his share of the ranch."

"d.a.m.n it, I didn't say that!"

Jack pointed a finger at him. "You sure as h.e.l.l did."

"Hey!" Nick leaped from his chair. "Cut it out! I wouldn't blame Dominique if she changed her mind about marrying into this family, if we can't get through a simple dinner without yelling at each other!"

Jack protested his innocence and Gabe jumped in, determined not to let his brother spread any more lies. As they tried to outshout each other, a piercing whistle brought silence to the table.

Sarah took her fingers from her mouth.

Gabe hadn't heard that whistle in years. He'd forgotten his mother knew how to do it, but hearing it now brought back memories of the times she'd used that whistle to bring order when her boys got out of line.

Narrowing her eyes, she aimed a laserlike glance at each of her sons. "Jack. Nick. Gabe. Sit down."

Gabe sat, and he noticed that Nick and Jack did the same.

"All right. I don't know what is going on, and I don't want to know now. We can deal with whatever the problem is after dinner, like civilized people. We're celebrating an engagement tonight, and I expect all three of you to sit here and behave yourselves. Is that clear?"

Gabe nodded, as did Jack and Nick.

"Good." His mother picked up her winegla.s.s. "Let's begin by toasting the happy couple. Here's to Nick and Dominique. May you have a long and happy life together."

Gabe lifted his gla.s.s along with everyone else at the table. But as he drank, he looked over the rim of his goblet to find Jack staring right back at him. The message in his brother's dark eyes was easy to read.

This isn't over.

MORGAN THOUGHT about making a meal of brownies and a bottle of red wine she had in the cupboard, but in the end she didn't feel like being alone. Drinking wine and thinking about Gabe would probably produce nothing more valuable than tears, and she didn't feel like crying herself to sleep tonight.

One thing she was good at-most likely a world champion at-was saying goodbye. After all those moves as a kid-she'd stopped counting at thirty-she could leave a situation like n.o.body's business and soon be on to the next thing. The hollow ache she felt was probably hunger as much as sadness.

So she took a long, hot shower, styled her hair and walked over to Spirits and Spurs. Once there, she chose to sit at the bar instead of a table, because she was hoping to talk with Josie about ghosts. They didn't have to mention the Chance men. No point in wasting breath on those boys. Morgan was interested in ghosts.

A few people greeted her on her way over to a stool, and one couple invited her to join their table. She was gratified that someone offered, but not surprised. She was used to going into a town and making friends, and already she was on speaking terms with most of the merchants in town and quite a few of the residents.

Adding Pam Mulholland from the Bunk and Grub as a contact would be nice, but she could manage that on her own without the help of Sarah Chance. She didn't need Sarah, and she didn't need her son, either. He'd been a pleasant diversion for a couple of days, nothing more.

Picking an empty stool at the end of the bar near the cash register, Morgan climbed up on it and watched Josie work. Her long blond braid swung as she clinked ice into gla.s.ses, poured whatever combination had been ordered and then garnished the drink with a flourish. If the real estate business didn't pan out, Morgan figured she should train as a bartender. She'd be good at bartending, which involved interacting with people as much as it did mixing drinks.

"Hey, Morgan." Josie placed a c.o.c.ktail napkin in front of her. "What can I get for you?"

"Something new and different."

"How about a jolly rancher martini?"

"Uh, I don't think so." The thought of anything to do with ranching made her ill.

Josie gazed at her with a knowing expression. "Then maybe a Pain Killer?"

Morgan winced. "Is it that obvious?"

"Not to everyone, I'm sure. I'm a bartender and I pick up on stuff. Plus I'm another woman who's been run over by one of the Chance boys."

"That's a good way to put it. Run over."

Josie sighed. "I'm sorry. You two looked happy yesterday."

"Yeah, well." Morgan forced a smile and shrugged.

"Easy come, easy go. And I swear I didn't come in here to talk about it. I came in to talk to you about ghosts."

"Cool! We can totally do that. Let me mix you your drink. You'll like it-dark rum, coconut rum, orange juice, pineapple juice."

Morgan nodded in approval. "Rum to help me forget and vitamin C to keep me healthy for when a new guy comes along. Sounds perfect."

"Something to eat along with that? You need to keep up your strength, you know."

"Spoken like a veteran of the Chance wars."

Josie rolled her eyes. "With the scars to prove it. How about a cheeseburger and fries? Comfort food works wonders at a time like this."

"Then I should probably have a chocolate shake to go with them."

Josie grinned and shook her head. "I've discovered the Pain Killer goes great with a cheeseburger and fries." She patted the bar in front of Morgan. "Hang in there, girlfriend. I'll be back in a flash with Dr. Josie's prescription."

Girlfriend. It sounded nice. Morgan had made friends in town, but she hadn't made what she'd call girlfriends, women she could hang out with, women with whom she shared secrets and beauty tips. That took time, and in a town this size, the cliques were pretty much formed in high school. Morgan hadn't lived here long enough as a teenager to be accepted into a group.

Josie's show of female solidarity was most welcome. Morgan wondered if Josie had a group of girlfriends, and if not, whether she'd like to start one with Morgan.

Within a couple of minutes, Josie set a sunny drink topped with a pineapple wedge on the c.o.c.ktail napkin in front of Morgan. "Drink up. I put in your order for the burger and fries."

"Thanks, Josie."

"If you'll excuse me for just a sec, I have to get a refill for the couple at the far end of the bar."

Morgan suddenly wondered if she looked pathetic and needy. "Hey, I'm fine. You have a job to do. You don't have to babysit me."

"I thought you wanted to talk about ghosts?"

"Oh! I do!"

"Good." Josie grinned and launched into a Schwarzenegger version of "I'll be back" before hurrying to supply new drinks to the couple.

Morgan sipped her Pain Killer, which tasted like something she should be drinking next to a pool or on the beach. That image was way better than whatever might surface while she downed a jolly rancher.

Not that Gabe hadn't been jolly. He'd been a regular laugh riot until the moment he'd decided she was an impediment to his riding career. d.a.m.n it, anyway. She hadn't asked him to ride over and save her from Geronimo's antics.

In fact, she'd tried to talk him out of coming to her rescue. He'd been the one pursuing her until suddenly he stopped. To h.e.l.l with him and the horse he rode in on. Literally.

She'd been fine before Gabe had arrived on the scene and she'd be fine now that he was about to take himself off to win more championships and get his horse inducted into the frickin' Hall of Fame. She didn't want what he was selling, anyway. He might pretend not to want commitment, but he was a Chance, a man with a legacy to uphold.

Considering the speed with which things had developed between them, she could end up married and pregnant before she knew what hit her. She was well rid of Gabe Chance. Well. Rid. Of. Him.

"Ready for another?" Josie appeared in front of her and gestured to the gla.s.s.

Morgan glanced down and was amazed to discover she'd finished off her Pain Killer. She was feeling pretty good, too. If Gabe Chance were to show up right now, she'd spit in his eye.

She met Josie's questioning gaze. "Sure, why not? I'm not driving. And this is a celebration."

"Oh?"

"I'm celebrating dodging a bullet."

"Gotcha." Josie took the empty gla.s.s and proceeded to make up another Pain Killer. "Let me check on your burger," she said as she delivered the second drink. "I'm caught up for a while, so we really will be able to talk about ghosts when I get back."

"Okay." Morgan wished now she hadn't allowed Gabe to hustle her out of the bar so fast after she'd seen the shimmering light. If she'd known he was going to dump her, she would have been less agreeable...about a lot of things.

"Here's your burger. Watch out. Plate's hot." Josie set it down next to Morgan's drink along with a napkin and silverware. "So, did you see something in here last night?"

"I think so." Morgan told her about the ghostly light that seemed to come through the front door and then park itself at the corner table next to the hallway leading to the bathrooms.

Josie's gray eyes lit up as the story progressed. "I've seen that same light! What happened after that? What did Gabe say?"

"He was in the bathroom and on his way out-he walked past it without noticing."

"But then he turned around and saw it, right? This is awesome. He won't be able to make fun of my ghosts anymore if he actually-"

"That's the frustrating part. I told him to turn around and look, but when he did, it was gone."

Josie's shoulders slumped. "d.a.m.n. He probably thinks you were pulling his leg."

"I don't think so. He had me out of here and walking down the street in no time. I think he was freaked out, although he kept insisting I'd seen car headlights coming through the windows."

"Are you saying he was scared?" Josie looked doubtful. "Big bad Gabe Chance?"

Morgan giggled. "I think he was terrified." For some reason she found that funny. "I figure if he'd actually seen that shimmering light he would have screamed like a girl."

"Amazing." Josie tapped her finger against her chin thoughtfully. "All along I thought the Chance boys were convinced I was making up the ghosts as a marketing ploy. Instead they might be nervous about coming face-to-face with one."

"I can't speak for the other two, but I'm convinced Gabe believes the ghosts are real. He doesn't want to admit that to himself or anybody else, but if he didn't believe in them, he wouldn't have been so quick to vacate the premises last night."

"Jack used to poo-poo the whole idea, too. I told him that the ghosts have been here all along, probably way before I bought the place."

"You think so?"

"It makes sense. Whoops. Here comes another order. And you need to eat your food before it gets cold." Josie went to the end of the bar and took a slip from the waitress.

Morgan tucked into her burger, which tasted great. Either the Pain Killers had worked or she wasn't all that torn up about Gabe, because her appet.i.te was fine. And she was having fun talking about ghosts with Josie. Maybe the two of them could become a ghost-hunting team.

By the time Josie came back, Morgan had eaten most of her burger and about half of her fries. "So you think the ghosts have been here for years?"