Page 93 of Native Hawk
The ladies softly gasped. But that didn’t surprise Drew. Chase had a good heart and a strong back.
“What happened?” he asked.
“What about his lady?” Cat breathed. “What about Claire?”
For an instant, an almost imperceptible shudder went through Miss Hattie. Then she pursed her lips and said, “She’s sufferin’, but she’s gonna be fine.”
The other ladies murmured in worry.
Miss Hattie held up a hand for silence. “Claire almost…” She stopped, choking on the words. “She got caught in the fire. Thank heavens, Chase managed to pull her out in time.”
There was a collective sigh of relief.
But Drew wasn’t going to be satisfied until he heard the whole story. Forgetting he was supposed to be incapacitated, he pushed himself up until he was sitting upright in the bed.
“How did the fire start?” he demanded. “Who was there?”
While everyone listened intently, Miss Hattie related what she knew, which was sketchy.
It appeared that Claire’s ex-fiancé had something to do with it. Once he found out that Claire had her heart set on another man—Chase Wolf—he decided if he couldn’t have Claire, no one could. He’d settle for inheriting the ranch without her help.
“It looks like the son of a bitch might have set the barn on fire,” Miss Hattie ground out, “with Claire in it.”
Gasps sucked all the air out of the room.
Miss Hattie shook her head. “It was pure good luck your brother showed up in time to save her.”
Drew exchanged a meaningful glance with Claire. If they hadn’t convinced Chase to go to the Parker Ranch when they did, Claire might be dead now.
“What happened to her fiancé?” Cat asked. The fire of revenge burned hot in her eyes. Drew reminded himself never to get on Cat’s bad side.
“The sheriff arrested Frank,” Miss Hattie told them. “He’ll be tried tomorrow, prob’ly hanged soon after.”
Catalina hoped so. When she thought of sweet Claire, trapped in a burning barn, it made her feel sick.
“Where are they now?” Drew wanted to know. “Chase and Claire?”
“Recoverin’ at the ranch,” Miss Hattie said. “Thank goodness it was only the barn and not the main house.”
“I have to see him,” he said, throwing off his covers. “I have to see my brother.”
Catalina knew he wouldn’t believe Chase was safe until he saw him with his own eyes. But that was impossible.
“You can’t,” she said, throwing the covers back on again. “You’re hurt.”
He threw them off once more. “Not so hurt I can’t see my own brother.”
Miss Hattie shook her head. “Even if you could, it ain’t safe. Nobody except Claire and The Parlor know there are two of you. If you’re spotted, it won’t be long before everyone in Paradise knows you’re twins. You’ll put yourself and your brother in danger of arrest all over again.”
“We won’t be spotted.”
Miss Hattie clucked her tongue. “One six-foot half-breed is hard enough to hide, but two?”
Drew’s shoulders slumped. He knew she was right.
Claire made up her mind. “I’ll go,” she offered.
“I can’t let you do that,” Drew said. “He’smybrother.”
