Under Threat by B.J. Daniels (reading the story of the .TXT) 📕

Chapter 15

With Mary’s mother’s help, Chase had narrowed down their search to three local men—Jack Martin, Jason Morrison and Jonathan Mason. Dana had helped him weed out the ones that she knew were too young, too old or hadn’t been around at the time.

His mother had been eighteen when she’d given birth to him. If her lover had been older, say twenty-five or thirty as Chase suspected, then his father would now be in his fifties.

Jack Martin owned a variety of businesses in Big Sky, including the art shop where his wife sold her pottery. A bell tinkled over the door as Mary and Chase entered. A woman passed them holding a large box as if what was inside was breakable. Chase held the door for her, before he and Mary moved deeper in the shop.

The place smelled of mulberry candles, a sickeningly sweet fragrance that Mary had never liked. She tried not to breathe too deeply as they moved past displays of pottery toward the back counter.

Jack had begun helping out at the shop during the busiest time, summer, Mary knew. She spotted his gray head coming out of the back with a large pottery bowl, which he set on an open space on a display table. There was a young woman showing several ladies a set of pottery dishes in an adjoining room, and several visitors were looking at pottery lamps at the front of the shop.

As Mary approached, Jack turned and smiled broadly. “Afternoon, is there something I can help you with?”

Mary knew Jack from chamber of commerce meetings, but it took him a second before he said, “Mary Savage. I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you right away.”

“This is my friend Chase Steele.” She watched for a reaction. For all they knew, Chase’s father could have kept track of his son all these years. But she saw no reaction. “Is there a private area where we could speak with you for a moment?”

Jack frowned, but nodded. “We could step into the back.” He glanced around to see if there were customers who needed to be waited on. There didn’t appear to be for the moment.

“We won’t take much of your time,” she promised.

Chase tensed next to her as if to say, if Jack Martin was his father, he’d damned sure take as much of his time as he wanted.

Mary was glad that she’d come along. She knew how important this was, and could feel how nervous Chase had become the moment they stepped into the shop.

In the back it was cool and smelled less like the burning candles. “Did you know a woman named Muriel Steele?” Chase asked the moment they reached a back storage and work area.

Jack blinked in surprised. “Who?”

“Muriel Steele,” Mary said with less accusation. “It would have been close to thirty years ago.”

Jack looked taken aback. “You expect me to remember that long ago? Who was this woman?”

“One you had an affair with,” Chase said, making her cringe. She’d hoped he would let her handle this since he was too emotionally involved.

“That I would remember,” the man snapped. “I was married to Clara thirty years ago. We just celebrated our fortieth anniversary.” Jack was shaking his head. “I’m not sure what this is about or what this Muriel woman told you, but I have never cheated on my wife.”

Mary believed him. She looked to Chase, whom she could tell wasn’t quite as convinced.

“Would you be willing to take a DNA test to prove it?” Chase demanded.

“A DNA test? How would that prove...” Realization crossed his face. “I see.” His gaze softened. “I’m sorry young man, but I’m not related to you.”

“But you’d take the test,” Chase pressed.

Jack grew quiet for a moment, his expression sad. “If it would help you, yes, I would.”

Mary saw all the tension leave Chase’s body. He looked as if the strain had left him exhausted.

“Thank you,” Mary said as she heard more customers coming into the shop. “We won’t keep you any longer.”

“It’s not him,” Chase said as he climbed behind the wheel and started the pickup’s engine. A floodgate of emotions warred inside him. He wasn’t sure what he’d hoped for. That he could find his father that quickly and it would be over? He’d wanted to hate the man. Worse, he’d wanted to punch him. But when realization had struck Jack Martin, Chase had seen the pity in the man’s eyes.

“No, it wasn’t Jack,” she said. “Are you up to visiting the rest of them?”

He pulled off his Stetson and raked a hand through his hair. “I’m not sure I can do this. I thought I could but...” He glanced over at her.

“It’s all right.”

He shook his head. For a moment, they merely sat there, each lost in their own thoughts. Then Chase smiled over at her. “Could we drive up to Mountain Village and have an early lunch and forget all this for a while? Then I promise to take you back to work. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”

She reached over and placed a hand on his arm. He felt the heat of her fingers through his Western shirt. They warmed him straight to his heart and lower. What he wanted was this woman in his arms, in his bed, in his life. He felt as if he had made so many mistakes and was still making them.

“My stomach is still a little upset. I was really sick last night.” He looked at her with concern. “I’m sure it was just some twenty-four-hour flu,” she said quickly.

“I hope that’s all it was,” he said. “I was really careful with our picnic lunch.”

“And you didn’t get sick, so like I said, probably just a flu bug.” He must not have looked convinced. “I was just going to eat some yogurt for lunch. Maybe some other time?”

He studied her for a moment, so filled with love for this woman. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”

She laughed at that, and took