“Gambling?”
“It was very bad.” Raina ran her hand over the back of the sofa, deep in thought. “He was always in debt and had even spent some time in jail for stealing money to pay back a debt. Luckily, the Coopers, who own the general store, took care of their food needs because his father too often would gamble away what little his mother earned. Awful, really.”
Sloane agreed.
“Circumstances made Samson a loner,” Raina continued. “But who can blame him? I mean, wouldn’t any teenager withdraw if they were embarrassed to bring anyone home?”
A lump formed in Sloane’s throat and she was unable to answer.
“But he was nice and kind and handsome in his day.” Raina smiled, remembering. “And he turned his attention to studies. His goal was to get a college education and do better than his parents had.”
Hope and admiration replaced Sloane’s earlier despair and she hung on Raina’s every word. “We can assume that at some point he had a relationship with my mother.”
Raina sighed. “I suppose so. And I wish that Jacqueline had told me.” She shook her head, her frustration obvious. “Now that the pieces are coming together, I remember her mentioning being in love that last summer she spent in Yorkshire Falls. She didn’t want to use his name. She said she was afraid of jinxing the relationship, but I knew she meant she was afraid her father would find out. Jack Ford was a tough old bird.”
Sloane recalled the details of how her grandfather had bribed Samson to stay away from her mother and Sloane knew Raina’s description was way too kind. She had a hunch that Samson’s father’s gambling had something to do with the bribery and money that had exchanged hands. “Did Samson ever go to college?”
Raina shook her head. “He changed. Actually, it was around the time Jacqueline’s family moved away. He started spending all his time at home instead of at the library.
Eventually his mother passed away and his father took off one day, never to be seen again. Rumor had it he went to Las Vegas, though I always assumed that was the easy answer to where a gambler would go.”
Sloane tried, but she couldn’t even manage a laugh. “And then?”
Raina raised her hands and spread them wide. “Then nothing. Your mother had moved away long before and Samson became more and more withdrawn, more odd, reclusive. . . .” She dropped her hands, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I just think you need to be prepared for the man you find.”
“If I find him.”
“Well, his house is gone, so you’re going to have to try—”
“Friends?” Sloane asked wryly. “We both know he has none in town.”
“None we know of. He has to be somewhere,” Raina insisted. “In the meantime, I’ve answered your questions. Now humor an old lady and answer some of mine.”
Sloane burst out laughing. “I admire you, Raina. I really do.” In fact, she enjoyed the older woman way too much. She liked spending time with Chase’s mother, and because Raina had known Jacqueline, Sloane felt an emotional bond she hadn’t expected.
“Why is that?”
“You don’t hedge, for one thing.”
“Any reason why I should?” Raina grinned, and to Sloane’s relief, the first hint of color returned to the older woman’s cheeks. “Now for my most important question.” She straightened her shoulders and tossed her best volley. “Are you and Chase a couple?”
Sloane wasn’t too stunned to reply, she was just taken off guard. “I’m not sure how to answer that.”
“Just tell her the truth.” Chase strode into the room, handsome, sexy, and disarming, with that cocky grin he didn’t use often enough. But its effect was devastating when turned her way.
“Which is?” Raina rubbed her hands together in anticipation.
Sloane met his heated gaze, wanting an answer to that question herself. “Go on, Chase. If you’re so good at answers, you tell your mother the truth.”
And then she held her breath while she waited to find out what that truth was.
CHAPTER TEN
Chase caught the anticipation on Sloane’s face. She hadn’t a clue what he was going to say, but she didn’t have to worry. He had more class than to tell his mother they were lovers. He would, however, give Raina the answer to her prayers. “Sloane and I are an item, Mom.” Something he’d confirmed with Cindy earlier.
They’d parted on amicable and understanding terms, but he hadn’t told Cindy he and Sloane were temporary. It didn’t seem appropriate or necessary.
“I knew it!” Raina clasped her hands together, her pleasure at Chase and Sloane’s pairing obvious.
Apparently, the women had hit it off, and as Chase expected, she’d already okayed Sloane as daughter-in-law material. For that reason, he’d decided to use Raina’s own needs against her.
If she thought Chase was seriously involved with Sloane, she’d leave them alone, freeing him from any unexpected visits and keeping his mother out of harm’s way while they searched for Samson.
“Now that you have your answer, I’ve come to take Sloane to lunch.” He walked to the living room and held out a hand, helping Sloane rise from her seat. “I trust you ladies had a nice morning?”
“Wonderful,” Sloane said. “Productive too. Your mother knew my mom much better than either one of us realized.”
“I’d love it if you’d come back and visit,” Raina said without getting up from her seat on the couch. “In the meantime, I’ll see if I can remember anything else.”
Sloane nodded. “I’d appreciate that. Maybe you’d like to join us for lunch?”
Damn, Chase thought. “Mom needs her rest.” He shot a pointed glance at his mother. She wouldn’t dare join them if she thought he wanted intimate time with Sloane.
Sure enough, she treated him to an almost imperceptible nod of understanding.
“You’re sweet, Sloane, but Eric’s taking me to a movie tonight, so I should take it easy now. I’ll just watch the soaps this afternoon. How’s that?”
“Sounds good to me.” He’d have to explain about his mother’s health later. Though he’d told her about Raina’s matchmaking tendencies, he’d neglected to mention her fake heart condition—something he’d yet to come to terms with. And he hadn’t yet decided how to deal with the situation.