A Kiss for Cade (14 page)

Sitting on the grass, she leaned back against the tree trunk, fanning herself with her handkerchief.

He took a seat beside her, removed his hat, and hooked it over his knee. “What’s on your mind?”

“You have to leave.”

“Leave. What’ll it be, Red? Leave or stay? You seem to reach a different conclusion every day.”

“Leave. The kids are getting attached to you too quickly.”

“Isn’t that the point of me staying?”

“Regardless, I know you’re not going to stay, so you have to leave.”

He stared at her. “You confuse me.”

“What’s confusing about your leaving? You
are
going, aren’t you?”

“Eventually.”

“Then leave now before you do anymore damage.”

He took a deep breath and released it slowly, choosing his words carefully. “I don’t want to hurt the kids.” When he looked into her eyes, he saw her misgivings. She didn’t trust him. The thought stung, but he conceded that he had neglected his family. Her disapproval of him was his own fault. “I’ll stay as long as it takes to find the kids a home.”

“Not good enough.”

Could he tell her about Hart McGill and not upset her? He couldn’t. Women didn’t understand his profession. “It’s the way it’s going to be.”

“Why do you have to go? If you’re so adamant about me not having the kids, why not stay and raise them? Is Winterborn such a burden to you?”

“Do you know what’s going to happen to this town when word spreads that I’m here?”

She sighed. “Trouble.”

“‘Trouble’ is putting it mildly.” There were men waiting to jump at the chance to gun him down in public. He wasn’t going to subject Winterborn to hardened criminals, let alone Zoe and the kids. Coming home made him realize how much he missed the town. Pop, the old-timers at the barbershop, the smell of cookies baking at Edna Mews’s house, young boys playing marbles in the street. He had been one of those kids once. Now his life was an endless succession of dirty cow towns, empty bedrolls, cold beans, and warmed-over coffee. Not much to brag about for thirty-three years.

He focused on the meadow opposite the road and watched sunflowers bob their heads in the breeze. He couldn’t travel far enough to escape the enemies he’d made, but he wasn’t going to endanger Addy’s kids because of them.

The grizzly image of Hart McGill crossed his mind. He wouldn’t rest until he, Cade, was six feet under.

“I’m just saying that if you don’t plan to keep the kids, then the kindest thing to do is to leave. Right now.” Zoe wiped her palms on her skirt. “The longer you stay, the harder it will be for them to give you up.”

“They won’t be giving me up. I’ll be back on occasion.”

She stood and brushed off the back of her skirt, jaw clenched, frustration written on her face. “Where have I heard that before?”

Trying to lighten the mood, he playfully tugged at the hem of her skirt. “Don’t get yourself in a snit.” He winced when he saw the stubborn tilt of her chin that always meant trouble.

“I made a promise to an old friend’s wife. All right?”

“And she believed you?”

“You know what? I’m getting a little tired of your sass.” He grinned when impatience flared in her eyes.

“Is that right? Well, let me tell you what I’m tired of—”

He reached up, took her hand, and pulled her down beside him, mocking her wide-eyed countenance.

“Cade Kolby, stop manhandling me.”

Leaning close, he whispered against her ear, “You big enough to stop me?”

She stiffened and pulled away, but his arm slid around her waist and held her immobile.

“Don’t think you’re going to kiss me,” she declared.

“How else am I going to shut you up?” He grinned at the surprise in her eyes and then lowered his head. He had forgotten how intoxicating she smelled. Too many years had passed since he had kissed her.

Just before their lips met, her fingers clamped around his ear like a bear trap. Words escaped through her clenched teeth. “I
said
, don’t think you’re going to
kiss
me!” She pushed him aside. “Answer my question.”

She appeared unfazed, but her shaking hand and the blush on her cheek told him he still had an effect on her. “I forgot the question.”

“When exactly are you leaving?”

Getting to his feet, he rubbed feeling back into his ear. “When I’m good and ready.”

She stood and faced him. “Those children should be mine, Cade.”

“Do you remember how lonely you were as a girl with no mother? Your pa was gone most the time. Is that the kind of life you want for Addy’s kids?”

“Of course not, but I wouldn’t be gone. I would be here.”

“I remember how good life was for Addy and me, growing up with both a mother and father. I want that for her kids. I know that’s what she would want.”

Zoe’s eyes misted as she fumbled for her handkerchief. He reached for her hand and gently rubbed the back of it with his thumb. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to do what I think is best for all concerned.”

Seth and Bonnie were fine people and would do right by the children. As soon as Bonnie was well, the kids would go there to live. No use telling Zoe about Bonnie right now. He’d only further upset her and that wasn’t his purpose. She was a fine woman, but the kids needed a pa.

She took her hand out of his and reached for her basket. “You’re impossible.”

Cade watched her walk briskly down the road, her backside flouncing with every determined step. He shook his head. A lot of sass. His grin widened. That’s what he liked about her.

“I don’t think so,” he called, slipping his hat back on. “I’ve met worse.”

He’d been worse. She just didn’t know it.

Whirling, she flung her basket at him. Without missing a step, she marched on.

He thumbed his hat to the back of his head and took a deep breath. This felt good. Sparring with her made him feel like a kid again.

He sobered. It wasn’t the kid in him that reacted to her. There had been other women over the years, but none caused the excitement in him like that female did.

Chapter Sixteen

C
ade delivered Hague’s body to Pop and then headed to the Bradshaw place. Shadows lengthened. The moon had a ring around it. Rain by morning.

He’d missed supper at Glori-Lee’s by an hour, and he assumed he’d go to bed hungry.

He had days, at most, to wrap up his business here. Hart McGill wasn’t a fool. It wouldn’t take long for news to spread that Cade Kolby wasn’t anywhere near St. Louis.

Butch barked as Cade rounded the back of the store. He spoke the dog’s name, and the mutt bounded over.

The door opened and Missy peeked out, breaking into a grin. “I’m glad you’we home, Uncle Cade. We kept suppew wawm for you.”

Supper warm for him? It had been years since anyone had kept supper warm for him.

He smiled at the angel with the cornflower blue eyes. “You did?”

Missy nodded and then jumped up and down. “He’s home, Zoe! He’s home!”

Brody, Will, and Holly joined Missy in the kitchen. Zoe came in, pushing a lock of hair out of her eyes. The children dragged Cade to the table as she reached into the warming oven and took out a plate. Holly ran to pour a glass of milk while Missy buttered a thick wedge of corn bread and laid it on his plate. Brody hung over his shoulder, talking about the frogs he’d caught.

Overwhelmed by the attention, Cade sat down. When Zoe set the food in front of him, he said, “I expected to go to bed hungry tonight.”

“It’s not much,” she warned. “Plain old beans and cornbread.”

Beans and cornbread. At eight o’clock at night, with him not having eaten since early morning. The fare looked like turkey and dressing. He dug in, aware of the eyes suddenly focused on him.

His spoon slowed as he glanced up and met Missy’s disapproving gaze. Crossing her arms, she shook her head.

He lifted his brows.

Leaning over, the child whispered, “You haven’t
pwayed.”

“Prayed?” He glanced at Zoe.

“Blessed the food,” she offered.

Stunned, he asked, “Me?”

“You’re the one eating, aren’t you?”

He bowed his head and clasped his hands together. He hadn’t thanked God for anything in years. He looked at Missy out of the corner of his eye. “What do I say?”

“Just say, thank you fow the food, God, and thank you fow my family.”

He glanced up and met Zoe’s amused eyes. Bowing his head again, he prayed, “Thank you for the food, God, and thank you for…my family.” The words felt strange on his tongue.

Kitchen warmth surrounded him as he ate. Brody wanted to know all about his day, so Cade explained about the trip to Suffox County. Will, Missy, and Holly huddled close to the table, listening.

Will straightened. “Did you shoot a bad guy today?”

Cade patted the boy’s head. “I didn’t shoot anyone.”

Zoe brought her sewing to the table and darned socks, smiling at the children’s occasional bursts of laughter. Cade regaled his rapt audience by telling them how he and Eddie Lee Brighton had chased a pig down the road, trying to capture it.

“Maddy had to stand guard over Hague’s body while I chased that porker on foot for better than twenty minutes,” Cade said, laughing. “Must have run off four pork chops and a side of bacon before she gave in.”

Zoe glanced up at the mention of Maddy.

“Did some lady go with you?” Brody asked.

“No.” He winked at the children. “Maddy’s my horse. Short for Madeleine. Named her after a woman I knew in Wichita. Feisty little filly…” His gaze caught Zoe’s and she looked away, sharply biting off a piece of thread

When the clock struck nine, she laid her mending aside. “It’s bedtime.”

In a flurry of commotion, the boys ran to make up their pallets. The girls disappeared into the bedroom, returning to Cade a few moments later for good night kisses.

Sending the children on their way, Zoe bustled around the kitchen, putting away dishes. Leaning back in his chair, Cade watched the way the lamplight shone on her hair. Her lithe figure hadn’t changed much. Her waist was still so tiny he could span it with two hands.

“What did Seth and Bonnie have to say when you stopped by?” Her voice was soft, hesitant.

He’d deliberately avoided the subject, but it was open now and she had to know.

“How well do you know Bonnie?”

Zoe trimmed the lamp. “Not well. I see her occasionally at social functions and church. She stays to herself most of the time.”

“She wasn’t raised around here?”

“No. In Oklahoma. Why?”

“Bonnie’s come down with a fever.”

Zoe almost dropped a cup. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“As soon as she’s better…”

“The fever!” Zoe’s hand flew to her throat.

“She’s sick. It may not be
the
fever, just a fever.”

“How can you know? That’s what Addy first thought, it was just a fever. What does this mean for the children?”

“Frank and Helen have taken them—”

“Not Seth and Bonnie’s children. Addy’s children.”

Getting up from the table, Cade carried his plate to the sink. “For the moment, it means I’ll be in Winterborn a few days longer than I intended.”

“Cade, if Bonnie has taken ill with the same fever that killed John and Addy—”

“We don’t know that. Stop borrowing trouble. It could be a short illness. In a few days, Bonnie will either be better or worse. We’ll look at the situation then.”

“Cade—”

“No, Zoe.” He answered her question before she asked. “Bonnie’s illness doesn’t change anything. It merely delays things.”

When her face clouded with resentment, he reached out and tweaked her nose. “Thank you for holding supper for me. It’s been a long time since you’ve done anything that nice for me.”

The exasperated look she gave him before she walked out of the room made him suspect it would be even longer before he sat at her table again.

He spotted Holly in the doorway. “Hi, Sweet Pea. I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

The child walked over to him and put her arms around his neck. “Don’t be mad at Zoe. She’s just tired.”