Under the Open Sky (Montana Heritage Series) (61 page)

             
They were approaching the house when Amanda recognized her brother’s truck in the driveway. She felt herself tense. She didn’t want to fight; she wanted to enjoy being with Cade. Cade asked one of his men to see to the horses, lifted his daughter, and took Amanda’s hand before making a bee line for Trent. Amanda’s heart was pounding as they neared him.

             
“You three look right together,” Trent informed them. Amanda could read the regret in his face and felt her tight nerves loosen a fraction.

             
“Hey, Uncle Trent; we found my daddy,” Cadey-Lynn announced proudly.

             
“I see that,” Trent smiled.

             
“Hi,” Jenny called from the edge of the garage.

             
“Your house keeper was nice enough to let her and Angie in where they could wait more comfortably.”

             
“Good.”

             
“Aunt Jenny, we found my Daddy,” Cadey-Lynn called.

             
“Come tell me about it and let your Mommy and Daddy talk to Uncle Trent a minute,” Jenny called. Amanda would have to remember to thank her later.

             
“Go on squirt,” Cade set Cadey-Lynn on her feet.

             
“Do you have an answer for my question?” Amanda demanded as soon as her daughter had gone inside.

             
“I do; I would kick their ass,” her brother answered honestly and then looked to Cade. “I’m sorry, Cade; I had no right to come between you two.”

             
Amanda watched the muscles in Cade’s jaw work a moment before he swallowed hard and extended his hand.             

             
Trent took Cade’s hand; Cade pulled him into a hug.

             
“How are you Trent?” Cade inquired.

             
“I’d be better with a few less regrets,” Trent admitted as he stepped back and studied his friend. “Jenny was talking to me recently and she said something that made me stop and think and that combined with watching Mandy still crying and waiting for you….I couldn’t stand it on my conscious a moment longer. I caught up with Dad and told him he had to make it right or I would. I gave him until the end of summer. I should have come straight to one of you.”

             
“What did Jenny say?” Amanda asked.

             
“It was after she had been talking to you and you were talking about Cade. She was crying and she asked me ‘Can you imagine if someone sent you away and we couldn’t see each other? Can you imagine not knowing about your daughter?’ and I could imagine it; I could imagine how much that would hurt. I thought for a moment yesterday that she was going to leave me when she found out about the letters.”

             
“How is Dad taking it?” Amanda asked.

             
“He’s being stubborn because his pride is hurt but he’s cracking; I can tell.”

             
“Come on in; see my place,” Cade invited as he slid an arm around Amanda’s waist.

             
“I’d like that,” Trent smiled. They made their way inside; Jenny greeted them with a big smile.

             
“Hello, good lookin’,” Jenny moved to hug Cade. “Excuse my bump; it’s Trent’s way of making sure I don’t go sidling up too close to sexy men,” Jenny teased.

             
“Hey, Jenny, I’ve missed you,” Cade hugged her back.

             
“Well, Mandy, you’ve tracked down the second sexiest man in Montana, what are you going to do with him, well besides what I’m sure you’ve already done,” Jenny’s grin was mischievous.

             
Amanda felt heat climb into her cheeks; she found herself grinning when even Cade blushed.

             
“She’s going to marry me; soon I hope,” Cade responded.

             
“Good, it’s past time,” Jenny nodded. Amanda slid her arms around Cade and laid her head against his chest she couldn’t help thinking how much she had missed them all being together.

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              Amanda finished straightening her hair and smoothed her jean skirt before stepping from the bathroom to grab her purse. Cade was waiting in the living room with Cadey-Lynn, Cassia, and Cassia’s husband and ranch foreman, Ben. Cade wanted to take Amanda to dinner and asked Cassia and Ben to watch Cadey-Lynn for a couple of hours. Amanda entered the living room and watched Cade’s eyes light with appreciation as his gaze slid over her.

             
“Thanks for watching Cadey-Lynn,” Amanda smiled at the couple on the couch.

             
“We should be back in time to put her to bed,” Cade added as he stood and claimed Amanda’s hand.

             
“You two go on and enjoy some time together,” Cassia smiled brightly.

             
“See you in a little while,” Amanda leaned to kiss her daughter’s cheek.

             
“Be good for Cassia and Ben,” Cade said before kissing his daughter’s head.

             
“I will, Daddy,” Cadey-Lynn promised.

             
Amanda waited while Cade opened her door before climbing into the truck.

             
“You look absolutely amazing,” Cade offered and leaned into kiss her lightly before closing the door and coming around the truck. Amanda was smiling when he climbed in to start the engine. Amanda found that she was actually nervous which was the most ridiculous thing ever. The feeling remained, however, as Cade turned into the parking lot of a local eatery.

             
“Place doesn’t look like much but they have great food,” Cade informed Amanda. The building before them was made of weathered wood, a large wrap around porch scattered with tables and chairs that at moment weren’t in use. Cade opened Amanda’s door and led her across the porch and into the establishment. The inside was finished roughly as well, wood plank walls, an odd assortment of booths and tables, what looked to be Christmas lights draped across the ceiling like netting, and various advertisements some old, some new tacked to the walls.

             
Cade placed his hand on her back and led her to a man behind a long bar.

             
“Hey, George,” Cade nodded. “I’d like you to meet somebody.”

             
The man behind the counter was tall and wide, his balding head reflecting the glow of the lights over head as he wiped out a glass and set it on the counter; his brown eyes were assessing Amanda.

             
“Who is this?” George smiled as they neared.

             
“George, I would like you to meet my fiancée, Amanda Jennings. This is my Manny,” Cade was grinning. “Amanda, this is George, he owns the place.”

             
“It’s nice to meet you,” Amanda felt almost shy.

             
“Welcome! Congratulations, both of you,” the man grinned at them a moment before coming around the bar to hug Amanda and pat Cade on the back.

             
“I have been hearing about you for years,” George informed her.

             
“Here,” Cade reached for his wallet and pulled out a picture of Cadey-Lynn that Amanda had given him. “That’s my daughter, Cadey-Lynn. It turned out I was missing more than I bargained for while I tried winning her father’s approval,” Cade handed the man the picture.

             
“Wow,” George said softly; his gaze remained on Cade a moment before he looked down. “She’s beautiful; I know you must be proud,” George handed him the picture.

             
“I am; she’s wonderful, like her mom,” Cade slid his arm back around Amanda.

             
“You two have a seat; dinner is on me tonight,” George nodded to the booths and raised a hand when Cade started to argue. “No arguments; I like a good love story but don’t be spreading that around,” he dropped his voice.

             
Amanda laughed at the cautious look he shot around the room.

             
“Hey, Cade, who you have with you there?” A man called from the bar.

             
“Hey, Dan. This is my Manny; Amanda Jennings. Amanda this skunk is Dan, you watch him,” Cade teased as he led Amanda over to the man.

             
“She’s a beauty, Cade; I’ll try and behave myself,” the man winked at Amanda.

             
“This is my daughter,” Cade handed over the picture he still hadn’t put away.

             
“Daughter? Hey folks, Cade has a daughter!” Dan announced to the crowd scattered around the room. Amanda blinked at the crowd that suddenly surrounded them.

             
“Aint she cute?”

             
“She looks just like you.”             

             
The picture was making rounds through the crowd, the comments floating back to them as Amanda found several people introducing themselves all at once. She smiled and shook hands; the names and faces were blurring.

             
“We’re getting married; soon if I have any say in it,” Cade was telling a man beside him. He reached for Amanda’s hand and pulled her close enough to wrap an arm around her.

             
“Congratulations,” the man smiled at them.

             
He was older, close to her own father in age, Amanda figured.

             
“Amanda, this is Jake Mullins, Cassia’s father,” Cade introduced the man.

             
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, your daughter seems very nice, though I haven’t gotten to know her well yet,” Amanda offered her hand.

             
“It’s nice to meet you too. I knew there was someone this man was longing for. I’m glad you two found each other again.”

             
“Thank you,” Amanda smiled at the man.

             
The crowd was thinning now, people drifting back to their tables. Amanda noted a young woman, probably only a year or two older than herself watching as she leaned against the bar. The young woman was frowning at Amanda, her eyes dark, though she didn’t look to wish Amanda ill exactly. She was the woman Cade had gone out with a couple of times, Amanda realized. She actually felt a little bad for the woman and offered a smile. The woman gave her a hint of a smile and a nod.

             
“Thought you had married,” a man at her elbow spoke.

             
“No, no I never married. I’m afraid my father exaggerated my relationship with the man I was seeing,” Amanda explained.

             
“Good; Cade came dragging in here one night looking like the world had just crashed in on him and we were all worried about him,” the man informed her.

             
“Wish I had known where he was,” Amanda told the man.

             
“Me too,” the man smiled at her.

             
“So you two are marrying soon?” George asked, pulling Amanda’s attention back their direction.

             
“Yes, I’m sure we’ll marry in Manny’s hometown; but I’d like to have a reception here so everyone can get to know Manny,” Cade explained.

             
“Have it here; I’ll make you a deal,” George grinned.

             
“Thanks, George,” Cade smiled at the man. “Come on, let’s see if we can finally make it to a table,” Cade led Amanda across the room.

             
Amanda smiled at Cade after they were seated.

             
“What’s that smile for?”

             
“I can see how well liked you are and I know it sounds silly, but I’m proud for you.”

             
“Doesn’t sound silly,” Cade assured her. “I like these people; they’ve been good friends to me.”

             
“Good.”

             
“It’s so nice to be able to introduce you to everyone. I know they probably got tired of hearing about you,” Cade handed her a menu from behind a ketchup bottle. “Decide what you want and I’ll put our order in; things are rather informal here.”             

             
“The food smells good,” Amanda noted. There was a door behind the bar; smells and sounds of cooking carried into the dining area. She made up her mind and passed her order onto Cade and watched as he stood and moved to the bar. She watched him lean against the polished surface and admired the long length of his legs, the breadth of his shoulders, and his smile. He glanced her way and winked; Amanda sighed. She couldn’t wait to spend every day of the rest of her life with this man.