A Kiss for Cade (9 page)

Cade grinned and sat down. “You going to live?” Pop’s face was white as a sheet, his strength obviously drained.

“For a few minutes…never know when the next bout will strike. You here for any particular reason? Thought you’d be busy with the kids.”

“Actually, I did have a reason for stopping by. The roof’s leaking like a sieve, and I’m not looking forward to sleeping in a wet bed again. I could move the bunk, but the roof’s dripping in so many places that it wouldn’t do any good. I can see daylight through the cracks.”

“Yeah, I know about the leaks. Just haven’t had time, money, or manpower to fix ’em.”

“You’re in no shape to fix anything right now.”

Pop moaned. “That’s a fact. How are you and the redhead gettin’ along?”

“We’re not. I need to finish my business quickly and move on.”

“Too bad. Zoe needs a man like you—someone who won’t let her run roughshod over him. Jim was too patient. Zoe got the best of him at times—” Pop’s expression corkscrewed. “Hooboy. Nature calls.” He bolted toward the door calling over his shoulder, “Don’t leave! I got a favor to ask.”

While Pop was tending business, Cade browsed through the gun cabinet. He took out a Henry lever action rifle and examined it. The guns hadn’t been used for some time. They needed a good cleaning.

“Whew, doggies!” Pop said, entering the room again. “If I ever look at another piece of gooseberry pie, shoot me.”

Cade slipped the Henry back into the cabinet. “You need a favor?”

“I’ve got a problem over in the next county, but I’m not in any shape to go. Thought you might take care of it for me.”

“Sure. What do you need?”

“Hague Pearson got all liquored up a couple of nights ago and got shot. Someone needs to go over and bring his body back.”

Cade frowned. “Hague Pearson? The old hermit who lives near the county line?”

Pop nodded. “That’s him. Me and Mooney Adams got a bet going. You remember old Mooney, sheriff of Suffox County?”

“I remember Mooney. Mean, but honest.”

“Whoever has the least crime on his record at the end of each year wins a prize. It ain’t much, more like a prestige thing. We ain’t got any crime here in Winterborn, so it’s a pretty sure bet I’ll win, but Hague could put a kink in the plan. I want you to take the buckboard over there, pick up the body, and decide exactly where Hague got shot. Mooney says Hague was shot on our side of the line and dropped dead on his side. I say Hague was shot in Suffox County, period. I don’t want that death on my record, and Mooney don’t want it on his.”

“I’m guessing Hague didn’t want it on anybody’s record.”

Pop chuckled. “Don’t mean no disrespect. Hague was an ornery sort, but he always let me hunt on his property. I’ll see he gets buried proper-like. I’d be much obliged if you’d drive over there and get it sorted out for me.”

“Sounds like a good way to get shot.”

“Nah, Mooney knows he’s in the wrong. He’s just trying to win that prize.”

“I’m taking the kids swimming today. Can it wait until tomorrow?”

Pop shrugged. “Don’t see why not. Old Hague ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

“I need to talk to Seth and Bonnie, anyway. Someone said they live on the old Brighton place north of town?”

Pop nodded. “Yep. Just down the road a piece from Frank and Helen’s place.”

“I’ll pick up Hague then. Kill two birds with one stone. I’ll stop by and talk to the Brightons on the way back.”

“Want to satisfy your conscience that they’ll make a good home for Addy’s kids? They will, you know. Seth’s a hard worker.”

“So I hear.” Cade got up and stretched. “Cheer up. By tomorrow you might feel like taking care of the Suffox County trouble yourself.” Cade laughed when Pop’s stomach rumbled so loud they both heard it.

“Son, there ain’t enough outhouses between here and Suffox County for me to chance it. The rate I’m going, you’d be bringing back my carcass alongside Hague’s.”

Chapter Ten

L
eaning against a tree, Cade listened to giggly splashes. One by one, the three oldest kids dropped into the cool water from a rope knotted to the jutting branch of a walnut tree. Missy waded along the rocky bank.

Glancing across the stream, Cade silently conceded he’d missed home more than he thought. It was peaceful here. He, Zoe, and Addy had spent hours at the swimming hole as kids.

A hawk cried overhead, drawing his attention. Was it the money or the thrill of the chase that kept him away? He’d made a lot of money, but money was worthless when you’re six feet under. The incident near Laredo last month was as close as he’d ever come to dying. The outlaw had been a hair quicker than he had. His hand absently went to the nagging pain in his right shoulder, a reminder that his luck would play out someday.

Missy squealed and he straightened. Twigs snapped beneath his boots as he raced to the water’s edge. He found Addy’s youngest sobbing and holding a bleeding foot.

“What happened, sweetheart?” He picked her up and examined her toe. A tiny nick oozed a thin trickle of blood.

“Something bit me!”

“Nothing bit you. You stepped on a sharp rock.”

“Thwow it away!”

“All right.” Still holding her in his arms, he waded into the water and pretended to single out the culprit. “Wait a minute—yes, there it is. Come here, you rascal!” He picked up a rock and hurled it to the opposite bank, laughing when his heroic theatrics induced a giggle from Missy.

“You’re going to get in trouble, Uncle Cade.” Holly pointed at his wet trousers.

“Yeah,” Brody added. “One time Will and I waded through a puddle of water and just about ruined our shoes. Zoe made us polish ’em for an hour.”

“A hunnert hours,” Will corrected.

“Maybe she won’t notice.” Cade waded out of the stream, carrying Missy, and settled her in a grassy spot on the embankment.

“It huwts, Uncle Cade.”

He wrapped his kerchief around the tender spot. She hadn’t spoken directly to him until today. Her voice was tiny and sweet as spring hyacinths. “I know, honey. It’ll stop in a minute.”

Holly ran up the grassy knoll, breathless. “Should I go get Zoe?”

“Missy will be fine.” He smiled at the eight-year-old as he held out his hand. “Come here. Don’t be afraid of me.”

Holly hesitated, and then she walked slowly toward him. After a moment, she sat down beside him, staring. “You look kind of like Ma.”

“Think so?”

“Uh-huh. Did you pull Ma’s hair like Brody and Will do mine and Missy’s?”

He chuckled. “I’m sure I did. Isn’t that what brothers are for?”

Will shot out of the water with Brody chasing after him. The boys ran up the hill, intentionally shaking water on the girls.

Missy yelled, “Quit it! You’ll get my sowe toe wet! Uncle Cade bandaged it fow me.” Cornflower blue eyes turned in his direction, and Cade heard the voice of an angel say, “Thank you, Uncle Cade. You’we a good boy.”

Will shook water on her again. “He ain’t a boy. He’s a growed man.”

“Yeah,” Brody said, eyeing Cade. “He shoots a pistol. I’m gonna shoot a pistol when I learn how.” He looked at Cade straight on. “Will you teach me?”

Cade knew Addy wouldn’t mind if he taught her boy to shoot, but he thought Zoe would have his hide. “Have you ever shot a gun, son?”

“My pa let me shoot his shotgun one time when he took me squirrel hunting.” He rubbed his shoulder. “It hurt.”

Cade turned him in the direction of the water. “You can learn to shoot when you’re older. Right now, you’re wasting swim time.”

“Can I get in the watew again?” Missy held her foot high in the air, waving it.

“Don’t know why not.” He carefully unwrapped the handkerchief and saw that the bleeding had stopped. “Just don’t step on any more sharp rocks.”

Holly took hold of her little sister’s hand. “I’ll watch her, Uncle Cade.”

“Thank you, Holly. I’d appreciate it.”

As they walked away, Missy turned around and grinned. For the first time, he noticed she was missing a front tooth.

“Awe you glad I’m talkin’ to you, Uncle Cade?”

He winked. “Real glad.”

Noisy chatter erupted as he leaned back against the tree again. Addy and John must have been proud of their children. Settling his hat lower on his forehead, he thought of Zoe, stirred by her love for his sister’s kids. If he hadn’t ridden off all those years ago, he and Red would be married, and those would be his kids playing on the swing. The thought didn’t sour his stomach. If he let himself, he could think on that a while.

An hour passed. Pushing his brim up, he realized it was getting late. The sun was setting, and the children had missed dinner. Zoe would wonder what happened to them. Before he could call them in, the sound of snapping twigs brought his hand to his holster. Quick as a flash, the Colt centered on the intruder.

Zoe froze at the edge of the clearing, her gaze riveted on the weapon. He heard her suck in a deep breath as her face turned tense with cold disapproval.

“Don’t ever sneak up on me like that,” he said, slipping the gun back into his holster.

“It’s getting late. I was worried.” Her voice was chilly with condemnation.

“Sorry. The time got away from me.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“Hey. We’ve had a peaceful afternoon and I’m feeling generous.” He pointed to the ground beside him. “Might as well sit down.”

After a bit, she seated herself a safe distance away. “Are you getting along with them?”

“No. We’ve been bickering like thieves.”

“Very amusing.”

“We’re doing fine. Stop worrying.”

“Better call them in. Supper’s ready.”

Cupping his hands to his mouth, he shouted, “The redheaded boss lady says you’ve had enough for one day!”

A bevy of groans and complaints went up as the children sloshed out of the water and trudged up the embankment.

“Hi, Zoe!” Holly said.

“We swimmded all day!” Will grinned from ear to ear.

“Hello, children.”

Brody’s lips quivered as Zoe wrapped a large towel around him. “Ow! That hurts!” he cried.

Zoe lifted the towel and examined Brody’s reddened shoulders. When Will, Holly, and Missy crowded around to see, Cade realized they all looked like cooked lobsters.

“Cade, how long have they been in the sun?”

“I don’t know. All afternoon, I guess.” He frowned. “A little sun’s good for them.”

“A little sun? They’re blistered!”

He pressed a finger to Brody’s sunburned skin, leaving a white indentation. “What do you do for this?”

She picked up the kids’ strewn clothing and helped Will put on his shirt. “Never mind, I’ll take care of it. Come along, children. I’ll give you a vinegar bath to take out the heat.”

“A vinegar bath! Pee-eew!” the children chorused.

Cade stepped back as she gathered the quivering children and herded them up the embankment. “Hey,” he called. “I’m taking them to Glori-Lee’s for supper.”

“That won’t be necessary. I have chicken in the warming oven.”

He caught up with her in two long strides. “Look, Red, this is my day to have them.”

She slowed and let him pass. “Nothing was mentioned about meals.”