Cindy Holby (16 page)

Ward’s eyes narrowed for a moment, and then he smiled right back at Cade.

“I imagine we’ve all backslid a time or two. And since I own the saloon, which is the center for all the hedonistic pleasures in town, I reckon I’ve done more than my fair share.” He stopped for a few seconds, put his hand to his chin as if he were deep in thought and laughed. “Yep, more than my fair share.”

“Nobody is keeping score.” Cade shrugged. “And as you said, everything in moderation.”

“Even Jesus drank wine?”

“Exactly.” Cade touched his side again and added a wince.

“I’ll let you get your rest.”

“I’d appreciate it.” Cade yawned and politely covered it with his hand. His mother may have been dead for decades but he still well recalled how to act in polite society, despite the company he’d been keeping of late. “And if you don’t mind, tell everyone that I’m just not up to a lot of visitors quite yet. I want to be at my best when I finally do meet them all.”

“Oh I’m sure everyone will…”

Cade stuck out his hand in dismissal. “Thank you for understanding.”

Ward paused for a moment, and then took it. Cade was glad to see the man recognized when he’d been beat. If that meant he’d leave him alone for a while longer, then he’d take it and be grateful for it.

“Nice-looking dog,” he added.

“Lady?” Ward tapped his leg and the dog came to him. “Why we just met this morning,” he said. “As you can see, I’m a real charmer with the ladies, another one of my sins. Why just trying to save my soul is going to be a full-time job.” Ward’s smile was something Cade had seen in the mirror a time or two himself.

“Which is why I need to get my strength back up.” Cade gave him an answering smile to let him know that he was onto Ward’s little game.

Ward paused at the door. “Leah will take real good care of you.”

Something happened at the mention of her name. Something strange, a notion that he had to share her, and he didn’t want to, that the people in town knew her better and were closer to her. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like the notion, nor did he like the feeling. It was dangerous.

“She has,” he said simply.

“You should have seen her with these boys that came into the diner.” Ward leaned against the doorway, ready to talk more. Cade needed him to leave. The more time they spent talking the better the chance the saloon owner would see through his façade. As if in answer to his unspoken prayer, the door creaked open. Ward turned and looked, and a big grin spread across his face. “Speak of the devil,” he said.

Cade recognized the soft sound of her footsteps. Ward left him with a tip of his hat and the big dog on his heels. Dodger bounded joyfully to greet her, and the noise of his greeting made it sound as if she’d been gone for days instead of mere hours. Good-byes were said between Leah and Ward. Cade listened carefully to the exchange. Was there something between them?

Did she remember last night? Or did he remember it wrong. Surely he didn’t imagine it. Could it be that it was just another part of his fevered dreams? Was he imagining something that wasn’t really there?

Cade listened as she talked to Dodger. She told him how wonderful he was, what a good job he did watching the house, and how much she missed him. Had anyone ever voiced the same words to him? Not in his adult life. Not since he was taken from the orphanage.
Never…

Ashes chewed on his thumb. Her teeth were sharp and insistent. “Are you as hungry as I am?” The kitten stared up at him with huge green eyes. They reminded him of Leah’s.

Cade heard the hesitancy in Leah’s footsteps. What was she doing out there?

He kept hold of the kitten and watched the doorway. Finally she appeared. It was as if the sun broke through the clouds.
Get a grip…

Her eyes quickly dashed over him and an odd smile quirked her lips when she saw Ashes on his lap. “Oh my goodness, I hope she hasn’t bothered you too much.”

“Nope.” Cade grinned. “Actually she’s been keeping me company.”

She was nervous. He could tell by the way her eyes darted about, as if she needed something to look at besides him. “Are you hungry?” she finally asked.

“Starving.” Cade kicked the sheets and blankets back and moved to the side of the bed. The pain in his ribs grabbed him and he flinched, bent over in agony as his entire body screamed in protest.

She was at his side in an instant. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t wrap your ribs last night…” Her face turned scarlet and she turned away.

Cade fought to get his breath back. At first the pain had taken it, but then Leah’s proximity, her welcoming scent, had left him breathless. Finally he recovered his good senses and was able to take a deep breath. Leah began to move away. He grabbed her hand.

Before he could think, he stood, willed his ribs to stop screaming and pulled her back. Her eyes widened in shock. He watched as those lovely gold flecks danced around in the green. Her lips parted as she slammed against him when he pulled one more time, stronger and harder than he meant to. Or maybe it wasn’t. He wanted her close. He wanted to feel every inch of her against him.
I am going straight to hell but first I want to taste heaven.

Cade buried his hand in her hair to grasp the back of her head and he kissed her. He felt her sharp and sudden intake
of breath against his lips and he covered them with his mouth. Her hands fluttered against his shirt, then her fingers spread and she wrapped the fabric within them. She yielded, just a bit, but enough to let him taste her.

God, how he tasted her. He lost himself within her. Time ceased. He kissed her until he couldn’t breathe and his ribs ached, as his lungs fought for air.

They broke apart, suddenly, when Dodger’s sharp bark rang in their ears. Leah stared up at him, panting and threw her palms against her cheeks, shocked at either his behavior or hers, or possibly both. A sudden wicked, most unminister-like thought crossed his mind and he reached for her again.

“Yoo-hoo!”

“Bettina!” Leah gasped and whirled away, leaving Cade aching in more places than one.

C
hocolate cake. Cade could not recall the last time he’d had chocolate cake. Maybe he’d never had it, just dreamed about it at sometime or other. It was the best thing he’d ever tasted, except for Leah.

It hadn’t taken him long to figure Bettina Swanson out. She’d walked into Leah’s house as if she owned it, all dressed up in her fancy duds and a coat with a fur collar and a hat that had him questioning the sanity of whoever made it, or sold it for that matter. She carried a fresh baked chocolate cake in a box tied up with a piece of ribbon and was determined to meet him. Since she was already in, Leah sat her down in the parlor and informed him he had a visitor. Then she’d given him a pair of slippers that were too short for his feet and politely shown him in. Bettina Swanson considered herself the first lady of Angel’s End and she was here to show him she was so.

“Would you like another piece?” Bettina asked.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Cade placed his plate on the small table in the parlor where they sat. Just that small bit of movement was enough to make him wince with pain. It took every bit of his concentration to keep the small, pleasant smile on his face. His side was killing him. He desperately needed his ribs wrapped but he wasn’t about to say anything in front of Bettina. He knew her type. She’d jump on Leah’s care of him like a rat on a piece of cheese and use it as a juicy piece of gossip with everyone who walked into her store. Nope, he could suffer through until they were alone again. Then he’d get Leah to wrap his side again. She’d stayed away since they were interrupted, keeping busy around the house while he entertained his visitor.

Bettina pretended to be embarrassed by his unspoken compliment of her baking, sliced two more pieces, and served them both. She crossed her ankles beneath her fancy dress and lifted her pinkie as she took a sip of tea.

“So why don’t you tell me about the townsfolk, so I’ll have a finer appreciation of them when I finally do get to meet them.” Cade gave Bettina a wink that let her know that he knew she was the one to talk to. He also knew, from experience, that the less he said the better off he’d be in the long run.

It was also quite obvious that Bettina loved the sound of her own voice. She leaned in close, conspiratorially, and was off, talking about people and giving him every minute detail she could think of, while shoveling cake into her mouth. It was a sight to behold.

She started with the assayer, Zeke Preston. Apparently the man had gotten on her bad side when he first came to town and she hadn’t forgiven him. Or maybe it was that Zeke didn’t give a hoot what she thought of him. Anyway, he bore watching in Bettina’s mind and was probably robbing those poor miners blind. That led to a long commentary on the miners that went from calling them poor pathetic creatures
that needed prayer and much ministering, to the fact that she had to watch them every minute when they came into the store because they’d steal anything that wasn’t nailed down.

She went on and on. Cade ate his cake and casually watched Leah. She’d fixed them a pot of hot tea, and then gone to the back of the house. She walked to the kitchen with the sheets from his bed, and then made several trips back and forth with the bucket.

I should fix that pump…

“I believe we need more tea,” Bettina exclaimed as she tipped the pot up to drain out the last drop. It was a good thing her husband owned the general store. The woman sure could eat and drink. He spared a glance at the floorboards of the parlor. Hopefully there were stout posts beneath it. He’d sat down in the rocking chair next to the fireplace as soon as he came into the parlor. He was certain Leah’s worn sofa wouldn’t hold both of them.

“Yoo-hoo,” Bettina called out. “Leah dear, we need more tea.”

“I’m fine, Mrs. Swanson,” Cade said. If Leah brought another pot of tea he’d be stuck with this woman forever. “And I am feeling a bit tired.”

“Oh you poor dear,” Bettina exclaimed. “I know just what you need. You take a nice nap and then I’ll send Margy over to read to you.”

Cade’s cup rattled against the saucer. “Margy?”

“Margy Ashburn, our schoolteacher. She’s quite nice.” Bettina smiled sweetly over her cup. “And single”—she leaned over the table and whispered loudly as if she didn’t want Leah to hear.

Cade choked on the sip of tea he’d just taken. The convulsion felt like the kick of a mule. He couldn’t help but grab his side as hot tea shot out his nose. He quickly grabbed one of the napkins Leah had brought in on the tea tray.

“Oh dear, are you all right?”

Cade wiped his mouth and face and once again was grateful for the lessons on propriety his mother had taught him when he was a boy. She’d been right; they had served him well as an adult. He removed the napkin to find Leah standing in the doorway, watching him with her lovely green eyes.

“Yes,” he sputtered. “I’m fine. I just need some rest.”

“I changed your sheets,” Leah said.

“Thank you.” Cade slowly stood. “Thank you so much for your visit, Mrs. Swanson.” Cade extended his hand. “And the cake.”

“Well.” She stood and took Cade’s hand. She looked around as if she’d forgotten something and settled on the cake. “I’ll leave this for later. So you don’t have to do so much dear,” she said to Leah.

“You are always so thoughtful.” Leah’s voice sounded strangled as she walked Bettina to the door. Was it because of the kiss or because of the company?

The kiss. He shouldn’t have kissed her. Why had he done it? He knew why.
Because she’s beautiful and kind and I’ve never met anyone quite like her.
If he was going to survive he’d need to do a better job of thinking things through. Quit letting his cock do the thinking for him. She was a decent woman and he’d taken advantage of her. Kissing her would lead to more things that he couldn’t and wouldn’t let happen. He didn’t want her close. He didn’t want anyone close. He had to leave before they started asking questions he couldn’t answer. They thought he was a preacher. They’d want him to preach a sermon. They’d even expect him to pray. Lord help them all when that day came about.

Just another one of God’s jokes…
And now the town gossip thought she could set him up with the schoolteacher. Of course she did. A single pastor and a single schoolteacher. It was a match made in heaven. Timothy more than likely would have loved it.

Not after he met Leah…
Cade put his hand to his side. This predicament was worse than getting shot. Almost.

“Come into the kitchen and I’ll wrap your ribs.” The look Leah gave him was full of apology.

He would have sighed in relief but it would hurt too much. Instead he followed her to the kitchen. His sheets were soaking in the sink. She had been busy during Bettina’s visit. All this effort because of him. Cade watched her as she gathered the things she needed to wrap his ribs. She’d already worked at the diner today and now here she was, taking care of him.

“When I’m feeling better I’ll see about fixing your pump.” He would do it before he left. It was the least he could do.

“That’s nothing for you to worry about,” she said.