McCade's Wish (The McCade Family Series Book 2) (10 page)

“Let me get a refill on my coffee and I’ll catch you up. It’s been a crazy couple of months since Gen joined the family.”

“Trey said, ‘I keep life interesting,’ ” Genevieve said coming in with a tray. “ I’m still not sure how to take that.”

Cole cleared a space on the low table for the coffee and refreshments and smiled at his sister-in-law. “You were just the spark the McCade farm was missing, and I have you to thank for introducing me to the woman I’ve been wishing for my whole life.”

Gen and Adri both murmured their pleasure, granting him a kiss on either cheek.

“You ladies need to spend more time among civilized men if these compliments draw such appreciation.”

“I’ve listened to more than my fair share of flowery compliments devoid of any sincerity or sustenance. I quite enjoy your brother’s honest attempts,” Adrienne said, still smiling up at Cole.

“I guess she told you, but in case you didn’t quite catch it, shut it city boy,” Trey rumbled, roughly palming the back of Nate’s head on his way past.

“Keep it up and no Christmas present for you.”

“I have everything I want, or I will soon.”

Trey wrapped Gen in his arms, his hands spanning her belly.

“Sap.”

Curling her fingers through Cole’s, Adrienne urged him to sit down on the couch with her. “When you McCade men were discussing distress signals the other night, Gen mentioned Trey rescuing her from a wild pig. I want to hear about that, and if we don’t tell Nate a story he’s not going to shut up.”

“Genevieve was attacked by a boar?”

“See what I mean? He’s not going to shut up,” she whispered in exasperation.

Cole laughed. “Everyone grab your coffee and cookies. It’s story time.”

Adrienne’s hand tightened on his bicep as they climbed the steps to the church. She was stunning and regal on his arm, but a hint of apprehension flickered in her green eyes. He wanted to pull her off to the side to offer some sort of reassurance, but the wind whipped at her fur coat and she pressed tighter to his side. Hustling her up the last few steps, he held the door and urged her inside. She flashed him a grateful smile that seemed genuine. Helping her remove her heavy fur, he took a moment to lift her raven waves, kissing her neck as he smoothed her hair over her shoulders.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I’m so proud to have you here with me this morning,” he whispered. “I’m going to ask Pastor Paul to announce our engagement.”

She shivered, some of the tension returning to her slender body. Swallowing hard, he rubbed her shoulders. Was she having second thoughts? He turned her in his arms. Glancing uneasily at the crowd milling around them, she stroked the front of his coat and vest.  

“Or I could wait if you aren’t ready to make it public. It’s not a big deal,” he said. “I understan—”

Adrienne stopped him by pressing her fingers to his lips. “It’s a very big deal to me,” she reassured him. “Of course I want to tell the world that I’m marrying you. There’s nothing I would like better.” Her lips twitched and she leaned in closer. “I’m ready to stake my claim. But do you think it will stop the nasty glares I’m getting from all the mamas and eligible ladies or just make it worse?”

“I couldn’t tell you. I have eyes only for you,” he promised, stealing a light kiss.

A full-fledged smile lit her face. “I love you,” she whispered, pulling his head down for another kiss.

He heard the buzz this time. Shaking his head, he hung up his coat and turned to face the stares with Adrienne wrapped firmly in his arm. The hell with them. He knew there was a little swagger in his step, but dressed in his best suit and with his gorgeous fiancée on his arm, he was feeling good. The doors opened and ladies caught their breath with the winter wind that snaked through their midst. Heads turned as Nate stepped through the doors and, just like that, whispers turned as well. Cole almost laughed out loud.

“I hope your attention isn’t as fickle,” he whispered in Adrienne’s ear as he eased her through the crowd.

“Remind me to thank your little brother,” she whispered back, pressing into his side. Her hand slipped under his coattail and delivered a saucy pinch. “Never fear, cowboy; you won’t get rid of me that easily.”

Hearing the amusement in her voice, Cole shook his head at his impish fiancée. Life was never going to be boring with her at his side.  

“Pastor, could I have a moment?”

“Of course, Cole. It’s good to see the McCades here this morning and looking well. I wasn’t sure you would be able to make it in with the remnants of the blizzard.”

“It’s amazing what the grace of God teamed with old-fashioned horsepower and McCade stubbornness can accomplish,” Cole said with a chuckle.

“Well said,” the portly pastor said, slapping his shoulder before reaching to take Adrienne’s hand. “Good morning, Miss Lachance. I hope you’re still enjoying your visit despite the storms.”

“Thank you, Pastor. I shared a beautiful Thanksgiving with the McCades and even had to marvel at the brutal glory of Mother Nature. Thankfully, the McCade men prepared well for the storm, and we all stayed snug and well fed through the ordeal.”

“Thank the Lord for his blessings.”

“Speaking of blessings,” Cole said, giving Adrienne a squeeze. “I’ve asked Adrienne to be my wife and she’s accepted. We were hoping that you would share our happy news with the congregation this morning.”  

The jovial smile faltered and the pastor blinked at him in surprise before looking to Adrienne. Clenching his teeth, Cole willed the clergyman’s eyes back to him. The pastor’s forehead wrinkled, heavy jowls twisting, as he seemed to struggle with words. Cole didn’t have any of his own, and he could feel Adri starting to tense up again.

“I take it from your stunned expression Cole told you his good news,” Trey said from behind them. His hand landed on Cole’s shoulder. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome Adrienne into the family. When Father Patrick put Genevieve and me in contact, who knew a couple of letters would change our family so much?
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.
”

“Romans 11:33,” Paul murmured, nodding his head. “Very appropriate, Trey. As it says in James 1:17,
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.
Let us take a moment to pray together and thank the Lord for his hand in this,” he said, taking their hands.

Cole stole a quick look at Adrienne. She was looking over her shoulder at Trey, eyes sparkling and bow lips pursed in suppressed amusement. Bowing his head, he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the pastor’s words, but his focus was on the weight of Trey’s hand on his shoulder. He owed his big brother. When they were done, it was Adri who thanked him. Catching his tie, she tugged Trey down as she pressed up on tip toe to kiss his cheek.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure, little sister,” he said with a wink.

Cole shook his head at the difference these women had made in Trey and in their lives. Adri smoothed his brother’s tie before stepping into a hug from Genevieve. The pastor words flashed to mind and he smiled. They were a good gift, a perfect gift.

Temper simmering; Trey studied those sharing his pew as Pastor Paul droned on. Nate was staring straight ahead in an effort not to catch the eye of any of the young ladies looking his way. Cole and Adrienne’s fingers were laced and resting on his brother’s thigh. They stole sidelong looks at one another when they thought no one was watching. It didn’t seem as if the pastor’s awkward reaction to their engagement had caused any friction between them. It was like Cole to assume everyone would be as thrilled as he was, but Trey had already had his run in with the preacher. He’d suffered through the clergyman’s doubts and probing questions when he’d stopped in to make arrangements to wed his mail-order bride. With the dogged way he’d championed the eligible local girls, Trey had wondered if the man received a finder’s fee for each one he married off. Only a blunt reminder that there were other churches in town that would welcome his family and tithing had stopped the censure that time. He wasn’t about to let the man bully his brother.

He looked down at Gen’s touch and was instantly lost in her dove grey eyes. Despite the pastor’s concerns at the haste of their marriage, he wouldn’t trade his freckled beauty for the world. She searched his face. He gave her a reassuring wink and nodded his head toward the pulpit. A pale pink stained her cheeks as she forced her gaze back front and center. He wondered if their child would find it as difficult to sit through a sermon as his wife did. The thought made him grin and drop a kiss on her copper head.

When the congregation was dismissed, people gathered around Cole and Adrienne to offer their congratulations or get introductions if they hadn’t met her. Leaving Gen in Nate’s care, for both their safety, he searched out the pastor.

“I need a minute, Paul.”

The rotund man shot him a nervous glance, but immediately waved a hand to step clear of the crowd.

“You made your reservations concerning my marriage to Genevieve quite clear, and it seems you might have some of the same where Cole and Adrienne are concerned.”

The pastor opened his mouth, and Trey waved a hand to silence him.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not up to you to decide if they’re right for each other, or how long you think they should court before getting hitched. That’s between them. I don’t know what your thing is with wanting us to marry local girls, but it doesn’t seem to be the McCade way. Daddy brought Mama from Texas, and she was happy to settle in and be a part of this community. I expect Genevieve and Adrienne to be granted the same welcome.”

“We’ve had our differences, but in that instance my heart was in the right place, Trey. It is a pastor’s job to look out for his flock, to help them make the right decisions in their journey. After your marriage to Catherine, you were wounded. I didn’t want you to rush into something for the wrong reasons. I apologize if I came across too strongly.”

“It was a little late for your concern by that time. I was the one that was wronged, and you chose to comfort the adulterer, leaving me on the outside looking in.”

“You’re never alone, Trey. God loves you.”

“I’m right with God. It’s the man representing him that I’m having some issues with.”

Paul’s face paled and Trey took a deep breath to cool his temper. It didn’t help.

“The McCades helped build this church. One of us has sat on the board since its doors opened, just like I do now. What I’m telling you is to drop whatever agenda you have going on, read your scripture, and guide this flock like you understand the word or start looking for another church.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“You mess with one McCade you get us all, as my wife says. I’m not letting anyone bully my brother.”

“So you bully a pastor?”

Trey glanced over the stall door and shrugged. “I didn’t say anything to him that wasn’t the truth.”

“Still, threatening a pastor can’t exactly earn you points in heaven.”

“Paul is a nice guy, but he’s not the greatest pastor. It’s something the board has discussed. So far nice has won out, but there are a couple of members who aren’t happy with him.”

“Including you?”

“I wasn’t including me, but you know how I feel.”

“You liked Pastor John and he was terrifying.”

“He preached a good sermon. No one ever fell asleep while he was in the pulpit,” Trey said with another shrug.

Cole chuckled. “I’ll give you that. Anyway, thank you.”

A grunt was the only indication that Trey heard him, and probably all he was going to get. Finishing up, he went over and leaned on the stall door. The soft hiss of the milk stream hitting the pail was rhythmic, soothing. With only a couple of cows, their parents hadn’t seen the need to modernize something that still worked. Obviously, Trey agreed.

“Do you think it’s about Adri or just the speed of our engagement?”

Trey didn’t look up from his work. Resting his chin on his arm over the door, Cole waited.

“If anything, I would guess it’s the short time you’ve known each other.”

“Are you concerned about it?”

“No.”

Cole waited a moment for his brother to elaborate and then shook his head. It was Trey he was talking to.

“Why not?” he prodded.

“Gen and I knew one another only through letters and we’re happy. Catherine and I had a more traditional courtship and, obviously, we still didn’t know one another when we got married. I’m not sure that it’s something just time can assure. It has to be right. I knew it wasn’t right when I married Catherine, and I did it anyway. That’s all I would say to you is to listen to your gut, to your instincts. Don’t think with your dick.”

“You should write poetry,” Cole said wryly.

“That’s the best advice I can give you. Take it for what it’s worth.”

“I was just blowing you shit. I do appreciate it.”

Finishing up, Trey gave the cow’s ears a rub before picking up buckets and stool to leave the stall. Cole trailed after him as he finished his nightly routine. He smiled to himself, recalling doing the same thing when he was much younger. He’d followed Daddy and Trey everywhere. He wasn’t sure which one had hurt him more, Trey leaving for Texas or their daddy’s death. He frowned at the thought. He’d never thought about that before, never allowed himself to dwell on it.

“When you think about how things were when we were kids, do you think about your and Gen’s baby and think about what you’ll do the same or different?”

Trey paused and rubbed the back of his neck. His forehead creased in a frown and he nodded. “I do, and truthfully it makes me feel guilty. They did a fine job of raising us. What makes me think I know any better?”

Cole blinked at the answer. He’d never thought about it that way. Leave it to the perfect son to over think things. “I don’t think it’s a matter of knowing any better,” he said uncertainly. “People are different. What worked for Daddy and Mama might not be what you and Gen are comfortable with.”

“In church this morning, I was wondering if our little one will have as much trouble sitting still as Gen does,” Trey admitted with a chuckle.

“I saw you give her the look,” Cole said grinning. “You looked just like Daddy.”

“Unlike when Daddy gave us the look though, when I have to give a second one, it’s not accompanied by a visit from the belt,” Trey said with a snort. “Good thing she’s my wife, because there are a lot of second and third looks. That woman cannot sit still as it is; a sore ass wouldn’t help.”

“When you were thinking about your little one, was that a same or different moment?”

Trey turned away. “Different. Right or wrong, I’ll admit I was picturing pulling a fidgety little girl with her mama’s pretty hair up into my lap.”

“There’s no right or wrong there, just your way.”

“Our way,” Trey corrected. “Gen’s going to be a protective mama. After the way she grew up, I’m figuring her and I will have a lot of talks about the difference between discipline and hurting her babies.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

Trey nodded. “I respect her honesty and her heart. I think she’s going to make a hell of a mama.”  

“I don’t know anything about Adrienne’s family,” Cole said, thinking back over their conversations. 

“Then I suggest you make those lazy afternoons in front of the fire you wanted so damn bad count.”

“You’re just full of advice today.”

“Happy to be of help.”

Cole returned his brother’s grin and held open the door against the wind. “Let’s go find that fire.”

Adrienne’s fingers worked under the hem of Cole’s undershirt to stroke his belly in the dark. He’d seemed a little hesitant when they’d said their goodnights and had pulled on pajamas before climbing into bed. Playing over the afternoon and evening in her head, she couldn’t think of anything that would’ve upset him. That left the awkward conversation with Pastor Paul. She’d truly been grateful for Trey’s interruption. As the McCade patriarch, his opinion obviously held some weight. Her lips twitched in the dark. It had been slick to put the pastor back on his heels using bible verse. Slick and very effective.