A Child for Cade

She didn’t miss the anger in his voice. “He’s a good man.”

Cade nodded. “And the only person around San Angelo who’d take in three wild boys.”

“Like I said, he’s a good man.”

“Speaking of men—” Cade glanced around “—I don’t see your husband. Where is Joel?”

Abby tensed. No way was she going to explain her situation to Cade. “He’s not here.”

“What a shame. And here I wanted to give him my congratulations.” His eyes bore into hers. “Let him know there are no hard feelings. Is he still working for his rich daddy?”

“Look, Cade, if you want to see Joel, you can contact him at the bank. He and I are no longer…married.” Escape. She needed to get away. She started to leave, but Cade stepped in front of her.

“Why?” He had a cynical sneer on his face. “You were the perfect couple.”

Abby fought the feeling of being trapped. “Nothing’s perfect, Cade.” She moved past him and made her way through the crowd. There was a clear path to the edge of the yard, but she wasn’t fast enough.

Cade caught her. Taking her by the arm, he led her to a secluded area by some trees. “What happened, Abby?”

“It’s really none of your business,” she whispered, and tried to break his hold, but his grip only tightened.

“I think it is my business,” he said. “Wasn’t he enough for you, Abby? Couldn’t he satisfy you, either?”

Suddenly Cade felt a weak push against his body, then a stinging kick in the leg. “You leave my mom alone!” a child’s voice cried out.

Cade released Abby and looked down to find a boy of about six or seven, pushing at him with all his might. He grabbed the child’s arms and held him away before he could inflict any more pain. “Whoa, partner,” Cade said. “I’m not hurting anyone. I was just talking to your mother.”

The boy looked unconvinced. He jerked away, then hurried to Abby’s side. So Abby had a child. Another pain stabbed his heart as he stared at the dark-haired boy.

“Brandon, it’s all right,” Abby said. “This is Cade, Chance’s brother.”

The boy glared at Cade, then at his mother. “But he grabbed you. Just like—”

“No, son. I’m okay,” she assured him with a hug. “Why don’t you go and play with your friends?”

“But, Mom…” Finally the boy nodded, gave Cade a warning look, then reluctantly wandered off.

Abby turned back to Cade. “I’m sorry, since the divorce, Brandon’s been very protective of me.”

Cade saw something in Abby’s emerald eyes. Sadness? Fear? He felt a tightening in his chest again. Damn. Why should he care that her marriage broke up? She had made her choice years ago. And it wasn’t him. Just walk away, Randell, he told himself. But he didn’t move. “Why does your son think you need protection?”

Abby’s back straightened and she raised her chin. “I don’t need anyone’s protection. I can take care of myself.”

Before Cade could speak, his younger brother, Travis, came over. “Cade, come on, we’re going to toast Hank.”

“Be there in a minute.” He looked back at Abby. “We aren’t finished with this conversation.”

“Yes, we are, Cade,” Abby said. “You’ve made a life in Chicago, and mine is here…with my son.” She smiled, and it was as if something ripped the air from his lungs. Suddenly she was transformed into the same beautiful girl he’d once loved.

“Goodbye, Cade.” She walked away.

“Come on, brother,” Travis called again. “Chance is waiting for us at the bandstand.”

“I’m coming.” He looked over his shoulder to catch a final fleeting glimpse of Abby as she hurried off. Something told him it might be the last time he’d ever see her. He should be glad. If so, why was there a terrible ache in his gut?

Cade stood on the bandstand next to Hank, his brothers—Travis and Chance—and Chance’s wife, Joy.

Nearly a hundred people had come to celebrate Hank Barrett’s sixty-fifth birthday. A man who had been a rancher in the area all his life. A man who was loved and respected by all. A man who took in three wayward boys when everyone else had given up on them.

Cade’s best childhood memories had been the years on the Circle B. It hadn’t been an easy life, but Hank and Ella, the ranch housekeeper, were there for them. Besides his brothers, they were the only people Cade could depend on.

With a glass of champagne, Chance stepped to the microphone. “It’s wonderful to see so many friends and neighbors here for Hank’s birthday.” He turned to Hank. “You know half these people came for the free food and beer,” Chance teased, and everyone laughed. Cade watched his older brother in amazement. He’d never known Chance to joke around. He’d always been so serious about everything. Cade decided Joy and their new baby daughter had had a lot to do with it. Funny how love could change a person, Cade thought as he looked over the crowd while his brother continued to toast Hank.

Once again, his gaze wandered toward the back of the patio. Immediately he picked out Abby. When his eyes met hers, something stirred inside. Damn, he’d thought she’d headed home.

When Chance finished the toast, applause broke out, pulling Cade back to the reason he was here. It was his turn to step up to the mike.

“It’s been nearly eight years,” Cade began, “since the last time I was here at the Circle B. But Hank has welcomed me just as he did my brothers and me twenty years ago. Back then I was a smart-mouthed kid and thought I knew everything,” he said as he glanced at Hank. The sixty-five-year-old rancher, with his head of thick gray hair, stood straight-backed. His face was weathered from the sun, but he’d retained his ready smile and kind heart.

“Hank told me I had a lot to learn. Then he proceeded to teach me how to muck out a stall, feed the livestock, brand a calf and shoe a horse. All skills I definitely needed in Chicago.” The crowd laughed. Cade stole another glance at Hank, and he swallowed hard as his emotions threatened to erupt. “But the most valuable lesson I learned from this man was not to give up on a job, no matter how hard. He told me anything worth having is worth the struggle. It’s what gives you such sweet satisfaction, knowing you’ve accomplished something.”

Cade raised his glass. “To Hank. Thanks for all the lessons. And may your days all be sweet.” There was silence as everyone took a drink, then unable to help it, Cade glanced at Abby again.

Abby knew she should have left when she had the chance, but this had been her first social outing since her daddy’s death six months ago. Brandon needed the party, too. Since school let out, he’d been isolated from kids his own age. He’d been sticking close to her, playing her protector. But she didn’t want him to worry about her. She wanted her son to be a kid. Tonight was for him. But was it safe to stay any longer?

When Cade stepped off the bandstand and headed toward her, Abby knew she had to get her son home where it was safe. Sending one of the teenagers to get Brandon, she planned to disappear before there were any more confrontations. No such luck. She looked up and saw Cade still moving in her direction. She tensed, ready for a fight.

He raised a calming hand. “I just want to apologize for before. I had no right to talk to you that way.”

“No, you didn’t,” Abby said, though she knew after her rejection of him he had every right to despise her. He could never know that she hadn’t had a choice. “I know we never can be friends, Cade. But I do wish you the best. I hear you’ve made a good life for yourself in Chicago.”

He nodded. “I have a job I like. I make a decent living.”

She’d known he would do well. “You always worked hard. I’m glad everything’s gone your way. I guess I better go. Goodbye, Cade.” She made her way toward Brandon, fighting the urge not to turn around for one last look at the man she’d loved since the first day she saw him. No, Cade Randell was her past. She couldn’t go back and change anything. It was too late, and there were too many secrets for him to forgive her.

Cade wasn’t in a party mood anymore. He needed time alone. He headed toward the barn and some privacy. Damn, he didn’t want these feelings for Abby stirred up. After all this time, he’d thought he could come back, no strings, just a nice visit with his brothers and Ella and Hank. No demons from his past. Cade walked down the center aisle and stroked a few of the horses in the stalls.

He’d left San Angelo and last seen Abby Moreau eight years ago. Now her hair hung to her chin, and was much tamer than the wild red mane that used to hang to the middle of her back. He groaned as memories of the silken strands draped over his body came rushing back. How she’d been able to make him forget all the cruelty in the world with just her touch. Then just as quickly he recalled Abby’s parting words. “It will never work between us, Cade,” she’d said with tears in her eyes. “I don’t love you.”

“You were right, Abby,” he said to himself. “We wouldn’t have worked. Not when you wanted a man with money. And one without the last name of Randell.”

“Hey, what are you doing out here by yourself?”

Cade swung around to see his older brother, Chance, coming toward him. “I’m not sure I know all those people anymore,” he lied. The real reason was he didn’t know if he fit in. Had he ever?

“Hell, the neighborhood hasn’t changed that much. It’s the same ranching families, though some of the kids have grown up. Got some pretty women here tonight.”

“Whoa, better not let your wife hear you say that,” Cade said, realizing his brother qualified as one of the lucky ones to have found Joy. Chance had also been the only one of the three brothers who stayed on the Circle B, totally content to ranch.