A Child for Cade

While the women cleared the table, Hank invited Brandon into his study for a game of checkers. Cade excused himself and went out to the porch. He sat with his coffee and enjoyed the sunset, golden and orange as the sun dipped behind the trees. Had the sunsets here always been so beautiful?

Now he sat in the absolute stillness, eyes closed, listening to the sounds around him. Off in the distance, a horse whinnied and a dog barked. He’d thought the quiet would drive him crazy, but in the past three days it only seemed to relax him.

“Cade?”

He opened his eyes to see Abby. Suddenly his pulse began to race again. Damn. Get over it. She’s just a woman. A woman who rejected you.

“Ella thought you’d like a piece of apple pie.”

“Thanks,” he said, and took the plate she offered.

She started to walk away.

“Aren’t you having any?” he asked.

“No, I ate too much at dinner.”

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those women who diets all the time.”

She straightened. “No, I’m just too full to eat any more. I’ll take my dessert home.” She started for the door again.

“Sit down and talk to me.”

“Cade, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I told Brandon we used to be friends in school. I don’t want him to think there’s any hostility between us.”

“In other words you want us to lie.”

Cade put down his pie and stood. He went to her, took her hand and tugged her back to the porch. “I want us to act civil, Abby. I know we have some baggage from the past, but I’m only going to be around a few more days. Can’t we get along?”

Abby pulled her hand away. “Sure. When are you going back?”

“The end of the week.”

She walked to the railing. “Being here must be boring compared to Chicago.”

Watching her face, he felt his heart trip. The dusky light highlighted her hair like a halo. Damn, being this close to her was killing him.

“No, not really,” he said. “In fact, I’ve been enjoying my stay. I’m glad we got a chance to see each other again. Maybe clearing the air was a good thing. I’d like to put the past behind us and move on.”

She shrugged. “Cade, I put our past away long ago.”

She was lying. He could see it in her eyes. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking that Abby Moreau Garson still had some feelings for him.

“Let’s just test that theory.” He drew her into his arms and covered her mouth with his. He heard her sharp intake of breath. But it didn’t take long before her arms circled his neck, and she surrendered to the desire he knew now they would always share.

Then the bliss suddenly ended when Abby tore her mouth from his with a soft cry. Her eyes met his, and Cade could see a mixture of pain and longing in their emerald depths. Then Abby turned and dashed into the house.

Chapter Three

It had been a stupid thing to do.

The next morning Abby was still chastising herself for letting Cade kiss her. As if she’d had a choice. Whenever the man got within ten feet of her, she turned to mush. And she had to stop it, she told herself as she paced her bedroom. She wasn’t a crazy-in-love college student any longer. She was a single mother, trying to raise her child. Cade’s child. Just the thought turned her legs to jelly. She sank onto the bed. If he discovered Brandon was his…

Abby quickly shook away the thought. Cade would be gone by the end of the week. Just as before, Chicago was where he wanted to be. He’d proved that when he’d stayed away from San Angelo for so long, never interested in her well-being or if she could be pregnant from their lovemaking.

Tears started to well up in her eyes, but Abby refused to let them fall. She wasn’t going to waste her time on something that could never be. Her only concern was her son. She wanted to protect him and to raise him with love in a good home.

That was one of her other problems. One she’d been dreading all week but couldn’t put off any longer. Damn her ex-husband for doing this to her, for humiliating her this way. Obviously if she wanted her alimony check, she’d have to play Joel’s game.

She dressed in a pair of pleated taupe slacks and a cream-colored blouse. After slipping on a pair of nut-brown flats, she went downstairs. She checked her hair in the mirror, then turned to find her son watching her.

“Where are you going, Mom?”

“Into town, honey. You stay with Charlie and Carmen.”

“Can I go with you?”

“No, I’m going to the bank to see your fa—Joel. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”

She didn’t miss the fear in his eyes as he shook his head. “No, Mom, don’t go.”

“I have to, Brandon. He didn’t send the check.”

“But what if he hurts you again?”

Abby forced a smile. “He won’t, Brandon. That’s why I’m going to the bank. There’ll be a lot of people around. I’ll be fine.” She kissed him, then hurried out to her car, remembering that her therapist had told her to confront her fears. Abby seriously doubted that the psychologist realized what it was like to be knocked around by a drunken Joel Garson.

Cade drove into town, amazed at how things had changed. But after nearly eight years, what did he expect? Nothing stays the same. Before he knew it, his thoughts had turned to Abby. She had only become more beautiful with the years.

No. He had to stop thinking about her, Cade told himself as he pulled the truck into the First Security Bank parking lot. The kiss had been out of line, but it only verified what he already knew. Abby could still turn him inside out. Four more days, and he’d be back in Chicago. Back to his life with no Abby Garson to tempt him. He climbed out and walked into the one-story brick building. It was Tuesday, and the bank was quiet. Three tellers handled the customers. Cade pulled out the deposit slip and check Hank had given him and got in line.

He was next when he heard a loud voice that echoed through the hollow building. Cade glanced toward the glass enclosure. His heart pounded harder when he saw Abby inside—with Joel.

He froze when he saw that Garson had a grip on her wrist. The average person not looking closely wouldn’t see the man’s intense look. Fury raced through Cade as he made his way across the bank. What did Abby think she was doing, going to see Joel on her own? The man had beaten her before. He could do it again. If Garson touched her, he would be a dead man.

A receptionist looked up as he approached the door. “You can’t go in there, sir.”

“The hell I can’t.” Cade gave the door a sharp knock, then swung the door open to see Joel corraling Abby, his hand still gripping her wrist.

“Garson!” he growled.

The big stocky man turned to him in surprise. Joel Garson hadn’t aged well. He had the ruddy complexion and puffy eyes of a drinker. He looked as if he’d been on a weekend binge. His stomach hung over his belt, and not even a custom-made suit could hide the fact that he was a good thirty pounds overweight.

“Release Abby or I’ll break you in two.” Cade stepped inside, then shut the door. He gripped the doorknob so he wouldn’t carry out his threat.

Joel glared at him. “Get out, Randell. This is between my wife and me.”