by Danni Roan
“I could get used to this,” she smiled, watching a bunch of fat horses graze around a small house in a wide field. She wondered how her friend liked living in a horse pasture.
Turning back to the wide dirt track that ran from one end of the fenced ranch to the next, she caught the glint of sunlight on water and found her eyes searching the distant prairie for a big red wagon and an equally big man.
The house was quiet when she finally let herself in, taking her time to wander around the place. It was a simple, comfortable house, but some of the furniture was truly remarkable - all hand crafted, large, solid and polished to a soft glow.
Grabbing her laptop bag from the bedroom upstairs, she quickly settled at the dark trestle table and was soon skimming through pictures uploaded from her various cameras.
Several of the images meshed nicely with the a few of her work orders, and soon she was making her own brand of magic.
A heavy tread had Michelle looking up, bewildered at Kade’s arrival.
“Honey, I’m home,” he called, leaning down and kissing her on the cheek.
“I thought you’d be gone for hours,” Michelle said. “Did something happen?”
“No,” Kade said running his hands through his hair. “We drove up the trail to the foot hills, did some digging around, had some lunch. I think a few of those boys will get their next merit badge from this trip.”
“Do you want lunch?” Michelle still hadn’t fully come back to the real world and was struggling to understand what Kade was saying.
A deep chuckle rolled from Kade’s chest as he ran a rough hand over her arm. “Honey, it’s time for supper.”
“What? Already?” She stood, peering out the windows at the waning sun. “Oh, my I’m so sorry, I was working. I’ll make it up to you.”
Kade blinked, his blue eyes puzzled. “Why would you need to make it up to me? And what would you be making up?” His hand continued to run along her arm.
A slow smile spread across Michelle’s face, her nerves settling, as Kade’s soft touch soothed. “I’m afraid I’ve been working and lost track of time. Do you want me to cook or can we go to the ranch for super?”
“It’d be nice to eat with Chase and Phil,” Kade agreed. “Be prepared for some serious ribbing though.”
“I had a visit with Phil this morning. She’s seems alright with our arrangement.”
Something in Kade’s chest tightened, constricting his heart. Was this really just an arrangement to her? “I’m sure she was happy to see you.” he said, slipping into the chair across from his wife.
“I can’t believe it’s been so long since we had a chance to sit down and visit.” Michelle said. “She’s happy.”
“Uhm hm,” Kade agreed.
“I don’t think I’d ever have imaged Phil owning a dude ranch. You should have seen her in New York; she was a tiger at the top.”
Tentatively, Kade reached out and took Michelle’s hand. “I’m glad you have her here,” he offered lamely.
“I’m glad I get to keep my best friend,” Michelle replied. “I haven’t seen nearly enough of her in the past couple of years.”
Feeling something he couldn’t quite define, Kade pulled Michelle to her feet and wrapped her in his arms.
Michelle snuggled deep into Kade’s chest. He was dusty and smelled of horse and hay and everything outside, but he was solid and warm.
Thoughts raced through her head about her new life, jumbled images and ideas all rolled together, and for a moment she hoped she hadn’t jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
She was sure she was starting to like this man more than she had planned.
Chapter 5
“Chase was rather unkind to you,” Michelle commented as she and Kade stepped out onto the front porch together after dinner.
“He’s just havin’ some fun,” Kade’s said quietly.
“Your ears were so red at one point I thought I would see smoke soon,” she tittered, wondering how he’d take the ribbing, and flinched momentarily as he dropped an arm around her.
“He was worse in the barn this morning.”
Michelle laughed as her nerves settled. “So, you don’t mind being teased?” she quipped, hooking a pinky into one of his belt loops.
“I’ve known Chase a long time, he doesn’t mean any harm.”
“Phil said you’ve known Chase since you were a boy.”
“We met in school,” Kade said simply, “practically grew up together.”
“But he grew up and joined the rodeo while you stayed here and worked the ranch.”
“I guess he’s had a pretty interesting life.”
Michelle felt the muscles’ in Kade’s back tense and tried to make amends.
“I don’t think I’d like all that traveling and noise,” she commented.
“You like the quiet then?” Kade’s voice was hopeful.
“I’ve always enjoyed a bit of time on my own, working, creating things. I’ll admit that quiet here and quiet in New York are two very different things, though.”
“You didn’t feel lonely at home on your own all day?”
“Not at all,” the petite young woman assured, “I got so much done.”
“I don’t want you to be lonely when I’m working.”
“It’s only been a day, and besides I have Phil. What more could I ask for?” She bumped her shoulder against his side.
“If you need anything, all you have to do is ask,” Kade said.
“I’m getting that idea.” Her voice was light as she ran her fingers up his back, making him twitch.
Michelle wriggled her fingers and Kade danced away, making her laugh.
“You’re ticklish.”
“No, I’m not,” Kade protested lamely, trying to catch her hand that had begun a rapid climb up his side.
Michelle’s giggle was like music, tinkling into the night. “You are,” she spoke again turning further for better access to his sensitive ribs, then squealed as she stepped in a hole, pitching forward.
As Michelle started to fall, Kade’s arm darted out, grasping her around the waist and hoisting her under his arm.
“Oof!” the sound escaped Michelle as she found herself suspended off the ground like a bag of groceries.
“Sorry,” Kade said, putting her back down. “Didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You didn’t hurt me.” Michelle said, studying him carefully, “you just squeezed the breath out of me.” She liked that the man she had married was gentle, despite his size.
No matter how many times she wondered about being matched with a man who was built like a brick wall, she always came back to his awkward, quiet ways.
Wrapping her hand in his, Michelle moved off toward their home. “Kade, tell me why you chose to call Dr. Lachele?”
Kade hesitated, his shoulders bunching with embarrassment, but he continued walking.
“It’s kind of hard to meet girls when you work a ranch pretty much completely on your own.” His voice was soft. “I’ve never been very good at talkin’ to people.”
“Surely there are girls you knew from school, or town.”
Kade shrugged.“A few, I just never knew what to say to them. Then there’s the ranch.” He hesitated, lifting his head and looking into the night.
“When Uncle Davie ran the place, he didn’t seem to care to do more than keep body and soul together. I wasn’t really supposed to, but I kept his herd up along with mine, managed to keep the barn in one piece, and generally earned enough to live on.”
“You didn’t have any help?”
Again, Kade shrugged.
“How much land is there?”
“Nearly three hundred acers.”
“That’s huge!”
“Not really, there’re lots of spreads bigger.”
“But to take care of it all on your own.”
“Mom and Dad were here, though Dad couldn’t really do much anymore.”
“It sounds lonely.” Miche
lle snuggled close again, her heart warming to the big guy.
“It got to be a little more fun once Phil arrived,” Kade chuckled. “That cousin of mine really turned this old place upside down.”
“Are there before and after pictures?” Michelle asked, her mind kicking into gear while her heart pattered.
“You’d have to ask Phil, but nothing’s been the same since she arrived.”
“But you still wanted more?” Michelle was interested, trying to understand why a man that looked like Kade had needed help to get a wife.
“I’ve always been a home body,” he answered simply. “Then Phil found those old letters. It made me curious and I called.”
“What letters?”
“When Phil was working on cleaning out and updating the ranch house, she found an old steamer trunk and it had a load of letters in it. One bundle was the correspondence between my great-great-grandfather and his mail-order bride.” Kade’s ears were red again as he felt silly admitting it.
“I read them all and thought it would be nice if that could still happen. Then I called.”
“I think I’m glad you did.” Michelle’s voice was small.
“You only think?” Kade questioned. He felt awkward, but didn’t want to pry.
Michelle stopped, turning to look at him in the moonlight. “Kade, I wanted a new start and you’ve given that to me. The rest, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Kade nodded, his head full of thoughts but his mouth devoid of words. He liked this woman, at least as much as he knew of her so far, but he didn’t know how to ask the questions he had. He would simply have to wait to see where this thing went.
Thoughts still bubbling in his head, he was surprised when Michelle rose up on her toes, kissing him. “This is something I’m sure I like,” she whispered, kissing him again, obliterating all thought.
Michelle slipped out of the blankets, pulling a fluffy robe over her shoulders, and walked silently from the room on slippered feet.
The night air was sharp, even in the house, and Michelle shivered. For more than a week she’d been silent in all areas of her life and it was now time to face the music.
Quietly, she settled at the kitchen table, fishing her phone from her robe pocket and punching in the numbers.
“Hello, Mom?” she spoke softly, “sorry I haven’t called but I need you to know something.” She paused, mustering her courage.
“What is it honey? Is everything alright?” Her mother’s voice was concerned.
“Mom, I got married.” There, she’d said it. Two ticks of the clock and she pulled the phone away from her ear as loud wailing assailed her. This was not going well.
Michelle closed her eyes, waiting, and just as expected, her father picked up the line. “Honey, what’s happened?” Her father’s deep voice was calm, but firm.
“Daddy, just listen. Please.” She said, diving in head first. “I’m married.”
The silence on the other end of the phone was louder than her mother’s wailing had been and she swallowed hard.
“Charles?” Her father’s voice was neutral.
“No.”
“Thank heavens.” The relief in his voice rolled over the line like a palpable wave.
“Dad,” Michelle grumbled.
“I’m sorry, honey, but neither your mother nor I liked that young man. I know you’d been together for a while but…” his voice trailed off, and Michelle could hear him telling her mother.
With great care, Michelle explained everything to her father, shaking her head at the manic laughter coming from her mother in the background. Three years and she’d had no idea how her parents felt about her relationship.
“Just one more thing, Daddy, if Charles calls, don’t tell him anything or give him my number.” Her voice had grown small as her father assured her he would never speak to her former boyfriend again if he had his way about it.
***
Kade woke to an empty bed and turned to look for Michelle. Perhaps she’d slipped out onto the front porch again for some night air. Pulling on his jeans, he padded across the floor and down the stairs, surprised when he heard Michelle talking to someone.
Something cold trickled down Kade’s spine as he listened to her words. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the words struck him like a physical blow as he paused on the bottom stair.
He’d been married a week and a half, and the woman he’d pledged his life to, was only now telling her parents about him. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was ashamed of her decision. Was she having second thoughts about her former boyfriend?
Turning with a heavy heart, he made his way back up the stairs and into his bed that smelled of the sweet shampoo Michelle used.
He should have known everything had been too easy. They’d gotten along so well so far. He needed to get his head on straight soon, before he couldn’t think at all. That little woman sitting at his kitchen table was doing strange things to him.
“Lord,” he whispered into the stillness, “you know the desires of my heart.”
Kade had been a lonely child, the strain of his family’s misfortunes weighing heavily on him. Chase had been his best friend, an outlet for childish enthusiasms, but mostly Kade had been a quiet child, awkward because of his size and strength. Talking to girls had been almost impossible.
Michelle’s soft tread on the stairs reached his ears, and he quickly shucked his jeans and curled into his spot on the bed, pretending to be asleep.
Michelle climbed into bed with a grin. It had taken some time, but she’d finally gotten her parents to understand her situation. Part of her still cringed at the way they had reveled in the fact that she hadn’t married her former boyfriend.
Slipping under the covers, a wicked twinkle in her eye, she lay her small, chilled feet against Kade’s bare legs, giggling at his sharp intake of breath.
“Are you awake?” she whispered loudly.
“No.” Kade didn’t know what else to say. Why did she want to speak to him now? He didn’t want to talk; he just wanted to ignore what he’d heard earlier.
“Kade.” Michelle sat up, jiggling his shoulder with one hand. “I have something to tell you.”
Slowly, Kade rolled on to his back, looking up into her face. He seemed to never get tired of looking at her face. Her dark curls were mussed and hung in a tangle over her small white T, tantalizing.
“I’m listening,” he offered softly, keeping the hurt out of his voice.
“I spoke to my parents tonight.”
Kade pushed up onto his elbows, causing his tight stomach to tense.
“I’m sorry I haven’t told you anything about them before but…” for a moment she chewed her bottom lip uncertainly. “Well, I didn’t know what to tell them and my life in New York had set certain expectations.”
“Like what?” Kade asked, still trying to understand why her admission stung.
“I was with someone else back then,” Michelle continued. “He wasn’t right for me so I broke it off. Apparently, my parents didn’t like him either, but I never knew.”
“So you were afraid to tell your parents about me because you thought they would be upset you didn’t stay with this other guy?”
“I always thought my mom really liked him,” Michelle admitted, “but in reality, she and dad hated him. They do want to meet you though.” She tried to grin, but he could see the trouble in her dark eyes.
“Michelle, I have a confession to make as well,” Kade said, finally sitting upright. “I heard you talking to your folks. I thought you were ashamed to tell them about me before.”
“I…” Michelle didn’t know what to say. She’d been worried that her parents would be angry about her break up with Charles. She’d only told her mother that she was taking a little break from the city and that she needed time alone to think.
Looking back, it had been much easier than she had expected, convincing her mother not to share her new phone number with anyone else, especially Charl
es.
With great care, Michelle reached out, running her hand over Kade’s smooth chest. “I’m not ashamed of you Kade,” she finally spoke. “So far I like you pretty well. I just needed to have some time to get things worked out before I told my folks.” She dropped her hand, feeling small and suddenly weak.
“It’s alright.” Kade’s voice was close as he reached out and pulled her to him, “I guess we all have to do things the best way we know how.”
Michelle squeezed herself in tight to Kade’s thick shoulder, feeling the heat radiating from his skin. It felt nice to be held. “So you’re not mad at me?” she asked, her words muffled by his arm.
“No. I was a little hurt I guess, but I’m not mad.” He kissed her gently on the brow, his lips a hot brand. “I think we need to take the time to get to know each other a little more,” he continued, scootching down into the bed and pulling her with him. “Tell me about your folks.”
“They live in Idaho,” Michelle began. “My mom’s a teacher and my dad’s a mechanic.”
“Brothers and sisters?”
“I have a little sister. She’s in college out in Idaho. Marissa is following in Mom’s footsteps and is studying to be a teacher.”
“How’d you end up in New York?” Kade’s voice was interested, but drowsy.
“You should ask how they ended up in Idaho. Mom always wanted to live in a big house in Idaho with loads of open space. When I was in college, she found her dream home and moved out there.”
“You didn’t mind?”
“No, I was starting a life of my own, spreading my wings, so to speak. What about your folks?”
“They passed on a few years ago. They were both older when I came along, and I’m afraid time took its toll.”
“I’m sorry, Kade,” Michelle offered, rolling to her stomach and resting her chin in her upraised palms. “You must miss them.”
“I do.” Kade’s words rolled slowly off his tongue. “At least I know they’re in heaven.”
Michelle knew that many people took comfort in the concept of heaven, but it had never made any sense to her.
