by Danni Roan
“Where they close to your uncle?”
Kade’s harrumphed, “No. They never got along. The only reason Uncle Davie tolerated me was I was good with the tough horses.”
“Tough horses? Aren’t all horses tough or hearty, or whatever you call them?”
“A tough horse can mean a few things. Some of them are stubborn, some don’t trust folks because they’ve been mistreated and a few are just plain mean.”
“Have you ever been hurt?"
“A time or two,” Kade replied, sleep making his voice gruff, “mostly smashed toes, a few bruises.”
“No broken bones.”
“Not from horses,” Kade chuckled. “I fell out of the hay loft when I was little, broke my wrist. Chase dared me to swing out of the hay loft on the lift rope.” He smiled again. “How about you? Were you a dare devil growing up?”
Michelle’s soft laugh tickled. “I was always rather timid growing up.”
“You?” Kade lifted his head to study her, stretching his arms over his head. What he’d seen of the woman so far was that she took what she wanted.
“Yes, me.” Michelle dropped her eyes. “I pretty much towed the line in everything. Straight to school each day, never stopping anywhere on the way home.”
“What was your favorite subject?” Kade was curious.
“Art and English,” Michelle said, grinning. “Most days I had my nose in a book or a sketch pad. I was shy and had very few friends.”
“You’re telling me that you were shy?” Kade was incredulous. As far as he could tell, the woman didn’t have a shy bone in her very shapely body.
“When did you meet Philomena?” Kade asked, his interest piqued.
“I met Phil in college. She was studying accounting. We were roommates. I was a mouse to her lion.” Michelle’s smile was soft as she remembered.
“You helped her get that job she had in the city, didn’t you?”
“Yes, my father had a friend there who offered me a job. The company was having an upswing, loads of promotion and marketing for big brands and needed interns, so I suggested Phil. The rest, as they say, is history.”
“What did you do for the firm? If you don’t mind me asking?” Kade was feeling drowsy and comfortable, but was curious.
“I worked in design. I was studying art and graphics at school, so it fit.”
“But now you work for yourself.” Kade ran a hand along her arm as she laid her head against his beefy shoulder.
“It took me a while, scrimping and saving, but yeah; eventually I built a business.”
“Will you have to travel for pictures and such?” Kade didn’t like the idea of her being away, but he understood that someone’s job was important.
“I have a few clients that call me for specific events, but mostly I work at home.” She was quiet for a minute. “Does that bother you?”
Kade tipped his chin, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman in his arms. Her voice had grown small, doubtful.
“No,” he answered slowly, hoping to put her at ease. “I am rather getting used to you being here like this, though.” He chuckled softly. “If you need to travel, I understand. It’s not like you haven’t been doing this for a while, and if your business is doing alright, you must be pretty good.”
The silence in the room grew, making the sound of a night bird sharp, harsh.
“Thank you,” Michelle finally spoke. “It’s nice to know you have confidence in me.” Reaching for the blanket, she pulled it over her bare legs relaxing, as a strange contentment filled her with warmth, and she drifted off to sleep.
Kade felt Michelle relax into him, her head still pillowed on his chest. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he was sure something odd had just happened.
With great care, he tucked the blankets around her, brushing her dark hair away from her face. The nights were growing cold and he didn’t want Michelle to take a chill.
His eyes heavy, Kade lay perfectly still, listening to his wife’s even breathing. He’d never felt so responsible for anyone. He wanted to protect this precious gift. There was so much he didn’t know about her, yet but so much he wanted to.
She seemed so confident, but something tickled at his brain. Tonight she had seemed doubtful, almost insecure.
“Lord,” his voice was a bare breath, “there’s so much I don’t understand, but I’m starting to care for this woman.” Almost instinctively, his arm tensed around Michelle. “I can’t deny I’m a little scared here,” he continued, “but your word says to trust in you and you will direct our paths.”
Perhaps this crazy risk was truly meant to be.
Chapter 6
“Right this way,” Philomena Haven smiled and waved at the guests as they entered the main house of the Broken J Ranch, “refreshments are in the kitchen and the arts and crafts are at the tables in the dining room.”
“Phil, I don’t mean to be a pain, but I need to know what to tell the movers.” Michelle scowled, making some of the local women who had come for a day of fabric painting swing wide of the petite woman.
“Yes, right through there,” Phil continued to nod and smile as more women poured through the open door, letting the icy nip of fall into the house. “Michi, I can’t deal with this right now.” Phil’s violet eyes were dark with concentration. “Mrs. Wade came up with this scheme and neither one of us expected it to take off like this.”
She gestured toward the almost full dining area.
“But the movers are bringing my equipment next week.” Michelle’s voice was breathy with nerves.
Several women were bunched up in the narrow hallway, uncertain as to how to proceed, and Phil squeezed through into the kitchen to guide them to the refreshments.
“Phil,” Michelle called over the crowd standing on tip-toes to try to glimpse her friend.
“Yes, this way,” Phil’s voice echoed back above the crowd, “just see Mrs. Wade.” Her voice was more distant. “Please, try anything you want, there’s more than enough.”
Michelle dropped back to her heels with an agitated click. She needed an answer today if her pods were to be delivered next week. She had been working almost non-stop over the past few days; creativity seemed to be pouring out of her in her new home.
“Drat,” she said, biting her bottom lip.
A titter erupted from some of the women in the next room and Michelle dodged through the parlor into the dining area to see Kade place a large box on a table and remove his hat.
“Ma’ams,” he offered politely, his ears going pink around the edges.
“Oh good, Kade,” Phil piped, still smiling at her guests. “Michelle needs help.” She fluttered her fingers toward her friend, dismissing her cousin as she moved into the fray. “Now ladies, Jodi G is here this afternoon for the painting…” her voice faded as Kade made his way to Michelle.
“Is something wrong?” His deep voice was soft, for her ears only.
“Well yes, and no,” Michelle said. “I just got off the phone with the movers and they’re bringing my things next week.”
Kade took her arm and began steering her back through the parlor toward the front door.
“And?” he prompted.
“I have two of those pod crates coming and don’t know where to put them. I asked Phil, but she’s busy.”
“Like those ones you see on T.V.?”
“Yes, like that.” Michelle nodded, stepping out into the sharp breeze. “I can’t just have them drop them here at the ranch and you don’t have room in that little barn behind the house.”
“Two of them?” Kade asked, carefully walking into the yard and turning toward home.
“Yes, Kadence. Two.” Michelle held up two fingers, as if the digits could explain more effectively than words.
A grin tugged at Kade’s lips. One of these days he would tell the pretty woman he’d married that his name was just Kade, but today he’d let it go.
“Do you need everything to be climate-controlled or anything
?” he asked, his mind turning over an idea the way a plow turns the earth.
“No, not if it’s going to stay cool like this.”
Kade chuckled, “Soon we’ll have snow, so I think cold is more like it.”
“It’s barely even October yet,” Michelle commented, distracted from her current problem.
“I’ll see what I can work out for your containers,” Kade continued. “In the meantime, how about we enjoy the weather?” His steps turned toward the barn and Michelle fell into step.
“What did you have in mind?” she grinned suggestively at him, making him blush.
In the two weeks they’d been married, she’d started to understand how shy Kade truly was. While open with Phil and Chase, he was polite and reserved around the guests.
Overall, she’d found his quaint manners and slow words endearing, but was coming to understand that given time, Kade could work out any problem at hand.
“Where’d you say you studied?” she asked as they entered the barn.
“I did an agricultural course online through the University of Wyoming,” Kade replied.
Michelle wrinkled her nose at the acrid smell of horse, hay, and harness as they entered the darker recesses of the stable.
At the sound of Kade’s voice, several soft nickers carried along the hard-packed dirt aisle and two long, rust-colored heads projected from two nearby stalls.
“Hello Scott, hello Jack,” Kade greeted his two oversized mules, reaching out to scratch each of them on the forehead.
Michelle hadn’t believed the beasts could be so huge when Kade had first brought her out to the pasture with apples to get to know them. Even now, she shrank away from the gentle giants.
“I thought we’d take these two out for a little work.” He smiled at her, obviously proud of the two Missouri Mules named after the original pair of draft horses that had come to the Broken J with his forbearer.
“Uhm, you mean the wagon. Right?” Michelle’s mouth had gone dry.
“I’ve got something for you to see and this will be the easiest way,” Kade continued. He seemed to have settled on something and was soon leading one and then the other big animal out of its stall.
Michelle backed away toward an empty stall. Her head barely reached the shoulder of the nearest mule who stood placidly tied to a support.
“There used to be a chair in there when Randal still worked here.” Kade spoke absently, picking up a brush and giving the russet hide a few strong flicks. “He was one of the wranglers here this summer, but he’s moved on to his own place now.”
Michelle backed further into the stall, finding a firm bale of hay to sit on, the distance between her and the beast of burden making her feel a little more relaxed.
“Why’d he leave?” she asked, trying to get her mind off the mules.
“He got a grant to start a ranch to benefit children with problems,” Kade said.“He also got engaged.” He grinned, turning his blue eyes on her.
“That’s sweet,” Michelle offered non-committedly, “there must be something in the water out here in Wyoming.” She laughed softly. “All these folks getting married.”
“I’ll be back in a sec.” Kade smiled, turning toward the tack room and returning with a saddle over each shoulder, placing them carefully on the floor while he settled blankets on the mule’s backs.
“That thing is hideous, you know.” Michelle said when Kade hefted the black and pink saddle onto the oversized equine. “It clashes.”
“The saddle?” Kade laughed. “Chase got these this summer when he first arrived. Picked them up for a song. Strictly speaking they’re youth saddles. A lot of barrel racing teen girls seem to like them.”
“There are more than one of these?” Michelle was shocked.
“Yep, Phil likes the purple one,” Kade finished, fastening the last strap, “besides I thought it’d fit you better.”
“Oh no!” Michelle shrank, “I can’t.”
“Sure you can,” Kade smiled, “Scott’s as gentle as a lamb. Here I’ll help you.” In one swift move, he’d scooped her up and seated her on the bright pink saddle.
Michelle grasped the saddle horn with both hands, trying to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she might have screamed if she didn’t think the beast would startle.
“You’ll like what I have to show you,” Kade spoke again, taking the reins of each mule in his hands, starting toward the door. “I don’t think you’ll even have to duck going out the doors.”
Michelle could feel the panic rising inside her. Her heart was pounding in her neck, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Anger, fear, confusion, flooded her mind and she swayed in the saddle as they passed under the big doors.
The mule stopped and Michelle blinked in the bright light.
Turning, Kade reached to swing up onto his mount, noting that his lovely bride was unusually quiet.
As his eye fell on her, he could see immediately something was wrong. Michelle’s face was stark white and beads of perspiration sparkled on her brow. Her hands were so tightly wrapped around the saddle horn of the ridiculous saddle that her knuckles were blue with strain.
“Darlin’?” he queried, dropping Jack’s reins and stepping to her side, “are you alright?” His voice was gentle.
A gurgling, choking sound came from the lush curve of her neck and he could see now that she was trembling.
Placing his hands on her waist, he lifted her from the saddle, slowly breaking her grasp on the dark covered horn. “It’s alright,” he soothed, pulling her close and stroking her hair. “Old Scott won’t hurt you.”
Michelle’s arms wound around Kade’s neck instinctively, grasping for something solid and grounded, as she struggled for breath.
“You’re safe,” Kade continued, his voice a soothing hush. “I’ve got you.”
Kade could feel the woman in his arms still trembling as she burrowed into his neck, hot tears soon trickling onto his bare skin, burning him more deeply with shame than any brand ever could.
“I’m sorry sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think,” he whispered still holding her tight.
Michelle pulled a warm Kade-scented breath into her lungs, the strangled thing catching on her sob. She’d never been so scared in all her life. She’d always been afraid of horses of any kind.
“I’ll take you home,” Kade said his deep voice a vibration that rolled through her, breaking some of the strain.
Scooping the little woman into his arms, Kade started the trek back toward their house. Behind him, the steady two-two beat of the mules’ matched step kept pace with his.
“Kade, I can walk now.” Michelle’s voice was still small and scratchy.
“I know, but this was all my fault.” He looked sheepishly down at her.
She squirmed slightly, tightening her grip on his neck. “Your mules are following us,” she said, peeking over his shoulder.
“They’re used to staying at our place.” Kade’s voice was quiet. “They’ll head to the barn on their own.”
Pulling herself up a little more, Michelle peeked over his shoulder again. “They can do that?”
“Uh hm,” Kade droned, guilt turning to acid in his belly.
Her dark eyes flicked between the man and the two heavy mules following him like placid puppies.
“Why?” she shivered as the animals turned down the path behind the house, moved to the barn and stopped at a closed gate.
“What do you mean why?” Kade stepped up on to the front porch, still cradling Michelle in his arms.
“Why can they do that, I mean take themselves to the barn or whatever?” Michelle was starting to feel foolish and it was making her mad. No sooner had she started out to remake herself and the old was rearing its ugly head.
Kade opened the door with one hand and stepped through the door, moving to the sofa and dropping into its plush comfort, adjusting Michelle on his lap.
“Mules are smart,” Kade offered, “appare
ntly smarter than me.” He flushed again, planting an awkward kiss on her cheek. “I’m really sorry.”
Michelle laid her head on Kade’s shoulder, suddenly feeling tired. Her fear reaction had been excruciating and now that her heart beat was slowing, she wanted sleep.
“You are kind of thick,” she teased, squeezing his heavily roped bicep, her instinctual anger fading.
“I never was a big thinker.” Kade sounded small. “I’m sorry I frightened you. I never even considered you being afraid of horses and like a dolt; I toss you up on one of the biggest critters on the ranch.”
“Kadence,” Michelle spoke softly, “maybe you should just ask me things.” She lifted her head and took his face in her hands. His face was warm and smooth after his shave that morning. She was finding she rather liked that face.
Quietly Kade nodded, then sat perfectly still as she brushed her lips lightly over his, and lay back with a sigh.
Kade sat watching as Michelle drifted off to sleep, rising only when he was sure he wouldn’t wake her.
Covering his wife with an old quilt, Kade Ballard walked outside to put away his mules.
Chapter 7
Michelle woke feeling refreshed. She felt like a ninny, freaking out over sitting on a mule. Men, woman and children could be seen riding horses everywhere here at the Broken J, and as far as she could tell, with no ill effects.
Pushing the quilt off, she rose and walked to the window, gazing out. A group of riders were ambling by even now and Michelle was surprised to see both Phil and Chase leading the group.
She couldn’t help but smile when she saw them holding hands as they rode by. Would she and Kade ever have such a solid relationship?
The phone ringing pulled Michelle out of her thoughts and she answered quickly.
“Michelle, honey, it’s mom.”
“Hi mom, how are you?” Michelle was surprised that her mother had called. Usually she called home each week for a check in. “Is everything alright?”
“Oh yes, we’re all fine here. It snowed today, and the yard looks beautiful.”
Michelle smiled. She could tell her mother was working up to something. “Will Sarah be home for Thanksgiving?” she asked, waiting for her mom to get to the point.
