Midnight Thunder(INCR)

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “Yes, they’re ranchers.” She hesitated. “I’d love to tell them I found you, but you might not be ready for that.”

  Her husband, who’d been standing quietly beside her through the whole drama, slipped an arm around her waist. “You should probably give him a little time to adjust.”

  “I’ll second that.” Herb appeared and stood beside Cade. “Must be tough, going from no relatives at all to a whole passel of them.”

  About that time Cade realized that not a single person standing in the hallway was talking. This little drama had been a real conversation stopper. Lexi stood in Rosie’s doorway, and she looked worried. He glanced around at the others and saw concern and sympathy on every face, including Janine’s. He must look truly bushwhacked if Lexi’s mother felt sorry for him.

  Enough of that nonsense. Nobody had to feel sorry for Cade Gallagher. He could handle whatever came at him. Reaching deep, he pulled out a smile. “You know, it would be tough if I’d just found out that I’m related to a bunch of criminals, but come on. Judging from Molly, the Gallaghers must be really cool, and the Chances are like royalty around here. The way I look at it, I’m a damned lucky guy.”

  Molly brightened. “So I can let my parents know you’re here and I’ve talked to you?”

  “Absolutely.” His stomach hurt like hell. They’d want to know about his mom and maybe even his worthless dad. He’d have to relive things he was trying to forget.

  “They’ll invite you down to Arizona.”

  “And I’d be honored to go.” Someday. Far in the distant future. He tried not to think about it.

  “The Chances will probably invite you over there, too.”

  “That’d be great.” The pain in his stomach rolled. He hoped he wouldn’t embarrass himself by throwing up. “So, now that’s all settled, we should probably draw straws for who gets to go see Rosie next.”

  “You go,” Herb said. “I’m sure she wants to apologize.”

  “For what?”

  “Not contacting you about Molly!” Rosie called from her bed.

  That got him moving. He hurried into the room. “You knew about this?”

  “Not for absolute sure, but when I met her, I couldn’t stop looking at her eyes. Of course, I couldn’t say anything to her about you without your permission. I kept meaning to call you, but...I got distracted. I’m sorry, Cade. That was a rough way to find out.”

  He walked over to the bed and squeezed her hand. “It’s okay.” Then he thought about what she’d said. “So what distracted you?” Must have been significant if she hadn’t called him about Molly.

  “Oh, various things. Listen, I’m getting tired and I know Herb must be pooped. How about sending people in one at a time so I can tell them good-night and then all of you can take off. It’s been a long day.”

  “I know. You’ve probably had way too much excitement and way too much company.”

  “Doesn’t seem to have hurt me. My excellent nurses said my vitals were good this last time. I predict I’ll be home tomorrow.”

  “That would be terrific.”

  “It would.” She smiled at him. “Now line ’em up and move ’em out, cowboy.”

  When he made the announcement, everyone cooperated beautifully. He leaned against the wall and waited for Damon and Finn, who wanted to be last. He was tired, but not as much as he probably should be. All the excitement Molly had stirred up still fizzed in his brain.

  Lexi walked over. “I need to talk to you a minute.”

  “Sure.” He hadn’t had any time with her since she’d arrived, which was probably a good thing because even now, with so many people around, he had a strong urge to hold her. That would go a long way toward steadying him.

  “How’re you doing with this Molly thing?”

  “Okay, I guess.” Then he had an unpleasant thought. “Please tell me you didn’t know about it. Because if you knew and didn’t tell me, I—”

  “I didn’t know. I swear I would have warned you.”

  He sighed in relief. “Good.”

  “Are you really okay about it?”

  “I should be overjoyed, don’t you think?”

  She studied him with those hazel eyes that saw so much. “I don’t know. It definitely changes things if you suddenly have a bunch of relatives you didn’t know about. That could take some getting used to.”

  “Yeah.” He let out a long breath. “To tell the truth, it knocked me for a loop. The idea of meeting all those people... Well, I’ll deal with that later. But for sure one thing won’t change. Thunder Mountain Ranch will always be home.”

  Her gaze flickered. “Right.”

  “Okay, what’s going on?”

  “I need to talk to all three of you. I’ve found out a few things.”

  He didn’t like the way she said that, as if it wouldn’t be news he’d want to hear, but news that he’d have to hear. “Can you just tell me now?”

  “I’d rather explain it to all three of you at once and in a more private setting than this.”

  “You’re starting to worry me, Lex.”

  “Look, just go with it. Besides, if I drive my truck back to the ranch, then either Damon or Finn can ride with me so you don’t have to fight about who ends up in the back of yours.”

  “Rosie told you about that, did she?”

  “You know Rosie. She hears all.”

  Cade laughed. “She always did. Can’t get away with a damned thing around her. Okay. Sounds as if we need to hear whatever you dug up. I hated the idea that I wouldn’t see you tonight, anyway.” Somehow his hand had come in contact with hers, and he began gently stroking the back of it with one finger. Touching her, even that little bit, calmed him. But the longer he did it, the more he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss that beautiful mouth.

  His touch must have affected her, too, because her eyes darkened and she took a ragged breath. “I’ll drive out there because it’s the best place for us to relax and talk, but you and I won’t be doing anything.”

  “I know.” Not unless they got creative. He was already mentally working on the problem.

  “I mean it, Cade. You have that gleam in your eye.”

  “No, I don’t.” He blinked and tried to look innocent. “See? No gleam.”

  “You need to hang out with Damon and Finn. I’ll probably only stay for an hour or so.”

  “Okay.” He held off dreaming up potential make-out spots because she could read his mind. But he wasn’t about to have her drive all the way out there without at least the possibility of a few kisses. And maybe a little fondling. And maybe—

  “The gleam’s back, Gallagher.” She sounded as if she wanted to laugh but was trying to be stern. “Cut it out.”

  “Have pity on me. This morning some hot woman got me all stirred up, and I can’t seem to put her out of my mind.”

  She rolled her eyes. “If I’d known how that would affect you, I would have—”

  “Done it anyway, I hope. That was epic. One for the record books.”

  “Yes, but now you’re all wound up with no outlet.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out.” And now that Rosie seemed to be improving, he didn’t feel quite so guilty for thinking about getting horizontal with Lexi. Rosie was still his main focus, although Rosie would be delighted to know that he and Lexi still got along.

  He glanced toward Rosie’s door as Finn came out. He reluctantly stopped stroking Lexi’s hand and pushed away from the wall. “Hey, O’Roarke, this lovely lady has offered to drive you to the ranch so you won’t have to arm wrestle Harrison for the passenger seat of my truck.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Finn smiled at her. “I hope you’re coming in for a beer, although I have to warn you, it’s not up to my standards. At least it’ll be cold. We
picked up a Styrofoam cooler and loaded it with ice.”

  “I’d love to share a beer with you guys.”

  Cade studied Finn and shook his head. “I don’t know about this vampire thing, but you’ve turned into a beer snob, for sure. There’s nothing wrong with the beer we got.”

  “Come to Seattle and have a glass of O’Roarke’s Pale Ale and you’ll be converted on the spot. Once you’ve tasted my brew, you won’t be satisfied with anything else.”

  “That would be damned inconvenient, now wouldn’t it? I can’t be driving to Seattle every time I want a beer.”

  “I’m working on that. Eventually I’ll have wider distribution. Give me another year or two, and you’ll be seeing my label all over the place.”

  “If you’re spreading something all over the place,” Damon said as he came out of Rosie’s room, “I’m gonna watch where I step.”

  Finn scowled. “Nice talk in front of a lady, Harrison.”

  “Lex can take it.” Damon grinned at her. “I’d say you’re just like one of the guys, but you’re a lot prettier than any of us. Right, Gallagher?”

  “Right.” Cade trusted Damon, but he couldn’t seem to help flirting with every woman he met. That was why Cade wanted Finn in Lexi’s truck and Damon in his. He was feeling a little vulnerable, and he didn’t want to imagine Damon charming Lexi all the way back to the ranch. “In fact, Lexi’s coming back with us so she can fill us in on a few things. Finn’s riding with her and you’re with me.”

  “Perfect. Now there won’t be any bloodshed over who sits where. Thanks, Lex.”

  “My pleasure. How about we pick up pizza on the way back? We can call it in once we get going, and it should be ready by the time we get there.”

  Cade loved it when she took charge like that. He’d loved it this morning, too. “Is that place we like still open?”

  “It is. So one family size with everything on it?”

  Damon closed his eyes. “Oh, yeah. I can taste it already. Let’s go.”

  Cade led the way, checking the rearview mirror constantly. When they stopped for the pizza, Finn and Lexi took it in their truck and promised not to snitch any. Lexi seemed to be having a great time talking to Finn, which was fine. Cade had never been the jealous type, but that was before, when nobody had touched Lexi the way he had.

  She’d had other lovers since then, and now he saw rivals around every corner. Not his brothers, obviously, who would never make a move on his girl. But what if Lexi took a liking to either Finn or Damon? He hadn’t been able to imagine that when they were dating. Now he could.

  Damon glanced at him. “You’re not really worried that they’ll eat the pizza, are you?”

  “Nah.”

  “Just wondering. If I had a dollar for every time you’ve checked your mirror I’d have enough to cover the pizza and a tank of gas.”

  “You’re right. I’m being ridiculous.” He forced himself to stop glancing in the mirror.

  “You’re going to have to marry that woman.”

  “I know.”

  “Will she have you?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. She’s still pissed about me leaving five years ago. She announced that she’d see me when it was convenient.”

  “Ouch.”

  “It’s okay. I don’t blame her for wanting me to suffer a little.”

  “Then suffer for her. Hell, you’re already suffering. Want me to tell her that?”

  “Please don’t.”

  “Okay. So what about this deal with you being related to everybody in the known universe? You looked a little freaked by the news.”

  “Wouldn’t you be?”

  “You bet I would. Since I ran away from home to escape my parents, if they or anyone related to them showed up, I’d shit a brick. But this isn’t Rance Marlowe we’re talking about. This is the good side of the family. I didn’t have a good side. Everybody was rotten.”

  “I’ve fantasized about tracking him down and beating him to a bloody pulp. He essentially killed my mother, even though he was long gone when she died.” Being at the hospital where she’d died, along with the news from Molly, had brought those thoughts back. Cade tried not to think about his father at all, but right now he couldn’t help it.

  “I don’t blame you, but you’d be a young guy beating up on an old guy, and it would be your word against his that he deserved it. You could end up in jail and for what? You can’t bring your mother back.”

  “Justice.”

  “From what you’ve told me, I’m thinking he has a miserable life if he’s even still around. A hard drinker who likes picking fights could be dead by now.”

  “I hope he is, the bastard. He made her feel like she wasn’t good enough for her own family.”

  Damon was quiet for a while. Finally he broke the silence. “Are you afraid that you’re not good enough?”

  The question arrowed into his gut. Damon always had been able to cut to the chase. “Yeah,” he said at last. “I am.”

  9

  ONLY CADE SUSPECTED that Lexi had bad news to report, and he seemed in no rush to delve into it yet. So she decided to let the matter rest for a while as they lounged around the kitchen table and enjoyed their reunion.

  Damon and Finn had insisted that Cade had to fetch his cat, so Ringo lay purring happily in Cade’s lap while the conversation grew louder and more animated. The four of them had shared some hilarious moments, and those memories were even funnier now.

  Lexi had been acutely conscious of Cade’s absence over the years, but until now she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed watching him interact with Damon and Finn. They were great guys, and she admired all three of them for rising above less-than-ideal beginnings. Rosie and Herb had certainly helped them bounce back, but they’d had to do a lot of the character work on their own.

  Not having Rosie and Herb at the table seemed strange, but after a comment or two about that, nobody brought it up again. Wishing they were there wouldn’t make it so. Instead the guys talked about pranks they’d pulled on the younger boys that had come and gone—the ones they’d liked and the ones who had been a pain in the ass.

  “We should get them all back here,” Damon said. “Even the PITAs. I know Rosie has contact information for every kid she took in. Wouldn’t that be a kick?”

  “Maybe not for Rosie and Herb,” Lexi said. “It would be a lot of work. And we can’t expect them to do it, especially now.”

  “So we’d hire people to help out.” Damon finished his beer and got up to take another out of the fridge. “Anyone else?”

  “Hit me.” Finn grabbed a slice of the quickly disappearing pizza. “Are you saying you have money to throw into the pot, Harrison? Because I don’t. My card is maxed out after paying for my plane ticket.”

  “We could do the work,” Cade said. “I can handle a vacuum.” He winked at Lexi.

  She ducked her head to hide her expression. The rat. She’d been focusing on the camaraderie, mostly. She’d chosen a seat across the table from him in hopes the distance would lessen his impact.

  But that had given her a better view, and he was too damned good-looking to ignore. Plus his warm chuckle made her shiver, and, as he stroked the cat, she imagined him stroking her. When he laughed she remembered the moment she’d fallen for him at sixteen. As if she’d been struck by lightning, she’d never been the same. And she’d always love Cade.

  “I can clean.” Damon glanced at Lexi. “Why’re you studying the grain of the table, girl? Are you afraid we’ll expect you to cook and clean because you’re the female of the group?”

  She glanced up and cleared her throat. “Nope. Herb and Rosie taught you guys well. You don’t think like that.” A sip of beer and she was back in control of herself.

  “Damn straight. You wouldn’t
have to do diddly-squat unless you want to.” Damon snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it! You can be our Reunion Queen. How’s that? We’ll get you a tiara.”

  “Actually, I have one.”

  “You do?” Cade smiled. “I did not know that.”

  “You don’t know everything about me.” Whoops. Probably shouldn’t have said that. “I got it after you left,” she added quickly.

  “Did somebody give it to you?” His question sounded casual, but obviously he wanted to know if a guy had.

  “As a matter of fact, I bought it for myself. My friends and I decided we needed tiaras. We wear them sometimes when we meet for drinks.”

  “Interesting idea.” Cade seemed a little lost.

  She’d bet it sounded odd to him that she’d put on a tiara and have drinks with her girlfriends. She wouldn’t have dreamed of doing such a thing five years ago. But that was the point. She’d changed.

  “Well, there you go.” Finn glanced from Cade to Lexi as if trying to figure out the subtext of their conversation.

  She’d avoided discussing Cade during the drive to the ranch. Instead she’d encouraged Finn to talk about his business.

  Damon set down his beer bottle. “So! Our Reunion Queen has a tiara and the three of us will cook and clean for the event. We have a plan, but we have to move on it immediately. I don’t know about you, O’Roarke, but I can only stay a week.”

  “Same here. But we can get the info from Rosie tomorrow. It might turn out that some of the guys live within driving distance.”

  Lexi decided the time had come to face reality. “Before this idea gets any more solid, you all need to know something.”

  Finn panicked. “Shit! Rosie’s dying.”

  “No, she’s not! Settle down.” She hadn’t thought about how scary heart attacks might be for Finn. “I’ll bet this’ll turn out to be a warning for her more than anything. But Rosie and Herb are in serious financial trouble. Enough so that they could lose the ranch.”

  Shock registered on all three faces. Then Damon and Finn started cussing, just as Rosie had predicted they might.