A Child for Cade

by Patricia Thayer

  “Well, I guess I am, a little.” She unwrapped the sandwich. “How about a store, a general store? People need to be able to get food staples and have a place to meet for planned outings. And what about souvenirs? I mean you can’t go back home without something. I wasn’t thinking about tacky souvenirs, but maybe nice collectibles, such as pearls from the Concho River and work from local artists.”

  Cade was surprised. “You have been thinking about this.”

  She shrugged. “Not exactly, but I wanted to open my own shop after the divorce. Then Dad got sick.”

  Abby had put her life on hold for others. Maybe he could help her along. “Well, it looks like we’ll need another structure for a general store. And a shop for Abby’s…Treasures.”

  Her eyes sparkled in surprise. She started to speak, but he held up his hand.

  “Your place will have to be located right by the highway to accommodate local residents, too. And if you acquire some unique items, you can really make a name for yourself, and money.”

  “I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” she admitted. “It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. I loved collecting figurines. My mother gave me several, and I’ve managed to keep most of them.”

  Cade wondered if Garson took his anger out on those, too. But he wasn’t going to ask her. This was too nice a day to bring up Garson. “Travis finally phoned and gave his okay last week. Even Chance is ready, so I’m going to call in an architect tomorrow. How do you feel about that?”

  She released a long breath. “A little scared. All that money. I’m just glad you were able to pay off the bank loan.”

  He took her hand in his. “I’ll never let Joel threaten you again.” And she’d never have to know that he himself had bought the lake property. He was betting he could sell it before that happened.

  “Have I thanked you for all your help?”

  He stared at her for a long time. Abby looked happy. He planned on keeping her that way. “I’m glad you’re not avoiding me anymore.”

  “It would be impossible since you spend so much time with Brandon. And you’ve stopped asking foolish questions.” She played with the crust of her sandwich.

  “I don’t give up easily, Abby. So enjoy your short reprieve. My proposal still stands.”

  Her eyes flared. “And I’ve told you the idea is crazy.”

  “Not for our son,” he said determinedly. “I plan to marry you, Abby. I’m not going away. Not this time.”

  Later that night Cade’s words kept running through Abby’s head. I’m not going away.

  She was lying in bed, unable to sleep. She finally got up and checked on Brandon. Wandering to the kitchen, she made herself a cup of herbal tea, then went back to her room, but nothing could stop her from thinking about Cade. How much she wanted to trust him! But how could she marry a man who didn’t love her? He’d just end up resenting her, and they’d be two strangers living in the same house. She couldn’t handle that. Not when she loved him.

  But his touch was so irresistible, and his kisses weakened her. His incredible smile made it nearly impossible for her think. She didn’t know if she could hold out.

  And she ached to give her son his father, a family. She found herself wondering if they could make it work. Could Cade ever feel something for her again?

  “Mom…Mom…” Brandon cried out.

  Abby jumped up and grabbed her robe, slipping it on as she hurried down the hall and into her son’s room. She found him doubled over, clutching his middle. Lifting him in her arms, she carried him to the bathroom. They just made it to the toilet before he emptied his stomach.

  Afterward, she wiped off his face, then Brandon collapsed in her arms and began to cry. “My stomach hurts bad.”

  “Oh, honey. You must have eaten something that didn’t agree with you.”

  Brandon groaned again, and Abby led him back to the toilet. “It hurts.”

  “I know, baby.” She smoothed her son’s forehead, and quickly realized he had a fever. All at once her concern grew. Maybe this wasn’t just an upset stomach.

  “Brandon, where does it hurt?”

  “All over. My throat. My stomach hurts real bad.”

  She reached for a towel from the rack, laid her son down on the bathroom rug and covered him.

  “I’m going to call the doctor.”

  “Please, I want Cade.”

  Abby was surprised at Brandon’s request, but she stood her ground. “I need to talk to a doctor first, then I’ll call Cade.” Maybe it was a good idea. A father should be involved in all aspects of his child’s life. She dashed to the phone in her room and called Brandon’s pediatrician, then punched out the number to the Circle B and had Hank give Cade the message that his son was ill and was asking for him.

  Fifteen minutes later Cade raced up the gravel drive to the Moreau ranch. He braked the truck at the front of the house and jumped out. He was tucking in his shirt as he ran to the porch where Abby, dressed in a robe, swung open the door. He saw the worried look on her face.

  “I got here as soon as I could,” he said. “How’s Brandon?”

  “He’s upstairs. I’m scared, Cade. He’s still clutching his stomach. The doctor said to take him to the emergency room.”

  He gripped her by the shoulders. “Then we better do it.”

  She bit her trembling lip and nodded.

  Cade took the steps two at a time and rushed into the bathroom. His son lay on the rug next to the toilet. He looked so fragile and helpless. Cade swallowed back his fear and forced a smile. “Hey, partner, I hear you ate something that didn’t agree with you.”

  Brandon raised his head and was immediately racked with dry heaves. Cade went to him and held him in his arms until the heaving subsided.

  “I’m not a baby, Cade…but it hurts.”

  He touched his son’s ashen face and felt unbearably helpless. “You’re a lot braver than I would be. Maybe we should go to the doctor and see if he can give you something.”

  “’Kay,” Brandon said, closing his eyes. “You take me.”

  “You bet,” Cade said as he glanced at Abby, standing in the bathroom doorway.

  “I’ll get dressed.” She hurried off.

  Five minutes later they were on their way to the hospital. Surprisingly the emergency room was pretty quiet, and the doctor on call examined Brandon within thirty minutes. All the while Cade never left Brandon’s side.

  After tests were completed, the doctor announced that Brandon had a stomach virus. He prescribed a medication to help control the vomiting and told them to take him home. Both he and Abby were relieved. At the desk Abby used her insurance card to pay the bill then hurried back to Brandon.

  Cade lifted the seven-year-old in his arms, and they headed out to the truck.

  After a quick stop by the pharmacy, they drove back home. Abby gave Brandon a dose of the medicine, and Cade took him upstairs and settled him in bed. Five minutes later the child was asleep.

  Still hesitant to go, Cade finally decided it was safe to leave the boy’s side. He’d most likely sleep until morning. After placing a kiss on his son’s forehead, Cade walked out into the hall. Abby followed and closed the door. Together they went downstairs.

  Abby looked at him, tears clouding her eyes. “I’m sorry I panicked.”

  “Shh,” Cade said, and pulled her into his arms. He knew that they were both thinking how lucky they were that Brandon wasn’t seriously ill. “Never hesitate to call me. God, I love that boy.” His hold tightened on her, then he released her. “Abby, I can’t stand this anymore. I need to be in Brandon’s life. I want him to know he’s my son. That I’m his father.”

  She looked worried. “Please, Cade, you promised you would wait.”

  He glared at her. “Not for much longer. I’ve been more than fair about giving you time. I want Brandon to know I’m his father.”

  “I know, but I’m not sure how he’ll react. He’s just a child.”

  Cade nodded. He kn
ew he had to think about Brandon. Would the boy accept him? “Okay, I’ll wait, but I’m going to sleep on the sofa tonight in case Brandon wakes up and needs something.”

  “There’s no need, Cade,” she said, hurrying after him. “I’ll be sleeping in the next room. Besides, what will people think?”

  He stopped in front of the sofa and swung around. “Dammit, Abby, who’s going to know? Charlie…Carmen.” He raked a hand through his hair. “You know, it wouldn’t have to be this way if you’d just marry me.”

  Her back stiffened. “Wow, how can a girl turn down such a wonderful proposal? I can. Good night, Cade.” She turned and marched out of the room, leaving him to wonder why she could still get to him. The stirring in his gut told him how much he wanted her. Abby still wanted him, too. Wasn’t that attraction enough?

  She sure as hell wasn’t getting his heart again.

  Chapter Eight

  Cade groaned and rolled over, trying again to get comfortable on the cramped sofa, which was impossible sleeping in jeans. Giving up, he opened his eyes to discover a pair of big, brown ones staring back at him, over a small nose sprinkled with freckles and a smiling mouth, exposing a space where a tooth had once been. Brandon.

  “Oh, boy, you’re awake,” the child said. “Mom said I had to be quiet ’cause you need your sleep.”

  Cade propped himself on one elbow, noticing the seven-year-old’s coloring was back to normal. “What time is it?”

  Brandon glanced over at the clock on the mantel. “It’s ten minutes after eight. You slept a long time.”

  “You should have woken me.” Cade swung his legs to the floor and sat up. After rubbing his eyes, he glanced at his son, then around the empty living room. “Have you seen him?”

  “Who?” Brandon asked.

  “The boy who was so sick last night. Did you see where he went?”

  Brandon stood up with a big grin. “It’s me!” he said, thumbing his chest. “I’m all better today.”

  Cade gasped. “You can’t be him,” he said. “The kid I remember was puking his guts out.”

  Brandon wrinkled his nose. “Gross, huh?”

  “So how are you feeling this morning?”

  “Good. Mom says it’s a miracle.”

  Cade couldn’t be more tickled about Brandon’s quick recovery.

  “You want some breakfast?” the boy asked. “I already ate some toast. Mom makes the best pancakes. I couldn’t have any, but you can if you want.”

  He was hungry. “I don’t want to make extra work for your mom.”

  “You won’t. She was fixin’ ’em when I came in here.” He pulled on Cade’s arm until he stood. “C’mon, you can only eat in here if you’re sick.”

  “I guess that leaves us out.”

  Cade followed Brandon into the kitchen, but he wasn’t prepared for what he found. Abby in the morning. She looked fresh and pretty in her honey-colored blouse and long skirt. Her hair was pulled back from her face, shiny clips holding it in place. Her green eyes were bright. Suddenly his tired body came to life.

  “Good morning,” she said, and handed him a cup of coffee. “What else can I get for you?”

  Cade took a much-needed sip and nearly choked. He doubted she was offering what he wanted. “Whatever you’re fixing is fine.”

  Abby tried not to stare when Brandon brought Cade into the room. For a man who’d been up half the night, he looked way too good. Short dark stubble covered his jaw. His hair was messed up and his brown eyes were hooded. Now she understood what was meant by the phrase bedroom eyes. His shirt hung open, exposing his powerful chest. Wicked thoughts rushed into her head. She remembered how she’d had to fight last night to keep herself from joining him downstairs.

  “Mom, Cade wants pancakes.”

  Her son’s voice jolted her back to reality. “Oh, right.”

  “You don’t have to fix my breakfast,” Cade insisted.

  “It’s the least I can do after all you did for us.” She turned on the griddle and reached for the bowl of batter.

  “Yeah, Cade, you came over ’cause I was sick,” Brandon said. “We want to thank you. So you gotta eat.”

  “Yes, you have to eat,” Abby repeated. “And I might be persuaded to give one small pancake to a certain young man if he washes his hands.”

  “All right,” Brandon said as he rushed out of the kitchen.

  Bad idea. Now she was alone with Cade. But before she could gather the words to call her son back, he was gone. She turned quickly and busied herself at the stove.

  Cade came up behind her. “You look awfully pretty this morning.” He leaned closer, his breath caressing her neck, then her ear, causing a warm shiver to move down her spine.

  “The wonderful advantage of makeup. It hides the dark circles.”

  “You still look beautiful.” This time he placed a kiss on her neck.

  Abby gasped, but didn’t pull away. “You shouldn’t do that.”

  “I can’t help myself. You’re just too tempting standing here.”

  So are you, Abby thought. “Brandon could come in…”

  Cade turned her around to look at him. “So what? He’ll see me kissing his mother. Do you want me to kiss you, Abby? When you went to bed last night, were you aching for me like I was aching for you?”

  “Oh, Cade.”

  “Hey, Mom,” Brandon came running into the room, then stopped suddenly. His rounded eyes went from her to Cade. “Are you kissing like Chance and Joy?”

  Heat rushed to Abby’s face and she pulled away. “No, we’re going to sit down and eat breakfast.” She poured some batter on the griddle. “Then you’re going to take it easy today and play inside.”

  “Aw, Mom,” Brandon climbed into a chair. “Can’t I go riding?”

  “No. Not until I’m sure you’re really better.”

  “But it’s so boring in the house.”

  “Hey, Bran,” Cade said as he came around the table and pulled out a chair. “Why don’t I hang out with you? I mean, I have to run back to the Circle B and shower and change, but you can go with me if it’s all right with your mom.”

  Both Cade and Brandon turned their identical gazes on her. “Can I, Mom?” her son asked.

  She felt a twinge of envy as she busied herself flipping the pancakes. She wanted so much for father and son to have a relationship, but it was hard to let go. “Let’s see how you feel after a pancake.”

  Brandon rewarded her with a smile. “You’re the best mom in the whole world.”

  Was she? Had keeping her son from his father been the right thing to do? Would Brandon forgive her? Emotions welled up inside her, and she swallowed hard. “You say that every time you get your way.”

  Abby scooped the pancakes off the griddle and heard her son’s sweet giggle. Filling the plates, she carried them to the table, catching Cade’s gaze as he mouthed, “Thank you.”

  Abby didn’t have any choice. She was now officially sharing her son with Cade.

  The house was quiet all morning. Too quiet. Abby busied herself helping Carmen strip the beds and do the laundry. Around noon she ended up in the study dusting and polishing the furniture. She glanced at the neat stacks of papers on her father’s desk and decided not to mess with Cade’s work. Not that he had been denying her access to any business information. He had shown her the receipt for the cattle sale, and another sizable check had come in to pay for Dancer’s stud fee. Abby had tried to distance herself, but it hadn’t worked. There was no way around it—she couldn’t avoid the man.

  Cade had been in the house every day since he’d agreed to help her with the ranch’s financial troubles. She also knew most of that time had been so he could be with his son. But with Cade Randell around so much, how long could she keep her feelings hidden?

  Abby closed her eyes and thought back to her weak moments, what had happened in the pool, then again at Mustang Valley. How close they’d come… She shivered, remembering Cade’s touch, his caresses. Kisses that had driven
her crazy. She drew a breath as a stirring erupted deep within her stomach.

  She was in love with the man. Abby doubted she had ever stopped loving him. Cade had proposed twice, saying he wanted them to be a family.

  But how could she marry him, knowing he didn’t love her? What if, later on, Cade found someone else and truly fell in love? Would he just leave her and Brandon? Tears formed in her eyes. She couldn’t handle it. She couldn’t lose him a second time.

  The sound of the front door opening brought her out of her thoughts. Then she heard Brandon’s voice as he and Cade came into the study.

  “Oh, Mom, I had so much fun. I saw Princess Star again. She’s getting big. She remembered me, too…” Brandon stopped. “Mom, you crying?”

  Abby shook her head, refusing to look at Cade. “No, just something in my eye.” She touched her son’s flushed cheek. “Hey, I thought you were supposed to take it easy today.”

  “I did. I played cards with Hank. He taught me five-card stud.”

  Abby’s gaze shot to Cade.

  “Don’t worry,” Cade said. “I doubt a few hands of cards will turn Brandon into a gambler.”

  Her gaze went back to her child. “Did you have lunch?”

  Brandon nodded and tried to hide a yawn. “Ella fixed us some soup.”

  “Well, I think being up all night has caught up with you,” she said. “Time for a little nap.”

  “Aw, Mom, I’m not a baby.”

  “I know, but you were sick.”

  “Come on, partner,” Cade said as he lifted the boy in his arms. Brandon didn’t fight, but instead, laid his head on Cade’s shoulder. “I’ll take you upstairs. I don’t want to have to drive you back to the hospital.”

  “’Kay,” Brandon answered.

  Cade winked at Abby and headed out of the room. She watched with an ache in her heart. Brandon had taken to Cade almost immediately. Her son had been so starved for a father. Maybe it was one thing she could give him.

  Cade returned a few minutes later. “Brandon was asleep before I got his shoes off.” He leaned a hip against the desk. “I wanted to stay and just watch him. He’s amazing. So full of curiosity. I didn’t mean to tire him out, but he was so eager to go see everything.”