In His Touch: Blemished Brides Book 2

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In His Touch: Blemished Brides Book 2 Page 8

by Peggy L Henderson


  “Before I accept your offer, we need to get some things straight.”

  Cade grinned. He’d expected nothing less from her than a counter-offer to his proposal. He leaned forward. Her eyes widened, and she suddenly looked unsure of herself. A fleeting look flashed in her eyes of something that ignited Cade’s heart to hammer in his chest, but she covered it up faster than he could blink. She was attracted to him, but she wasn’t letting her guard down.

  “Before I agree to any of this, I want to know more about you.” She cleared the hitch from her voice.

  Cade held back a curse. He hadn’t expected that particular condition to be her counter offer, but he owed her something. He’d never get her to trust him if he continued to hide secrets from her. Damn. Why did she have to look so pretty, even with that scarf around her face? Her cheeks were a rosy red from the stove, and wisps of her hair poked out from underneath the head covering.

  “All right,” he said, and sat up straighter. “What would you like to know about me?”

  Her forehead wrinkled. She looked genuinely surprised that he’d agreed to answer her questions so readily.

  She swiped a loose tendril of hair back under the shawl, and said, “Why was Jonah in an orphanage? Where were you after his mother died?”

  Cade inhaled a deep breath. He swallowed a big gulp of coffee. She’d gone straight for the jugular. He cleared his throat.

  “Jonah was in an orphanage because I spent the last four years in prison.”

  He studied her face for a reaction. She didn’t move. Her eyes on him didn’t waver, as if she was looking to see if he’d give away a sign that he was lying. Her next question was obvious.

  “Why were you in prison?”

  “I was accused of killing the man who murdered my wife.” The words came out harsher than he intended. His body tensed, and he inhaled a deep breath to remain calm. “Did I do it?” he asked before Laura had the chance. “No, but I sure as hell would have, if I hadn’t been trying to find Jonah, who was stolen away. I found my wife dead, and my infant son missing.”

  This time, Laura’s eyes did widen. They filled with compassion, and Cade cursed under his breath.

  “I only got four years rather than a sentence to hang because the man who killed her was wanted by the law himself.” His laughter was filled with scorn. “Someone got to him before I did, but the blame fell on me since I had a motive to kill him.”

  “I’m sorry,” Laura said, sincerity in her voice. “Losing your wife in such a way must have been horrible, but losing your child at the same time . . .”

  Her eyes glistened as her words trailed off, and she stood abruptly from the table and turned her back on him. Cade sprang to his feet. He stood behind her in two strides. He curled his hands around her arms and urged her to turn around. Tear-filled eyes stared up at him.

  “And you know exactly what that feels like, don’t you?” he murmured. Laura collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest. Cade ignored the pain from his wound, and wrapped her in his arms.

  Chapter Eleven

  Laura leaned her head against Cade’s chest. She squeezed her eyes together, but the tears still ran down her cheeks and soaked into his shirt. Dammit! Why did she have to have such a moment of weakness, and lose her composure in front of him? His mention of losing Jonah when he’d been an infant had brought back all the hurt and pain she’d tried to bury along with her husband and stillborn child last year.

  Cade’s arms around her tightened, and Laura leaned fully into him. The last time a man had held her in such a protective, tender embrace, one that made her feel as if the world could fall down around her and she wouldn’t be harmed, had been her father when she was a little girl. This was far different than being held by a parent.

  She sniffed, and wound her arms around Cade’s back, accepting his strength and comfort. The feelings drowning her judgment that she shouldn’t allow Cade to console her were anything but child-like. The hard muscles along his back shifted against her hands, increasing her awareness of him. Laura inhaled the pleasant scent of masculine skin through the faint smell of the soap she’d used to wash his shirt the other day.

  Several minutes must have passed before his tight hold around her eased, and his palms slid slowly up and down her back, changing the intent of his embrace completely. What had started as a means of offering comfort now felt much more intimate than before. Her pulse quickened, and every inch of her that was pressed to him responded to this man, making her come alive in ways not even Noah’s touch had done. Laura drew in a long breath, and lifted her head away from his chest. She swiped a hand at the moisture on her cheeks, and ventured a glance upward.

  Cade met her gaze, his eyes dark, with a serious look on his face. He lifted one hand away from her back, and grazed his knuckles along her cheek. Leaning into his touch was the most natural thing to do. She closed her eyes for just a second to savor the tender feel of his work-roughened hand. His lips curved in a slow smile. He rotated his hand to cup the side of her face, while his other arm curled around her waist and drew her closer.

  Laura held her breath. She couldn’t force her eyes from his at the moment if her life depended on it. Slowly, almost cautiously, Cade’s hand slid up along her face, and slipped the shawl down behind her head. She stiffened. There was no revulsion, no disdain, in the way he looked at her, or in his touch when his fingers felt along her scar.

  “Don’t hide from me,” he whispered, just before he leaned down and touched his lips to hers.

  Warmth spread through her chest and stomach, and into her limbs the instant their mouths made contact. Rather than pull back, she leaned into him, and gripped the back of his shoulders. Cade shifted his arm around her waist, bringing her fully up against him. His hand behind her head held her to him. He eased back slightly, then adjusted his mouth fully over hers. His day-old whiskers scraped against her cheek, sending renewed currents of awareness through her.

  Laura whimpered, and stood on her toes to get closer to him. Cade’s fingers weaved through her hair, and he took a step forward. She needed air, the sensation of drowning in his kiss overtaking her senses. Her knees weakened with the heat that rushed through her. Cade leaned over her, deepening the kiss. She took a shaky step back to adjust her balance, and bumped into the stove.

  Startled, she unclamped her hands from his shoulders and pulled her arms out from behind his back. What on earth had come over her? Mortified at her behavior, she pushed against him, and moved her face to the side to break the kiss. Cade instantly straightened.

  “Please, stop,” she panted, her hands still pushing against his chest. She stared up into his dark eyes, which were glazed over with some emotion too intense for her to comprehend.

  Cade removed his hand from the back of her head, but he didn’t let go of her waist. His forehead wrinkled in puzzlement, just before he smiled tentatively.

  “I’ve thought of little else all last night,” he said, his voice hoarse. He released her completely, and ran a hand through his hair. His expression changed, the smile fading from his face. “I’m sorry, Laura. I didn’t mean to take advantage.”

  Laura’s heart hammered in her chest, drumming in her ears. Her lips pulsed from his kiss. Every part of her wanted to feel him against her again. She mentally shook her head. She couldn’t let a vulnerable moment get out of hand like this. She didn’t know this man. He was nothing but a stranger. She scoffed silently. A stranger who’d shown her more kindness than most people had done in a year, and who’d been more considerate of her than her own husband had ever been.

  She fumbled for her shawl with a trembling hand to pull it back over her head. Cade reached for her wrist, and stopped her.

  “Don’t cover up, Laura. I meant what I said yesterday. You’re a beautiful woman.”

  She shook her head. Tears filled her eyes. “Jonah . . . I don’t want him to see me like this.” Her voice cracked.

  “Jonah cares about you, not about your scars.”
/>   Laura stared. The way he looked into her eyes, as if he meant to reach straight into her soul, and the low tone of his voice, made it sound as if he was talking about himself rather than his son.

  The muscles along both sides of his cheeks tensed. “What did that bastard do or say to make you feel like you need to be ashamed of yourself?” he sneered.

  Laura moved to the side. Hard, cold hatred filled Cade’s eyes where seconds ago, there had been only tenderness. He could only be referring to Jack.

  “I’ve told you. He made folks in town believe that I killed my husband, and the rumors took off from there.”

  Cade stepped away from her, and ran his hand over his face. He abruptly locked his eyes on her. “You’re short on supplies for the horses,” he said. “And I’d like to get a few things I need to make some repairs around here. If I hitch up your wagon, can you be ready to head into town in half an hour? Maybe make a list of things you need, too.”

  “Go into town?” Laura stared at him. She blinked in surprise at his sudden change of subject, and laughed nervously. “I don’t need anything from town.”

  Cade reached for her upper arm, and glared down at her. “You’re almost out of grain. If I look inside your kitchen cupboards, I’ll bet they’re nearly bare. We’re going to town.”

  Laura pulled away from him, and groped for her shawl that was still draped over her shoulder behind her head. She returned his adamant stare, and narrowed her eyes.

  “I haven’t told you yet if I’ll accept your proposition. If this is the kind of partnership you have in mind, then I have to refuse your offer.”

  Cade met her stare for a moment, then grinned, and stepped up closer to her. Laura’s heart sped up in response.

  “Are you referring to my suggestion that we go to town for needed supplies, or the fact that you enjoyed that kiss as much as I did?”

  Her eyes widened. “Both,” she nearly shouted. She turned on her heels to conceal her embarrassment that he’d read her so easily. She had enjoyed his kiss. Too much. Her hand flew to her hip, and she spun back around. “That can’t happen again,” she said, raising her chin.

  “Laura, I’m sorry for my forward behavior,” Cade drawled slowly. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I couldn’t help myself from kissing you. Like I said, I ain’t thought of much else since yesterday.”

  Laura shook her head. “There’s no need to apologize. I allowed you to kiss me.” She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, and gave a quick laugh of disdain. “You’re the first person, other than the Mallorys and Hawleys, who hasn’t looked at me as if I’m some kind of monster. I suppose I got caught up in the moment.” She glanced at him, and blinked back the sting in her eyes, then added. “Thank you for making me feel like a normal person, but it can’t happen again.”

  Cade leaned toward her, the smile vanishing from his face. She stumbled backward in response.

  “You think I kissed you to be nice to you? That I was pretending?”

  She smirked. “Why else?”

  He grabbed her arm.

  “You’ve been led to believe for nearly a year that you’re someone nobody wants to look at, and now you can’t accept it when a man tells you you’re a pretty woman.” He released her arm but reached for her hand, and locked his eyes on hers. “An attractive woman, in more ways than just your looks.”

  Laura pulled her gaze away, and dropped her chin to her chest. “No one’s ever said those things to me,” she mumbled.

  Cade smirked. “Your husband never told you that he found you attractive?”

  Laura gnashed her teeth. She’d never thought anything of it that Noah hadn’t paid her any compliments. During their courtship, she had been dismayed several times that he’d never said the kinds of things to her that seemed to roll so easily off of Cade’s tongue, but she’d come to accept it as normal. Noah had provided for her, given her a secure home, as was expected of a husband. She glanced at Cade. He was a drifter, not the kind who seemed to want to be tied to one place, even if he was willing to settle down for his son.

  She straightened, and stared him in the eye. “If I accept your proposition, that’s all it can be – business. You were right. I did lose a child in that fire. I was seven months along. Because of what happened to me, my son was stillborn.”

  Laura raised her hand when he looked as if he was about to say something. She blinked to stave off a fresh wave of tears.

  “I’ve learned to rely on myself this past year. I’m grateful for the help I get from the few friends I have.” She glanced down, and studied her hands that she held fisted in front of her. “I suppose Noah and I didn’t live here long enough to get better acquainted with the townsfolk, and make better friends. People are naturally suspicious of strangers, and I can’t blame them for believing a prominent businessman in the community over me.”

  Cade snorted at her last comment, but didn’t speak.

  “If they want to think the worst of me, there’s nothing I can do to stop them.”

  “No, but you don’t have to keep hiding away, either. If you turn tail from the folks in town, the man who’s trying to intimidate you will have won. You have to go for supplies sooner or later. Today’s as good a day as any. You’re a strong woman, Laura. Show them what you’re made of.” Cade grinned. He squeezed her hand, then released it.

  He was right. She had been hiding like a coward, and had let a few people in town intimidate her enough to not want to go back unless absolutely necessary. The last time she’d been shopping had been with Sally Mallory, and there was little her friend had been able to do to keep the women from talking and whispering. Some had even been bold enough to call her an evil woman to her face, and that she had no business coming to town with decent folks. Several children had thrown things at her, and called her a witch.

  She closed her eyes for a second to ward off the sting of the memory, then straightened.

  “All right, Cade.” Her words were barely above a whisper.

  Cade leaned closer. He raised his eyebrows. “All right, what?” The corners of his mouth twitched. “You accept my business deal, or you’ve agreed to go into town with me?”

  Laura squared her shoulders, and met his expectant gaze. She held out her hand for him to shake.

  “Both.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “We’re going to town?”

  Jonah’s eyes widened with excitement when Cade told him of their plans as he adjusted the length of the breeching on one of the two geldings’ harnesses. The wheels on the buckboard needed grease, but he hadn’t been able to find any. He added it to his mental list of things he wanted to buy. Harness oil was on that list, too. A lot of the leather was cracked and dry. Oiling all the tack would be a good chore to give to Jonah in the next few days.

  “Yup, we’re going into town.”

  Cade smiled at the exuberance on the boy’s face. He’d avoided most towns and settlements after leaving Vancouver all those weeks ago, only stopping for basic supplies when he ran out. Jonah’s eyes had always lit up inside the general stores or shops. He’d watched the towns’ kids with longing in his eyes, and Cade had hoped that his son was still too young to recognize the disapproving looks he’d received from the people they encountered. There was no hiding that Jonah was of mixed blood. He had his mother’s raven hair, and although his complexion wasn’t quite as dark as that of a full-blooded Indian, it was definitely shades darker than his own.

  Ahanu. Boy who likes to smile.

  The Piegan name suited Jonah now. It was one Cade had thought up during his long and lonely days in prison, when his mind had wandered to his wife and child. One of his last memories of the boy had been his first smile.

  After he’d finally tracked down the boy’s whereabouts to the Vancouver orphanage, and come face to face with his son for the first time since he’d been barely a month old, Jonah hadn’t been a happy child. Sadness and apprehension had filled him. The nuns had been more than glad to be r
id of him, and hadn’t questioned Cade when he’d said he wanted the boy.

  Since coming to the Engelman farm, Jonah had blossomed. He laughed and smiled, and wasn’t the shy and reserved child from before. Cade glanced toward the house. It was all because of Laura. She’d looked beyond the boy’s skin color, and seen only a child. His lips curved upward slightly. Now if she could only see the same thing about herself – a beautiful woman who had suffered a terrible ordeal and bore the visible scars from it.

  Cade patted the gelding’s rump when he was done adjusting the breeching, then helped Jonah climb up into the seat.

  “When are we leaving?” Jonah grinned down at him, bouncing on the squeaky seat.

  “As soon as Miss Laura’s ready.”

  “I like Miss Laura,” Jonah said, and a serious look came over his face. “She’s nice to me. Not like the nuns at the orphanage.”

  Cade stared up at his son, and grinned. He motioned with his finger for Jonah to lean down. “Can you keep a secret?” he whispered. Jonah nodded enthusiastically. Cade met his son’s eager eyes.

  “I like her, too.”

  Jonah smiled, then tilted his head. The skin on his forehead wrinkled. “Is Miss Laura a nun?”

  Cade burst out laughing. “I don’t think so,” he said. He studied his son. Jonah’s only association with women had been nuns, and they sure didn’t leave a good impression on him. “You don’t think she’s a nun, do you?”

  Jonah shook his head. “No, but why does she keep her head and hair covered? It’s what the nuns did, too.” Jonah continued with his innocent questions.

  Cade ran a hand across his jaw. This was one conversation with the boy he’d meant to have sooner or later, and now might be as good a time as any. He stepped closer to the buckboard, and draped his arms over the edge of the seat.

  “Miss Laura had an accident a while ago,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “She lost people who meant a lot to her. She tried, but she couldn’t save them.”

 

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