Caden's Vow

by Sarah McCarty

  “There isn’t much to tell. I went in, pretended I was looking to buy a filly and as soon as I said a redheaded one, Culbart knew what I was talking about.”

  “Then he has her.”

  Caden nodded, remembering that glint in Culbart’s eye. He slid the knife under the skin of the first rabbit. “Or knows where she is.”

  “You didn’t demand to see her?” Ace took out his own knife.

  “No, at that point we were in—” he gutted the rabbit in one smooth motion “—negotiations.”

  “Shit.”

  Ace ripped his knife up the dead rabbit’s stomach with controlled force. “Since when does Hell’s Eight bargain for what’s theirs?”

  “Since we’re outnumbered twenty to one and Culbart has what we want.”

  “What’s he want for her?”

  “Baron’s foal.”

  Ace froze. “That horse is worth a king’s ransom. Every rancher in five states and two territories is drooling over that foal.”

  “I know.”

  “Caine is counting on the money he makes from that sale to cover next year’s expenses. Getting Shadow out of that mess drained the ranch’s coffers.”

  He knew that, too. “Then, I’ll have to make it up to him.”

  Just one more reason the mine had to pay off.

  “You didn’t tell him you’d trade, did you?”

  No, but he would have. “He didn’t let me.”

  Ace picked up one of the sharpened sticks propped against the log they’d dragged over for a seat and passed it to Caden.

  “Let me get this straight. The man has Maddie, but he won’t show her to you, he makes an outrageous demand for her, but when you get set to agree or disagree, he doesn’t let you answer?”

  Caden took the stick and considered the point. It’d feel damn good right then to shove it up Culbart’s ass. “Pretty much.”

  “What the hell is his game?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m guessing I’m going to find out in two days.”

  “Why the hell wait two days? Let’s just go in tonight and get her.”

  “While I was socializing, I had a chance to check out the guards.”

  “And?”

  He slid the pointed stick into the carcass. “Culbart hires men that would do Hell’s Eight proud.”

  “Shit.” Ace grabbed a stick and skewered a carcass with it before stabbing it into the ground in front of the fire. “So what are we going to do?”

  “I’m going back, and if he plays more games—” Caden looked up “—I’m going to put an end to him.”

  Ace relaxed. “That’s going to take planning.”

  Caden smiled and placed the rabbit over the fire. “The man gave us two days.”

  * * *

  TWO DAYS LATER Caden was back at the Fallen C. His reception wasn’t any more welcoming than the first time around, but then again, he hadn’t expected it to be. He nodded to Dickens as he stepped up onto the porch. The man glared at him over his swollen mouth. He’d made an enemy there. Caden didn’t care. He was wound up tighter than a clock. He wanted in and out, with Maddie safe in his arms and this whole mess behind him. Culbart’s expression wasn’t any more cheerful when he opened the door. When Caden reached the top of the steps, the man cleared his throat. “Wipe your boots.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I said wipe your damn boots. Maddie doesn’t like it when you track dirt through.”

  Maddie didn’t like it? “She’s here?”

  “Of course.” Culbart stepped back and motioned him in.

  There was no “of course” about it. Caden stepped through the door. The house smelled of beeswax and lemon and—he took a sniff—chocolate cake. Culbart closed the door. Caden couldn’t help but notice the man was...groomed. Gone was the mountain man of two days ago. In his place was a close approximation of a successful businessman. His clothes were neat and pressed, his beard and mustache were trimmed and his hair was cut. It still had a wild look about it due to its natural wave, but it was noticeable that it had been trimmed and combed. He wasn’t an ugly man.

  Caden didn’t go another step. “What the hell is going on?”

  Culbart ran his hand down his chest and then over his hair. From the kitchen came an Irish ditty sung in a voice Caden would recognize anywhere.

  “Maddie!”

  Culbart glared at him. “Don’t you be upsetting her. She’s been preparing for two days for your visit.”

  That preparation was evident in the well-scrubbed floors, the dusted furniture set out in a new arrangement. That only left one question: “Why?”

  Culbart stubbed his toe on a newly placed hassock, glaring at Caden again as if it was his fault.

  “Damned if I know, but she wanted everything just perfect.”

  Maddie, Caden decided, must have drifted into one of her flights of fancy. “She does like order and a clean house.”

  Culbart nodded. “Soothes her nerves.”

  Stranger and stranger the picture got. A kidnapper worried about his captive’s nerves?

  “You got any more of that whiskey?” Caden asked.

  “I do, but you won’t be seeing it.”

  “Why is that?”

  The question as rude as Culbart’s response.

  “Because Maddie is preparing tea.”

  “Tea?”

  Culbart grimaced. “Swears it’s the thing all proper households serve to guests.”

  Caden hated tea. “So Tia says.”

  “That’s a good woman, Tia.”

  Why were they talking about Tia? “You know Tia?”

  “I know what everyone knows, that she took you boys in, made something of you.”

  They liked to think they’d made something of themselves, too.

  “Not many women would do that,” Culbart said gruffly, going to sit before he realized his chair had been moved. He swore under his breath.

  “No, it takes a real big heart for that.”

  “Yes, it does.” Culbart found his chair. “Good to hear she’s married up with Ed. A woman like that needs a good man.”

  There seemed a deeper significance to the words. “You thinking of marrying?”

  Culbart looked to the kitchen where Caden could make out flashes of yellow as Maddie worked. “It crossed my mind.”

  He’d better not be thinking with Maddie.

  With a motion of his hand, the rancher indicated Caden should sit. Caden did, waffling between rage and confusion, feeling a bit as if he’d stepped into one of those fairylands in his da’s stories where everything should be recognizable but wasn’t.

  Culbart’s brows lowered over his eyes. “Maddie’s a good woman with a big heart.”

  That sounded like a warning.

  “We’re fond of her.”

  “Everyone? Not just you in particular?”

  He wasn’t discussing his relationship with Maddie with anyone, least of all her kidnapper. “What’s between Maddie and me is our business.”

  The rancher’s face turned red. “I’m making it my business.”

  Caden smiled. “Tough.”

  Culbart came to his feet. “You ungrateful pup. I ought to take you out back and beat some decency into you.”

  Pup? Culbart was probably only five years older than him. “You’re welcome to try.”

  “Try my ass. Any man that’d take advantage of a sweet woman like Maddie needs his ass kicked from here to Sunday.”

  Sweet woman? “Who the hell said I took advantage of her?”

  “Just because you’re Hell’s Eight doesn’t mean you can’t be held accountable.”

  Caden had heard a lot of things about Culbart, but not that he was insane.

  “Maddie!” Caden hollered. “Get out here!”

  A fist connected with his jaw, knocking him ass over teakettle. Culbart stood over him, fists clenched. “You will not be hollering at a lady in my house.”

  Son of a bitch, the bastard had made him see stars. Caden sho
ok his head to clear it and glared at Culbart. “Lady?”

  Caden heard a scream and saw a flutter of yellow. Fuck. Maddie.

  “Step away from him, Maddie,” Culbart ordered, grabbing her arm.

  “Yes, Maddie. Step away.” Caden did not like the familiarity of Culbart’s hand on her arm.

  Maddie yanked at her arm. “Uncle Frank, what are you doing?”

  What the hell? Maddie had convinced herself Culbart was her uncle?

  “This man of yours. He needs some learning.”

  Caden was still reeling from the “Uncle Frank” when he got hit with “this man of yours.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked, shaking his head to clear his vision as he grabbed his hat and struggled to his feet. Culbart packed a punch.

  “Caden!” Maddie bent down to help. Culbart grabbed her arm again and pulled her back.

  “There’ll be time enough for tender touches when I’m done with him.”

  Maddie stamped her foot. “You can’t hurt him. He’ll be all bruised for the wedding.”

  Wedding? Caden sat back down. “Who’s getting married?”

  The door burst opened, Ace came in, guns drawn. “Nobody move.”

  “Ace!” Maddie said, a big smile on her face. “I’m so happy you could make it!” She ran forward as if he weren’t pointing two six-shooters into the room, catching his right hand in hers. Caden’s heart cramped. Ace’s guns had hair triggers.

  “Goddamn it, Maddie,” he yelled. “Get back.”

  “Son of a bitch!” Ace jerked up the gun and pushed Maddie away. As if she hadn’t just risked her life, she went flying back toward Ace, her face glowing with happiness.

  Ace swore and turned.

  “You knock her one inch off balance, boy, and your head will be rolling next,” Culbart growled.

  “For the love of Pete, Maddie! Get off!”

  A shadow came up behind Ace. Before Caden could call a warning, Dickens brought the butt of his gun down on the back of Ace’s head. He went down hard. Maddie grabbed Ace’s shoulders as he went down, landing in a heap on the floor beneath him. Maddie glared at Caden as if it were all his fault as she struggled free, and accused, “Shame on you, Caden, riding so hard that Ace is completely tuckered out!”

  Caden blinked and looked at Ace’s crumpled body. Maddie clearly was on one of her mental journeys.

  “Don’t you worry about it, Maddie,” Culbart soothed. “I’m sure your fiancé isn’t any too tired to get hitched.”

  “I’m not her fiancé.”

  Maddie looked at him, her gaze so soft it could melt stone. A tear hovered in her eye.

  “I’m sorry, Caden, I know you didn’t want us telling anybody just yet, but when Uncle Frank found me, he wanted to know why I was out alone. I had no choice but to reveal our elopement.”

  Caden swore and got to his feet. She had it wrapped up as pretty as a picture. “You know damn well I’d never leave any fiancée of mine to travel alone,” he growled at Culbart.

  “I don’t know shit, son, except that pretty lady over there thinks you made her promises and she’s expecting me to make sure you keep them.”

  “Maddie?” She didn’t answer. Caden ran his hand through his hair. “She’s not right in the head.”

  “She seemed clear enough to me,” Culbart countered. “Especially when she described your sleeping habits.”

  “She sneaks into my room in the middle of the night!”

  Ace groaned and rolled over. Maddie gasped. Culbart jerked his chin up. “That’s enough for me. Dickens,” he barked. “Let the preacher in.”

  Caden rubbed his jaw, wincing at the immediate ache. Fuck!

  Dickens stepped aside, making room for another of Culbart’s men. Both he and Dickens kept their guns trained on him while a third, wearing a preacher’s collar, brought up the rear.

  Caden shook his head, capturing Maddie’s gaze with his.

  “I’m not marrying you, Maddie.”

  She stared at him for the longest second, her expression as soft as dandelion fluff, before smiling with all the sweetness he remembered, and said with perfect clarity, “You don’t have a choice.”

  * * *

  A FUCKING SHOTGUN WEDDING.

  Caden jerked at his bound hands as he stood in front of the preacher. Maddie stood beside him, soft and sweet in her yellow dress, smiling up to him as if there weren’t men pointing guns at him from all directions and Culbart wasn’t standing over there looking like a cat that just ate the cream. They’d dragged Ace out to clean him up when Maggie declared blood bad luck at the wedding.

  He tugged at his bonds again. Culbart’s smile widened. Maddie’s finger brushed over his.

  “I told you, you shouldn’t have picked those flowers for me,” she said. “There’s poison ivy there.”

  He hadn’t picked any flowers, he hadn’t done shit, but Maddie was off in her dreamworld, and nothing he said seemed to make any impression. He tried again. “I’m not itching. I’m struggling.”

  “It will be over soon.”

  That sounded suspiciously sane. He looked down at her, but all he could see was the top of her head. Dammit!

  “Maddie, you don’t want to do this.”

  She looked up then. Her expression was the perfect mix of hurt innocence. Right down to the hint of moisture in her eyes. Maybe too perfect. Even when Maddie was at her most distant, there was always that hint of confusion as if she wasn’t quite sure where she was supposed to be. A confusion that was completely missing now. And had been since he’d arrived.

  “You’ve changed your mind?” she asked.

  “I never made it up in the first place.”

  Her fingers wrapped in the sleeve of his shirt but didn’t slide down to his wrist. Maddie always slid her fingers down to his wrist.

  “You can’t change your mind.” She looked over at Culbart.

  “He’s not going anywhere, honey.”

  As if on cue, three sets of guns tightened their aim.

  That woman has a powerful affection for you. Caine’s words came back to haunt him. Was it possible Maddie had set him up? He looked down at her. There was no guile in her face, but a lot of women could make pretend seem real, and Maddie was real good at pretend.

  A knock came at the door. Dickens yanked it open. Ace stumbled into the room, his hands bound behind him, his hair dripping. Blood still stained his shirt, but his neck and chest were clean.

  “Here’s the best man,” Dickens said, shoving him into the room. Ace tossed his head, flipping his hair out of his eyes. He didn’t look any happier than Caden felt.

  Shit. Ace pulled up short, taking in the preacher, the arrangement of the furniture, Maddie standing by Caden.

  “Shoot, boys, if you’d have told me it was a wedding, I’d have dressed better.”

  “If we’d have told you it was a wedding, you’d have hightailed it.”

  Ace flashed that smile of his. “I like weddings as long as they aren’t mine.”

  “Your friend doesn’t feel the same.”

  “Caden’s always been ornery.”

  “Shut up, Ace,” Caden snapped.

  “Well, he can be ornery and hitched,” Culbart interrupted.

  Caden yanked at his bonds. “And you can be dead.”

  “Marriage is good for a man.”

  “Then you marry her.”

  “Caden!” Maddie gasped.

  She could gasp all she wanted. It didn’t change the facts. He was being forced into a marriage with a woman he didn’t want.

  “I asked, but she’s got her heart set on you.”

  Fucking hell. “Then she’s going to be disappointed.”

  Culbart smiled. “No, she’s not.”

  “You have to marry me,” Maddie said, her fingers gripping his sleeve. He waited. They still didn’t drift down to his wrist.

  Certainty lodged like lead in his stomach. Maddie was faking pretend. “Why?”

  “Because.�
�

  He laughed. “Because? Is that what you told Culbart?”

  She nodded.

  “Hell,” Ace said. “Even if advances were made, it’s not like she was a vestal virgin.”

  For the first time ever, Caden didn’t come to Maddie’s defense.

  Dickens elbowed Ace in the stomach. “Watch how you talk to the lady.”

  “The lady forcing my best friend to marry on a lie?”

  “If it’s a lie, how does she know so much about him?”

  Ace’s brows went up. “I wasn’t aware that she did.”

  “She does.”

  “And if it’s a lie,” Dickens continued, “why was she out traveling on her own, following him?”

  “Because she’s crazy?” Ace countered.

  Maddie gasped. No matter what stunt she was pulling, it still bothered Caden to see that hurt in her eyes. And that pissed him off.

  “When this wedding’s over, Culbart, what then?” he asked.

  “You’re going to write me an IOU for a horse, and we’re going to have the party Maddie arranged.”

  “We’re having a party?”

  Maddie nodded up at him, her eyes shining. “With chocolate cake. Just like Tia had.”

  Just like Tia had. That wedding had been the fantasy of Maddie’s life. She’d thrown herself into Tia’s plans, sharing the excitement as if it was her own, which might explain why he was now standing beside her facing a preacher with the world believing they were promised. That’s how make-believe went with Maddie. A little bit of reality turned into a whole lot of pretend. If she was pretending

  Caden looked over at Culbart. “You’re letting us go?”

  “Any reason I shouldn’t?”

  He exchanged a look with Ace. Ace shrugged, clearly having no better idea than Caden as to what was going on, but the goal was to get Maddie out of here, and if a fake marriage succeeded in achieving an actual escape, then who was he to argue? For sure no one would hear of this, and even if they did, it would be a simple matter to bribe the preacher to make the papers disappear, assuming there even were papers.

  Setting his jaw, he bit back his pride. It’d been a long time since anyone had been able to force him to do anything. “If this wedding’s going to happen, then someone get talking. Daylight’s burning.”