"What favor?"
"I'm stopping you from marrying Dobson."
That frown appeared in her forehead again."Why?"
"Revenge." That need to make Dobson pay was still a sour taste in his mouth, but in the past few hours, he'd realized there was another reason, a reason that might even be more important. He'd realized he'd never stopped caring for Bella, that the connection he'd felt with her when he was a boy was just as strong now as it was back then. He'd realized he couldn't stand the thought of her being married to any man. But he couldn’t tell her any of that. Especially not now, not when he'd likely spend the rest of his life in prison. "I have my reasons," he said quietly. Your wedding is set for Saturday, right?"
She nodded.
"Then I'll take you home on Sunday."
She closed the gap between them. Her floral scent wafted up to his nose, her closeness doing things to his insides he'd never felt before. Things he couldn't explain, and couldn't afford to explore.
"How does that change anything? I can marry Edward next week instead. It makes no difference in the end."
"That's where you're wrong. If that wedding doesn't take place on Saturday, it won't take place at all."
She planted her hands on her hips and let out a short laugh."That's ridiculous," she said. "There's no reason I can't—"
"Trust me, Bella. You're not going to be marrying Dobson. Not Saturday. Not ever."
Confusion registered on her face. She had no way of knowing what a snake Dobson was and why he wanted to marry her. She thought she'd found someone to share her life with, to father her children. What she'd found was a no-good murdering bastard who was using her and her father's money to save himself from losing everything.
"I really don't understand …" she murmured, wrapping her arms around her waist.
In the glow of the lantern on the table nearby, Bella's eyes were glistening. Was she crying?
Hell! Cade never could stand to see a woman cry. Especially Bella. Ever since the first day he'd met her while she was digging a hole in the back field of her daddy's ranch to bury a dead bird, his insides had crumbled whenever she was sad or hurt.
Now, seeing her close to tears again, his gut twisted just like it had that day. He'd thought he'd gotten over that, but it looked like she still had that much power over him.
Who was he kidding? He'd known even back then – before he'd even thought about girls for anything besides what fun it was to tease them and make them mad - that Bella was special. That he'd do anything to keep her safe and happy.
Cade couldn't take it. In one swift move, he closed the gap between them and gently slid his arms around her shoulders.
Her floral scent reached his nose and he sucked in a greedy breath. He drew her closer, expecting her to pull away. Instead, she reached up and clutched his shirt in her fists and rested her head on his shoulder. Her hair felt like corn silk against his cheek. "I'm sorry, Bella. You know I'd rather cut my heart out than hurt you, but I have to do this."
She didn't answer. He felt her heat against his chest, her heartbeat and his blending together until he wasn't sure which was his and which was hers. Finally, he heard her sniff and she drew back slightly and looked up at him. Her lashes were damp, ringing dark blue irises. "I thought I knew you … but that was a long time ago. You're not the same person now."
No, he wasn't the same carefree boy he'd been back then, when a fishing pole and Bella's smile were the only two things he needed to be happy.
He'd changed, and until a few hours ago, he'd thought the only thing he needed to make his life complete was revenge. Now he wasn't so sure.
Chapter 4
The sound of hoofbeats filled the stillness inside the small cabin. "Stay back there," Cade ordered, gesturing with his gun to the back of the cabin.
Isabella hurried away from the doorway and huddled in the rear corner while Cade pulled his gun and headed toward the window. Slowly, he pulled back the edge of the curtain with the barrel of his gun and peered into the darkness.
Bella watched as he let the curtain fall and holstered his gun. Then he crossed to the door and threw it open. Just then, two men appeared on the porch and hurried inside, closing the door behind them.
"Where've you two been?" Cade asked. "You should have been here hours ago."
"It took a little longer than we figured. That bodyguard fella gave us a bit of trouble."
Bella took a step forward. "You didn't hurt him, did you?" Even though she couldn’t stand the man, she wouldn't want him to come to any harm on her account.
The tall man she recognized as Brown Hat took off his Stetson and scrubbed his wiry dark hair.. "Name's Zane, ma'am. Nice to make your acquaintance," he said. "And no, we didn't hurt him none, but I have to admit it was tempting." He chuckled. "How you suffered him all that way without shooting him is beyond me."
She couldn't help but return his smile.
The other man stood quietly behind him. "Trey, right?" she asked a few moments later. He was younger and smaller than Zane, but there was a definite resemblance.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a nod.
Cade shook both men's hands. "I owe you one," he said. "Anything you need, any time."
Zane and Trey nodded in unison."Right now, I need some of that stew," Zane said, sniffing loudly.
"There's plenty," Cade said. "Should be warm enough by now." Turning toward the fire, he picked up a ladle and began scooping the steaming mixture into bowls and setting them on the table. "Spoons are in the drawer."
A few minutes later, Trey set his spoon on the table beside his bowl and leaned back in his chair. "You told the lady yet what you're up to?"
Isabella's gaze flew to Cade's face. Beneath the shadow of a day's growth of dark beard, a faint flush rose in his cheeks. He didn't look at her. "Not really," he muttered, ramming a chunk of bread in his mouth.
"You don't think she has a right to know?"
"Yes," Isabella put in. "Don't you think she has a right to know why you went to such lengths to stop her wedding?"
From the time she was old enough to understand about love, she'd often thought the day might come when she and Cade would become more than friends. He'd been her protector, her confidante, her best friend. Then his father died, and soon after, his mother was killed. A day later, Cade was gone. That was twelve years before, and she hadn't seen him since. What possible reason could he have for robbery and kidnapping to prevent her marriage? It wasn't as if he cared about her. If he had, he never would have left her without even saying goodbye. Without giving her a chance to tell her how she felt about him.
His face darkened; his eyes shuttered. "Not now." Then he turned and walked outside, letting the door slam shut behind him.
The breeze rustled the tree branches as Cade stomped down the steps and headed toward the lean-to at the back of the cabin where the horses were tethered.
He swore. What the hell was happening to him? He'd done what he set out to do. He'd stopped Dobson from marrying Bella and getting his hands on her money. A few more days, and Dobson would be ruined. He'd lose everything. Which was exactly what Cade wanted. It was the next best thing to seeing him dangling from a rope.
So why wasn't he satisfied?
Because seeing Bella again, feeling her in his arms, breathing in the scent that was uniquely hers, was rekindling the feelings he'd had for her so many years ago. They'd been barely more than children then, but he'd known even then that Bella was the one he wanted to spend his life with.
The last time he'd seen her, when he'd caught Hiram trying to steal a kiss, he'd barely been able to control his anger. He hadn't understood the emotions then, but later, he'd recognized his fury as jealousy. He hadn't wanted anyone kissing Bella. Anyone except him.
After the fight, he'd wanted to tell her how he felt. But he couldn't bring himself to risk their friendship in case she didn't feel the same way. Then, his world had been shattered and he'd been sent away.
He'd thought
he'd never see her again. And he likely wouldn't have if he hadn't happened to stop in Silverdale for a drink at the saloon. When he'd overheard the conversation between Dobson and the banker, he'd known he had to stop her wedding somehow.
He hadn't known that one look would be all it took for those feelings to come charging back like a herd of stampeding buffalo. Feelings he couldn't do anything about, especially now.
"Cade?"
The soft voice floated on the breeze. Dammit! He didn't want to talk to her right now, not when he was trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with him. She made his brain shut down, made his body do all his thinking. And that wasn't a good thing.
He looked in the direction of the voice. She was walking toward him, a lantern in her hand. The glow from the light emphasized the paleness of her skin and the golden strands of her hair. "Here," he muttered.
She came to stand beside him. She'd wrapped a blanket around her shoulders to shut out the cool night air.
"You should be inside," he said. "It's warmer in front of the fire."
She let out a small laugh. "One thing hasn't changed," she said. "You're still trying to protect me."
"Old habits die hard."
"Yes, they do," she replied softly, her voice taking on a melancholy tone.
Cade sensed a change in her. Was she remembering the past, the days they ran, and laughed, and enjoyed each other's company? Were the memories rushing through her mind the way they were in his? Was she wishing things could be different, that the friendship they'd shared could be something more?
Hadn't she said she'd been looking for a man who she could love and like? They'd always had the 'like' part, but they'd been too young to know about love. They weren't young any more. And now it was too late. He was wanted by the law now, and no matter how much he cared about her, he wouldn't put her in a position of either waiting for him to get out of prison or spending a life on the run.
"Cade, please tell me what happened. When … how long have you been …?" she asked. "I heard about what happened to your mother, and then you disappeared. We were friends, and yet you left and didn't even say goodbye."
"I couldn't." He hadn't had a choice in the matter. The sheriff had seen to it he left town the next day. He supposed the sheriff and Dobson hadn't wanted him telling his story or asking any questions. He'd spent the last twelve years in Rocky Ridge, first living with his aunt and uncle on their ranch and then running his own spread.
"What happened that you had to turn to robbing stagecoaches?"
He laughed. "You happened," he said. "You probably won't believe me, and there's nothing I can do about that, but that was the first time I've ever held up a stage."
"What? Then what have you been doing all these years?"
"Ranching," he replied. "I have a little spread outside Rocky Ridge."
"Yet you decided to rob the stage?"
"I told you before. I needed to stop you from marrying Dobson."
"You still haven't told me why it matters to you whether I marry him or not. Why do you care?"
She took a step closer. Her breasts brushed against his chest, and her floral scent washed over him. She gazed up at him with pain in her eyes.
"I've always cared about you."
"Yet you left without a word. I thought we had something … you were my only real friend …"
He couldn't think straight with her lips so close to his. All he could think about was pressing his mouth to hers, tasting her sweetness. He couldn't help himself. He reached for her, cupped her chin and lowered his mouth to hers.
Her taste surged through his veins, settled low. Need slammed into him with the force of a mule kick. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, her soft curves molding against his hardness.
She made a whimpering sound as her lips parted. He deepened the kiss, expecting her to draw away. She didn't, only opened herself more to his plundering.
She shifted, her body pressing even closer, until the heat rushing through him threatened to erupt into an inferno. He couldn't think, could only feel.
He wanted her. Had always wanted her. Wanted to undo that long row of buttons down her dress, strip her of the chemise and petticoats underneath, and bury himself into her sweetness until the burning need inside him was doused.
God help him, this plan of his had gone so totally wrong. Bella was a means to an end, to him finally getting revenge on Dobson in the only way he knew how besides killing him. He was going to hit the man where it mattered most – his finances.
He sure hadn't planned on still wanting Bella so badly he couldn't think of anything but loving her. He'd planned to let her go after four days. Instead, he wanted nothing more than to have her by his side until his dying day.
He dragged his lips from hers. Gripping her shoulders, he pushed her away. "Dammit, Bella, that wasn't supposed to happen."
Her breathing was ragged, her lips swollen from his kiss. "Why not?"
He couldn't get into a discussion right now, when the only thing on his mind was dragging her back into his arms and kissing her senseless. "Go back inside, Bella."
"Cade …"
"Please. Just go."
For several long moments, she didn't move. Above them, a few stars twinkled in the sky. Her eyes glistened in the pale light as the moon peeked out from behind a cloud.
"Fine," she said finally. "But this isn't over. When you're ready to tell me what's going on, I'm willing to listen."
Cade watched her leave, his body burning, his breathing shallow. He cursed again. What the hell was he supposed to do now?
Another few days, and he'd have what he'd spent the last twelve years hungering for. He'd have his revenge. But instead of feeling satisfied, he knew another hunger would take it's place. A hunger he'd never be able to satisfy.
Chapter 5
"You okay?" Trey looked up from the deck of cards he'd spread across the table. Zane was sitting in front of the fire, a book in his hand. "You're looking a bit flushed. You and Cade get into an argument?"
She almost laughed. Words coming from Cade's mouth she could deal with. What he'd actually done to her with that mouth of his was something else indeed. "No. I'm fine, thank you."
Trey grinned. "Care for a game of cards? I'll even let you win a hand or two." He raked in the cards and divided them in half.
As she watched, he gripped the corners of each pile and flicked them together, then shifted his hands so that an arc formed and the cards met in one neat pile. He'd obviously spent a great deal of time with a deck of cards in his hands. "No, thank you. I think I'll retire now."
Zane set his book face down on the table beside him. He got up and took a few steps toward her, then stopped. "I just want to say, ma'am, that I'm real sorry about all this. But Cade's a good man, and he has his reasons."
"I'm only sorry he doesn't trust me enough to tell me what those reasons are."
"He has a hard time trusting people, but if he's going to trust anybody, it'll be you."
Her chest tightened. "I hope so," she said quietly. "Goodnight."
Slowly, with trembling knees, she crossed to the bedroom and went inside, closing the door behind her. The room was pitch black except for the shaft of pale moonlight coming through the window.
She picked her way to the bed filling the center of the room and sank down on the side, buried her head in her hands and let the tears fall unchecked.
What was going on? What was she going to do?
Until a few minutes before, she'd had her mind made up, and she'd had a plan. Cade was so sure she wouldn't try to escape, but he was wrong. She'd make her escape as soon as it was light enough for her to make her way to where the horses were tied up. And then she'd be gone.
But then … He'd kissed her.
Cade had said old habits died hard. Old feelings died hard, too, she realized.
She loved him. Always had. Always would.
And the result would be the same … a broken heart.
He was an outlaw. Yet he'd said this was his first crime. Could that be true?
How much had he changed over the years? The Cade Morgan she knew as a child was gentle, sweet, and made her insides sing. He couldn't have changed that much. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that even if Cade seemed different, harder, on the surface, deep inside, he was the same boy he'd always been.
Fatigue washed over her, a heavy weight that made it impossible to think straight. Surely things would make more sense in the morning.
The sound of Cade's voice carried through the closed door, startling Bella from a fitful sleep. Sometime during the night, she'd curled into a ball on the bed, and someone had wrapped a blanket around her.
"I can't tell her what happened," he said. "She won't believe me anyway. Nobody did."
Bella threw the blanket aside and climbed out of bed. What was he talking about, and why wouldn't she believe him?
"We believed you." Zane and Trey spoke in unison.
"You're family."
"Doesn't matter," Trey insisted.
Zane's deep voice filled the silence. "You didn't give Bella a chance to tell you if she believed you or not."
"She knows I want to stop her from marrying Dobson."
"Did you tell her why?" Trey asked.
Cade's voice became clipped, haggard. "You think I should have told her he was a cold-blooded murderer?"
Bella's heart thumped in her chest. Murderer? Edward had murdered someone?
"Damn right you should have. You should have told her back then and likely none of this would be happening now."
"I didn't really get the chance," Cade retorted. "You know how quick I got sent out of town."
"That's true," Zane admitted. "But you've got the chance now."
Bella straightened, ran her hands down the creases in her skirt and tucked her wayward hair behind her ears. Zane was right! Cade had the chance now to tell her what he'd been hiding from her, and she was determined to find out exactly what that was.
Cade Page 3
