The Cowboy's Christmas Plan

by Shanna Hatfield

  Cadence felt all the air rush out of her. “I thought there was no known family.”

  “There wasn’t at the time of Micki’s death, but we have to search every avenue, and we did. And found the sister.”

  “So what can we do? We want to keep Cass here. I don’t think I’d be speaking out of turn to say we’d all like to keep her permanently.”

  “If that is how you really feel, you could file for custody. If Micki’s sister contests it, you could end up in a drawn-out battle.”

  Cadence didn’t want to drag Cass through that. “Would she be a good mother to her? Would she love her and care for her, Barbara?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. From what we’ve dug up, you and the Thompsons would be a much more stable choice for Cass, but the law most often rules on the side of blood relations.”

  Cadence sucked back a sigh.

  “Cadence, as much as I hate to ask, Marcy would like to meet Cass tomorrow. Can you bring her to my office? I figure that is a good half-way point and also neutral ground to you both.”

  “What time would you like us there?”

  “Let’s say eleven.”

  “We’ll be there.” Cadence felt numb and sad.

  “Cadence, I shouldn’t tell you this and it is completely off the record, but if you really want to keep Cass, I suggest speaking to an attorney right away and exploring your options. Until any further decisions are reached, I’m recommending Cass stay in your home. I’ve pushed to get the certification rushed through, so if this does go to court, you should be a licensed foster home by then.”

  “Thank you, Barbara. I appreciate your help. See you tomorrow.”

  Dazed, Cadence hung up the phone, shocked by the news that Micki had a sister. Her worst fear was that Marcy would be a replica of Micki and Cass would be right back in a terrible situation. Releasing the sigh she held in earlier, Cadence went back to her pie making, considering the best way to break the news to Trey and Trent.

  ><><

  Although she planned to go alone to the appointment for Cass to meet her aunt, Cadence felt relieved when both Trey and Trent decided to join them.

  “Mind if we tag along, ladies?” Trey asked as he opened the pickup door for Cadence while Trent buckled Cass into her booster seat.

  “Not at all.” Cadence squeezed Trey’s hand as she climbed into the pickup. He kissed her cheek before shutting her door and sliding in the front seat.

  Cass talked non-stop on the drive to The Dalles, but the three adults were barely able to provide answers to her questions, mired in their worries about losing the little girl.

  “Where are we going, Cady?” Cass asked.

  “We’re going to visit Barbara. Remember the nice lady who came to the house the other day? We’re going to visit her,” Cadence explained.

  “Will she ask more questions?” Cass asked, looking out the window as they pulled off the freeway into town.

  “She might,” Cadence said, patting Cass’s leg. “But you’re very good at answering questions, aren’t you?”

  “Yep. I tell it like it is,” Cass said, making even Trey smile.

  “Where did you hear that phrase?” Cadence asked as they pulled into the parking lot at the DHS office.

  “Miss Viv,” Cass replied.

  “That figures,” Trey muttered under his breath.

  After helping Cass out of her booster seat, Trent took her hand and started to the door followed by a somber Trey and Cadence. Trey kept his hand at the small of Cadence’s back, needing the reassurance of touching her as much as she needed to feel his warmth, even through her coat.

  As they stepped inside the waiting area, Cadence told the receptionist they had an appointment to see Barbara. They didn’t wait long until they were escorted to a conference room. Barbara soon walked in, wearing a friendly smile.

  “Good morning, everyone. Cadence, I didn’t expect you to bring the troops.” Barbara glanced at the Thompson brothers as they sat wearing matching scowls.

  “They wouldn’t let me leave without them,” Cadence said, mustering a grin.

  “Here is how this will work,” Barbara said, taking a seat at the table. “Once Marcy arrives, I’ll bring her in and introduce her to all of you. I’ll give you a few minutes to chat and see how she interacts with Cass then I’ll take them to my office for some observations before I bring Cass back to you. One thing I want to make clear is that regardless of what happens with Marcy today, Cass will go home with you.”

  Cadence and Trey let out a sigh of relief and Trent smiled at Cass where she sat beside him.

  A receptionist knocked on the door and let Barbara know Marcy had arrived.

  When Barbara escorted her into the room, Trey thought it was like seeing Micki brought back to life. She and Marcy could have been identical twins.

  When Cass looked up, she yelled, “Mommy!” and launched herself at Marcy. Marcy awkwardly pushed Cass away without offering the child any warmth or comfort.

  “I ain’t your mother, kid. I’m her sister.” Marcy studied the empty seats available and plopped down next to Trent. A cloud of cheap perfume followed her around the table along with disapproving glances from both cowboys.

  Dressed in a super-short skirt with spiked boots and a low-cut blouse, Marcy didn’t exactly look like the maternal type. Especially when compared to Cadence who wore black dress pants, a berry silk blouse and a black cardigan sweater. Her grandmother’s pearls encircled her neck, giving her a look not completely unlike that of June Cleaver, especially with her hair pulled back in a chignon.

  Left standing alone by her aunt, Cass ran to Cadence and climbed on her lap, burying her face against her blouse.

  “She looks like my mommy,” Cass whispered, sneaking a glance across the table.

  “I know, sweetie,” Cadence said, rubbing her back.

  “So you the do-gooders taking care of Micki’s kid?” Marcy asked, swinging the leg she had crossed over the other while she snapped her gum.

  “The Thompsons and Miss Greer have given Cass exemplary care,” Barbara stated, annoyed that she had to call this meeting. If it were up to her, she’d place Cass with Trey and Cady and leave them to a happily future. Unfortunately, the law dictated she follow procedure. Even when it included stirring up what most likely would be trouble.

  “How much you making to keep her?” Marcy asked, staring at Cadence.

  “I beg your pardon?” Cadence asked, so taken aback by the question, she couldn’t even process it.

  “You know, how much does the state give you to take care of her?” Marcy asked, then turned to Barbara. “She will get social security benefits won’t she? Wasn’t her dad in the military. Surely there’s some money from that.”

  Trey and Trent both turned to look at Marcy with undisguised loathing on their faces. Cadence could see the vein throbbing in Trey’s neck and the hand that wasn’t holding hers clenched into a fist. She squeezed his hand.

  Before either of the men could say anything, Barbara spoke to Marcy. “She will receive benefits, eventually. The Thompsons have not received, nor asked for any financial assistance in providing care for Cass.”

  “Oh, so you guys are rich.” Marcy leaned forward and leered at Trent. “Sexy-hot cowboys with loads of money - isn’t that just typical.”

  Cadence was ready to grab Cass and leave. If it meant going on the run to protect her from Marcy, she thought she could do it.

  “Miss Gianotti, why don’t you come with me to my office and I’ll give you a few minutes to get to know your niece.” Barbara stood and took Cass by the hand.

  Cass looked unsure and pulled back toward Cadence. Gently patting her back, Cadence kissed her cheek. “Go on with Miss Barbara, honey. We’ll be right here waiting for you.”

  “You want to wait on me, too?” Marcy asked as she ran a red-painted nail across Trent’s shoulder as she walked by. He shuddered in revulsion as she went out the door.

  “That woman is a disgusting, unholy mess.
” Trent rose from the table and paced across the length of the room.

  “They can’t possibly think she would make a fit guardian for Cass,” Cadence said, looking to Trey for reassurance. “Can they?”

  “I don’t know that they’ll think she is fit, but she definitely is blood,” Trey observed. How anyone with eyes in their head could turn their sweet little Cass over to a woman like Marcy was beyond his ability to comprehend. However, he knew the same thing happened to other kids every day.

  It wasn’t long until Barbara returned, leading Cass by the hand. Cass looked a little wary, but was busy sucking on the candy cane in her other hand. Barbara shook her head as Cass ran over to Trey. He picked her up, kissing her cheek.

  “Why don’t you go with Trent to the truck, honey?” Trey said, handing Cass to his brother. “We’ll be out in just a minute.”

  When Trent left the room with Cass, Barbara sat down and motioned for Trey to do the same. “Marcy said she definitely wants Cass. I don’t think it is a good idea or in the child’s best interest. While she says she is employed, I have yet to make verification of that and I don’t know that her current housing situation will work for a child. Cass seems frightened by her, and I honestly can’t say that I blame her. She doesn’t show any instincts for connecting with or caring for the child, however, she is the girl’s aunt. I asked her to think about what she wants to do overnight, so when she calls me tomorrow, I’ll let you know her decision. I sincerely hope she will reconsider. If she decides to push this, and you decide to fight her, I’d say based on what I saw today, you’d have a fair chance of gaining custody.”

  Trey nodded his head and squeezed Cadence’s hand.

  “If it comes to that, you’ll need to make a choice as to exactly who is going to take custody. The biggest obstacle I could see is that Cadence is your employee, not a wife or even a fiancée. What happens if she leaves to go work somewhere else? If the judge is going to grant custody, you’ll have to decide which one of you takes it. You need to have a united front on this issue.”

  Cadence looked near tears and Trey felt like his collar had just gotten two sizes too tight.

  Marriage? He wasn’t ready to settle down. Sure, he was in love with Cadence, but marriage and a lifetime commitment were miles away from his current infatuation with the beautiful housekeeper. As much as he wanted to keep Cass, he wasn’t sure he was ready to get married just to gain custody. When he wed, he wanted it to be because he couldn’t live a day longer without making the woman he loved his own.

  Casting a glance Cadence’s direction, he took in her classic beauty, her grace, warmth, and innate goodness. He thought about the kisses they had shared, how perfect it felt to hold her in his arms. How frustrated, strong, happy, and fully alive she made him feel.

  Marriage might not be such a bad idea after all.

  Quickly standing, Trey pulled Cadence to her feet, helped her on with her coat, and took her hand again.

  “Thank you, Barbara. We’ll wait to hear from you tomorrow,” Trey said, escorting Cadence out the door to the pickup. Halfway across the parking lot, he bent near her ear and whispered, “Don’t worry, darlin’. This will all work out just fine.”

  Cadence hoped, to the depths of her being, that he was right.

  ><><

  Barbara called mid-morning the following day. Trey stuck around the house, waiting for the call to come in. He and Cadence sat in the office with the phone on speaker so they both could hear what she had to say.

  “She says she wants to move forward and has a friend who knows a lawyer who will help her get custody. I don’t know how far she will take this, but I strongly suggest you find an attorney and prepare to go to court. I’m going to try to get the judge to bump the case up so we can settle this before Christmas. If Cass has to be moved, doing it before the holiday will be easier on her in the long run.”

  Cadence felt her heart fall to the floor. She had hoped, at the very least, to be able to spend one Christmas with Cass, making it special for her. Now they might not even have that long. It was little more than a week to Christmas Eve.

  “I’m so sorry. If I could make all the paperwork and procedures disappear, I’d pretend I’d never heard of Cass and leave her with you,” Barbara said, her sigh carrying across the phone.

  “We appreciate that, Barbara. Please let us know if you hear any more news or have information we should be made aware of,” Trey said, aware of the tears glistening in Cadence’s eyes.

  After disconnecting the call, he walked around the desk, pulled Cadence to her feet and wrapped his arms around her, willing her to draw some strength from him. She looked like she didn’t have any left.

  Soaking up the warmth and comfort he offered, Cadence buried her face against his chest, breathing in the scent that was becoming all too familiar to her. She rested against him a few minutes then stood back, straightened her spine, and picked up the phone.

  “Who are you calling?” Trey asked, leaning against the desk.

  “My former employer. If anyone can help us, he’s the man for the job. He’s one of the top attorneys in Seattle and has connections all over the country,” Cadence said, waiting for someone to answer the phone.

  “Neil Dumont’s office. May I help you?”A young, feminine voice spoke with a detached professionalism.

  “Yes, I’d like to speak with Mr. Dumont, please.”

  “May I say who is calling?”

  “Just tell him it’s Cadence.”

  After a brief pause, Neil picked up the line. “Cadence! How are things in the middle nowhere? How’s that cowboy of yours?”

  “Things are fine and I’ve already told you that which you keep referring to as mine is not. At least not yet.”

  Neil chuckled. “If you don’t want to talk about lover boy, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?” Neil knew Cadence wouldn’t call him at work without a good reason.

  “I need your help,” Cadence said, then explained the situation with Cass.

  “Sounds to me like the sister is perhaps digging for gold and hopes the Thompsons will provide it in the form of a payoff.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” Cadence said, seeing how that would make sense, though, considering Marcy’s comments from the day before.

  “You need an attorney who can push this through quickly, show her as an unfit guardian, and make sure the judge awards you custody. I’m assuming you are the one who will be doing the filing?”

  “We haven’t really progressed with that discussion. Don’t you think the Thompsons would be a better choice?”

  “Not necessarily. They’ve got the funding, but you are the mother figure. You know, the ideal would be if you and your cowboy would get married, or at least engaged and file for joint custody. That would really be a help to the case.”

  “Neil, I don’t see that being an option. At all.”

  “Well, think about it,” Neil teased. Cadence could hear him scratching down notes. “How far are you from Portland?”

  “A couple of hours. Why?”

  “I’ve got a friend there who owes me a favor or two. He might be willing to take your case. Let me check in with him and I’ll get back to you later.”

  “That sounds great. Thanks, Neil. I knew I could count on you,” Cadence said, grateful for any help Neil could provide.

  “You’re welcome. And Cadence?”

  “Yes?”

  “If you try a little harder, I bet that cowboy of yours wouldn’t have too hard of a time popping the question.”

  “Goodbye, Neil.”

  Cadence disconnected the call with a blush riding her cheeks. Although Trey couldn’t hear what Neil said, Cadence felt her face flame from Neil’s comments. If Trey didn’t love her enough to want to marry her, there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.

  Trey grinned at her flushed face. “I don’t know what he said, but it put some mighty high color in those cheeks of yours. If they are going to be that rosy, you might as we
ll come out and ride with me for a while.”

  Cadence shook her head and started to walk out of the office. Trey grabbed her hand and pulled her back against him, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close against his chest. “What’s got you so worked up, darlin’?”

  “Just you never mind. Neil is calling a friend and will get back to us soon with a name,” Cadence said, enjoying resting against Trey and being in his arms. Turning around so she could see his face, she kissed his cheek then walked out of the room.

  Neil called right after lunch and let Cadence know he had a friend who would be more than happy to take on their case. He wanted to meet with them the next day in Portland. Neil gave her the phone number and address, then told her to call and confirm the appointment.

  “How can I thank you, Neil?” Cadence asked as she wrote down the information.

  “By having a wonderful rest of forever, Cadence. Or shall I call you Cady? I think it seems to fit you much better these days. You sound so much more relaxed and happy since you moved out there and found yourself a cowboy. When are you going to convince him that you’re the girl he’s been waiting for all his life?

  “Neil,” Cadence said with a disapproving tone to her voice. “You and I both know I’m not the best judge of character when it comes to men. I don’t want to rush into anything.”

  “Nonsense,” Neil argued. “I had these Thompsons checked out and they are about as upstanding as citizens can get. I hear they are all quite good looking and they have to be bighearted to want to keep Cass. I’m assuming Trey isn’t dumb or blind, so he has quite likely noticed all that you have to offer. The only time you exhibited poor judgment was with Bill. Considering the fact that he is closer to a snake than a man, I don’t think that one should count.”

  Cadence laughed. “Well, you might be correct on that one account.”

  “I know for a fact I’m right. You just need to convince yourself and the cowboy,” Neil said with a laugh. “Give my friend Peter a call and keep me posted.”

  “I will. Thanks again, Neil. It means a lot to me.”