A Child for Cade. Patricia Thayer

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СКАЧАТЬ you’re having a rough time, Abby, I might be able to help. I’m a financial adviser.”

      She stiffened. “I’m fine. And I’m more than capable of running the ranch.”

      He started to say something, but nodded, instead. “Goodbye, Abby. I won’t bother you again.” He walked out, and she prayed that he was telling her the truth, because she didn’t think she could handle seeing Cade Randell again.

      Back at the Circle B by early afternoon, Cade parked the truck outside the corral with plans of opening a beer and sitting around being lazy the rest of the day. Hell, it was his vacation. The first he’d taken in years. He didn’t need any more headaches from his brother or a woman from the past.

      As he started for the house, he heard hollering from the barn and decided to see what all the commotion was about. Inside he found Chance and Hank by a stall, eyeing the latest addition to the ranch. A new chestnut filly.

      Cade came closer and to his surprise he found Brandon Garson standing alongside Hank. For the first time Cade had a chance to see Brandon when the boy wasn’t scowling. He was a good-looking kid with dark wavy hair and big brown eyes. Maybe a little on the thin side. Cade smiled. Something about Brandon reminded him of Travis.

      “Cade, you missed it,” Hank said. “Lady dropped her foal just after you left this morning.”

      “I can see that.” He stepped closer to the stall and noticed Brandon move back. Was the boy afraid of him? He remembered what Chance had said about Joel’s treatment of Abby. Had he mistreated the boy, as well? Cade tensed, recalling his own daddy’s free-swinging backhand. It had taken a long time for Cade to trust other adults. He wasn’t sure why, but it was important he get Brandon to trust him.

      “Brandon, she’s pretty cool, huh?” Cade asked.

      The boy remained silent.

      That didn’t stop Cade. “If I’d known you were going to stop by, I wouldn’t have taken your hat to your house.”

      Brandon finally looked at Cade. “My hat?”

      “Yes, Ella found it and said it was real special because your granddad gave it to you. So I ran it over to your place.”

      The boy’s dark eyes turned hostile. “Did you see my mom?”

      “Yeah, but she was too busy to talk.” He shrugged. “So I left.”

      “Oh,” was all Brandon said.

      Cade wasn’t getting very far. He turned to Hank. “What are you going to name the foal?”

      “Not sure,” Hank said as he took off his hat and scratched his head. “I’ve named so many over the years I think I’ve run out.”

      Cade studied the new filly. “What about you, Brandon? You got any ideas you can give Hank and Chance?”

      “I don’t know.” The boy shrugged his narrow shoulders. Then he glanced up at the men towering over him, his eyes bright. “Maybe you could call her Princess Star. Princess for what Chance always calls his little girl and because the foal has a star on her forehead.” The boy immediately ducked his head and peeked back at the horses.

      Cade watched as Hank and Chance exchanged a smile. “Hey, Brandon,” Chance said. “I think that’s a mighty fine name. When Katie gets a little older, I bet she’ll like it, too.”

      “Then it’s okay?” the boy asked.

      “It’s more than okay,” Hank agreed. “It’s great.”

      Brandon’s face broke into a grin as Hank ruffled his hair. Something tightened in Cade’s chest as he watched the happy exchange. He found he wanted to get the same reaction from the boy.

      The group broke up as the men started off toward corral. The Moreau-ranch foreman, Charlie, instructed Brandon to stay close to the stall.

      “I’ll keep an eye on him,” Cade offered.

      When they were alone, Cade still kept his distance. He knew that he and the boy had gotten off on the wrong foot, and he needed to set him straight about a few things. “You know, Brandon, I used to go to school with your mom.”

      The boy didn’t react.

      “In fact, I had a crush on her. I thought she was the prettiest girl in school.”

      “She’s still pretty,” Brandon said.

      Cade smiled. “Yes, she is.” He knelt down on one knee next to the child. “And I want you to know I would never do anything to hurt her. I was wrong to grab her arm last night. And I told her today I was sorry.”

      Brandon still didn’t look at him. “My dad used to say he was sorry a lot. But he didn’t mean it.”

      Cade tried to remain calm. If he ever got his hands on Joel Garson… “Well, I’m not like your dad. Hank raised me to respect women. That’s the reason when I got out of line last night, I apologized to your mom. But I swear I have never ever hit a woman. Only cowards do that.”

      Brandon turned to him, his eyes guarded as they examined him closely. “Did you really live here?”

      “Yeah, after my daddy went…away.”

      “My grandpa said your daddy rustled cattle and went to prison. And you and your brothers were no good, either.”

      Why would Tom Moreau be talking about his family? “Just because your daddy did bad things, does that mean you will, too?”

      Brandon shook his head. “No.”

      “Well, it’s the same with me. I went to college and then got a good job in Chicago. And I guarantee you I never rustled any cattle.”

      The boy finally smiled, showing off the space from a missing front tooth. “Do you have a ranch there?”

      “No, no ranches there, but I have a house. Chicago is a big city. I work on the twenty-seventh floor of a very tall building.

      “Oh. Don’t you miss it here?”

      “Sometimes. I miss my brothers and Hank and riding horses all the time. I even miss my secret hiding place.”

      The boy’s eyes rounded. “You have a secret hiding place?”

      “Doesn’t everyone?”

      “I have one at my grandpa’s ranch,” he said. “Will you show me yours?”

      Cade grinned. “Well, I don’t know. It wouldn’t be a secret hiding place if I showed it to you.”

      “I won’t tell anyone, promise.”

      “Double-spit-swear?”

      Brandon looked confused. “I don’t know what that means.”

      Cade stood, trying to remember how he and his brothers used to do the ritual. He raised his hands, СКАЧАТЬ