Cindy Holby (27 page)

One problem solved. Now to get rid of the schoolteacher who seemed to be getting a bit titillated over her sonnets. If only Leah would need something…anything. If she’d call out then he could go, but she was silent.
She must be asleep…

Chork!
Margy stopped her reading and they both looked at Dodger. He stood, facing the parlor, and made another strange noise. His entire body cramped. They both watched in fascination as his body convulsed from his hind quarters all the way forward through his throat. He gagged again.

“Oh my,” Margy said. She fanned her face with her book.

Cade covered his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing out loud and adopted a look of pure concern as Dodger finally yakked up a glob of oats. The dog smacked his lips a few times and sniffed at the mess, then walked into the kitchen and lapped at his water bowl.

Cade turned to Margy, thrilled that Dodger had given him an escape plan, even though he didn’t let it show. She was deathly pale. She put her hand to her heart, then her forehead and then, in a fashion that would have impressed Letty Middleton during one of her cons, Margy swooned and crumpled dramatically onto the sofa.

“I see you swept her right off her feet,” Leah said. She gingerly stepped around the mess Dodger left in the hall as she belted her robe.

He was happy at the sight of her. “Are you jealous?”

Leah rolled her eyes to the ceiling and shook her head. “Are you just going to leave her lying there like that?”

Cade ran a hand over his throat as he studied Margy, who was half on, half off, the sofa, more reclined than falling off. “She looks comfortable doesn’t she?”

“Oh my goodness,” Leah exclaimed. “You are no help at all.”

Margy let out a soft moan.

“You take care of her,” Cade said. “I’ll clean up the mess.” He chuckled as he walked by her. There was no way in hell he was going to fall into the schoolmarm’s trap. He knew she wanted to get him in a compromising position. He was certain of it when he looked out the kitchen window and saw the four men who were headed for the house. Timing was everything in a con and Miss Ashburn thought she had hers all worked out.

So let the search committee find him on his hands and knees cleaning up dog puke and Leah with the schoolmarm. What could they say?

D
ang that kitten. It seemed like Ashes just waited around for him to open the door so she could dash outside. He’d carried her in more times than he could count in the past few days. Maybe he should just let her go, but he’d hate to see her get taken by the coyotes. He kind of enjoyed having her underfoot. She’d taken to hiding under a bench that sat in the back hallway, and scampered past him when he carried the towels that he’d used to scoop up Dodger’s mess outside. Dodger followed him out also and paused on the porch. Ashes went to the door to the root cellar, and sniffed at it.

He heard the knock on the door, heard Leah greet the men. He wasn’t in any hurry to go back in, so he took his time. He washed the towels out in the snow and hung them over the clothesline to dry. He knelt down and called to Dodger who shuffled slowly to him with his head down.

Cade buried his hands in Dodger’s ruff and rubbed the
sides of the dog’s head. “I’m sorry about that, boy. I didn’t think it would make
you
sick. Will you forgive me?”
Are you the forgiving sort?
Dodger licked at his face and Cade tolerated it because it was Dodger’s way of saying “no harm done.” He released him, and Dodger wandered to the back of the yard.

It was time to leave Angel’s End. He’d put it off long enough. He’d used Leah’s illness as an excuse. It was just that it was so easy and so good to be here with her. He loved teasing her and watching her get all aggravated before she realized that he was just teasing. It was something that he’d never even known he could do. With her it was just as natural as breathing. He also loved watching her, even if it was just to see her sleep as she had so often with her illness. He looked at it as storing up memories to take with him. Something to get him through the cold and lonely nights.
I love her…
He’d known it for days, but he refused to admit it until now. Admitting it would just make it that much harder when it was time to go. Admitting it didn’t make the hurt go away, nor did it make it any easier to handle.

Cade took a deep breath. So where would he go? He had to keep clear of Fitch, so north, maybe, and west. California, to see the ocean? Oregon, or maybe just north toward Montana.

Brody…
He hadn’t thought of his brother in a long, long while. He used to wonder where he was, what had happened to him, if he was doing okay, or if his life had turned into the hell that his had. Had he survived it? Had the man whose name he did not know, the one who’d taken him, been as bad as the Middletons? Was there any possibility that he could find him? He had no idea where to start looking for his long-lost brother.

The truth was, he had no place to go and no desire to leave, except for the fact that staying here would be a huge mistake. Not only for him, but for Leah and her boy. So he
had to go. If Fitch found him here, with her, there would be hell to pay for sure. Fitch lived by the code of an eye for an eye. He’d take Leah from him by any means possible, even it if meant killing her, just to see Cade suffer.

Cade would make sure things were taken care of before he left. First he’d shore up the shed so the chickens would stay safe from the coyotes. Since it was a nice day he went over and opened the door of the shed to let the chickens roam a bit. Ashes found a perch and settled down to watch them as they scattered about in the tromped-down snow.

It was funny how little things like chickens pecking around a yard made for simple pleasures. It gave him a sense of home, even if it was for just a few stolen moments.

“Cade?” Leah stood at the back door. She’d put on a dress and pinned her hair up. Her spots had even faded. She looked absolutely beautiful. “You’ve got company.”

“I know,” he said. “Give me a minute.”

She walked out on the porch and shaded her eyes against the bright sunlight. “Are you all right?” The smell of roses drifted to him on the mild breeze.

Cade looked around the yard. Snow dripped from the eaves. It would more than likely freeze overnight and make the trip to the outhouse a bit hazardous in the morning. Dodger trotted up to Leah with his tail wagging, over his sudden upset stomach and back to normal. Ashes still watched the chickens and Roscoe strutted around, ready to take on the world.

“I’m fine,” he assured her. But deep inside, he knew he wasn’t fine at all. If only he could find a way to fix it.

They were all waiting on him. Jim Martin, Jake Reece and Gus Swanson. And Margy Ashburn of course. The search committee minus Bettina, who must be minding the store.
The saloon owner, Ward Phillips, was present also, though he stood in a corner with his arms crossed and the huge dog by his side.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he explained when he walked into the parlor. “I was just taking care of some things out back.”

“No problem,” Gus said. “We appreciate how you’ve pitched in and taken care of Leah for us.” Who would have cared for her if not for him? There hadn’t been a long line of people stepping up.

He could hear Leah in the kitchen, fixing tea for the visitors. Margy’s cookies still sat on the table. If he was going to hell, he might as well go in style. Cade picked up the plate and went around to everyone in the room. “Cookie? Miss Ashburn made them. They are wonderful.”

Margy smiled in appreciation from her seat on the sofa.
Wonderful for making you sick.
Gus wisely abstained but Jim, Jake and Ward all took one. “Miss Ashburn?” He held the plate before her.

“Oh no,” Margy said with a trill. “I’m watching my figure.” Her hand fluttered to her bosom. It was as if she’d taken a class in seduction from Letty. Unfortunately, that was where it ended. He was certain that it was all for show. He noticed Ward grinning in the corner when he returned the plate to the table.

“So to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Cade took up a stance before the fireplace and watched as the men took a bite of their cookie. Jim went into a coughing fit while Jake made a face and looked at his as if Cade had handed him a cow pie. Meanwhile Ward casually dropped his on the floor. Lady nosed at it before returning to her station beside her master.

Smart dog…
Leah walked in with the tea tray. Jim quickly grabbed a cup and drank. Leah looked at Cade with a question in her eyes. He smiled back.

“You shouldn’t be doing this.” Jake took the tray and placed it on the table.

“Nonsense,” Leah said. “I’m tired of lying about. Jim, I’m ready for Banks to come home too. I miss him.”

Jim made a face and cleared his throat. His voice was raspy when he spoke. “Actually Jake and I are taking the boys out to the ranch to spend the night. They’ve all got cabin fever and well Gretchen is…”

Leah laughed, a happy sound that made Cade think of sunshine and summer days. “That’s fine, Jim. Please take him out and show him a good time.”

“I thought I’d get him on a horse tomorrow,” Jake said. “If that’s all right with you.”

“I know you’ll watch out for him Jake. And you’re right, he needs to learn how to ride…”

I could teach him…
Cade could almost see it. Banks before him on his horse, and Leah watching and laughing with light and love in her eyes…

“Just be sure to bring him home tomorrow night so things can get back to normal.”

Normal…things would never be normal for him again. Cade hated normal. He wanted different. He wanted more.

“Speaking of things getting back to normal,” Gus said. “We’re glad to see you’ve recovered from your injuries, Pastor Key.”

“I owe that all to Leah,” he said. She was adding sugar to a cup of tea for Margy and glanced up at his words through her dark lashes. The bright sunlight of the day brought out the gold flecks in her eyes. She
was
feeling better.

“You still don’t recall what happened?” Jim asked.

Cade shook his head. When had lying become so easy? Was it because he’d been doing it for so long? “I don’t remember anything from the time I got on my horse until I woke up here.” Actually that wasn’t a lie. After he left
Timothy’s body smoldering in the fire he didn’t recall a thing. The sorry part was he would never forget anything that happened since. Would the ache in his heart go away with time? Would he wake up some morning after he was long gone and realize that the pain was no longer with him? How long would it take?

“It doesn’t matter,” Leah said. “What does matter is that he’s here now, and he’s fine. And he’s anxious to be about his work.” Her gaze on him was steady and was that hope he saw in her eyes? “Aren’t you Cade?”

Everyone looked surprised when she called him Cade. Why shouldn’t they. They knew him as Timothy Key. Maybe they wouldn’t think it strange. The hope flared for an instant before he saw the narrowing of Ward Phillips’s eyes and the confusion in Jake’s.

“The Lord said to feed my sheep.” Timothy had made it sound so easy. But he didn’t dare try. He knew his limits. He knew there was a limit to what God would tolerate from him.

“Excellent,” Gus replied. “We’ve planned a celebration for next Sunday so you’ve got a week to prepare. We’ll celebrate Thanksgiving with a town potluck dinner at Dusty’s after the service.” Gus pumped his hand. “We’ve got a lot to be thankful for this year.”

“Yes we do,” Cade said, with his eyes upon Leah.

“Leah, I promise I’ll get on those doors first thing next week,” Jim said as they all turned to go.

“Doors?” Cade asked.

“I promised Leah I’d make doors for the bedrooms,” Jim said. “Things have been a little hectic…”

“He was supposed to have them done before you showed up,” Leah explained.

She did need doors. It made sense, considering the circumstances. “I’d love to help you,” Cade volunteered. It was something else he could do for her. Something else to delay
his departure. He had a week at the most. A week to build up some memories. A week to say good-bye.

The idea seemed to please Leah too. She had a big smile on her face as he left. Yes, he wanted to fix the doors for her. But he also wanted an excuse to be in the stable so when it came time to go, he’d be able to get in and get out in a hurry.

The sooner he left, the better; unfortunately, he was leaning toward later.

Ward was intrigued. The preacher certainly wasn’t what he expected. Ward almost liked the man. And why did Leah call the preacher Cade? It seemed she liked the new preacher as well.

“Pastor?” Ward stopped him on the porch. Margy stood hesitantly on the step as if she were afraid to step onto the street. Gus and Jim had already left. Jake was lingering of course. He heard the way Leah said the man’s name also.

“Goodness me, I’m afraid I might slip and fall in this dreadful snow,” Margy said from the step. She hadn’t given up on the pastor yet, even though it was quite obvious that there was something going on between him and Leah. You lock a man up with an attractive woman for a week and something was bound to happen eventually, even if one of them was a minister. Just because he wore a collar didn’t mean he stopped being a man. Ward scratched his chin. Did he wear a collar? Not all preachers did.