A Child for Cade. Patricia Thayer

unconvinced. “Carmen let you in? That’s hard to believe.”

      “You can believe what you want. I’m only here because your son left this at the party.” He held out the cowboy hat.

      “Oh,” she said, and some of the fire died from her eyes. She took it from him. “Well, thank you for bringing it by.” She folded her arms across her chest as if refusing to offer him any neighbourly niceties.

      “Look, Cade, I’m too busy to stop and try to make small talk. You don’t want to do that with me any more than I do with you. You made that clear last night.” To his surprise she turned to leave.

      “That wasn’t always true,” he said. “It was your decision…years ago.”

      Her eyes flashed again. “I think you’ve overstayed your welcome.”

      Cade knew he’d pushed too hard. “Wait, Abby. That was uncalled for. What I wanted to say is that I’m sorry about your daddy. I just heard about his passing.”

      Abby didn’t need to deal with Cade Randell today, or ever. The man she saw last night and again this morning held no resemblance to the man she’d known so long ago. There was a hard edge to this Cade. He had the look of someone you didn’t want to cross. If he ever discovered the truth… Thank goodness the foreman had taken Brandon along on his errands.

      “Thank you,” she said.

      “Are you and Brandon getting along okay?”

      Abby stared at him, surprised that he seemed concerned. “We’re fine.”

      “I mean since the divorce and all. This is a big ranch for you to run by yourself.”

      She didn’t want to discuss her problems with him. “I have help here,” she lied. Most of the ranch hands were gone now. All she could afford to keep on was Charlie and his wife, Carmen. Carmen said Abby and Brandon needed her, and she couldn’t leave without her husband anyway.

      “I couldn’t help but notice the place seems deserted,” Cade said. His dark gaze bore into hers until she had to look away.

      “My father was downsizing the cattle operation the last few years.” That was all she was going to admit to the man. “Look, Cade, I really am busy. I’m expecting someone.”

      “An accountant?” he said.

      She froze. “How did you know?”

      “I expect your housekeeper thought I was him. She didn’t give me a chance to tell her any differently, and then I couldn’t help noticing what was on the desk. And Ted Javor’s name on the notepad.” He tossed her a grin, and for a second he reminded her of the boy she once knew. Feeling warmth spread through her, she realized her body was remembering, too.

      Oh, God. She couldn’t do this. “Thanks again for bringing the hat by.” She walked to the door, hoping Cade would follow. He did, but stopped in the doorway and leaned toward her. He was close enough that she could see he had nicked himself shaving. Slowly her gaze raised to his, finding the golden flecks in the dark depths of his eyes, framed with long black lashes.

      “If 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