The Honour-Bound Gambler. Lisa Plumley

the boy or from reprimanding him when necessary. Even though Violet was admittedly ordinary in looks, her high-spiritedness and wit more than made up for her lack of rosebud lips or alabaster skin or any of the other features that prettier women were lauded for.

      The plain fact was, Cade realized, Violet’s face drew him to truly look at her…and to keep right on looking, helplessly entertained and absorbed by wondering what she’d say or do next.

      With genuine warmth, Violet leaned closer to Tobe, urging him to take another spoonful of apple pandowdy. Doubtless she hadn’t noticed him stuffing his wee pockets full of the yeasted rolls and nuts she’d served earlier, but Cade had. The boy had fast hands and sprightly thieving fingers—fingers that currently clutched Violet’s flatware and likely intended to steal it, too.

      At Violet’s offer, Tobe gave an eager nod. His cheeks bulged like a chipmunk’s. Even as Violet served him his extra dessert, Tobe went on spooning up his pandowdy. He ate as though someone might steal it before he was through. In his rough-and-tumble world, Cade knew, someone might. He didn’t know why he’d brought Tobe with him tonight; he only knew it had felt right.

      It wasn’t like him to interfere in someone else’s affairs—even the affairs of one small, larcenous boy. Cade reckoned he’d already started going soft, owing to Violet’s pure-hearted ways.

      He should have known, by now, to steer clear of a reformer.

      “Apple pandowdy is not the loveliest of desserts, I’ll grant you that,” Violet said, “but it’s quick and delicious.”

      Tobe grunted his assent, still eagerly fisting his spoon.

      “It’s beyond delicious,” Cade assured her. His own flatware clinked into his serving dish as he set it aside. “And there are many things more valuable than merely being lovely.”

      “Like…being lucky?” Her smile looked mischievous.

      “And being here, right now, to enjoy all this.”

      “Ah. I see.” Violet’s eyes sparkled at him. She set aside her own plate. “You’re a man who lives for the moment, then.”

      “I’m a man who lives for enjoyment. I just said so.”

      “But what about planning for tomorrow?”

      Cade glanced at Tobe. “Plans go awry. Only a fool counts on tomorrow. All you really have is the hand you’re dealt today.”

      “Or the dice,” Tobe put in matter-of-factly. “You might have dice to use.” He finally set aside his spoon, then gave an exaggerated groan of contentment. “Thanks for them new cheaters, by the way,” he told Cade. “I seen right away that you swapped ’em out for my old rough pair the other night. Soon’s I’ve practiced enough, I oughtta clean up plenty.”

      “I’ll give you a few tips after dinner,” Cade volunteered.

      Openmouthed, Violet stared at them both. “Are you offering to help Tobe learn to cheat more effectively?”

      The boy nodded guilelessly. Cade did, too, unable to see what the problem was. “It will keep him safer in the long run.”

      “What would keep him safer is a secure home to live in,” Violet disagreed, rallying handily. “And his mother to care for him!” Concerned, she turned to Tobe. “Where’s your father?”

      The child shrugged. “Dunno. He run off a while back.”

      “Before you got on the train to come here?” Violet pressed. “Or after you and your mother arrived in Morrow Creek?”

      Tobe squirmed, plainly uncomfortable at being questioned.

      “You can tell me, Tobe,” Violet urged. “It’s important that you do, so I know how best to help you. Unless I know where your mother and father are, I won’t know how to proceed. Please, isn’t there anything you can tell me about their whereabouts?”

      With panicky eyes and a quarrelsome expression, the boy glanced at Cade. His whole demeanor seemed a plea for help—a plea for rescue from Violet’s questioning. Tobe seemed either unwilling or unable to answer her…at least right now.

      “Can’t we leave now? I done ate everythin’ I got given.”

      “And then some.” Mustering a courteous smile, Cade pushed back his chair. It was just as well Tobe had spoken up. Cade suddenly felt less than cozy here himself…especially with Tobe’s entreating gaze—so much like Judah’s—fastened on him that way.

      His brother wasn’t as tough as Cade was. He never had been. Their orphan life had been harder for Judah than it had been for Cade. That’s why Cade, as the eldest brother, had taken it upon himself to settle the discontent he knew Judah must feel.

      He’d taken it upon himself to help Judah feel whole again.

      For himself, Cade figured, it was already too late.

      “I guess we’d better get going.” Signaling as much, Cade rose. “Thank you for dinner, Violet. Everything was delicious.”

      “You’re welcome.” Violet gawked at him, seeming entirely taken aback. “But you’re not really leaving already, are you?”

      “It’s time.” Cade summoned Tobe with a nod, rescuing them both from further questions. “I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to see Reverend Benson again. I would have liked to say hello—and to get this deal squared between us, of course.”

      “‘Again’?” Violet repeated, seeming stuck on the word. “But when did you and my father ever—” She broke off, her gaze sharpening. “Did you help Papa cheat, too, like you did Tobe? Is that how you knew Papa won at cards the other night?”

      Beside her, Tobe rose from his seat. Taking advantage of Violet’s distractedness, he swiped a butter knife. He slid the utensil’s long silver handle up his shirtsleeve for safekeeping.

      Cade raised an eyebrow. The little troublemaker was on his way to becoming a full-bore criminal, the way he was behaving.

      “I may have slipped your father an improving card or two,” Cade acknowledged. Reverend Benson had been on the verge of losing his clerical collar and his shirt in the game they’d played together. “But whether he used it or not, I can’t say.”

      “Oh, I can say.” Violet folded her arms. “You’ll be happy to know that those winnings of his went to the church collection basket, though. My father is completely incorruptible.”

      Cade frowned. “I’m not trying to corrupt anyone.”

      Her raised eyebrows suggested otherwise. “Even me?”

      That was easy. “Especially you.”

      “Oh.” Paradoxically, she seemed almost disappointed.

      That made no sense. At a loss to understand her—and wondering why he wanted to—Cade deepened his frown. Who cared what pious Violet Benson thought or felt? By the time the first snowfall blanketed Morrow Creek, he would be gone from here.

      He would be gone from her life, likely for the better.

      Tobe wriggled impatiently. “Are we pullin’ foot or not?”

      “Yes.” Cade headed for the entryway. “It’s time to go.”

      Tobe and Violet trailed after him. So did an odd sense of disappointment. He’d been having a nice time…until Violet had kicked off her damn reformer routine and ruined everything.