A Child for Cade

Her father stood. “You were with Randell.”

Abby bit back a gasp. “I have a right to see whomever I please.”

“I think not,” he said. “You’re a Moreau, and certain things are expected of you. You stay away from that trash.”

“Cade isn’t trash. He’s a college graduate and has a good job in Chicago.”

“Fine. Then he’ll be out of here.”

Abby grew braver. “And I’m going with him.”

Her father looked her over and grinned. “I don’t think so. I have plans for you.”

“But I love Cade. We’re getting married.”

Tom sat on the edge of the desk. He looked calm, but Abby saw the anger in his eyes. “You know there’s been more rustling going on in the area. I’ve lost several head myself. Two of the hands told me they saw someone who fits Cade Randell’s description on the property.”

Dread rushed over her. “It wasn’t Cade.”

“It’s my word against a Randell. Who do you think people will believe?”

“That’s not fair, you know Cade didn’t do anything wrong.”

“He did everything wrong when he touched Moreau property.”

Abby flinched at the words. Was that all she was to him—his property? “Then I’ll say he was with me. You won’t be able to do anything. I’m of age. I can go away with Cade if I want.”

She saw her father’s jaw clench, then he drew a breath as if trying to gather his control. “You best not argue, girl.”

Abby began to shake. “Daddy, please. I love Cade.”

“If you love him, then you’ll let him go. It’s the only way he’ll stay out of jail. Don’t cross me, girl. Tomorrow you’ll tell him you’ve made a mistake. Then I’m sending you off to Europe with the Garsons. Their son, Joel, asked about you.” Her father smiled. “Now, there’s a fine young man from a good family.”

“I don’t want to go out with Joel,” she argued.

“I wasn’t giving you a choice. That is, if you really care about Randell.”

Abby knew she’d lost. “Okay, I’ll go. But you have to promise me you’ll leave Cade alone.”

He glared at her, as if to say how dare she question him. Finally he nodded. “Send the ring back by messenger, I don’t want you seeing Randell again.”

For days Abby had ached to go to Cade and tell him the truth. But she knew her father would carry out his threats. The following week Abby was sent off to Europe with the Garsons. A month later when she returned home, her circumstances had changed. She was desperate to talk to Cade. But when she’d called him in Chicago, he didn’t want to talk to her. He said their break up was for the best. They were too young to know about love. Brokenhearted, Abby had let herself be talked into marrying Joel.

Abby wiped the tears from her face. All these years, she’d never stopped loving Cade Randell. But there had never been a chance for them, not then, and certainly not now.

Not after he discovered her lies. Not after he discovered he had a son.

Chapter Two

The next morning Cade woke up groggy. He told himself it had been the excitement of the party, of returning home after all these years. He was staying in his old room. Things hadn’t changed much, maybe a fresh coat of paint. The truth was, it had been Abby that robbed him of sleep.

By the time he showered and went downstairs, the family was already in the bright yellow kitchen eating breakfast. Hank sat at the head of the large trestle table, Cade’s brothers, Chance and Travis, in the same places they had occupied years ago.

“Good morning.” Cade took his seat.

“Well, it’s about time you showed your face,” Ella said, giving him a stern look, but her hazel eyes were smiling. The gray-haired woman was still housekeeper at the Circle B.

“Love you, too, Ella,” Cade teased. He took a swallow of coffee from the mug she put in front of him. He sighed, waiting for the caffeine to kick in.

“Gotta get you accustomed to ranch life again,” Hank said.

“In Chicago I’m usually up early because of the stock market.”

“Must be Ella’s cooking you’re trying to avoid,” Hank teased.

“Stop it, old man,” Ella said. “Joy’s been teaching me.”

Cade chuckled, recalling that the Circle B’s housekeeper had never been famous for her cooking. If she didn’t burn the food, it was a good day. “As long as I don’t have to eat my own cooking, it tastes good to me.” He winked at Ella. “It was just a late night.”

“Yeah, quite a party,” Travis said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He quickly looked away to check the pager attached to his belt, then pulled out a cellular phone. He began punching the buttons as he got up from the table and walked into the pantry.

Cade watched his younger brother. There were only a few years’ difference in their ages, but Travis had been in college when he’d left. Now, eight years later, his kid brother was nearly as big he was. And he ran his own company in Houston. Something to do with computer security. Funny, he didn’t really know much about the business his brother had started. It must have been doing well. Travis’s nice clothes and the Rolex on his wrist left little doubt. He had even brought Hank expensive gifts.

So it seemed all three of the Randells had made their way in the world. Too bad their worlds had to be so far apart.

“How was your ride last night?” Chance asked from across the table.

“Good,” Cade said. “And there was plenty of moonlight to find my way back.”

“Wish I’d known,” Hank mumbled. “I would have gone with you. There were way too many people here to suit me. All that fuss over a silly birthday.”

Ella set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of him. “If you’d left, Hank Barrett, I’d have skinned you alive.”

“So would I.”

They turned as Joy Randell walked into the kitchen, carrying her two-month-old daughter, Katie. The petite blonde crossed to Chance and gave him a lingering kiss, then handed him the baby. “She’s been fed and changed.”

“Hi, princess,” Chance crooned to the child, and was rewarded with a smile.

Cade watched the loving exchange with envy. He was still amazed at their story. How Chance had met the widowed Joy Spencer in the abandoned barn of a neighbor. She’d been in labor, and he’d ended up delivering her baby. Not two weeks later, Chance had married her to keep the child from her in-laws. “Who would have thought it? My brother a family man.”

Chance cocked an eyebrow at him. “Don’t knock it, Cade. These two ladies are the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“I didn’t get a bad deal, either,” Joy said as she sat down next to her husband, her bright blue eyes full of love.

Cade had thought that way once, too. His attention turned back to Abby and how beautiful she’d looked last night. She could still make his pulse race. But he knew better than to pursue it. She’d made a fool out of him once, and he wasn’t going to play that game again. No, he’d stay away from Abby Garson.

Travis returned to the table, his expression even more troubled than before. “I need to get back to Houston. There’s a problem…with one of our accounts.”