Chapter 6
Kade squinted into the afternoon sun. It was early April, and the days were warming up as the sun found the effort to rise higher over the mountain tops. The Wyoming weather could be as fickle as a woman with two lovers. There could be warm sun in the morning and snow squalls by evening. Still, it was a beautiful day.
“Kade, any sign of him yet?” Gran called from the big porch.
“No more sign than there was when you asked five minutes ago.”
“Well, he should be here by now.”
“Maybe they got a late start.”
“Ida,” Mark hollered as he ambled toward them. “Think I see a dust cloud down the bend by that big cottonwood.
Gran bustled out to the ranch yard and stood by Kade and the approaching Mark. She raised her hand over her brow, shading her eyes from the sun, and peered into the distance.
“Believe it is one. Yes, I can see a car.” She grabbed Kade’s arm. “It’s him, Kade. It’s Declan.”
“Naw. Probably the UPS truck.”
Mark chuckled and Gran gave Kade’s arm a swat.
“Oh, my, I’m so excited. I wish Morgan was here to share this moment with us.”
Kade smiled down at the woman he loved and pulled her to his side. Her life was complete when her three boys were all in one spot.
“Gonna greet them with your apron on, Ida?” Mark teased.
“Oh, shoot.” She reached behind her and fumbled with the strings. Failing at loosening them, she reached up and patted her hair.
“I look a fright.”
“You look beautiful, doesn’t she, Mark?”
Mark turned a glowing red, ducked his head, and mumbled. He’d thought Ida McKune beautiful since the day she arrived at the Double K to ride herd on three shattered boys. But thinking it and saying it were two different things. He was the foreman, and she was the lady of the house. Ida was an educated woman with opinions on everything. He was a ranch hand, and his opinions were on the only thing he knew—ranching.
Silently, the three stood there and watched the car come closer, a trail of dust billowing out behind it.
It ground to a stop several feet from the trio. The engine rattled and kept running for a few minutes before giving a shudder and dying.
The driver’s door opened, and a tall, painfully thin man with blonde hair as pale as his complexion, stepped out. He paused and gently closed the car door. Motionless as a statue, he drank in the sight of the three people tensely waiting. Then a grin shattered his face, and he broke into long, distance-eliminating strides.
Gran gave a glad cry and threw herself into his wide opened arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she inhaled the scent of her baby boy.
Declan twirled her around, and then buried his face in her hair and gave a silent thanks that Gran felt as sturdy as ever in his arms. He’d been afraid she would have changed with the years. She hadn’t. The smell of the honeysuckle talcum she favored went deep into his soul. Essence of Gran. He breathed deeply, not wanting to relinquish the moment.
He looked up, tears brimming in his eyes.
“Kade. Mark,” he said huskily, blinking hard.
And in seconds the boy, now man, was surrounded by three joyous, laughing people. He was the grinning recipient of back slaps, shoulder squeezes, and mumbled words of, “Welcome home.”
“’Bout time you got here,” Kade said gruffly, his throat clogged with emotion.
“Couldn’t get that beater up over sixty. Couple times I thought I’d have to get out and push.”
Gran held him at arm’s length. “You’re thin,” she said accusingly.
“Pickings slim where I was, Gran. I’ll fatten up now that I’m home.”
Kade narrowed his eyes. The word home had rolled easily off Declan’s tongue. For Gran’s sake, he hoped Declan wouldn’t disappoint her and would stick around.
Gran stepped back and arched her neck, peering around the man at his car.
“Where is she?”
“What?” Declan asked. Kade’s large hand rested on his shoulder, bringing with it a sense of peace and safety. Two emotions he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“The woman,” Gran said.
“Huh?” Then, an even wider grin split Declan’s face. “You mean Maddy?”
“Guess I do if that’s the one you brought with you.”
Kade picked up on the peevish note in Gran’s voice.
“She’s in the back seat . . . asleep.”
“Asleep?” Gran said loudly. “Asleep? Not very anxious to meet your family, is she?”
“Now, Gran,” Kade warned softly.
“Don’t now Gran me, Kade. You’d think she would have managed to stay awake.”
“Believe me, Gran, it’s a good thing she didn’t. She’s a hell cat when she’s tired.” Declan’s smile faded as a weary note crept into his voice.
Gran’s disapproval of the absent woman was so complete she let Declan’s slight profanity slip by without a reprimand.
Kade gave Declan a conspiratorial wink.
“Feisty, is she?” Mark asked.
“Feisty isn’t the word for it. You don’t want to mess with Maddy when she’s tired. I’ve bounced her from hell, uh,” he gave Gran a sheepish look, “heck and back. If we’re lucky, she’ll sleep for another . . .”
Mark cleared his throat. He knew Ida and recognized that look in her eyes. Words were about to fly.
“Declan,” Gran said frostily, “I believe you and I need to talk. This is your home, and you have every right to bring a friend with you, but . . .”
“Gran,” Declan interrupted forging in where angels would fear to tread, “Maddy isn’t a friend.”
“No?”
“No. She’s the love of my life. I made it home because of her. I had to be strong because of her.” He met Gran’s look with a determined one of his own.
“Well, that may be, however . . .” Gran wasn’t giving an inch.
“Maddy’s welcome.” Kade said in a quiet, firm voice.
“But . . .” Gran sputtered.
“She’s welcome,” he repeated forcefully. Granite hardness had replaced his smile. He eased his hands in his pockets and quietly waited. No one challenged him.
“Uh, Ida baked you a cake.” Mark, ever the peacemaker, hopefully cut through the tense silence.
“Hope it’s raisin spice. I told Maddy all about your raisin spice cake and buttercream icing.” He chucked Gran under her chin.
“Well,” Gran said, swallowing her anger, “is Maddy a baker?”
Declan threw back his head and laughed. “Good God,” he caught Gran’s frown, “gosh, I mean. No. She’d probably lick the spoon for you though.”
Gran frowned and opened her mouth.
“Gonna be here awhile, Declan?” Kade asked quickly, steering the volatile conversation off the hell cat sleeping in the car. Gran looked like she was swallowing her tongue and getting ready to choke.
“Forever,” Declan said softly. “That is, if it’s all right with you.”
Kade studied his brother’s face. There was pain hidden in the dark flecks of his eyes. And for a moment, a burdened, weary old man peered out. Later, when they were alone, there would be questions. But until he had answers, Kade would make darn sure he’d be there to carry most of the load.
“It’s more than all right.” Kade saw Declan’s tense shoulders relax. “I can’t think of a better place for you to be.”
“Thanks.”
“Grab your bags,” Kade ordered, “and let’s go into the house to get you settled.”
“I made up your old room, Declan,” Gran said. “And,” throwing a glance at Kade, “the guest room.”
Kade rolled his eyes. He might have known Gran would have her say one way or the other.
“Guest room?” Declan asked innocently.
“Why, yes, for Maddy.” Gran gave him a knowing look and started toward the house as if the matter was closed.
“Gran,” Declan’s voice was sharp. “I thought I made it clear that Maddy sleeps with me. Now if you don’t agree to that, I’ll just get back in the car and be on my way. But get this straight—nothing or no one gets between Maddy and me.” He met Gran’s shocked look with a measured stare. “No one,” he emphasized.
“Well, I never . . .”
“No, you didn’t,” Kade stepped between the two. “No, you didn’t mean to misunderstand did you, Gran?” And before she could sputter an answer, he continued. “Like I said, Declan, Maddy’s welcome. And if you want her to share your room,” he paused, letting Gran have the full force of his clipped words, “that’s nobody’s business but yours. This is your home, so don’t ever question that. Now, let’s go inside and eat some of that,” he gulped, “raisin spice cake.”
“You go on ahead,” Declan said, thanking Kade with his eyes. “But Maddy would be scared to death if she woke up and was all alone. I’ll just wait here . . .”
He stopped, leaving the sentence hanging, and raised his head, listening. His body was tense, like a cautious animal sniffing the air poised for fight or flight.
Then a warm smile lit his face, transforming the weary, cautious man, as a thin cry rent the air.
“Maddy,” he whispered and broke into a run.