A Kiss for Cade Page 21

  “I’m going to call him Uncle Pa,” Will announced, his tone serious.

  Missy giggled. “Me too.”

  Zoe laughed. “Get cleaned up while I press my blue dress.” She glanced at Brody. “I hope you didn’t crumple your Sunday clothes into that bag, Mr. Wiseman. I don’t have time to iron them. Your Uncle Pa is waiting for us at the jail.”

  Missy hopped up and down. “We’we going to get mawwied, we’we going to get mawwied!”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Sawyer stuffed a chunk of chew into his jaw and called to Susan and Judy, who were trying to peek in the jail window “Go on now. Git. Cade is gettin’ married, and Zoe ain’t goin’ to take kindly to you hangin’ ’round gawkin’ at him.”

  The young girls grumbled but stepped off the cement block and melted back into the crowd.

  “Make a path, everyone,” Sawyer instructed. “The bride-to-be and her brood’s comin’ through. Did you hear me, Sam? I said step aside.”

  “Close yore dadburned yap, Sawyer. I’m movin’ fast as I can. I got the gout, you know.”

  Zoe felt proud as a peacock as she and the kids marched into the jail. Lilith handed her a nosegay of black-eyed Susans she had picked from her garden.

  Pop had donned a clean shirt for his role as best man, and Zoe had never seen Gracie, her matron of honor, look prettier.

  Gracie patted her pale green dress. “I’m as nervous as a June bug in a henhouse.”

  Zoe flashed her a grin and then quickly wiped Will’s nose and straightened Brody’s shirt collar. The children were a sight to behold. Her heart beat with anticipation. They would soon belong to her. Her and Cade.

  Nearly everyone in town turned out for the event. Zoe noticed for the first time that something wasn’t quite right. She didn’t think so much about Pop’s wearing a gun and holster, but some of the women looked downright strange with a derringer tucked into the waistbands of their skirts. Zoe turned, her gaze scanning the assembled crowd. Half the onlookers were toting weapons. She frowned. Did they think Cade would back out, and they had brought the means to make him change his mind?

  “Should the kids be near me?” Cade asked.

  She felt his forehead. He was much cooler, and she noticed a couple of red dots on his cheek. “I think the crisis is over. You’re breaking out.”

  Doc stepped over to examine the red marks. “Yep. Should start feeling better now.”

  The children stood between her and Cade, joining hands. Missy wore a permanent grin on her face and couldn’t take her eyes off Uncle Pa. “Awe you glad we’we mawwying you, Uncle Pa?”

  Zoe’s heart swelled when she saw the love shining in Cade’s eyes. He tightened his hold on the little girl’s hand and winked at her.

  They were family. Even if it was for a short time, they were family. She fussed with the sky blue sash on her dress, aware of the way Cade’s eyes lingered on her. Pulling her to one side, he put his mouth close to her ear.

  “You look pretty,” he whispered, and then he lifted her locket to his lips to press a kiss against the small golden bauble.

  “So do you—not pretty,” she amended, cheeks warming. “Handsome.” She took the locket from his fingers and kissed it too.

  Cade patted Zoe’s backside as he stepped around her to take his place. She discreetly grabbed his impudent hand and bent his thumb back.

  Though she knew the terms of the marriage, she couldn’t help her building excitement. Mrs. Cade Kolby, mother to the Wiseman children. Mother. It had a nice ring to it. Ring!

  She quickly turned to Cade. “We don’t have a ring.”

  Cade looked blank for a moment, and then he turned to Pop. “No ring.”

  Pop motioned for Ben Pointer and whispered in his ear. Ben nodded and then hurried out the door. He was back shortly with a token he’d fashioned out of copper. Zoe had never felt so much pride in the townspeople as she did today. Judging by the looks on their faces, they were thrilled to be here. Little did they know that it was nothing more than a marriage of convenience.

  But why all the guns? She had never seen Ben Pointer carry a rifle, and his boys had those shotguns over their shoulders. At a wedding, no less!

  She watched Brody pull a biscuit from his shirt pocket and hand it to Cade, smiling up at his uncle. Cade grinned, waving the child’s offering aside.

  Reverend Munson arrived at the jail, and the crowd surrounded him, all smiling and nodding.

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together in this house of—” he paused, clearing his throat, “—in this place, to witness the joining of Cade Kolby and Zoe Bradshaw in holy matrimony—”

  “Git on with it, Preacher,” Roy Baker yelled, “before he changes his mind.”

  Reverend Munson cleared his throat again and then recited the vows.

  Reaching for Zoe’s hand, Cade gazed deeply into her eyes. She swallowed, her eyes locked with his. Her stomach twisted into knots as he spoke his vows with firm conviction. She was grateful for his compassion. No one would guess by the sincerity in his voice that he was marrying her for any other reason than love.

  Her vows were given with the same depth of feeling. Moments later Reverend Munson closed his Bible and pronounced, “You are man and wife.”

  Everyone expressed their good wishes. All but the measles victims showered kisses on the children and bride, who dutifully returned kiss for kiss.

  Cade lifted Zoe’s hand and raised it to his lips. “May I kiss the bride?”

  Touched by the gesture, she raised his hand to her mouth. “Only if I’m permitted to kiss the groom.”

  Smiling, he pulled her to him. “You want the measles?”

  “You kissed me earlier. I’ve already been exposed.”

  “Kiss her, Uncle Pa,” Will urged.

  Missy giggled, and Holly’s face flooded with color.

  Brody finished off his last biscuit. “I ain’t never gonna kiss a girl,” he declared.

  Cade grinned at Zoe. “You’ll change your mind one of these days, son. Girls can be real nice to kiss.”

  His tone was soft and persuasive. Zoe instantly leaned into him, welcoming his embrace. Rockets went off in her head. Stars exploded. The day she’d dreamed of most of her life had arrived.

  Their lips barely brushed together when a clamor came from outside the jail.

  “Step aside! I’m coming through!” The swish of Laticia Wiseman’s cane whipping the air caused the townspeople to quickly move back and give her the right-of-way.

  Laticia’s glare pinned Zoe to the wall. “What do you think you are doing?”

  Missy stepped forward, wrinkled her nose, and stepped back. “We got mawwied, Aunt Waticia.”

  “Married!”

  Cade pulled Zoe closer. “Laticia, Zoe and I were just married.” He smiled. “She’s family now.”

  “Why wasn’t I told of this?”

  “It was decided rather quickly…” Zoe ventured.

  “Abraham!”

  “Yes’m?”

  Laticia jabbed the air with her walking stick. “You knew about this?”

  “I jist got wind’a it,” he said, coming up behind her. “’Bout ta come tell ya, but got a spell with my belly—”

  “You and your belly. We’re finally going home where we can get something decent to eat.” She whirled and poked Cade in the stomach with the tip of her cane. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but if I hear that these children are living with anyone but you and Zoe, I’ll have your hide hung from the tallest hickory. You hear me?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Cade said. He glanced at the children and winked. “Better not get too close. Wouldn’t want you coming down with the measles.”

  “Piddleposh. Never been sick a day in my life. Don’t intend to start now.” She bent to Holly, who shrank back when her aunt came face-to-face with her. “You children ever need anything, you let your Aunt Laticia know.”

  They nodded, eyes bulging.

  “Abraham! Hitch the buggy. We’ve
worn out our welcome.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Cade spoke with Pop while Zoe and the children ran home and tidied the living quarters. The children assumed the marriage meant the same intimacies as their ma and pa’s, so Zoe knew it was useless to think Cade would sleep on the cot without a powerful lot of excuses.

  The thought of their first night together preyed on her mind. She felt like a schoolgirl on her first date.

  “Uncle Pa is comin’,” Will announced, peering out the kitchen window.

  Missy pushed open the screen door and ran out to meet him. Zoe watched her leap up and wrap her legs around his waist, smothering his face with kisses.

  “Now that’s worth coming home for,” he said. He walked in carrying the little girl. He glanced at Zoe. “Next?”

  Zoe felt hotness in her cheeks. “Have you seen yourself?”

  “No. Why? I shaved an hour ago.”

  She pushed him to the sink mirror.

  Cade sat Missy down, and then he looked into the mirror and groaned. “Do I look like this all over?”

  “Do you itch all over?”

  “Yes.”

  “I believe that answers your question.” She stifled a giggle. “I’ll get the baking soda paste.”

  “I’ll put it on fow you,” Missy said.

  Cade’s eyes met Zoe’s. “Thanks, honey, but I think maybe your new ma should do it.”

  Zoe easily conceded. “I’ll bring you the paste.”

  He wrinkled his nose at Missy. “She sure knows how to take the fun out of measles.”

  Later that night, Zoe fixed cups of hot tea. Missy was sleeping on a pallet next to Holly, and Cade was stretched out on the bed reading a journal. The sight of him, so comfortable in her surroundings, left her unsettled.

  “Feeling better?” she asked softly. She didn’t want to wake the girls.

  He took a cup from her. “Better, thanks.” After taking a sip of tea, he swung his feet to the floor and patted the mattress beside him. “Sit down. I want to talk to you.”

  She sat down and studied her cup. “We did the right thing, Cade.”

  “Did we?”

  She glanced up. “Don’t you think so?”

  “I admit I’ve fallen in love with those kids.” He glanced over at his sleeping nieces.

  Smiling, she said, “Easy to do.” Their eyes searched each other’s. “Not so easy to undo, huh?”

  “Not so easy, but you know what I have to do. I’ll stay long enough to satisfy Laticia the marriage is binding.”

  “Only if you feel it’s advisable. You’re free to go any time.”

  “If I could stay forever, I would. I don’t want to go, Red. The kids—you.”

  Her gaze darted up to meet his. “Me?”

  “It’s not going to be easy, raising four children on your own.”

  She smiled. “You’ve made me very happy. I can’t complain.”

  “Are the children enough for you?”

  She thought for a long moment. Was it enough? No, she wanted him. She never thought she would wish this on anyone, but she also wanted Hart McGill dead. “I understand our arrangement.”

  The mantel clock struck midnight. Zoe knew the awkward moment had arrived. “It’s late.”

  “Do you want me to sleep in the merchantile?”

  “No, the children would wonder why we weren’t sleeping in the same bed like their ma and pa.”

  Cade ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know, Red. I’m not sure I can sleep in the same bed with you.”

  “Of course you can. I’ll make it easy for you.” Whether the vows were spoken in earnest or in need, they were no less married. It wouldn’t be so hard to lie beside him, to know he was lying next to her, to pretend he would always be there.

  “We could—”

  “Don’t say it.” She was having the same irresponsible thoughts, but she was strong. She would not consummate a marriage that held no significance.

  She rose and disappeared behind the screen to put on her nightclothes, and then she crawled beneath the covers as though today had been like any other. Cade joined her a few minutes later and lay stiffly beside her.

  “Good night, Cade.”

  “What’s good about it?”

  She stuffed the corner of the blanket in her mouth to keep from giggling. Eventually she heard his even breathing and relaxed, relieved he wasn’t going to make an issue of the marriage bed.

  Toward morning, she felt a hand looped around her waist. “Cade!” she warned.

  “Huh?” He sat up sleepily. “What’s wrong?”

  They turned to look at each other, but their view was blocked as a yawning Missy sat up between them and innocently asked, “Is it mowning aweady?”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  A brisk wind whipped the sheets on the line Saturday morning. Cade rounded the corner of the building and came to a dead stop when he saw his wife. The sight of her trim figure, up to her elbows in fresh laundry, sent blood rushing to his head. She had four or five clothespins stuck in her mouth. Wind buffeted her slight weight as she pinned up a long row of petticoats. The starched muslin snapped briskly in the stiff breeze, tossing her red hair topsy-turvy. It was as if Cade were fourteen again, spying on her at the swimming hole.

  Creeping from behind, he reached around her and held the garments to the line so she could maneuver more easily. “Are we running a boarding house?” he asked.

  She jumped and then smiled. “No, why?”

  His gaze scanned the lengthy stretch of clothes. Overalls, long johns, women’s dresses, and children’s garments filled the billowing rows. “An orphanage laundry?”

  “No.”

  “Confederate army?”

  She pinned up another skirt. “No, silly. We just have a lot of wash.”

  He shook his head. “No one on earth is this dirty.”

  “There’s a stack of clean blankets in the kitchen. Will you take them to the jail for me?”

  “Sure. Can I have a kiss from my wife?”

  “Nope. Anything else I can do to help?”

  “Baking soda.” He scratched an angry-looking blotch. “I’m itching like blue blazes.”

  She made a sympathetic face. “It must be awful.”

  The itching couldn’t hold a candle to wanting her. Being married in name only was worse than beating himself senseless with a rock. “Where are the kids?”

  “Playing at the livery.”

  “I thought Abraham left.”

  “He did. They like Ben. He gives them apples.”

  “I give them apples.”

  “You spoil them rotten, and you have to stop. They’re beginning to expect all the licorice and gum balls you generously dole out from the candy jar.”

  “A little candy never hurt anyone.”

  “I mean it, Cade. Stop being so permissive with them. They’re crazy about you, and it’s only going to make it harder when you leave.”

  “All right.” He handed her a petticoat that looked too big for her. “I’ll make it a point to be as mean and cranky as you are—”

  She threw the wet petticoat at him. The garment hit him in the face.

  Leaning over, he calmly plucked up a pair of bloomers and flung them at her.

  A full-blown laundry war erupted, and they fought it out until the last clean sheet lay dirty and trampled underfoot.

  His stomach tightened at the sight of her hair falling loose and unfettered over her shoulders, her face flushed with exertion.

  Grinning, she scooped up the laundry basket. “I opened a new box of baking soda this morning. It’s on the kitchen cabinet.” Walking toward the washtub, she called over her shoulder, “Will you be home for supper?”

  He shouldn’t be. If he was smart, he’d be riding out about now. “What are you having?”

  “Rabbit and dumplings.”

  Rabbit and dumplings. He winked, smiling when she blushed. “Try keeping me away.”

  He opened the screen
door and stepped into the kitchen. It was quiet without the kids’ chatter. He wondered what it would be like to be ten years old and have no responsibility other than to keep out of trouble. Moving to the mirror, he made a quick paste of the baking soda and water and dabbed it on his face. A fine-looking groom he made. Measles. At his age. If McGill caught him in this predicament, he’d have a good laugh before he shot him.

  Bending closer to the mirror, he frowned. The stubble of beard felt familiar, but it itched as badly as the rest of his body. Rubbing his chin, he did an assessment.

  You like this idea of marriage, don’t you? Get over it. Don’t get comfortable with family life. It’s not for you. Not now. The feel of Zoe lying soft and warm against you, drifting off to sleep with the sweet scent of her hair filling your senses. Her soft breathing, so different from the lone coyote call. You like it. You’d give your left arm to keep it this way.

  Shoving his thoughts aside, he brushed his hair into place, and then settled his hat on his head.

  Crossing the street a few moments later, he dropped the blankets by the jail, and then he headed for the mayor’s house. Knocking on the door, he waited until Gracie answered. Her face split in a wide grin when she saw him.

  “Mercy, if you don’t look a sight.”

  “Can I come in? I’m not contagious, just ugly.”

  Gracie opened the door wider. “You looking for Lawrence? He’s over at the town hall. He and—”

  “Actually, I want to talk to you.”

  “Oh?” Gracie closed the door and shooed him into the parlor. “I’ll make a pot of coffee.”

  “That’s not necessary. I won’t take up your time. I wanted to talk to you about a personal matter,” he said as they both sat down.

  Gracie patted her hair bun, her face reddening. “Well…”

  “About Zoe.”

  “Oh?” She looked puzzled. “Personal?”

  “I know you and Zoe are close. That’s why I came to you. I’d rather no one else knew about this conversation.”

  “Certainly.” Her features sobered. “It sounds serious, Cade. What’s wrong?”