Page 10 of Cade’s Quest (The McIntyres #1)

Chapter Seven

G eorge wiped his gray beard and tried to reach through the bars to snatch the pie.

Summer held it away from the father and his sons. “No. You get the pie when you give us the information we want.”

Dan chuckled. “She’s a tough one.”

John pressed closer and whined, “We don’t know much. The gang don’t tell us nothing. They send us on piddly little jobs while they do the big stuff.”

“That’s right.” George eyed the pie. “Jess, he just comes and goes when he wants. We don’t like the scary way he stares at us.”

“Is he the boss?” Cade asked.

“Lord, no. The boss is Dakota and meaner than a snake, but he gives us our share of the take.” George paused. “Last month, he killed Mahoney. Shot him dead. Gave no reason ’cept to say he was breathing too loud. Dakota is crazy in the head.”

“He gives us our share sometimes, Pa. Remember that time a month ago when he didn’t give us nothing? Don’cha, Pa?” Joe tried to reach through the bars only to have John slap his arm.

“Where does Jess go when he leaves the group?” Summer asked.

“Who knows? We’ve never heard him say and no one asks.”

Summer exchanged a look with Cade. “A lady friend, maybe?”

“McIntyre, we don’t know,” John said impatiently. “He don’t talk about it.”

“Where does the gang hole up?” Cade asked. “Is it nearby?”

“Nope. It’s up in Indian Territory where the law cain’t find us.” George spat on the floor. “Enough questions. We want that pie.”

They really hadn’t gotten any real information about Jess.

“What do you think, Summer?” he asked.

She started to hand the pie over but stopped. “Does Jess have a scar?”

“Sure does,” George replied. “A long one on his cheek. Never said how he came by it an’ we don’t ask.”

Cade nodded. “Give it to them, Sis.”

She handed the pie to Dan who gave it to George. All three in the cell dove into it with their fingers.

“Ready to go?” Dan asked.

At their nods, they went back into the office.

“Thank you, Dan,” Summer said quietly. “We didn’t get much about Jess, but the scar confirms he’s our brother. I made you a pie also. Come by the house later.”

“I sure will. Thank you.” Dan hung the key ring on a hook. “I was about ready to take that pie away from George in there.”

“Bet there’s nothing left of it by now,” Cade replied. “It’s a shame they don’t know much. They’re sure a talkative bunch. No wonder the gang doesn’t tell them anything.”

“Yes, and it’s a shame we got stuck with the dumb ones.

” Dan moved to the chair behind his desk and sat down.

“I’ll wire the towns around here to see if anyone knows anything about Jess.

Don’t get your hopes up, though.” When he leaned back the chair squeaked loudly.

“I have a marshal friend up in Indian Territory. I’ll see what he knows. ”

Cade shook Dan’s hand. “Thank you. I sure wish I knew what Jess was up to. If he’s in a gang, why?”

“That’s a question no one is able to answer. Those buffoons in there can’t say.” Dan turned to the door when it opened and a little boy hurried in with a stack of papers under his arm.

“Deputy, want a paper?”

“Sure, son.” He fished a nickel from his pocket and gave it to the kid.

“Thanks, Deputy.” The kid nodded politely to Cade. “How about you?”

“Sure.” He paid the boy and took the paper. The boy promptly left out the door. “I’m needing to lay down, Summer. I’m as weak as a newborn calf.”

“I’d best get you home.” She took his arm, and they told Dan bye.

Cade was silent on the walk, pondering what they’d learned about Jess and the Dakota gang. While it was helpful to know where Jess might be, he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

They reached the gate to Summer’s home before she finally spoke. “Cade, what are you thinking?”

He held the gate for her. “I’m glad we might possibly know where Jess is, but I won’t go up there right away.

I need to get the house fixed up and make myself a home base before I can think about traipsing off on what could turn out to be a wild goose chase.

” He opened the door for her and they went inside.

“I need to try to find the twins and our baby sister first. Jess is...” Cade let out a worried sigh.

“I…well, you know how Jess is. He can take care of himself.” A wry smile formed.

“I hope anyway. But the younger kids might be having to endure horrible situations.”

Summer removed her light shawl and laid it at the end of the sofa. “I agree. Are you hungry? I think we missed lunch in all the excitement.”

“I ate a large breakfast, so my belly isn’t protesting. Just something light to tide me to supper.”

“I’ll slice some of my fresh bread plus cheese and some of the apples.”

“Sounds good.” He went to her and gave her a hug. “Please don’t make a fuss over me.”

She placed her palm against his jaw, her eyes searching his. “Little brother, I haven’t gotten to fuss over anyone in four years so let me do it now. I’m just so happy that we’re reunited. I never thought to see this.”

“I know and I feel the same way.” He cleared his throat of the sudden blockage and blinked hard. “There were many nights I stared up at the stars, hoping and praying to find you and the others. Whether you go back with me or not, we’re family. We’re McIntyres. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Yes, we are. Mama and Papa are smiling.”

“I have no doubt.” Arm in arm, they walked into the kitchen. Cade sat at the table. “Bring me some apples and I’ll pare them while you sliced the bread and cheese.”

In short order, they were munching on their light fare.

Cade eyed the two apple pies that were covered with a tea towel. “I hope one of those is for us.”

“Relax, brother. Yes, one is ours and the other is for Dan.” She chuckled. “Do you remember the time you stole one of Mama’s pies and she caught you in the barn eating it?”

“Boy, do I. Papa tanned my hide, and I never did that again.” He took a bite of apple. “You know, reminiscing about the past makes me feel alive again.”

She wore a dreamy look. “It sure does. It’s almost like they’re alive and waiting for us.”

He had to get back home soon. “Sis, I need to ride back to my campsite and see if my saddle and saddlebags are still there. If they are, I need to get them. I’ll be leaving in a few days.”

“I know and I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. I’ve decided to stay here for a while longer, then I’ll catch the stage for Clarendon. There’s talk of the train coming through but right now it’s only a rumor.”

“Sure would be nice though. It’d make the trip much faster.” He ate a piece of cheese. “Sis, I understand. You need time after I appeared from the blue.”

She laid her palm over Cade’s hand. “I’m glad you understand that I can’t just up and leave the doctor.

He and his wife have been really good to me.

They’ll need some time to get used to the idea and Doc will need to hire a nurse to replace me.

And then there’s Dan. I really care about him. You know?”

“Absolutely. When I set out, I held no expectations. I knew it was a longshot.” He squeezed her fingers and reached for a napkin. “Are you about finished?”

Summer laughed. “You haven’t changed a bit. Go ahead and cut into the pie. I’ll probably wait until later.”

“Thanks.” He did as she said and declared it to be the best pie he’d ever eaten.

Once he’d devoured the last bite, he went out to the porch and lay down. A soft breeze was blowing. Now that he knew his plans, he was itching to get back to the homeplace and make it livable again.

The following day, he washed his eyes per the doctor’s instructions then rented a horse for Summer and they rode out to his campsite.

Buck seemed happy for the exercise and Cade was thrilled to smell something other than medicine.

Each day he got stronger and his bullet wound was healing.

They pulled up at the former camp and found cans of pork and beans, whiskey bottles, and other trash scattered around.

Summer remarked, “They won’t get high marks from me on neatness. Your buddies left a big mess.”

“Hey, they aren’t my buddies. This seems typical of George and his boys.

” Cade dismounted and hurried to the boulders where he’d stashed his things.

He didn’t want to lose the saddle. Not because of the cost of replacing it, but a bigger reason.

His father had given it to him on his twelfth birthday and had McIntyre tooled in the soft leather.

He crawled over some smaller rocks and breathed a sigh of relief. There in the space between two large boulders were his saddle and saddlebags. “They’re here, Summer.”

“That’s good news.” She hurried to take the saddlebags from him. “You’re lucky, Cade.”

“I sure am.”

Before they left, they picked up the trash and dug a hole, covering it up. It was best they could do since they had no sack.

Cade wasted no time in putting the saddle on. “This’ll sure ride better.”

She glanced up from where she bent to pick up something. “I imagine. Look what I just found.”

“What is it?” He hurried over. “Is that the paper George was looking for and thought I had?”

“Looks like it.” She handed it to him.

Someone had drawn a crude map with the time ten o’clock inside a circle and a date written in the corner—August 15. That was in two days. The map had an X near what appeared to be two roads.

“Where was this?” He glanced up.

“It had blown up against a rock, lodging there. I noticed a speck of paper sticking out and if I hadn’t been curious, I wouldn’t have seen it. Dan’ll want to see this.”

“I agree. He has time to get up a posse and be there.” Neither of them mentioned Jess, but their brother was definitely on Cade’s mind. What if Dan arrested him? Or worse yet, what if Jess was shot? Killed.

To think of the brother he worshipped dead brought a deluge of pain similar to finding their parents lying dead in the dirt.

His trip home just got delayed—he’d be at the rendezvous point.