Page 2 of Cade’s Quest (The McIntyres #1)

Chapter Two

C larendon was quiet when Cade rode down the main dirt street bathed in the colors of twilight.

He bypassed the general store and other establishments that had locked up, reining in at the Methodist church where he and his siblings had been doled out like so many pieces of licorice at the mercantile four years ago.

The cowboys on the ranches surrounding Clarendon called it Saints Roost due to the abundance of churches and no saloons.

These good Christian folk split up his family without one thought.

He guessed they hadn’t cared how it affected them then and they might not be too receptive of him now since he hadn’t cut his hair in a good bit.

Cade removed his hat, smoothed back his hair, and dusted off his clothes before opening the door. He removed his hat and stepped into the vestibule thinking he probably should’ve gone to the parsonage first.

A black-clothed older gentleman at the front called, “Can I help you?”

“Yes, sir. I hope so. I’m Cade McIntyre and I’m looking for my brothers and sisters. We were split up four years ago and all went to different places.”

“Ah, yes.” The preacher came toward him and stuck out his hand.

“I’m Reverend Timothy Hadley. That was the worst time of chaos and terror this town had ever seen.

We not only lost your parents, but four other farm couples, leaving orphans everywhere.

You might be on a fool’s errand, son. We had your five plus eighteen other children to do something with.

What will you do if you find your siblings? ”

How could he be so callous and not recognize the lifelong trauma his actions caused? Cade was in no mood to be friendly.

He ignored the outstretched hand and stared Hadley in the eye.

“We’re a family, sir, and I’m going to get us back together under one roof.

” He paused then added, “If it’s humanly possible.

” He took a deep breath, gripped his hat tighter, and stared into Hadley’s face.

“I was fifteen at the time, but I knew what you did was wrong. Jess and my oldest sister could’ve raised us and kept us together, but you wouldn’t even wait until Jess got back home from a trip.

Why wouldn’t you wait? Why rush? My sister could’ve taken care of us until Jess got here. ”

Hadley held up a palm, his eyes flashing. “Wait a minute. We did what we thought best for you kids.”

“Sir, I don’t want to get into an argument, I just need a little help. Some names.”

“Really, Esther Baker would know more than I do. She kept a list of where all the children went. You should talk to her.”

Cade clutched his hat tighter. “Where can I find her?”

The man pulled out his pocket watch and flipped it open.

“She should be at home. Probably sitting down to eat about now which is where I need to be, or the missus will have my hide. Miz Baker lives in the big, whitewashed house with green trim the next street over. You can’t miss it.

I wouldn’t disturb her this evening though.

Best to wait until morning. She gets a little cranky when bothered while she’s eating. ”

“Much obliged, sir. You and Mrs. Hadley have a good evening.”

Outside the church, Cade closed his eyes and inhaled a lung full of evening air. It had taken everything he had to be there in the place where his siblings had been split up and his hands trembled as he untied Buck.

Glad to have a name, he got into the saddle.

He’d just go by the house to acquaint himself with the location before he found a café and then a bed.

Thank goodness he had a little money. When Tom was on his deathbed, he gave directions to the hiding place where he’d buried his lifesavings.

It was only around fifty dollars but a fortune to Cade and he was grateful to have it.

The house was easy to find, and he could see a lone, white-haired woman seated at a table through the window.

He couldn’t think of anything sadder than for someone to be alone, a feeling he’d become well acquainted with after Tom died.

But he wouldn’t knock on Miz Baker’s door.

Didn’t want her cranky when asking a favor.

He went on to an eating place called the Dancing Goats Café.

The eatery was packed but customers were doubling up at the tables and Cade sat with a group of elderly men.

“Say, can one of you tell me how this place got its name?” Cade asked, settled in.

His tablemate scratched his long beard. “You must be new. The owners used to keep a bunch of goats in the back. Those were the funniest critters. Pranced and danced like fools.”

“Sounds like a sight to behold.” Cade squinted at the blackboard across the room, trying to see the specials. Looked like this was pot roast night. His meal decided, he turned his cup up for the waitress to fill it, then placed his order.

Once the woman retreated to the kitchen, Cade turned to the four men. “Do any of you recall the McIntyres who lived outside of town?”

“Sure do,” answered one wearing a faded red bandana around his neck that hadn’t been washed in a month of Sundays. “I knew Ronan McIntyre very well. A shame what happened. And they never caught the murdering bunch either.”

“I’m his son, Cade.” He leaned toward the man. “I was just a kid and sent to live with Tom Abernathy. All of us kids were split up and I’m trying to find ’em. There were six of us.”

“Son, folks hereabouts don’t talk about that. Let sleeping dogs lie.” The man’s white eyebrows curled in forty different directions. “That incident struck fear in the hearts of this town and still does. So much that they don’t turn their lamps down at night. Folks are still wound up.”

A silent one of the group said quietly, “I heard Jess turned outlaw.”

An outlaw? His brother?

“Is that fact or just rumor?” Cade’s heart twisted. That couldn’t be true. Their father taught them to respect the law.

“Cain’t recall where I heard it. Not sure about anything much ’cepting I have to get my crop of peaches in before it hails on them. These summer storms are fierce and can beat a crop plumb to death.”

A murmur of agreement went around the table.

“I seem to recall that the oldest girl went to live with a doctor and his wife over at Eagle Flat in the Red River Valley. Don’t know her name though.” This came from the fourth man, a burly fellow who was bald on top but had long sideburns and a mustache.

“Summer McIntyre?” Cade asked. “She was my oldest sister.” He tried to picture her in his mind and it took a lot of concentration but an image finally took shape.

Beautiful red hair and blue eyes and her mouth turned up at the corners.

She wore an infectious smile. “Eagle Flat?” he asked the fellow.

“Yep. Hope you find your kin. Why do you want this after so long?” Baldy asked.

“We’re still family and I feel the need to get us back together.” Cade sipped on his coffee, thinking. Eagle Flat was quite a distance, but he’d gladly make the trip if it meant there was hope of finding Summer.

“Well, good luck to you, son.” The gentleman with the long beard lifted his hands for the waitress to slide his plate in front of him.

Soon they lapsed into silence, focusing on eating.

No more was said about his family. Outside the café, Cade thanked the men, and they went their separate ways.

The stables beckoned and he rode Buck to them and went inside.

With no saloon in town, everything had closed up tighter than a widow woman’s pocketbook.

He wouldn’t have to watch his back here.

The gentlemen at the table had given him something to think about. He scanned the street and noticed lights in all the windows. What had happened that day four years ago had indeed struck terror into the hearts of all who lived here.

The guy at the stables accepted Cade’s money to board Buck and charged nothing extra for oats in the bargain.

“Is it okay if I sleep with my horse?” Cade asked.

“If he don’t mind I don’t reckon I do either.” The man cackled at his own joke and went off to bed.

The night passed without incident and Buck never complained about Cade’s snoring. He washed up and returned to the Dancing Goats for breakfast. This time, he sat alone gathering his thoughts about what he planned to say then he called on Esther Baker.

She answered his knock right off and turned out to be almost as old as Methuselah, but she was friendly and eager to help.

He stepped into the house and it instantly seemed to engulf him.

Tall stacks of books, clothing, and other things lined a narrow walkway.

He’d never seen such a sight. He followed her into a room that was just as cluttered.

“You just sit right here in the parlor with Mr. Whiskers, son. I’ll look for the paper where I listed each of your brothers and sisters along with the people who took them.

I’m not sure exactly where I put it, but I know it has to be here.

” She put on some spectacles that made her eyes look huge.

“A lot of the orphaned children had relatives who came to get them. But you didn’t have any relatives that we could find. ”

“No, ma’am. We have none.” Cade glanced around the parlor. “Can I help you look?”

“You wouldn’t have a clue what that paper looked like. Just sit.” She gave him a smile.

He eyed Mr. Whiskers and his evil stare from a perch atop a teetering stack of periodicals. “Ma’am, me and cats don’t get along much. Maybe I best wait outside.”

“Nonsense, young man. You just sit down. I won’t be long.” Esther whisked out of the room.

He could hear her talking to herself and shuffling papers as he cleared a chair and sat down. Mr. Whiskers, a strange-looking tabby with one eye, promptly jumped into his lap then proceeded to climb around his neck before curling up. The furball soon began to snore.