Page 24 of Cade’s Quest (The McIntyres #1)

Chapter Twenty

I n the days ahead, Cade tried to put the hanging behind him and dive into the manual labor of rebuilding his childhood home, hoping to sweat the memory out that had such a stranglehold on him.

The adverse situation persisted in making him live through that over and over each night.

He struggled in silence, unable to talk to anyone about it—not even Rain.

The only person he could talk to about these residual effects was Jess, and he was gone.

So, Cade did his best to handle it himself.

The dreams were violent, and he’d wake up in a cold sweat, clawing at his neck, seeing Jones’s sneer. Thank goodness Rain wasn’t sleeping with him yet, so he’d been able to hide it for the most part. But he often had headaches and confused thoughts.

Sometimes, he jerked awake gasping for air, still feeling the rough rope. As the days passed, he was more and more grateful to Jess for saving him. He just wished his brother would see fit to return or at least find their lost brothers and sister.

One thought persisted. Since Jess had arrived with the Texas Rangers, he couldn’t be an outlaw. But what was his brother mixed up in? That was the million dollar question.

Regret plagued him that Miz Baker had died before she found the list of where his siblings went. It was the one thing he was unable to accomplish. Still, even though the search would be more difficult now, he wasn’t giving up. Especially now that he had Summer’s help.

With Abigail’s help, he put ads in every newspaper across the country. Someone knew where Lucas, Logan, and Ashland had gone. Cade just had to find those people.

For the time being, Rain, Bear, and himself were living in the dugout until they made the house livable. This particular morning, Bear was outside playing with the feisty goat. Hearing the boy’s sweet laughter brought back happy memories.

“Hearing him play brings back so many recollections of my twin brothers and little sister. They were the best of friends, even when they were squabbling.” He brushed her soft cheek with a finger. “What I wouldn’t give to hear them again. I’ve failed in my quest.”

“You have not failed. Just be patient, dear.” Rain slipped her arms around his waist. “We’re going to find them.”

The feel of her curves against him made him wish they could move the wedding up. He fretted at the delay, yearning to fill a marriage bed.

He kissed the tip of her nose. “There has to be more I can do. I just wish Miz Baker hadn’t died. I pray every day someone answers the newspaper ads.”

“You’re working as hard as ten men. Slow down.” Rain lifted his hand to her lips. “We have a wedding to plan. I do not want to lose you before we start our new life together.”

“You’re not going to lose me.” The words came out raspy as he stared into her dark eyes.

She could see things he often missed and each night she rubbed a healing salve on the rope burn around his neck.

She possessed such a tender touch in her small hands.

He held her close, feeling the soft beat of her heart.

“I am such a lucky, lucky man to have found you.”

Rain smiled, silencing him with a finger to his mouth. “No, no, you have it wrong. It was I who found you. I distinctly remember seeing you standing in the doorway, pointing your gun at me. You looked like a fierce hunter.”

“And I recall you drawing your knife on me.”

A flurry of footsteps sounded. Bear entered, took his hand, and tugged. “Come.”

“What is it you want to show me?” Cade asked.

“Come. Now.”

“Okay.” He exchanged an amused look with Rain. “I’ll be back I guess.”

The boy, recovered from the spider bite, led him to horned toad he’d found just outside the dugout. Bear touched it and drew back shivering and shaking his head.

Cade picked the toad up. “It looks scary, but it won’t hurt you.”

Bear said something in Comanche.

Emerging from the dugout, Rain laughed. “He said it’s bad medicine and evil.”

“I guess I’m going to have to learn Comanche. Tell Bear it won’t hurt him.” Cade set the toad down and it scurried off into thick brush with the goat chasing.

A team of horses pulling a loaded wagon drew his attention. “We’re having company, only I don’t think she intends to socialize.”

A few minutes later, Summer pulled up. “I brought more lumber for the house. Are you ready to go?”

“You know what, Sis?” He pointed a finger at her. “You are a slavedriver. I wouldn’t want you any other way, though.” He glanced at Rain. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Rain slipped her small palm into his hand. “We are all going.”

He lifted Bear up onto the lumber. “You can ride here. Just hold on tight.”

“I can see.” Bear gave them a wide grin.

“You sure can,” Summer answered. “I’ll go slow so you won’t fall off.”

Cade swung into the saddle and pulled Rain up in front of him. Buck knew the way and proved it by heading the right direction to the house without any urging. He was a right smart horse.

A mild October breeze blew through the homeplace as they worked, and the sky was a brilliant blue with clouds dotting the expanse.

The day had turned a cooler, reminding Cade fall had begun.

Everyone had a job to do and performed it well.

Even Bear ran his little legs off moving the pieces of lumber they cut off and stacking them to the side.

Cade got the stove to work and made coffee. Then later, Rain cooked a bit of frybread.

Once they used all the lumber that Summer had brought, she went back for another load.

After stacking the wood on her return, they took a break and had lunch.

Rain had washed plates and cups, so they made a picnic on the front porch and ate a simple meal of her frybread, goat cheese, fried chicken Summer brought from town, and topped that off with wild grapes that grew in abundance behind the house.

The pretty plates with blue flowers his mother had loved brought memories of happier days to Cade and comforted him in a strange way. It almost seemed they were a family again.

After they finished, he retreated a little so he could view their handiwork with a critical eye. Rain joined him and he put an arm around her. “It’s coming along quickly,” he told her. “The roof will be next then we can move in.”

Rain tilted her head to look up at him. “What about Summer?”

“Summer wants to stay here with us until Dan comes. Then I expect they’ll get married and have their own place, but they’ll be close by.”

“When will Dan be here?”

“According to the last Summer heard, he’ll arrive within the next two weeks.

” He surveyed the house again. “Jameson at the mercantile, you remember him, has gathered a group of men for a roof raising day after tomorrow. That’ll be a big job but with us all working, we should complete it in one day.

” He glanced up at the sky. “That is if it doesn’t rain. ”

“Then we will be married,” Rain said happily.

“That’s right.” He faced this woman who’d made his life worth living.

She had a smear of dirt across her nose and one cheek but it made her even more beautiful, if that was possible.

He tenderly wiped away the smudge. “I still can’t believe someone as pretty as you would give my ugly mug a second glance. ”

“Stop! You’re a most handsome man and I won’t have you saying bad things about yourself.” Rain leaned back to study him. “Your eyes twinkle like stars when you laugh and you have a most kissable mouth.”

“I love you.” He lowered his head to claim her lips.

A horse and buggy driven by an elegant woman pulled to a stop in front of the house.

“Can I help you?” Cade asked.

“Is this the McIntyre place?”

“Sure is.” A long stride took him to her. “I’m Cade McIntyre. Can I help you?”

“My mother was Esther Baker and I’m her daughter, Lizzie Allister. You might not have heard that she passed on.”

Bear ran out of the house and hid behind Rain’s skirts, peeking around.

Cade nodded. “Maxwell told me. I’m very sorry, Mrs. Allister. She certainly seemed like a good woman.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Lizzie pulled a folded piece of paper from a pocket and handed it to him. “This is the paper on which she recorded where your brothers and sister went. Sheriff Maxwell said you are needing the information.”

Pure happiness mixed with a big portion of relief washed over him. His knees went weak.

“Yes, ma’am. I sure was. I had no idea where to start searching. This list was my only hope.” He steadied his trembling hand. “I can’t thank you enough.”

Rain put an arm around him. “Can I offer you a cup of tea, ma’am?”

“Oh no, I can’t spare the time. I have so much to do. But thank you.” Lizzie laughed. “If you saw my mother’s house you understand when I say it’s going to take a while to sort everything out.”

Cade chuckled. “Yes, ma’am, I sure agree, and I don’t envy you.”

“Well, I must get back. I promised my husband I’d be finished in two weeks. You folks have a nice day.” She put the buggy in motion, turned around, then headed back to town.

She’d only given herself two weeks? He laughed. She wouldn’t be done in two years, much less two weeks.

“What does it say?” Rain prodded.

“I don’t know yet. I’m still in shock because I never expected to get this.” Cade unfolded the paper that held the answer to his search.

“Ashland McIntyre went to live with the Franklins in Willow Springs, New Mexico Territory.” He glanced up.

“She crossed through that and wrote Raton at the side. If I recall, they changed Willow Springs to Raton. But Mr. Jameson told me Ashland is with the McMasters couple at Fort Gibson. Someone has it wrong.”

“I guess you’ll just have to go see. Bear and I just might have to tag along.”