Page 25 of Cade’s Quest (The McIntyres #1)
“I’d love to have your company.” He gently kissed her cheek before returning to the paper.
“Lucas McIntyre was taken by Cletus and Mary Pope. To the side Miz Baker scribbled a location that I can’t make out and it has a question mark by it as if she wasn’t sure.
Maybe Summer can decipher it.” He went on.
“Logan McIntyre found a home with the Jordans in Clarendon. Then Miz Baker wrote: ‘Moved to Lonesome Pine, Oklahoma Territory.’”
“You have to go to them,” Rain said.
He itched to saddle Buck and get going only he couldn’t just yet.
There was the wedding and the house wasn’t ready, so he had no place to put them, even if he could get them all back.
Again, like he faced with Summer, they might like it better where they’d landed.
If they balked at leaving with him, he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
The twins were fifteen now and able to be on their own.
But Ashland was still a kid at ten. He released a heavy sigh.
It would be very difficult to leave her with the Franklins or McMasters, whoever she’s with.
Still, he’d have no choice if she wanted to stay.
He wouldn’t force her. At least he could let them know there was a place waiting for them.
“I’ll go after the wedding. The house should be ready by then.”
Rain rested her hand on his. “I see your worry and doubt. It will be what our Creator has destined.”
“You’re right.” He pulled her against his side, and they walked to the house to tell Summer.
Later that evening, they had a feast that night in the kitchen where Cade’s mother had cooked so many delicious meals.
While the women made the food, Cade played outside with Bear. He’d found a ball in a corner in one room that they’d played with as kids so he was teaching the kid how to catch.
“Hold your arms out, Bear, like this.” Cade showed him and tossed the ball.
“I got!” Bear shouted. “I got.”
“Yes, you did.”
After that, there was no stopping and Bear pouted when they had to go inside to eat.
Summer filled their glasses with goat milk. “A toast,” she said, holding her glass high. “To me getting a job with Doc Blanchard. May God bless the McIntyres!” To which they all touched glasses.
Bear laughed and lifted his little arm too as if it was a game. The boy and Summer had spent some time getting acquainted and had become fast friends. He followed her, calling, “Auntie.”
Long after they went back to the dugout, Cade rose from his bedroll and stepped outside. He filled his lungs with night air and stood looking up at the stars. “I will find you,” he promised softly. “Wherever you are, I will find you and we will be a family again. I give you this solemn vow.”
Movement caught his eye and Rain appeared from the shadows to take his arm and lay her head on his shoulder. “I could not sleep either.”
“I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“We both have much to think about,” Rain murmured.
“And what, pray tell, keeps you awake?”
“The wedding. I don’t know what to wear and I do not want to embarrass you.”
“Honey, you will never do that. I’m proud to be seen with you no matter if you’re wearing a burlap sack. I have a niggling idea that Miss Abigail will be of immense help in that department.”
“I will go see her. That is an excellent suggestion.”
Cade kissed her temple. “Sweetheart, it doesn’t have to be fancy. We’re plain folk who know who we are and where we come from. One dark night, we found each other and a glorious love that will stand the test of time.”
She turned to face him. “Do you object to having a tepee stretched here?”
“A tepee?” He grinned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you already planning to split the blanket?”
“I do not understand this split the blanket.”
“It means you don’t plan to sleep at my side but in a separate place.”
“Oh, I see. No, not that. I want to keep teaching Bear about his past and the ways of our people. It’s important he doesn’t forget about Comanche ways.”
“I agree. Too much gets lost when cultures cross. Sure, stretch a tepee. I’ll help you. It’ll give the place more character. And if folks get lost, they can use that for a beacon. I daresay there won’t be any others around.” He lifted a questioning eyebrow. “Will there?”
Rain stood on tiptoe and kissed him, silencing the talk.
The handwriting was already on the wall. She had him wrapped around her finger and he knew it.
“I’ll give you the world if you only ask for it,” he murmured lazily, nibbling her lip.
“I ask nothing except you keep loving me.”
“Stopping would be impossible,” he said hoarsely.
“I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you.
” He cleared his throat. “Rain, I can’t promise what the future looks like, but we’ll face it together, holding hands, and eyes looking forward.
We can get through anything, working side by side.
And when our children are born, I want you to teach them about the Comanche.
We can’t change the past, because that has shaped who we are, but we can change what happens from this moment onward. ”
The medallion Jess had given him weighed Cade’s pocket. The motto—Through Hardship or Difficulty—was especially fitting. His ancestors, all the McIntyres down through the ages, had paved the way. He simply had to follow the path.
As his father had been fond of saying, “Making it in life is a lot like busting broncs. You’re gonna get thrown a lot but the simple secret is to keep getting back on. And with the help of a good woman to stick with you through it all you can’t fail.”
He stared into Rain’s beautiful eyes. She was definitely a good woman. “Amen,” he said softly as he touched his lips to hers.