Page 3 of Cade’s Quest (The McIntyres #1)

Finally, Cade could spare no more time. He extricated the cat from his neck and rose. The cat promptly let out a loud hiss and bit Cade’s leg.

“Miz Baker?” He hobbled out of the parlor holding his throbbing leg.

The old woman appeared. “Yes?”

“I really need to get on the road. Last night, some men told me where I might locate my oldest sister so I’m going to head to Eagle Flat. When you find your list, hang onto it and I’ll be back.”

“I know it’s right here somewhere. Wish I had a better memory,” Esther said. In the next instant she was waving a paper. “Here it is.”

Relief swept through him. He took the list and was quickly let down. “I’m sorry, Miss Esther. This is a list of Bible verses.”

“I wondered where I’d put those.” She took the paper from him. “I just don’t know where your list is. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you for doing your best. I’m going to run along but I’ll be back. Keep looking.” Cade limped outside as fast as he could before the old lady and her blasted cat could delay him longer. He was anxious to get to his sister.

The trip to Eagle Flat would take five days so he headed for the mercantile for supplies.

Tom Abernathy had taught him a lot about keeping certain things in his saddle bags because you never knew when you might need a cup of coffee or to cook a rabbit so he kept a small skillet and coffee pot handy.

But he needed a few essentials to get him through those five days of travel.

“Make sure you keep your money hid good,” Tom had advised. “There’s men happy to kill you for a nickel. I like to bury mine and you would do well to remember that.”

A sudden a memory of his father putting money in a jar and burying it swept into his head. Those raiders wouldn’t have bothered to look for that. As soon as he got back to the homeplace, he’d dig up the money. If Jess hadn’t beaten him to it.

Where was his brother? Had he turned into an outlaw like that man in the café said?

How could he look into that? Clarendon had a marshal.

He would know. Four years without family had instilled a deep longing inside.

He needed Jess. His brother would be a big help.

For a moment, tears smarted his eyes. He blinked hard and wrangled his thoughts back to the present.

Taking a deep breath, he strolled toward the jail.

But a sign on the door said the marshal was out. He’d have to come back so he turned toward the mercantile. The owner of the establishment had been a good friend of his father’s.

Todd Jameson looked up from behind the counter. “McIntyre? Which one are you?”

“Cade, Mr. Jameson. I’m the third oldest.” He strode to the counter and shook the man’s hand. “It’s sure nice to see a friendly face.”

“Where have you been, son? My wife and I have been so worried about you kids.” Jameson leaned on the counter looking much older.

His hair was streaked with silver and he had lines around his mouth and eyes that he hadn’t had before.

“We wanted to take you kids in or at least a few of you but my wife was ill and going through a bad time.”

“That’s okay. I’ve been living up on the Red River with a man named Tom Abernathy, sir. He passed on and I’ve come back looking for my brothers and sisters. Do you know where any went, Mr. Jameson? I’d sure be obliged if you do.”

“Your baby sister was taken by the McMasters family. A year later, they left town. Said family needed them up in Indian Territory around Fort Gibson.” Jameson rubbed the back of his neck.

“Thank you. That’s a start. I’ll search for her up there.” He wondered why neither Preacher Hadley or Esther Baker had mentioned this.

“That was sure a shock,” Jameson went on.

“They never caught the men who killed your parents. I heard Jess is riding with outlaws now. Sure made me sad to hear it. I remember how he rode in here after the ladies in church split all of you kids up. I saw him at the cemetery at your parents’ graves later as I went home. ”

“He was asking about us?” That news brought joy. Maybe Jess had tried to find them.

“Yep. He got downright irate, and the marshal had to ask him to leave. He rode out and hasn’t been back as far as I know.” Jameson laid a hand on Cade’s shoulder. “It’s sure good to see you. You favor your dad more than the others. I really miss Ronan. He made the McIntyre name what it was.”

“It means a lot to hear you say that. I miss my father more each day.”

“What do you need? I gather you didn’t come in for conversation.” Jameson reached for his pad and pencil.

“I’ll take some ground coffee, salt pork, jerky, matches, and a little flour.”

While Jameson gathered his list together, Cade reached for a box of cartridges for his rifle and added them to his growing stack.

Once his order was filled, Jameson put it all in a burlap bag. “Put your money away, McIntyre. It’s no good here.”

“Much obliged, sir. It was sure good to see you.” Cade shook Jameson’s hand and left.

On the road out of town, he stopped at the cemetery and dismounted.

He found his parents’ grave and stood with head bowed.

“I’m so sorry. I wish we’d all been killed that day.

It would’ve been far better than never knowing where everyone went.

I’m trying to get us back together though.

” He rested a hand on his mother’s tombstone.

“I love you, Mama. I miss you and Dad so much.”

After paying his respects, he glanced around at the other graves.

There were all their neighbors that bore the same date of death—the Glovers, the Trumans, the Wyatts, and the Carters.

All struck down on the same day. The magnitude hit Cade.

For so long it had seemed as if the McIntyres had been the only ones.

Finally, he climbed into the saddle. Buck seemed anxious to be in the fresh air. That night, he camped beside a stream and gazed up at the stars.

And as he slept, he dreamed of being back with his siblings and happiness bubbled from his heart.

A noise awakened him and he sat up. “Jess? Is that you, brother?”

But the only reply was the cry of a lonesome coyote.