Page 7 of Cade’s Quest (The McIntyres #1)

“It’s pretty shaded and I don’t think the ground is too awfully uneven. There’s a nice place to sit under the trees. Often when I get home from work, I sit out there and relax in the breeze.”

“Sounds great. I might check that out later.”

“The sunshine will do wonders for you.” She was at the table now and she set a plate in front of him. “Here you go. Do you want me to feed you?”

“Let me try doing it myself first.” He felt for the fork and found it. “This smells so good.”

“Eat up then and you can have more if that’s not enough. You look too thin.”

Cade laughed. “So your job is to fatten me up?”

“Sort of.”

They ate and he managed just fine feeding himself.

A while later, a knock sounded at the door. “Sis, you want me to get that?” he asked.

“Yes. It’s probably Dan. He’s the deputy here in Eagle Flat and my date for the wedding,” she answered from the bedroom.

Getting to his feet, Cade felt his way toward the knock and opened the door. “If you’re Dan, come in.”

A male voice answered. “Yes, I’m Dan Bodine. Nice to formally meet you, Cade. I saw you at the doctor’s place, but you were kind of out of it.”

“Come in. I’m sure Summer will be ready soon. Have a seat.” Cade returned to his chair and assumed Dan found his own.

“I guess you’re enjoying being with your sister.” Dan’s voice sounded next to Cade.

“I sure am. We’ve been talking a lot about old times when we were growing up.” Cade paused. “I didn’t know if I’d ever see Summer again. Only now, the doctor wrapped my head in all this gauze and I can’t see anything.”

“Gotta be rough,” Dan agreed. “I took your horse to the stables.”

“That’s a load off my mind. Thank you. I worried about that but Summer told me.”

“Do you think you could recognize the guys who beat you, Cade?”

“Without a doubt. It was an older man and two young ones. I think the older man must’ve been their father.

They thought I had some money and wanted to rob me.

I guess the joke was on them.” He thought back to that night.

“All three had shifty eyes and I got a bad feeling. I told them they had to ride on. Shortly after that, they attacked me.”

“Come by the sheriff’s office when you get your head bandage off and look through the wanted posters.”

“Thank you, Dan. I will.”

“I’m ready.” Summer entered. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“You’re breathtaking. Cade, you’re missing out. I’m such a lucky man.” Dan’s boots sounded on the floor.

Cade wished he could see her. It had been a long time.

“Thank you, Dan.” Summer put a hand on Cade. “See you in a bit, little brother.”

“Have a good time, Sis.”

Cade felt his way outside and sat in the cooling breeze for a while. The trees seemed to form a canopy over him so he didn’t feel much sun. Wagons went by and horses clopped. Voices seemed to come from all around. Towns were awfully busy, and he longed for the country. Much quieter.

His condition weighed heavily on his mind. What if the doctor was wrong and he was left like this? How would he live? And where? One thing for sure, he wouldn’t burden Summer with his care. But seeing to the needs of a blind man would be difficult for anyone.

Finally, he went inside and sat at the table drinking a cold cup of coffee. He was pondering whether to pour it out or finish it when he heard the door creak followed by whispers.

“He’s by himself. The girl left. Remember, he can’t see us. We’ll get those plans if it’s the last thing we do.” The whisper sounded like a man.

Another answered, “We have to, or we’ll be dead when we go back. This is the biggest job we’ve done in a while. I didn’t like the way Jess looked at me. He scares me.”

Jess? What would his brother have to do with these idiots? Maybe it was a different Jess.

“If we could just remember what time we were to meet up at the junction,” whispered a third.

Was it the men responsible for beating him? They sure seemed to remember Cade.

“Shhh, you morons.”

Cade pictured their locations in his head from the sound of the voices. He could feel them staring at him. His voice was cold. “You’re trespassing. What do you want?”

“You have something of ours and we want it back.” The speaker sounded older. George?

“Like what?” Cade asked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s a piece of paper,” snapped the speaker. “Don’t play dumb.”

“Shut up, John!” George snarled.

“What makes you think I have it?”

“You have to. We went back to the campsite and didn’t see it. You must’ve picked it up.”

“McIntyre, give us the paper and we’ll be on our way. If you don’t, we’re going to shoot your knees.” The voice belonged to George.

“That sounds painful,” Cade managed, swallowing hard. “Do you have to do that? You already shot me once.” Cade pushed his chair back from the table and got to his feet. Where was his gun? He tried to think. What if he just rushed them? But no, they had guns.

How long had Summer been gone? He thought it had been quite a while ago. Maybe she’d return soon. But as soon as that thought came, panic washed over him at the thought of them harming her. No one was going to fix this except himself.

And if he got hurt, it was much better than Summer running into them.

Sudden clarity filled his head. This was the only path open to him. He prayed it worked.

Despite the panic and fear, his voice never wavered. “I’ll get your paper for you, gentleman, so you can be on your way.”