Page 17 of Wellspring

THE DINNER bell rang just as they were leaving the ranch house.

“It’s chow time,” Cade said, his stomach rumbling at the thought of Javier’s cooking.

“We’d better hurry so we aren’t at the end of the line.

Javier always makes plenty, but if we’re at the front of the line, we’ll be done first so we can go back for seconds. ”

Erick laughed as they joined the other hands crowding toward the collection of rough-hewn tables and benches that served as the dining hall whenever the weather allowed.

They all squeezed into the actual dining hall when it was raining or cold, but it was usually more comfortable under the shade of the live oaks than it was in the mess hall.

As soon as they’d secured their place in line, Cade began introductions.

He wouldn’t have chosen to start with Burke, but he was the one closest in line. “Erick, meet Ned Burke, our blacksmith and all-around jack of all trades. He can fix pretty much anything.”

“You trying to staff Wellspring all by yourself?” The smith thrust a grease-stained hand in Erick’s direction. “First Chel, and now this one? Not as easy on the eyes as Chel, but as long as you don’t break anything I’ll have to fix, I guess I can work with you.”

“I would ask if you could look at the shoes on my horse, when you have the time,” Erick said. Cade gave him points for not wiping his hand on his jeans after they shook. “He has ridden hard from Galveston, and I am not sure the shoes he had when I acquired him will suit for this country.”

“Sure, Hoss, give me more work to do your first day,” Burke grumbled.

“Save your sarcasm—and your attempts at humor—for someone who appreciates them.” Cade elbowed Ned in the side, but he knew Burke would check Zephyr as soon as he finished eating. “As for staffing Wellspring, I just meet interesting people.”

“I’m interesting,” Burke protested.

“Like a rattlesnake is interesting,” Cade muttered.

He smiled at Erick. Now that their news was delivered, he had two weeks of neglect to make up for, pushing from sunup to sundown, too focused on getting back to Wellspring to give Erick much attention, and while he couldn’t reach out and hold Erick’s hand the way he wanted, he could usher him through the meal and meeting the rest of the outfit in other ways.

“Moving on. Now that you’ve met the worst we have to offer, meet the best. Javier Trujillo, ranch cook.

Javier, this is Erick Heller. He’s just off the boat, so warn him before you feed him anything too spicy, okay? ”

“Of course.” Javier handed them each a plate. “The enchiladas aren’t spicy by my standards, but if they’re too much for you, let me know, Heller. I’ll keep it in mind for future dishes.”

“I have eaten enough beans and jerky to enjoy anything you put before me,” Erick said. “Ca—Webster has praised your cooking, so I look forward to learning to appreciate a new cuisine.”

“You hear that, Burke? Cuisine,” Javier called to the table Ned had taken a seat at. “I think we’ll get along just fine, Heller.”

Cade ignored the byplay between Javier and Ned, used to their banter.

No, he was focused on what Erick had said—or almost said.

Erick had started to use his given name rather than his last name.

It wasn’t much, but combined with Erick’s insistence in the barn that Cade was indeed his friend, it was enough to leave his palms sweaty and his skin tingling as he hoped against the odds.

Whether that friendship could turn into an interest to match Cade’s own remained to be seen, but Cade was more determined than ever to find out.

CADE GUIDED Erick to a seat at the table Ned Burke had claimed, so Erick assumed the taunting between the two of them was not as serious as it sounded.

The cook, Trujillo, had sniped at Burke also.

It seemed that mocking comments were a common form of interaction, one he would have to accept if he were to fit in here.

He very much wanted to shed the “just off the boat” image Cade had used to describe him.

And as much as he appreciated Cade taking the time to introduce him to the rest of Wellspring’s hands, he needed to shed his dependence on Cade for everything.

“Hoss, Wolf Boy,” Burke acknowledged them as they sat. It seemed Erick had acquired a new title, at least from Burke, but—”Wolf Boy?” He glanced between the smith and Cade.

Cade took pity on his confusion. “My Comanche name is T?taat? Isa. It means Little Wolf. Burke here decided that gave him the right to call me Wolf Boy. He gives everyone nicknames. It’s annoying as hell”—Cade aimed a glare at Burke—”but we put up with it because he’s good at what he does.”

Before Erick could reply to that, a woman’s voice interrupted. “You’re finally back, I see.”

Cade jumped to his feet and pulled the woman into a tight embrace. Erick dropped his gaze to his plate, granting them privacy in their reunion. This must be the Chel he had heard referred to so often. Burke rolled his eyes and muttered “Get a room,” loudly enough for Cade to hear him.

“Fuck off, Burke,” Cade replied, although his voice held no heat. “Come on, Chel. I have someone I want you to meet.”

So he had been right. Erick pasted a smile on his face, prepared to meet the woman who had what he dreamed of.

His stomach fell when he got a good look at her.

She was beautiful—brown hair pulled back in a loose braid that fell to the middle of her back, fair skin that didn’t seem at all affected by the sun, and perfect curves beneath the pants and vest she wore—and to judge by the way she held herself, she was not “just off the boat” despite the hint of accent in her voice. An ideal match for a cowboy like Cade.

Cade sat back down and pulled her down to sit next to him. “Chel, this is Erick Heller. I met him in Galveston. Payne just hired him to work with the mustangs. Erick, this is Michele Bessette, Chel to her friends.”

Erick rose and bowed over her hand. He ignored Burke’s snickering. Just because she was dressed like any other cowhand was no reason to forget how a woman should be treated. “Fr?ulein Bessette.” He hoped it was Fr?ulein, but if she and Cade had married, surely she would have taken his name?

“Herr Heller,” she replied easily. “ Schon, Sie zu sehen. ”

He had expected many things, but not her replying in his native tongue. “You speak German?” he asked in English, out of respect for the others around him who didn’t speak the language.

“Only a little, but enough to bid you welcome. Please, call me Michele. I know what it is to be a long way from home, surrounded by a language you have only studied but never truly spoken,” she said.

“If Cade saw fit to bring you here, I would be pleased to know you, but I have been riding all day and have not yet eaten. I will return when I have a plate.”

Erick sank back into his seat. He’d been prepared to resent “Chel” on sight, but she was as charming and gracious as she was beautiful, and if appearance was anything to judge by, she held her own working among the men.

Of course Cade would be drawn to her. Smothering the hopeless feelings that clawed at his heart, he picked at his plate of food.

He couldn’t say if it was too spicy since he didn’t taste any of it.

He looked up when Cade let out a soft whoop next to him and murmured, “About damn time.” Confused, Erick looked around, only to see Michele standing next to the cook, Trujillo…

who had his arm around her waist. He looked over at Cade sharply, but Cade’s expression showed only happiness and relief, no jealousy, no concern, no indication that he was in any way bothered by what he was seeing.

Which made absolutely no sense, unless Erick had misinterpreted everything he’d heard about the woman from the moment her name first came up. When she leaned closer into Trujillo’s side and Cade’s smile only widened, that conclusion seemed more and more like the right one.

When Cade scooted over to make room for her, Erick didn’t even complain about being jostled. “You finally listened to me,” Cade said before Michele was fully settled. “I told you Javier was a good man.”

“Time will tell,” Michele retorted, but she sounded teasing, not cynical.

“At least you’ll be sure of eating well,” Burke commented, but even his tone was less grating, and Michele didn’t dignify his comment with a response.

Conversation was abandoned in favor of their meals, and Erick had to admit to enjoying the unfamiliar food once he could taste it.

He still wasn’t sure what to make of Cade’s relationship with Michele, but for whatever reason, it did not seem to be a romantic one.

He wouldn’t allow that to give him any hope.

“Anyone else for seconds?” Burke asked as he scraped the last sauce from his plate.

“The only reason there are seconds to offer is because Kit and Olav are out on the range,” Cade said as he stood. “Erick, you still hungry?”

“Our last full meal was nearly two weeks ago in Austin,” Erick said. Michele glanced at him with an expression he couldn’t interpret, but he picked up his plate to follow Cade. “You did not underestimate Mr. Trujillo’s skill. I find his food most pleasing.”

“Man compliments me like that, he’s got to call me Javier.” Trujillo—Javier—slid another serving onto his plate.

“Then you must call me Erick.” The familiarity felt odd, but it reinforced Cade’s assurance that he wouldn’t remain Erick’s only friend for long.

Cade bumped his shoulder as they returned to the table and their food.

“Told you you’d find your place here. After dinner, I need to check on Nahnia, if you want to meet him.

I didn’t take the time earlier, what with needing to talk to Payne and Miz Roarke.

Or you can go back to the bunkhouse with the others.

You don’t have to stay with me if you’d rather settle in and get some rest.”