36. Chapter 36 - Cade
“What the fuck do you mean he wants to talk to me? You know there’s no secrets between Wade and Dixon!” I yell at Pete, stomping past where he sits on his leather couch.
“I told him you didn’t have anything to do with the crap at the ranch, but he’s insisting.” Pete calmly watches me pacing in his living room.
I have no doubt he’s seen a hell of a lot worse through the years.
“Who runs this goat and pony show?” My arms fly over my head.
“I don’t want to face him. Not if he’s here thinking I’m the one behind all this shit.
” Jabbing my finger in the air towards him, my shoulders hulk over the fierceness of my gesture.
“You brought me here. I’d be fine on my little spread in Texas and I’d be warm. ”
But I wouldn’t have found Rosalyn.
“Just give him a chance. Wade’s grown a lot since you knew him as a deputy.” Pete’s hands lace across his stomach, his mustache twisting under his nose.
That’s when I hear the car slam outside and my gut sinks.
“Did you tell him I was here?” I drop my voice to a whisper.
There’s a heavy knock before the door swings in and the huge red-headed sheriff steps in out of the darkness.
The glower on his face hasn’t changed, but there’s some gray speckling his whiskers now.
“Cade,” he growls. “I’d have never believed you’d come back.”
“Sheriff.” I stand my ground, waiting for whatever he’s ready to throw at me. “I heard about what’s been going on.” My thumb juts towards Pete on the couch. “He called me in to help.”
Before I can dart backwards, the giant arms of this fucking bear wrap me against his cold Carhartt. “I missed you, man.”
Then he clutches me in the meanest damn hug I’ve ever had.
Helpless, I glance at Pete to catch the grin pulling up his gray whiskers.
Fucker. He knew.
My palms clap on Wade’s lower back, all I can reach with my shoulders pinned to my sides.
“Listen—” He steps back, wiping his eyes.
“—I’m real sorry about your folks. They were good people.
” His jaw tics and he shakes his head. “That’s when I knew for sure it wasn’t you.
There’s been some scuttle,” he sighs, dropping to squat on the arm of the couch like he’s been there many times.
“But I know how much you loved your parents. There’s no way you’d have done that. ”
“Thanks for the faith in me, man. I wish my brothers felt the same.” My lips thin as I fight the resurrection of grief threatening to boil out of me.
“I think they do.” He glances at Pete. “He told me you wanted to wait before you talk to them?”
Now that the initial shock of Wade is passing, the adrenaline dumping out of me leaves my legs weak and my mouth parched as hell. “Want a drink?”
I don’t wait, treating Pete’s bourbon as my own and pouring three glasses without waiting. Once the burn of the liquor starts to scorch into me, I take a deep breath while I fill my drink again.
“I’m pretty damn sure it’s Eli and John Bailey. I’m heading down to Texas because I think they went there after Christmas.”
Shit. Just the name of the holiday makes a lump in my throat.
Wade nods, his hat brim bobbing over his eyes. “They’ve been on my radar since Max got arrested. Then Pete told me he had a US Marshall coming in.” His grin cracks wide. “Well fuck me sideways, is that you?”
I nod with another swallow.
“You can’t tell my brothers.” I stare hard at him until he drops his chin. “If they know, they’ll do something stupid. Well, Ford will.”
Wade snorts and Pete chuckles.
They know him so well.
“We need to get enough on the Baileys before they get too spooked and really disappear. If they have no problem going to Mexico, what’s stopping them from going to a country with no extradition?” I don’t know if I could live with myself if justice is never served.
“That’s a point,” Wade growls. “They’d be living it up, untouchable after all the pain they’ve caused.”
“They need to pay.” My hand clenches to bounce against my thigh.
“Yep.” Wade raises his nearly empty cup and tosses the last of it back. “You gonna stick around for the funeral?”
“When is it?” I don’t want to think about it. That makes my parents being dead final.
“Mason said probably middle of January when they get the grave markers. My wife volunteered to help babysit.” He stares down at his hand.
That’s when I notice the wedding band for the first time.
“Congrats, buddy,” I croak. I never thought I’d see the day.
“Thanks. Remember Quinn and Maria?” He raises his cheek and squints at me like he’s searching for some deeper answer.
“I do.” I have a feeling I know what’s coming next.
“Their daughter, Elena. We got hitched just before Thanksgiving.” His dark gaze lights up. “We got a kid coming this spring.”
“The same Elena that Max Simmons tried to kidnap?” I know it’s exactly who it is, but on some basic level I want him to know that I’ve filled in all the gaps.
His smile fades into a glower. “Yea. That son of a bitch. I’ve been trying to get in to interrogate him.”
“You know that won’t happen.” Pete rolls his eyes, then holds up his empty glass. “Talk about a conflict of interest. You know better,” he grumbles.
I pick up the decanter and fill all of our cups for another round.
Might as well.
“I just need five minutes.” Wade’s big ol’ paw widens and then cinches into a fist tight enough to make his knuckles turn white.
Then he shakes his fingers out and focuses on me. “I showed Elena your picture. She had no idea who you were. That was the other key for me that you’re innocent.”
“Jesus Christ, Wade.” I rub my palm down my face.
“I wasn’t the driver. Ava was. I found proof.
I thought that part of my past was over.
” My hand shakes, but no amount of alcohol will get rid of the tremor caused by knowing so much misery was based on that lie.
“But the Baileys can’t let it go. I’m positive that’s what this is all about.
They still are out for revenge even after all these years. ”
“You weren’t the driver?” His amber eyes are so wide there’s a sea of white around them. “Holy shit, Cade.”
“No. And I’m pretty sure Eli tampered with the brakes. He caused it. I was blamed for it. And Black Gulch is paying the price.” My fucking family, who hates me.
“I can see why you don’t want to wait.” He frowns and moves to the sink. “I hope you keep me in the loop and I’ll do the same.”
When Wade moves closer, his palms clap me on either shoulder. “Am I gonna see you again?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. This time I pull him in for one last hug.
As we part, I pause. “Can you do me a small favor?”
“Of course.” He towers over me, rivaling only Dixon in size.
“Make sure this makes it onto one of my parent’s headstones?” I hold out the small green piece of jade I’ve carried in my pocket for years. “I don’t need it anymore. I know the real monsters are people now.”
Wade’s copper brows knit in a confused expression, but he nods and takes the stone. “That they are, man. That they are.”