Chapter 15 #3
He found himself approaching the barn’s giant sliding door without having chosen the destination consciously.
Since the wedding was Saturday, there were no guests until next Wednesday evening.
Cade wasn’t sorry, even though he’d come to enjoy the guests overall.
There were always difficult ones, impossible ones and women seeking to get him into bed, but really?
The majority of them were awesome. They respected his way of life, almost revered it, in a way he’d never have imagined.
It fulfilled him, sharing who he was and his heritage for all the right reasons.
Sending people home with a better understanding of how the past and present ran parallel here, how this hand-to-mouth life gave people food for their tables was incredibly gratifying.
Down the barn’s sawdust alleyway, he heard Tyson laugh and say, “Well, what are you wearing, gorgeous?”
Cade snorted and shook his head, continuing into the barn.
That kid got more tail than the stud he rode, and that was saying something since Gizzy’s baby batter was beginning to draw regional attention for the types of colts he consistently threw—big babies with sound temperaments and unmatchable cutting and roping instincts.
Tyson might really make a go of a breeding operation if he could get focused, really work the circuit and get his name out there.
But that was none of his business. It was simply something he focused on to keep his mind off the fact that Emma’s plane landed in—he glanced at his watch and his body tightened. Now. Emma’s on the ground now. She’d probably even made it to the rental car kiosk.
His Emma, within reach. He’d never thought to see this day again.
“You okay, Cade?”
He jerked his chin up, blue eyes locking with Tyson’s brown ones. “I’m good. Who were you talking to?”
“Roxie here.” Ty rubbed the mare’s jaw and her long-lashed eyes fluttered in bliss. “She’s pregnant enough that her regular evening blanket doesn’t fit comfortably anymore. Who’d you think I was talking to?”
“No idea. I was half scared to come into the barn on the off chance you had a woman in here.” Cade grinned. “You’re a player, dude. A huge player. Ever think you’ll settle down?”
Ty considered the question. “I’ll tell you what.
I’ll settle down when I find a blonde-haired woman who knows as much about genetics and breeding as I do, can put up or shut up in the saddle, is competitive enough to pout every time I beat her in the ring and comes with a dowry large enough to fund a breeding barn.
Oh, and Gizzy has to love her madly enough to throw me over for her.
” He grinned. “Then? You’re dang right. I’d snap that woman up in a heartbeat and beg her to take my last name. ”
Cade’s lips twitched. “I’ve mentally cataloged those qualities. You’re going to end up married if you’re not really careful.”
Brows winging up, Tyson laughed. “Says the man whose woman is driving in via rental car because Reagan was afraid you’d molest her before you were off airport property.”
Cade’s mood took a nosedive. “Shut that door before you step all the way through and find I’m just the man to show you you’re gettin’ a little too big for them britches.”
Tyson shrugged. “Beat on me if you want to. It’ll just get me more sympathy.” His face brightened. “Maybe I can get Mary Ann Calwell to play nurse!”
Cade couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m taking Ziggy out to check the fences in pasture fourteen. I’ll be in by sundown.”
“Avoiding Emma?” The quiet question, devoid of Ty’s signature smart-ass humor, caught Cade off guard. “I’m serious, Cade. Are you avoiding her?”
“No.” The immediate, honest answer seemed to surprise them both.
“I just wanted to get out to ride fence without a gaggle of goslings paddling along behind me.” He closed his eyes.
“I also need a few minutes to myself, just to get my head straight before she gets here. I have no idea what to say to her. Not right off, anyway. But there’s plenty that needs to be said.
” Cade looked up. “I just have to find my way into the conversation without spooking her.”
“Fair enough. Got a radio?”
“I’m responsible enough to know to keep one on me at all times out there.” Waving Ty off, he moved to Ziggy’s stall and was thrilled to find the gelding alert, listening for his voice. “Ready for a little light work this morning?”
The horse nickered in response, almost as if he’d understood, tossing his head until Cade had to slow the horse down before he got dangerously wound up and too hard to handle. Clipping a lead on Ziggy’s halter, he took the horse down to the hitching bar just around the corner from the tack room.
“I’ve got to get in the saddle and get a little crazy worn off. You up for it, my man?” Cade asked as he cleaned Ziggy’s hooves, brushed him down and then saddled up the horse.
As he swung up onto the horse’s back, stress from the “Emma Revelation” bled away and Cade took a series of deep, deep breaths.
He and Ziggy trotted out of the main pen, breaking into a lope as he hit the first field.
Whatever happened, it was going to be all right.
He and Emma were going to work this out. No other option was, well, an option.
Operation “Graystone Recovery” was about to get underway.