Chapter Six – Lilibeth
Lilibeth
I watched as Caden practically ran from the kitchen. Glancing around, I let out a slow breath. Standing, I quickly cleaned up the kitchen and put the dishes in the dishwasher, regardless of what he said, then made my way back to what I guessed was the guest bedroom on the second floor.
Grabbing my phone, I pulled up Ensley’s number and hit it.
“Hey,” she groaned. “I hope you’re feeling better than me.”
“Have you started work yet?”
“No, why?”
“I need a big favor. Can you swing by and pick me up at Caden’s house?”
The silence spoke volumes.
“Nothing happened. He brought me here, and I crashed in his guest bedroom. I was fully clothed when I woke up, and he was kind enough to put water and aspirin next to the bed. He’s offered to drive me home, but—”
I heard my voice crack.
“What happened?”
“I crossed a line I’m sure, and he basically said he wanted me out of his house.”
She mumbled what sounded like a curse under her breath. “I’ll be right there.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Ensley. I don’t mean to pit you against your brother.”
“Trust me, you’re not doing any such thing. If you asked him a personal question, then he’ll be a grump all the way to your house. He won’t speak. He’ll most likely turn on the radio and pretend you’re not even there.”
I closed my eyes. “I stupidly asked who hurt him and made him think he can’t be happy. I don’t know why I did, it’s just…he refuses to even try to be nice. I even made him breakfast! Granted, I did make myself at home in his house.”
She laughed. “I’m in my truck, which I have no idea how it got here, and I’m on my way. I didn’t think we drank that much last night.”
“According to my pounding head, we did. How long does it take for you to get from your place to Caden’s?”
“Not much snow fell last night, so maybe fifteen minutes.”
“My God, how big is this ranch?”
“It’s big. Do I need to come to the door?”
“No! I’m going to just sneak out, and I’ll start walking down the road.”
“It’s freezing outside, Lilibeth. Just wait in the house. Caden’s bark is worse than his bite.”
“I may have snagged some of his clothes from his laundry room as well. So I’ll be fine.”
Ensley let out a roar of laughter. “Oh my God, I wish I could have seen his face when he saw you dressed in his clothes.”
I grimaced. “I don’t think he was happy. I’ll see you in a few.”
After quickly gathering up my clothes from last night, I slipped into my boots—which were not made for walking in the snow—and very quietly left out of Caden’s front door.
Thank goodness he didn’t have an alarm set.
I started down the road, which had only a light covering of snow, and prayed his office didn’t face the front of the house.
It wasn’t but ten minutes later when I saw Ensley’s truck. I quickly got in and put my hands to the warm air coming out of her vents.
“He doesn’t know I left,” I said, as I peeked over at her.
“He might be upset that you left without saying anything.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “I seriously doubt that. You didn’t see the anger on his face when he told me the faster I got out of his house, the better. I don’t know why he hates me so much.”
She started to say something, then closed her mouth. “Last night is slowly coming back to me. Caden brought us home, and I think the guys we met last night followed him in my truck, and that’s how it ended up back at my place. Did Caden mention why he didn’t bring you home last night?”
I shook my head. “He didn’t. Thank you for doing this. I hate putting you in this position, and I hope I’m not making you fall behind on work today. I know you said you had some horses on the ranch to work on.”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
“Have you heard from Emeline?”
She smiled. “I did. They’re coming home tomorrow. My parents are already planning a reception for them.”
“That’s sweet of them.”
“Have you heard from Moreen?”
“Yes, she texted me not that long ago to tell me if I wasn’t feeling well, I didn’t have to come in today. I asked how she felt, and she said fine.”
Ensley laughed. “I do believe Moreen can hold her alcohol, at least that’s what Emeline’s always told me.”
“Next time I want to drink, remind me about this morning and how terrible I feel.”
“Oh, I will. Are you going to go in today?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have anyone scheduled for anything, and I usually go to Mrs. Harper’s on Sunday.”
“Mrs. Harper? How do you know her?”
I smiled. “I met her at the store. Her daughter was in town visiting and brought her in. They made perfume together, and I just fell in love with her. I try to visit her once a week. It’s a lot of fun.
She reminds me so much of my own grandmother, on my mother’s side. I never met my father’s mother.”
“Yeah, she’s a sweet lady.”
“She wants to teach me how to knit.” Looking over at Ensley, I added, “She told me she used to teach.”
Ensley smiled. “She was an English teacher for the tenth grade. Everyone loved her as a teacher. I think Emeline was the last year she taught, then she retired.”
“She’s a hoot. Makes me laugh.”
“I should swing by her place sometime and visit her.”
“Oh, you really should, Ensley. She’s so lovely, and I know she gets lonely.
Like I said, I try to go over at least once a week.
I missed the other day, so I thought I’d pop by today, since I blocked out my schedule at the store.
I know it’s the holiday weekend, and we were so busy Friday and Saturday, but I’m hoping today will be slow.
Plus, I hired a couple of high school seniors, and they begged me to let them work with Moreen today. ”
Ensley smiled at me. “Then you should totally go over there today.”
I nodded and said, “I think I will.”
After going home and taking a long, hot shower, I got myself together and prayed my headache was gone for good.
It was lightly snowing, but I decided to walk to Mrs. Harper’s house, since she was only two blocks away.
I could use the fresh, crisp air to clear the last of the hangover cobwebs…
and it would give me time to think about what happened at Caden’s this morning.
I wasn’t sure why I’d asked him that stupid question, when I already knew the answer from Emeline.
His long-time girlfriend had hurt him. Badly.
He’d asked her to marry him, and she’d said no, then left River Falls.
That was all I knew, but even knowing so little, I knew it must’ve hurt him something fierce to have someone he’d dated for so long turn him down.
I stopped in front of Mrs. Harper’s and smiled up at the old house.
According to the lady herself, it was one of the first homes in River Falls, built by the first doctor, who also saw patients there.
It was a two-story yellow Victorian. The porch wrapped around the right side of the home and the dramatic two-story turret windows.
I walked up to the double doors and rang the doorbell. Glancing down, I saw a few boxes marked “Front Porch/Christmas.”
“Please tell me she’s not going to decorate in this weather?” I whispered.
The door opened, and Mrs. Harper let out a small gasp. “Oh dear! What did I ever do to deserve this surprise visit?”
She moved back so that I could come in. I stepped into the house, gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, then took off my scarf and gloves.
“I missed our visit this week and thought I’d make up for it today. Is now a good time?”
Grinning like the Cheshire cat, she replied, “This is the perfect time. I have another visitor. Let me introduce you to him.”
“Him?” I said, waggling my brows.
She playfully hit my arm. “I’m too old for this handsome cowboy.”
“Oh, my favorite kind of him.”
We both laughed.
“You know where to put your things,” she said, as she walked off toward the kitchen.
When you first entered the home, you were met with a grand staircase that wound up to the second floor.
On the right was the living room, with antique furniture, a large fireplace, and the same piano that Mrs. Harper said she’d learned to play on when she was younger.
Beyond that was the formal dining room, which held the biggest table I’d ever seen.
A matching sideboard stood on one side, and pictures of her family covered the opposite wall.
To the left of the staircase was a coat room, a half bath, a family room, and a wide entry hall with a small table and two chairs along the backside of the curved stairs.
Through that hallway you reached the kitchen, which was big for such an old house.
There was a breakfast nook that held a table and four chairs.
The family and dining rooms both opened to the kitchen, thanks to a remodel ten years ago, she’d told me about.
That was also when Mrs. Harper added a large laundry room, at her husband’s suggestion. He’d passed away a few years ago.
The smell of something amazing hit me the moment I walked into the kitchen. “What are you making?” I asked, as I walked over to the oven and peeked in.
“Molasses cookies.”
“Yum, I’ve never had those before.”
She smiled. “They’re Caden’s favorite cookies, and we always make them when he comes over to decorate for Christmas.”
My smile faded. “Caden? Caden Wilde? Is he here?”
Before she could answer, another voice did. “He is.”
I spun around to find Caden leaning against the doorjamb of the kitchen.
I swore that was his favorite standing position.
Casually leaning against something like he had no worries in the world.
I wasn’t sure why, but it was hot as hell.
And I hated him in that moment for reminding me that he was so good-looking.
“What are you doing here?” It came out ruder than I’d intended.
Raising his brows, he countered, “What are you doing here?”
“Do you two know each other?” Mrs. Harper asked.
Smiling, I replied, “Yes.”
“Unfortunately,” he said with a frown.
“Caden Wilde, you apologize right this instant!”