“I’m not embarrassed.” She grabbed the notepad and wrote a brand name and quantity. “They carry these at thestore where we always shop.”
He glanced at the paper and nodded. “I knowwhat to get, now you go lay down on the couch until I get back. Idon’t want you fainting and breaking your neck or something.”
“I’m all right. I can go...”
“You can go lay down, like I said.” Hefollowed her to the family room and made sure she was safely lyingdown before he left. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
It was ridiculous - sending him into townafter such personal items when she was perfectly capable of goingby herself. Of course, if he was already going to the store to getsomething... A mental picture of Cade shopping for such itemsbrought a smile to her lips. Cade probably wouldn’t be the leastbit intimidated by the task, though.
Giving him a few minutes to traverse thedrive, she got up and went into the kitchen. After she cleaned thetable and finished the dishes, she went to her room to get someaspirin. By the time she reached the top of the stairs, tiny flecksof light were dancing across her vision. In her bathroom, she wipedher face with a cold rag and took a couple of aspirin. Pulling backthe covers on her bed, she slipped between the cool sheets and letexhaustion take its course.
Cool fingers brushed her cheek lightly andshe woke to find Cade leaning over her. The lamp beside her bed wason and he had a sack in one hand.
“Are you feeling any better?”
She rolled on her back and smiled up athim.
“Much.”
“Good.” He set the sack on the night table.“I’ll leave this here for you. “Would you like some ice cream?”
She sat up and grabbed her throbbing head.“I’ll come down in a few minutes.”
He felt her forehead and rubbed her back.“Headache?” At her nod he stroked her hair. “The ice cream willhelp.”
After he left the room she opened the sack toget her things and smiled. Inside was everything she had ordered -as well as a box of chocolates. Cade knew how to be a friend, evenif he didn’t know what to say. She put the things in her bathroomand was returning to the bedroom when Cade knocked on her opendoor.
“Room service.” In his hand he held a bowl ofice cream, and his eyes held a welcome spark of humor.
“Oh, Cade,” she laughed. “That’s sosweet.”
He grimaced. “Don’t get mushy on me.”
He sat on the end of the bed and watchedreflectively as she ate the ice cream.
“You know,” he finally said. “I think I’llsleep in tomorrow, so don’t bother to get up early. I could use aday cleaning up the barn.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was out thereyesterday when I came back from riding and noticed that the barnwas almost as clean as this house. I know what you’re up to andthanks for the concern, but I’m fine now.” She jabbed the spoon inthe ice cream and sighed. “I feel like such a baby.”
He frowned. “Why? You’ve been working for mefor almost three months now and this is the first time I’ve everseen you sick.”
She made a face. “That and the time when Iwas trying to get the salt shaker from behind the stove.”
He shrugged. “That was nothing. It happens toall of us now and then.”
She stirred the ice cream until it was soft.“This is good.” She threw him a sideways look. “And thanks for thechocolates, too.”
He nodded absently and fell silent while shefinished the ice cream. He reached for the bowl. “I’ll take thatback down on my way.” He tucked her under the covers as if she werea child. “Now get some rest.” He leaned over and kissed her cheeklightly and straightened. For a moment he gazed down at her asthough something were troubling him, but he finally turned. “Goodnight,” he said as he snapped off the light. He left the room,pulling the door snugly closed behind him.
Such a strange man. Was he beginning to viewher as a ward? Lately his actions were more fatherly than anythingelse. Maybe he was one of those men who felt they needed to protectand care for all women. Chauvinistic, no doubt, but it was kind ofnice to be looked after.
She snuggled down into the covers and yawned.She was warm and Cade was in the house. She felt safe andsecure.
The next day Cade worked close to the house -trying to keep an eye on her, no doubt. He was wasting a daybecause of her. She felt fine. When he came into the house for hisfourth cup of coffee before noon she decided to salvage somethingfrom the day.
“It’s such a beautiful day. Why don’t I packa lunch so we can go down to the pond for a picnic?”
He shrugged. “If you’re feeling up toit.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. How manytimes do I have to tell you?”
He set the coffee mug on the counter. “Allright, you pack a lunch and bring a blanket and I’ll go get theweed whip and knock down some of the tall grass.”
By the time she brought lunch and a blanketdown, he had a large area cleared under the cottonwood tree. Hetook the blanket from her and spread it on the ground. There theyknelt and ate their lunch in silence.
A meadowlark pierced the silence with itssharp whistling song. She glanced at Cade.
“You know what would be nice?”
His eyes reflected interest, so shecontinued.
“Geese.”
He snorted. “Geese?”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Yeah, youknow. Honk, honk? Can’t you just picture them swimming around onthat pond, ducking their heads gracefully to feed.”
He shook his head. “How about a few chickensinstead?”
“On the pond?”
“What’s so great about this pond?” He slappedhis arm. “All it does is breed mosquitoes and attract snakes.”
She glanced around nervously. “Snakes?”
He picked up a piece of straw and leaned hisback against the tree, picking his teeth. “There are probably ahalf dozen of
