“I know,” she said, patting his thigh. “I’m just really tired. All I want is to curl up with you and sleep for a week.”
He chuckled. “All right. I’ll get us a room and then we’ll see about getting some rest.” His eyebrows lifted. “Sound okay to you?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Be right back,” Cade said as he hopped out of the truck to secure their room for the evening. She watched him walk away, relieved to know he’d be coming back, that she’d have him a little longer.
But for how much longer?
Chapter 18
The walls of the huge, colorful tent undulated with the cold breeze outside, making the infused-ink-printed Bavarian village shimmy unnaturally. The polka band played loudly, but at times, the surrounding chatter and laughter nearly drowned out the music. The long rows of tables lined up end to end were jammed full of merrymakers enjoying everything the festival had to offer.
The two huge tents had been set up in a large meadow on the outskirts of town to celebrate Oktoberfest, and large heaters in the corners kept them warm. Blue and white streamers lined the roof and—along with the faux village on the tent walls—gave the whole place an outdoorsy look. Servers in traditional Bavarian dirndls and lederhosen bustled between the guests, and the beer was plentiful.
Cade and Addie had arrived earlier in the evening to meet up with Veta, her husband Ivan, Lana, and their friends. Dan and Helga had run hayrides pulled by two teams of their draft horses during the day, but now the couple sat at the table with the rest of them, enjoying the festivities.
Picking up his nearly full bier-stein, Cade took a long draught. They’d finished their dinner of grilled chicken, pork ribs, bratwurst, coleslaw, and beans hours ago, but had stayed to drink and relish a well-deserved night off.
They sat at the far end of the tents where a large dance floor bustled with numerous couples—including Addie and Ivan—dancing to the accordion-infused melody of the Beer Barrel Polka. Though it appeared neither of them was adept at the polka, they were giving it their best.
Cade grinned. He couldn’t say that he liked seeing Addie in the arms of another man—even if Ivan was several years older and married to Addie’s friend—but she looked so happy and cheerful as they stumbled through the steps that he couldn’t help but smile.
It was a relief to see her so carefree after the last few days of misery. He hadn’t wanted her to see the mess the vandals had made of her home, and thanks to her friends—both old and new—she hadn’t seen the worst of it.
The first night, he and Addie had stayed in the local motel. She’d tried so hard to be strong and, after that first burst of shocked and angry tears, had refused to cry in front of him. Five minutes after their arrival, she’d gone into the bathroom to take a shower, but he’d heard her crying through the door. Luckily, she hadn’t locked him out.
When he slowly pulled back the shower curtain, she’d been sitting under the warm spray with her arms wrapped around her bent legs and her head on her knees. Soft sobs echoed in the small space as he’d quickly shucked his clothes and stepped inside.
He wrapped himself around her small, shivering form, giving her his strength and vowing his protection. “We can fix what’s broken, but no matter what, no one will hurt you, Addie. I promise you that.”
She’d only nodded and clung to him.
When the water grew cold, he’d shut it off, picked her up, and set her on her feet on the thin bath mat. Still shivering—from cold, shock, or fear of the future, he didn’t know—Cade dried them both off and led her to the bed. Without a sound, she’d crawled under the covers and curled into herself. His chest constricted at how tiny, fragile, and alone she looked in the queen-sized bed. An urgent need to ensure her security and happiness welled up inside him, so deep and wide he thought it would break him. Instead, he took a deep breath and silently promised her that he’d make everything right. How he intended to do that exactly, he hadn’t known at the time, but it didn’t matter.
She’s not alone anymore, he’d thought as he crawled in behind her. He pulled her into his body, whispered soothing words he couldn’t recall now, but he’d meant every one.
With a sob, she’d turned in his arms and cried against his chest as he held her tighter, murmuring to her, stroking her hair, her back. “Don’t worry, Addie,” he’d said. “Everything will be all right.”
She’d only nodded and eventually quieted right before she fell asleep in his arms.
They’d stopped at Sisters Café the next morning for breakfast. As soon as Veta saw Addie’s pale, tired face, she’d known something was wrong.
Leaving the kitchen, Veta pulled him and Addie into her office. “What happened?”
Addie shook her head. “It’s okay, Veta. Really, it’s—” She’d choked on a quiet sob and turned to bury her face in Cade’s chest. Veta’s worried gaze lifted to his and he’d quickly explained.
Upon hearing the news, an angry yet determined expression filled Veta’s round face. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.” She rubbed Addie’s back, but Addie only nodded against his chest. “You take care of her, Cade. We’ll take care of everything else.”
Thirty minutes later, they were ushered into Veta’s home with breakfast from the café, shown where to find the guest room, and told to make themselves at home.
“I’ll pick up some clothes for both of you and call when everything is settled at the house,” Veta said to Cade after asking for Addie’s house key and Cade’s phone number. He’d gotten a new cell phone a few weeks back, thinking it prudent after the incident with Mark Harden. He’d wanted to be available if Addie
