“They were just kids, Pete,” Helga said from Addie’s other side. “Can’t fault them for that. Zack seems like he turned out okay, and Cade’s been a big help to Addie.”
“Yeah, well,” Pete grumbled, his eyes on the half-full mug of coffee on the table before him. “Some don’t always turn out so good.”
Ivan patted the older man’s shoulder. “Don’t dwell on the past, old friend. There’s still time, things may change.”
Pete’s lips thinned but he nodded and Ivan turned. “Don’t mind him, Zack. He’s just a bit old-fashioned and he’s forgotten what it was like to be young.”
Pete huffed, as if Ivan’s comment annoyed him, and his voice was clear and strong when he spoke. “I haven’t forgotten anything. And there’s nothing wrong with being old-fashioned.”
“Damn right,” Zack chimed in. “My father was a hard one—as well as a little old-fashioned—but a good man. I couldn’t have asked for a better father and I think he’d like you, Mr. O’Brian.”
Addie smiled. Zack had figured the old man out quickly enough. His show of respect by not using Pete’s given name, as well as off-handedly comparing him to someone Zack obviously admired, had smoothed Pete’s ruffled feathers.
Pete turned shrewd, old eyes toward the younger man and seemed to rethink his previous assessment. Addie knew Pete appeared to be the epitome of a grumpy, old man, but he was also intelligent and fair, and had a quick-wit that not everyone got to see.
Pete looked Zack up and down before he nodded. “I might at that, young man. Your daddy seems to have done right with you, despite your shenanigans as a youngster.”
Zack’s expression turned humble and gracious. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot.”
“Well,” Pete muttered and shifted as if uncomfortable with Zack’s gratitude, “you turned out better than my boy did. A damn sight better, I’d say. At least, you and your friend seem to understand how to work and ain’t afraid of it.”
“No, sir,” Zack replied. “I ain’t afraid of hard work, and neither is Cade, or his brother.”
Pete’s chin jutted before he nodded his approval. “What kind of place you got in Montana?” Pete asked, apparently willing to forgive Zack’s past mischievousness. Zack’s broad grin lit up his handsome face as he happily explained their horse and cattle ranch setup.
“What was that about?” Addie whispered to Helga who sat on her other side.
Helga leaned toward her. “After his mother died, Pete Jr. got into a lot of trouble, and it only got worse as he got older,” she said quietly. “Not the innocent jokes like Zack’s been talking about, but other, more damaging things like drugs and breaking and entering. He’s been arrested a couple of times that I know of, cost his father a lot of money, and heartache, too.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I’m so sorry to hear that,”’ Addie said, glancing at Pete, who now seemed enthralled by Zack’s conversation. After hearing about Pete’s troubles, she was even happier that they’d worked out a deal for the farm that had benefited them both.
“Yeah,” Helga said with a sigh. “They were like oil and water. Pete Jr. was nothing like his father—always looking for the easy way to do everything, trying every get-rich-quick scheme he came across.” Helga shook her head sadly. “They finally had a falling out about three years ago.” She leaned a little closer and lowered her voice even more. “If you ask me, Pete’s heart attack was because of all the stress his son had caused him over the years.”
“Is his son still around?”
Helga nodded. “We’ve seen him around town once in a while. He hangs out with Ted Ballinger’s group, but I have no idea where he’s living.”
“That’s awful.”
“Yes, but what about you?” Helga asked. “How are you doing?”
Addie lowered her eyes. “Better now.”
“That boy taking care of you?”
Her eyes snapped to Helga’s, but all she saw was concern. “Yes, Cade’s been wonderful. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him the last few days.”
That was truer than Addie could say. She still felt insecure in her own home. Nightmares of dark shapes laughing and chasing her had awakened her several times over the last few nights. Cade had always been there though, pulling her into his arms, murmuring softly that she was safe, that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She didn’t know what she would’ve done without him.
Helga smiled and rubbed circles on Addie’s back. “I thought he’d make sure you were all right, but I’m still glad to hear it.” Her hand stilled and Addie braced herself for another question. “How about the house? How’d everything look when you got back yesterday?”
Addie smiled as warmth flooded her chest. “It was fantastic,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat as she remembered what she’d done with Cade in her newly cleaned and painted room last night. “You all did such a wonderful job. The whole inside looks brand-new. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay everyone.”
Helga grinned and gave her a one-armed hug. “Nonsense. It was our pleasure. That’s what friends are for, right?”
“Sure,” Addie replied,” and if you ever need anything…”
Helga chuckled and dropped her arm. “You’ll be the first one I call.”
The band returned to the stage and after checking their instruments, began another polka tune. Several partygoers flooded the dance floor and once again, Addie glanced at the exit, looking for Cade. She’d lost count of how many times her eyes had ventured that way. It had been almost twenty minutes and he still hadn’t returned. She hoped he was okay and that he hadn’t climbed into his truck and run as far from her as he could get. She’d been a bit of a basket case after the vandalism to her house, but he’d treated her with such kindness and had made her feel safe. She wanted more of that, more of him. Maybe too much more. Maybe
