He stepped inside. “Nice to meet you, Addie.”
She wasn’t sure how Cade would respond to his brother showing up out of the blue, but she had some questions for Cordell Brody. And, depending on his answers, he may not be around when Cade returned.
Chapter 25
A thick layer of snow covered the roads by the time Cade and Jorje had finished herding Addie’s cattle back onto her land and had crawled back into Cade’s truck. Thanks to Dan and Helga lending Cade a couple of their quarter horses and a trailer to move them with, rounding up the stragglers only took a few hours rather than all day.
Thankfully, Mark hadn’t hung around for more than a quick greeting and easy directions to where the animals had wandered before he left for work. Cade had growled a quick word of thanks before turning away to unload the horses from their trailer. His curt behavior might have been rude, but he couldn’t help it. No matter how reformed the man claimed to be or how friendly and personable he seemed when sober, Cade couldn’t like him. He didn’t trust Mark’s sudden reformation and he couldn’t forgive what Mark had done to Addie. Maybe the man was regretful, maybe he would stay sober now, but Cade wasn’t ready to believe it.
Jorje had proven himself a good horseman as they rounded up the wayward cattle.
“You’re really good at this,” Cade had shouted after they’d been at it for a while.
Jorje had grinned happily. “I love horses.”
“Where’d you learn to ride?” Cade had asked when they took a short break for coffee from his thermos.
“Mi abuelo, my grandfather, was a cowboy, un vaquero. Un muy buen vaquero. He worked for un rancho grande in Mexico most of his life and taught my father when he was small, but mi padre didn’t like the life. When I was old enough to ride, I went to work with my grandfather for many years.”
“Your grandfather sounds like a good man,” Cade said as he screwed the top onto his thermos and tucked it into his saddlebag. “He certainly taught you well.”
Jorje nodded and smiled. “Si, he did. I am much like him. I love the openness and the freedom.” He waved his arm to indicate the empty rolling hills surrounding them. “I want something like this one day.”
Cade grinned. “I’m sure you’ll get it. You’re a good man, Jorje, and a hard worker.”
Jorje hadn’t responded, only glanced at Cade with an unreadable expression. Maybe he’d thought Cade was only shining him on, but he’d meant what he said.
The snow had started while they were repairing the fence and started falling in earnest before they’d gotten back to the truck. They’d loaded the horses before crawling into Cade’s truck and turning the thermostat to high. Unfortunately, being an old truck, it took a little while before warm air pushed through the vents to give them some relief. They’d both been shivering on the drive to Dan and Helga’s to drop off the horses and trailer. Only the hint of warmth had touched them when they’d needed to exit to unload the horses and disconnect the trailer.
“You don’t have to come with me, Jorje,” Cade had said before exiting. “I can unload them. You stay and warm up.”
“No, señor, it will go faster with both of us.”
He had been right, of course. They’d quickly moved the horses, unhitched the trailer, and thanked Dan for their use before getting back into the truck and heading home. The drive back had been slow due to the freezing temperatures and the six inches of accumulated snow, which made the road home like an ice rink.
Home, Cade thought as he turned onto Addie’s long drive. It was funny how in such a short time he’d grown attached to a place. No, not a place. Addie… He wanted so much more with her than he had a right to hope for, and he still had nothing to offer…nothing but himself.
“Someone’s here,” Jorje said, interrupting his thoughts. “I don’t recognize the rig. Must be from out of town.”
Cade glanced at the other truck parked beside Jorje’s in front of Addie’s garage. Mud covered the tires and had splattered the navy-blue quarter panels. It had been parked there long enough for several inches of snow to accumulate on its upper surfaces, but none of that was what made Cade’s hands tighten on the steering wheel or put the icy knot of dread in his belly.
He recognized that truck. It was nearly identical to the one he’d traded-in to get some extra cash a few months after leaving home. He hoped he was wrong—it had been years since he’d seen it—but the sinking feeling in his gut said otherwise.
“Is something wrong, Cade?” Jorje asked, his dark brows gathered over his nose and his voice filled with concern—like everyone else, Jorje had heard about the vandalism of Addie’s house. “Do you think Señorita Addie is all right?”
Damn small towns, Cade silently seethed as he pulled up behind the familiar truck to park. He knew his whole body had tensed as recognition had settled over him, but he didn’t want to alarm Jorje or start a line of questions he didn’t want to answer.
Switching off the engine, Cade glanced at his friend and tried to grin. “No, it’s fine. I’m sure it’s just a delivery or something. No need to worry.”
But he was worried. Anxiety pumped through his system, making him nauseous and slightly lightheaded. He tried to loosen his stiff posture but wasn’t too sure he’d succeeded.
Jorje’s frown deepened as he glanced from Cade to Addie’s front door and back. “Are you sure?”
He chuckled, but it sounded forced to his ears. “Yeah, I’m sure.” He held out his hand for the other man to shake. “Thanks for your help today, Jorje.”
Jorje slowly took his hand as if a little leery. “You don’t need help with anything else?”
“Nah,” Cade said
