Page 73 of Reins

Did I do something wrong? He told me to be honest.

Maybe I shouldn’t share? It causes him pain sometimes when I do. I guess I should listen to my own dream and not hurt someone I care so much about.

Chapter 36 - Cade

“What the fuck do you mean he wants to talk to me? You know there’s no secrets between Wade and Dixon!” I yell at Pete, stomping past where he sits on his leather couch.

“I told him you didn’t have anything to do with the crap at the ranch, but he’s insisting.” Pete calmly watches me pacing in his living room.

I have no doubt he’s seen a hell of a lot worse through the years.

“Who runs this goat and pony show?” My arms fly over my head. “I don’t want to face him. Not if he’s here thinking I’m the one behind all this shit.” Jabbing my finger in the air towards him, my shoulders hulk over the fierceness of my gesture. “You brought me here. I’d be fine on my little spread in Texas and I’d be warm.”

But I wouldn’t have found Rosalyn.

“Just give him a chance. Wade’s grown a lot since you knew him as a deputy.” Pete’s hands lace across his stomach, his mustache twisting under his nose.

That’s when I hear the car slam outside and my gut sinks.

“Did you tell him I was here?” I drop my voice to a whisper.

There’s a heavy knock before the door swings in and the huge red-headed sheriff steps in out of the darkness.

The glower on his face hasn’t changed, but there’s some gray speckling his whiskers now.

“Cade,” he growls. “I’d have never believed you’d come back.”

“Sheriff.” I stand my ground, waiting for whatever he’s ready to throw at me. “I heard about what’s been going on.” My thumb juts towards Pete on the couch. “He called me in to help.”

Before I can dart backwards, the giant arms of this fucking bear wrap me against his cold Carhartt. “I missed you, man.”

Then he clutches me in the meanest damn hug I’ve ever had.

Helpless, I glance at Pete to catch the grin pulling up his gray whiskers.

Fucker. He knew.

My palms clap on Wade’s lower back, all I can reach with my shoulders pinned to my sides.

“Listen—” He steps back, wiping his eyes. “—I’m real sorry about your folks. They were good people.” His jaw tics and he shakes his head. “That’s when I knew for sure it wasn’t you. There’s been some scuttle,” he sighs, dropping to squat on the arm of the couch like he’s been there many times. “But I know how much you loved your parents. There’s no way you’d have done that.”

“Thanks for the faith in me, man. I wish my brothers felt the same.” My lips thin as I fight the resurrection of grief threatening to boil out of me.

“I think they do.” He glances at Pete. “He told me you wanted to wait before you talk to them?”

Now that the initial shock of Wade is passing, the adrenaline dumping out of me leaves my legs weak and my mouth parched as hell. “Want a drink?”

I don’t wait, treating Pete’s bourbon as my own and pouring three glasses without waiting. Once the burn of the liquor starts to scorch into me, I take a deep breath while I fill my drink again.

“I’m pretty damn sure it’s Eli and John Bailey. I’m heading down to Texas because I think they went there after Christmas.”

Shit. Just the name of the holiday makes a lump in my throat.

Wade nods, his hat brim bobbing over his eyes. “They’ve been on my radar since Max got arrested. Then Pete told me he had a US Marshall coming in.” His grin cracks wide. “Well fuck me sideways, is that you?”

I nod with another swallow.

“You can’t tell my brothers.” I stare hard at him until he drops his chin. “If they know, they’ll do something stupid. Well, Ford will.”