Cade Read online

  Chapter 2

  For the first time in his life, Cade Morgan had broken the law. Not that he hadn't wanted to. He'd lived for years with a burning in his gut for revenge. He'd love nothing more than to put a bullet right between Dobson's eyes, but that would be too easy. He wanted Dobson to suffer for a long, long time.

  Until a few days before, he hadn't found any way to make the man pay for what he'd done. Even now, he wasn't sure kidnapping Bella would be enough. But it was a start.

  He glanced over at Bella. She was crouched beside the stream, the feathery concoction she'd been wearing on her head now a scraggly mess beside her on the ground. Her golden curls tumbled around her shoulders, the sun glinting off individual strands.

  Hell, she'd grown into a beautiful woman. She'd always been pretty, but she'd filled out with curves in all the right places.

  She cupped her hands and leaned forward, scooping up water and bringing it to her mouth. Water dripped off her chin, but she didn't seem to notice. Instead, she dipped one hand back into the water, then lifted her hair and ran her hand along her neck. A few droplets trailed down her skin and disappeared beneath her dress.

  Heat sizzled through his veins. He recognized the sensation. Damn! There was a time and a place for everything, and this wasn't it.

  "Let's go." They only had another hour or so of daylight, and he wanted to reach the cabin before dark. The trail was treacherous enough without trying to ride through the rocks and gulleys with nothing but the moon to light their way.

  He wasn't too concerned about being followed. At least, not yet. By the time Wick and the driver got back to town, alerted the sheriff and formed a posse, it would be night. He doubted whether they'd head out before dawn, which gave him an extra few hours to figure out exactly what he was going to do with his hostage if he couldn't convince her not to marry Dobson.

  His gut tightened at the thought of her and Dobson together. He wouldn't wish marriage to that bastard on his worst enemy. And Bella had never been his enemy.

  If he hadn't happened to be in the saloon that night, he wouldn't have heard about Dobson's plans to marry Bella, that she was on the next stage from Colorado Springs ...

  If he hadn't heard Arthur Banding, the banker, telling Dobson he'd lose his ranch if he didn't pay off the mortgage by Monday… And if he hadn't heard Dobson assuring the banker he'd have the money right after the wedding …

  But he'd eavesdropped on the conversation between the two men, and almost unconsciously, a plan had begun to form. When he'd gone to his cousins and asked for their help, they'd been only too happy to oblige.

  Bella got to her feet. Picking up her skirt to avoid dragging it in the mud, she marched across the clearing to where he was leaning against the trunk of a weeping willow while he waited for her. She stopped a few feet away. "Why did you kidnap me?" she asked. "If it's money you want, my father will pay any ransom you demand."

  "I don't want your father's money."

  "Then what … why …?"

  "I have my reasons. We'll talk about it later."

  She took another step closer. The sun had tinged her cheeks pink and emphasized a few freckles across the bridge of her nose. She gazed up at him, a tiny frown creasing her forehead, her dark eyes flashing. "I want to talk about it now."

  "We're running out of daylight."

  She folded her arms across her chest. She barely reached his shoulder, yet she squared off against him as if they were eye to eye. "Who are you? Why did you call me Bella? Do I know you? No one has called me that since I was a little girl."

  He hadn't meant to call her by the nickname he'd given her when they'd been friends so long ago. Before Dobson destroyed everything he knew. Before his life changed forever. "That's your name, isn't it?"

  She nodded. "But only a few people ever called me that."

  Damn! He didn't want her to know who he was until he had time to explain why he'd abducted her. If she realized who he was, she'd be asking questions. Questions he wasn't ready to answer yet. "Get on the horse."

  She turned as if she was going to obey, then stopped. Spinning around, she narrowed her eyes, examining his face. "There's something so familiar about you," she said. "I want to see your face."

  It had been a long time since they'd seen each other. He'd changed. Surely she wouldn't recognize him even if he allowed her to see his face. Besides, he was planning to keep her for four days. He couldn't keep his face hidden until then.

  She closed the gap between them. She lifted her hand, her finger brushing against his cheek. Her touch seared his skin. Their eyes met, and he was lost. He couldn’t refuse her. He nodded.

  As if she was anxious but scared at the same time, she lowered the bandanna until it dangled around his neck. Then she took a step back, tilted her head a fraction and studied him for what seemed like hours. Suddenly, her eyes widened and her hand flew to her throat. One word escaped from her lips. "Cade."

  Cade Morgan!

  Isabella hadn't seen him for twelve years. Twelve long years of wondering what had become of him. Why he'd left without a word. She hadn't seen or heard from him since the day he and Hiram Wells had gotten into a fistfight because Hiram had tried to kiss her behind the schoolhouse. As the other students at the one-room school crowded around, Cade had grabbed Hiram and pummeled him until his nose was bloody and his eye swollen shut. He'd threatened him with more of the same unless Hiram promised never to bother her again.

  Cade had been the best friend she'd ever had until that day. He hadn't spoken to her after the fight. He'd given her a look she didn't understand, dusted himself off and stormed away.

  A few days later, she heard his mother had been killed, and she'd never seen him again.

  Until now.

  The boy she'd known was gone, and a man had taken his place. A day's growth of beard shadowed his square jaw but couldn't hide the faint crease of a dimple in his cheek. Sun-streaked hair fell over his forehead, and she had an unreasonable urge to brush it back. His golden eyes watched her as she ran her finger across his jaw, his lips tightening and his jaw clenching at her touch.

  She still affected him. She'd seen it in his eyes even before she was old enough to really understand the differences between males and females. He'd liked her back then. She'd liked him, too. A lot.

  He still cared about her. The heady feeling of power was exhilarating.

  Still, he was a stranger now. He wasn't the boy who'd teased her and laughed with her, taught her how to play marbles behind the mercantile and to shoot a slingshot when no one was looking.

  He was an outlaw now. A thief. And most likely, a murderer.

  "What happened to you?" she asked.

  "Doesn't matter."

  "It does to me. I heard your mama died and then you were gone. Where did you go?"

  He didn't answer. "We have to go."

  She hesitated. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what you're planning to do with me. If you're not going to hold me for ransom, there's only one other …" Her voice broke. He must be planning to kill her.

  How could the boy who'd been like a brother to her turn into a cold-blooded killer?

  Even though she dreaded a marriage to Edward, she didn't want to die. Her frivolous notion a few hours ago that death might be better than a lifetime with Edward had been just that – a silly thought that had popped into her mind. And flown out just as quickly.

  She glanced at her surroundings. She had no idea where they were. They'd ridden for what seemed like hours, through rivers, up rocky hills, through red rock canyons.

  "I'm not going to kill you."

  "Then what are you going to do with me."

  He let out a sigh, and his voice lowered to barely more than a whisper. "I honestly don't know."

  "But—"

  "Later. Now get on the horse."

  She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it again when she noticed the tension in the muscle in his jaw.

  She mounted, and a moment late
r, Cade slid onto the saddle behind her. She heard his breath catch as his body ground against hers for a moment before he settled into the saddle. The muscled wall of his chest pressed against her back, his heat warming her. A strange fluttering began in her fingers, flowed through her veins and settled deep in her stomach. The sensation was so intense she almost whimpered. Instead, she clamped her lips shut and wrapped her fingers tightly around the saddle horn as they rode off.

  They rode in silence. With only a slight flick of the reins, the horse carried them through trees, up and down hills, between canyon walls. Higher and higher into the hills they rode. The wind picked up and whipped her hair around her head into her eyes. The air cooled, and the sun began to sink beneath the horizon.

  Isabella shivered.

  "Cold?"

  She nodded.

  "We'll be there soon," he said from behind her, guiding the horse through a canyon lined with tall pines.

  "Where are we going?"

  "Somewhere we'll both be safe."

  She was confused. She understood he was running from the law, but what could he possibly be keeping her safe from? As far as she knew, Edward wasn't a dangerous man. Or were the rumors true? Did Cade know something about her future husband she didn't?

  They rode on, the night growing darker and colder with every passing minute. The scent of pine and the musty smell of damp earth filled her nostrils. She wrapped her arms around her waist to try to conserve as much heat as possible, but she couldn't prevent her teeth chattering from the cold.

  Cade pressed his body into her back and rested his arms on hers. Even though it was highly improper, she found herself relaxing a little, her back snuggling as close as possible into his warmth. Something firm pressed into her lower back, and for a moment, she wondered if what she'd heard about men and their bodies was true.

  She closed her eyes against the strange heat that suddenly surged through her veins.

  "We're almost there." His warm breath whispered against her ear, his soft voice interrupting her wayward thoughts. "The cabin is just over that ridge."

  She looked in the direction he indicated but saw nothing.

  Several minutes later, they emerged from the trees into a clearing. The moon peeked out from behind a cloud and for the first time, Isabella saw the cabin.

  Cade slowed the horse to a walk and reined to a stop. He dismounted, then reached up, his hands spanning her waist to lift her down. She was so tired and weak her knees buckled, and if he hadn't wrapped his arms around her, she would have fallen. Instead, he drew her against his chest. His heart beat strong against hers, and for a moment, she was awash in a sensation she'd never experienced before. Part excitement, part fear. And part something else she didn't recognize, but that took her breath away.

  "Go inside. I'll be there in a minute."

  He let her go and led the horse into the darkness behind the cabin.

  This was her chance. She could run. But where would she go? Only a few stars dotted the sky, the moon now hidden behind a cloud. With no idea where she was and no light to guide her way, she'd likely die trying to reach civilization.

  A mournful howl filled the silence, reminding her that even if she did try to escape, there was wildlife out there. And she had no way to defend herself.

  So far, her captor had kept his word. He hadn't hurt her. In fact, he'd gone out of his way to make her as comfortable as possible during their long ride.

  Isabella wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her arms to warm them.

  "Why didn't you go inside?" Cade asked as he emerged from the darkness, his arms filled with firewood. "Thinking about trying to escape?"

  Was it that obvious? Or was it only a logical conclusion?

  He took a step back. "Go ahead," he said. "Run if you want to."

  What was he up to? What kind of kidnapper just let his hostage escape?

  "You'd let me go?"

  "If I thought you'd try to run, I'd have tied you up. But I think you're too smart to go tearing off into the woods without knowing where you're going. You're smart enough to know it's not safe out there. Especially at night. And you know I wouldn't ever hurt you, so you have nothing to fear from me."

  He was right. The wilderness was dangerous, especially at night. But Cade wasn't the boy she'd known. She didn't know the man he'd become. How could he expect her to trust him the way she had when she was a child?

  A ghost of a plan took shape. She'd let him think she was a willing hostage. Come daylight, though …

  Cade climbed the steps and opened the door. Isabella followed, the porch floor sagging beneath her weight. She held her breath, pausing between each step, expecting to fall right through at any moment.

  Suddenly, lantern light flooded the darkness. She stepped inside.

  Cade closed the door behind them. "Home sweet home," he murmured as he crossed the room and put the firewood into a hob beside a stone fireplace that took up one whole wall. A cast-iron pot hung from a hook in the fireplace.

  Not the kind of home she was used to, she mused, taking in her surroundings. A wooden table with four chairs occupied one side of the room. Cast iron cooking pots were hung on the wall behind the table, and an open cupboard held cooking utensils.

  A worn rag rug covered the uneven plank floor. Her gaze settled on a rocking chair and cradle, and she couldn't help wondering about the woman who had lived in this cabin before the outlaws began using it as a hideout.

  She noticed a closed door on the back wall of the cabin.

  "A bedroom," Cade said, following her gaze. "You can sleep there."

  "Thank you."

  "Right now, sit here." Cade gestured toward the rocking chair as he bent and built a fire. "You'll be warmed up in no time."

  Isabella didn't want to sit. She wanted to know exactly why he'd kidnapped her and what he planned to do to her.

  But she was so cold!

  The flames took hold, and the warmth beckoned her. She crossed and perched on the edge of the rocking chair, letting the heat seep into her bones. She'd have plenty of time to find out what his plans were when she was warm.

  He straightened. "Hungry?"

  She hadn't even thought about food, but now that he mentioned it, she realized she was famished. She'd been late arriving at the stage depot that morning and hadn't had time to stop at the hotel for breakfast. She nodded.

  As she watched, he reached into the cupboard and took out two packages, then reached into a drawer and pulled out a knife. A minute later, he brought her a plate with two slices of bread slathered with butter and a chunk of cheese. "This'll have to do until the stew heats through."

  "It's fine. Thank you," she replied, her mouth watering. She tore off a piece of bread and took a bite. When she was finished, she got up and set the plate on the table. "You said we'd talk later. This is later."

  Cade set a pot of coffee on a grate on the fire. "I suppose it is."

  "I want an explanation."

  "It's a long story."

  She glanced around. "Obviously I'm not going anywhere."

  He raked his fingers through his hair, paced to the back wall of the cabin, then turned back to face her. "I'm only going to keep you until Sunday."

  Four days. He was going to keep her here for four days? Her throat constricted and she barely squeaked out the question forming in her mind. "And then what?"

  She expected him to tell her he was planning to kill her then. Instead, he said quietly, "I'll take you home."

  Chapter 3

  Cade dragged one of the chairs to the fireplace and straddled it, his gaze focused on Bella. Her skin glowed, and strands of her pale hair glistened in the firelight. Her forehead was creased with a frown and her fingers were clasped together so tightly her knuckles were white.

  He hated scaring her, but even though he'd told her he wasn't going to hurt her, he knew she didn't believe him. Hell, why would she? She thought he was an outlaw. She'd seen him hold men at gunpoint. But she didn't know the
reasons why.

  "Bella—"

  "Don't call me that," she spat out. "I'm not that little girl any more. I'm a grown woman."

  "That's true." His gaze slid her full length. He noticed the faint flush rising in her cheeks. "You grew up. But you'll always be Bella to me. It's a nice name. A special name."

  She looked away, but not before he saw the glistening in her eyes. "Why don't you have a husband and a pack of little ones by now?" he asked. "You must have had offers."

  She turned and met his gaze, her eyes filled with a sadness he'd never seen in her eyes before. "A few, when I was younger." She let out a short laugh. "I wanted to wait for a man I could like as well as love. A man who would be my friend as well as my husband. How foolish was that?"

  "Not foolish at all. You never found one?"

  She shook her head. "I've realized it's impossible to find both."

  Cade wouldn't know about friendship with a grown woman. He'd never had another female friend besides Bella, and they'd been children at the time. He'd never even thought about getting married and settling down. All he'd thought about for the past twelve years was revenge.

  "Since you've figured you can't have both, which is it? Do you love Dobson, or is he a friend?"

  For a few moments, the only sound in the cabin was the burning wood crackling in the fireplace. Finally, she spoke, but he had to strain to hear her. "Neither."

  Cade's insides tightened. Hell, if she didn't want to marry him, why was she going through with it?

  She straightened, lifted her chin a notch. "But it's past time I got married."

  Well, that explained it, he supposed. Still, he couldn't imagine spending his life with somebody he didn't like. That was no life at all.

  She got up and moved away toward the window. For a few moments she stood with her back to Cade, the pain and resignation on her face reflected in the glass. Suddenly, she spun around. "Why are we talking about me? It's your turn. Why did you rob the stage and kidnap me?"

  He laughed then. "I told you before. You most likely don't think so right now, but I'm doing you a favor."