"Is he going to be alright?" Sam asked, his concern genuine. "I mean, really alright?"
Cade thought about that question before answering. "I wish I could say yes, given time. But I can't. I don't know if he will ever be alright again. And I'm sure without the right medicine he won't. But you didn't have anything to do with that, Sam. That began before you came here. I guess if anyone is to blame, it might be me. I should have seen and paid attention to all the changes in him. I think I did, but I ignored them. You never want to face the fact that something is wrong with someone you love. And I do love him. I always will.
"The man he is right now is not my brother. He's a stranger. The chances of him having a normal life now…well, they aren't looking good at the moment. But finding the right medicine and keeping him on it, could make a difference in how he lives out the rest of his life. And I am ever grateful to George for caring enough about him to do what he is doing. Problem is…Wade is a cowboy. You don't take the cowboy out of a man. It's inborn. It doesn't go away, and he will never be a working cowboy again. The problem I see is convincing him he can still be a person with a job and a future. It will take a lot of rehabilitation to straighten that out. If it can be straightened out.
"So don't blame yourself for Wade. No one is to blame. It happened and it's best put behind us and going on with our own futures. The fact that George McKay thought enough of him to take care of his well-fare, that is something I can't begin to repay. I sure never expected that.
"I got a baby comin' soon and that gives me a lot to look forward to. I got a job to do here, that makes me proud and doing something worthwhile in life can make the difference."
Sam listened intently. "You sure have your head screwed on well…"
Cade smiled. "Sam, your troubles are behind you now. You have a chance, thanks to Mr. McKay; don't mess that up. You have a girl that's crazy about you too…"
"Yeah, but…Cade I have nothing to offer her."
Cade walked straight up to him and shook his head and put a finger in his face. "Don't let me ever hear you say that again. You’re a man, a decent, God-fearing young man who tries to do the right thing, even if it gets him in trouble. Everyone on this ranch knows and likes you Sam for who and what you are. And Mr. McKay has a deep respect for that too. Don't forget it. Be a man. Don't look back. Looking back makes you stumble and fall. Looking ahead, that's what counts. You marry that girl, have some babies and make a good life. You're a good man, and she deserves that after all she's been through. In fact, she needs you more today than she's ever needed you. If you love her, be good to her, that's all any man can do. But don't make the mistake of walking away. You'll regret it the rest of your life."
And with that, Cade walked off.
Sam stood there, staring after him, his mouth hanging open, his mind trying to absorb all Cade had said.
After a minute or two, he shook his head. "Damn…there's a lot of good people on this ranch…"
"What are you mumbling about?" George walked past him.
"Nothing…I got to get to work." Sam smiled to himself.
"That's right…don't want no loafers on this place," the old man said.
The girls all gathered in the living room once all the men left, mulling over their father's words and revelations.
"Dad sure leaves an impression, whether he is dead or alive." Julie laughed.
Letty couldn't stop her chuckle. "God, I love that old man…"
Sandy sat down on the couch, sipping a hot mug of coffee. "I think I'm gonna miss Caleb."
"Me too," Wendy chimed.
"You know…" Julie shook her head with a smile. "All the men look up to Dad, and that hasn't changed. All of them. How could we get so lucky to have such good help?"
They all nodded.
"We got a lot to be proud of girls." Letty laughed.
Julie made a face suddenly and everyone's attention flew to her.
"Feeling rough today?" Letty asked.
"This baby is a kicker. He's already got a personality of his own." Julie laughed and changed positions.
Wendy brought her a pillow. "He's a McKay…and a Weston."
"So what about you and Sam?" Sandy asked out of the blue.
"I don't know…this whole mess has had him thinking too much. But I plan on making him a good dinner tonight and maybe having a long talk with him about things. He blames himself for Wade, and somehow I've got to stop that kind of thinking. We were all so blind that anything was wrong."
Julie nodded. "It's sad to see a man with so much power and drive come down like that."
"Some men can't handle power," Letty said.
"I hope Cade can…" Julie cried out.
"Cade's got a lot to look forward to in life. He's got a beautiful family and a great job. He'll be alright. We will all help especially when there is pressure…" Sandy promised.
Mike came in and saw them all gathered around the living room. "I hate to break this up, but I've got an assignment and I'd like you to come with me…" Mike stared at his wife with a warm smile.
"Duty calls, ladies." Sandy smirked and reached for Mike's hand.
The girls all smiled and watched them leave.
"They are so good together. Dad was right, we all chose well."
"Even me?" Wendy asked with a tear in her eye.
"Even you." Julie and Letty laughed.
~*~
That evening, Sam came over for supper. Her father was right behind him.
Wendy had hoped they would have some alone time, but she also wanted to be near her father too.
"Come on in guys, it's almost ready. Spaghetti and salad, hope you are both in the mood." She smiled as she finished setting the table.
"Sounds good to me." Her father smiled, going to the sink and washing his hands.
Sam followed. They both had hung their hats up on the peg by the door and looked eager to dive into the food as Wendy filled their plates.
Sam glanced at the old man. "So what do I call you now?"
"Whatever you want," George replied with a smile.
"I've gotten so used to you as Caleb…"
"Then call me Caleb. In fact, I've been thinking. I want Cade to run this place, but I'd like to keep my position as horse groomer. It's like retiring to what I love best. And I'd just as soon any new hands think I am just that, a hand, not the owner. I learn so much more that way about the man or woman."
Wendy sat down and joined them. "Don't you think that is a little deceptive?"
"Maybe it is, but it will help keep any riff-raff off this place. Getting to know the men, one on one is an eye-opener. So if it is all the same to you, I'll continue being Caleb. In the long run, it will help Cade keep the upper hand on it all."
Sam nodded. "I can see where it would be advantageous for you and for Cade. You could keep a better eye on things that way and let Cade know of any trouble before it started. I agree, that's wise."
"And what about us girls, what do we call you?" Wendy frowned at him.
"In public, Caleb. In this house, Dad." He smiled.
"It seems so underhanded," she admonished.
"Running this ranch is no easy feat. Keeping the scum away from it gets harder all the time. My men are good ones. I want to keep it that way. I love my work. I don't want the full duties of being an owner. I trust all my sons-in-law too to help me keep it running. I get the best of both worlds by doing this, and I hope to keep you safe for the rest of your life…."
Sam nodded again. "He's right."
But Wendy wasn't so sure. She hated him hiding behind a façade.
When he retired for the evening to the bunkhouse, Wendy wanted to protest, but he held a hand up. "Mind your father. Trust me, girl. I know what I'm doing, and I really enjoyed being Caleb. Let me do this…without worrying about you all the time…"
"Okay…I love you, do you know that?" she asked, eyeing him.
He came up to her, put his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "I love you too, girl.
Now let me get to bed, I got things to do tomorrow."
She giggled and let him go.
Sam gathered the dishes up and put them by the sink.
"I'll help you," he suggested.
"Just going to rinse most of it off and put it in the dishwasher." She smiled.
In minutes, the two of them had finished cleaning the kitchen up and he started to dismiss himself to the bunkhouse.
"Sam…I spent a lot of years ogling a man that didn't even see me. I don't want to continue in that same path. I need to know where I stand with you. I need to know how you feel about me…."
He took her hands in his, and rubbed their softness.
"I need to sort that out a little, Wendy. You know I love you. I think I have since the day you answered the kitchen door. But…there are some things I gotta work out in my head."
"Are you still leaving?" she asked breathlessly.
"No, I can't now. I'm on probation, and I'm to work it off here at the ranch, for your father. The judge ordered that."
"Is that the only reason you aren't leaving?"
"No…" He came closer, bowed his head against hers and whispered, "But Wendy, a man in my position doesn't propose to a woman like you unless he has something to offer her. I'm on probation, how can I possibly make any vows to you about the future? What can I offer you?"
"Your love…" she whispered.
"You have that, no matter what…" he said and his lips found hers as he gathered her to him and she began to feel the full impact of that love with a kiss that left her breathless and wanting more.
"So what do you want me to be…just your girl for the rest of my life?" she asked as anger seeped into the conversation.
He pulled away from her.
"For now…" Sam murmured. "And I truly hope it's enough, until I get my head on straight."
And he turned and left her standing there with her mouth open.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Time passed and Sam came to understand what had happened was not his fault. He began to build some confidence in himself and his work.
He saw Wendy every evening. He took her out. They had great times and life began to be good once more for the two of them.
Sam was satisfied.
Wendy wasn't.
She wanted a full blown commitment from Sam and he was too stubborn to offer it.
So when Gill Freeman was hired and he saw Wendy, the sparks began to fly.
Gill was close to Wendy's age and he was a good wrangler. His father had been in the horse business for some time so it was natural for him to work with Sam and the remuda.
Gill and Sam got along well. That is until Caleb made an astounding assumption.
"Sam, how are you and Wendy getting along?"
"Great, why?" Sam said, moving the bale of hay to a stall where he spread it around. He'd had Gill clean the stall and now they were putting down fresh straw.
"Well, I noticed Gill taking an interest in Wendy too. Have you noticed how he looks at her?"
Sam frowned at the floor of the stall, not liking where this conversation was going.
"I guess I haven't," Sam admitted. "Does she look back?"
"A time or two, I've seen her," Caleb announced.
"So…what are you saying?" Sam frowned at him now.
"I'm saying you might just lose your girl if you lollygag around here. There are other studs in the barn, if you know what I mean."
"Wendy would never…." Sam broke the word off. "She wouldn't…."
Caleb shook his head with disgust. "You think she's gonna just sit around here and wait forever for you to make up your mind?" Caleb probed.
"She needed time to get over everything that has happened, to get back to being Wendy…" he exclaimed, his voice going up an octave.
"Well, she's had the time alright. But young Gill has a lot to offer. He's handsome, young, and he might not be afraid to ask her…"
"Ask her what?"
"To marry," Caleb finished and walked off.
Sam fretted the rest of the day about Caleb's observations.
Wendy was free to make her own decisions on who she loved and who she didn't. He hadn't gotten in her way. But he had expected her to be true to him. Although, he hadn't made any moves in the direction of a permanent relationship. He hadn't even given her a promise ring.
He mumbled something aloud around Caleb and Caleb shook his head. "You're getting' too old for things like promise rings, boy. Now an engagement ring wouldn't be out of order."
"Caleb! You need to mind your own business."
"Maybe, but don't say you weren't warned." The old man laughed and walked off again.
Sam considered Gill a moment. The man was good looking, he was taller, he was a great horseman, he had a good attitude, and he wasn't on probation. Sam kicked himself this time.
Was he using the probation thing to not commit? What was he afraid of? Her rejection, maybe?
He loved her, everyone knew that.
He had a good job, his paycheck had begun to reflect that. His life was looking up. Wendy had healed both outside and inside.
So what was stopping him?
But could he lose her?
He saw Gill stop off and talk to Wendy one afternoon and that got him riled. Wendy was his girl. Didn't she know it?
The very next evening, Gill had supper with them too. Caleb sat back and watched the three of them send silent messages to each other all night, then he finally excused himself.
Sam wondered why Gill didn't.
"I got that new gelding settled down, Wendy. I bet you could ride him now. If you wanted to." Gill smiled at her.
"I'd love to." Wendy smiled at him.
"We could go for a ride tomorrow if you like," he offered.
"Sounds great. I'd like that." Wendy glanced at Sam who had a dark hooded look about him now.
"You could come with us, if you wanted to, Sam," Wendy offered.
"That's okay, I got work to do…" Sam muttered.
"Fine." Wendy firmed her lips and frowned at him. Then she looked at Gill with a smile. "Then it's a date."
Sam bristled.
In the back of his mind, he knew Wendy was deliberately making him jealous, but the problem was, it was working.
"Great, I'll see you tomorrow when I'm finished with my work." He smiled at her and left.
"See ya," she called after him.
Sam needed to leave too. He needed to get away before he said something he'd regret, but for the life of him he didn't know what to say.
"Something wrong, Sam?"
In his mind, he was fuming. But he tightened the controls of his temper. "No ma'am. I better go too…"
"Goodnight, Sam…" She smiled and stood there staring at him.
"Goodnight…" he muttered.
The next day was no better. He was fuming on the inside every time Gill came around him. It was all he could do to be civil to the man.
When work was over and he and Wendy rode off, Sam wanted to jump Gill. But he knew that Wendy would be upset. He knew he had to figure out how to control himself.
Wendy was his girl. Everyone on the ranch knew that. Everyone but Gill.
Why was she catering to a man she barely knew?
Caleb saw the frustration Sam tried to hide all day.
"You know, if she was my girl, I'd have to set the record straight. I'd put a ring on her finger and let the world know it." Caleb chuckled.
"I don't have enough money to buy her the kind of ring she would need. Besides, if she likes Gill better it's best I know it now…."
"Suit yourself, but you wait too long, you could lose, boy. And there is such a thing as a loan. I might even consider giving you one, if you'd ask."
"You! I can't take more money from you. After all, you have done for me…" Sam objected.
"Pride is good, to an extent, but a wise man knows when to bend. Besides, it would be a contract loan, not some, just pay me back routine."
"You'd do
that for me?" Sam asked, screwing his face up.
"Sure, why not?"
"She's better off with him. He isn't on probation. He comes from a good family." Sam frowned.
"And you….love her."
"Am I that transparent?"
"Boy, if that green-eyed monster got a hold of you any harder, you'd be pea green right now."
"So what kind of terms are we talking?" Sam asked about the loan.
Caleb smiled. "I'll have a formal contract drawn up, but you go and find a ring that is fitting, but not too extravagant. Then you get yourself to that girl and tell her how it is."
"Yes sir…" Sam almost laughed. "Do you think she'll say yes?"
Caleb smiled. "You'll never know until you ask, son."
Sam hung his head. "I love her…so much…" he began.
"Well, don't tell me…tell her." Caleb slapped him on the back.
The next day, Caleb engaged Gill in some intense work while Sam went shopping for a ring.
When he found the diamond teardrop ring, he smiled. It was simple and elegant and befitting a McKay. The price was hefty, but Sam knew Wendy was worth every penny and if he had to work forever, he'd pay for it.
The little black box was burning a hole in his shirt the rest of the day.
But Wendy had plans to spend the evening at Julie's because she was feeling a little under the weather.
Sam knew he needed to talk to her. He knew he needed to ask her. His nerve nearly failed him.
It was nearly a week later, and he still hadn't talked to Wendy alone. Every night, Gill was with them in the kitchen and always thinking of ways to be with Wendy. It irritated Sam so much he stormed out of the house one night.
Stand By Me (Book 4 of the McKay's) Page 16