Mara McBain

by McCade's Way

  “What’s family for?” Trey asked as the pastor stepped to the pulpit and greeted the congregation.

  Gen stood at a gentle, but prodding, pat from her husband’s hand as the rest of the congregation rose from their pews in a wave. She glanced down the row. Her stomach knotted. Rose’s fingers were trembling as she picked up her bible. Wade still looked furious. Trey had been stiff with Cole earlier, and his ever stoic face remained unreadable throughout the church service. Was he mad? Surely Cole didn’t count in the list of men she was not supposed to talk to. She bit her lip and second guessed herself in a brief bid of worry. What if he did?

  Her thoughts were cut short as Trey seized her hand and wound his thick fingers through hers in a secure grip. Much like before, her husband shouldered his way through the crowd with a surprising amount of grace and ease. However, their progress was stopped short outside. A swarm of people loitered at the bottom of the steps, and as soon as they descended, the cluster closed in like a pack of hungry wolves.

  Pressing close to her husband’s back, Gen squeezed his hand. He pulled his Stetson back on, the brim shadowing his face. The pastor seemed undaunted as he shook Trey’s hand and clapped him on the shoulder.

  “It’s good to see you and Cole at services again, Trey. You’ve been missed. Genevieve it’s lovely to see you. It looked like your pew had a few extras in it this morning. What a blessing.”

  Her husband didn’t answer, just nodded.

  “I hear that congratulations are in order,” a sharp dressed gentleman said, offering a smile that never reached his eyes. “Is this the new Mrs. McCade then?”

  “What a beautiful child.” A woman said, reaching up to stroke Lilly’s curls.

  Trey shifted away, his cool gaze stilling the woman’s hand. He turned, motioning politely to his uncle.

  “This is my daddy’s youngest brother, Wade, his wife Rose, and their little girl, Lilly. They’re staying with us for a while,” he said.

  Wade offered a confident smile and shook hands with those that offered, trading a word here and there about his departed brother.

  Gen felt Trey sigh before he pulled her forward, letting go of her hand to wrap his arm around her again. Realization kicking like a mule, she fought the sick twist in her stomach. He didn’t want to introduce her. His reluctance was palpable. She looked around at the curious faces and it hit her like a brick. These people had known Catherine. They were her friends, maybe even her family, and she was an outsider, a poor substitute. She wet her lips nervously and straightened her shoulders. Slipping an arm around his waist, she tried to ignore the hammer of her heart.

  “This is my beautiful new bride, Genevieve, formerly Kelly of New York City,” Trey said firmly, his icy gaze sweeping the assembly with a hint of challenge.

  Gen held her breath at the change in his demeanor. Had he just called her beautiful on the church steps? Her face split in a smile that she was sure spread from ear-to-ear. She felt his regard and looked up. The corner of his mouth turned up in the lopsided smile she already loved, and he gave her a slow wink that made heat swirl through her. She couldn’t hold back the giggle or the color that flooded her face. His smile seemed to release the crowd from their stunned silence, and people pressed forward to make her acquaintance. She smiled and shook hands from the secure curve of his arm, languishing in the heat of his body and his proud smile.

  The crack of flesh on flesh reverberated through the quiet house, accompanied by the high pitched wail of a hurt child. After the joy of standing with Trey on the church steps today, they’d come home to a sick tension that had built all day, to this. Tears rolled down Gen’s cheeks, and her fists clenched in the quilt. God, where was Trey? How long could the nightly chores take? She’d seen the way he was with Lilly today. He would stop this. Wade’s voice rose in anger down the hall. She couldn’t make out the words, but his rage was clear. Lilly’s shrill scream sounded again and Gen lurched from bed. She couldn’t sit here and listen to him beat a child.

  The polished wood was cold on her bare feet as she hurried down the hall. She flinched as another blow fell, and Wade’s words were drowned out by the tinkle of broken glass. Heart hammering, Gen reached the door.

  “Please. She’s learned her lesson,” Rose sobbed on the other side of the barrier.

  Lilly wailed in fear and Gen rattled the door. It was locked. The baby’s scream ripped through her heart. She slammed her shoulder against the door with everything she had. It barely shuddered. Pounding her fists on the solid wood, she screamed in fury.

  “Leave her alone!”

  “This doesn’t involve you,” Wade snapped. “Go back to bed and I won’t mention your interference to your husband.”

  Gen kicked the door, his arrogance lending fuel to her fire. Let him tell Trey. She’d take a beating for Lilly.

  “Come out here and smack me you worthless coward!”

  Something hit the wall and Lilly squalled.

  “No, no, no! Damn it! Open the door!” she screamed, throwing herself at the door.

  “Gen!”

  Trey’s voice thundered through the house just as the door jerked open, and she found herself at Wade’s feet. The seething man grabbed a handful of her hair, and his hand swept back in a sinister arc. His chest was heaving. He smiled. His eyes held a deranged glint. Trey’s heavy footfalls hit the hall. Wade shook his head and dropped his hand. He picked up his daughter just as Trey stepped into the doorway.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “Your wife doesn’t know how to keep her nose out of other people’s business,” Wade said coolly.

  Trey’s hard gaze swung back to her. Gen shook her head, her eyes pleading with him to understand.

  “He was beating Lilly. She’s just a little girl.”

  “A man has a right to discipline his children. I guarantee you’ve felt worse growing up in Thomas’s household.”

  “It’s not discipline when she’s that little. He was hurting her, Trey. It’s abuse. Please,” Gen argued.

  Trey swiped a hand over his goatee and glanced around the room. “Are you okay?” he asked Rose for the second time that day.

  “Yes. Thank you,” she said, offering a tremulous smile. “Lilly needs to understand she can’t defy her father. I’m afraid I tend to spoil her.”

  Lilly sniffled against Wade’s shoulder, her tiny form shaking in a heaving sob as her father rubbed her back gently.

  “Lilly’s a dramatic child. In Genevieve’s defense, I’m sure it must have sounded worse than it was,” Wade said, giving Gen a small smile. “Women are tender hearted if a bit misguided, and Genevieve is headstrong. It’s a good thing she has a strong husband to help her know her place.”

  Gen’s eyes narrowed at Wade’s pompous words, her nails digging into her thighs.

  Trey’s lips firmed and he snapped his fingers sharply at her. “Let’s go.”

  Gen stood slowly, her eyes begging Trey to reconsider. His face didn’t soften. Rose wouldn’t look at her. Knees shaking, she slipped past him into the hall. Her hands balled into fists as she made the seemingly long trek back to the master bedroom. She turned uncertainly at the side of the bed, clasping her trembling hands behind her.

  “Trey, you didn’t hear her screams. He was—”she tried to explain, but he cut her off.

  “Get dressed.”

  She blinked at him. Dressed? She frowned.

  “Now!”

  She jumped at his deep roar, scrambling across the bed on her hands and knees in a bid to get to the closet without risking his reach. Fumbling, she found an old skirt and sweater, pulling them on over her night gown. Stealing a glance at her angry husband, she didn’t bother with stockings. Wringing her hands, she tried again.

  “I couldn’t just sit here and let him beat a child.”

  He stepped into the hall and motioned for her to precede him. Biting her lip, she squeezed past and scurried down the stairs with him on her heels. She faltered at the bottom, glancing b
ack in question.

  “Get to the barn.”

  The barn? Her stomach clenched. Stumbling through the kitchen, she pushed her feet into boots and stepped out the open door. Her legs felt like lead, and she prayed they wouldn’t betray her now. She stumbled and Trey caught her arm, his fingers engulfing her bicep. Still he didn’t say anything. She peeked up at him. His face was grim. Lips moving in a desperate prayer, she reminded herself that she’d done this for Lilly. She knew what it was like to be small and afraid, to be hurt by one of the people that you should be able to count on to care for you. She’d done the right thing.

  The light was on in the barn. Her terrified brain stumbled over his choice of the barn. Why not the bedroom? The answer was obvious wasn’t it? She wasn’t a child to warrant the relative kindness of his hand, and he didn’t feel a belt was sufficient. She prayed harder and, for the first time in years, contemplated running from punishment. She closed her eyes. There was nowhere to run. She was his wife. Her bottom lip trembled, and she sank her teeth into it. He steered her through the barn doors and into a small room. The smell of hay and leather assailed her, and she shuddered staring at the assortment of straps and whips hanging amid saddles and tack. He yanked her over to a saddle stand. A coiled whip gleamed wickedly inches from her nose. He pushed a blanket into her chest.

  “I can’t trust you alone in the house, and I don’t have time to deal with you now,” he said shortly.

  She grasped at the blanket with fingers numb with fright. He steered her from the tack room and gave her a nudge toward a few bales at the end of the isle. She spotted Cole then. He was standing in one of the stalls. His handsome face wrinkled in confusion seeing her. She tripped over her own feet as Trey gave her another nudge.

  “Get over there and sit down.”

  She was grateful to sink down on the makeshift seat. Clutching the blanket to her, she tried to still the hammer of her heart. Trey moved into the stall Cole occupied. She saw a cow lying down in the straw through the open door. The poor thing let out a low moaning noise that sounded sick.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I’m just guessing here, but I’m thinking that this heifer is going to calf,” Trey snapped, dropping to a knee beside the animal.

  “Thank you, Doctor Doolittle,” Cole said with a snort. “Why is your wife in the barn looking like she wants to run for the hills?”

  “Why don’t you ask her?”

  “Recent experience has proven that when anyone but you speaks with her, you get as growly as a black bear in rut.”

  “Kiss my ass.”

  “Wouldn’t want to get you too excited, big boy.”

  A low growl rumbled from Trey’s chest. When he looked up, his strong jaw was jutted in irritation and his nostrils flared.

  “I’d suggest you turn in for the night before I knock your ass out.”

  “Whoa,” Cole said, stepping back with a low chuckle. “What happened in there? Come on. What’d she do to piss you off? This afternoon she was your beautiful bride, and now you look like you want to throttle her.”

  “She decided to try and break down a door and take on a man who has no qualm about raising his hand to a woman instead of coming and getting me!” Trey snapped. He lurched to his feet with his fists balled.

  “He could’ve killed Lilly by the time I came and got you,” Gen whispered.

  Cole hastily sidestepped into his brother’s path as he headed for his bride with fire in his eyes.

  “You don’t want to do that.”

  The smack Trey laid upside Cole’s head staggered him.

  “Do what?” he snapped. “Kick your ass? Boy, I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

  Cole rubbed the side of his head, giving it a little shake as he picked his hat back up. “Well if that’s going to pull the stick outa your ass, jump on,” he sneered.

  Trey’s first punch picked his two hundred pound brother right off the ground. Cole hit the ground flat on his back, raising a cloud of dust. Gen smothered a scream. Trey didn’t hesitate, wrapping his fist in Cole’s shirt and dragging him back to his feet only to flatten him again. Cole rolled to his stomach, drawing his knees up under him to push to his feet. Trey put a boot on his ass and sent him sprawling again.

  “When are you going to learn, boy?” Trey asked with a shake of his head. “You got the heart but not the heat. You aren’t a fighter.”

  Cole staggered to his feet, holding a hand up to stay his brother as he tried to catch his breath. Trey shook his head again and turned back toward the stall. Cole caught him by surprise, his head driving into Trey’s kidney as he took the larger man to the ground in a bone jarring tackle. Gen heard Trey snarl as he flung his head back, connecting with his brother’s nose. They rolled across the floor in a flurry of arms and legs as they struggled for the upper hand. Cole drove his knee into his brother’s ribs, and Gen heard Trey’s breath leave his body in a whoosh.

  Cole straddled him and reared back to deliver a finishing punch. One of Trey’s long legs came up to hook across his throat and slam him backward to the barn floor. Still gasping for breath, Trey rocked forward, using his extra thirty or forty pounds to pin Cole. They lay there for a couple of minutes, chests heaving. The heifer let out a lowing bawl and Trey rolled to his feet, concern marking his features as he snatched up his hat and limped back to the stall.

  Cole stretched and winced, but gave Gen a wink as he climbed slowly to his feet. He worked his jaw cautiously as he walked over to lean on the stall door and wipe at the blood from his nose.

  “You’re going to need some ice on that eye,” Trey said, glancing up at him. “Why don’t you go clean up? My wife can help me with this.”

  Gen straightened, shrugging off the coarse blanket. Cole offered his hand and helped her stand. He smiled down at her, his handsome face already swelling. She winced.

  Squeezing her shaking hand, he pulled her in close to kiss her cheek and whisper, “You’ll be fine. Remember he’s a good man.”

  Watching her brother-in-law walk out of the barn, Gen took a shaky breath and moved into the stall to kneel beside her husband.

  “Slide up here and hold her head,” he instructed. “This is her first calf, and she’s awfully young.”

  Crawling to where Trey indicated, Gen carefully pulled the animal’s head into her lap while stroking its big, soft ears.

  “Do you always have to do this?” she whispered.

  Trey shook his head, running a hand over the cow’s shuddering flank.

  “No. Most of the time they can do it all on their own, but she’s having problems. She’s scared and tired,” he said with a frown.

  Gen’s eyes widened as Trey’s hand and forearm disappeared inside the cow.

  “You help deliver the baby like a mid-wife?”

  He chuckled, but nodded. “Yeah, something like that.”

  She gasped as tiny hooves appeared.

  “If she starts to kick, I might need you to hold onto that rope around her back feet.”

  Gen nodded, watching in fascination as Trey started to pull the calf free from her mother. The corded muscles of his arms bunched, and he scooted back, bracing his boot heels. A desperate bawl bellowed from the cow, and Gen hugged her head.

  “It’s okay, Mama. Hang on. Trey will help your baby.”

  “Come on,” Trey grunted, his face red with exertion.

  The head appeared slowly. Trey wrapped his fists in the rope he’d attached to the calf’s ankles and leaned back, putting his weight into it. Inch by inch, the little one appeared. Gen watched in amazement. The calf finally came free with a rush of liquid and afterbirth, sending Trey tumbling backward. Scrambling back to his knees, he cleared the little one’s mouth and nose, running his big hands over the limp bedraggled mass and removing the rope.

  “Come on, baby,” he muttered, rubbing the wet coat. The calf’s head came up and Trey slumped back in relief.

  Shaking in the wet straw, the new calf blinked big eyes.
Steam rolled off her wet coat. Mama turned her head to nuzzle her baby, her big rough tongue swiping over the newborn. Gen just watched in awe.

  “That was amazing. I can’t believe you did that,” she said, turning teary eyes on her husband.

  “They count on me,” he said simply.

  Gen licked her lips and reached up to wipe away a tear. The calf was trying to stand. She’d gotten her hind legs under her, but was still on her knees. She watched the struggle, Trey’s words and the pride in his eyes playing over in her mind. They count on me. She blinked, the words striking a cord. What had he said earlier to Cole? She tried to take on a man who has no qualm about raising his hand to a woman instead of coming and getting me!

  Far from her father, who never wanted to be bothered, her husband liked to be needed. He’d taken in four extra mouths to feed in a time when rations were slim in many places. He thrived on being the one people depended on.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I should’ve came and got you.”

  He looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. He nodded. “I admire your courage and conviction, but you could’ve gotten hurt. It’s a tricky situation questioning a man’s right to run his household as he sees fit.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll remember that.”

  They sat in silence for a long moment, and then Trey stood and grabbed the rake. Cleaning up the stall, he urged the new mama to her feet. His big hands ran over the cow’s ears and scratched her broad forehead as he murmured words of praise for her. Gen watched from the doorway as the new baby awkwardly nuzzled under her mother to find her first meal. Closing things up, Trey swept up the blanket he’d given her and returned it to the tack room. He stopped in the doorway and rubbed at the back of his neck. She’d begun to realize he did that when he had something to say and was mulling over how to say it. Her stomach clenched.

  “For the record, I didn’t disbelieve you about Lilly. I saw the way Wade pinched her arm at the church today, and I’ve been on the receiving end of his brand of discipline. He’s sadistic. He enjoys the pain of others,” he said with a sigh. “You put me in a bad spot with the way you handled things. If I had witnessed it myself, it would’ve been easier to confront him if for nothing else than the basis that it’s happening in my home.”