“I was scrawny; I can’t imagine it being that hard to resist me,” Amanda laughed.
“You were beautiful and you only got more beautiful. It was your sassy, smart mouth that first amused me and then watching you march around so full of fire. I was gone within weeks of arriving on the ranch.”
“No,” Amanda crinkled her nose.
“I was,” he insisted.
“You made me nervous and I didn’t even understand why at first. I have to tell you that you did a great job of hiding it if you were enamored with me.”
“Not really; your brother called me on it.”
“Oh,” Amanda smiled.
“I was fine until Angie showed you how to dress to your best advantage and the moment you learned your own power I knew I was in trouble.”
“Hey, I was finally enjoying a little male admiration. For a long time I was a wall flower!” Amanda informed him as she turned and settled her legs across his lap. Cade placed his hand on her knee and smiled at her.
“I thought you were beautiful the moment I noticed you. You were staring at me with wide eyes after I got in a fight with Michael Fredricks my senior year.”
“You remember that?”
“Yeah, I didn’t even know who you were. Then I show up at the ranch and there you were sassing your brother.”
“Wow.”
“I love you, Manny.”
“I love you too,” she returned and leaned forward to kiss him.
“You can sleep with Cadey-Lynn or I can put some sheets on the bed in the office,” Cade offered.
Amanda studied him a moment.
“You’ve always made the rules, Cade; are those my only options?” she asked him.
Cade smiled. “No, but after five years I wanted you to know I’m not making any assumptions.”
“It has been five years which is why I want to spend every moment I can with you,” she informed him.
Cade kissed her and then smiled.
“No complaints,” he assured her; Amanda grinned. “And by the way, I recognize that shirt.”
Amanda glanced down at his shirt and laughed.
“It was one of my favorites but it seems someone was wearing it when I had to leave,” he teased.
“I’ve become rather fond of it as well,” she informed him. “If you want it back, you’ll have to take it back.”
“Is that right?” his eyes were twinkling.
“Mmm hmm,” she nodded.
“I like you in my shirts, how ‘bout I give them all to you and just take them back when I want them,” he joked.
Amanda laughed. “Might make getting out the door every morning kinda complicated.”
“More like very pleasant.”
“Am I red yet?” Amanda was laughing.
“Yes,” he nodded.
“I thought so,” she responded.
“I’ve missed you, Manny.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
Cade stood, lifted Amanda and carried her to his room where he sat her on her feet.
“I’ll get your things,” he told her.
Amanda looked around the room curiously. It was a comfortably sized room and painted a nice shade of light blue. A large four poster bed sat against the wall opposite her. Amanda got the impression that much of the furniture and décor had come with the ranch when he bought it.
“I haven’t done too much with it,” Cade told her as he entered and set her suitcase inside the door. “Not really my forte.”
“I could care less,” Amanda admitted.
Cade slid his arms around her.
“You’re all I can see at the moment,” Amanda pushed onto her toes to kiss him. Cade kissed her back; his hands pulled her closer. Amanda unbuttoned his shirt and slid her hands over his chest. She froze a moment later and pulled back.
“What happened?” she ran a hand over a scar that ran the top of his right shoulder, around his side, and onto his back.
“One of my bulls decided he didn’t want to load in the trailer for auction and I didn’t scramble out of the way fast enough.”
“Oh, Cade,” Amanda kissed the scar following it to its end. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me too,” Cade reached for her hand and led her to the bed. Amanda returned his kisses and rolled until she had him pinned.
“Let’s see if I remember how to do this,” she flirted as she leaned down to kiss him.
“No,” Cade turned the tables on her, until he leaned over her. “I still have things to teach you,” he argued.
___________________________________________________
Amanda woke to a shadowed room and Cade staring at her. She smiled.
“What are you staring at?”
“I’m watching you sleep,” he informed her.
“Sounds boring,” she told him.
“Not as fun as making love to you but I enjoy it,” he countered.
Amanda laughed and rolled over to snuggle against him
“What time is it anyway?”
“About twelve-thirty.”
“Why are you even awake?”
“I got up to check in on Cadey-Lynn and then I found myself watching you and I have been ever since.”
“You should get some sleep,” she chastised, kissing his chest.
“I’ve slept plenty in the past five years,” he argued; Amanda smiled.
“Can we stay like this?” she requested.
“As far as I’m concerned,” he assured her. The ringing of the phone made Cade frown as he reached to grab it from his night stand.
“Hello.”
Amanda watched his gaze slide to her.
“Yeah, she’s right here.” Cade handed her the phone.
“Mandy, are you okay? We have been worried sick,” Trent’s voice was rich with anxiety as it carried over the line. “Had Naomi not finally admitted she’d given you Cade’s letters we still wouldn’t know where you are and your house looks like there was some sort of struggle…” her brother petered to a halt.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Trent?” Amanda demanded.
“Amanda, I gave dad until the end of the summer and then I was going to tell you if Dad didn’t,” Trent defended himself.
“The end of summer?” Amanda’s voice rose. “Do you know how much he’s already missed? His daughter’s first steps, her first words….”
“Mandy, I’m sorry.”
“Do me a favor, Trent. Go look in on your sleeping daughter and then kiss Jenny and tell me what you would do if someone kept you from them. Don’t call me again until you have an answer for that,” Amanda placed the phone back on the nightstand with trembling hands and tears on her cheeks.
“You okay, Manny?” Cade brushed the tears from her cheeks.
“I’m angry but I’ll get over it,” she admitted. Cade kissed her and Amanda pressed herself against him inviting more.
Forty
Amanda woke the next morning and frowned at the empty bed beside her. After taking a quick shower, she set out in search of Cade after peaking in to find Cadey-Lynn’s bed empty. As she neared the kitchen she could hear Cadey-Lynn’s voice.
“Uncle Trent can’t cook, Aunt Jenny chases him out of the kitchen because she says he’s in the way,” she was telling her daddy.
“I’m not so great at it myself. It just so happens that chocolate chip pancakes are one of the few things I can make,” Cade informed his daughter.
Amanda leaned against the kitchen doorway and smiled. Cade was cooking pancakes while Cadey-Lynn stood in a chair at his side.
“We’re ready to turn it. Don’t touch the pan now, okay,” Cade had his hands on Cadey-Lynn’s and was guiding her. “Now, we flip it!” Cade flipped the pancake quickly, Cadey-Lynn’s hands still under his.
Cadey-Lynn giggled. “It splattered a little.”
“It’ll be okay,” he assured her.
“Mommy doesn’t usually sleep this long,” Cadey-Lynn noted.
“Yesterday wore
your Mommy out,” Cade explained. “She didn’t get any sleep the night before because she drove you two down here.”
Amanda smiled; her sleep had been sporadic last night too.
“Having fun without me?” Amanda demanded as she moved into the room.
“Daddy is letting me help cook,” Cadey-Lynn’s eyes were bright with excitement as she hugged her mother good morning.
“Are you making sure he’s doing it right?” Amanda joked.
Cadey-Lynn nodded.
“Good morning,” Cade slid an arm around Amanda and dropped a kiss on her lips.
“Good morning,” she returned.
“After breakfast I would like to take you two for a ride. I am assuming given that she’s your daughter, Cadey-Lynn has been on a horse before?”
“With someone, yes. She’s started begging for a pony.”
“Yeah, then I can learn to ride like Missy from church did,” Cadey-Lynn inserted.
“We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled,” Cade winked at his daughter. Cadey-Lynn gave him her most brilliant smile and hugged him.
“Alright, you gonna help me take this pancake up?” Cade offered his daughter the spatula.
As they rode over Cade’s property Amanda kept snapping pictures of Cade and Cadey-Lynn, where she sat in front of her father on his horse. The property wasn’t as large as Amanda’s father’s but it was a decent size and well watered. It was a nice piece of land; the mountains slightly more distant here but no less beautiful. Amanda could see how proud Cade was and he should be. The man he had bought it from had nearly let the place run to ground after his wife’s death. Cade had helped the man pull the place back from the brink and then had bought it at a good price when the man decided to move to northern California to be with his kids and grandchildren.
They were approaching the house when Amanda recognized her brother’s truck in the driveway. She felt herself tense. She didn’t want to fight; she wanted to enjoy being with Cade. Cade asked one of his men to see to the horses, lifted his daughter, and took Amanda’s hand before making a bee line for Trent. Amanda’s heart was pounding as they neared him.
“You three look right together,” Trent informed them. Amanda could read the regret in his face and felt her tight nerves loosen a fraction.
“Hey, Uncle Trent; we found my daddy,” Cadey-Lynn announced proudly.
“I see that,” Trent smiled.
“Hi,” Jenny called from the edge of the garage.
“Your house keeper was nice enough to let her and Angie in where they could wait more comfortably.”
“Good.”
“Aunt Jenny, we found my Daddy,” Cadey-Lynn called.
“Come tell me about it and let your Mommy and Daddy talk to Uncle Trent a minute,” Jenny called. Amanda would have to remember to thank her later.
“Go on squirt,” Cade set Cadey-Lynn on her feet.
“Do you have an answer for my question?” Amanda demanded as soon as her daughter had gone inside.
“I do; I would kick their ass,” her brother answered honestly and then looked to Cade. “I’m sorry, Cade; I had no right to come between you two.”
Amanda watched the muscles in Cade’s jaw work a moment before he swallowed hard and extended his hand.
Trent took Cade’s hand; Cade pulled him into a hug.
“How are you Trent?” Cade inquired.
“I’d be better with a few less regrets,” Trent admitted as he stepped back and studied his friend. “Jenny was talking to me recently and she said something that made me stop and think and that combined with watching Mandy still crying and waiting for you….I couldn’t stand it on my conscious a moment longer. I caught up with Dad and told him he had to make it right or I would. I gave him until the end of summer. I should have come straight to one of you.”
“What did Jenny say?” Amanda asked.
“It was after she had been talking to you and you were talking about Cade. She was crying and she asked me ‘Can you imagine if someone sent you away and we couldn’t see each other? Can you imagine not knowing about your daughter?’ and I could imagine it; I could imagine how much that would hurt. I thought for a moment yesterday that she was going to leave me when she found out about the letters.”
“How is Dad taking it?” Amanda asked.
“He’s being stubborn because his pride is hurt but he’s cracking; I can tell.”
“Come on in; see my place,” Cade invited as he slid an arm around Amanda’s waist.
“I’d like that,” Trent smiled. They made their way inside; Jenny greeted them with a big smile.
“Hello, good lookin’,” Jenny moved to hug Cade. “Excuse my bump; it’s Trent’s way of making sure I don’t go sidling up too close to sexy men,” Jenny teased.
“Hey, Jenny, I’ve missed you,” Cade hugged her back.
“Well, Mandy, you’ve tracked down the second sexiest man in Montana, what are you going to do with him, well besides what I’m sure you’ve already done,” Jenny’s grin was mischievous.
Amanda felt heat climb into her cheeks; she found herself grinning when even Cade blushed.
“She’s going to marry me; soon I hope,” Cade responded.
“Good, it’s past time,” Jenny nodded. Amanda slid her arms around Cade and laid her head against his chest she couldn’t help thinking how much she had missed them all being together.
____________________________________________________
Amanda finished straightening her hair and smoothed her jean skirt before stepping from the bathroom to grab her purse. Cade was waiting in the living room with Cadey-Lynn, Cassia, and Cassia’s husband and ranch foreman, Ben. Cade wanted to take Amanda to dinner and asked Cassia and Ben to watch Cadey-Lynn for a couple of hours. Amanda entered the living room and watched Cade’s eyes light with appreciation as his gaze slid over her.
“Thanks for watching Cadey-Lynn,” Amanda smiled at the couple on the couch.
“We should be back in time to put her to bed,” Cade added as he stood and claimed Amanda’s hand.
“You two go on and enjoy some time together,” Cassia smiled brightly.
“See you in a little while,” Amanda leaned to kiss her daughter’s cheek.
“Be good for Cassia and Ben,” Cade said before kissing his daughter’s head.
“I will, Daddy,” Cadey-Lynn promised.
Amanda waited while Cade opened her door before climbing into the truck.
“You look absolutely amazing,” Cade offered and leaned into kiss her lightly before closing the door and coming around the truck. Amanda was smiling when he climbed in to start the engine. Amanda found that she was actually nervous which was the most ridiculous thing ever. The feeling remained, however, as Cade turned into the parking lot of a local eatery.
“Place doesn’t look like much but they have great food,” Cade informed Amanda. The building before them was made of weathered wood, a large wrap around porch scattered with tables and chairs that at moment weren’t in use. Cade opened Amanda’s door and led her across the porch and into the establishment. The inside was finished roughly as well, wood plank walls, an odd assortment of booths and tables, what looked to be Christmas lights draped across the ceiling like netting, and various advertisements some old, some new tacked to the walls.
Cade placed his hand on her back and led her to a man behind a long bar.
“Hey, George,” Cade nodded. “I’d like you to meet somebody.”
The man behind the counter was tall and wide, his balding head reflecting the glow of the lights over head as he wiped out a glass and set it on the counter; his brown eyes were assessing Amanda.
“Who is this?” George smiled as they neared.
“George, I would like you to meet my fiancée, Amanda Jennings. This is my Manny,” Cade was grinning. “Amanda, this is George, he owns the place.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Amanda felt almost shy.
“Welcome! Congratulations, both of you,” the m
an grinned at them a moment before coming around the bar to hug Amanda and pat Cade on the back.
“I have been hearing about you for years,” George informed her.
“Here,” Cade reached for his wallet and pulled out a picture of Cadey-Lynn that Amanda had given him. “That’s my daughter, Cadey-Lynn. It turned out I was missing more than I bargained for while I tried winning her father’s approval,” Cade handed the man the picture.
“Wow,” George said softly; his gaze remained on Cade a moment before he looked down. “She’s beautiful; I know you must be proud,” George handed him the picture.
“I am; she’s wonderful, like her mom,” Cade slid his arm back around Amanda.
“You two have a seat; dinner is on me tonight,” George nodded to the booths and raised a hand when Cade started to argue. “No arguments; I like a good love story but don’t be spreading that around,” he dropped his voice.
Amanda laughed at the cautious look he shot around the room.
“Hey, Cade, who you have with you there?” A man called from the bar.
“Hey, Dan. This is my Manny; Amanda Jennings. Amanda this skunk is Dan, you watch him,” Cade teased as he led Amanda over to the man.
“She’s a beauty, Cade; I’ll try and behave myself,” the man winked at Amanda.
“This is my daughter,” Cade handed over the picture he still hadn’t put away.
“Daughter? Hey folks, Cade has a daughter!” Dan announced to the crowd scattered around the room. Amanda blinked at the crowd that suddenly surrounded them.
“Aint she cute?”
“She looks just like you.”
The picture was making rounds through the crowd, the comments floating back to them as Amanda found several people introducing themselves all at once. She smiled and shook hands; the names and faces were blurring.
“We’re getting married; soon if I have any say in it,” Cade was telling a man beside him. He reached for Amanda’s hand and pulled her close enough to wrap an arm around her.
“Congratulations,” the man smiled at them.
He was older, close to her own father in age, Amanda figured.
Under the Open Sky (Montana Heritage Series) Page 37