Watching him with another woman is like a boot to the ribs.
When I found out he had married Jeanine, knowing she had what I once thought was mine, well, that was salt on my deep and open wounds.
We were supposed to be a couple. Evie was supposed to be ours. That dream died when Cade chose blood over love, believed his brother instead of me—but the longing never did. It lingers still, no matter how unhealthy.
Noelle drags Cade away from Mav and closer to me. I move and stand in the shadow of a tree, hiding like a crazy stalker person.
“I just spoke with Madison,” Noelle tells Cade. She’s excited about something.
Who’s Madison? The senator’s wife? Or that woman in all those designer clothes?
I’m not a regular eavesdropper, but if the conversation drops in my lap, like now, I don’t close my ears to it.
Cade pushes her hand off his arm.
Trouble in paradise?
“Good for you. I don’t want to have anything to do with that woman.”
“She says she’ll buy Dunn Ranch if you sell yours. The money they’re talking…Cade, it can change lives.”
Sell his ranch?
What the heck was this woman smoking? Didn’t she know Cade at all? He’d rather cut his arm off than sell Blue Rock.
“Cade, think about it,please. Imagine not having to work sunup to sundown?—”
“Since I’m the one doin’ the work, and so is your Daddy, it’s not up to you to talk about Dunn Ranch or mine.” Cade’s tone is clipped. It sounds like they’ve had this conversation once or twice before.
Before Noelle can say a thing, Lyle Dunn walks up to them, calling his daughter’s name out. His movements are tight. He’s angry.
“You have some nerve, Noelle. Until I’m dead—and I’ve got some years on me—Dunn Ranch is not yours, so don’t you go around talking to that son of a bitch senator about selling what’s mine.”
He’s all but vibrating.
Noelle nestles against Cade, looking like a little girl.
Christ!
“Daddy,” she whines. “It’s just so much money and?—”
Her father shakes his head, cutting her off. “That’s not ranching, Noelle, that’s cashin’ out.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” There’s a screech in her voice, like nails on a chalkboard.
His voice carries, and I notice the nods from nearby ranchers.
A divide has been drawn, clear as day: those who live off the land, and those who live for it.
I retreat to the edge of the garden, where a small seating area overlooks the mountains.
I’ve lived in both Colorado and California, surrounded by nature’s beauty, but this view still makes me pause.
I rest my hip against the railing and take in the expanse before me, a sight I know I’ll never grow tired of.
“Hell of a party, huh?”
Kaz Chase walks up to me, hands in his pockets, watching me with that half-smile he wears like a uniform.
