Chapter Nine
For the next few days, life went on as it had the week before Mr. Miracle paid her asurprisevisit, when Mr. Cade had departed, and the miscreants had disrupted her peaceful existence. Elise was well aware that Mr. Cade was right, that this newfound harmony couldn’t last forever, but she intended to live in this fairytale land as long as she could. Because she washappy, and she knew that Chauncey was too, even though there was a marked sadness around his eyes, as if he was just waiting forthat undesirable conclusion.
But whenever he caught her gaze, he did his best to make her laugh. It had become something of a habit for them to play poker every evening after supper with her mother’s love tokens. The slight flirtations between them always sent her to her room with a smile on her face and a glowing warmth in her heart.
She didn’t want to believe that she might be falling in love with Mr. Cade, but she was afraid that was exactly what was happening. He continued to retain his distance, and even though she’d yearned for more of his gentle embraces, he had made no more advances. However, she knew quite well that if they were to go beyond this companionable friendship, that’s when it would truly become dangerous.
Even so, Elise took care with her appearance that morning. She dressed in her favorite, light blue dress with the fur collar and plaited her hair into a neat braid. She told herself she was being more particular because it was her birthday, but then, that was a lie. She wanted to look her best, for perhaps Mr. Cade would grant her just one more kiss.
Her cheeks warmed as she left her bedroom, but when she looked around the small expanse for Mr. Cade, he was nowhere to be found. Somewhat deflated, she walked over to Beau,who was snoozing by the fire. “Where has your master gone off to this early?” she murmured. “It’s barely even dawn.”
Of course the dog didn’t reply, only nuzzled his head in her hand, begging for attention, so she scratched behind his ears and cooed soft words of devotion before shestoodand grabbed her apron. She tied it around her waist with a sigh and started on breakfast.
Everything was nearly done by the time the door opened and Chauncey walked inwearinghis bearskin coat. He stomped most of the snow off his moccasins on the rug near the door and lifted his chin into the air. “I could smell the coffee brewing from outside,” he said almost wistfully.
She smirked slightly as she set the table. “And what have you been doing so early?”
He spoke as he removed his outerwear. “I can’t tell you that. It would ruin the surprise.”
He winked,and Elise’s stomach did a little flip. “I see.In that case, you should eat, for all that conspiring is surely to work up an appetite.”
Chauncey chuckled as he took a place at the table, and Elise closed her eyes temporarily. For all her days she would never forget the sound of that deep laughter rumbling out of his chest.
She tamped down her sudden melancholy that someday, that merriment would be ripped from him again, and set down the fare of bacon, eggs, and toasted bread on the table.
He instantly began to dig in, giving a light groan of satisfaction as he took the first bite. “Your culinary skills never fail to impress me, Miss Erindelle.”
“Then you should prepare yourself,” she said primly. “For this evening I plan to bake a chocolate cake.”
He glanced at her, and his dark eyes warmed. “Very tempting, indeed.” After a rather heated moment, he returned his attention back to his plate and added, “What’s the special occasion?”
Elise was almost hurtwhenhe hadn’t remembered that today washer birthday,theofficialfirst day of thewinter solstice. But instead of drawing attention to the fact, she shrugged and said, “No reason.” Nevertheless, she shoved a few items around on her plate.
“The clouds looked rather ominous this morning.It appears that another storm is headed our way.”
Elise wanted to laugh at the fact they were reduced to speaking about the weather.She’d thought they were past such mundane topics, but apparently not.“Ifear it will be quite a rough start to the season. We’ve already gotten more snow than I’ve seen in the past two years. If this keeps up, I’m not particularly looking forward to January.”
He paused.“Perhaps this will be the last year you’ll have to contend with all of this.”
She looked at him curiously. “What do you mean? This is my home.”
He folded his hands together and appeared to choose his words carefully. “You don’t have to stay here forever, Elise. You can move on if you wish. I have some money saved and I would be glad to—”
She stood up, tears stinging her eyes that he might soon be out of her life. It was a possibility, but she didn’t want to think of such maudlin things on her birthday. “That’s enough of your foolish talk. You’ll need that money for your own endeavors. Besides,” She lifted her chin. “I’m perfectly capable of managing on my own.”
He held up his hands. “I didn’t mean any offense. I just wanted to help you if I could.” He swallowed. “Before I don’thave the means to offer anyassistanceat all.”
Elise set her hands onthe table and eyed him directly. “I appreciate the sentiment, Mr. Cade, but I don’t accept charity.” She hesitated. “And if the time comes where I decide to move on, rest assuredI’ll find a way.”
***
Chauncey couldn’t do anything more than stare at Elise as she turned on her heel and busied herself in the kitchen. He didn’t want to keep comparing Elise toMartha, for they were different in many ways,andnot just their hair color. But then, they were a lot alike as well, both stubborn to a fault and extremely strong willed.
His chest ached as memories of his past assailed him, but he found that it hurt even more to imagine a future without Elise in it.After all this time he could imagine a life beyond the pain.If only things were different, hewould marry Miss Erindelle in a heartbeat. Thatwas,ifshe would have him.
Considering her current mood, he wondered if he should even dare to show her the surprise he’d planned for her birthday. He could tell she thought he’d forgotten, but he’d been busy all morning in her hothouse getting everything ready, because he knew that was the first place she always went. And yet, he’d already found a way to irritate her.
He hadn’t meanthis offering to come acrossasacharitable endeavor, only that hewanted her tohavewhat littlemoney he had in his possessionto start a new life beyond this Texas mountainside, if that’s what she wanted. It would definitely be better than allowinghis captors to take off with it, laughing as they slammed the jail door in his face.
