Page 81 of Wilde Ride

My mother and grandmother, along with other volunteers, always made the kids what they called mud cups. It was chocolate pudding in cups, topped with cookie crumbs for “dirt” and candy worms. They were adorable, and the kids loved them. They’d be brought to the cabins while we were at the cookout.

“Yes.”

“You told her about the mud cups?”

He frowned. “Yes, Emeline, I told her about the mud cups.”

“And…what? She didn’t like that idea?”

“She thought it would be fun to make a dessert over the open fire. I informed her it was too late to add anything to the menu.”

“What kind of dessert is she thinking?” I asked.

“Peach cobbler!” He practically shouted it at me.

“Why are you yelling?”

Caden closed his eyes and appeared to be counting. When he opened them again, he said, “Peach cobbler, Emeline.”

“I heard you the first time when you yelled it out. I don’t see what the big deal is. We can make two fires and use a couple of Dutch ovens for the peach cobbler. The kids would probably love that.”

“I’m not making peach cobbler. Not tonight, not next month, never.”

“Oh my gosh, why are you being such a jerk about this?”

“Did you tell her?” he asked.

“Tell who what?”

“The peach cobbler. Did you tell Lilibeth?”

The look of hurt that passed over my brother’s face nearly took my breath away. It was then that I realized why he was throwing such a fit. It actually had nothing to do with adding the dessert. It was because peach cobbler was Rachel’s favorite…and the day he proposed, he’d made it for her.

The day she told him she could never marry him.

My hand slowly came up to my mouth. I shook my head before dropping my hand. “I didn’t tell her, Caden. I wouldn’t do that to you. And I totally forgot. I’m so sorry.”

He pushed a hand through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. “I thought she was doing it on purpose. I got so angry with her. I told her to mind her own damn business, that she probably shouldn’t even come tonight.”

I put a hand on my hip. “I know Lilibeth, and she’d never purposely cause anyone harm or intentionally try to hurt them. She probably just thought it was a cute idea for the kids, Caden. I’m sorry, but…not everything revolves around you. Lilibeth’s been having such an amazing time this week, and she’s doing me a huge favor by volunteering so much.”

He closed his eyes and cursed.

“Why do you hate her so much?”

Snapping his eyes back open, he stared at me in surprise. “I don’t hate her.”

“Really? Could have fooled me. Every time she comes around, you’re glaring at her or saying some smartass remark. And you call her ‘sweetheart’ when you know she doesn’t like it.”

“She doesn’t seem to give a shit what I say, since all she does is smile and go out of her way to try to be so damn…happy!”

I laughed. “Because she’s a bubbly person.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. But I’m not doing peach cobbler.”

Before I could say anything else, he stomped off.

“What was that about?”