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taking the kids swimming today. Can it wait until tomorrow?”
    Pop shrugged. “Don’t see why not. Old Hague ain’t goin’ anywhere.”
    “I need to talk to Seth and Bonnie, anyway. Someone said they live on the old Brighton place north of town?”
    Pop nodded. “Yep. Just down the road a piece from Frank and Helen’s place.”
    “I’ll pick up Hague then. Kill two birds with one stone. I’ll stop by and talk to the Brightons on the way back.”
    “Want to satisfy your conscience that they’ll make a good home for Addy’s kids? They will, you know. Seth’s a hard worker.”
    “So I hear.” Cade got up and stretched. “Cheer up. By tomorrow you might feel like taking care of the Suffox County trouble yourself.” Cade laughed when Pop’s stomach rumbled so loud they both heard it.
    “Son, there ain’t enough outhouses between here and Suffox County for me to chance it. The rate I’m going, you’d be bringing back my carcass alongside Hague’s.”

 
     

Chapter Ten

     
     
     
    L eaning against a tree, Cade listened to giggly splashes. One by one, the three oldest kids dropped into the cool water from a rope knotted to the jutting branch of a walnut tree. Missy waded along the rocky bank.
    Glancing across the stream, Cade silently conceded he’d missed home more than he thought. It was peaceful here. He, Zoe, and Addy had spent hours at the swimming hole as kids.
    A hawk cried overhead, drawing his attention. Was it the money or the thrill of the chase that kept him away? He’d made a lot of money, but money was worthless when you’re six feet under. The incident near Laredo last month was as close as he’d ever come to dying. The outlaw had been a hair quicker than he had. His hand absently went to the nagging pain in his right shoulder, a reminder that his luck would play out someday.
    Missy squealed and he straightened. Twigs snapped beneath his boots as he raced to the water’s edge. He found Addy’s youngest sobbing and holding a bleeding foot.
    “What happened, sweetheart?” He picked her up and examined her toe. A tiny nick oozed a thin trickle of blood.
    “Something bit me!”
    “Nothing bit you. You stepped on a sharp rock.”
    “Thwow it away!”
    “All right.” Still holding her in his arms, he waded into the water and pretended to single out the culprit. “Wait a minute—yes, there it is. Come here, you rascal!” He picked up a rock and hurled it to the opposite bank, laughing when his heroic theatrics induced a giggle from Missy.
    “You’re going to get in trouble, Uncle Cade.” Holly pointed at his wet trousers.
    “Yeah,” Brody added. “One time Will and I waded through a puddle of water and just about ruined our shoes. Zoe made us polish ’em for an hour.”
    “A hunnert hours,” Will corrected.
    “Maybe she won’t notice.” Cade waded out of the stream, carrying Missy, and settled her in a grassy spot on the embankment.
    “It huwts, Uncle Cade.”
    He wrapped his kerchief around the tender spot. She hadn’t spoken directly to him until today. Her voice was tiny and sweet as spring hyacinths. “I know, honey. It’ll stop in a minute.”
    Holly ran up the grassy knoll, breathless. “Should I go get Zoe?”
    “Missy will be fine.” He smiled at the eight-year-old as he held out his hand. “Come here. Don’t be afraid of me.”
    Holly hesitated, and then she walked slowly toward him. After a moment, she sat down beside him, staring. “You look kind of like Ma.”
    “Think so?”
    “Uh-huh. Did you pull Ma’s hair like Brody and Will do mine and Missy’s?”
    He chuckled. “I’m sure I did. Isn’t that what brothers are for?”
    Will shot out of the water with Brody chasing after him. The boys ran up the hill, intentionally shaking water on the girls.
    Missy yelled, “Quit it! You’ll get my sowe toe wet! Uncle Cade bandaged it fow me.” Cornflower blue eyes turned in his direction, and Cade heard the voice of an angel say, “Thank you,