Read Online A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland - Free Book Online Page B

Uncle Cade. You’we a good boy.”
    Will shook water on her again. “He ain’t a boy. He’s a growed man.”
    “Yeah,” Brody said, eyeing Cade. “He shoots a pistol. I’m gonna shoot a pistol when I learn how.” He looked at Cade straight on. “Will you teach me?”
    Cade knew Addy wouldn’t mind if he taught her boy to shoot, but he thought Zoe would have his hide. “Have you ever shot a gun, son?”
    “My pa let me shoot his shotgun one time when he took me squirrel hunting.” He rubbed his shoulder. “It hurt.”
    Cade turned him in the direction of the water. “You can learn to shoot when you’re older. Right now, you’re wasting swim time.”
    “Can I get in the watew again?” Missy held her foot high in the air, waving it.
    “Don’t know why not.” He carefully unwrapped the handkerchief and saw that the bleeding had stopped. “Just don’t step on any more sharp rocks.”
    Holly took hold of her little sister’s hand. “I’ll watch her, Uncle Cade.”
    “Thank you, Holly. I’d appreciate it.”
    As they walked away, Missy turned around and grinned. For the first time, he noticed she was missing a front tooth.
    “Awe you glad I’m talkin’ to you, Uncle Cade?”
    He winked. “Real glad.”
    Noisy chatter erupted as he leaned back against the tree again. Addy and John must have been proud of their children. Settling his hat lower on his forehead, he thought of Zoe, stirred by her love for his sister’s kids. If he hadn’t ridden off all those years ago, he and Red would be married, and those would be his kids playing on the swing. The thought didn’t sour his stomach. If he let himself, he could think on that a while.
    An hour passed. Pushing his brim up, he realized it was getting late. The sun was setting, and the children had missed dinner. Zoe would wonder what happened to them. Before he could call them in, the sound of snapping twigs brought his hand to his holster. Quick as a flash, the Colt centered on the intruder.

     
    Zoe froze at the edge of the clearing, her gaze riveted on the weapon. He heard her suck in a deep breath as her face turned tense with cold disapproval.
    “Don’t ever sneak up on me like that,” he said, slipping the gun back into his holster.
    “It’s getting late. I was worried.” Her voice was chilly with condemnation.
    “Sorry. The time got away from me.”
    “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
    “Hey. We’ve had a peaceful afternoon and I’m feeling generous.” He pointed to the ground beside him. “Might as well sit down.”
    After a bit, she seated herself a safe distance away. “Are you getting along with them?”
    “No. We’ve been bickering like thieves.”
    “Very amusing.”
    “We’re doing fine. Stop worrying.”
    “Better call them in. Supper’s ready.”
    Cupping his hands to his mouth, he shouted, “The redheaded boss lady says you’ve had enough for one day!”
    A bevy of groans and complaints went up as the children sloshed out of the water and trudged up the embankment.
    “Hi, Zoe!” Holly said.
    “We swimmded all day!” Will grinned from ear to ear.
    “Hello, children.”
    Brody’s lips quivered as Zoe wrapped a large towel around him. “Ow! That hurts!” he cried.
    Zoe lifted the towel and examined Brody’s reddened shoulders. When Will, Holly, and Missy crowded around to see, Cade realized they all looked like cooked lobsters.
    “Cade, how long have they been in the sun?”
    “I don’t know. All afternoon, I guess.” He frowned. “A little sun’s good for them.”
    “A little sun? They’re blistered!”
    He pressed a finger to Brody’s sunburned skin, leaving a white indentation. “What do you do for this?”
    She picked up the kids’ strewn clothing and helped Will put on his shirt. “Never mind, I’ll take care of it. Come along, children. I’ll give you a vinegar bath to take out the heat.”
    “A vinegar bath! Pee-eew!” the children chorused.
    Cade stepped back as she gathered the