Read Online Mara McBain by McCade's Way - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: McCade's Way
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in curiosity, her husband’s voice had been harsh when he ordered her back inside.
She shielded her eyes from the sun, searching the fields for any sign of the men, but didn’t see anything. Her eyes darted to the clothesline. Bright mums grew around the poles that were only fifty yards from the side of the house. Step one foot outside this house, or talk to anyone, and I’ll beat you. The words still resonated in her head. There weren’t too many ways to misinterpret them. She closed the door. Brutus lay back down in front of the door with his big head on his paws. She wasn’t sure, but she thought the look on the dog’s face said good choice .
Trey trudged behind the wagon as it groaned and creaked under the load of firewood. Cole kicked the tractor into a higher gear as they hit flat ground and motored for the house without a backward glance. Trey was glad he’d chosen to walk. They’d butted heads all day and maybe the walk would give his temper time to cool. If he heard the words old-fashioned, antiquated, or out of touch one more time today, his maul might end up buried in his brother’s head.
How could someone who’d grown up in the same household he had not see the common sense of being prepared for winter? The McCade farm had only had electricity for four years now and only because their esteemed mayor’s place was just beyond theirs. Even their mama had questioned him on including the conventional wood burning stove in the kitchen that sat cold, but he’d stayed stubborn. Modern conveniences were wonderful things. He wasn’t denying that, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to bank his family’s safety and well-being on a line of rickety poles and tangled wires.
When he reached the barnyard, the tractor was parked near the woodpile and Cole was nowhere in sight. Shaking his head, Trey checked to see that Brute was at his post on the porch and set to doing the evening chores with his mind on a good meal, a warm shower, and a hot woman. He smiled remembering her question about where women fell in his priorities. If he thought she could stand the smell of him, he’d move her up a spot.
He was just closing up the barn when he heard a shout. He spun toward the pasture separating his home from the original house. The clouds were shadowing the moon, but it looked like two figures coming across the field. Crossing the yard, he heard Brute’s low growl. The big mutt had walked to the edge of the porch and was looking in the same direction as his master.
“Stay!” Trey ordered sharply.
Reaching the fence, he rested a boot on the bottom rung and waited. Cole was recognizable by his size and gait, but he couldn’t get a read on the smaller man in the dim light.
“Look who I found on my porch,” Cole said, a hint of derision in his voice that made Trey straighten to his full height.
“Good God, boy, look at the size of you. It doesn’t look like you’re missing too many meals in these lean times,” the slender man said, slipping through the fence.
Trey fought not to let his dislike for his uncle show as he accepted a handshake and a few slaps on the back.
“What’re you doing here?”
“I heard about your ma. I was sorry to hear about her passing.”
“Not sorry enough to attend the funeral,” Trey said flatly. “That was almost a year ago. What do you want?”
“You are Thomas’s boy, aren’t you? Always blunt and to the point.”
“Yes, sir. I’d be helpful if you were the same. Dinner is waiting.”
“I appreciate that, boy. I could use a good hot meal while we talk. Getting rid of that pretty little wife of yours must’ve eased up the pressure on your balls and wallet. You’ve added a couple buildings to the new place since I was here last. You must be doing well for yourself living like this when the rest of us can’t keep a roof over our heads.”
Trey ground his teeth as the older man brushed past him, tossing out insults as he went. His father’s youngest
She shielded her eyes from the sun, searching the fields for any sign of the men, but didn’t see anything. Her eyes darted to the clothesline. Bright mums grew around the poles that were only fifty yards from the side of the house. Step one foot outside this house, or talk to anyone, and I’ll beat you. The words still resonated in her head. There weren’t too many ways to misinterpret them. She closed the door. Brutus lay back down in front of the door with his big head on his paws. She wasn’t sure, but she thought the look on the dog’s face said good choice .
Trey trudged behind the wagon as it groaned and creaked under the load of firewood. Cole kicked the tractor into a higher gear as they hit flat ground and motored for the house without a backward glance. Trey was glad he’d chosen to walk. They’d butted heads all day and maybe the walk would give his temper time to cool. If he heard the words old-fashioned, antiquated, or out of touch one more time today, his maul might end up buried in his brother’s head.
How could someone who’d grown up in the same household he had not see the common sense of being prepared for winter? The McCade farm had only had electricity for four years now and only because their esteemed mayor’s place was just beyond theirs. Even their mama had questioned him on including the conventional wood burning stove in the kitchen that sat cold, but he’d stayed stubborn. Modern conveniences were wonderful things. He wasn’t denying that, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to bank his family’s safety and well-being on a line of rickety poles and tangled wires.
When he reached the barnyard, the tractor was parked near the woodpile and Cole was nowhere in sight. Shaking his head, Trey checked to see that Brute was at his post on the porch and set to doing the evening chores with his mind on a good meal, a warm shower, and a hot woman. He smiled remembering her question about where women fell in his priorities. If he thought she could stand the smell of him, he’d move her up a spot.
He was just closing up the barn when he heard a shout. He spun toward the pasture separating his home from the original house. The clouds were shadowing the moon, but it looked like two figures coming across the field. Crossing the yard, he heard Brute’s low growl. The big mutt had walked to the edge of the porch and was looking in the same direction as his master.
“Stay!” Trey ordered sharply.
Reaching the fence, he rested a boot on the bottom rung and waited. Cole was recognizable by his size and gait, but he couldn’t get a read on the smaller man in the dim light.
“Look who I found on my porch,” Cole said, a hint of derision in his voice that made Trey straighten to his full height.
“Good God, boy, look at the size of you. It doesn’t look like you’re missing too many meals in these lean times,” the slender man said, slipping through the fence.
Trey fought not to let his dislike for his uncle show as he accepted a handshake and a few slaps on the back.
“What’re you doing here?”
“I heard about your ma. I was sorry to hear about her passing.”
“Not sorry enough to attend the funeral,” Trey said flatly. “That was almost a year ago. What do you want?”
“You are Thomas’s boy, aren’t you? Always blunt and to the point.”
“Yes, sir. I’d be helpful if you were the same. Dinner is waiting.”
“I appreciate that, boy. I could use a good hot meal while we talk. Getting rid of that pretty little wife of yours must’ve eased up the pressure on your balls and wallet. You’ve added a couple buildings to the new place since I was here last. You must be doing well for yourself living like this when the rest of us can’t keep a roof over our heads.”
Trey ground his teeth as the older man brushed past him, tossing out insults as he went. His father’s youngest
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