Distraction (12 page)

A small laugh came from her temptingly sweet lips.
“That’s just silly.”

“Is it? You’ve never explained how you got here.
Obviously you didn’t come by train . . . or horseback and it’s an
awfully long walk from Salem.” I stepped close enough that if I
concentrated I could count the freckles on her tiny nose. But at
this point, concentration was impossible. Her warmth, her
intoxicating fragrance dragged my mind to one place— the lush lips
only inches from mine.

“I’m far from being an ang—”

Before my mind could reason me out of it, I lifted my
hand and pressed my palm against her cheek, stopping her words. My
thumb brushed over her full bottom lip, and she gazed up at me with
the same need I felt coursing through my entire body. I leaned my
face closer. My mouth hovered so closely to hers, I could feel her
soft breath trail across my chin.

“I could have sworn I saw him walk into the barn.”
Virginia’s grating voice shattered the heated atmosphere
surrounding us, and reluctantly, I straightened, pulling my mouth
away from the lips I wanted to taste so badly I ached for it.

Poppy sidled by me and hurried past the two women who
now stood in the open doorway. Virginia turned and watched Poppy
walk back to the house. I returned to grooming my horse, trying all
the while to cool the fever in my blood.

“Why, Cade Tanner,” the pitch of Virginia’s voice
startled the horse, “if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were
avoiding me.” She scooted up next to me.

“I’ve got a ranch to run, Ginny. I don’t have time to
take a tea break during the day.”

“I haven’t heard you call me Ginny in such a long
time.” She looked down at her hand. “Why, just look, I’m blushing
like a school girl.”

“What was Poppy doing in here?” Charlotte’s
suspicious tone made me bristle.

“She was giving Red a carrot.” I shot a cold glance
her way. “Did she forget to ask your permission?”

Her glare was even more accusatory than her harsh
tone. “Just wondering why she was out here alone with you. Don’t
always get so defensive.”

“Then stop asking me questions and let me finish my
work.”

“Now don’t be angry with Charlotte,” Virginia said,
completely oblivious to the hidden meaning behind the discussion.
“I asked her to bring me out here. But, you know, Lottie, we’d
better get started on those table linens or those tables will be
naked tomorrow night.” I was relieved when they turned to leave,
but Virginia spun back around. “You are coming to the town social
tomorrow night, aren’t you, Cade?”

I ran a brush over the horse’s back. “Wasn’t plannin’
on it.”

“Well, we’ll just have to do something to change your
mind,” Virginia said confidently and then marched out of the
barn.

Unfortunately, Charlotte lingered. Obviously not
finished with her scolding, she moved in closer, and damn, if she
didn’t know exactly what I’d had on my mind. Up came an admonishing
finger, which she pointed in my face. “What do you think Libby
would say if I told her you were out here seducing her little
stray?”

I stepped closer to her, and she instinctively took a
step back. “Don’t ever call her a stray, and don’t ever worry
yourself about any of my business.”

“It seems that it’s about time for that girl to head
back home, wherever that may be. Maybe we should turn her into the
sheriff. Let’s face it, there is something unsavory in that girl’s
past with the way she ended up here all alone.”

I gritted my teeth to keep my temper. “This is my
ranch, and she can stay as long as she needs.”

“Or at least until you get what you want from her.”
The woman knew no boundaries.

“Charlotte, get the hell out of this barn and don’t
talk to me about this again. In fact, just don’t talk to me again .
. . ever.”

She turned on her heels and walked out. Then stopped,
as I knew she would, to have the last word. “And this is half
Samuel’s ranch too. You seem—”

I lifted my hand to stop her. “I meant what I said.
Don’t talk to me anymore, Charlotte.”

With a grunt of anger, she turned on her heels and
walked out.

The light outside was fading and the inside of the
barn grew dark. I was not ready to go inside, especially now. I
pulled out a cigarette hoping a smoke with relieve my anger.
Charlotte was the one person who could truly enrage me, and this
time, she’d been at her best, venomous and straight to the heart. I
leaned against Red’s stall and thought about the kiss I’d wanted so
badly. Charlotte’s accusations stung, but the more I thought about
Poppy, the more I knew, deep down, that this was not just about a
kiss. Every inch of me reacted to her presence. This girl was more
than just a tempting pair of lips and softly curved hips. And that
was what worried me most.

I absently snapped the peas in half and tossed them
into the pot. I didn’t know if the irony of my situation would make
Nonni laugh or cry. Here she had performed dark magic, something
she’d rarely done, to hide me from one man, only to throw me into
the arms of another. Of course, I was all too eager to escape from
Angus. But Cade was an entirely different situation. And, while I
longed to be back with Nonni and Mari in our content little
existence, my heart felt leaden when I thought of never seeing Cade
again.

“That’s enough of those, Poppy. The boys have hearty
appetites, but we’re not feeding an army,” Libby said. She plopped
a roast beef on a platter. “Let’s get those on the stove and dinner
will be done.” She took a moment to glance out the window. “I still
haven’t seen Cade. Did you happen to see him when you were in the
barn?”

“Huh?” Her question caught me off guard and stirred
up the emotions of the last moments with Cade in the barn. “Uh, uh,
yes,” I stuttered, “he was putting away his horse.”

Fortunately, she was too busy carving beef to notice
how inexplicably flustered I’d become with her simple question.

Boot heels sounded on the porch steps, and my heart
fluttered instantly and then slowed when Jackson walked through the
door. He smiled at me. “Hey, Poppy, how are you feeling after your
ride?”

“I’m feeling it in my legs. It will probably be worse
tomorrow, but it is definitely worth the discomfort. Thank you
again for taking me out.”

“My pleasure.” He sighed. “But what an afternoon, eh?
For a moment there, I thought Cade was a goner.”

Libby’s head snapped up, and she looked wide-eyed at
Jackson. “What are you talking about?”

Jackson looked as if he wished he could have taken
back his last statement. “Cade didn’t tell you?”

Libby put down her carving knife and wiped her hands
on her apron. “He didn’t tell me a thing. I just figured he slipped
pulling the cow out of the mud.”

Jackson looked rather helpless, but he’d opened the
can and the expression on Libby’s face seemed to let him know there
was no turning back. “He was freeing the cow, but it fell over on
him and pushed him down into the mud,” he blurted the story out
quickly, obviously thinking it would be easier. “We couldn’t get
the heifer up, and Cade was stuck under her.” He shot me a knowing
glance as if he knew something unexplained had happened out there
and that he was certain it had to do with me. He turned his
attention back to Libby, who had grown a shade paler. “But then
that beast just hopped to her feet and walked out of the hole. It
was nothing short of miraculous.” Another pointed glance my
direction.

Libby was silent as she seemed to absorb the whole
story and then her shoulders visibly relaxed. Her love for Cade had
never been more evident than in the last few moments. She went back
to her beef roast. “Finish cooking those peas, Poppy, and let’s get
the food to the table.” There was a slight hitch in her voice as
she spoke, and Jackson seemed more than ever to regret bringing it
up. Libby looked up at Jackson. “Don’t just stand there like a
fool. Go tell Cade supper is ready.”

Libby carried the platter into the dining room. I
could hear Charlotte and Virginia talking animatedly as the food
was being served. I’d always felt welcome at the table, but now,
with Virginia’s arrival, I sensed some animosity from Charlotte as
if she’d decided that I was overstaying my welcome. The train, the
massive steaming beast that had thrown me into Cade’s arms, seemed
to be my best chance for getting back home. But, surely, they did
not allow people to ride for free, and at the moment, I was
penniless. I tossed a pinch of salt into the pot of peas and
swirled them around in the boiling water. Behind me, the kitchen
door opened and boot heels pounded the floor. Jackson must have
returned from his task of summoning Cade. Just the thought of
seeing the man made my hands tremble. I startled as a strong arm
snaked around my waist. The spoon slipped from my fingers, and it
sank below the water’s surface. He pulled me against his hard
chest, and the heat of his body warmed me more than the steam from
the stove. I placed my hand on his arm, and he lowered his mouth
next to my ear.

“Poppy,” he whispered and the vibration of it sent a
shiver through me.

Libby’s determined footsteps neared and he dropped
his arm. I peeked up from the stove and watched him walk out of the
room without another word. Libby stopped and glanced into the pot.
“Those peas look done.” She picked up the basket of rolls and
stopped behind me. “The spoon looks done too.”

I poured the vegetables into a serving bowl and
carried them into the dining room with unsteady hands. I avoided
eye contact with Cade, otherwise I was certain peas would cascade
over the white table cloth. The only open seat was situated
directly across from Cade, making my plan to not look at him quite
impossible.

Samuel sat next to Cade and Virginia next to Samuel.
She leaned over and whispered something to Samuel, and they
switched places. Cade paid her no attention as she scooted her
chair a little closer to his.

“Cade,” Libby said rather sharply. I had an idea of
what was coming next. “Jackson mentioned that you were in grave
danger out there in that mud hole.’”

Jackson was seated next to me, and I could feel him
shrink down in his seat. I kept my attention on my plate of
food.

“Jacks needs to learn to stop flapping his jaw so
much,” Cade said tersely.

“I figured you’d told her what happened,” Jackson
said. “And Libby, you’re twisting my words around. All I said was
that he was almost a goner because a cow fell on him.”

Samuel sat forward and looked over at his brother.
“Finally, a dinner conversation topic that interests me. A cow fell
on you?”

Jackson straightened and now seemed enthusiastic to
relay the details. “Cade was pulling a heifer out of a deep puddle
of mud, and she fell over on him. Nearly drowned him.”

Samuel sat quietly for a moment and then threw his
head back with laughter.

I peeked up at Cade. He was looking at me. “Told you
he’d laugh all the way to the grave site.”

Libby reached over and fisted Samuel on his arm.
“Your brother nearly dies and you’re laughing about it?”

Virginia’s scowl rivaled Libby’s in fierceness.

Under icy scowls, Samuel finally gained his
composure.

“Can we please switch the topic?” Virginia asked.
“This one is ruining my appetite.”

“Virginia is right, boys.” Libby said.

“You brought it up.” Cade shoved a piece of meat into
his mouth.

Virginia lowered her fork to her plate and it seemed
she had some important matters to discuss. “In regards to tomorrow
evening, Charlotte and I have decided that Samuel can drive Libby,
Lottie, and me in the wagon, and Jackson and Cade can follow on
horseback.” She looked over at Cade. “And don’t give me any excuse
about not attending. Libby already assured me you’d be going.”

Cade did not look up from his plate. “Then Libby’s
making promises she can’t keep.”

Virginia’s obvious exclusion of me from their plans
had struck me like a slap. Of course, I was certainly better off
not going. I knew no one in town and would feel out of place and
awkward at their town social. But Virginia had wanted to make it
clear that I was not invited.

“Poppy can travel in the wagon too,” Libby said.

“But there isn’t room for five people,” Charlotte
said. It was more and more evident that Charlotte, who’d been so
attentive when I was sick, no longer wanted me at the ranch. My
mood darkened as I listened to their conversation. And, while I was
part of the topic, I had no interest in joining in. I stared down
at my plate and stirred my peas into my potatoes when the toe of
Cade’s boot pushed between my two feet.

I peered up at him through my lowered lashes and his
gaze was locked on me. The toe of his boot moved up along my
lace-up boots until it reached the skin of my calf. He rubbed his
foot there a tantalizing moment and then lowered it.

The three women continued their debate with no clue
of the flirtations going on beneath the table.

“Poppy is small. We’ll fit just fine,” Libby said in
a tone of finality. “And Cade, of course you’ll go to the town
social.”

Cade’s foot stayed tucked between my feet as he cut
his beef. “Don’t count on it.”

“It’s better if he doesn’t come,” Samuel said.
“There’s always trouble when Cade shows up to a social event.”

“Oh, you over exaggerate, Samuel,” Libby said. “Now
pass the rolls this direction.”

Samuel handed Libby the bread basket. “Am I? If I had
a dollar for every fist fight that broke out because of Cade, then
I’d—”

“Then you’d still be a poor man,” Cade said over a
forkful of beef.

“I’d be richer than I am now,” Samuel said
confidently.

Cade leaned back in his chair. “If I tossed a penny
your way, you’d be richer than you are now too, you fool.”