The Texan's Bride (10 page)

“Build your house, Chance, I don’t foresee any problems. But we need to talk to Aunt Etta to get everything clear and on paper.”

Chance stood. “I’m going home this weekend. I’ll talk to her.”

“She’ll be happy you’re coming home.” Cadde reached for his pen on the desk. “You’re not quitting Shilah, are you?”

“Hell, no, every penny I have is invested here. I’ll use the chopper to travel back and forth.”

“Good. Tell Aunt Etta and Uncle Ru I said hi and I’ll get home as soon as I can. Right now my life is a…” Cadde pointed his pen at Chance. “Don’t allow anyone into this building unless you call me first.”

“What?” Chance seemed puzzled at the quick change of topic.

“You let Myra Delgado in this morning.”

“Yeah. She’s an assistant D.A. and Rosa and Felix’s daughter.”

“I don’t care. You call first.”

“Okay. What happened?”

“She…uh…interrupted us, and said something to upset Jessie.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because after she left Jessie was acting weird…mad.”

“Maybe you said something to upset her.”

“What!” Cadde threw his pen onto the desk. “Just
because Kid is away doesn’t mean you can pick up his habit of annoying the crap out of me.”

Chance held up his hands. “I’m just trying to help you. You didn’t say anything to her after Myra left?”

“No. I…oh, no!” His mind clicked with the reality of his own actions. He’d mentioned the board meeting. After what had happened last night between them, he knew that was a big no-no in Jessie’s eyes. But Shilah was an important part of their business deal. Even as the thought zapped through his mind, he knew it was wrong. It negated everything they’d shared last night and made it business, functionally, not emotionally. Oh, God, he had to see Jessie.

He shoved back his chair. “I’ve got to go.”

“Cadde.”

His phone rang and Barbara’s voice came on, “Mr. Hardin, Arnie called from accounting. You’re ten minutes late for your appointment.”

Cadde sighed. “Tell him I’ll be right there.”

At the meeting, Arnie reviewed labor, material and rig costs of drilling in Louisiana. Cadde had to know if they could even afford this venture, but the numbers went right over his head. He couldn’t concentrate. Something beside business had his full attention—Jessie.

He stood. “I really have to run. Get all the figures to me. I’ll go over them in the morning.”

“Um…okay.”

Cadde hurried down the hallway. Jessie should be back from seeing Mirry by now. He stopped dead. The truck keys were in his pocket. With the way she was
acting this morning, he’d forgotten to give them to her. Dammit!

Hurriedly, he unlocked the apartment door. Inside, everything was dark, not a light on anywhere. The bedroom was the same. No sign of Jessie. All her things were missing, but the scent of cherry blossoms lingered, as it did on his tongue.

But Jessie was gone.

C
ADDE HEADED OUT OF
H
OUSTON
. Jessie had to be home by now. His guess was she’d called Rosa to pick her up and that had probably taken a slice of her independent pride. He was lousy at reading the signals. Still, they shouldn’t have to read each other’s mind. She should have said that he’d hurt her feelings and then they could have talked about it. But oh, no, she’d closed up tighter than a turtle poked by a stick.

That was Jessie, though, stubborn as hell, and she wasn’t sinking her pride. He knew how long she’d fought to keep it.

As he negotiated traffic, his thoughts shifted to Chance. He was going home. Family had always meant a lot to Chance. That’s what Cadde wanted with Jessie—a family, but their deal was there between them like a slap in the face. It stung. Somehow they had to get beyond that. She had to understand Shilah had to move forward. That didn’t diminish them as a couple, as a family. How did he explain that without hurting her feelings? How did he explain it to himself? All he knew was that he wanted her in his life.

He drove up to the garages and got out. Instead of going to the house, he walked toward the barn. He
paused in the entry. Jessie sat in loose hay holding a bottle so a baby deer could suckle.

She cooed softly. “You’re so much better, Bambi. Drink all you want.”

A one-eyed donkey stuck his head through an open window.

“Go away, Winky, you’re not getting any more food.”

The donkey brayed in disagreement and Jessie’s face lit up like he’d never seen before. She was happy here in this musty barn with her animals. This was her world—a world she carved away from the aggressive protection of the people in her life.

Felix walked in from the back door. “She’s stronger, huh, Miss Jessie?”

“Much stronger.” Jessie stroked the deer. “Since the Dobermans are no longer here, she can roam free in the barn. But I would like her to get some sunshine.”

“I’m building a small pen with an eight-foot fence around it.”

Jessie jumped up and hugged Felix. “Thank you. Now she’ll have lots of sunshine.”

“Mr. Cadde.” Felix finally spotted him.

Jessie didn’t acknowledge his presence. She went into a small makeshift kitchen. To say she was still mad was like saying water was wet.

“Mr. Cadde, your gun and hat are at the house.”

“Thank you, Felix.”

He turned to Jessie. “Could we talk for a minute?”

“I’m busy,” she replied, and rinsed the baby bottle.

“It will only take a minute.”

“Fine,” she snapped in that clipped tone he was beginning to know well.

“Not here. In private.”

“Sorry, I’m busy.” She made to walk past him and he caught her arm, leading her out of the barn.

She tried to wiggle away from him. “Let me go.”

“No,” he told her. “We’re talking…now.”

She ceased her struggle to get away, but he didn’t loosen his grip. They went through the garage into the kitchen.

A startled Rosa stopped peeling potatoes. “Miss Jessie…”

“She’s fine,” Cadde replied. “We just need a few minutes alone.”

Once inside the bedroom, Cadde closed and locked the door.

Jessie placed her hands on her hips. “This had better be good.”

He took a deep breath, gauging every word. “After last night, it was crass of me to mention the board meeting.”

“Yes, it was.” She sat on the foot of the bed. “Being new at this I let my emotions get involved. That won’t happen again.”

“Really?” he mocked her.

“Yes.” She stood in a restless movement. “I could be pregnant and if I am then we won’t need to have sex again. If not, well, I guess we’ll have to.”

She made to walk past him and he caught her arm again. “No, no, no, that’s not how it’s going to be. A real marriage…that’s what it says in the agreement. I’m
sorry if bringing that up upsets you, but we’re having a real marriage with sex every night or however much we want.” He took a breath. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had sex?”

“This morning,” she quipped.

“Before that.”

“Last night.”

He smiled. She smiled. Suddenly the tension wasn’t there.

“Longer than that…a long time, so last night was special for me, too.” He rubbed her forearm and knew it smelled of cherry blossoms. “But there’s something you need to know about me. I’m not good at the emotional stuff. Chance is. Kid was born with it. They had to yank him out with tongs and he still came out smiling. I’m the serious, responsible brother. I know everything there is to know about the oil business, but I know absolutely nothing about women. Last night was awesome and I want to build on that. I want you. That’s about all I have to say.”

“It’s enough.” Her eyes sparkled so maybe he was getting something right.

She stepped closer to him and he stepped back. Was he insane? But he had something to get off his chest. “I don’t want a kid of mine born as part of a business deal and I don’t want that agreement hanging between us. It just creates bad feelings. I’d rather we start out better than that.”

“What about the transfer of the share giving you control?”

He jammed his hands through his hair and pushed
everything he’d ever dreamed about to the side burner. What he said now would shape their marriage and he was very aware of that. “I hope you’ll listen to my plans for Shilah and vote with your head, vote for what you think is right for this oil company. We have to build this marriage on trust and honesty.”

Jessie walked to her dresser. Opening a drawer, she pulled out a folder and laid it on the bed. “There’s the agreement. I haven’t taken it to the lawyer yet.”

He grabbed the document from the folder and ripped it into several pieces. He then threw them into the air and as they fluttered around them, Jessie jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, her arms tight around his neck.

He held on and he knew their relationship had just changed. Turning, he fell backward on the bed, cradling her in his arms. She raised up and whipped her T-shirt over her head, throwing it on the floor. Her bra followed.

As he was giving one breast his full attention a knock sounded at the door.

“Miss Jessie, are you okay?” Rosa called.

Jessie smiled, the biggest smile he’d never seen. “I’m fine, Rosa. I’m really, really fine.” And then she started to unbutton his shirt.

Jessie understood he wasn’t always going to get it right, but he was trying. A part of him wondered if he’d just made the worst decision of his life. His child would not be born under a business agreement, though. And Jessie’s feelings were important. That shocked him the
most. He didn’t want to see that hurt look in her eyes again.

As he took her sweet lips he knew she was in control, but this time it didn’t bother him.

T
HEY SPENT THE WEEKEND
in bed or in the pool with sporadic trips into Houston to see Mirry. It was the most relaxing two days Cadde could recall. He didn’t go into the office, not once, and he even took the time to call his aunt and uncle. That was usually Chance’s department, but family was important to him, too.

On Monday morning he was up early and dressed for work. Jessie was still asleep. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m leaving.”

“Mmm,” she mumbled, but she didn’t wake up.

He walked to the door, wondering if he should remind her of the board meeting at ten. But he chose not to. She knew about it and the decision was hers. Shilah’s future was in her hands.

Chance rushed into his office at fifteen minutes to ten. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” Cadde glanced at his watch. “We have a few minutes. How’s everything in High Cotton?”

“Great. Uncle Ru is back cowboying.”

“I know. I called.”

“Aunt Etta told me and I guess she told you she doesn’t want the land. She’s leaving it to us, her heirs.”

“Yep.” Cadde reached for his jacket. “I promised her I’d get one of the lawyers to draw up the papers, but we still need to do something about our parents’ house.”

“Maybe when Kid gets back.”

Once again, they put off the dreaded task.

He picked up his briefcase. “Let’s go.”

“This is just a business formality, right?” Chance asked as they walked out of Cadde’s office. “I mean, you have the agreement with Jessie.”

Cadde shook his head. “No. We tore it up.”

“What? But…”

“I’m going to trust Jessie to do the right thing. Isn’t that what marriage is about?”

“Yes, but you’ve talked to her, right?”

“No, the decision is hers.”

“What!” Chance followed him like a pesky mosquito. “I’m not understanding any of this.”

“We’re trying to build a marriage on trust. Do you understand that?”

“Well, yes, but if we needed votes we should have waited for Kid.”

Cadde stopped and faced him. “Relax. I’ll handle the board meeting.”

They walked in and took their seats. Jessie’s seat was vacant. But all of Roscoe’s cronies were there: Percival, better known as Hooter Caldwell, Hubert Gillespie, Owen McGrew, Hank Parker, J. T. Hardeson and George Pettibone.

Hooter Caldwell chomped on his cigar. “What’s this meeting about, Cadde? We just had a board meeting.”

“Yeah,” Owen McGrew piped up, “you’re not bringing up those Louisiana leases again, are you?”

Cadde scooted his chair forward. “Roscoe held on to those leases for a reason, have you ever thought of that?”

“Roscoe was plumb crazy and I never understood him most of the time.”

“But you understood it when he made you money?”

“Hell, yeah.”

“Jessie’s not here,” Hooter commented. “Has she been notified of the meeting?”

“Yes,” Cadde replied with all the patience he had. “I live with her, remember?”

“That don’t amount to a plank of wood on a cold, freezing night.”

Cadde placed his hands on the table and stood, every muscle in him ready to pounce on Hooter as if he were no more than a cockroach. Everyone but Chance seemed to move their chairs back.

“I didn’t mean a thing.” Hooter chomped a little harder on his cigar. “I have a twisted sense of humor.”

“Yeah, Cadde, Hoot just flew in from Vegas and his mind’s a little muddled.” Hub Gillespie tried to smooth things over.

Cadde wasn’t letting it drop, though. “Because of Roscoe I’m honor bound to respect your positions on this board, but if another crack like that is made I’ll find a way to get your ass off this board. Roscoe left a lot of loopholes in your agreements—for his benefit, and I inherited them when I became CEO. I can bring in investors as I see fit and if I feel there is any insubordination by a board member, I have the power to remove him. If you don’t think I can, try me. Am I clear, Hooter?”

The man coughed and sputtered, as if he were choking. Owen hit him on the back and the cigar shot out
onto the table. Without a word, Hooter reached for his handkerchief, wiped the table, and positioned the cigar back in his mouth.

“We’re clear, Cadde, mighty clear.”

Before Cadde could say another word, the door opened and Jessie walked in. Dressed in a dark business suit, heels, her hair pulled back into a knot, she looked like an entirely different person. But he knew her. He knew her body. Now he had to trust her.

“Sorry I’m late. I got caught in traffic.” She removed her sunglasses and took her seat across the table from him. “What are we talking about?”

“Cadde hasn’t said anything yet,” Hooter replied, placing a hand on Jessie’s arm. “And may I say, my dear, you look lovely.”

“Thank you,” Jessie said, easing her arm away.

Lecherous old man! Keep your hands off my wife.

“Let’s listen to what Cadde has to say then.”

He blinked, losing the gist of the conversation. All he wanted to do was punch Hooter, but he quickly collected himself and went into his spiel adding a lot about Roscoe and his way of doing business.

Complete silence followed his speech. The only sound was Barbara tapping away on her laptop, recording the minutes.

“I think this is something Daddy would do.” Jessie was the first to speak. “I vote yes.”

“Are you sure, Jessie?” Hooter asked, and reached for her arm again, but Jessie evaded him by standing.

“I’m very sure, and now I have to run.” She picked up her sunglasses and walked out of the room.

Cadde pushed to his feet. “Chance, take the vote. I have to speak to my wife.”

“What?” Chance was confused, but only for a second.

As Cadde strolled away, he heard Chance’s voice, “Anyone opposed to the proposal?” There was a slight pause and not a whimper of opposition. “Okay, boys, we’re invading Louisiana.”

Cadde hurried toward the elevator to catch Jessie, but she wasn’t there. She didn’t have time to go anywhere but…
The apartment.
He opened the door and there she was dressed in his white shirt. He closed the door and locked it, smiling.

All it had taken was trust…and honesty.

J
ESSIE LIVED IN A DREAMLIKE
state. She was happier than she’d ever been in her life as they settled into marriage. At night the lights went off and she didn’t mind. She had Cadde’s arms around her. That was all she needed. They never mentioned the
L
word and she was okay with that, too. Their relationship had evolved and she had hopes it would continue to do so.

What surprised her the most was that Cadde was usually home by six and he spent weekends with her. He talked on the phone, used his laptop, but he was there and she didn’t feel so alone.

After two weeks Mirry came home. She still wore the doughnut thing and she was able to eat and drink. Mirry could stand but she didn’t move from the pillow Jessie had her on in her room. Gavin had said that she would eventually start walking again. It would take time.

In the past Gavin had never sent her a bill. She always mailed a check, though, hoping it covered his expenses. This time she received an enormous bill for Mirry’s operation and her stay at the clinic. She paid it. Maybe Gavin had finally gotten her message.

One morning she heard a whimpering sound.

She reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. Mirry stood on all fours looking up at her. “Cadde.” She crawled out of bed, completely naked, and walked around the room. Mirry slowly followed. “Cadde, look, she’s walking.”