Page 10 of Texas Temptation

“Where’s Caleb?”

“He’s out with the horses. The child is crazy for them. If he were staying, I’d bet he’d be riding before you knew it. Vicki rode when she was only three. Of course, Cade got her a safe pony. He gave it away after her death. But he would never take a chance with a child, so if you were to stay, I’m sure he’d get another quiet pony for Caleb. Not that he’s had much to do with the child. He has closed his heart to most things, living for work alone. He’s increased the family coffers substantially, so none of us are complaining, but it would be nice to see him settled again. And not so driven.”

Jordan assumed the Vicki she spoke of was the daughter who had died. Hearing about her made her even more real. She couldn’t even imagine the full anguish of losing a child. It had to be the greatest heartache there was.

“There,” Amelia said, beaming as Jordan ate the last bite of omelet. “It was delicious, wasn’t it? I’m so glad to see you eating at last.”

Jordan looked at her. “At last?”

“Four days with nothing but broth makes a person very weak, don’t you think?” Amelia tilted her head as she looked at Jordan.

“Four days?I’ve been here four days?”

Jordan was horrified. She couldn’t have imposed on total strangers for four whole days!

Cade couldn’t believe one slightly snide comment would cause tears, histrionics and a slammed door. The temp had left in a flurry, leaving him alone in the front office, trying to make some sense of Penny’s filing process. He pulled out another folder, glanced inside, and replaced it. Maybe he should pull in one man off the ranch. They at least wouldn’t take offense at the slightest thing.

His secretary hadn’t called to give him an estimated return date. He was growing impatient with the temps the sole agency in town was sending. Two in three days. Couldn’t they find the right person—someone competent enough to do routine office tasks? Or if not that, at least someone who wouldn’t take off at the first hint of complaint?

A small sound alerted him he was no longer alone. Cade glanced up and saw Caleb Carhart standing in the doorway.

“Kids aren’t allowed in the office,” Cade said.

He had a conference call in ten minutes and hoped he could find the Montgomery folder before then.

“The lady was saying bad words,” Caleb said, walking in.

“I heard,” Cade said.

Maybe he shouldn’t have asked if she knew the alphabet in such a sarcastic manner. But blast it all, that folder was important and she hadn’t been able to find it. Not that he was having much better luck.

Maybe his remark had been made in haste.

“Mommy never says bad words. She says we can be more creative and show we’re smarter than people who copy other people to say bad words,” he said solemnly.

Cade looked at Caleb. Hadn’t he told the boy no kids allowed in the office?

“Is Mommy going to get better today?” Caleb asked, coming closer.

“I don’t know. Probably.”

Ah, the folder he’d wanted. Cade pulled it free and returned to his desk. He opened it, then looked at Caleb, who had moved to press against his side, peering in curiosity at the things on the wide surface of his desk.

“Look, kid, I have work to do. We have a policy against children being in the office.”

“Mr. Murray said since my mommy is sick, I have to ask you if I can ride. I really want to be a cowboy. Can I ride one of your horses?”

Cade shook his head. “No.”

Caleb didn’t pester him like Vicki would have at the refusal. He merely hitched his shoulders a little and looked disappointed.

Cade studied him covertly. The kid was well behaved and not a pest. Jack said he ate up every word any of the cowboys said, and hung for hours on the corral fence talking to the horses and petting any that ambled his way.

Darn shame about his eyes. What was his mother going to do about that? It wasn’t fair to the kid to have that kind of problem and not have the adults in his life take care of it.

Just then, Jordan Carhart rushed into the office.

“Mr. Everett, I didn’t know I’ve been here this long,” she said.

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