Page 8 of Texas Temptation

“Little boy? Why didn’t you say so? Oh, it’s been too long since this house has heard the ring of childish laughter. Where is he?”

“In the kitchen.”

Yes, it had been too long since he’d heard childish laughter. It’d forever be too long.

She almost ran from the room in her quest to see the child.

Cade sighed and looked at the woman now sitting on the sofa, holding a hand against her chest, rubbing absently. The coughing had stopped. The bright spots of color in her cheeks attested to the fever.

She watched him with a wary expression. Except for the two spots of red staining each cheek with brilliant color, she was pale and wan.

“I’ll leave in a few minutes. I can’t stay here,” she said.

“Amelia may invite whomever she wishes to stay. I can show you a bedroom large enough for you and your son. Or I can fix him up in another room, so he doesn’t get whatever you have.”

“If he were going to get it, four days in a car together would have exposed him,” she said.

“It took you four days to get here from South Beach?”

She nodded. “We had car trouble.”

Jordan watched him carefully, studying his features. He looked nothing like the college guy she’d fallen for. He was the wrong age, the wrong size, the wrong coloring and definitely not the man she’d want to tangle with.

“You’ve come a long way because of a newspaper article.”

He waited for something more. The suggestion of help she needed, maybe money for the return journey? Was she hoping for the sympathy play? Donations of that magnitude reported in the paper had already resulted in dozens of requests from other organizations.

Penny was fielding them all, but Jordan Carhart was the first individual to respond in person—that he knew of. Of course, Penny screened those as well.

“I thought it was fate. That I found Cade Cullen Everett just when I most needed him. He said he was from Texas. His family had a ranch. He told me stories about the place, but maybe it was all made up.”

“When was this?”

“Five years ago. At spring break in South Beach.”

“Wild spring break, fun parties and no responsibilities. You met him there?”

Jordan stiffened at the derision of his tone. What happened in her past was none of his business. She didn’t need a stranger telling her how foolish she’d been.

Jordan rubbed her forehead again, her eyes closing. She wished she could find a bed and sleep for twelve hours.

“Life goes on. I’ll get out of your way, Mr. Everett. Sorry to have bothered you.”

“Stay the night, as Aunt Amelia suggested. The storm isn’t easing and it’ll be treacherous driving in it. If you aren’t familiar with our roads, navigating them in a storm is to be avoided at all costs. Besides, the Circle E is known for its hospitality.”

At least it had been when Marissa had been its mistress. She loved having friends over, entertaining, cooking for a crowd, and showing off the ranch.

No one had stayed the night since she’d been gone. Rosita would have to make the beds, air out the rooms as best she could with this storm.

He looked out the window. The wind had the trees bent under its force, while the rain was coming down in sheets. The last thing he wanted was some stranger and her appealing little boy in his house overnight. But his aunt was right. He wouldn’t send anyone out in this—especially a sick woman and a child.

“Have you ever heard of another Everett family in Texas who has a ranch?” Jordan asked hopefully.

“As far as I know, there are no other Everett families who own ranches in Texas. I’ve been a member of the Cattleman’s Association for years. I’m sure I’d have heard if there were others.”

“He was blond, with bright blue eyes. Caleb got his eyes,” she murmured. “Maybe the whole thing was a lie. For all I know, he’s a druggist in New Jersey.”

Slowly, she toppled over to her side.

---