Page 43 of Wanted by the Lawman

CHAPTER 13

“SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD!” Cullen yelled as he bounded into the dining room, coming to a stop when he saw they had a female sitting at the table.

Wynn looked at Zander’s brother. He had black hair with traces of silver threaded through the wavy locks. Bright blue eyes and a layer of whiskers that made him look bad-ass. They all appeared bad-ass. The Cades were also a handsome bunch and the family resemblance was strong in each of their features.

“Who’s that?” Cullen asked.

“Mind your manners,” Beatrice said as she stepped from the kitchen and placed a pitcher of tea on the table, shaking a finger at her son. “You’re late. We’re almost finished.”

“I got caught up with something. I hope you all saved me something.”

“This is Wynn Makelti. She’s my new neighbor,” Zander said, spooning a second helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate.

Several expressions flitted across Cullen’s masculine features before he grinned ear to ear. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Do not wear those dirty boots onto my clean floor.” Beatrice waved him back into the mudroom. They could hear the thudding of his boots hitting the wall, then he reappeared and took the empty chair closer to Bo.

“Hi, again.” Cullen winked at Wynn.

“Hi.” She couldn’t remember ever being surrounded by so much testosterone.

“Put your tongue back into your mouth, Cul,” Zander warned with a shake of his head.

Kace and Nixon laughed.

“I’m sorry my boys act like they’ve been raised in a barn,” Beatrice said with a disapproving sigh. “I sure hope Zander has been a perfect gentleman.”

Wynn smiled at the pretty older woman. “He’s been very kind. I don’t know what I would have done without his help over the last few weeks.”

Nixon snorted loudly. “Apparently you haven’t gotten to know the real Zander.”

Bo chuckled. “Your mother is going to pull out a wooden spoon and bop you over the head, son.”

“Sorry, Ma.” Nixon lowered his head and scooped up the last bite of meatloaf from his plate.

Wynn found it interesting that this room full of grown men acted like a bunch of teenagers, and yet she could see a genuine compassion and caring in each one.

Beatrice smoothed her hands down her top. “Wynn, would you care to join me in the kitchen. I think we’re ready to serve dessert.”

“Sure. I’d love to.” Wynn scooted back from the table and her thigh brushed Zander’s. He didn’t seem to notice the accidental touch, but her core was throbbing.

“Ma, did you make brownies?” Kace asked.

“Yes, I did.” Beatrice motioned for Wynn to follow her.

Following the other woman through the swinging doors, Wynn admired the pretty décor in the kitchen. A person could tell a lot about another by the layout of their kitchen. And the bright yellow walls, modern, but well-used appliances and the stack of coffee mugs by the professional coffee maker told Wynn a lot about the Cade family.

“It’s hideous, isn’t it?” Beatrice said with a chuckle.

“The coffee maker? Not hideous at all, but definitely…big.” No wonder Zander laughed at her puny one cup maker.

“Raising a large family, with five strapping boys, I found the best way to keep things in control is with food and coffee, lots of it.” Beatrice filled the carafe with water, poured it into the vestibule of the coffee maker, and while she spooned out the granules, Wynn looked at a family picture held on the refrigerator with a cowboy hat magnet.

She easily found Zander among the dashing teen boys. He was devastatingly handsome even back then. “I imagine it must have been a treat raising these many boys.”

“Indescribable. You wouldn’t’ believe how ecstatic I was when the doctor told me I was pregnant with my daughter. Friends have told me I should write a book about all the funny, crazy stories I’ve lived to tell. From broken bones, to falls from trees, car accidents, gun shots.” She shivered. “It’s a conversation piece in it of itself that every single one of them wear a badge in one way or another.”

“You and your husband must be very proud.” Wynn watched Beatrice slice into the pan of brownies.

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