Page 19 of Wellspring
“Hoss, Wolf Boy,” Burke acknowledged them as they sat.It seemed Erick had acquired a new title, at least from Burke, but—”Wolf Boy?”He glanced between the smith and Cade.
Cade took pity on his confusion.“My Comanche name is T?taat? Isa.It means Little Wolf.Burke here decided that gave him the right to call me Wolf Boy.He gives everyone nicknames.It’s annoying as hell”—Cade aimed a glare at Burke—”but we put up with it because he’s good at what he does.”
Before Erick could reply to that, a woman’s voice interrupted.“You’re finally back, I see.”
Cade jumped to his feet and pulled the woman into a tight embrace.Erick dropped his gaze to his plate, granting them privacy in their reunion.This must be the Chel he had heard referred to so often.Burke rolled his eyes and muttered “Get a room,” loudly enough for Cade to hear him.
“Fuck off, Burke,” Cade replied, although his voice held no heat.“Come on, Chel.I have someone I want you to meet.”
So he had been right.Erick pasted a smile on his face, prepared to meet the woman who had what he dreamed of.His stomach fell when he got a good look at her.She was beautiful—brown hair pulled back in a loose braid that fell to the middle of her back, fair skin that didn’t seem at all affected by the sun, and perfect curves beneath the pants and vest she wore—and to judge by the way she held herself, she was not “just off the boat” despite the hint of accent in her voice.An ideal match for a cowboy like Cade.
Cade sat back down and pulled her down to sit next to him.“Chel, this is Erick Heller.I met him in Galveston.Payne just hired him to work with the mustangs.Erick, this is Michele Bessette, Chel to her friends.”
Erick rose and bowed over her hand.He ignored Burke’s snickering.Just because she was dressed like any other cowhand was no reason to forget how a woman should be treated.“Fräulein Bessette.”He hoped it was Fräulein, but if she and Cade had married, surely she would have taken his name?
“Herr Heller,” she replied easily.“Schön, Sie zu sehen.”
He had expected many things, but not her replying in his native tongue.“You speak German?”he asked in English, out of respect for the others around him who didn’t speak the language.
“Only a little, but enough to bid you welcome.Please, call me Michele.I know what it is to be a long way from home, surrounded by a language you have only studied but never truly spoken,” she said.“If Cade saw fit to bring you here, I would be pleased to know you, but I have been riding all day and have not yet eaten.I will return when I have a plate.”
Erick sank back into his seat.He’d been prepared to resent “Chel” on sight, but she was as charming and gracious as she was beautiful, and if appearance was anything to judge by, she held her own working among the men.Of course Cade would be drawn to her.Smothering the hopeless feelings that clawed at his heart, he picked at his plate of food.He couldn’t say if it was too spicy since he didn’t taste any of it.
He looked up when Cade let out a soft whoop next to him and murmured, “About damn time.”Confused, Erick looked around, only to see Michele standing next to the cook, Trujillo… who had his arm around her waist.He looked over at Cade sharply, but Cade’s expression showed only happiness and relief, no jealousy, no concern, no indication that he was in any way bothered by what he was seeing.
Which made absolutely no sense, unless Erick had misinterpreted everything he’d heard about the woman from the moment her name first came up.When she leaned closer into Trujillo’s side and Cade’s smile only widened, that conclusion seemed more and more like the right one.
When Cade scooted over to make room for her, Erick didn’t even complain about being jostled.“You finally listened to me,” Cade said before Michele was fully settled.“I told you Javier was a good man.”
“Time will tell,” Michele retorted, but she sounded teasing, not cynical.
“At least you’ll be sure of eating well,” Burke commented, but even his tone was less grating, and Michele didn’t dignify his comment with a response.
Conversation was abandoned in favor of their meals, and Erick had to admit to enjoying the unfamiliar food once he could taste it.He still wasn’t sure what to make of Cade’s relationship with Michele, but for whatever reason, it did not seem to be a romantic one.He wouldn’t allow that to give him any hope.
“Anyone else for seconds?”Burke asked as he scraped the last sauce from his plate.
“The only reason there are seconds to offer is because Kit and Olav are out on the range,” Cade said as he stood.“Erick, you still hungry?”
“Our last full meal was nearly two weeks ago in Austin,” Erick said.Michele glanced at him with an expression he couldn’t interpret, but he picked up his plate to follow Cade.“You did not underestimate Mr.Trujillo’s skill.I find his food most pleasing.”
“Man compliments me like that, he’s got to call me Javier.”Trujillo—Javier—slid another serving onto his plate.
“Then you must call me Erick.”The familiarity felt odd, but it reinforced Cade’s assurance that he wouldn’t remain Erick’s only friend for long.
Cade bumped his shoulder as they returned to the table and their food.“Told you you’d find your place here.After dinner, I need to check on Nahnia, if you want to meet him.I didn’t take the time earlier, what with needing to talk to Payne and Miz Roarke.Or you can go back to the bunkhouse with the others.You don’t have to stay with me if you’d rather settle in and get some rest.”
Erick knew he couldn’t hang on Cade’s coattails forever, but he was loath to give up what might be a last opportunity to share time together before Cade was swept back into his duties on the range.“I would be pleased to meet Nahnia.I should be sure Zephyr has settled in as well.”
The bright smile Cade sent him assured him he’d given the right answer, and that warmed something inside him.He might be adrift in this new and ever-changing landscape, but amidst it all, he had Cade, and Cade wanted Erick at his side.In what capacity, Erick didn’t know, and that left him frustrated with himself and the situation, but at least Cade desired his companionship.Even if it never became anything more, Erick would cherish it.
“Then finish up and we’ll go.”
After they’d cleaned their plates for a second time, Cade stood to drop his utensils in the bucket at the end of the food line.Erick nodded in farewell to his tablemates and followed his example.“Thank you again for a most enjoyable meal, Javier,” he told the cook, who broke into a smile.
“Finally, someone with manners.Cade, you could learn something from our new friend.”
Cade flushed and rubbed at the back of his neck, a gesture Erick was coming to love and hate in equal measure.“He has praised your abilities from the moment we met,” Erick interjected before Cade could reply.“Perhaps he does not always remember to tell you, but he appreciates you nonetheless.”
