Page 42 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

Cadence became aware of Paisley’s long fingernails piercing the skin of her forearm.

“Did you hear that?” Paisley hissed in her ear.

Oh, had she ever. Cadence and her roommate had come into the lodge just in time to overhear Paul’s not-so-veiled threat. Now she grabbed Paisley’s arm and pivoted for the door.

“Go over there, and tell him off!”

“No.” Red rage nearly blinded her. It definitely wasn’t that she didn’t want to flay Paul, verbally or otherwise. It was that she refused to make a scene, but maybe the time had come.

Cadence was too malleable. She’d taken the easy way far too many times. Look at her dating history. Look at her relationship with Paul. Look at how she’d latched onto Graham’s offer without a second thought.

She’d been alternating between pretending she had no problems and running from them, always taking the path of least resistance. That stopped now.

Graham huffed away down the corridor to the office wing. Paul began to turn, and Cadence yanked Paisley behind a tall potted plant before he could see her.

Okay, maybe her evasion would stop later. She couldn’t flip a switch and blast Paul without any forethought. Too much was at stake.

Were her parents actually in danger of losing everything if Cadence didn’t marry Paul? It didn’t seem possible. And Paul — despicable, horrid man — thought he could get her pregnant, take the baby — what if it was a girl? what if she didn’t conceive? — and abandon Cadence? The absolute nerve of his egotistical, narcissistic—

“Cadence?”

She blinked hard and turned to her roommate. “Yes?”

“The line is forming for dinner. Are we eating or not?”

“You may. I think I’m heading back to the duplex.”

“We ate the last of the pizza pops for snack last night.”

“Right.” Cadence gritted her teeth. She hated going hungry. She also hated feeling like the coward she was. “Fine, we can stay, but don’t let that man anywhere near me.”

And now she was making her roommate take responsibility. Grow up, Cadence. Face your own problems.

“There are two spaces at the staff table with Weston, Jude, Kaci, and Tyler. Go hold those, and I’ll get two plates.”

Paul wouldn’t dare take on surly Weston. Neither would Graham, should he bother to return. Or possibly the Sullivans were having an elite dinner in their suites and hadn’t bothered to invite the Kline grandsons. Whatever. “Sure. Thanks. I owe you.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I fully plan to collect.” Paisley winked and gave her a little shove. “I’ll be right back. Go make nice.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Cadence put purpose in her step as she wended between the tables. She slid into one of the two vacant chairs. “Were these saved for someone else? Paisley has gone to grab our food.”

“Saved for you.” Kaci grinned. “I hear you’ve met up with a little drama the past couple of days.”

Cadence gritted her teeth. “Far too much.” And all of it far too public.

Weston studied her. “Need to take Enchantment out again?”

What, had she won the mighty cowboy over with her equine skills? “Not tonight, I think.” The wind in her hair and the power of the horse between her knees had offered some comfort last night, but she hadn’t taken the time she needed to still her mind. She had a feeling her life, her future, depended on her relationship with God. One she’d coasted along with, much as she’d slid along with the rest of her life’s decisions.

No more. She had to take control. No, she had to hand control over to God. Or something. She needed time. Prayer. Clear-headedness in the midst of all these swirling emotions and demands.

Cadence looked around the table and evaluated those present. They were all believers, weren’t they? They’d been in church most Sundays. “Can I ask you guys to pray for me? I have some difficult decisions to make.”

“I’m happy to pray for you.” Kaci glanced toward the tables that Cadence had her back to. “But I’m not sure you need to pray about that annoying ex of yours. Keep him exed. He’s a loser.”

If only it were that simple. “There’s a lot more than meets the eye.”

Jude laughed. “Are you trying to tell us he’s a nice guy under all that bluster? Because I’m not seeing it.”

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