three times. Amanda waited for the man to ring up her purchase, her heart pounding as she prepared to ask directions to Cade’s ranch. She was so proud for him; he had done exactly what he had set out to do.
“Here’s your change. Is there anything else I can do for you ladies?” the man asked.
“Yes, actually, can you give me directions to the Lazy Lou Ranch?” she asked as he nodded to an entering customer.
“I can do better than that,” the man smiled. “Hey, Cade; these two lovely ladies are looking for your ranch,” the man called across the store.
Amanda’s heart leapt into her throat as she turned around. There he was, his long, lean legs eating up the distance between them. She watched surprise register on his face as he came to an abrupt halt.
He looked as great as ever, his hair dark and full and blue eyes brilliant. He wore a blue shirt, the sleeves rolled to his elbows, a western belt, a pair of worn jeans, and boots. He looked amazing and the sheer impact of seeing him again after so long, had Amanda grabbing the counter for support.
“Mommy,” Cadey-Lynn tugged on Amanda’s arm, the action barely registered with Amanda but pulled Cade’s attention down. She watched his expression go from merely surprise to stunned; the color drained from his face. Amanda knew what he saw, his eyes staring back at him from a face framed by the same thick black hair he combed every morning. She had the feeling that were anyone to so much as touch him he would fall over like a domino.
She watched him swallow hard as he started moving again. Amanda took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves. All the way down here she had tried to plan what she would say. Never once had she imagined they would meet like this.
“Amanda, hi,” his voice was soft and his eyes full of questions.
“Hello, Cade,” Amanda returned.
“Wow,” Cade shook his head. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” she swallowed around the lump in her throat. “We need to talk,” she told him.
“We do,” he agreed. “You can follow me to my place,” he offered before squatting in front of his daughter.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Cade asked as Cadey-Lynn, her eyes wide, clung to her mother’s leg.
“Cadey-Lynn,” she supplied. “See, it’s on my jacket. Mommy helped me make it,” she turned to show him the jewels they had attached to make her name. Cade’s gaze slid to Amanda and then back to his daughter.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Cadey-Lynn,” Cade offered his hand; his voice was tight. Amanda watched him blink back tears as Cadey-Lynn took his hand and found her own tears threatening. “Would you like to see my ranch?” Cade invited.
“Okay,” Cadey-Lynn offered him a timid smile.
“Okay, you ladies follow me,” Cade stood. “Hey, Marshall, I’ll come get my things another time,” Cade spoke to the store associate who had politely disappeared.
“Sure thing, Cade,” the man waved.
Amanda wasn’t sure that her legs were going to work when she went to take a step. Fortunately, they held and carried her to her car where she fastened in her daughter and stood to face Cade.
“Blue pick-up’s mine, just follow me,” he instructed. Amanda nodded and climbed into her Jeep; her hands were shaking as she placed them on the wheel.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetie?” Amanda’s voice was shaking as well.
“Was that my Daddy?”
“Yes, he and Mommy need to talk and then you two can get to know each other, okay?”
“Okay. He’s tall, even taller than Uncle Trent.”
“Yes, he is,” Amanda agreed.
“Do you still love him, Mommy?”
“What?” Amanda glanced at her daughter.
“Aunt Jenny says babies are made of love; do you still love my Daddy?”
“Yes, I do,” she admitted.
“Does he still love you?”
“I don’t know, Cadey-Lynn.”
“I hope he does; then we could be like Uncle Trent and Aunt Jenny and Angie,” Cadey-Lynn mused aloud.
Amanda would like that too.
Thirty-Eight
The drive to the ranch seemed to take an eternity, though Amanda was sure it was no longer than thirty or forty minutes. By the time she pulled the Jeep to a stop in front of a modest ranch house, Amanda felt ready to throw up. She sat unmoving behind her wheel for several moments before pulling the keys from the ignition and grabbing the box of letters from beside her. After helping Cadey-Lynn from the car, Amanda turned to find Cade waiting.
“Can I help with anything,” he offered.
“I’ve got it; thanks,” Amanda assured him. Cade turned to