“Isn’t it dangerous to leave them back in New Orleans if all the people with guns are with you here and in Nevada with Muriel and her father?”
A familiar fence line came into view, and Emma looked out into the fields to see if she could spot her father. She felt bad for not calling him as often as she’d wanted to, but with Cain in the hospital, then taking care of the kids, it was always too late to phone him when it crossed her mind.
She was so happy she’d taken his advice and gone back to New Orleans in search of the love she’d lost. In his own quiet way, her father had always had her happiness in mind, and he’d demonstrated that by being willing to throw her mother out to make it happen. Carol Verde might have been disappointed in her only child, but Ross was proud of her and the family she’d built with Cain.
“I know it’s a strange concept to wrap your brain around since Cain doesn’t exactly walk on the right side of the law, but she has a strong sense of honor. It isn’t her style to leave anyone, especially any innocent, in harm’s way. True, we left with a lot of the muscle and the rest is with Muriel, but some of our friends are keeping the peace while we’re gone.”
Emma was irritated as well as a little disappointed in Maddie. She wouldn’t stand for anyone, even an old friend, to malign Cain’s character.
The yard in front of the house was still dormant because of the cold weather, and Emma could hear the wind blowing down from the north when Maddie pulled up and shut off the engine.
Maddie put her hand on Emma’s wrist. “I will never, and I mean never, judge you for any choice you make, Emma. If this is what makes you happy, then I’ll be happy for you. I didn’t ask that to cast doubt on Cain, or you for wanting to be with her. But I know why you left her all those years ago, and I don’t want the same thing happening if and when the heat starts to rise again. And my gut tells me her getting shot means someone has a huge toll to pay.”
“I told her forever, and that’s what I plan to deliver. As for the heat, the bastards who shot at my children and me deserve whatever Cain has planned for them. It may be wrong to wish ill on someone, but I hope she kills every last one of them.”
“I’m sure she won’t disappoint you, or us, for that matter. You know how I feel about Hannah, and what those bastards did makes my blood boil. Anyone who’d dare point a gun in her direction deserves everything the devil has planned for them.”
“Amen, sister,” Emma said, finally breaking a smile.
After a sudden cacophony of slamming car doors, about twenty of Cain’s guards started setting up the security system that would be in place by nightfall.
“Maddie, it’s nice seeing you again.” Cain offered her hand, and Emma busied herself with getting a sleeping Hannah out of her car seat. “Did I pass?”
Maddie looked up to Cain’s twinkling blue eyes and had to laugh. She loved Jerry with all her heart, but the first time Emma had shown her a picture of Cain, she could understand what being with another female was about. Add Cain’s charm to her looks, and Maddie instantly liked her.
With one hand Maddie tried to smooth her brown hair as the wind blew it into her face. As it swirled around, Cain could see the blond highlights in it and guessed the combination came from Maddie’s time in the sun and had nothing to do with an expensive salon.
“You have beautiful hair.”
Maddie blushed. “I…thank you.”
“Well, did I?” Cain asked again.
“Pass?” Maddie brought her other hand to her head and tried to control her locks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Honey, stop giving Maddie a hard time and come inside. I don’t want you catching anything in this cold weather.”
“Yes, Mother.” Cain winked in Maddie’s direction before following Emma.
Maddie muttered to herself, “My God, Emma, a nun wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell at telling her no.”
And no was the last thing on Emma’s mind, no matter the question, when it came to Cain.
Chapter Seventeen
“Mama,” Hannah said, still sounding like she was on the verge of unconsciousness.
“Go back to sleep, sweetheart. It’s all right.” Emma sat down and ran her fingers through her daughter’s black hair.
Hannah opened and closed her little hand in an effort to get Cain to come closer when she saw her standing at the door. When Cain sat on the bed, Hannah put her head in her lap. Emma stood back, wanting to give Cain time with their daughter so that they could establish a relationship.
Not caring if she tore every stitch the surgeon had so skillfully put in, Cain lifted Hannah off the bed, then held her and rocked her until the blue eyes closed again in sleep. But before Hannah gave in to her exhaustion Cain whispered, “I love you, baby girl.”
For once Cain wished there really was an afterlife where the dead went and were able to view the living. She smiled to think that her parents and siblings were looking down and seeing how beautiful the family she’d been gifted with really was. She placed her hand on her wound so she could bend and kiss Hannah’s forehead before she stood and started out of the room.
Emma leaned against the doorjamb and watched the touching scene.
When Cain turned around her smile widened, and once the door was closed she pulled Emma to her. Never had she been on the receiving end of such adoration mixed with a little bit of lust.
“Come on, honey, let’s get you settled in. You look a little tired.” Emma pulled on Cain’s hand to lead her to the bedroom next door.
“Mrs. Casey, is this some plot to get me alone?”
Emma’s sultry laugh confirmed that fact. “I’m merely looking out for your well-being, love, nothing more.”
“Hell, I must be losing my touch.”
Emma led her to the room at the center of the hallway and pushed her gently inside. “Trust me, hot stuff, you haven’t lost a thing.”
From the window they could see the men and women they had brought with them still working to get the precautionary system in place. Emma was surprised to see Hayden with a piece of electronic equipment in his hand, walking to the utility pole across the street.
“What’s he doing?”
“Learning the business from the ground up, like every Casey before him. Just ’cause you’re born with the name, you don’t automatically get to be the leader. Hayden knows that without anyone telling him, just like I did.”
Emma leaned against Cain and wrapped her arms around Cain’s waist. “Before that happens you’ll teach him everything you know, right?”
“I know you don’t agree because he’s your son, but—”
Emma pressed her fingers to Cain’s lips. “He’s our son, and you’ll teach him everything you know, right?”
“And then some, love.”
“Then let’s leave him to his work, and you and me get into that nice comfortable bed.”
Emma helped Cain with her shoes and took off her own heavy sweater before pulling back the blankets and climbing in beside her. They had to reverse sides from their usual sleeping arrangements because of Cain’s injury, but when Emma rolled over and snuggled up, it felt just as wonderful as she remembered.
“Tell me about the Raths,” Cain said as she rested her hand on Emma’s hip.
“What do you want to know?”
“Whatever you want to tell me. I’m just curious.” She moved her hand from Emma’s hip up her side close to her breast. “They sounded nice enough on the phone.”
Emma felt like Cain was pouring liquid fire along her skin. While she’d missed Cain for a variety of reasons, when she was really honest with herself, she had to admit that the sex always came close to the top of the list.