Cain launched into the story, not leaving out anything about the night that had changed her life forever.
Ross laughed, trying to picture Cain covered in beer and not getting angry about it.
“Do you know what happened for the next year and then some?”
He shook his head and set his chair in motion. This was a nice way to spend an early morning.
“She got me to court her in a way I’d never dreamed of. It was always dinner, a movie, maybe, or something that we could spend time together getting to know one another. When all those dates ended, I got a kiss and a nice pat on the head before she sent me on my way. At first I thought it was cute, then it got frustrating as hell, but I never pushed her any further than she was willing to go.”
Ross glanced at Cain, feeling better knowing that his little girl hadn’t gone to the big city and run wild.
“You have nothing to be ashamed of, Ross, and you didn’t fail. What you did was raise a young woman with self-respect, who demanded the respect of others. The woman I married was raised by a man who loved her and was enough of a parent to make up for anything lacking in her life.”
“She made you wait?” Ross asked in an amused tone.
“And then some, old man, so wipe that silly grin off your face. You raised a good girl, and it just about killed me.”
Ross finished his coffee, relieved that he hadn’t failed Emma as much as he feared.
Cain set her cup down and stood up. “Take me for a tractor ride, Ross.”
He cranked up the new piece of equipment Cain had bought him during her last visit. For the longest time he really did think it was just about the ride, but at their second bin Cain started talking and asking his opinion on a few subjects. Ross kept quiet until she was done, stunned by the way her mind worked. In the time Cain had spent in the small community of Haywood, she’d considered every consequence to every problem that faced her and the action she’d have to take to fix each one.
“What do you think they’d say?”
“I honestly don’t know, Cain. That’s something the Raths have always wanted, and it was denied them. If it came to pass, then I really don’t see them turning down the opportunity. No one would get in any trouble, right?” Ross took his hat off and scratched the top of his head. This was certainly more intrigue than he was used to.
“Life isn’t always a hundred percent guaranteed, Ross, but I don’t plan mine that way. When I do something like this, I cover every possible angle. Don’t worry. If the heat comes down, I’ll be the only one sitting in the pan.”
Ross put his hat back on and his hand on her shoulder. “You won’t be alone. Emma made you wait, but she did some waiting of her own. If you go down for any reason, she’ll never be happy with anyone else.”
“Thanks for the advice, and I’ll do my best to keep my nose clean. And thanks for hearing me out. I had some doubts, but you helped me through them.”
“Anytime. If you learn to like talking to me, maybe I’ll see my grandchildren more often.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that either. All this fresh air has my mind humming, so I think I have a solution for that little problem too.”
Cain took her time getting off the tractor. She’d seen the doctor in Haywood a couple of times, and he’d said her injuries were healing nicely, but not to push herself. The wound was a little past the itchy stage, and she could get by with a smaller bandage.
Back in the yard, she shook Ross’s hand. If she hurried, she could make it back to Maddie’s in time to have breakfast with Emma and the kids.
Ross waved, feeling melancholy for the opportunities with Emma he’d squandered, but the emotion eased with the knowledge that his daughter had found someone to share her life with who wouldn’t repeat his mistakes.
Chapter Twenty
“Did you have fun playing dairy farmer, love?” Emma was still in her robe and pajamas when Cain walked into Maddie’s kitchen. She held a platter of pancakes and was serving the kids.
“I had a good time, thanks for asking. Why, don’t you think I’d make a good cattle baron?”
“For about a week, then I figure you’d be running cow races on the side to pass the time.”
When Hannah saw her new favorite person, she climbed down from her chair and went to sit on Cain’s lap.
Cain kissed Hannah’s head and smirked at Emma. “You want to stop sassing me and get Hannah and me some pancakes, eh?” Cain tried to take on a Northern accent. “Or better yet, why don’t you sit, and I’ll get Hannah and you some pancakes.”
“You aren’t going to spill anything, are you?” Emma tried her hardest to keep a straight face.
“Oh, yes, because that worked out so badly for you,” Cain shot back. “You didn’t drench me in beer on purpose, did you?” She stood, took the platter from Emma, and put it and Emma on the counter, causing both Hannah and Hayden to laugh. “I told your father that story this morning.”
“You told my father I worked in a bar?”
“Why, did you tell him you met me at Sunday mass?” The familiar arched brow appeared, and Emma broke out in a long laugh. Cain hugged her, and the merriment died down to a long sigh.
“Mama, Grandpa Ross said he was coming by to pick me up for a ride down to the feed store,” Hayden said.
“Can I come too?” Hannah squealed. The excitement in her voice was hard to miss.
Emma was waiting for Hayden to say no and explain why Hannah couldn’t go, but was surprised when he said sure, as long as it was all right with Emma and Cain. Emma gave him a hug and kiss for his generosity.
“Finish up, Hannah, so I can get you dressed if you’re going with your brother,” Emma instructed as she gave Cain a plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee, as well as a wink. “You finish up too.” Emma wished every morning with her family could be as uneventful as this one.
Forty minutes later Ross stood smiling as Emma strapped a thrilled Hannah into her car seat in the back of her father’s extended cab. Merrick, Lou, and Mook loaded into a rented Suburban behind them. Ross and Hayden would have a chance to visit, but the guards weren’t going to let either of the Casey children out of their sight. Emma had also asked her father for the keys to his house.
“Want to take a ride?” Emma asked Cain. “I want to talk to you about something else in private, so Dad said we could use his place.”
“Would this talk entail the wearing of clothes?”
“Well, for a little while anyway,” Emma answered, feeling aroused.
When Katlin started for the vehicle Cain and Emma were taking, Cain waved her off. “Take a break. I doubt there’ll be a hit team waiting for me at Ross’s place.”
“You’re the boss.” Katlin wandered back inside.
The ride was quiet as Emma leaned against Cain, looking out the window at the landscape that had changed little since she was young. She was starting to miss New Orleans. When she got out of the truck, she took a deep breath before following Cain onto the porch of her childhood home.
“Will you rock me?” She looked at the old rockers on the porch as she asked and thought of all the times she’d spent sitting in them holding Hannah. “If your side hurts we can just go inside and talk.”
“I’d love to rock you.”
To get more comfortable Cain took off her jacket and used it as a blanket over both of them. Shedding the extra layer allowed her to feel Emma pressed up against her.
“We need to get one of these for the house,” Emma said.
“Can you go back to that house after what happened?” Cain didn’t want to pressure Emma. She simply wanted to give them all what was best, and since she hadn’t been there when the shooting happened, she’d have to rely on Emma for guidance.