Under the Open Sky

Chapter Twenty-Two

Amanda taped another box closed as she surveyed the apartment. She and Jenny had been packing all week. Next week was graduation and then both girls were headed home, at least temporarily before they made their next plans and moves. Jenny was out on a date; Amanda preferred to stay home and pack, her date was several hours away. Her brother was acting all whacked out again. After Christy had thrown herself at Cade, Trent seemed to some how shift the blame to Cade. Trent had called Amanda and lectured her about getting involved with Cade. Amanda had told him to mind his own business.

She had just started packing another box when a knock sounded on her door. Amanda opened it, one minute blinking in disbelief and the next throwing herself into Cade’s arms. He greeted her with a kiss before smiling down at her.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I’m great now. I thought you guys weren’t going to be home until mid week next week,” Amanda said in confusion.

“I’m done; I saw no point in waiting around. I’ll go back for the graduation ceremony but,” Cade shrugged.

“I’m so glad you’re here; come in,” Amanda invited as she stepped aside so he could enter.

“You busy?” Cade inquired of her.

“No, just packing.”

“I want to take you out, you and me on a proper date tonight,” he informed her.

“You know I established a no dating rule while I’m finishing school,” she teased as she stepped forward to lean against him.

“Did you?”

“Yeah this really sexy man reminded me that I needed to focus on my degree,” she shared.

“Did he?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Would you bend your rules for the sexy man,” he teased right back.

“I sure will; let me go change.”

“I’ll be waiting,” he assured her. Amanda changed into a skirt and sleeveless top before fixing her hair and make up and stepping into her boots.

“You look amazing,” Cade informed her as she rejoined. He pulled her close for a kiss; then took her hand to leave.

Amanda found herself smiling. This was the first date ever she had been excited about, she realized.

“What are you smiling about?” Cade wanted to know.

“I’m just excited to be going out with you,” she admitted.

“Me too,” Cade offered her a smile.

He took her to eat at one of her favorite local restaurants and then to a dance being held in the park. Amanda had never had so much fun. Dancing in Cade’s arms, twirling to the music; the night could go on forever as far as she was concerned. Cade was the perfect date, holding doors, pulling chairs, offering her his jacket when she was cold and making every woman they passed glare at Amanda with jealousy. At least Amanda could easily imagine that was why they stared so hard. It could simply be because Cade was so very nice to look at.

“I had a wonderful time tonight,” Amanda assured Cade as she unlocked her front door, entered and flipped on the lights.

“Me too,” Cade pulled her into his arms as soon as the door closed. Amanda sank against him and lifted her face to his. Cade kissed her gently at first, then more deeply.

“Stay,” Amanda invited him a few minutes later.

“After our first date?” he teased.

“I’ve been inviting you to stay since before our first date,” she reminded him.

“Shocking, Manny,” he accused. Pulling her closer, he kissed her again.

Amanda rose onto her toes to wrap her arms around his neck and thrilled when his hands slid to her bottom to pull her even closer, though they were about as close at they could get, she mused. A knock on the door registered a moment later; Amanda and Cade stared at each other a moment as their brains cleared.

“I should see who that is,” Amanda finally told him. His blue eyes were brilliant as he nodded at her. Amanda turned reluctantly; she wanted to ignore the door and who ever was on the other side. She checked her appearance, tucked her shirt back in, and smoothed her hair before she pulled the door open.

“Trent; hi,” Amanda blinked at her brother.

“Hey, Mandy; can I come in?” her brother inquired. He looked tired and he didn’t look entirely happy.

“Sure,” Amanda stepped aside. Amanda turned to find that Cade had seated himself on the couch and turned the TV on to flip through channels.

“Hello, Cade,” Trent’s voice was tight.

“Hey, Trent,” Cade raised a hand in greeting.

“What are you two up to?” Trent asked casually; his gaze was intense.

“We went to eat and a concert in the park. Cade showed up just in time; I needed a break from packing,” Amanda informed her brother.

“I’m glad you’re moving home,” her brother announced.

She was sure he was.

“I don’t know for how long,” Amanda shrugged. “How are you, Trent?”

“I’ve been better,” he admitted as he sank into an arm chair. Amanda sat down beside Cade. The door opened as Jenny spilled in.

“Hi!” she smiled as she greeted the men. She moved to hug Cade as he stood to greet her. Jenny turned to smile at Trent and startled when he stood. She was even more surprised when he returned her hug.

“How are you, Jenny; it’s been a while,” Trent offered.

“Good,” she nodded with a nervous smile.

“What brings you two here?”

“I came to see my sister and I thought I would say hi to you as well,” Trent answered.

“I came to visit,” Cade supplied.

Jenny nodded with amusement lurking in her eyes.

“I’m so glad you did,” Jenny flopped down beside Amanda.

“How are you two?” Jenny took charge.

“I’m good.” Cade assured her.

“Alright,” Trent offered.

“Does Dad know you came home early?” Amanda asked as she fidgeted with the necklace Cade had sent her for her birthday.

“No, I stopped by here first. Where’d you get the necklace?” her brother demanded.

“From a friend for my birthday,” Amanda shared.

“Nice gift,” her brother noted.

“It is,” she smiled.

“Must be a good friend.”

“Mmm hmmm, they are,” she nodded and smiled at her brother.

“So you are moving into the old cabin your dad fixed up?” Jenny distracted him.

“Yeah, Dad thought I might come home engaged but,” Trent shrugged as he propped one booted foot over his knee.

“You’ll still appreciate having your own space.”

“Yeah. I asked Dad if Cade could bunk with me for now,” Trent shared.

“Get used to each other?” Jenny asked with a teasing smile.

“Guess we did,” Trent nodded. “I guess we should get going,” Trent suggested to Cade as he stood.

“Yeah; I’m right behind you,” Cade nodded without standing.

“Right,” Trent’s expression was tight.

Amanda stood and hugged her brother before seeing him to the door. She closed it and leaned against it with a sigh.

“Okay, so there were some odd vibes going on here, what exactly was that all about?” Jenny wanted to know.

“Cade and I had just gotten in from a date when my brother arrived. Ever since Christy dumped him, he’s been opposed to our dating,” Amanda explained.

“I left him a note that I was heading home early. He has been really moody lately; he keeps reminding me that you’re his innocent little sister,” Cade informed Amanda. She moved to sink down beside Cade. He wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled against him with a sigh. They were going to have to bite the bullet and tell her father; she just hoped he was more reasonable than Trent was being.

After graduation, Amanda and Jenny cleared their apartment and Trent and Cade moved into the old cabin in it’s new location. Several weeks had passed, spring arriving and edging toward summer. Cade kept asking Amanda to let him go speak with her father. Amanda was afraid of how he was going to react and asked Cade to wait just a little longer.

Amanda glanced out of her bedroom window at the cabin as rain turned the morning sky grey and knew that Cade was right, she was going to have talk with her father. Being so close to Cade and pretending that they were still mere friends was pure torture. He didn’t seem any happier about it than she was, she mused. She turned from her window and grabbed her purse to go shopping. She had landed a part time job in town and needed to buy some clothing for the three afternoons a week that she would be in the office. Her father was also paying her to manage the ranch accounts.

“Hey, Naomi; I’m going shopping,” she announced as she entered the kitchen.

“Be careful in the rain. We have to be all the way down in Helena at six for this demonstration your dad wants to see. Why he wants me to go I can’t imagine. He and your brother don’t need me for this,” Naomi fussed. “And the crazy man wants to head back home tonight. I shudder to think what time it will be when we get back in.”

“He wants you to get out some, Naomi; you stay closed up here too often,” Amanda chided with a kiss on her aunt’s cheeks.

“I like it here,” her aunt protested.

“Go, have fun; meet yourself a handsome widower,” Amanda suggested.

“Mandy-Lynn Jennings!” Naomi plopped her hands on her hips. Amanda laughed and moved to hug her aunt. “Are you and Cade ever going to tell your dad that you two are all moon eyed over each other?” her aunt asked as she wiped at an imaginary speck on the counter.

Amanda froze and stared at her aunt in amazement.

“What…”

“I am old but I am not blind. Amanda, honey, I like Cade; I do but I worry about you two.”

“Thanks for your concern, Naomi; we’ll sort it out.”

“I nearly had a heart attack watching you two dance around each other always flirting and you still just a kid, but to his credit he let you grow up didn’t he?”

“Naomi, I had no idea, I mean I knew you fussed…”

“Why do young people think grown folks are dumb?” Naomi demanded.

“Maybe we just think they’ve forgotten what it feels like,” Amanda countered.

“I haven’t; you don’t forget,” Naomi informed her, her gaze distant, somewhere in the past. Amanda had never seen her aunt look like that before. She wanted to ask about it but she was supposed to meet Jenny in twenty minutes.

“I love you, Naomi,” Amanda kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I have to go or Jenny will wonder about me.”

“Have fun.”

“I will. You have fun and be careful on the interstate.”

“Your dad and brother are both good drivers,” her aunt assured her.

Amanda hurried to her Jeep, she would like to replace it once she had saved enough money she mused as she drove into town. Jenny had landed a job as a medical secretary at the hospital and had to have office attire as well. The two girls shopped, ate lunch, and shopped some more, offering advice and opinions on articles of clothing. By the time Amanda headed for home, the rain had intensified and the sky was darkening.

When she pulled into the yard, she grabbed her fist load of bags, struggled from the car, and slammed the car door behind her. She hurried onto the porch, dropped her bags onto the swing and reached into her pocket for her keys. They weren’t there. Amanda sighed. Oh well, she could grab another load and get her keys while she was at it. Amanda dashed back across the yard, yanked on the handle, and frowned. It was locked. She tried the other car doors, before rushing around the house to try the back door. She was locked out in the rain and sopping wet, she realized. Her father had started lecturing everyone about locking up after a recent rash of thefts in the area so she knew she wasn’t likely to have any luck with the windows either.

Amanda finally decided to see if Cade was home. Maybe he had a key, regardless she would enjoy seeing him and would be out of the rain. She walked down the drive between the main house and the cabin and felt relief when she found lights on in the down stairs windows. Water was dripping off her chin by the time she climbed the porch steps. She knocked and waited.

“Hi,” Cade greeted her with a smile.

“I’m locked out,” Amanda announced.

“Come on in, baby,” he invited.

“Don’t suppose Trent keeps a house key around here does he?” Amanda asked as Cade stepped into the downstairs bathroom and grabbed a towel.

“On his key chain; it’s with him,” Cade handed her the towel.

“Thanks,” Amanda wiped her face.

“So settle in for a visit,” Cade invited.

“Guess I will,” she smiled.

“Go find something dry to put on first,” he nodded toward the stairs.

“Thank you,” Amanda kissed him lightly on the lips before bounding up the stairs.

As soon as she had stepped into Cade’s room and shut the door behind her, Amanda peeled her wet clothes from her body. Her skin was covered in goose bumps and she vigorously toweled the moisture away trying warm her skin. Her skin dry, she toweled her hair, squeezing excess water from it as she crossed the small room to the closet. She selected a white western shirt, one of her favorites on Cade, and buttoned it; she already felt warmer with the long sleeves covering her arms. Her legs, however were still cold. Amanda shut the closet and moved to the dresser; she finally found a pair of sweat pants buried under jeans, jeans, and more jeans. Come to think of it, she’d never seen him in anything other than jeans.

She closed the drawer, the sweat pants forgotten on top of the dresser when she spotted a wedding band a chain. His mom’s wedding ring! Amanda stepped closer and fingered the gold band; she was smiling as she did. After his mom’s death and after beginning his merry go round in the foster system, he had begun wearing the ring on a chain around his neck. He had shared that items of value often vanished and he hadn’t wanted his mother’s ring being pawned for cash. The ring was all he had left of his mother; he never let it get far from him. He had started hanging it on his dresser mirror after he had moved to the ranch. Amanda knew all of this because he had written her of it.

Amanda turned and glanced around the room. She hadn’t been in here since Cade moved in. It felt different with his things in here; different and yet familiar because she knew the man they belonged to. Amanda moved to the bed side table and smiled as she lifted a framed picture from the night stand. It was of Amanda, Jenny, and Cade; the girls on either side of him kissing him on the cheek. Jenny had asked a friend to take it one evening in town the summer before Cade and Trent had started college. She replaced the frame and turned to finish dressing; Cade was going to wonder what had happened to her. She’d no more than had the thought than a knock sounded on the door a moment before it opened.

“You get lost?” Cade teased.

“Side tracked,” she admitted as she came to stop in front of him. She watched his gaze slide over her. His eyes sparked with heat and her heart doubled in tempo. She felt shy and self conscious; her mouth was suddenly dry. Amanda reached to push the hair from her face, only to find her hand was shaking. She swallowed hard and tried to calm her nerves as she stepped closer. It took another moment for her to muster the nerve to slide her arms around his neck and kiss him; his arms came around her. Amanda was on fire again; what were the rules tonight, she wondered. She tugged his shirt loose from his pants and slid her hands along his belly and hips a moment before she reached to loosen his belt and unfasten his jeans. When he let her, she stopped and leaned back to study him.

“Why’d you stop?” Cade asked her.

“I just wondered if you’d let me get away with it and what tonight’s rules are; I hadn’t thought about it beyond that,” her cheeks were pink.

She watched Cade smile.

“You’re funny, Manny,” he reached for her and pulled her back close. Amanda sank against him, his hands were caressing her hips and her legs had just turned to mush.

He kissed her deeply and it suddenly wasn’t enough for her, she tugged impatiently at his shirt and he paused to pull it off for her; he pulled his belt off and tossed it onto his dresser as well. She watched impatiently as he removed his boots. Her nerves seemed to have fled, at least mostly. Cade reached for the hem of the shirt she wore and pulled it off and Amanda felt her nerves return with a vengeance. Her hands fluttered, her reflex to cover herself before she forced herself to stand, her hands at her sides as she fidgeted with her finger nails. She couldn’t meet Cade’s glance and she could feel the heat climbing into her cheeks.

“You okay?” Cade’s eyes were soft and concerned when she glanced up.

“Yeah,” she nodded breathlessly.

“You can walk anytime, Manny; you say the word and we stop,” Cade told her.

“No,” Amanda shook her head. “No!” she repeated more forcefully and made herself meet his intense gaze. He reached for her and she jumped slightly as he pulled her close.

“You sure?” he was cupping her jaw and caressing her ear lobe.

“Positive,” she nodded. Cade kissed her and a moment later lifted her to lay her on the bed.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.