Under the Open Sky

Chapter Forty

Amanda woke the next morning and frowned at the empty bed beside her. After taking a quick shower, she set out in search of Cade after peaking in to find Cadey-Lynn’s bed empty. As she neared the kitchen she could hear Cadey-Lynn’s voice.

“Uncle Trent can’t cook, Aunt Jenny chases him out of the kitchen because she says he’s in the way,” she was telling her daddy.

“I’m not so great at it myself. It just so happens that chocolate chip pancakes are one of the few things I can make,” Cade informed his daughter.

Amanda leaned against the kitchen doorway and smiled. Cade was cooking pancakes while Cadey-Lynn stood in a chair at his side.

“We’re ready to turn it. Don’t touch the pan now, okay,” Cade had his hands on Cadey-Lynn’s and was guiding her. “Now, we flip it!” Cade flipped the pancake quickly, Cadey-Lynn’s hands still under his.

Cadey-Lynn giggled. “It splattered a little.”

“It’ll be okay,” he assured her.

“Mommy doesn’t usually sleep this long,” Cadey-Lynn noted.

“Yesterday wore your Mommy out,” Cade explained. “She didn’t get any sleep the night before because she drove you two down here.”

Amanda smiled; her sleep had been sporadic last night too.

“Having fun without me?” Amanda demanded as she moved into the room.

“Daddy is letting me help cook,” Cadey-Lynn’s eyes were bright with excitement as she hugged her mother good morning.

“Are you making sure he’s doing it right?” Amanda joked.

Cadey-Lynn nodded.

“Good morning,” Cade slid an arm around Amanda and dropped a kiss on her lips.

“Good morning,” she returned.

“After breakfast I would like to take you two for a ride. I am assuming given that she’s your daughter, Cadey-Lynn has been on a horse before?”

“With someone, yes. She’s started begging for a pony.”

“Yeah, then I can learn to ride like Missy from church did,” Cadey-Lynn inserted.

“We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled,” Cade winked at his daughter. Cadey-Lynn gave him her most brilliant smile and hugged him.

“Alright, you gonna help me take this pancake up?” Cade offered his daughter the spatula.

As they rode over Cade’s property Amanda kept snapping pictures of Cade and Cadey-Lynn, where she sat in front of her father on his horse. The property wasn’t as large as Amanda’s father’s but it was a decent size and well watered. It was a nice piece of land; the mountains slightly more distant here but no less beautiful. Amanda could see how proud Cade was and he should be. The man he had bought it from had nearly let the place run to ground after his wife’s death. Cade had helped the man pull the place back from the brink and then had bought it at a good price when the man decided to move to northern California to be with his kids and grandchildren.

They were approaching the house when Amanda recognized her brother’s truck in the driveway. She felt herself tense. She didn’t want to fight; she wanted to enjoy being with Cade. Cade asked one of his men to see to the horses, lifted his daughter, and took Amanda’s hand before making a bee line for Trent. Amanda’s heart was pounding as they neared him.

“You three look right together,” Trent informed them. Amanda could read the regret in his face and felt her tight nerves loosen a fraction.

“Hey, Uncle Trent; we found my daddy,” Cadey-Lynn announced proudly.

“I see that,” Trent smiled.

“Hi,” Jenny called from the edge of the garage.

“Your house keeper was nice enough to let her and Angie in where they could wait more comfortably.”

“Good.”

“Aunt Jenny, we found my Daddy,” Cadey-Lynn called.

“Come tell me about it and let your Mommy and Daddy talk to Uncle Trent a minute,” Jenny called. Amanda would have to remember to thank her later.

“Go on squirt,” Cade set Cadey-Lynn on her feet.

“Do you have an answer for my question?” Amanda demanded as soon as her daughter had gone inside.

“I do; I would kick their ass,” her brother answered honestly and then looked to Cade. “I’m sorry, Cade; I had no right to come between you two.”

Amanda watched the muscles in Cade’s jaw work a moment before he swallowed hard and extended his hand.

Trent took Cade’s hand; Cade pulled him into a hug.

“How are you Trent?” Cade inquired.

“I’d be better with a few less regrets,” Trent admitted as he stepped back and studied his friend. “Jenny was talking to me recently and she said something that made me stop and think and that combined with watching Mandy still crying and waiting for you….I couldn’t stand it on my conscious a moment longer. I caught up with Dad and told him he had to make it right or I would. I gave him until the end of summer. I should have come straight to one of you.”

“What did Jenny say?” Amanda asked.

“It was after she had been talking to you and you were talking about Cade. She was crying and she asked me ‘Can you imagine if someone sent you away and we couldn’t see each other? Can you imagine not knowing about your daughter?’ and I could imagine it; I could imagine how much that would hurt. I thought for a moment yesterday that she was going to leave me when she found out about the letters.”

“How is Dad taking it?” Amanda asked.

“He’s being stubborn because his pride is hurt but he’s cracking; I can tell.”

“Come on in; see my place,” Cade invited as he slid an arm around Amanda’s waist.

“I’d like that,” Trent smiled. They made their way inside; Jenny greeted them with a big smile.

“Hello, good lookin’,” Jenny moved to hug Cade. “Excuse my bump; it’s Trent’s way of making sure I don’t go sidling up too close to sexy men,” Jenny teased.

“Hey, Jenny, I’ve missed you,” Cade hugged her back.

“Well, Mandy, you’ve tracked down the second sexiest man in Montana, what are you going to do with him, well besides what I’m sure you’ve already done,” Jenny’s grin was mischievous.

Amanda felt heat climb into her cheeks; she found herself grinning when even Cade blushed.

“She’s going to marry me; soon I hope,” Cade responded.

“Good, it’s past time,” Jenny nodded. Amanda slid her arms around Cade and laid her head against his chest she couldn’t help thinking how much she had missed them all being together.

Amanda finished straightening her hair and smoothed her jean skirt before stepping from the bathroom to grab her purse. Cade was waiting in the living room with Cadey-Lynn, Cassia, and Cassia’s husband and ranch foreman, Ben. Cade wanted to take Amanda to dinner and asked Cassia and Ben to watch Cadey-Lynn for a couple of hours. Amanda entered the living room and watched Cade’s eyes light with appreciation as his gaze slid over her.

“Thanks for watching Cadey-Lynn,” Amanda smiled at the couple on the couch.

“We should be back in time to put her to bed,” Cade added as he stood and claimed Amanda’s hand.

“You two go on and enjoy some time together,” Cassia smiled brightly.

“See you in a little while,” Amanda leaned to kiss her daughter’s cheek.

“Be good for Cassia and Ben,” Cade said before kissing his daughter’s head.

“I will, Daddy,” Cadey-Lynn promised.

Amanda waited while Cade opened her door before climbing into the truck.

“You look absolutely amazing,” Cade offered and leaned into kiss her lightly before closing the door and coming around the truck. Amanda was smiling when he climbed in to start the engine. Amanda found that she was actually nervous which was the most ridiculous thing ever. The feeling remained, however, as Cade turned into the parking lot of a local eatery.

“Place doesn’t look like much but they have great food,” Cade informed Amanda. The building before them was made of weathered wood, a large wrap around porch scattered with tables and chairs that at moment weren’t in use. Cade opened Amanda’s door and led her across the porch and into the establishment. The inside was finished roughly as well, wood plank walls, an odd assortment of booths and tables, what looked to be Christmas lights draped across the ceiling like netting, and various advertisements some old, some new tacked to the walls.

Cade placed his hand on her back and led her to a man behind a long bar.

“Hey, George,” Cade nodded. “I’d like you to meet somebody.”

The man behind the counter was tall and wide, his balding head reflecting the glow of the lights over head as he wiped out a glass and set it on the counter; his brown eyes were assessing Amanda.

“Who is this?” George smiled as they neared.

“George, I would like you to meet my fiancée, Amanda Jennings. This is my Manny,” Cade was grinning. “Amanda, this is George, he owns the place.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Amanda felt almost shy.

“Welcome! Congratulations, both of you,” the man grinned at them a moment before coming around the bar to hug Amanda and pat Cade on the back.

“I have been hearing about you for years,” George informed her.

“Here,” Cade reached for his wallet and pulled out a picture of Cadey-Lynn that Amanda had given him. “That’s my daughter, Cadey-Lynn. It turned out I was missing more than I bargained for while I tried winning her father’s approval,” Cade handed the man the picture.

“Wow,” George said softly; his gaze remained on Cade a moment before he looked down. “She’s beautiful; I know you must be proud,” George handed him the picture.

“I am; she’s wonderful, like her mom,” Cade slid his arm back around Amanda.

“You two have a seat; dinner is on me tonight,” George nodded to the booths and raised a hand when Cade started to argue. “No arguments; I like a good love story but don’t be spreading that around,” he dropped his voice.

Amanda laughed at the cautious look he shot around the room.

“Hey, Cade, who you have with you there?” A man called from the bar.

“Hey, Dan. This is my Manny; Amanda Jennings. Amanda this skunk is Dan, you watch him,” Cade teased as he led Amanda over to the man.

“She’s a beauty, Cade; I’ll try and behave myself,” the man winked at Amanda.

“This is my daughter,” Cade handed over the picture he still hadn’t put away.

“Daughter? Hey folks, Cade has a daughter!” Dan announced to the crowd scattered around the room. Amanda blinked at the crowd that suddenly surrounded them.

“Aint she cute?”

“She looks just like you.”

The picture was making rounds through the crowd, the comments floating back to them as Amanda found several people introducing themselves all at once. She smiled and shook hands; the names and faces were blurring.

“We’re getting married; soon if I have any say in it,” Cade was telling a man beside him. He reached for Amanda’s hand and pulled her close enough to wrap an arm around her.

“Congratulations,” the man smiled at them.

He was older, close to her own father in age, Amanda figured.

“Amanda, this is Jake Mullins, Cassia’s father,” Cade introduced the man.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, your daughter seems very nice, though I haven’t gotten to know her well yet,” Amanda offered her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you too. I knew there was someone this man was longing for. I’m glad you two found each other again.”

“Thank you,” Amanda smiled at the man.

The crowd was thinning now, people drifting back to their tables. Amanda noted a young woman, probably only a year or two older than herself watching as she leaned against the bar. The young woman was frowning at Amanda, her eyes dark, though she didn’t look to wish Amanda ill exactly. She was the woman Cade had gone out with a couple of times, Amanda realized. She actually felt a little bad for the woman and offered a smile. The woman gave her a hint of a smile and a nod.

“Thought you had married,” a man at her elbow spoke.

“No, no I never married. I’m afraid my father exaggerated my relationship with the man I was seeing,” Amanda explained.

“Good; Cade came dragging in here one night looking like the world had just crashed in on him and we were all worried about him,” the man informed her.

“Wish I had known where he was,” Amanda told the man.

“Me too,” the man smiled at her.

“So you two are marrying soon?” George asked, pulling Amanda’s attention back their direction.

“Yes, I’m sure we’ll marry in Manny’s hometown; but I’d like to have a reception here so everyone can get to know Manny,” Cade explained.

“Have it here; I’ll make you a deal,” George grinned.

“Thanks, George,” Cade smiled at the man. “Come on, let’s see if we can finally make it to a table,” Cade led Amanda across the room.

Amanda smiled at Cade after they were seated.

“What’s that smile for?”

“I can see how well liked you are and I know it sounds silly, but I’m proud for you.”

“Doesn’t sound silly,” Cade assured her. “I like these people; they’ve been good friends to me.”

“Good.”

“It’s so nice to be able to introduce you to everyone. I know they probably got tired of hearing about you,” Cade handed her a menu from behind a ketchup bottle. “Decide what you want and I’ll put our order in; things are rather informal here.”

“The food smells good,” Amanda noted. There was a door behind the bar; smells and sounds of cooking carried into the dining area. She made up her mind and passed her order onto Cade and watched as he stood and moved to the bar. She watched him lean against the polished surface and admired the long length of his legs, the breadth of his shoulders, and his smile. He glanced her way and winked; Amanda sighed. She couldn’t wait to spend every day of the rest of her life with this man.

The sound of the door opening pulled Amanda’s attention to the woman entering. A woman with dark brown hair entered; she was wearing a pair of skin tight jeans and a tight, low cut shirt. The woman’s brown eyes lit when they landed on Cade. Amanda watched her sidle up to the bar.

“When are you going to quit being stubborn and come home with me, Cade?” the woman invited in a low sultry voice.

Amanda watched Cade, his eyes guarded, step back.

“We’ve had this conversation before, Tonya,” he reminded her.

“So let’s quit talking and start doing,” Tonya leaned forward.

Amanda sighed, rolled her eyes, and stood. It was time to let this floozy know Cade wasn’t on the market anymore.

“Hi, Tonya, was it? I’m Amanda, Cade’s fiancée. If you’ll excuse us, we’re trying to enjoy an evening out before we head home to tuck our daughter into bed for the night,” Amanda nodded at the woman as she took Cade by the arm.

“See you,” Cade nodded at Tonya; his eyes were lit with amusement. He led Amanda, not to their table, but to the dance floor. “It’ll be a few minutes at least before our order is ready. Thought we’d dance,” Cade informed her.

“I like dancing with you,” Amanda smiled up at him.

“I’m glad to see you kept your claws sharp,” Cade teased as he pulled her into his arms.

“A wise woman always does, especially when the man she’s loved for years is as sexy as you are,” she returned.

“Guess I need to make certain I still know how to throw a punch,” he joked right back.

Amanda smiled up at him a moment before laying her head on his shoulder and losing herself in the moment. They danced until their food was ready and after eating left to return back to the ranch. They entered the house to find Cadey-Lynn sprawled in the floor with a coloring book open while Cassia and Ben watched the news.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Cadey-Lynn jumped up and ran to them as they entered.

“Thanks, again for watching Cadey-Lynn,” Cade said to his foreman and his wife as they stood to go.

“No problem; she’s a doll, Cade,” Cassia offered him a smile.

Amanda bid them good night; then she and Cade tucked their daughter in and read to her from her favorite book.

They had already turned all the lights off in the front of the house and crossed the hall to the master bedroom together. Amanda sat down on the bed to remove her boots and watched Cade do the same. It felt a little odd after being by herself for so long to walk into a shared bedroom and begin undressing for bed as though she did this every night. Amanda stood, unbuttoned her shirt and watched Cade pull his off. Her gaze landed on his scar again and she moved to stand in front of him, once again running her hands over it, a frown on her face.

“I don’t like thinking of you in pain,” Amanda informed him.

“It hurt like hell,” Cade admitted as he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close to kiss her belly. Amanda, feeling heat climb into her cheeks, laughed.

“Why do you still blush when you’re undressed in front of me?” he asked in amusement before tugging her into his lap.

“You are the only man I ever been undressed in front of,” she reminded him. “Completely anyway,” she added as an afterthought.

“What?” he frowned?

“It’s nothing.”

“No, you’ve been partially undressed in front of someone?” his gaze was possessive.

“I told you I intended to sleep with Reese to prove I was over you,” she reminded him.

“I know; I just didn’t realize it had gotten that far,” he was frowning.

“It got as far as my shirt being unbuttoned; then he found this,” Amanda lifted the ring from her chest. “I keep meaning to give it back to you.”

“I noticed it there but I liked the idea that you had been wearing it all this time,” he admitted. “I don’t like the idea of another man touching you,” his hands tugged her even closer.

“I’m sorry, Cade; I wish I had known you still loved me,” Amanda kissed his forehead.

“Me too,” he agreed. “But we’re here now.”

“Yes, we are.”

“I love you, Manny.”

“I love you too,” Amanda ran her hand through his hair. “I didn’t like Tonya flirting with you tonight. You’re mine.”

“Yes, I am,” he agreed with a smile. “Are you mine?”

“Nobody else’s,” she promised.

“Good,” he nodded.

“Cade, you do know that I could never be as bold with someone else? I mean, I did not come on to Reece the way I came on to you; I had to let him take the lead. The only reason I threw myself at you the way I did is because I loved you even then,” she assured him.

“I know that, Manny. Why do you think I made you wait so long? I didn’t want you feeling as though I had used you or you were some fling. Which is what you ended up believing in the long run, anyway,” he sighed.

“I think I knew better deep down; that’s why I couldn’t let go.”

“I should have told you I love you sooner, Manny. I’m not sure why I didn’t.”

“I didn’t say it either,” Amanda admitted. “In a way I was scared to, afraid that I would scare you off.”

“No, you wouldn’t have scared me off but I should have said it first. I was scared to say it too. The only person I ever loved before you and now Cadey-Lynn came along, was my mother. I guess I was afraid that saying it would somehow jinx it. And honestly, Manny. I think after the first few months after I left passed that I was almost scared to come after you. I was afraid that maybe you had changed your mind. I should have known better; I should have come back for you and I should have told you I love you.”

“Doesn’t matter now,” she assured him.

“I plan on saying it every day, Manny. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“It blows my mind that you love me, Manny.”

“What?” she laughed.

“I had no right to even try for you.”

“And I was certain that you would never settle down,” she informed him.

“I’d never had a reason to want to before.”

“Aren’t you sappy,” she teased.

“You don’t like it?” he was grinning at her.

“I do,” she admitted with a wide smile.

“Thought so,” his hands were caressing her legs as he inched her skirt up. “You have beautiful legs, Manny, and I think I’ve already told you I like skirts on you,” he grinned at her. Amanda, knowing that she was blushing again, smiled back. She leaned forward to kiss him and buried her hands in his hair.