Cade

"I really don't understand …" she murmured, wrapping her arms around her waist.

In the glow of the lantern on the table nearby, Bella's eyes were glistening. Was she crying?

Hell! Cade never could stand to see a woman cry. Especially Bella. Ever since the first day he'd met her while she was digging a hole in the back field of her daddy's ranch to bury a dead bird, his insides had crumbled whenever she was sad or hurt.

Now, seeing her close to tears again, his gut twisted just like it had that day. He'd thought he'd gotten over that, but it looked like she still had that much power over him.

Who was he kidding? He'd known even back then – before he'd even thought about girls for anything besides what fun it was to tease them and make them mad - that Bella was special. That he'd do anything to keep her safe and happy.

Cade couldn't take it. In one swift move, he closed the gap between them and gently slid his arms around her shoulders.

Her floral scent reached his nose and he sucked in a greedy breath. He drew her closer, expecting her to pull away. Instead, she reached up and clutched his shirt in her fists and rested her head on his shoulder. Her hair felt like corn silk against his cheek. "I'm sorry, Bella. You know I'd rather cut my heart out than hurt you, but I have to do this."

She didn't answer. He felt her heat against his chest, her heartbeat and his blending together until he wasn't sure which was his and which was hers. Finally, he heard her sniff and she drew back slightly and looked up at him. Her lashes were damp, ringing dark blue irises. "I thought I knew you … but that was a long time ago. You're not the same person now."

No, he wasn't the same carefree boy he'd been back then, when a fishing pole and Bella's smile were the only two things he needed to be happy.

He'd changed, and until a few hours ago, he'd thought the only thing he needed to make his life complete was revenge. Now he wasn't so sure.

Chapter 4

The sound of hoofbeats filled the stillness inside the small cabin. "Stay back there," Cade ordered, gesturing with his gun to the back of the cabin.

Isabella hurried away from the doorway and huddled in the rear corner while Cade pulled his gun and headed toward the window. Slowly, he pulled back the edge of the curtain with the barrel of his gun and peered into the darkness.

Bella watched as he let the curtain fall and holstered his gun. Then he crossed to the door and threw it open. Just then, two men appeared on the porch and hurried inside, closing the door behind them.

"Where've you two been?" Cade asked. "You should have been here hours ago."

"It took a little longer than we figured. That bodyguard fella gave us a bit of trouble."

Bella took a step forward. "You didn't hurt him, did you?" Even though she couldn’t stand the man, she wouldn't want him to come to any harm on her account.

The tall man she recognized as Brown Hat took off his Stetson and scrubbed his wiry dark hair.. "Name's Zane, ma'am. Nice to make your acquaintance," he said. "And no, we didn't hurt him none, but I have to admit it was tempting." He chuckled. "How you suffered him all that way without shooting him is beyond me."

She couldn't help but return his smile.

The other man stood quietly behind him. "Trey, right?" she asked a few moments later. He was younger and smaller than Zane, but there was a definite resemblance.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a nod.

Cade shook both men's hands. "I owe you one," he said. "Anything you need, any time."

Zane and Trey nodded in unison."Right now, I need some of that stew," Zane said, sniffing loudly.

"There's plenty," Cade said. "Should be warm enough by now." Turning toward the fire, he picked up a ladle and began scooping the steaming mixture into bowls and setting them on the table. "Spoons are in the drawer."

A few minutes later, Trey set his spoon on the table beside his bowl and leaned back in his chair. "You told the lady yet what you're up to?"

Isabella's gaze flew to Cade's face. Beneath the shadow of a day's growth of dark beard, a faint flush rose in his cheeks. He didn't look at her. "Not really," he muttered, ramming a chunk of bread in his mouth.

"You don't think she has a right to know?"

"Yes," Isabella put in. "Don't you think she has a right to know why you went to such lengths to stop her wedding?"

From the time she was old enough to understand about love, she'd often thought the day might come when she and Cade would become more than friends. He'd been her protector, her confidante, her best friend. Then his father died, and soon after, his mother was killed. A day later, Cade was gone. That was twelve years before, and she hadn't seen him since. What possible reason could he have for robbery and kidnapping to prevent her marriage? It wasn't as if he cared about her. If he had, he never would have left her without even saying goodbye. Without giving her a chance to tell her how she felt about him.

His face darkened; his eyes shuttered. "Not now." Then he turned and walked outside, letting the door slam shut behind him.