Give Me Tonight(93)

"Tonight when I get back, we'll wash your hair. That'll make you feel better. And I'll tell Ben to play some music in the parlor after dinner, especially that song you always like to hear. "

"But Ben is so busy—"

"He'll find the time," Addie assured her, and grinned impishly. "If I ask."

Caroline brightened, looking at her expectantly. "How are things between the two of you?"

Addie leaned closer, her brown eyes dancing with excitement. "He loves me," she whispered.

"Oh, Adeline—"

"I never dreamed I could be so happy. I'm so much in love it hurts."

"I'm so glad for you." Caroline gripped her hand.

"Don't let him go. Don't let anything come between you."

"No, never." Addie flashed her a grin and squeezed Caro's hand before letting go and leaving the room. "Leah! Leah, where are you? You and I are going to town. Come help me look for Cade. "

Leah's pigtails flew behind her as she raced down the stairs ahead of Addie, her voice shrill as she called for Cade. Addie followed her out to the front porch, where they found Cade reclining lazily on the steps with Diaz. Diaz was in the middle of one of his im­probable adventure stories. He stopped his narrative and looked up as he saw them, his wizened face creas­ing with a smile.

Addie returned the smile hesitantly, suddenly aware of how many times she'd walked by him without a thought as he sat on this very porch. Accustomed to his presence there, she had given him as little notice as she gave the porch railing or the wooden boards under her feet. Every now and then they had ex­changed a word, but she had never again sought out his company after the strange, almost nonsensical con­versation they'd once had. It was rare that Addie let herself think about it, and everything she had once considered asking him or talking to him about had faded into the most distant part of her memory. He was just there, ever-present, contemplative.

"Cade, you have to take Adeline an' me to town," Leah burst out, reaching out to yank at his hand.

Cade smiled at her excitement, resisting her efforts to pull him to his feet. "Who says I have to?"

"Don't tease," Addie said, hooking her fingers into his shirt collar and tugging lightly. He-made a gagging noise and stood up.

"Guess you'll have t' finish the story later," he said to Diaz, shoving his hands into his pockets and shrug­ging good-naturedly. "Otherwise Adeline'll strangulate me. You aren't gonna leave before tonight, are you?"

"Tomorrow mornin'," Diaz said, and Addie's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Leave? What do you mean? Where are you going? Why—"

"I never stay too long in one place, or with one outfit." Diaz smiled at her in a kindly way and lifted his stocky shoulders as if to indicate it was something beyond his control.

"But what will you do?"

"Lotta herds gonna be driven north soon. Always room for a good talespinner on the trail."

Addie was speechless. She didn't want him to leave.

But she couldn't explain the feeling, not to him and not even to herself. There was no practical reason for wanting him to stay at Sunrise. She hardly knew him, hardly ever spoke to him. He was just as he described himself, a talespinner. He'd done nothing for her ex­cept throw out a few half-baked ideas one night that had struck her fancy. Some of the odd things he'd said . about going back in time, about redemption, had frightened her with their accuracy. Maybe it had just been a lucky choice of words. And maybe not.

"There's something I must know," she said hesi­tantly. "Mr. Diaz—"

"Adeline," Cade interrupted, chuckling as Leah nearly sent him tumbling down the steps with her ea­gerness to leave, "he just said he'll be here tonight. If you want to go to town, quit talkin' and come on. "

Addie scowled at her brother and then raised her eyes heavenward. "Later, Mr. Diaz?"

"Later," he agreed placidly, and she smiled at him before following Cade and Leah.

After they had reached town and Cade helped them down from the buggy, Addie and Leah headed for the General Store. Cade went further down the street to see if Ben was visiting with the sheriff as he had in­tended. Nowadays Ben made it a habit to keep the sheriff informed of every incident of friction that in­volved the Sunrise Ranch, doing what he could to keep him on their side. Not that the scanty forces that passed for law and order here could do much for them. In this part of Texas, you had to look after yourself and your own business, and you were in big trouble if you had to rely too much on someone else's protection. But Ben intended to maintain some appearance of respect­ability for the ranch, and having the sheriff's cautious support was better than his disapproval.

After buying a yard of checked gingham and a bulg­ing parcel of candy, Addie walked Leah across the street toward the buggy. Leah's sugar-sticky hand caught at hers, and Addie grinned as they swung arms together companionably.

"Wanna lemon drop?" Leah asked with perfect politeness.

"No, thank you."

"Molasses cane?"

"Honey, if I'd wanted any, I would've gotten some for myself. But it's nice of you to want to share."

"Aunt Adeline?"