His Brother's Bride by Denise Hunter Page B

were the questions that had kept him awake for the better part of the night. The kitchen door creaked open, and Emily appeared, a basket of biscuits in her hand. He rose and took it from her, setting it square on the table, and she turned back to the kitchen.
    He watched her go, her calico skirts swinging in rhythm with her steps. He admired the way the material clung to her narrow waist then flowed out from the flare of her hips.
    Heat flooded his face at the direction of his thoughts. All last night, he’d seen her face behind his closed eyes. Her deep brown eyes and cherry lips that trembled with anger. He’d come so close to kissing them. Would they have softened under his ministrations?
    Emily came through the door, this time holding a platter filled with ham and eggs. He rose briefly until she settled into her seat, then he said grace.
    She scooped some eggs onto Adam’s plate while he speared a slab of ham.
    She had yet to meet his gaze, and he knew she felt just as awkward about their embrace as he did. As they ate the meal, the strain was thick. Only Adam spoke, finally wakened by the tasty food in his belly.
    â€œWe going to the cave again today?”
    The question was directed at Emily, but the answer slipped from Cade’s mouth before he could stop it. “No.”
    Adam turned to him with an argument on his lips, but Cade put a stop to it. “You’re not allowed going into the caves again. It’s not safe.”
    â€œBut me and Emily—”
    â€œAnswer’s no, and that’s final. I’ll not hear another word about it, understand?”
    His son’s eyes flashed blue then his gaze fell away. “Yes sir.”
    Cade looked at Emily, but she studied the eggs on her plate as she moved them around with her fork.
    Even Adam fell silent after that, and Cade wondered if Emily was thinking that he didn’t trust her. He remembered her emphatic words from the night before and how he’d hurt her feelings. He still felt bad about that, even after apologizing. He hoped she understood about the caves.
    His gaze darted her way just in time to catch hers. They held for a memorable moment.
    With a loud clank, Adam’s glass turned over and milk flowed across the table. Emily got up for a towel, and the moment was broken again.
    â§
    All that afternoon, Cade couldn’t get Emily from his mind. He hadn’t been without a woman for so long that he didn’t recognize the feelings that had been building in him. Emily was no longer a mere boarder in his home. She was no longer just a fill-in mother for his son. She was coming to be special to him. A part of his heart, a part he’d thought long dead, was coming alive again. And as much as that scared him, it excited him too. He wondered what his brother would have thought of this? Would Thomas approve of my feelings for Emily?
    He nodded thoughtfully and pulled Sutter’s reins until he stopped. Thomas would approve. He probably would’ve thumped Cade on the forehead for being stubborn about it so long.
    He led the horse to the creek and let him drink his fill, then squatted beside him and filled his canteen. As the clear water rushed into the small opening, Cade knew he’d made a decision he wouldn’t go back on. He would pursue this relationship with Emily. Slowly, carefully, he would try to win the heart of his son’s mother—his wife.
    â§
    Emily picked up the yellow yarn and started working on what was going to be a blanket for Mara’s baby. She’d settled on the most delicate colors and though she’d barely started, she knew it was going to be the perfect gift.
    Upstairs, the floor creaked where Cade no doubt stood beside Adam’s bed. His announcement over breakfast that she wasn’t to take Adam into caves had left her reeling. What was she going to do now? How would she search for the gold and obey Cade’s wishes? She couldn’t leave the boy at