A Breath of Heaven: El Camino Real Read Online Free PDF Page B

Cade
drawled, hoping he wasn’t making the biggest mistake of his life. 
    “Oh, I wish you luck. I’ll see you in the
morning, if you survive the night – that is.”
    “Wouldn’t miss it. This is going to be a
Christmas to remember.”
    “Yea, my wedding and your funeral.” Jase
laughed at his own joke. “No, seriously - remember, Cade, this is your home
too. Always has been, no matter whether my sister comes to her senses or not.”
    “Thanks.” Jase’s statement made Cade feel
funny. There’d been a time when Abby was the primary one who made him feel as
if he belonged in the family. Hanging up the phone, he let his mind wander to
days gone by. The King boys and their sister had run the ranch since their
parents had retired to a smaller spread in Colorado where they raised
registered Palominos. El Camino had always been a special place. Like Jase had
said, for all practical purposes, this was his home. He still vividly
remembered the time when his father had been gored by a bull at a Wyoming
rodeo. Cade had been thirteen and alone. If Sam King hadn’t taken him in, he
would’ve ended up in foster care. The Kings had given him a good life and he
loved them as much as if they were his blood kin. None of that had stopped him
from searching for his mother, however. Even now, not a day went by that he
didn’t think of her. Cade kept a PI on retainer to locate her, but so far no
luck. By rights he should give up. It had been years, but he just couldn’t.
Aside from wanting Abby in his life, finding his mother was the next most
important thing to him.
    Cade could still remember the day Sam King
had called his wife and told her to set another place at the table. The big
rancher had brought him to his house, a scared gangly teenager with no place to
go. The Kings had opened their home and made him welcome. Oh, it hadn’t been
easy. Even though they treated him like one of their own, there were still
folks in the area who took a sick satisfaction out of reminding him he was a
half-breed and not quite as good as they were. Some women had gotten their
jollies out of teasing him, then pulling back, saying he wasn’t their kind. Of
course, things changed when he’d made it big on the rodeo circuit. Now he
couldn’t fight the buckle bunnies off with a stick. The only problem was that
he didn’t want the buckle bunnies—he only wanted Abby Grace.
    Bam! Bam! Bam ! “Damn!” Was she
trying to give him a heart attack? Cade almost levitated off the bed.
    “Supper’s ready!” She yelled. “You have
five minutes to get in here or I’m throwing your part out to the barn cats.”
    Her voice sounded through the door and
he’d swear she was laughing. “I’m coming, she-devil. Keep your panties on.” If
she was wearing any. He’d give his eyeteeth to find out. Standing up, Cade
slipped the jewelry into his front pocket, not really sure whether he was going
to give it to the little shrew or not. Before he left the room, he slipped off
his jacket, slinging it on the bed, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt as he
made his way down the hall. Cade smiled, he felt like he was about to enter the
coliseum for a gladiator match.
    Abby’s cottage, which sat about a half
mile from the main house, was comfortable, inviting and smelled like home. He
liked it. It had been a while since Cade had spent time in a place like this.
Rodeo life was tough. Well, those days were just about behind him. Was he
relieved? Hell, if he knew. “Something smells damned good.”
    “I hope you like it.” Abby sat down
primly, placed her napkin in her lap, and then couldn’t find a place to put her
gaze. Looking at Cade wasn’t an option. She didn’t want to lose her appetite. Abby
laughed, amused by her own joke.
    “What are you giggling about? Have you
developed mental illness while I’ve been gone? I‘ve heard early on-set dementia
is a common malady for old maids.” He smirked as he settled himself across from
her. “You know