Cade had to find Jeffries. The town was not that far. He wanted to say he left some things in the jail, borrow a horse—whatever lie he could conjure, and play one game, just one. The house was a fair price, but even so he had nothing left now. No family finances backing his mistakes, no more hard-earned money—nothing. What a challenge that would be, to gamble with nothing to offer, to see how good he was. But he couldn’t. He needed to prove himself to Rose, needed to win her love and trust.
Jeffries was standing beside Clark laughing and planning a fishing trip. When he saw Cade approaching he excused himself and met him halfway.
“I need to go play one hand.” Cade’s voice was husky and coated in self-loathing. He looked away ashamed, but managed to keep his head high. “I need it or I’ll go insane.”
“Yes, you probably will go insane without it,” Jeffries agreed. He looked around making sure they were out of earshot from anyone. “You need to pray right now, Cade. A firm prayer in your heart. You need to find out where your desire to gamble came from.”
“I don’t know where the need to gamble came from. I mean, I will pray about it but—”
“Not just that,” Jeffries cut him off, “ask for help. Ask for God to ease the need. He seldom takes it away—that would be too easy—but He helps. You pray to Him every second if need be.” He scanned the yard again. “Cade, I know you think that you love Rose enough to change for her, but you won’t. We men do not change for women because we are too prideful and too arrogant.”
Cade raised an eyebrow. “Nice of you to say.”
Jeffries shrugged. “We will change for God, though. We are strong on our own, yes, but we are stronger with God. He takes our pride and molds it into strength. He takes our arrogance and shapes it into confidence.”
Cade opened his mouth to reply but was stopped by the figure of the sheriff riding towards them. “You are up early, Sheriff,” he said when Ben dismounted.
It was the attitude Ben expected. He imagined Cade felt some chagrin for the other night. “I heard a rumor, and I wanted to solidify the truth.”
Sunday had passed and Ben knew where he needed to go. Fifty cattle had been stolen, not even in open pastures, but through cut barbed wire fences. These cattle were men’s livelihood, their source of provision for their families. Tall Pine had some good ranches, but not substantial enough where a few missing cattle did not hurt. He needed to get to the bottom of this once and for all. He slid off his pinto and tied him to the fence surrounded by plump rose bushes. “I heard some time ago that you were a detective for the railways.”
Cade nodded with silence.
“A good one?”
“What are you trying to say, Sheriff? You want to know what kind of detective I was? I was exceptional. I chose the railways because they took me outside the city. My family’s business is the railways, and they needed to know of present and potential dangers, mostly the ones that cost them money in the courts.”
Ben nodded in understanding. “Did you like it?”
Cade had turned to hitching his wagon behind the two chestnut mares he was borrowing to move Rose and Daisy to their new house. He paused, his eyes looking into the distance. “Yes,” he said without question. A shake of the head and he was again present, “but I lost it. I was distracted, lazy. I became no better than the average detective.”
“So why did you stop?”
Cade laughed wryly. “I’d rather not do something than be merely average.”
“I see.” Ben walked over, patting one of the mares on her ribs. “What if I were to say you could work in the law again?”
Cade looked over, his brows furrowed. “You speak to my father?”
Ben laughed. “No, nothing like that. I am offering you work, Cade. I assume you are staying here, most likely to work things out with your wife,” he shrugged. “Honorable motives. I think you should add to them by having honorable work.”
Cade gave a half smile and folded his arms. “Work? Do you mean as your deputy?”
Ben nodded. “Not exactly the railways, but Tall Pine will keep you busy. Yes, this valley is full of holiday parties, good works, and some of the finest people around. But there are also plenty of people who turn down a path that causes trouble for others. I need help. I need a deputy—one who knows the law, the regulations, and won’t abuse his position.”
Cade lifted his chin. “And how do you know I won’t do that? You obviously know something about my marriage, about Rose leaving me. Tell me, would a woman like that leave an honorable man?”
Ben narrowed one eye, “Even good men do foolish things, Mr. Walker. Why Rose left you—well, I’m not going to pry. But I do think this partnership would be good for the both of us.”
Cade bit the inside of his cheek. “When would you want me to start?”
Ben grinned. “Tomorrow afternoon. Get settled, then find a way into town, and I will help you find a horse. After that we have some trails to follow.”
Cade let out an amused huff. “I suppose that can work. Rose was planning on going into town tomorrow anyway. Apparently a man should have more than one shirt and trousers.”
Ben did not ask why a man from such a wealthy family had only one set of clothing. Right now it was not pertinent. “You have a gun? Rifle or pistol?”
“Bergmann Bayard,” Cade replied, proudly referring to his pistol. “I had a rifle, but I lost it.” To a game like I lost so many other things.
Ben shrugged. “We’ll get you one of those.”
“A deputy?”
Cade spun around in surprised. “Whew, woman, your steps are stealthier than a bobcat’s. I didn’t even know you were there.”
“A deputy?” Rose repeated, biting her lip.
Ben nodded empathically. “He knows how the law works. He can shoot, deduce, ride, and has experience. I would be a fool not to take advantage of his presence in Tall Pine.”
Rose simply nodded, her eyes glazing over as she looked at Cade. “When do you start?”
Cade was looking intensely at his wife with unspoken words. “Tomorrow afternoon. I will go into town with you and then ride home later.”
Ben knew it was his time to leave, so he gave Cade a brief nod. “Tomorrow afternoon,” he reminded him.
Cade gave a two-finger salute. “I’ll be there, Sheriff.” A slight gleam shot through his eyes. “You can be sure of that.”