Three weeks later
Cade walked through the door expecting to see Daisy playing on the kitchen floor while Rose attempted to cook. She’d been trying some of Meg’s more advanced recipes, and most of the time Cade had to force a smile and say her meal was just fine. Rose always knew he was lying but was quick to show appreciation for his patience. So it was always a win for him, even if he ate charcoal.
“Where are my beautiful girls?” he called out to the empty kitchen. Frowning at the silence, he looked around for a note, the habit of Rose when she visited her parents.
When he found nothing, he walked into their room and his heart skipped a beat. Rose’s closet door was open and her dresses were gone—all of them. Cade rushed to the small dresser where Rose kept her purse.
Empty.
“No! No!” Cade growled. Maybe, just maybe, she was at the dairy. She had been spending more time over there planning Meg’s wedding. Why, though, would she take her clothes?
More than likely, she was done trying. Done with Cade having to always fight the temptations. Done with the worry that he might go back to his old ways. What woman like Rose would want that? She was young and beautiful and Cade was a project.
A surge of bile crept through Cade’s stomach as he jumped on his horse. He’d been the happiest he had ever been since he moved back to Tall Pine. He had a woman he loved, a child he loved, and a faith he had discovered on a new level. His life was richer than it had ever been, and he was not about to lose that.
Cade rode with his heart pounding all the way to the dairy where he found Jeffries sending off wagons of bottled milk to various counties.
“Jeffries!” Cade called out, sliding off his horse and breaking into a run.
“Cade?” Jeffries tucked a pencil behind his ear. “Is everything alright?”
“No. No it isn’t.” He slowed his pace and walked up to Jeffries. “Rose is gone and she took Daisy. Her clothes are gone as well as her purse. No one is inside. Is she by chance off with Anna or Meg?
Jeffries shook his head. “I am sorry my friend, but Anna and Meg went to Eliza’s dress shop to fit Meg’s wedding dress. They said nothing of Rose.”
Cade growled and took off his hat. “She’d come here first before she would leave me, right? Wouldn’t she?”
Jeffries set his hand on Cade’s shoulder. “Clark is out of town for the day so I cannot even ask him. Why don’t you ride into town and find Miss Anna. She may know why Rose left with her clothing and Daisy.”
Cade nodded and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “I can’t lose her Jeffries,” his voice choked, “I can’t lose either of them.”
The manager smiled. “No one says you have, Cade. If Anna does not know, then you and I will ride into Denver tonight if needs be and track her down. I will help you in any way I can. After all, I owe you for assuring the arrest of Harry Wells.”
Cade nodded. “Ben and I were glad to do that Jeffries; I am just sorry it could not have been sooner.” He began to turn away. He paused, suddenly looking over his shoulder before turning around and pulling Jeffries into an embrace. “Thank you, Jeffries. For everything.”
Jeffries chuckled and patted Cade on the back. “It has been an honor, my friend,” he pulled back. “Now, go find your wife and child.”
/
Rose stuck another pin into Meg’s gown and bit her lip when Meg yelped. “Sorry Meg... I am no Eliza, that is for sure.”
Meg laughed and continued looking at herself in the mirror. “Is that why you brought all your dresses to Eliza’s shop? So Rachel could help you out?”
Rose nodded in defeat, casting a glance at the somber Rachel who was smiling patiently at Daisy playing with scraps of fabric.
“Eliza said if I helped in the shop today with Rachel, then she would help pull in some of my dresses; the fit needs to be adjusted a bit. The other two employees are ill, and so Rachel was going to be on her own,” Rose explained.
Anna came over and began helping Rose tuck under the hem of Meg’s dress. “Where is Eliza today? I noticed Christabel was running the bakery alone today, too.”
Rose pulled out a pin from her mouth. “They went to go pick up the Silvers from Denver. They left yesterday and stayed overnight, but they should be back soon.” Rose shook her head. “I forgot to tell Cade, but I am hoping to be back by supper time.”
Meg frowned. “It is past suppertime, Rose.”
Rose looked up. “Is it?”
Anna nodded. “Rachel put the closed sign on the door an hour ago.”
Rose let out a sigh. “Oh, I hope Cade is not too worried,” she said before Rachel yelped as the front door flew open.
“Anna! Meg!” Cade yelled, storming through the store.
“Cade!” Rose answered standing to her feet. “What are you doing here?”
Before he answered, Rose was pulled into a tight embrace as Cade buried his face in her neck. “You didn’t leave me,” he whispered into her hair.
Rose pulled back. “Leave you? Why would you think that?”
Cade looked to see Daisy grinning at him. With a short laugh Cade walked past Anna, who was scooting herself and Meg away, and scooped up Daisy, covering her in kisses.
“Your clothes were gone,” he explained. “I thought you had left me.”
Rose’s heart clenched. Cade’s face was pale and his eyes filled with worry. She shook her head. “Cade, I am so sorry. Rachel and Eliza promised to help me mend my clothing today, and I completely forgot to tell you.”
Cade closed his eyes and cupped Daisy’s head. “I can’t lose you, Rose. I can’t lose either of you.” His eyes misted over. “It would kill me.”
Rose smiled and walked over the fabric strewn on the ground. She placed her hands on either side of Cade’s face. “Listen to me Cade. You have been a hot-blooded gambling man. You have also been a praying repentant man, but you are now, and forever my man. The same way you have fought for me, I am willing to fight for you and for this marriage. You and I are going to raise this child together. We are going to teach her love and respect for herself and others. We are going to teach her to pray and trust in God.” She drew her face closer to his. “We will fight, we will love, and we will grow and work together because that is marriage—and because I deeply and truly love you.”
Cade blinked and lowered his head so that his lips pressed into Rose’s with a soft kiss. “And I love you, Rose. You are my world.”
Rose smiled and closed her eyes feeling once again the warmth of his lips. She could feel his hot tears against her cheeks as he wrapped both arms around her and Daisy. It was an embrace that promised a future full of love and devotion. Rose let her head rest against his chest. She had often questioned the ways of heaven, wondering if heaven was working for her favor, or even working at all. Now with her husband and child beside her, she could see that even in the dark moments of her life, heaven had been shifting, building, and making miracles all along.