Kayden continued. ‘I just wish you’d understood the hardship your daughter has endured to get herself to this point. However, confessing to us has made us see our relationship might still be salvageable if you can promise me that such foolishness never enters your head again. I’ll not have Cassie upset or hurt by you or anyone else! She has had enough hurt and if you want her in your life you have to stop this madness. She’s not a toy or a game to play. She is your daughter and my wife. If you cannot promise to just love her and make that enough for you then we are leaving now.’
He met Kayden’s eyes with sincerity. ‘Don’t go! Don’t take my little girl away,’ he pleaded.
Kayden looked at him, frowning. ‘For the life of me I can’t figure out what madness made you think I would never bring her to see you again. I would never upset her that way. I had asked her to give it time before she saw you again only because she was so distraught when she came home last time. She had bonded with you so strongly in just that short time that she sobbed deeply having to leave you. It has been her choice, due to you both fighting on opposite sides, to break ties with you, not mine. For shit’s sake, Aldebaran, why didn’t you just talk to me about it? From now on you damned well better!’
Aldebaran looked miserable. ‘I thought you had only included me to make Cassandra happy on her wedding day and that you only brought her here because we kind of roped you into being here, not because you really wanted to.’
Kayden shook his head. ‘I’m here not only for Cassie but because you were like her in so many ways. I wanted to get to know you better as a father-in-law. That was why I came. Just this morning we had been discussing staying on an extra couple of days because we were actually enjoying ourselves. This was meant to be a family vacation. What we do as Cloud Riders and those politics should never have entered into this, Aldebaran.’
‘I know. And I feel a real idiot, Kayden. I didn’t know you then but I have come to know you and that’s why I couldn’t go through with it. I can’t believe I’ve blown everything because of my stupidity.’
‘Before I take this any further I need you to be totally upfront with us. I need to know everything because we both now remember that Conom was the man Cassie played cards with to get our friends out of trouble. Is he just another setup, Aldebaran?’
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘Definitely not! Conom, as far as I can tell, really does like you both and just loves a challenge.’
Kayden believed him and let Cassie’s hand go. It was her turn now to sort it out with her dad and show him what a family was all about and what it meant to be a part of one. Lies, cheating and deceit had to stop right here, right now. She ran her hand through her hair, another nervous trait she shared with her father. With a sweet grin she held out her hand to him. ‘Maybe it’s time we both threw self doubt aside and replaced it with a little trust. And maybe somehow we may put the pieces of a life we should have had, back together.’ She looked at her father and smiled.
He grinned back, knowing what she meant to him and willing to give anything a go just so long as he had her in his life. Aldebaran’s eyes were misty with unshed happiness that Cassie was going to give him a second chance. He hugged her before moving over to Kayden and offering his hand apologetically. He had barely finished saying sorry when he pulled Kayden in for a group hug with them both.
It was much later that Aldebaran worked up the courage to ask if they would stay a couple more days. The more he drank the cockier he got and his nagging at Kayden finally worked. Kayden grinned, giving in and Pops was delighted. He squeezed them both and even called Kayden ‘son’.
Kayden and Cassie excused themselves to give Kayden time to contact his team and let them know the change of plans and what he wanted them to do in the meantime. Kayden used Zoltan and his own power combined to sent them a message telepathically, letting Woody know he was to continue in charge until he returned and to let him know the minute there was a problem. He asked Woody to get Tremaine to check Mother as she was nearly due to have another of Zoltan’s foals. Kayden said the boys were just as good with the horses as Tremaine but Tremaine had delivered many calves and foals on his ranch and was better to have around Mother in her condition. Cassie always smiled when he call Zoltan’s playmate ‘Mother’. Kayden had explained that Zoltan would not service any other mare.
‘Even Zoren has no answer for Zoltan’s strange behaviour,’ Kayden added.
‘He’s just in love with Mother then? That is so cute,’ Cassie smiled.