The Texan’s Bride(24)

The thought made her look at her platinum wedding band. Cadde’s matched hers. She didn’t know if her father had bought them or Cadde. The rings were just there when the minister had performed the ceremony. She preferred to think that Cadde had purchased them. And it would stay on her finger until he took it off.

“Not yet.” She kissed Rosa’s cheek. “Now I’m going upstairs to brush my hair and if I don’t return, well, I’ll be asleep.”



WHEN CADDE REACHED HIS OFFICE, Kid and Chance were waiting for him. He sat in his chair without saying a word.

“How come you didn’t answer your phone?” Kid asked, his feet propped on Cadde’s desk.

“I do have a personal life.” Cadde pulled a large folder forward.

Kid formed a steeple with his fingers. “How’s that going?”

“None of your business,” Cadde retorted, and knocked Kid’s boots off his desk. “I don’t know why I share anything with you guys.”

Chance looked up. “Hey, I haven’t said anything.”

“And I appreciate it.”

Cadde opened the folder, trying not to wince at the pounding in his head. He knew his limit. He knew when to stop. What had possessed him to down almost a whole bottle of Scotch?

Jessie.

“From where I’m sitting I’d say big brother had no sex last night.”

Chance frowned at Kid. “Could you use a little tact?”

“Tact?” Kid drew back. “It’s Cadde. I’m not wasting my manners on him.”

“You don’t waste them on anybody,” Chance told him.

“That’s not true. Mom said I had the best manners of the three of us.”

Chance laughed. “She was your mother. She had to say nice things about you, and it was a stretch because you were in trouble all the time.”

“I was not.”

Cadde thought it was great they could talk about their mother without mind-numbing silence. This wasn’t the time, though. He’d clap his hands to get their attention, but the sound might paralyze him. Instead, he unfolded a map and pointed to a spot.

“These are our leases in Caddo Parish. They’re small tracts and the problem is we don’t have enough acreage to drill a well. That’s maybe why Roscoe never drilled there. Kid—” he drew papers from the folder “—here’s the land we lease and owners’ names and some notes on adjoining properties. Your job is to find out who owns the mineral rights. If an oil company already has a lease, we need to know when that contract expires. We need more land and it’s up to you to get it.”

“So Jessie gave the go-ahead?”

Cadde sighed, not wanting to discuss Jessie. “There’s a lot of paperwork and legwork to be done before I can call a board meeting.” He’d realized this last night when he’d been going over the leases. The tracts were small, smaller than he’d thought. He couldn’t investigate further because he had to meet Jessie.

He pushed those thoughts from his bruised mind. “Chance, get an estimate on the cost of renting a rig versus moving one of ours. I’d like to keep our rigs in Texas but I need to see the figures first.”

Chance stood. “I’m on it.”

“Remember, we have a meeting with Joel, Tim and Bob at eight to discuss this further.” He rose to his feet. “Now I need coffee.”

“I made some in my office,” Chance said. “I’ll bring you a cup.”

“Thanks. Make it a big one.”

After Chance left, he could feel Kid’s eyes on him, and he hated that. Kid had a way of seeing beyond the surface. Maybe that’s why he was so popular with women. They liked it when a man could tune into their feelings. God, he was hopeless in that department. He had no idea what Jessie was thinking.

“Are you okay?” Kid asked, and Cadde felt sucker punched. Was it that obvious?

“If I didn’t know any better,” Kid went on, “I’d say you have a hangover, but that couldn’t be right. You can hold your liquor. You’re known for that. Right?”

Cadde muttered under his breath, and if Kid could gauge what he was thinking, he’d take a step backward and leave, which he did, after he picked up the map and papers.

Chance brought back a thermos of coffee and didn’t say a word. That was Chance—not intrusive, but a soothing, calm presence.

After a couple of swallows, he forced himself to think about last night. He remembered sitting in Roscoe’s study drinking and agonizing over Jessie having the upper hand. Bits and pieces flittered through his mind; soft, smooth sheets with lace on the pillowcases, the bathroom light blinding at times.