Page 32 of Wellspring
It didn’t take long for Erick to familiarize himself with Wellspring’s ledgers and identify where a transposed entry had prevented them from balancing.It was no slight to Mrs.Roarke’s bookkeeping, as he had been frustrated by the same sort of issue in his own accounts.“A second set of eyes can be helpful in preventing this type of error, if you would care to have my assistance, Mrs.Roarke,” he offered.
“If you’re going to be my assistant accountant, I think you can call me Grace,” she said.
“If Herr Payne would not object,” he answered.The foreman refused to let anyone call him anything but Payne, but it felt disrespectful to refer to him so informally, whatever his relationship was with Mrs.Roarke—Grace.
“I’m my own woman,” Grace replied.“I decide how I wish to be addressed and by whom, Heller.Zeke respects that or we’d have parted ways already.”
“Then you must call me Erick,” he answered, “Grace.”
Grace smirked at him.“If Webster will not object.”
Erick’s cheeks flamed, but before he could babble an excuse, Grace’s smile softened.“You have nothing to fear here.You’ve seen how Logan and MacRae are treated.The others may joke and tease at first, but they will not judge you for following your heart.Heaven knows they’d have left already if they were the type to judge, what with my relationship with Zeke.”
Once again Erick gave silent thanks to any power that was listening for his good fortune at meeting Cade and finding a home at Wellspring.“There is nothing for Cade—Webster—to object to,” he admitted, hoping his regret was not reflected in his voice.“I had been aiding him to improve his literacy, that is all.”And he still wasn’t sure whether even that would continue.
“That is between you and him,” Grace said.“But if those reading lessons turn into something more, you are still safe and welcome here, Erick.”
Erick offered her the same formal bow he would have made to a princess.“I will do all in my power to keep you safe as well,” he vowed.
CADE TOSSEDhis bedroll under his bunk and flopped down on the mattress.After three days in the saddle and sleeping rough, it felt like heaven.Before he could settle, Chel kicked the bottom of his boot.
“I’m done with the shower.Get in there and get cleaned up before you stink up the whole bunkhouse.None of us want to smell you.”
Cade closed his eyes and ignored her.He just wanted a few minutes to rest.He’d take a shower before dinner.Or maybe he’d take one during dinner so he could put off seeing Erick a little longer.
Chel kicked him in the shin this time.“Oww!”
“Shower.Now.”
Before she could lame his other leg as well, he pushed himself to his feet and shuffled toward the shower building.He could hear water running as he stripped out of his dusty gear and tossed it on the bench.Probably Kit, he thought as he walked into the humid space, only to find himself face to wet, naked ass with the one man he’d been trying to avoid for nearly a week.
He almost turned around and walked right back out, Chel be damned, but he wasn’t quite that much of a coward.He cleared his throat.“Um, hi, Erick.”
Erick spun around in surprise—he obviously hadn’t heard Cade come in.For a moment Cade thought he was going to turn his back on him again, but Erick stood his ground, swallowed, and met Cade’s eyes.“Welcome home, Cade.”
Cade forced himself to keep his gaze fixed on Erick’s face rather than let it wander the way he wanted.“Thanks.It’s good to be home.I… um, well, I missed our reading lessons.”
He’d missed a hell of a lot more than just their lessons, but that seemed the safest thing to focus on.And maybe if they could start their lessons back, he could find a way to talk to Erick about what he really wanted to say.
Erick’s posture eased and a corner of his mouth twitched up.“We yet have most of the alphabet to get through.Perhaps after dinner, if you are not too tired.”
“After dinner would be great,” Cade said.He stepped under the spray of water and let it cool the burning excitement inside him.“Did I miss anything interesting while I was out on the range?”
The tense posture was back.“Indeed you did.Herr Reichardt and one of his men.He tried to importune Grace, and threaten her when she would have none of him.I am afraid he did not take her rejection well.”
Grace, is it?Cade didn’t think she let anyone but Payne call her by her given name.It would seem things had gotten more than a little interesting in his absence.“Better not let Payne hear you call her that.He might decide to ‘importune’ you.As for Reichardt, I hope she shot him in the ass.”
“I am assured that Grace decides how she wishes to be addressed and by whom.”That was definitely a twinkle in Erick’s eyes.Cade only wished he’d been the one to put it there.“There was no shooting, though it took Grace, MacRae, and myself threatening it to convince them to depart.”
Cade let out a low whistle.“If MacRae was involved, you’re lucky it didn’t end up a full-blown shootout.He’s on a hair trigger anyway, but the one thing guaranteed to set him off is someone threatening a woman.”
It was the reason Cade trusted Mac.He’d come to Chel’s defense in town without knowing who she was or what had led to the argument.He simply couldn’t stand to see a woman in danger.
“It is fortunate Payne was not present, or I would not have been able to prevent it,” Erick admitted.“I know Grace will warn him, but I also know men of Reichardt’s kind.I fear much worse is to come.”
Cade was afraid Erick was right about what was coming, but he’d gotten one thing wrong.“Payne won’t start anything, no matter the provocation.He can’t.They’d have him lynched before we could do a thing to stop them.No, he’ll defend himself and Wellspring, but he won’t fire the first shot.MacRae, now… he might.Hell, I might if they push me the wrong way.But Miz Roarke would beat me like a rented mule if I did.”
Erick finished rinsing and picked up the towel he had slung over the shower wall.He wrapped it around his waist and turned back to Cade.“I will see you at dinner, then?”
