Free Raining In My Heart (Book One of the McKay's) by Rita Hestand

his breath hitched, sweat peppered on his forehead. "Oh my God!"
    He jerked on his boots, looped his belt in his pants and put his hat on his head. Stomping loudly out of the bunk house , he headed for the big house. He wanted some answers.
    However , when he got to the back door he hesitated before barging in. "What am I supposed to say now ? Do?" He hadn't given himself time to sort this out. Right now he needed confirmation.
    "What the heck am I gonna say?"
    H e could still hear voices in the kitchen. Julie and Letty were talking. It sounded as though everyone else had gone to bed. He wanted to barge his way in and demand some answers, but he wasn't sure how to handle this. He'd never been faced with such news before.
    He checked his watch in the moonlight. It was nine - thirty. He paced the outside gro unds for several minutes. He hadn't the slightest idea where to start . Was that pretty little girl his? Could it be, and if it was why had Julie waited so long to tell him?
    The door suddenly opened and Julie stared up at him ; she had changed into pajamas and a robe and looked comfortable. "Cade, what are you doing here this time of night?"
    " How can you tell us apart so easily now?" Cade's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile.
    The question seemed to fluster Julie and she turned a beautiful shade of pink.
    " I don't know. " She turned away and then twisted back around. " I guess I'm old enough now to see the differences. And there are some you know. For one thing, you don't usually wear a frown on your face , like you have right now . You walk with a swagger to some extent, carrying yourself differently than your brother. And…y ou have a much softer voice. "
    He nodded slowly his glance going over her ; he hadn't noticed any of those differences. Right now how he walked wasn't on his mind either. " And you've noticed this with one visit home?"
    Julie smiled . "I guess I have…"
    " W ell, is everyone gone to bed?" h e asked , glancing about the kitchen through the screen door.
    "Yes, it's getting late ; shouldn't you be headed that way too?" Julie asked. "I mean I figured you went to bed with the chickens since you are up before dawn."
    "N-no, not yet. Look, we need to talk…." Cade pushed past her to the kitchen and threw his hat on the table, blowing a napkin in the air. Julie watched him as she headed for the coffee pot.
    "Want a cup?" S he turned to look at him.
    "Yeah, maybe I'll need that , " Cade said. "Might even need something stronger."
    "Now that sounds ominous. Want to tell me what put the bur under your saddle?" Julie almost laughed as she put a cup on the table for him .
    "Sure…sure , I'll tell you. I'll come right to the point. " He fumbled with his hat then hooked it on the back of the chair , holding it there for a minute before he let go . " I want to know how come I've got a half - grown kid in there, and you're just now letting me in on it?" His glance stormed at her.
    ***
    Julie nearly dropped the pot she was holding. She l ooked up into azure eyes that nailed her to the front of the stove. Cade's eyes held something deeper than anger, more worrisome, his eyes held hurt , s he'd never seen him like this.
    Her mouth fell open, but words failed her. She hadn't once thought how she would ever tell Cade . She hadn't planned on telling him anything. How had he guessed?
    "Who told you?" S he barely got the words out as she met his glance.
    "Who told me? That's priceless… Do you think I wouldn't see the resemblance? But , I hadn't a clue she was mine until Wade told me. "
    " Wade ?" S he looked more puzzled than ever. "But he didn't know. I haven't even talked to Wade in years, other than to say hello. "
    "He said you and him never…" Cade stopped and moved away now. "He said you never did anything…"
    "We … didn't. "
    "That was a little bit of a shock. No, that's a hellova shock. " Cade shook his head and c a me to stand just in front of her ; putting the coffee on the table , he stared into her