Free A Love to Cherish by Connie Mason

words.
    Belle had no idea what Casey was saying as his lips came down on hers. Words were wrenchedfrom him in a low growl. Whatever he was muttering was lost to her in the heat of Casey’s mouth and the melting strength of his arms.
    “I’m sorry, Belle, so damn sorry. Had I known. Oh, God, had I known … Too late … Too late …”
    Realizing the futility of his retrospection, Casey abruptly broke off the kiss and turned to leave.
    Reduced to a boneless heap by his kisses, Belle was stunned by his abrupt dismissal. “Casey, wait! What did you say? I don’t understand.”
    “No, I don’t suppose you do. You never will. If you only knew. … I have to leave for a few days, Belle. I have business to take care of. Have Sanchez watch over Tommy if you can spare him in the diner.”
    His words had a chilling effect. “Where are you going? Are you coming back?”
    “I’m coming back, Belle.” He knew she would need him after McAllister took her son, even though she might hate him for his part in it.
    Belle watched him disappear through the door, wondering if she would ever see Casey Walker again. She tried to tell herself it didn’t matter. She didn’t need a man, she only needed Tommy. It briefly occurred to her that Casey might tell T.J. where to find Tommy. But she quickly discarded the notion. She had never mentioned where T.J. lived. She didn’t know much about Casey, but what little she did know convinced her that he wasn’t the kind of man to pull so despicable a stunt. Surely he felt the same kind of attraction she felt, didn’t he? He would never hurt her like that, would he?
    Belle wanted to believe in the basic goodness ofman, but had learned the hard way to trust sparingly. Casey had done nothing to earn her distrust except for trying to convince her to give her son up to McAllister. However much she tried to convince herself that she could trust Casey, a small niggling doubt remained. She vowed to be extra vigilant with Tommy until Casey returned and she learned why he had suddenly left town. For her own peace of mind she had to believe in Casey. Had to trust that he wouldn’t betray her to McAllister. It would destroy her to learn that Casey was like McAllister and men of his ilk.
    Casey boarded the stagecoach at the Wells Fargo office the following morning. He journeyed the entire distance to San Francisco in brooding silence, though he knew it would change nothing. He’d lost the choice to back out of this assignment the day he’d taken T.J.’s money and sent it to Simon Levy. His strong sense of duty was in direct opposition to his sense of honor. Since when had he developed a conscience? Casey wondered. This was the first time he could recall allowing sentiments to interfere with duty. And all because of a very courageous, immensely appealing young woman named Belle Parker McAllister.
    He’d met women more beautiful than Belle. Women perfect in every respect. Women without deformities. But he’d met no woman who engaged his fancy or defied logic or reason like Belle. If she possessed a modicum of sense she’d see the logic of allowing her father-in-law to raise Tommy, to give him the world, if he so desired. Perhaps he could act as mediator, Casey considered, and work out somethingwhereby McAllister and Belle could share custody. The theory sounded entirely reasonable, which made Casey feel a helluva lot less like a heel than he had been feeling. If he put his mind to it, perhaps he’d find a way to make both parties happy.
    Two days later Casey stood before T.J. McAllister.
    “It’s about time, Walker,” McAllister said sourly. “Where in the hell have you been for the past month? I’d begun to think you’d taken off with my money.”
    “I always get my man, Mr. McAllister. I found your grandson, but there are some mitigating circumstances that need addressing before I tell you where he is.”
    McAllister’s eyes lit up. “You’ve found Tommy? Good God, man, you
are
good! My men