Keeping Faith (Book 3 in the Red Valley Series)

Chapter 13

"No, try it again." Faith had been shooting for at least half an hour. Cade could see her arms were beginning to shake with fatigue. He sighed, walked up behind her, and then wrapped his arms around her with his hands over hers. "Hold still." He breathed in her ear. "I'm trying to help you."

Her arms felt like they were going to fall off and her ears were ringing so loudly, she had serious doubts as to whether or not she would ever be able to hear anything again. Her frustration at her inability to hit the stupid target almost had her in tears. Then, strong arms wrapped around hers as calloused hands covered hers sending shockwaves through her entire body. Faith tried to wiggle away but his arms clamped down on her holding her still as his warm breath caressed her ear and neck when he spoke. Her knees went weak and her insides turned to molten lava.

"Take a deep breath, that's right. Now let it out slowly and squeeze the trigger, don't jerk it." His lips were so close to her ear, he could almost taste her skin. Everywhere his body touched hers felt like it was being scalded. Cade drew in a deep breath and realized she was still using his soap and for some reason, he liked that. The gun went off and finally, she hit the target. A squeal split the air as Faith began to hop up and down with excitement. Without realizing what she was doing, she spun around and wrapped her arms around his neck in a fierce hug. It was too much for Cade, he was at his breaking point.

"I did it!"

"Yep, you sure did." Cade jerked away from her and started walking towards the barn, little puffs of dust kicking up behind his footsteps.

"Where are you going? Don't I need some more practice?" Faith was almost pouting, she had just hit the target, and she wanted to shoot some more.

"Nope, you're good. If you want to go to your brother's we have to be getting a move on, otherwise you'll have to wait until tomorrow." Cade said as he continued to walk, not even looking back at her. Damn that was close, he thought to himself. It was all he could do to keep himself under control. She felt so damn good in his arms.

Faith had forgotten about going to see Hope and the new baby. She quickly made her way to the barn and saddled Clover. She was dying to see her new nephew and find out what they had named him. It would probably be the closest she would ever come to having her own children. Forcing those thoughts out of her mind, they left the ranch together. After about ten minutes of awkward silence, she looked over at Cade. "Thank you."

"For what?" He was getting really good at carrying on a conversation without even looking at her.

"For showing me how to shoot."

Not comfortable with her gratitude, Cade skipped right over it. "If you're going to wear a gun, you had better know how to use it. Why didn't your brother teach you?" Just the thought of how she felt in his arms had him shifting in his saddle!

A slow flush crept up her neck. "I – I never asked him to. I think he just assumed that I knew how because I was wearing one.

"I'll show you how to clean it when we get home." Now why in the hell had he offered to do that? He had, because guns were a necessity out here and a dirty gun was almost as bad as having no gun.

"Thank you."

"We had better get a move on, clouds are building from the west, and we will most likely have some good storms by late afternoon" If he'd seen the clouds before they'd left, he would have made her wait until tomorrow.

"Oh my goodness Hope, he's so beautiful!" Faith exclaimed as she sat on the bed beside her sister-in-law.

"Thank you." Hope beamed.