Forgotten Enemy (The Powers of Influence Book 1) Read online

  Still trying to regain his senses, Cade easily rolled onto his back, unpinning her. He was still having a difficult time thinking. Hell, he was having difficult time breathing. She threw the covers back, covering him, and eased her way out of the bed. On her way to the bathroom, he managed to regain a small fraction of his ability to think, “Imagine what?” He was astonished to find that his words came out in a croaked voice.

  She smiled at him over her shoulder, “The way you make me feel.” With that, Collett stepped over the threshold between the rooms and shut the bathroom door with a soft click.

  Cade sat there with his back against the hand-carved, wooden headboard, unable to process what had just happened. He couldn’t help wondering what caused this startling change in Collett. He pulled his fingers through his midnight black hair and decided it didn’t matter. He would just have to thank whoever was responsible for it when he found out who they were.

  Hearing the shower turn on, Cade decided that was his cue to leave. There was no sense torturing himself further by picturing her in the shower with only a flimsy wooden door to separate them. He swung from the bed and picked his shirt up off of the bench on his way out. As he left her room and crossed the hall to go and shower, all he could think about was Rederrick’s words about Fate. It sure looked like it would be smiling at him today.

  ****

  After a refreshing shower, Collett all but skipped down the stairs into the kitchen. When she breezed into the room and saw Rederrick, Cynda, and Nate sitting silently at the table, she suddenly felt a quick moment of embarrassment. Her cheeks heated slightly as she thought about them all knowing that Cade had spent the night with her. Though, nothing happened, well… if you didn’t count this morning’s kiss, Collett couldn’t help feeling slightly self-conscious.

  She tried to ignore the fact that her cheeks were now probably red, and moved to sit in the unoccupied chair between Cynda and Nate. Nate gave her his customary silent nod and continued eating. Cynda didn’t look up from the book she was reading intently, but Collett was sure she was smiling and using her shiny auburn hair as a curtain to hide it.

  Rederrick didn’t hide his smile or his eyes. He looked right at her with those teasing gray orbs, “Get enough sleep?”

  Collett wasn’t sure why she blushed so frantically. It wasn’t like that, and she knew he was just teasing her. “Yes, thank you,” she said primly.

  She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and twisted her head to look at Nate. It was the first time Collett saw him smile, in the short time she had been around him anyway. Although he was tipping his head away from her, Collett knew the rat was definitely smiling. No, she corrected, he was actually laughing. He was doing his very best to cover his snickering.

  Jenny momentarily distracted Collett’s attention from Nate, saving him from a sharp elbow to his ribs, when she bustled over placing a glass of orange juice in front of Collett. “What would you like on your omelet, dear?” she asked.

  Collett gave Nate one final glare, and tipped her head up to Jenny, looking for any signs of pain or sadness from last night. “Um… whatever, I’m not picky,” she replied as she scrutinized

  Jenny’s need to nurture had her doing the very same thing as Collett. She was carefully looking for any sign Collett was still weakened. As she did this, Jenny saw the worry on Collett’s face, worry for her. Jenny gave Collett a stern look and said, “I’m fine, don’t you go on worrying about me. Actually, I feel great. You should worry about yourself instead. Though, you are looking much better this morning, got some color in your cheeks anyway.”

  Collett heard a snort come from Nate’s direction and glared at him, her cheeks brightening even more.

  “I’ll get you that omelet now.” Then Jenny moved over to the counter to get to work.

  Relieved to see Jenny doing so well, Collett smiled. She turned her attention to her juice, refusing to look up. By this time, Nate had regained his composure and was digging into his food as if nothing happened.

  “Collett, what time would you like to come upstairs today?” Cynda asked, breaking the short silence.

  “Actually, I think Cade has something in mind for today. I’m not exactly sure what he has planned or how long it will take.”

  “Oh, okay. I’ll just do some more research or something.” Cynda replied happily.

  “No, Cynda. We’re all taking a day off,” Cade said coming into the kitchen just then. He lithely moved across the floor without making a sound. When Cade reached Collett, in a natural gesture he placed a kiss atop her head and asked, “Feel better?”

  What was now a fading pink color in her cheeks turned bright red once more. Good grief! She thought.

  Cade tilted his head and considered. He thought her embarrassment curious. He smiled, “That’s a good color on you, I like it.” He easily ignored her embarrassment and said to Rederrick, “When did Cody get here?”

  “Oh, I think it was around one. He slept for a couple hours then said he was ready to go. He may be new, but he is eager. I put him on watch and got some sleep myself. I tell you, it will be nice to have an extra man on duty.”

  Cade nodded, “Agreed. In fact, because we have an extra man here, I’m taking Collett out today. I think we could all use a break. Therefore, I will take the evening watch if you and Nate can split the rest. Then we can all manage a little time to ourselves.”

  Collett looked to Rederrick, “You don’t have to go into the office today?”

  “Nope, I have no court dates scheduled, and things are running smoothly. I’m off through Thanksgiving,” he replied.

  “Oh. If you’re sure, I mean, I hope it is not my fault,” she said.

  A fatherly expression covered his features, and his eyes sparkled. “Collett, haven’t we already been over this? Besides, it is my firm and there are a few perks that come with being your own boss.”

  Reminded of her previous reassurance from Cade and Rederrick the day before, plus her new outlook this morning, Collett accepted his words for truth. She nodded her understanding and accepted that it wasn’t always her fault.

  “What will you two be doing today?” Cynda asked sweetly.

  “Oh, nothing special. I think I’ll just take her up the mountain.” Cade replied, “We’ll get some fresh air, but we’re going stay close.”

  Collett looked at him curiously, “A hike, do you know how cold it is out there? I don’t even have any boots.”

  Cynda stood to clear her plate, “You can just use mine,” she offered. “We’re about the same size. I also have any winter gear you could possibly need. It’s supposed to be pretty sunny today, you’ll be fine.”

  Cade smiled, “Are you trying to get out of our little deal?”

  “No… I just didn’t expect this, that’s all,” Collett replied honestly.

  He smiled, “Don’t worry so much. It won’t be all bad. I’ll meet you outside in about an hour. I have to check in with Cody and gas up the snowmobile.” He bent down, kissed Collett fully on the mouth, and left as soundlessly as he came in.

  Collett watched him leave the room, untwisted around and looked straight at Rederrick’s smiling eyes and his smug grin.

  Nate stood quickly, then in an out-of-character move bent down to Collett’s ear. “Don’t worry,” he told her. “He’ll get most of the teasing. I’ll personally make sure to give him hell. It was just fun to make you blush. He’s right, it looks good on you.” As if in response, her cheeks turned pink. “You two kids have fun now.” Then he walked over to the sink, added his plate to the dishes, thanked Jenny with a peck on her wrinkled cheek, and sauntered from the room following Cade’s path.

  Rederrick scooped up a mouthful of food as Jenny came over with Collett’s omelet. Jenny patted her back and Collett thought she might have said, “Enjoy.”

  She was too focused on the size of her omelet to be certain. It took up most of the large dinner plate in front of her. She’d be lucky if she could finish half of it, no, make that
one fourth of it. She sighed and picked up her fork to dig in. Collett was starting to wonder if it wasn’t Jenny’s personal goal to make her gain twenty pounds. She turned to say as much, and then noticed Jenny had left as well.

  Cynda redirected Collett’s attention when she spoke from over by the sink as she put her now empty juice glass in with the other dishes. “When you’re done Collett, come and find me upstairs. I’ll round up some winter gear for you.”

  Collett could only nod due to the fact that her mouth was now full. As Cynda parted the room as well, Collett felt a slight pinch in her gut. She was somewhat reluctant to be left with a grinning Rederrick. She sensed he waited on purpose though, wanting to talk to her.

  Rederrick cleared his throat and tried for a casual tone, “How are you feeling today?”

  “Oh, I’m fine. I just wasn’t fully prepared for last night I think. I’ll get better,” she replied.

  Rederrick grinned confidently, “Of that I have no doubt.”

  The room fell silent for a moment as Collett took another bite of Jenny’s wonderful omelet that had a marvelous spicy, Santa Fe flavor. Not too much spice, it was just enough to tickle her pallet and warm her insides. She took another bite, savoring the multiple flavors tickling her tongue. Rederrick finally put down his fork and wiped his mouth with his linen napkin. His next words could have just as well been a punch to her stomach. It would have had the same effect. “He’s in love with you.”

  Collett about choked on her omelet. Coughing and sputtering, she tried to clear her throat without embarrassing herself. Rederrick moved over a chair, taking the chair Nate occupied only moments ago. He lightly slapped her back, helping her choke it all down.

  Then when she had regained control, he explained, “I only tell you because it is important for you to understand. I have known Cade my whole life. He has almost always been a part of our family. It goes all the way back to my great, great Aunt Delia. When he helped her once, she made him a promise; a promise that he would always be a part of her family. My family has taken that vow very seriously. We have all happily been a part of that bargain, and each one of us has been blessed for it in some way. I thank God every day for that.”

  Collett simply listened, and keeping silent, she heard his heartfelt words, and understood the feelings behind them. Rederrick’s tone was reverent when he spoke of Cade, and she could tell he honestly needed to share this with her. Without even trying to use her abilities, Collett could sense and feel the strong love and respect Rederrick had for Cade.

  “He’s important to me,” Rederrick explained, “to my whole family, he always will be. More than that though, Cade is important to the world. You have to understand, people like him don’t really exist anymore. Some of us try our best to mimic him, but his level of compassion and his idealistic nature isn’t easily attained. Who knows how long it has taken him to achieve it. Maybe we just don’t live long enough to see things the way Cade does. I don’t really know. I just don‘t want to see him lose that, to lose himself.”

  She thought hard about what Rederrick was trying to say. She was pretty sure she understood. While Rederrick was happy for Cade, he was afraid of the reality a relationship with her would mean. Her eyes narrowed. Collett felt the truth behind his words, yet they still hurt her. She would never intentionally hurt Cade.

  Rederrick watched her features change, and knew Collett understood some of what he was telling her, but she did not understand the whole. He quickly continued before she jumped to the wrong conclusions.

  “I want to be clear on something, Collett. No matter what happens, Cade is better off knowing you, better off loving somebody, in his long, lonely life. I’m not sure Cade has ever fallen in love, and the two of you together fit so well. You give him a type of happiness I have never before seen.

  I just don’t want either one of you to lose here is all. Please see, that I only want you both to be careful. I could never have picked a better woman for Cade. Collett, there are times when I feel like you could be one of my own children, and I even see Cade as a brother, as hard as that is to believe….”

  He broke eye contact with her and looking down at his hands, Rederrick thought carefully about each word as he finished. “I know I have only known you for a few months, but in that time, I have come to care for you and your well-being. You must know that.”

  Even though he wasn’t looking at her, Collett nodded slightly. She did know that.

  “If you’re both lucky enough to find a little happiness in all this mess, even if only for a moment, I will be happy for you. Just try to understand the power you have over Cade. That’s all I‘m saying. You are the only person I have ever known that has the power to break his spirit.”

  As Rederrick finished, he raised his head again looking into her now sad eyes. In his heart, he felt a heavy guilt for putting that look there when she had been so happy earlier, but he knew she needed to know.

  Collett sighed deeply and returned Rederrick’s gaze. She could feel the guilt now coming at her in waves. This time she was trying to feel for it, trying to take his words into her heart in their full context.

  In a natural gesture and without even realizing it, she put her hand on his knee. “Please don’t feel guilty,” she said softly. “I know you are worried for both of us. You were right in telling me. I’m not sure whether Cade does love me or not. I’m not even sure what’s happening between us. I do promise you though, no matter what happens I would never hurt him on purpose.

  I can’t guarantee that it will never happen, that Cade will never hurt because of me. I don‘t have any idea what our future holds. I know in the end though, whatever does or doesn’t happen, Cade will have you, and he will have your family. You would never allow him to stumble down a dark, lonely path. I may have the power to hurt his spirit as you said, but you Rederrick, you have the power to pull him though.”

  Rederrick was stunned by the wisdom of her words and how much better he felt. He was unaware of Collett’s ability still, so he didn’t think too deeply on how melodic her voice sounded or the warm feeling of comfort running through him. He just accepted them and looked at her with his sharp old eyes. “I’m glad we talked. Thank you for understanding.”

  Collett nodded, “Now then, on a lighter topic,” she said with a conspirator’s smile, “I have to go get some winter things from Cynda. Will you please take the rest of my breakfast to Cade? I would hate to see it wasted, and I notice he hasn’t eaten yet.”

  Rederrick narrowed his eyes, “You’ve hardly touched it.”

  “I know, and it is wonderful, but I’m really not hungry right now.”

  He gave her a contemplative look, “If you’re sure. I’ll take it to him then.” Rederrick stood.

  She smiled at him, “Don’t worry I’m fine, just not hungry. You did the right thing. Thank you for coming to me with your concern.”

  “All right.” With one last concerned look Rederrick picked up her plate and left the kitchen.

  No matter what she had told Rederrick, in truth, she was not fine.

  After his footsteps faded down the hallway and Collett was alone, she felt the heavy weight in her chest settle more fully. The false smile she’d given Rederrick fell. She leaned against the back of the chair staring out the window at the sparkling snow covered ground, wondering what to do now.

  She heard a soft shuffle behind her and realized she wasn’t as alone as she thought. She straightened her spine again and looked around. Jenny was standing there with a curious expression. She shook her head slightly, and then moved around to the sink to start the dishes. Collett stood and moved toward the kitchen stairway to head upstairs.

  When she reached the first step, Jenny stopped her, “He’s not completely wrong, you know.”

  Collett backtracked a few steps to look at Jenny more fully. She was just rinsing off the plates with her plump elderly hands and putting them in the dishwasher, not even giving Collett a second glace.

  Jenny wore
black knit slacks and a soft, purple button-up shirt. She donned an old apron to do her chores. The apron had multicolored children’s handprints all over it. The handprints were now faded from many washes and years of use.

  Collett didn’t say anything. She understood Jenny would say more when she was ready. After she loaded two more plates she said, “I heard him. I waited until he was done to come in. I didn’t want to interrupt. Clever thing you did then, making him feel happy, so he wouldn‘t worry so much.”

  Ignoring her last comment, Collett responded, “You said he wasn’t completely wrong?”

  “No… not completely, you do have power over Cade, that in all likelihood is something no one else has ever been blessed with. We all see it, see the changes in him since you came.”

  Collett blinked, confused because Jenny referred to Cade by his first name for the first time since they met. “So… what part was wrong?” she questioned.

  Jenny looked up from her dishes, then and softened her features, “The part where he forgot to mention the power Cade has over you and your spirit.”

  Collett was stunned by Jenny’s insight. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to tell me Jenny.” she barely mumbled.

  Jenny went back to the dishes, and just simply said, “Yes you are, dear. You know exactly what I’m sayin’.” She loaded her mixing bowl next. Closing the dishwasher, Jenny looked up smiling as if she hadn’t just thrown Collett a major curve, “You best get up to Mrs. Williams now and get ready for your day out.”

  Collett couldn’t move. She simply stood there and stared at Jenny as she went about her chores. After a few minutes, Collett concluded Jenny would say nothing more. Her simple words were now etched in Collett’s brain.

  Finally, Collett turned and walked back to the stairs. She gave one last glance to Jenny, hearing her words again as she did. I am not in love with him, she told herself.

  She looked up the stairway and quickly reminded herself,