A Child for Cade. Patricia Thayer

let me hear that you hassled her again.”

      Cade shut the door and caught up with Abby. With a protective hand at her back, he escorted her through the bank, past the curious glances of several onlookers. He felt her stumble. His arm went around her waist, pulling her against his side. “It’s okay, darlin’, we’re nearly out of here,” he whispered. “Just hold it together a little while longer.”

      Finally outside, she sucked in a long breath, but it didn’t bring much color back to her face.

      “Come on, you need to sit down.” He led her to the coffee shop next door and Cade directed her to a booth, then ordered two cups of coffee from the waitress.

      He turned his attention to Abby. “Are you okay?”

      She took a swallow of water. “No, I’m humiliated. How could you storm in there like that?”

      “Look, I could hear Garson’s voice from across the bank,” he said, wondering where her gratitude was. “Did you want me to wait until he started smacking you around?”

      She covered her face with her hands.

      Cade ached to hold her, but figured she wouldn’t welcome a man’s touch right now. “How long has Joel been abusing you?”

      She gasped at the question. “How…”

      “Chance told me his suspicions.” Cade couldn’t hide his anger over the situation. “Brandon’s actions confirmed it. How long did you put up with the man beating you?”