Chapter 6: Finding Cade a Wife

Rose stared at the list on her screen. She had five women coming in today to interview for potential dates with Cade. She didn’t want to talk to any of them. She awakened this morning with the knowledge that she wanted Cade for herself.

“No. That can’t happen.”

Besides, what should she do with him? He wanted a wife, and she didn’t want to be one. No matter how hard her father pushed her, she wouldn’t give in. This was her life, and she would conduct it how she chose.

After a disastrous marriage, she was in no hurry to get married again. That left her having to find Cade a wife. The sooner she did, the sooner he’d be out of her life. She sighed.

Her assistant, June, flopped herself into an office chair. “They are all here.”

“All five of them?”

“Yeah. Who do you want to see first?”

“Send in whoever arrived first.”

“Katie did,” June said and rose.

Katie Holland was full of energy and smiles as she entered Rose’s office. She liked her and disliked her instantly. This woman’s bright personality would be a great counterpoint to Cade’s darker personality. Katie reached a hand across the desk. “Hi. I’m Katie.”

“Nice to meet you, Katie. Have a seat. You need coffee or something?”

“No, I don’t drink caffeine at all.”

The woman probably didn’t need it. “Right. Okay. Let’s get started.”

Katie sat and folded her hands in her lap. She was cute and her outfit complimented her. “Ask me anything.”

“Well, you filled out our survey extensively. Let me just confirm some things and clarify others.”

“Sure,” Katie said.

“You like the outdoors.”

Cade lived in the woods. A city girl wouldn’t do. Cade hadn’t listed too many activities that he liked, but none of them had anything to do with museums or cultural pursuits.

“Yes, I love the outdoors. I go rock climbing and my last vacation was diving in the Caribbean.”

“What about the woodsy type of activities?” Rose asked.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Hunting?” Rose asked.

Katie wrinkled her nose. “I’m not averse to camping or hiking, but I couldn’t hunt.”

That was first on Cade’s activities list. She had cautioned him against putting that on there because people had strong opinions, but he’d insisted. He wasn’t giving it up. He said it was non-negotiable.

“What if our bachelor hunts?”

Katie’s nose stayed wrinkled. “I can’t be with someone like that.”

There was no need to ask any more questions. Rose hoped all of the interviews didn’t go this way. She’d picked the women who lived in small towns knowing she’d be more likely to find someone to match Cade with.

Rose smiled and closed Katie’s folder. She was a nice enough woman and Rose could match her with someone else, just not Cade. “Well, thank you for your time, Katie. I don’t have any clients at the moment that you’ll work with, but I’ll be having a mixer in a few weeks. I’ll send you the date. I’ll have some new clients by then, I’m sure.”

Katie rose, her smile never dimming. “Okay, thanks. Sorry about the hunting thing.”

Rose put up her hand. “I’d rather you be truthful.”

“Seems like a strange hill to die on,” Katie said.

“He’s an avid hunter,” Rose said by way of explanation.

Katie left and Rose wondered if she should lead with that fact. Maybe she should describe Cade instead and if that wasn’t off-putting, she could continue with the interview.

June poked in her head. “You ready for the next one?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“You look troubled.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Maybe matching Cade would be harder than she thought. He wasn’t willing to relocate as he ran his own business. He hadn’t been clear about what that was, and Rose wondered for a moment if she should have pressed him for more information. Was he doing something illegal? The thought hadn’t occurred to her until this moment. He’d described it as a family business.

June left then led the second woman in. She had red hair and curls. Cade had said body type didn’t matter. He liked his women a little thick, but he wouldn’t turn down anyone just because of what they looked like. That had warmed Rose’s heart. That would make things easier.

“Hey,” the woman said.

“Brenda?” Rose asked.

“Yes. I’m Brenda.”

“Okay, Brenda. First question. My bachelor is an avid hunter. How do you feel about it?”

“As long as I don’t have to do it or deal with the animal, then I'm fine.”

Okay. Brenda was going in the keep pile. “You like the outdoors?”

“Love the outdoors.”

“Fancy parties?”

“No my things. I’d rather sit around the campfire,” Brenda said.

Rose smiled. Yep, Brenda was a possibility. Part of her was sad, but she had to do this job for Case. Even if for the first time she wanted to keep one for herself. She wasn’t in the market for a man, and she would have to remember that.

“Okay. I’ll be in touch with a date and time of a date.”

“I passed?” Brenda asked.

“It wasn’t a test so much as making sure that you can get along with our bachelor.”

“Tell me about him.”

“He’s the rugged outdoors type,” Rose said. “He’s good-looking, owns his own business, and is ready to settle down.”

Brenda nodded. “Okay. Sounds great. Anything else you need to know?”

“Not at this moment. I’ll be in touch. Thank you for coming in.”

Brenda left and Rose was disappointed. Brenda would be perfect for Cade. This should make her happy, but she wasn’t. She shook off her melancholy. She was here to find a wife for Cade and that’s what she was going to do. Even if it broke her heart to see him with someone else.

This was her job, and she was going to find him the perfect wife.

Even if it killed her.