Kitabı oxu: «Cowboy's Vow To Protect»

Chapter 2

Before Flint got out of his car at the grocery store, he made the call to Larry Wright’s car dealership and garage to get Maddy’s car towed in. Then as he went up and down the grocery store aisles he filled his basket with the kinds of foods he thought a woman would like to eat.

He remembered when he’d taken Jenny Oldham out to dinner she’d ordered a big salad. So he picked up a head of lettuce, a handful of tomatoes and several other fresh vegetables and then added a bottle of ranch dressing to his cart.

He then remembered when he’d taken Laurie Brubaker to the café she’d ordered chicken breast, so he put several packages of that in his cart.

Because he hadn’t dated that much it didn’t take him long to run out of knowing what else a woman might eat. He picked up staples like milk, bread and eggs and then he just started to pick up random items that he liked and he hoped Maddy liked, as well.

It was a little over an hour later when he headed back to the cabin. As he drove, his thoughts filled with Maddy. He tried to think of all the things he might have heard about her, but there was really nothing to explain her hiding out in the Holiday Ranch barn.

If what she’d told him was the truth, that she had just decided to leave town, then why hadn’t she just walked to Cassie’s house when her car had broken down? She could have requested a call to the garage and then asked for a ride back to her trailer. Why hide out in a hot, uncomfortable barn?

He didn’t get it. But then he didn’t get women in general. He found them mysterious alien beings. They were complex and filled with emotions he didn’t always understand. He felt awkward in their presence and a couple of years ago he had just given up on dating.

Besides, he’d always envisioned his future alone, especially now. Eventually, when he moved into the cabin and settled in, he might get a dog to keep him company. He was a simple man and all he had to do was figure out what his next job would be.

Cassie paid a fair wage and before her, her aunt Cass had always seen that the men were not only paid well, but also understood the importance of savings and investment.

He’d used up most of his savings on the land and the cabin. He couldn’t exactly move to the cabin and retire. Although he’d have no mortgage payment, there would still be utilities and groceries to take care of.

He frowned and gripped the steering wheel more tightly. If not a cowboy, then what would he be? He shoved the troubling question aside as he pulled up in front of the cabin.

Grabbing several of the grocery bags, he then headed for the front door. Finding it locked, he pulled his keys out and unlocked it.

As he walked in he got a quick vision of Maddy asleep on the sofa. Her eyelids fluttered and suddenly she sprang up, her eyes wild with terror as she faced him with a butcher knife in her hand.

She stared at him but he got the impression she wasn’t really seeing him. She appeared to still be half-asleep. Her entire body trembled as she raised the knife higher and stepped back from him.

His heart banged against his ribs. “Maddy,” he said softly. He didn’t move a muscle. She looked like a wild animal and he knew the best way to handle her was to be gentle with her. “It’s okay, Maddy. You’re safe here.” He kept his voice low and smooth. “I promise I’m not going to hurt you. Nobody is going to hurt you here.”

Her eyes slowly cleared and she lowered the knife. She appeared to crumble as she fell back to the sofa and began to cry. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she said between tears. “I had a bad dream and then I heard the door open and I... I thought you were a monster.”

“There are no monsters here,” he replied. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

She released a small laugh. “You just walked into your own cabin. I was the crazy lady with the knife. I was way scarier than you were.”

He was grateful that her tears had stopped. She got up off the sofa and sat at the table. He set the grocery bags on the counter and then turned to her. “There’s a couple more bags in the truck. I’ll be right back.”

Whew. He stepped outside and drew several deep breaths. His heart had definitely accelerated when she’d faced him with that knife. What in the hell had happened to her to warrant her taking a nap with a weapon? And then raise it to him as if she was terrified for her personal safety.

He’d known if necessary he would have been able to take the knife away from her. He was just grateful it hadn’t gotten to that point. He grabbed the last two grocery bags out of the back of his truck and then returned to the cabin.

“I apologize again,” she said. “Nothing like greeting a man in his own home with a knife.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s already forgotten.” He opened a bag of the groceries and began to pull out the contents. “I wasn’t sure what you liked so I tried to get a little bit of everything.”

“How much do I owe you?”

“We’ll worry about all that later.” He opened the fridge door and began to put the vegetables inside.

It was obvious she had showered and changed her dress. She now wore a loose-fitting pink sundress that complemented her dark hair and blue eyes.

She not only smelled of minty-fresh soap, but also of a field of sweet wildflowers. A whisper of desire blew through him. It was as unexpected as it was inappropriate. He’d always found Maddy very pretty but that was the last thing he needed to be thinking about her right now.

“I can at least help you put the groceries away.” She got up from the table and opened another bag.

It took them only a few minutes to put the groceries away and then once again she sat at the table and he stood with his back against the fridge.

“There’s a couple of things I wanted to tell you,” he said. “First of all, help yourself to anything you want and let me know if there’s something else you need that isn’t here.”

“I can’t imagine needing anything more than what you’ve already provided.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’d also like to ask you if it’s okay that while you’re here I can continue work here. I want to get a porch up and there’s more trim work to finish. Normally, I’m out here around five-thirty and I work until about eight in the evenings and then I go back to the ranch. Is that going to be a problem for you?”

“Of course not,” she replied after only a moment’s hesitation. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you not getting your work done here.”

“Did somebody hurt you, Maddy?”

He could tell the question took her by surprise. She held his gaze for a long moment and then looked away. “Flint, I really appreciate what you’re doing for me, but please don’t ask me any questions.”

She definitely had secrets...seemingly dark secrets, but she was here for only a short period of time and it was really none of his business.

“All right, then,” he replied and straightened. “I need to get back to the ranch. I’ll see you again this evening.”

“I’ll see you then.” She followed him to the door and the last thing he heard was her locking it after him.

He was almost grateful she hadn’t told him what was going on. He didn’t want to know too much about her, especially given that unexpected touch of desire that had momentarily swept through him.

Still, he couldn’t help but be curious. It was damned strange for a woman to take a knife to bed with her when she was sleeping. And he couldn’t erase from his mind that look of sheer terror that had been in her eyes when she’d jumped up from the sofa.

When he got back to the ranch he pulled into the shed and then headed toward the barn to finish the cleanup. “Hey, Flint.” The deep voice came from behind him.

He turned to see Mac hurrying toward him. “Everything all right?” Mac asked, a frown of worry across his forehead.

“Yeah, everything is fine. Why?”

“I came to help you in the barn, but you weren’t there. Then when I saw your truck was missing I just got a little concerned that something might have happened to you.”

“Sorry to worry you,” Flint replied. “I had some personal errands to run. I should have told somebody I was leaving.” Of course, there had been no way to tell anyone what was happening because he’d promised Maddy he wouldn’t. And Flint wouldn’t break that promise.

“As long as everything is okay, that’s all I care about.” Mac clapped him on the back. “Ready to knock out the rest of the barn?”

“Ready,” Flint replied.

Together the two of them went back inside where they stacked hay and talked about the hot weather, the work at the ranch and the health of the cattle and horses.

The topic then turned to Mac’s music. “I don’t understand why you never wanted more than just entertaining a bunch of cowboys after a long day at work,” Flint said. “Hell, you sound better than most of the singers I hear on the radio.”

“Oh, there was definitely a time I thought I’d sing in front of huge audiences and tour the country in a big RV. I’d be wealthy, and adoring female fans would throw their underwear on the stage.”

Flint laughed. “All of that sounds pretty good except the underwear part.” He sobered. “So what happened?”

“I grew up and I found my home here. The only audience I really want now is a special woman and eventually a couple of kids.”

“Speaking of women, have you ever heard any gossip about Maddy Taylor dating anyone?”

Mac looked at him in surprise. “Maddy from the grocery store?”

Flint nodded, wondering why the heck he had even asked.

“I’ve never heard any gossip of any kind about her. And, I’ve definitely never heard anything about who she might be dating. Why?” Mac looked at him in amused speculation.

“I was just curious. I haven’t seen her at the grocery store for a while and I wondered what might have happened to her.”

“Now that you mentioned it I haven’t seen her around lately, either,” Mac replied. “So what’s your interest?” His amusement was back sparkling in his eyes. “She’s a mighty pretty young woman.”

Flint forced a laugh. “I’ve got no interest in her like that. I was just in the grocery store earlier and she popped into my mind and I realized I hadn’t seen her there for a while.” He really wished he hadn’t brought it up at all.

Thankfully, the conversation turned to other topics. By four-thirty the barn was all cleaned up and the two men headed to their rooms to shower before dinner.

As Flint showered, he couldn’t help that his thoughts remained on the woman in his cabin. Something had happened to her, something bad. She’d always been a bright ray of sunshine in the grocery store, but the sunshine was nowhere inside the Maddy who had jumped off his sofa and wielded a knife. What had happened to her?

None of your business, cowboy, a little voice whispered over and over again in his head. She’d told him not to ask questions and he would abide by her wishes. Besides, her car had been towed and as soon as it was fixed she’d be out of his cabin and off to wherever she intended to go.

He ate dinner with the other men and then left to head back to the cabin. He knew his time on the Holiday Ranch was drawing to the end. His aching body was like a ticking time bomb and he wanted the cabin to be completely finished when the bomb eventually went off.

He was eager to get started on the porch. The concrete had already been poured and the posts were set. All the wood he needed had been delivered a week ago. So now all he had to do was lay the floor and build a roof.

There were deer and all kinds of other wildlife in these woods and he could easily envision himself in the future sitting on the porch in the early mornings when the deer came out to wander and birds sang their musical songs.

Even though he had only spent a couple of nights there, when he pulled up in front of the cabin there was a sense of homecoming for him.

To his surprise Maddy opened the front door, apparently having heard his truck pull up. “Hey,” she said as he got out of the truck.

She looked considerably better than she had earlier in the day. Her eyes were as clear as the blue Oklahoma sky and the smile she offered him appeared slightly tentative, but genuine.

“I’m just going to work out here for a while,” he said as he pulled a toolbox out of the pickup bed and set it on the ground.

“No problem,” she replied. “I noticed you have one of those fancy pod coffeemakers inside and lots of pods, but I don’t drink coffee. Would you like me to make you a cup and bring it out here to you?”

Once again he looked at her in surprise. He wasn’t accustomed to any woman doing anything for him. “Sure, that sounds great.”

“How do you drink it?”

“Just black is fine.”

She went back inside and he grabbed several planks of the pine deck wood from the pile on the side of the house and moved it closer to where it would be used.

He tried not to think about how odd it was that Maddy Taylor was inside his cabin and making him a cup of coffee. Everything felt so surreal since the moment he’d found her hiding in the hay in the barn.

She came out carrying the cup of coffee. “Thanks,” he said as he took the cup from her. “Have you eaten?”

“Yes, thank you. I made myself some scrambled eggs and toast a little bit earlier,” she replied. She looked at the wood. “So you’re going to make a front porch?”

“A covered porch.” Flint took a sip of the brew. “Eventually, I plan to sit on the porch and see the deer that frequent this area while I drink my morning coffee.”

“Oh, that sounds like that would be wonderful. Do you mind if I sit out here and watch you work for a little while? It’s so pleasant out here with the tree shade.”

“Uh...sure. I’ve got a lawn chair you can use.” He went to the side of the house where a fold-up lawn chair leaned against the cabin. He grabbed it, carried it around and opened it so she could sit just out of the way of his work.

He wasn’t sure why she wanted to sit out here. He’d never had an audience when he worked before and he found the whole thing rather awkward.

Since everything was ready for him to lay the deck, he began by placing the long pine planks down. By this time of night his back and hip joints were usually screaming in pain and tonight was no different.

He swallowed the groans that threatened to escape from him each time he bent over. He was acutely aware of her and there was no way in hell he’d want her or anyone else to see or hear his pain.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she said.

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed. He grabbed the hammer and a handful of nails from his toolbox.

“How did you ever find this place?”

“Dan Griffin at the realty office found it for me. The minute I saw it, I knew it was the right place for me.”

“So are you thinking of moving here soon?” A light breeze lifted several strands of her hair and the waning sunlight caressed her delicate features.

Oh, she was definitely a distraction. Flint had never really noticed just how pretty she was until now. Her eyes were lined with long, dark lashes and her lips were puffy pillows that invited a kiss.

Jeez, what was wrong with him? Why was he even thinking these thoughts? He wasn’t about to kiss her. He didn’t want a woman in his life. Besides, he didn’t even know her and in any case she was only here until her car got fixed.

She’d asked him a question but damned if he could remember what it was right now. “Uh, I need to hammer down these planks,” he said.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t want to keep you from your work.” Her eyes suddenly widened and she jumped up from the chair. She raced toward the trees and then bent over and threw up.

Madison’s stomach rolled with nausea. After throwing up once, she raced into the house, vaguely aware of Flint running after her in alarm. She ran into the bathroom and threw up once again, at the same time waving Flint away. “I’m okay,” she finally managed to say to him.

The nausea had finally passed. She closed the bathroom door and rinsed her mouth several times and then brushed her teeth. Thank goodness she’d set her toothbrush in the bathroom earlier. Oh God, how embarrassing. The last thing a woman ever wanted a man...any man...to see was her tossing her cookies.

She opened the bathroom door to find Flint on the other side, his handsome features wreathed with worry lines. “Maddy, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she assured him. “I just got a sudden bout of nausea. It’s all gone now.”

“Was it maybe the eggs? You told me you made scrambled eggs earlier. I didn’t check the date on them. Things are usually pretty fresh at the grocery store.”

“No, I’m sure it wasn’t the eggs. I... I’ve just always had a ridiculously weak stomach.” At the moment she was just tired. “Really, Flint, I’m okay.”

The concern remained on his face. “If you say so.”

She stepped out of the bathroom. “I think maybe I’ll just stretch out on the sofa for a little while. I didn’t get any sleep last night and that might have contributed to my upset stomach.”

“Okay. I’ll be right outside if you need me for anything.”

Minutes later he was back outside and she was on the sofa. She was disappointed. She had been hoping for a little more conversation with Flint. She didn’t care what they talked about; she’d just wanted a little nonthreatening human interaction.

For almost three months she’d been locked up in her trailer, not speaking to or interacting with anyone. She’d quit her job and had her groceries and anything else she’d needed delivered to her house. The only place she’d ventured out during that time was to the library a couple of times.

It had been fear and trauma that had locked her inside the trailer. The utter loneliness had come soon after. Normally, she was a social animal. She’d loved working at the grocery store where she got to visit with people as they came through her line to check out.

It was amazing how much people would tell her about themselves, about their lives, when she was scanning their food items. It was also pretty amazing how much you could learn about people just by seeing what food they chose to put in their home.

Bang. Bang. Bang. The sound of Flint’s hammer hitting wood sounded. She closed her eyes. These nausea bouts never lasted long but always left her tired. Hopefully, in fifteen or twenty minutes or so, she’d feel like going back outside to watch Flint.

And in the brief moments she’d been outside, watching him had been a pleasure. In his dark brown T-shirt and jeans, he was a long, lean glass of hunk.

Despite his leanness, his arms were firmly muscled and his shoulders were broad. He was the type of man she might have once dreamed about. She didn’t dream anymore. She only had nightmares. And she always dreaded the coming of night.

At least for tonight she’d have a real bed rather than the hay in a barn like she’d had last night. She couldn’t believe the good luck that it had been Flint who had found her and he’d had a place to bring her, a place that, according to him, few people knew about.

The car repairs shouldn’t cost too much and could be finished quickly so she could be on her way as far away from Bitterroot, Oklahoma, as possible. It was the only way she would be safe.

As the dark shadows of twilight began to fall, she got up and turned on the lamps on either end table. They provided a cozy, warm golden glow, but they couldn’t stop the anxiety that bubbled up inside her as night approached.

You’re safe here, an inner voice whispered in her head. Nobody can hurt you here. Except Flint. She frowned. So far Flint had been nothing but courteous and respectful toward her. Rationally, she knew not all men were monsters and so far there wasn’t a hint of monster in Flint.

The hammering halted and moments later a soft knock fell on the door. He opened the door and peeked his head in. “I just wanted to check to see if you were all right before I head out of here for the night.”

She motioned him inside and got up off the sofa. “Would you like another cup of coffee before you head back to the ranch?” She just wanted him to stay for a bit and talk to her, to ward off the terror of the night by ending the evening with a little conversation.

He looked at her in surprise. “Uh...okay.”

“Please, sit and let me make it for you.” She hurried over to the coffee machine and placed a pod in it as he washed his hands in the sink. He then moved to the table and sat.

“Did you get a lot of work done?” she asked.

“I got about half of the deck laid. Be careful if you go outside. I wouldn’t want you to trip and hurt yourself.”

“I have no intentions of venturing outside of this cabin until my car is ready or you’re here,” she replied. She carried the coffee to him and then sat across the table from him.

“Oh, that reminds me. I told Larry at the car dealership to call the number here in the cabin so he can speak with you directly about whatever repairs are needed.”

“Thank you,” she replied. “Hopefully, I’ll hear from him soon.”

He curled his hands around the coffee cup. His hands were large and work-worn and she wondered...darn, what was wrong with her? Why would she even wonder what those hands might feel like stroking up and down her back? That was the last thing she should be thinking about.

“So do you have a particular destination in mind when you leave here?” he asked.

“I’m thinking maybe someplace in Wyoming.”

“Have you ever been there before?”

“No, but I’ve read a lot of books set there.” Romance books. She’d read a lot of romance books set in Wyoming where the winters were cold and the cowboys were hot. Of course no cowboy would ever want her now. Nobody would want her.

“I’ve heard it’s beautiful country,” he replied.

An awkward silence ensued and his gaze seemed to go everywhere in the room but on her. “So once you finish the porch is the cabin all done?” she finally asked.

His dark green eyes found hers once again. “For the most part. I still need to trim out my bedroom and take care of a few odds and ends, but nothing major. I don’t know if you noticed it or not but there’s a detached garage in the back and that still needs a bit of work.”

“I didn’t notice. I have to confess, I spent most of the day sleeping.”

“Nothing wrong with that, especially if you’ve picked up a bit of a flu bug.”

Her face warmed. “I’m sure I’m fine,” she assured him. “I’m sorry about throwing up in your trees.”

He smiled at her. It was the first real smile she’d seen since he’d found her hiding in the barn. The gesture crinkled the corners of his eyes and exuded warmth that instantly washed over her.

“Maddy, I spend my time with a bunch of cowboys who sometimes get rowdy on a Saturday night. They drink too much and upchuck in all kinds of places. I’m sure my trees will be just fine.”

“I’m just glad you aren’t mad.”

He raised a blond eyebrow. “Why would I get mad at you about getting sick?”

“I don’t know...so, what does make you mad?” she asked tentatively. It suddenly seemed vitally important that she know this about him, especially if they were going to spend a little time together.

He frowned, obviously in thought. “The usual things that make most people mad: injustice and abuse, especially abuse of women and children. I also don’t much like people who abuse animals. But other than those things, I’m a pretty laid-back guy. There isn’t much that anyone does in my personal life to upset me.” He finished his coffee. “And on that note, I need to head back to the ranch.”

Even though she still wasn’t sure she could trust him, she almost hated to see him go. So far his presence made her feel safe rather than threatened in any way.

“Then I guess I’ll see you about the same time tomorrow night?” She walked with him to the front door. “By then I should have news about my car.”

“Whatever. Maddy, if you need to stay a day or two longer, don’t worry about it. And if you need anything don’t hesitate to call me.”

And then he was gone and she was alone in the night. She sat on the sofa and thought about turning on the television, but she instantly rejected the idea. She wanted to hear if any threat...if any danger came close and she wouldn’t be able to hear that if the television was playing.

Even though Flint had said that only a few of the cowboys on the Holiday Ranch knew of this place, she couldn’t be absolutely sure of that.

The people in Bitterroot loved to gossip and it was totally possible one of those men had mentioned this place while drinking at the Watering Hole, or having dinner at the café. And then that person mentioned it to somebody else who mentioned it to somebody else and so on...

“Stop it,” she whispered aloud to herself. Her brain was overworking in an effort to freak her out, and she couldn’t allow that to happen. She had to stay calm.

Still, she decided to turn off the living area lights and go into her bedroom. With the lights off in the front of the cabin, anyone driving up would think nobody was here. Even though she hoped she wouldn’t have to use it, she carried the butcher knife into her bedroom and placed it beneath the pillow.

Once there she changed out of her dress and into a nightshirt. The lamp next to the bed emitted a soft glow and thankfully, when she’d left the trailer she’d thrown a few paperback books into her suitcase.

The bed seemed to envelop her in softness and she snuggled in and opened one of the books. But there was no escaping reality tonight.

Even though she held the book in her hand, her thoughts were far away from the words printed on the page. She’d told Flint she’d like to go to Wyoming and maybe she would. But she would mourn leaving Bitterroot, which had been her home for the past twenty-eight years.

Her childhood had certainly been difficult, but over the past ten years she’d made a cozy home for herself in the trailer. It had been her happy sanctuary until...

She squeezed her eyes tightly closed and drew in several deep, steadying breaths. She couldn’t go there. If she allowed her mind to take her back, she would be in the throes of a post-traumatic stress episode.

“Just breathe,” she whispered to herself. She closed her eyes and drew in deep breaths. What she needed to do was pray the car repairs didn’t cost too much or take too long so she could leave here for anywhere else. She must have fallen asleep for the next time she opened her eyes, early-morning sunshine was drifting through the window. She’d made it through the night without any nightmares or disturbances.

She showered and dressed for the day and then opened the door in the kitchen that led outside. There was a small porch and in the short distance was the garage.

The clean, fresh-scented air tickled her nose as birds sang their early-morning songs. Despite her circumstances a wave of optimism swept through her.

She hoped to hear from Larry Wright at the car dealership today. And she hoped the repairs were minimal and she could be on her way. Tomorrow was Sunday so if she didn’t hear about her car today then it would be Monday before she heard anything.

She didn’t want to be here any longer than necessary. The longer she stayed the more possibility that somebody would find her here.

Besides, if she stayed too long here in this cozy cabin she knew she would never want to leave. Right now she felt so safe here, but she had to go.

This wasn’t her place. She didn’t know where her place was right now, but it wasn’t here. It couldn’t be anywhere near Bitterroot.

While she ate breakfast she found herself wondering why Flint was leaving the Holiday Ranch. Did he intend to work on the ranch and live here? Or did he plan to quit working there? And if he was quitting the ranch, then what did he intend to do? Maybe buy some land where he could be his own boss on a ranch?

She couldn’t remember specifically what he had told her, not that it was any of her business. All she had to worry about was getting her car fixed and then picking a place to start over in a new life.

Wherever she ended up landing, she had to hit the ground running. It was imperative that she find a place to live and a job as soon as possible. The rent on her trailer was paid up through the next two months. She was hoping that within that time she’d get an opportunity to rent a truck and move her furniture and other items to her new place.

She read a little and then by around two o’clock she wandered the cabin restlessly. Since it was Saturday she wondered if Flint might come earlier than he had yesterday.

She hoped so. She liked talking to him. She also liked looking at his handsome, tanned and slightly weathered face. He carried with him the scent of the outdoors, of sunshine and wind along with a hint of a fresh-scented cologne.

Part of the reason she liked talking to him was that when she was engaged in conversation she had no time to think about what had happened or how messed up her life had become.

The silence pressed in around her as the minutes and then hours ticked by. She made herself dinner and then at a few minutes after five, she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle. She looked out the window to make sure it was him, and then she flung open the door and stepped out onto the half-finished porch deck.

“Hi, cowboy,” she said when he got out of his truck.

A slow grin curved his lips. “Well, hello to you.”

“Did you have a good day?” she asked as he pulled his red toolbox out of the bed of his pickup.

“I had a fine day. What about you?” He bent over and set the toolbox next to where he would be working to lay the rest of the deck. When he straightened to look at her, she thought she heard a soft groan escape his lips. He cleared his throat and his smile widened. “You look well rested.”

“Having a bed to sleep in is way better than a hay-covered floor in a hot barn. Would you like me to make you a cup of coffee?”

“That sounds good, but you know you don’t have to wait on me, Maddy.”

“It’s just a cup of coffee, Flint, not a five-course meal,” she teased.

“I wouldn’t like a five-course meal...it takes too long to get to the meat and potatoes.”

She laughed. “I’ll be right back with the coffee.”

When she returned outside with the hot drink she was pleased to see that he had set up the lawn chair for her. He took the cup from her and her heart fluttered just a little bit when their fingers touched. Jeez, what was wrong with her?

She sat in the chair and watched him take a sip of the coffee. “I was hoping to hear something about my car today, but I didn’t.”

“When I spoke to Larry he told me he had a few cars ahead of yours. I’m sure they’ll get to it sometime on Monday.” He took another drink of the coffee and then set the cup down in the grass.

“I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness for too long,” she replied.

Once again that slow smile curved his lips. “Does it look like you’re bothering me?”

“No.” Why did his smile shoot a burst of warmth through her? She had assumed after what had happened to her she’d never feel that kind of way about a man again. “Still, as soon as my car is ready I promise I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Whenever.” He carried several boards next to the deck and began to lay them in place. “Is Maddy your given name?” he asked.

“My given name is Madison,” she replied.

“Madison. That’s pretty. Why don’t you use it instead of Maddy?”

Madison...she liked the way her name sounded falling from his lips. Nobody ever called her that, but she’d always thought of herself as Madison. “I don’t know. My father always called me Maddy and so that’s how everyone knew me.”

“If you don’t mind then I’d like to call you Madison.”

She smiled and another sweet warmth blossomed inside her. “I would like that.”

She watched as he began to hammer down the boards. She hadn’t been outside more than ten minutes when the nausea began. Oh no, not again. She tried to ignore it. Then she tried to breathe through it, but neither of those techniques helped.

She jumped up and ran into the house and made it to the bathroom just in time to throw up. She threw up two more times and then the nausea slowly passed. She waited a couple of minutes to see if it would return, but it didn’t. Once again she rinsed her mouth and then brushed her teeth.

When she opened the bathroom door Flint stood on the other side. Concern darkened his eyes and a grim determination tightened his features.

“Madison, you need to see a doctor,” he said. “It’s obvious something is wrong with you.”

“I’m fine,” she replied. She pushed past him and into the living room area.

“You aren’t fine,” he replied firmly. “You’re sick and you need to see a doctor,” he repeated.

“Really, it’s okay, Flint. I’m okay.” She definitely didn’t want to be having this conversation.

“If you don’t want to see a doctor in town then maybe I can get Dr. Washington to come out here to see you.”

“Please, just leave it alone, Flint.” Desperation filled her. She turned and started to walk away from him.

“I can’t leave it alone,” he replied. “Madison, you’ve thrown up two evenings in a row. Something is obviously wrong and right now you’re under my care.”

She whirled around to face him once again. “I’m not sick... I’m... I’m pregnant.” The minute the words left her lips she crumbled onto the sofa and began to cry.

Chapter 3

“Pregnant?” Flint stared at her in stunned surprise. That was the last thing he expected to hear. “Don’t cry,” he told her, hating the tears that slid down her cheeks as tiny sobs escaped her.

“Madison, please don’t cry.” Hell, he didn’t know what to do with a crying woman...a pregnant crying woman at that.

“I... I...can’t help it. I di...didn’t want anyone to know,” she replied.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and jostled with his keys as he approached the sofa. “What can I do to make you stop crying? If I sing for you, will you stop? I’ll warn you I have a terrible singing voice. Mac always says when I was born the doctors should have twisted my vocal chords together to see if they could get anything better than croaks like a frog.”

A small laugh escaped her. It was exactly what he’d hoped to accomplish. He sank down next to her on the sofa as she stopped sobbing and instead began to wipe the tears off her cheeks.

“I won’t tell anyone, Madison. Your secret is safe with me. I swear I won’t tell anybody.” He hesitated a moment and then continued, “So who is the father? Can’t he help you out with whatever is going on?”

She dropped her hands to her lap. “There is no father.” She didn’t meet his gaze.

“Madison, there has to be a father,” Flint said gently.

“Not in this case.” Her gaze returned to his and her chin lifted with a hint of defiance.

“So it was one of those immaculate conceptions,” he replied. “I have to say, it’s been a while since one of those happened.”

Her cheeks flushed with a hot-pink color. “Okay, so there was a sperm donor, but he will never be a part of my life and he definitely will never be in this baby’s life.” Tears once again filled her eyes.

“Is this why you want to leave town?”

“It’s one of the reasons, but I have other reasons, too.”

He could tell by the look in her eyes that she wasn’t going to share any of those with him. “Madison, don’t you need to see a doctor? You’re getting sick every evening.”

“It’s morning sickness, Flint, only I have it in the evenings. It should be passing soon.”

He eyed her with concern. “I thought morning sickness only happened in the mornings.” Her wildflower scent threatened to distract him, but the conversation was far too important for any distraction.

“Morning sickness can happen anytime in the day.”

“Did a doctor tell you that?”

Her cheeks grew pink once again and her gaze skittered away from his. “I haven’t seen a doctor.”

“Then how do you know what you’re talking about?” He didn’t want to pry. He just wanted to make sure she was really okay.

“I went to the library and researched everything I could find on the subject.” Her gaze sought his again. “I’m fine, Flint. I promise you, there’s nothing for you to worry about. Besides, it’s not your job to worry about me.”

“Shouldn’t you see a doctor?” he asked again. She could tell him to not worry about her, but he couldn’t help it.

“Not in this town. I’ll see one as soon as I get settled wherever I’m going. Now, I’m sure you’re eager to get back to your work on the porch before the sun goes down.”

It was a dismissal. Reluctantly, he rose. “You’ll let me know if you need something special from the grocery store or the drugstore?”

She smiled at him. It was one of those sunshine smiles he remembered seeing on her face months ago. “You’re a very nice man, Flint McCay.”

A touch of warmth filled his face. “Thanks. I’ll just be outside if you need anything.”

Pregnant.

He walked around the cabin to the garage to retrieve his ladder, and his brain tried to work through the shock her secret had given him.

She must have been dating somebody to get in the condition she was in. Maybe when she told the man she was dating that she was pregnant, he’d reacted badly. No, that didn’t seem right because she didn’t want anyone to know about the pregnancy and that implied she hadn’t told the father-to-be.

As he began work on the porch roof, his mind continued to go through different scenarios. Maybe she and her lover just had a big fight and Madison decided on a whim to pack up and leave. Was that really what this was all about? A lover’s spat that had spun out of control? But even that didn’t feel right, not when he remembered the terror in her eyes.

Still, Flint believed the father had a right to know about the baby. He would never want a woman he dated to get pregnant and not tell him about the baby. Fathers had rights, too. He frowned. But if the man was abusive then all bets were off.

Maybe by the time her car was fixed she’d change her mind about leaving town. She’d reconcile with her boyfriend and they’d raise their baby together.

Flint had never known his own father. His mother hadn’t even known who his father was. He’d always wondered how his horrible childhood would have been better if his father had been in his life.

He reminded himself that Madison and her choices weren’t any of his business. Still, he hated to think of her pregnant and all alone in a strange, new place. Maybe he could talk her into going back to her trailer and staying here in Bitterroot. Surely she had friends in town who would help her. Heck, she could consider him a new friend who would do whatever he could to help her out.

He worked until the sun gave its last gasp and then he put his tools and ladder away and walked to the front door. He knocked and she answered.

“Coffee?” she asked. Her eyes seemed to simmer with a kind of faint desperation.

“Sure,” he replied. Like the night before he washed up in the sink and took a seat at the table while she made his cup of coffee.

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked as she put the coffee before him and then sat across from him.

“Much better. The nausea only lasts a few minutes and once it’s gone, it’s gone for the rest of the night.”

He took a sip of the hot drink and tried not to notice how pretty she looked. She wore a blue T-shirt that made her eyes appear even bluer. A pair of jeans hugged her still-slender body.

She was definitely easy on the eyes, not that it mattered to him. It also didn’t matter that whenever he was near her his body subtly warmed. He wasn’t looking for a woman in his life, but her current situation definitely concerned him. He wanted to somehow help her, but he wasn’t sure how, especially if she wasn’t going to share with him what was really going on.

At the moment he felt the same awkwardness he always felt when in the company of an attractive woman. He took another sip of his coffee and then stared down at the cup, trying to think of some way to get a little more information from her concerning the baby’s father.

“So tell me something about yourself, Flint,” she asked. “I know you were one of Cass Holiday’s lost boys, but tell me how you got lost.”

Everyone in town knew the story of the “lost boys” at Cass’s ranch. When Cass Holiday’s husband had died all her ranch help had walked out on her, believing she wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t smart enough, to run the big spread.

With the help of a social worker in Oklahoma City, Cass had staffed her ranch with young runaway boys who, for one reason or another, had vowed they would or could never go home again. Flint had been one of those boys.

“Or maybe you don’t want to talk about that,” she added hurriedly. “I don’t want to pry.”

“No, I don’t mind.” Maybe if he shared a little bit about his past life, it would help her trust him enough to tell him more about hers.

He drew a deep breath and once again looked down in his coffee cup as he accessed old, bad memories. He rarely thought of his childhood. He’d always considered that his life had really begun on the day he’d arrived at the Holiday Ranch.

“I don’t remember a time when my mother wasn’t a drug addict. What I do remember is back-alley dope deals, scary men in and out of our lives, and always moving from one dump to the next.”

He was deep in his memories now. “Initially she must have been doing meth. She’d be up for days and flying high. One time when I told her I was hungry, she swooped me up and danced me around the room and told me we didn’t need to eat. We could just live on peace and happiness. Of course little boys just sometimes need real food.”

“Oh, Flint, I’m so sorry.” He looked up into her warm, sympathetic gaze. “Was that what made you decide to run away?”

“No, it wasn’t that. I was too young then to even think about running away. It was when she exchanged meth for heroin that things took a really bad turn.”

He looked past her shoulder and continued, “I’d find her nodded out on the bathroom floor, or in her car with a needle still stuck in her arm. I begged her to stop. I begged her to get help, but she told me she loved the stuff and she was never going to stop. I tried to take care of her when she was dope sick. I’d clean up her vomit and I’d wipe her down when she was sweating and coming out of her own skin. I prayed every day that she wouldn’t die.”

He’d suppressed these memories for so long and now they unfurled in his brain like distant nightmares. As a child he’d been half-starved and rarely clean. His mother had used him to gain people’s sympathy and cash when they panhandled. He’d never, ever felt loved by her.

He looked back at Madison. “I loved my mother, but I learned pretty early on that she couldn’t love me back. But I knew I was watching her die. Finally, when I was thirteen I realized I couldn’t do anything to help her and I wasn’t going to stay around there and watch her die, so I left.”

It was the most words he had used at any one time and he was surprised by the emotion that filled his chest. Grief battled with guilt, a guilt that he had chosen to save himself instead of sticking by his mother’s side.

But there had been days and days of homelessness. When they did have a roof over their heads, it was usually a drug house where other addicts came to use. He’d seen his mother beaten and abused, and the taste of fear never left his mouth.

Madison’s touch to the back of his hand brought him back from that frightening place. “Sorry, that was probably way more information than you wanted,” he said ruefully. In fact, he’d just told her things that he’d never shared with anyone else.

“I’m just sorry you had to go through that.” She drew her hand back from his and instantly he felt a strange bereavement. He’d liked her touch. For just a brief moment he’d felt an odd connection to her.

“So what’s your story?” he asked.

She changed positions on the chair. “While my childhood wasn’t as horrifying as yours, we share a lot in common. My mother died from breast cancer when I was eight and my father was a raging alcoholic. What he wanted when my mother was gone, was to leave Bitterroot and start a single life someplace else, but unfortunately I was the albatross around his neck and he never, ever let me forget that he was stuck in Bitterroot because of me.”

Her pretty eyes darkened. “When I was young, he at least tried to hide his drinking, but by the time I was about twelve he didn’t even attempt to hide it. I’d find him passed out all over the house and I’d clean him up and get him into bed. The worst times were when he’d go out in the evenings to go to the Watering Hole. I’d wake up every morning hoping and praying that he’d made it home and wasn’t dead in a ditch. I don’t know why I cared. He never said a nice thing to me. I never felt his love, only his disdain and resentment toward me.”

He was surprised by his desire to touch her, to somehow take the darkness of her childhood out of her eyes, out of her memories. Before he could do anything like that, she released a laugh.

“And that was probably way more information than you wanted,” she said.

“Not at all,” he assured her. “I’m just sorry you had to live with that. So is your father still around?”

She shook her head. “Heavens, no. On the morning of my eighteenth birthday he packed up his truck with his personal belongings, told me I was on my own and he drove off and I never saw or heard from him again.”

He knew instinctively that now wasn’t the time to press her on any details about her pregnancy or try to change her mind about her choice to leave town.

“So you’ve been on your own since then?” he asked.

She nodded. “I got the job at the grocery store and paid my way. I’ve eaten a lot of Ramen noodles through the years when money got really tight, but I survived my father leaving me all on my own.”

“That took a lot of strength at that young age,” he said.

“I imagine it took you a lot of strength to run away when you’re thirteen years old,” she replied.

She gazed at him for a long moment. And it was finally he who looked away. The fact that he wouldn’t mind sitting here and talking to her longer unsettled him. Besides, it was getting late. “This has been nice, but I need to head out.” He drained the last of his coffee and carried the cup to the sink. She got up from the table and walked with him to the door.

“Thanks, Flint.”

He looked at her in surprise. “For what?”

“For coming in and spending some time with me. I like talking with you.”

“I like talking to you, too,” he replied. He was surprised to realize it was the truth. She was fairly easy to talk to. In fact, it still vaguely surprised him that he’d spoken so much about his past with his mother to her.

They said their good-nights and Flint got into his truck and headed back to the ranch. She liked talking to him. No woman had ever said that to him before and her words shot an unexpected warmth through him.

Suddenly, he couldn’t wait until the next night when he’d get an opportunity to talk with her again.

Monday just after noon Flint headed into town to pick up some supplies for Cookie and a new hat that Mac had ordered from the Western store.

Yesterday he’d gone to the cabin early and had gotten the roof up on the porch. Although he still had to tar paper and shingle it, at least it was nearly done.

Unfortunately, the work had nearly done him in. His back had screamed with pain by the time he knocked off work. But he’d then gone inside and sat with Madison for a little over an hour.

Once again he’d found it difficult to talk to her about her pregnancy and her apparently choosing to run away. Instead, they had talked about their jobs. He’d told her funny stories about the antics of his fellow cowboys when they’d been younger, and in turn she had told him funny stories about being a cashier at the grocery store.

The time had gone far too quickly and at least for that hour he’d forgotten his pain. The shared laughter had felt good and he hadn’t wanted to get serious with her and steal away the bright sparkle in her beautiful eyes.

He parked in front of the Western store first. There were racks of clothing, a wall full of cowboy boots on display and another wall filled with hats in various shapes and colors.

“Hey, Flint.” Russ Paxton, the owner of the store greeted him with a big smile.

“How’s it going, Russ?” The two men shook hands.

“Sales have been a little slow. What about you? Couldn’t you use a new pair of boots? And that hat you’re wearing is looking pretty beat up. Don’t you think it’s about time for a new one?”

Flint laughed. “No, thanks, I’m good for now, Russ. I’m here to pick up a hat for Mac. He said you ordered one for him and called him the other day to tell him it was in.”

“Indeed it is. I’ll just go fetch it from the back.” Russ turned and disappeared behind a curtained doorway.

The bell above the door tinkled and Flint turned to see Brad Ainsworth, Jim Browbeck and Zeke Osmond walk through the door. Flint nodded at Brad and Jim amicably, but had no such pleasantry for Zeke.

It was an odd group of men. Brad was the son of the mayor and had some political ambitions of his own. Jim was the well-liked chief of the volunteer fire department, and Zeke was a trouble-making ranch hand who worked for Raymond Humes, the man who owned the spread next to the Holiday Ranch.

“Hi, Flint,” Jim said. “We’re handing out fliers to everyone in town to announce a big bake sale next weekend at the community center.”

“The funds will all go to the fire department. We all know the town needs another truck and hopefully we can raise enough money to see that goal accomplished,” Brad said.

“Zeke, I didn’t realize you were the charitable type,” Flint said to the thin, dark-haired man who possessed weasel-like features.

“Chief Bowie thought it would be a good idea for me to help hand out fliers,” Zeke replied, his gaze not quite meeting Flint’s.

Flint wondered what Zeke had done to make Dillon give the man what sounded like a little community service. There was certainly no love lost between the men who worked for Raymond Humes and the men who worked for Cassie.

“Anyway, we’re trying to get the word out about the event,” Brad said.

“Here we are.” Russ came out from the back room with a hatbox in his hand. He greeted the other men who handed him a dozen or so fliers to hand out to customers and then they left the shop.

“Mac already paid for the hat, so you’re good to go...unless you want to replace that dusty old brown one you’ve got on your head,” Russ said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Flint laughed. “You’re a good salesman, Russ, but really I’m good for right now.”

Moments later he carried the hatbox to his truck, locked it up and then headed for the grocery store to pick up the things for Cookie.

As he walked he self-consciously touched the brim of his hat. He could use a new one, but what was the point? It wouldn’t be long before he would no longer be a cowboy.

This thought stabbed a pain straight through his chest. If not a cowboy, then who was he? What was he? Sooner or later he was going to have to figure it out, but he shoved these troubling thoughts away for now.

After buying the land and the supplies for the cabin, he still had a nest egg left that would allow him to live for a year or so without doing much of anything. But he couldn’t imagine being holed up in the cabin for a whole year without being productive.

It took him about forty-five minutes to shop and as Sherry Nielson, a pleasant middle-aged woman, checked him out, his brain immediately filled with thoughts of Madison.

He liked her. He liked her a lot. That surprised him. What surprised him even more was that despite knowing she was pregnant, he was extremely physically attracted to her.

He wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how. Although most of the time she was cheerful and bright, there were times when dark shadows filled her eyes, shadows that spoke of bad things.

He wanted her to share those with him. He’d never in his life wanted a woman to share her secrets with him, so what was so different about Madison?

He didn’t know the answer to that, and in any case it didn’t matter. Within a couple of days her car would be fixed and she’d be on her way.

When he arrived back at the ranch he pulled his truck around the cowboy motel to a back door that led into the kitchen area.

Cookie must have heard his approach as the man stood at the back door. The middle-aged man with his buzz-cut black hair and thickly muscled shoulders and arms looked more like a bodyguard than a man who loved to cook.

As usual, he wore no smile. Cookie had been at the ranch when Flint had first arrived. Flint had grown up with the man feeding him, but knew little more about him today than he had on the first day he’d met him.

“About time,” Cookie said.

“I didn’t dawdle too much,” Flint replied wryly.

“Hmm.” He began to grab the bags in the back of the truck, but before he did, Flint thought he caught a whisper of a smile from the taciturn man. Whenever one of the cowboys went to get supplies for Cookie, the man accused them of dawdling and taking too long.

It took only a few minutes to unload the groceries and then Flint headed for the stable where his duty for the day was shining up saddles and oiling up any leather paraphernalia. Thank goodness it was an easy job that wouldn’t require him to use his back or knees.

In fact, lately he’d had a lot of days of being assigned to the easier chores around the ranch. He wondered if Sawyer knew the pain he was in or if it was just some sort of a coincidence?

Minutes later he was in the tack room in the stable. The scent of hay and horses and leather wrapped around him with both familiarity and comfort.

Big Cass had been a tough boss. From the very beginning she’d demanded the boys work hard and take pride in the jobs they accomplished. She could be stern at times, but she’d given her “boys” a sense of self-respect that had been lacking in each of the runaways. She’d also provided stability in their lives, a stability that had allowed them all to grow to their full potential.

Even though she could be stern, she could also be extremely loving. She became their mother figure and all of the men had deeply mourned her death.

He wasn’t sure why he was thinking about her now. Maybe it was because he’d begun to mourn leaving this place, which had been home to him for so many years.

He had been working for about fifteen minutes or so when Mac came in. “Hey, how’s it going?” he asked.

Flint wiped his oily hands on a cloth and leaned against the workbench. “It’s going. I’ve got your new hat in my room. Feel free to go in and grab it whenever you want.”

“Thanks. I appreciate you picking it up for me.”

“It was no problem. I was going into town to get supplies for Cookie anyway.”

“How are things going at the cabin? You seem to be spending more time there in the evenings than usual.”

Flint felt a rise of heat in his cheeks and hoped it wasn’t evident to Mac. “I’ve got the porch up and I am in the process of shingling it.”

“That’s great. Once you have that done maybe you’ll be back to spending the evenings with us in the rec room,” Mac replied.

“Why, do you miss me?” Flint grinned at his friend.

“Nah, not me,” Mac replied with his own grin. His smile faded and a small frown etched across his forehead. “Are you okay, Flint?”

He tensed. “Sure, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

Mac shrugged. “You’ve just seemed kind of distant for the past couple of weeks or so.”

“Distant? I haven’t meant to be. I’ve just had a lot on my mind with the work at the cabin.” The words were easy to say, but they weren’t the whole truth.

Mac looked at him for a long minute. “You’d tell me if there was anything wrong, right? You know you can always talk to me, right?”

Flint laughed and clapped his friend on the back. “I know that, Mac. Really, I’m good so there’s nothing for me to talk about. So what are you doing here anyway?”

“I’m about to start cleaning out stalls.”

“Ah, so you drew one of the fun jobs for the day.”

“Right, it’s always been my idea of a fun time when I get to shovel out horse dung. I guess I’ll get to it.”

Minutes later he was once again alone and he thought about what Mac had said. Even before Madison had been in his cabin he had been distancing himself from the other men. He had to do that because sooner rather than later he would be leaving the Holiday Ranch and these men who had been constants in his life since he was thirteen years old.

Oh, he knew when he finally left here, the other men would promise to stay in touch and maybe for a couple of months they would, but ultimately Flint knew he’d wind up alone in that cabin with only his pain for company.

Mac, Flint and Jerod had developed strong friendships over the years. Although all twelve of the men who had grown up here were bonded, the three men had forged a deeper friendship together. He would miss their company most of all.

He cast off the depression that threatened to creep over him. There would be plenty of time for that later. Right now he was still a cowboy and he still worked on the Holiday Ranch.

And today Madison would probably hear from Larry Wright about her car and it was possible that by tomorrow she would be on her way. He was surprised that the idea of her leaving depressed him more than just a little bit.

It was odd and surprisingly pleasant to be greeted at the front door with her beautiful smile. He’d come to look forward to their evening visits and he was definitely concerned about her.

His concern was not only because he now knew she was a pregnant woman all on her own. And if that wasn’t enough, he also suspected something terrible and violent might have happened to her. The thought of any man perpetrating violence on any woman surged a rich anger up inside him.

Had her boyfriend been abusive? Had he beaten her? Was he the one who had her so terrified all she could think about was leaving town? If that was the case then Flint would definitely like to know the name of the man responsible. But Madison wasn’t giving anything up.

He didn’t want to examine how his mood lifted later in the day when he left the ranch and headed for the cabin. When he pulled up front he was surprised when the door didn’t open and Madison didn’t appear.

Was it possible her car had been fixed and she had already left? Without even saying goodbye? He swallowed his disappointment. If that was the case then all that he could hope for was that wherever she went she would be safe and would find happiness. Even though he’d had very little time with her, he was surprised to realize he was definitely going to miss her.

The minute he opened the door he heard her. The sound of her sobbing came from the bedroom. What had happened? Had somebody found her here? His heart crashed against his ribs as he rushed toward the bedroom.