Ballad of Love (Utah Lovin’ Book 1)

15. Madison

It has been a little over a week since Braydon and I had our coffee date. Wait, no, it wasn’t a date. It was just a chat. Yeah, that. Braydon hasn’t talked to me since he walked out to take a phone call, and against my better judgment I am picking up fresh baked muffins to take to him. Muffins are friendly, right? Oh well, it’s too late to be thinking about that now. I open the door to Saw”s and the smell of coffee and baked goods envelopes my senses. Sawyer, the owner that I met the other day, is standing behind the counter. His muscled tattoo cover arms resting on the counter.

“Hey, you were here the other day with Braydon, right?”

“Guilty.”

“You a new girlfriend? I haven’t seen him here with a woman in years.”

A warm blush spreads across my face at the assumption.

“No, I am just an old friend.”

“Well, what can I get for you?”

“Can I get a dozen chocolate chip muffins and a large peppermint latte?”

“Hungry?” Sawyer smiles at me.

“They are for someone else.”

Sawyer hums in acknowledgement.

I pay for the muffins and coffee and sit down at a table close to the counter. I pull my textbook from my purse. I probably look like a nerd studying right now, but the BAR isn’t going to pass itself. Sawyer sets my box of muffins and my coffee down on the table in front of me.

“I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Thank you.” I smile up at Sawyer. Looking at him closer, I can see just how handsome he is. His eyes are a deep green with flecks of gold, his curly dark hair sits in a windblown mop on his head.

“What are you studying for?”

“The BAR,” I respond, holding up my textbook.

“Well, I wish you the best of luck. Enjoy.” Sawyer bows his head and retreats back into his kitchen. I gather my stuff and slide my textbook back into my purse. I pull onto the long gravel driveway that leads to Ambrose Ranch. Two trucks are parked in front of the stables, but neither one of them belong to Braydon. Bryce is standing in the doorway to the stable by the time I gather my stuff and hop out of my Jeep. Bryce is the oldest brother, so I only met him a few times throughout high school, but the older two Ambrose boys hung out with Braydon and I all the time.

“I come bearing gifts.” I hold up the box of muffins to solidify my statement. Bryce crosses his arms over his chest, like he still isn’t convinced of my intentions.

“I’m Madison.” I stretch out my hand to shake his, but he just stares at it for a moment.

“I know who you are.”

“Oh.” Not sure how to respond, I pull my hand back.

“Is Braydon here right now? I was hoping I would be able to talk to him for a minute.”

“He isn’t here right now. His daughter is sick, and he has been staying home.”

“Well, do you know where I can find him then?”

“His house is farther down the drive.” Bryce points down the driveway.

“Thanks. Want a muffin?” I open the box of baked goods and offer one to him. He looks between me and the muffins before he reluctantly takes one. I turn and head back to my Jeep, with a new mission on my hands.

“Hey, Madison.” Bryce yells from behind me with a mouthful of muffin.

“Yes?”

“Watch out for the cows.” He winks, and retreats with his muffin back into the stables.

“Cows?” I chuckle to myself. He was probably just messing with me. I drive further down the winding gravel drive and find out Bryce wasn’t kidding. There are cows grazing on either side of the driveway. I pass a couple more fields, and two tiny cabins before I eventually find the cabin with Braydon’s truck parked in front of it. Parking my Jeep next to his truck, I gather my box of muffins and my coffee. I hop out of my Jeep before I give myself a moment to fully think this through. The little cabin looks cute and cozy from the outside. The front porch swing has a woven blanket draped over the back. I let myself picture myself cuddled up with Braydon drinking my morning coffee. The front of the house has six equally spaced windows, all with dark green shutters and meticulously gardened flower boxes. The porch steps creak a little when I walk up to the front door. I hesitate for just a moment before I knock.

“It’s open.” Braydon calls from somewhere inside the cabin. Opening the door, I step over the threshold.

“Bray?” The cabin looks cozy and lived-in on the inside. Boots and tiny shoes are thrown in neat piles by the front door. Dolls and tiny doll clothes are scattered on the floor in the living room.

“Madison?” Braydon appears in the entrance to the kitchen. “What are you doing here?”

“I brought chocolate chip muffins.” I shake the box in my hand. He looks suspiciously between me and the box. I shift uncomfortably in the silence. I knew this would be weird to do.

“Bryce said you hadn’t been at work in a few days, is everything ok?”

“No, Iris got sick, so I have been taking care of her.” Braydon walks into the kitchen and pulls out a plate from a cabinet by the sink.

“I’m sorry. That must’ve been the call you got the other day,” I say, placing the muffins on the plate.

Braydon just nods.

“Daddy,” A sleepy little voice calls from somewhere up the stairs.

“Duty calls. I will be right back. Make yourself at home.”

Braydon takes the stairs two at a time, leaving me standing in his kitchen. I pull out a barstool at the island and snatch a muffin off the plate.

“Mm, these are spectacular.” I mumble to myself around a mouthful of muffin. Before I finish my muffin, I hear singing coming from upstairs.

“We are going on a road trip.” Great, now I am having a conversation with a muffin.

I tiptoe up the stairs. Why am I doing this? I shouldn’t even be here. The singing gets louder. It is some kind of lullaby. I stop just shy of the doorway and watch as Braydon sways back and forth with Iris in his arms, singing softly in her ear. This is what my life would have looked like if I hadn’t left. No, I can’t think like that. Leaving was what I wanted. Braydon turns to lay Iris on her bed, and I scurry down the stairs back to my stool. I am finishing up my muffin when Braydon comes back into the kitchen.

“Sorry, she doesn’t sleep well when she gets sick.”

“Were you singing to her?”

“Yeah, it helps. And at this point, I will take all the help I can get.”

Braydon picks up a muffin, and a little moan slip when he bites into it.

“These are my favorite,” he says, taking another bite of his muffin.

I let Braydon finish his muffin in peace.

“So, what did you come here for?” Braydon asks, dusting off his hands on his jeans.

“To bring muffins.”

“Come on Mads. I know you. Why else are you here?”

“I was hoping that we could talk.”

“We did talk.”

“Well, it was cut short.”

“Ok, so talk.’

“Um,” I stumble over my thoughts.

“Mads, I am running on like two hours of sleep and very little coffee. Please just talk.”

My teeth click when I snap my mouth shut.

“How is she doing?” I ask, trying to stall a little longer.

Braydon sighs and rubs his hands down his face.

“Not good. Her fever was a hundred and two when Bryce called me the other day. It has been back and forth since then. One day she seems back to normal, and the next her fever is back. She hasn’t been keeping much down, and she is barely running on more sleep than me.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Braydon chuckles, and that’s when I notice the dark circles under his eyes.

“I could use a nap and about a five-gallon bucket of coffee.”

“Well, I will make you a deal.”

“I’m listening,” Braydon says, leaning in, and resting his chin on his hands.

“I will stay here, and take care of Iris if she wakes up, and you can go take a nap.”

“Mads, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Well, it’s a good thing that you didn’t ask then.”

“Are you sure you don’t have anything better that you can be doing?”

“I was just going to go home and study. I have all my things to study with me, so I don’t see why I can’t just study here.”

Braydon sits there for a minute, before he stands in front of me.

“I have a counteroffer.”

“Mhm. I am listening.”

“You can stay while I take a nap. But I will take you to get a make-up coffee this weekend, and I will help you study.”

I contemplate his counteroffer for a moment. It’s really not a bad deal.

“Deal.” I exclaim, sticking out my hand for him to shake. He does, and I feel sparks ignite from where our hands meet.