11. Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
Ivy
I weave my hand through the grass, letting my fingertips dance over the colored flowers for the first time in years. I needed some peace. A reminder of the good things that still exist in this place. Which is why after Brady asked to have lunch with me sometime this week, and I politely tiptoed around an answer, I made my escape out here. My safe haven. I don’t want to give him the wrong idea, but I also wouldn’t mind catching up with an old friend. But that’s all I have to offer him. Friendship.
I pull a gorgeous lavender flower from the ground, twirling the stem in between my thumb and finger. This one will work. Over the years, I’d begun using these to say the things I couldn’t. Or didn’t have the chance to. I can’t count the times Maddox stepped in to cover Brady’s ass. He never hung around long enough for a thank you, so I started leaving these as my way of saying thanks . Whether it be behind his windshield wipers, on his porch, or the seat of his truck. We may not have always talked, but I was thankful for him anyway. Even though he probably trashed them the second he found them, at least I did my part. I turn to head back to the house, planning to drop these flowers somewhere to say thank you for my dad. For saving him. I hit the gravel just beyond the field when I see Maddox step out from the barn with a tight expression. My insides flip, my nerves still rattled from this morning. I manage to keep my strides even, walking toward him without giving anything away. Before I can breach the driveway, Cooper, Ryder, and Clyde are barreling out from the field to my left. My brows scrunch just as a black Ford King Ranch pulls up in front of us. The logo on the driver side door tells me exactly who’s in that truck.
Rocky Bernard
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Maddox glances at Ryder who stiffens his posture.
The door swings open, the only thing visible being a pointed alligator boot that hits the gravel. The door shuts, and a man with a purple wild rag tied around his neck, a crips suit jacket, and pressed black wrangler jeans strides across the open space. The gold pinky ring on his finger reflects off of the sunlight as he moves with an arrogance that’s sickening. His posse climbs out behind him. Two men I don’t recognize.
“Bernard." Ryder’s voice is hard.
“Mayson.” He dips his chin, then glances around. “Just thought I’d come by and check on my neighbor.”
“That wasn’t necessary.” Cooper crosses his arms.
I’m a few steps away from Maddox, but I don’t miss the way he casually slides over to stand in front of me. Like he’s silently shielding me from the man who’s been nothing but a problem for this town.
He’s rich. Manipulative, and will do anything to get his way. Rocky has never lost a fight, and according to the rumors, most never make it out alive. He plays dirty, and we’ve made sure to never have any reason to play the game with him.
“Seems there’s not much left to work with.” Rocky leans to the side, spitting his tobacco on the ground next to Clyde’s boots.
Clyde bristles, but Rocky just shoots him a cocky smirk. “My offer still stands to take it off of your hands," he says to my brother.
My eyes whip to Ryder who stands up straight. “No thanks.”
I try to step forward, slipping around Maddox to get a better gage on the conversation, when his hand catches my wrist.
I lightly gasp, and it warrants the attention of the man currently participating in a stare down with my oldest brother. His dark eyes drop to my feet, then move slowly up my torso, before locking on my eyes.
“Little Ivy Mayson.” He lets his tongue out to wet his lips. “You’ve…. grown up.”
I narrow my eyes. Not missing the insinuation.
“If you’re in the market for a job, I’m in need of a new assistant. Someone I can work closely with.” He pauses, his eyes dropping to my chest. “Someone to handle my personal things.”
“Get back in your truck.”
This low command comes from Maddox, his grip still firm on my wrist.
Rocky smirks, his gaze dropping to where Maddox has a death grip on me.
“Easy, Sheppard.”
Maddox moves me behind him, while Ryder and Cooper step in line with him, forming a barrier of cowboy hats and muscle.
“And if you want to keep both eyes, you’ll keep them on her face next time, Bernard,” Maddox adds.
My cheeks heat at the gruffness of his voice and the way he defends me spurs confusion.
“You heard him,” Cooper says. “It’s time for you to leave.”
Ryder rolls his shoulders back, clearly ready to throw a punch if necessary.
Rocky cocks an eyebrow before spitting one more time in the dirt. “See you around boys.”
Once he gets in his truck and drives off, I wait for the three men to face me. Once they turn, I hold out my arms. “What the hell was that?”
It’s Ryder who actually answers me.
“He wants the ranch.”