CHAPTER 14
Maxie
The chill still hadn’t left my body, even after standing over the hot stove for half an hour, breathing in the comforting smells of chili and cornbread. I filled bowls and put them on the island just before everyone came in to get lunch. The routine was back to normal with no one doing more than grunting at me as a thanks. At least I thought it was a thanks. I stayed over the stove after everyone had sat at the table and dug into their meal, dying for more of the warmth to soak through my thick jeans and warm flannel overshirt. I had to admit I’d been stupid to stay in the rain when I couldn’t seem to warm up.
A loud knock on the front door announced Arlo, Shep, and Rhett’s entrance. I could feel their eyes on me and hoped they’d let me stay invisible in my little corner of the kitchen.
“You keep showing up to eat our food and we’re going to start charging you.” Mills laughed easily. “Grab a bowl and join us. You can tell us about the ranch.”
“Maxie didn’t tell you anything?” Arlo sounded irritated. There was a tension to his voice that made me feel on edge. Especially since I felt like it was directed at me. “The ranch is fine. While we were distracted getting our shit delivered last night and this morning, your sister was hard at work repairing fencing.”
I didn’t look back at them. How did they know?
“She’s so fast that we almost missed her. Except we worked late last night installing a security system with cameras that tracked our ranch manager working her butt off, even in the rain this morning.” Rhett’s voice leaned towards anger, too. “If I’d caught on earlier, I would’ve had her working inside out of the rain.”
I pretended to stir the chili. I wanted the floor to open up and suck me down, away from the silence that stretched after their words.
“Why the hell were you working in the rain, Max?” Tate called from the dining table, meaning I had to turn to look at him.
When I did, my eyes crashed into three very angry gazes pinned on me. I cleared my throat, the feeling scratchy.
“Things have to get done. The faster the fence is finished, the faster cattle can be brought in.”
“Have you eaten?” Shep moved closer, his arms crossed over his wide chest. “You look pale.”
I swallowed down the urge to cry again and forced a smile.
“I’m fine. Grab a bowl and sit with everyone while it’s still hot.”
“You heard her, boys. Grab a bowl and sit down.” West held up his glass. “Can you bring more sweet tea over?”
The pitcher was heavier than I remembered it being as I picked it up and skirted around my new bosses. I went around the table and refilled the glasses that needed it and I was out of breath by the time I put the pitcher down on the island.
I had scribbled down a loose schedule when I hadn’t been sleeping the night before for the cake preparation for Josie’s birthday. I didn’t have much time so I took advantage of my lunch to get out everything I needed and whip together a simple white wedding cake. It was a favorite for kids, especially when I added the Funfetti sprinkles. Even exhaustion couldn’t break my stride while baking. I put everything together and slid the cake pans into the double ovens, setting timers to go with the different sizes.
I took out my list and crossed off baking the cakes. I still had so many things to do, including making a smaller cake for Janet and Frank Parris, a couple celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. I’d almost forgotten it. Cooking three meals a day at the ranch, making and decorating the cakes, and making six dozen cupcakes for the girls’ summer camp party was a lot to handle when I wasn’t supposed to be taking over a new ranch.
A heavy feeling settled over me. Maybe that was why my brothers hadn’t wanted me to take over the ranch alone. They knew I couldn’t handle it. No matter how hard I tried, I still couldn’t hide that I wasn’t perfect. They knew I couldn’t do it all. I was going to prove them right. I knew I was. I was going to fail and—
The first timer screamed, the sound making me flinch hard enough to knock a glass off the counter. I gasped and dropped to my knees to clean up the shattered shards. The timer continued screaming. I was kneeling on broken glass, the pain in my knee sharp. I had to turn the timer off. The cakes. The cakes had to come out of the oven. If they burned, I’d have to start all over. The glass, though. Someone would hurt themselves. The timer screamed. My knee felt wet. More cuts on my hands. The timer. Oh, god—
Strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me off the floor and into their arms. I was weightless and flying through the air. My heart pounded at my sternum, asking to come out. My face felt wet. Cold. So cold.
“Turn the goddamn timers off, get the cakes out of the oven, and meet me at her cabin.” Rhett. He was angry. At me?
I tried to open my eyes but the cold pricks were back on my face. Turning away from them, I tucked my head against the hard warmth next to my cheek and inhaled the familiar pine and leather scent. They were there. My guys. They were back.
“Jesus, sweetheart, I’m going to bend you over and spank the hell out of your ass when you’re feeling better. You haven’t been taking care of yourself. That ends now.”
I groaned and pressed my face into him harder.
“Momma didn’t spank.”
A low grunt of laughter.
“I’m not your momma, baby.”
A crack in my chest grew wider.
“Momma hit.”
Stillness and silence cloaked me and as soon as the cold pinpricks stopped hitting my face, it was enough to soothe me to sleep. The darkness felt better than the crushing weight of the world closing in on me. The darkness was a reprieve.