Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Amelia
“He’ll call soon,” Judy says, not looking up from the stove. “And Della girl will be just fine. There’s no other option. This place has seen too much damn tragedy. God wouldn’t take that girl from us too.”
I nod even though she can’t see me.
Judy hasn’t stopped cooking since I filled her in when I got back from taking Dylan to school.
Three batches of biscuits, a mountain of scrambled eggs, bacon crisping in the pan.
Her hands tremble slightly as she flips pancakes, and I recognize the nervous energy for what it is.
Sometimes your hands need something to do when your heart is breaking.
I wrap my hands around the coffee mug and take another sip, my eyes falling to my phone that sits on the kitchen table. I’ve called Maddox a bunch of times, and it gone straight to voicemail every time. I even tried calling Shadow, and I got the same response.
Nothing.
The sound of the front door opening has Judy and I turning our heads.
Heavy boots clunk across the floorboards, and then Maddox appears in the kitchen doorway, exhaustion clouding his face.
His eyes are bloodshot, and the stubble that darkens his jaw seems to have grown overnight.
My heart lurches at the sight, and before I even realize it, I’m on my feet.
My arms wrap around his waist, and I press my body against his, welcoming the sound of his steady heartbeat against my ear.
His hands slide down my back, and his lips brush across the top of my head.
“Hey, baby,” he murmurs.
“How’s Della?” Judy asks from behind me. “Please tell me our girl is going to make it.”
Maddox pulls away slightly, looking down at me. “She’s alive,” he says, his voice rough with exhaustion. “They had to remove her spleen, and she’s pretty banged up physically. Several broken ribs, a concussion, some internal bleeding.”
My stomach drops as he lists her injuries, but I guide him to the table where he sinks into a chair. Judy abandons her post at the stove and joins us, wringing her hands.
“But the doctor is very optimistic,” Maddox continues, rubbing a hand over his face. “She’s stable now. They got to her in time.”
“Thank God,” I whisper.
Judy’s shoulders sag with relief. “Our prayers have been answered.” She crosses herself and wipes at her eyes with the corner of her apron.
“How long will she be in the hospital?” I ask, pouring Maddox a cup of coffee and sliding it across to him.
“About a week, they think. Depends on how she heals.”
Judy leans forward. “Can I visit her? I want to bring her some decent food. That hospital food is awful.”
A ghost of a smile touches Maddox’s lips.
“Yeah. They’re moving her out of ICU later today.
Once that happens, she’ll be able to have more visitors.
” He takes a long sip of coffee. “Right now, they allow only one person in at a time, and Shadow doesn’t look like he’s leaving any time soon.
” His expression softens. “I’m actually surprised he let me stay with her for as long as he did. ”
While I’m happy Della is safe, there’s still so much that doesn’t make sense.
“Do we know who took her?” I finally ask, hoping I don’t sound insensitive.
Maddox’s jaw tightens. “Landry Oil.”
“The company that wanted to buy the land?” My mind races, connecting the dots. I suppose that makes sense, but what about the bar? I thought both attacks were connected. Why would Landry Oil destroy Rodeo Roundup?
Judy gasps behind me. “Someone was trying to force you to sell the ranch?”
“Yeah,” Maddox nods. “But it’s all taken care of now.” He turns to me, his eyes softening. “No one is taking the land or anyone on it. It’s all over. We can breathe again.”
“What about the bar, though? Do we know who was responsible for that?”
“Landry Oil was behind everything, Amelia. They wanted revenge on both the ranch and the club.”
I suppose that makes sense since the club is part owner of the bar, but there is still one piece of the puzzle I can’t place. “And Russell?”
Maddox sighs. “Russell didn’t know where they took Della. He was just a fucking pawn to get information on the ranch. He can’t be around, Dylan. I think you need to really see about that order of protection sooner rather later.”
I nod slowly, my stomach tightening. The thought of Russell anywhere near my son makes my skin crawl. I’m so over that man.
“I’ll call an attorney first thing in the morning.”
I’m not sure where I’m going to come up with the money, but I’ll figure something out. I always do.
“I won’t let him near Dylan again,” I say, more to myself than to Maddox. “Not after what he’s done.”
Judy places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing, honey.
I take a moment to process everything, waiting for the relief to hit me. The nightmare is over. I survived, Dylan is safe, and it sounds like Della will be okay. Everything can go back to normal, but it’s that thought that makes my stomach knot.
Before the explosion, my normal looked a lot different.
With the threat eliminated, I’m not sure where things stand with Maddox and I.
Am I supposed to just pack up all mine and Dylan’s belongings and go back to my apartment?
It wouldn’t have been a question a couple of days ago, but now the thought of leaving here feels so wrong.
How am I going to go back to sleeping alone now that I know how good it feels to sleep with him?
Maddox reaches across the table and lays his hand over mine. “Hey, can we talk?”
Those words slam into me. I’ve heard them before—right before he broke my heart the last time. “Why don’t you go rest?” I suggest, pulling my hand away. “You’ve been up all night. We can talk later.”
Silence fills the kitchen as my thoughts spiral. I stand abruptly, needing to move, and carry my mug to the sink. It drops with a clatter; the sound vibrating across the quiet kitchen. I stare out the window at the ranch stretching out before me, and tears start to fill my eyes.
I don’t want to leave here. I don’t want to leave him.
“Judy,” Maddox says behind me. “Could you give me and Amelia a moment alone?”
I hear the rustle of Judy untying her apron, then her footsteps fading from the kitchen. I can feel Maddox approaching, and I brace my hands on the edge of the counter, dragging in a deep breath to steady myself.
“Amelia—” he begins.
I spin around suddenly, cutting him off. “I love you,” I blurt out.
My eyes go wide and I clap my hand over my mouth. “Oh my God, that just flew out of my mouth.” I lower my hand slowly, my heart pounding. But now that it’s out there, I can’t stop. “I love you,” I repeat, more deliberately this time. “Fuck, I did it again.”
I take a deep breath and gather my thoughts, feeling my cheeks heat as I lift my eyes to his.
“No, you know what? I’m not sorry I said it.
I love you, Maddox, and I don’t want to end whatever this is between us.
” The words tumble out faster now that I’ve committed to them.
“If it’s safe for me and Dylan to leave, we’ll go back to our apartment, but our relationship doesn’t end just because we’re living apart.
I want...” My voice catches in my throat as I search for the right words. “I want to be with you. I want—”
“Amelia, I was going to ask you to marry me,” he interrupts, his voice low and serious.
I stare at him blankly, sure I heard him wrong, but when the intensity in his eyes doesn’t waver, I realize I haven’t.
“Marry you? That’s crazy. It’s too soon.”
“Is it, though?” His eyes hold mine. “It feels long overdue to me.” He steps forward, lifting his hands to cup my face.
“Not really a fan of you saying it first, but I need you to know I love you. I love you so fucking much, and I don’t want to go a day without waking up and having you be the first thing I see.
Say yes, baby. Say yes, and let’s make that dream of yours come true.
You and I working this ranch, raising Dylan, making more babies. ”
My heart thrums inside my chest, and the tears I was holding back slip free.
“You’re serious.”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. If you need time to process, I’ll give that to you. You can take as long as you need, so long as you don’t go. Stay with me. Please.”
I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. Maddox’s words echo in my ears—marry him, stay with him, have more babies with him. It’s everything I told myself I could never have. Everything I’ve been to afraid to even want.
“I...” My voice breaks, and I swallow hard. “I’m terrified.”
His thumbs stroke my cheeks, wiping away tears I didn’t realize were falling. “Of what, baby?”
“Of how much I want this. Of how right it feels when it should feel crazy.” I take a shaky breath. “A few weeks ago, my life felt as though it was being held together with duct tape, and now... you’re offering me everything I gave up on.”
“I’m offering you what I should have given you years ago,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
I press my forehead against his chest, my fingers gripping his shirt.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“What was that?” His hands slide to my waist, pulling me closer.
I lift my face to his, my voice stronger now. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
The smile that breaks across his face makes my heart race. He lifts me off my feet, spinning me around in the kitchen as a laugh escapes me. When he sets me down, his lips find mine in a sweet kiss, one that’s full of promise.
“I don’t have a ring yet,” he murmurs against my mouth. “I didn’t exactly plan this.”
“I don’t need a ring.” I slide my hands up to his shoulders. “I just need you.”
He kisses me again, deeper this time, and I melt against him. When we finally break apart, both breathless, I realize I haven’t thought about one very important detail.
“What about Dylan?” I ask.
Maddox’s expression softens. “I think he’ll approve, and I’ll finally get to call that boy my son.”
Fresh tears slide down my cheeks. I’ve always known Maddox to be an honorable man, but it takes a special kind of man to willingly be a father to a child he didn’t make.
“Hey, no more crying,” Maddox says, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “Unless they’re happy tears.”
“They are,” I assure him. “I’m just not used to getting what I want.”
He pulls me against his chest. “Get used to it, baby. I plan on giving you everything you want for the rest of our lives.”
A throat clears from the doorway, and we both turn to see Judy standing there, a knowing smile on her face.
“I couldn’t help but overhear,” she says, wiping her eyes “And I think this calls for a celebration breakfast. Sit, I’ll fix you both a plate.”
“Thanks, Judy,” Maddox says as he winds his arm around my waist. “But I have a hankering for something else.” His lips find my ear. “Go put my hat on, darlin. Your future husband wants you to ride him.”
THE END