Chapter 5
“Before we go inside, I should go ahead and let Hardy know where I am. He was already so frustrated with me last night he barely spoke to me, and I’m not going to make it any better if he realizes I’m gone without saying a word again.
” Raleigh fished her cell out of her back pocket and held it up for Brax to see.
“You want me to head inside?” Brax asked.
“I’d feel better if you stayed out here to be honest,” she said.
Her response seemed to catch him off guard.
But then, he didn’t have to worry about a bomber targeting him.
Out here, he didn’t have to worry about much at all.
Poachers came to mind. Raleigh sighed. She wasn’t exactly being fair.
The Firebrand Ranch just seemed so idyllic and untouchable it was easy to get lulled into a sense of security here.
The feeling was half the attraction of coming here.
That, and the fact Mrs. Firebrand had treated Raleigh like one of her children.
Maybe a little more special at times, since she was a visitor.
Raleigh’s third hit had been a tribute to Brax’s mom. Funny, she’d never circled back to tell anyone, least of all Lucia Firebrand. Life had been a whirlwind in those early years. Still was, if she was being honest.
She stared at the cell, thinking she should call Hardy so he could hear her voice and know that she was fine. He didn’t know about the ATV, though. Would he be worried?
Either way, he wasn’t going to be thrilled with her for leaving the property without giving him a proper heads-up.
With a sharp sigh, she tapped his name on the screen.
Hardy picked up on the first ring.
“I’m sorry,” he immediately said. “Where are you?”
She wasn’t sure why he was sorry…then it dawned on her something must have happened at the house.
“I’d rather not say in case someone is listening. Suffice it to say that I’m fine,” she said.
“There were too many of them,” he said and his voice sounded defeated. “They came at us from all directions. I’m just relieved you got out before they breached the house.”
“Everyone else get out?” she asked, her pulse kicking up a few notches.
“The mob turned out to be harmless, but you couldn’t have known that when they broke through the line,” he said. “The guys are all fine and accounted for. We’ve been worried sick about you though.”
Broke through the line?
“Is the house okay?” she asked.
“Things got a little out of hand, but I was able to get everyone under control. There were some superfans in there who got a little too worked up at the thought of seeing you in the flesh,” he said. “House is good. I don’t want you to come back until we’ve cleared every room.”
This week was turning into her worst nightmare. Would it ever end?
“Why don’t you text when it’s safe for me to come home,” she suggested, filling him in on the ATV incident. At least she was in the clear with Hardy and, as it turned out, in the right for getting out of Dodge when she did.
“Will do,” Hardy agreed, and they ended the call.
Glancing up at Brax was a mistake. The look in his eyes sent a different sensation skittering across her skin.
No one had ever looked at her with eyes so determined to protect her, and she’d had a security detail since she’d made it in the business.
There was another emotion in there that she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
Possessiveness? More of those butterflies released in her stomach and she didn’t bother to fight the feeling this time.
The thought of Brax Firebrand being attracted to her was where she drew the line.
She was reading too much into a look. He was one of the good ones and wouldn’t take lightly to someone threatening her or anybody else for that matter.
He’d shown up in the nick of time and had gotten her out of a tight spot.
Of course she would feel a certain pull toward him for saving her.
It was as simple as that.
Besides, when did she become attracted to a Firebrand?
The feeling of being home must be more powerful than she realized.
And she’d missed Lone Star Pass. Leaving all those years ago was like cutting off a piece of her heart.
The thought of returning became harder and harder with her tour schedule.
She was just beginning to realize the toll being away for so long was having on her.
“If I heard you correctly it’s not safe for you to go back there,” he said. A jaw muscle ticked, and it seemed like he was holding back something he really wanted to say.
“That’s right. People got past Hardy,” she admitted. “Everyone is accounted for and Hardy is clearing the house before I go home. Lucky me, he didn’t realize I’d skipped out before it all went down. I’m in the clear.”
Brax shook his head.
She shot him a confused look.
“What do you think about staying here at the ranch a while?” he asked.
“I don’t want to leave the guys high and dry.” What would that be saying to them? Her life was the only one worth saving?
Brax clenched his back teeth and the jaw muscle ticked again. He studied her for a long moment but must’ve decided not to speak his mind.
“Should we go inside now?” she asked. The honest truth was that she feared she would be putting his family in danger.
It would only be a matter of time before her new location would be figured out, and an overzealous fan or reporter would find the holes in security at the ranch.
As far as she knew poachers never came close to the houses or barns.
He took the couple of steps before opening the door. “After you.”
“Should we call your mom and tell her I’m coming? I don’t want to catch her off guard,” she said.
“Are you kidding? And ruin the best surprise she’s had all year?” He seemed to reconsider the comment when he mumbled, “Well, a close second.”
She told herself not to ask about that later but figured it might have something to do with having a granddaughter.
“Funny, I don’t think I’ve ever been in the main house before,” she said as she walked past Brax and into an expansive kitchen. “Wow.”
“Seems a shame the Marshall lived here alone for so many years.” He glanced around. “All this space going to waste.”
“Can’t say that I ever knew him very well,” she admitted. “He was never rude to me if I ever ran into him in the barn or on the property. He never seemed to mind my presence. But I can’t remember a time he ever really acknowledged me either.”
“He was a complicated man. Or so I’m realizing more and more,” Brax said.
“You said Adam lives here now.” She didn’t want to impose.
“Him and his family moved in,” he said. “Hold on. I’ll check and see where Mother is. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Mind if I grab a glass of water?” she asked.
“Glasses are in the cabinet by the sink. Or bottled water is in the fridge.” He motioned toward the farmhouse sink.
“I miss good old tap water,” she said, thinking how amazing it would have been to have big family dinners in here and what a missed opportunity it had been for the Marshall.
The man had been an enigma all right. He clearly loved his family in his own way and built multiple residences and two barns so they’d be at home here.
But never had them in the main house. Not even Sunday supper, which was a big deal in these parts.
“Always tasted better here on the ranch.”
Raleigh was beginning to remember how great life had been at home. She’d blocked so much out and put blinders on for her career. Had she been in survival mode all this time? Was she really living?
“Hold tight.” Brax couldn’t wait to see the look on his mother’s face when she saw who was standing in the kitchen.
He heard voices down the hallway and found her with Prudence and Angel.
All three sat on the floor in the once stiff formal living room that had been transported to a bright and colorful playroom.
There was a princess-themed teepee in one corner and the flooring was made of soft pieces that fit together like a puzzle.
This place had been transformed in a matter of days thanks to internet shopping and next day shipping according to his mother.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d see her with a smile this big on her face.
“How’s it—” He stopped the minute his mother looked up at him. That same guilty look from earlier crossed her dark Italian features.
“Brax,” she said quickly, like she was trying to cover the slip. She forced a smile that he figured was meant to look breezy. “What are you doing back so soon?”
“I have something you should see in the kitchen.” He decided this wasn’t the time to air out dirty laundry. But she would come clean with her secret soon.
“Oh?”
This wasn’t the reaction he expected from his mother.
“Come on,” he urged.
“I’ll take Angel.” Prudence smiled at the baby as his mother handed her over.
“You guys can come too,” he said, figuring Prudence might be familiar with Raleigh, since they’d all attended the same schools. He figured the two had to be somewhere close in age.
Brax followed the trio down the hall.
“Hold on a minute,” he said to his mother. He waved Prudence to go on but put an index finger to his lips so she wouldn’t say a word when she saw the surprise. He turned his mother around to face him. “Hands over your eyes.”
She stared at him for a long moment. If only he could see what was going on inside her head. She forced another smile and brought her hands up, but the look on her face was…fearful?
“Don’t worry. This is a good surprise,” he said to calm her rattled nerves.
With a hand on each shoulder, he turned her around and then walked her into the kitchen. “I’m going to let go of you but don’t look until I tell you to, okay?”
She nodded and he could feel her trembling. This wasn’t like her and now he was concerned. He decided to let the other subject drop for now but the two of them would have a conversation very soon.
He steadied her with his hands, shot a look toward Raleigh, and then said, “Open your eyes.”
Mom gasped. She squealed and clapped her hands together, bringing them to her chest. “Raleigh? Is that really you?”
Raleigh practically beamed as she curtsied, and it was the first time she seemed truly happy since he ran into her last night. “It’s so good to see you, Mrs. Firebrand.”
“Oh my goodness.” Mom threw her hands out and gaited toward the beautiful redhead. The two embraced and the sight warmed Brax’s heart more than he wanted to admit.
Prudence stood next to the island with Angel cradled in her arms. She might not be the baby’s biological parent, but she was Angel’s mother in every sense of the word.
“How? When?” Mom didn’t normally get so flustered she couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Who wants a cup of coffee?” Prudence asked.
Mom whirled around. “I’ll get it. Everyone sit down. This is a celebration.” She turned back to Raleigh. “Can you stay for a little while?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Raleigh said.
“No more of that formal nonsense,” Mom said. “Call me Mom Firebrand just like you used to.”
“Will do.” Raleigh took a seat at the table near Prudence and it looked like a weight had lifted from her shoulders as well.
Brax helped his mother with the drinks.
“A good surprise?” he asked, noticing she had tears streaming down her cheeks.
“A very good one,” she admitted. And then surprised him with, “A secret is killing me. I can’t live like this.” She turned to face him. “We need to talk later when it’s just the two of us.”
He nodded, wondering what that was all about.
To further his confusion, she stared straight into his eyes and whispered, “My beautiful boy.”
With that, she sniffled twice and then started pouring coffee.
He double-fisted a pair of mugs and his mom carried two more.
She set one down in front of Raleigh as he tried to figure out what on earth his mom meant.
If he’d been to the doctor lately, he’d be worried about bad test results after the way she looked at him.
“I can’t believe you’re here in the flesh,” Mom said to Raleigh with a huge smile plastered on her face, and then her expression turned serious. “I’m so relieved you’re okay.”
“It’s been a scary few days. That’s for sure,” Raleigh said on a sharp sigh. She picked up the mug and took a sip. “The coffee always was better here on the ranch. Why is that?”
“The well water,” Mom quipped.
Brax noticed how deftly Raleigh had changed the subject.
Did she want to avoid talking about the bomb incident?
Speaking of which, he needed to talk to her about filing a report with Sheriff Lawler about the ATV incident.
The guy shouldn’t be allowed to get away with chasing her like that.
He might have been an obsessed fan or reporter.
The likelihood he was the bomber had to be slim.
How would he know where she was? Brax’s hands fisted at thinking about what might have happened if he hadn’t been right there or gone to check out the minibike sound and her cry for help.
“I’ve noticed it too,” Prudence agreed. “And it’s good to see you again, Raleigh.”
“Likewise.” Raleigh lifted her coffee mug and the ceramic clinked together.
“You two know each other?” Brax asked.
“We were in the same grade in school,” Raleigh supplied.
“I didn’t realize,” he said.
“Because you were like four grades ahead of us.” Raleigh laughed and the tension lines around her eyes relaxed. “You used to seem so much older to me back then.”
He decided not to point out the fact that four years wasn’t much of a gap at all while in their thirties.
“I remember seeing you with a notebook in your hand at all times,” Prudence said to Raleigh. “I thought maybe you were going to be a writer someday. Turns out I was close.”
Raleigh’s cheeks flushed like they did when she was embarrassed. “You always had a book in your hand and I still can’t believe we weren’t friends.”
“Leave it to two shy girls to spend years together in school without ever speaking,” Prudence pointed out with a smile.
“True,” Raleigh agreed.
“Tell me about your career,” Mom said. “What’s it like on the road?”
“The shows are great. The fans…amazing,” she said. “Sleeping on a tour bus with seven messy guys isn’t so much fun.”
Mom laughed and nodded. She would know what it was like to have a mess of boys running around.
“Your daughter is beautiful.” Raleigh motioned toward Angel.
She changed the subject and he noted how little she liked to talk about herself.
He figured someone with her fame would be all about themselves.
She seemed like she’d rather talk about paint drying.
Raleigh was turning out to be quite the contrast from what he anticipated.
But then, what exactly had he expected? Definitely not the pull of attraction from someone who used to call him, ‘Brat’ instead of his name.
Speaking of mothers and their children, Mom’s words were starting to haunt him. What kind of secret could have her this torn up inside? And why did she want to speak to him about it?