Chapter 10
Brady drove the UTV out from under the carport attached to the barn, Lady sitting in the passenger seat. He sped to the driveway in front of his home, one heavy-duty tire splashing in a mud puddle before he parked.
It had stormed yesterday afternoon and the air smelled rain-washed and fresh. It would be a nice ride with Abby—she would arrive any time now.
He climbed out of the vehicle, Lady jumping down behind him. Clouds gathered around the peaks of the Superstition Mountains, so it was possible they would develop into storm clouds. He and Abby might end up being caught out in the rain and be forced to come back sooner than he’d like. That would just mean cooking dinner a little earlier than planned.
No little white Mitsubishi was parked in front of the bunkhouse, so likely Elena wasn’t here. If things went well with Abby, no doubt Elena would see them together. He hoped like hell that his ex would spare the drama and keep to herself. She had to realize that he wasn’t taking her back and accept that fact.
He blew out his breath. Elena had always been dramatic and could be hell on wheels if she wasn’t happy about something. She had a softer side, and most of the time he’d thought they had blended well together. In hindsight, what he’d done was overlook her difficult personality and made excuses for her behavior.
Abby was night and day compared to Elena. Abby was straightforward with zero drama, easy to get along with, and fun to be around. She’d gotten along well with his sisters and his family, who all seemed to enjoy having her there.
When it came to Elena and the McLeods, they had included her as part of their family, but something always seemed off. Elena would complain to him about some slight she felt someone made and he had assured her that the family cared for her and was glad to have her as one of them.
Why hadn’t he seen it all before she left him?
He shook his head. It didn’t matter. It was in the past and he didn’t like to dwell on old mistakes or memories.
The sound of an engine came from the direction of the dirt road leading to his home. He looked and groaned when he saw the little white car racing toward his ranch. He started to head into the house to avoid her, hoping she’d go straight to her parents. But he saw a red SUV rounding the bend, a quarter mile behind the white car.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a moment. If Elena confronted him again, this might not be pretty. He sighed and opened his eyes.
Lady sat next to him, her intelligent gaze focused on the vehicle.
Elena brought the Mitsubishi to a hard stop beside the UTV. She stepped out of the car and hurried up toward Brady. She was beautiful as always, but not as much so as he’d thought in the past. She wore a lot of makeup and stylish clothes.
Abby, on the other hand, didn’t wear much makeup, if any, and had a natural beauty. She dressed in comfortable clothing, whatever was appropriate for the occasion.
“Hi, Brady.” Elena reached him and turned on her thousand-watt smile. “You look yummy today.”
Okay, that was a load of bullshit.
How could he get her to leave before Abby got here?
“Why don’t we go out to dinner tonight?” A hopeful expression lit her eyes, but it looked contrived. ”We should talk things out.”
Brady blew out his breath as the red Ford traveled over the cattle guard. “I have plans, Elena.” He kept his expression firm. “I’ve already made it clear to you that you and I are not going to have any kind of relationship.”
“But—”
He cut her off. “One day maybe we can be friends, but it’s going to take me a while to get to that point with you. For now, I think we need to keep distance between us.”
The Escape pulled up on the other side of the UTV as he spoke, and Abby climbed out.
Elena put her hands on her hips. “I can’t accept that. I know you have feelings for me.”
Sure, he had feelings, but she wouldn’t like it if he told her exactly what those feelings were.
Abby came up, Elena paying no attention. Abby leaned back against the UTV, clearly waiting for them to finish their conversation.
Elena followed his gaze and looked at Abby. Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here, Abby?”
What the hell? Brady looked from Elena to Abby. They knew each other?
A pleasant expression graced Abby’s gorgeous face. “Brady and I have plans.”
Elena’s jaw dropped, then her expression grew hard, and Brady knew hell was about to break loose.
“Elena.” He spoke sharply and she jerked her attention back to him. “I’m sure your parents will be happy to see you. Like Abby said, we have plans, so you’ll excuse us.”
His ex’s face darkened as she clenched her fists and glared at Abby, and he could see she was about to blow. “How dare you?—”
“Go on now, Elena.” Brady’s words sliced across hers as he spoke in a firm tone. “We’ve talked enough and there’s nothing else to say.”
Elena looked like she’d been slapped as his words sank in. She opened her mouth.
“Go,” Brady repeated in a calm but authoritative voice. “Now.”
She snapped her mouth shut, glared at Abby, then turned to her car, her back rigid.
Brady watched as she climbed in, started the vehicle, and backed up. She threw her car into first and the tires spun in the wet earth before she shot forward and drove the short distance to the bunkhouse.
Elena exited the Mitsubishi, slammed the door, marched up to the bunkhouse’s front door, and knocked. It opened and Elena slipped inside, then the door closed behind her.
Brady let out a long, slow breath before he looked at Abby. “Sorry about that.”
Abby pushed away from the UTV and shrugged. “I hope I didn’t intrude.”
“You didn’t.” He inclined his head toward his home. “I left water bottles in the house.”
Lady trotted with them as Abby fell into step beside Brady.
He glanced at Abby. “How do you know Elena?”
“I met her last night.” Abby met his gaze. “She’s staying at the same B B.”
“You’re at Irene’s,” he said as he held open the kitchen door and she walked past him. “It didn’t occur to me that she’d be there, much less that you are, too.”
“The three of us had wine and cheese together,” Abby said and he shot his gaze back to her. “I didn’t say much, just listened while she talked about why she left and spent a year in Europe.”
Brady relaxed his shoulders as they walked into the kitchen. He was over the whole experience, and he’d moved on. He wasn’t interested in learning anything about Elena and what she’d been up to.
“I hope it won’t be uncomfortable for you staying there now.” He picked up the insulated water bottles off the island.
Abby shook her head. “I can handle it. I have younger sisters, after all.”
He shook his head. “Not likely one like Elena.”
They headed back outside and climbed into the UTV, Lady hopping into the back and inserting her head through the gap in the seats between them.
They had to talk louder over the growl of the vehicle’s engine. They bounced over dirt mounds, through mud puddles, and over washes that had run when it rained yesterday but had no water in them now. He kept an eye out for rain over the Superstitions because the last thing he wanted was to get caught in a flash flood.
Brady took Abby to the part of the ranch with the best view and parked. They jumped out and leaned against the side of the UTV, close enough their arms touched, and he could feel her heat through his shirt. Lady sniffed and investigated the area around the mesquites.
“It’s beautiful.” Abby looked down the rise at the desert landscape of his property. “I can see why you bought it.”
He felt a strong sense of pride that this was his own land. “I worked hard to save enough to get this ranch.” He stared out into the distance. “I could have bought a smaller piece of land sooner, but I held out for one with a nice home on it and more acreage.”
Abby turned to him. “Your home is beautiful.”
He smiled as he met her gaze. “I got lucky.”
She shifted against him, impossibly closer now, and she smiled softly. “You made that luck happen.”
His throat tightened and he couldn’t swallow. She was close enough to kiss, and he wanted to do just that. He started to lean in but she turned her gaze back to the land.
She tipped her head back to view the Superstitions. “Looks like it’s raining over the mountains.”
“Sure does.” He moved away from her. “We don’t want to get caught in a flash flood, so we’d better get back home.”
“Too bad.” She took in the view again, her hand resting on the vehicle. “I’ve really enjoyed it out here.”
Brady put his hand over hers and she shot her gaze back to him. “I like being out here with you,” he said quietly. He squeezed her fingers. “Come on, let’s go.”
He released her and opened the passenger door for her and Lady before jogging over to his side and climbing in.
They bounced over the rough ground when Brady heard something, but barely over the sound of the engine. He brought the UTV to a stop and heard the thunder of hooves and the ground shook.
He saw movement out of the corner of his left eye, and he cut his gaze in that direction.
A two-thousand-pound bull charged toward them, coming fast.
“Hold on,” Brady shouted and punched the gas, even knowing it was too late.
The bull slammed into the side of the vehicle.
Metal crunched and Abby screamed as the UTV went airborne.
The world turned as the vehicle flipped onto its side then rolled over until they were upside down.
“Oh, my God,” Abby shouted as the bull rammed into the front of the UTV, spinning them around, still upside down and hanging from their seatbelts.
“Shhh.” His breathing came hard. “We don’t want to keep his attention.”
“You’re right,” she whispered.
“Lady.” He hissed her name as the bull bellowed, but she didn’t respond.
His gut churned. Had she been thrown clear? Did the vehicle roll over her?
Barking came from outside the vehicle and Brady let out a huge breath of relief before fear hit him again. The bull could hurt her.
Lady’s bark seemed farther away now, and so did the snort of the bull.
The dog was coaxing the bull away from the UTV.
The vehicle’s engine ticked, sounding louder now as the bull’s snorting and bellowing sounded farther away.
And then he couldn’t hear the bull or Lady any longer.
Shit. Was his dog okay?
“Are you all right, Abby?” His head ached from the blood rushing to it.
“Yeah.” She groaned. “My knee’s not so hot, but I’m okay.”
“Hold on and I’ll get us out of here.” He touched her arm. “Don’t release your seatbelt. I want to help you down.”
Brady disengaged his as Abby said, “But yours?—”
His arm buckled at the elbow, and he landed hard on his head on the UTV’s roof. Knife-like pain shot through his elbow and stars sparked behind his eyes. “Fu—” He cut himself off before saying the choice word in front of Abby.
“Are you okay?” Concern filled her voice.
“Yeah.” He positioned himself under Abby so that he could break her fall. “Are you ready?”
“Are you ready?” she said with strained amusement. “I’m not light.”
“You’re fine. Do it now.”
A click and she dropped onto his chest.
“Oof.” His breath rushed out of his lungs, but he managed to squeeze out. “You’re right. You’re not light.”
She laughed weakly. “Warned you.”
They shifted so that they were both on their bellies. Lady popped into view through the open bed, behind the vehicle wagging her tail and panting.
“Good girl.” Brady called to her. “You get a porterhouse steak all to yourself when we get home. Now go get Caesar.”
Lady barked three times then turned and bolted away.
“I’ll go first.” Brady scooted along the rough earth, taking longer because he had to do it one-armed with his injured elbow. He swore to himself and wriggled toward the back of the UTV’s bed. He clenched his jaw as he worked his way out from under the vehicle.
He breathed heavily and turned so that he could see Abby. “How are you doing?”
“Anxious to get out.” She shifted and pain flashed across her features. “This should be interesting—I’ll try not to moan too much.”
“Moan all you need to.” He held out his hand. “I think the only way you’re getting out of here is out this way.”
“I figured. Ready or not.” Abby started forward and sucked in her breath. She blew it out and started inching her way toward him. Perspiration dotted her forehead and pain etched her features, but she kept going.
When she got close enough, he grabbed her hand. “Roll onto your back and save that knee. I’m going to pull you the rest of the way.”
“Sounds like the way to travel.” She hissed out a breath as she rolled onto her back and grasped his hand. “Ready.”
Brady slowly dragged her until she was clear, then moved to her side and looked down at her dust-streaked face. Her eyes were red and moist, like she’d teared up from pain.
He gently brushed hair from her temples. “How are you, other than the obvious?”
She gave an exhausted smile. “I’ll make it.”
The rumble of an engine approached, and Brady saw Caesar’s truck headed their way.
“Lady got Caesar.” He gripped her hand with his good arm and helped her to sit.
“I’m going to be benched for a while.” She rested her palm on her knee and looked at him. “I take it that was a neighbor’s bull?”
“I’ve never seen it before, but yeah, it would have to be.” He sighed. “So, tell me—when can you install that new fence?”
Caesar called the neighbor about the bull, then drove Abby and Brady back to the ranch.
Miraculously, Lady hadn’t appeared to be hurt at all, and Brady had said he figured she must have been thrown clear. However, Abby’s phone was a casualty. They’d found it smashed on the ground. She’d have to get a new one as soon as possible.
Brady had wanted to take Abby to the doctor, but she told him she’d be fine. It hurt, but she figured there wasn’t much that could be done other than rest and taking it easy—something that wasn’t easy for her to do. It was in her DNA to always be on the go.
When they got to the house, it was almost dark. After Brady offered her ibuprofen, which she gratefully accepted, Abby limped to the guest bathroom. She sighed when she looked into the mirror—her face and hair were covered with dirt. She splashed water on her face, smoothed back her hair and called it good before limping back to the kitchen. The pain in her knee was atrocious, like knives attacked it, and she held back tears.
Brady had poured two glasses of iced tea and was drinking one of them. He set it on the island and took the other glass to the nook table. “Let’s ice that knee.”
“Great idea.” She carefully settled onto a bench seat at the table, in front of the glass.
He put ice into a baggie, then wrapped it with a kitchen towel before handing it to her. He grabbed a chair and with his help she propped her leg on it.
“Thank you.” She put the ice pack on her knee and sighed. “Better already.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “Hungry?”
“Famished.” She cocked her head. “Do you have something easy? You shouldn’t be cooking with an injured elbow.”
He smiled. “Peanut butter and honey sandwiches are all I’ve got if I don’t cook.”
“Perfect.” Abby leaned back in her seat. “Bring them on.”
He made short work of it and soon they were munching on the sandwiches and drinking them down with ice cold milk.
“Tomorrow I’ll borrow a piece of heavy equipment from my parents that I’ll use to turn over the UTV.” Brady wiped his mouth with a napkin, using his left hand since his right elbow hurt so much. “Hopefully it’ll run. Otherwise, I’ll have to tow it back to the ranch and work on it here.”
They talked a while longer, but Abby began to fade. “I’m so tired. I wonder what time it is.” She started to reach for her phone in her pocket then remembered it was broken.
“You can’t drive since your right knee is injured.” Brady got to his feet and held out the hand of his left arm, which was now his good one. “I’ll take you back to the B B and I can pick you up tomorrow, or Caesar and I can bring your car to you.”
“Thank you.” She took his hand. “Sounds like a plan.”
Abby let him help her out to his truck. He paused and looked up at the sky. “Rain didn’t show up after all.” He turned to Abby. “That’s not surprising during monsoon season—it probably went around us.”
With effort they got her up and into the passenger seat of his vehicle without hurting her knee any more than it already was.
They were silent on the way to her lodgings, both exhausted. Her thoughts turned to last night and she remembered Elena. She hoped like hell that she could get to her room without running into Brady’s ex. She wasn’t in the mood to be civil, although she would be anyway. Elena’s car had been gone when they’d left Brady’s, so she’d probably gone back to the B B.
When they were a short distance from town, Abby saw an orange glow on the horizon, and she frowned.
“Looks like there’s a fire.” Brady’s jaw was tight when she glanced at him.
She remained silent, but when they reached town, they saw the flames bright in the near darkness. It was in the direction where they were headed.
Abby’s heart pounded faster. It couldn’t be Irene’s B B…
When they got to the street, she saw that it was.
The B B was on fire.
And along with it, her laptop, her clothes, her wallet, and everything else that she’d traveled with and needed. She hadn’t brought anything with her but her ID and a couple of twenties just to have on hand. Everything else had been in her room.
“Oh, hell,” she muttered.
Then something more important occurred to her and she sat up straighter. “I hope Irene and Elena are okay.”
Brady slowed outside the barricades, and he parked alongside the curb. Flames licked the night sky, and the smell of smoke filled the air.
“I’ll see if I can find them.” He reached for the door handle then stopped. “I see both of them.” He pointed to the sidewalk and in the light of the fire she recognized the pair standing and staring at the flaming ruins.
She let out a breath of relief. “I’m so glad they’re all right.”
At the same time, she wondered aloud, “What am I supposed to do now?” She met Brady’s gaze. “Everything I take with me on the road is in there. “I have to find somewhere else to stay, but I don’t have any credit cards or enough cash to pay for it.”
“I can loan you whatever you need.” He held up his hand at her frown. “You can repay me when you have it on hand again.”
She blew out her breath and gave a slow nod. “Thank you. I can get Emma to wire cash to me tomorrow.” Her frown deepened. “No, it would be Tuesday, since tomorrow is Labor Day. Is that all right with you?”
“Of course.” Brady pulled his phone out of his pocket, opened the browser, and typed in a search. He tapped one and brought the phone to his ear. When he inquired about a room, he was told the establishment was booked.
He tried all of the locations in King Creek, and everything was booked. When he disconnected from the last one, he said, “They don’t have any available rooms there, either.”
Abby groaned and hit her head against the back of her seat. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now.”
“I have an excellent idea,” Brady said. “I have a guest room. You can stay with me.”
Abby pressed her fingertips to her forehead for a moment. She raised her head and sighed. “I hate to be a bother, Brady.”
He reached out his hand and rested it on hers. “It’s no bother. I can use the company.” He gave her a cute little grin. “I can try out some of my cooking on you.”
Abby couldn’t help a smile despite everything. “Should I be wary?”
He gave a slow mock-serious nod. “Yes.”
“Then how can I resist?” She turned over her hand and gripped his. “Thank you.”
He squeezed and smiled. “You’re welcome.” He released her hand. “Give me a sec to check in with Irene to make sure she’s okay and see if she needs anything. Stay here so you can rest your knee.”
She nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”
Brady exited the truck. The overpowering stench of smoke filled the cab before he shut the door, and her eyes watered.
She watched him walk up to the pair on the sidewalk, and he rested his arm around Irene’s shoulders. Elena was saying something, but Brady’s focus was on Irene. He spared a glance for Elena before speaking to Irene. He hugged her, gave a nod to Elena, and strode back to the truck.
Elena watched him return and scowled when he opened the door and the light illuminated Abby. He closed the door, and the light extinguished a moment later. Elena spun back to face the fire again.
“Irene said she’ll be staying with a good friend of hers.” He looked back at the pair and his jaw tightened. He turned his gaze to Abby. “Elena will be lodging with her parents at my ranch. I hope that won’t turn out to be awkward for either of us.”
“It won’t for me.” Abby waved away the concern. “I’m not staying long, and I probably won’t run into her since I’ll likely be inside most of the time keeping off my knee so that I can get back on it faster. Regardless, I’m not worried.”
He studied her. “You’re an amazing woman, Abby.”
Curiosity got the better of her. “Not that I’m fishing for compliments, but why?”
He looked serious as he spoke. “You’re intelligent, kind, and caring. You’re self-assured and you don’t allow yourself to be bothered by a nuisance like an ex-fiancée.”
She cocked her head. “Should I?”
A slow smile curved the corners of his mouth. “If you haven’t figured that out, I’ll add unassuming to your list of attributes.” He put his truck into gear and pulled away from the curb to go back the way they came. “I haven’t even added how gorgeous you are to that list.”
Gorgeous? She’d never thought she qualified for that designation in her entire life. Pleasure warmed her insides, chasing away the exhaustion that had sunk into her bones. A renewed bout of energy made the questions she was asking herself bounce around the inside of her skull.
Why had he said all that he had? What did it mean?
Abby bit the inside of her lip. She was kidding herself if she didn’t know the answers to that.
By the time they got back to the ranch it was almost ten. Brady helped Abby into the house, and he showed her to the guest room.
She sat heavily on the mattress. Her knee ached, she was grubby, and she was exhausted. “I need a shower.”
“I’ll get you something to sleep in.” He hitched his shoulder against the doorframe and gave her a tired smile. “We can throw your clothes into the washer tonight so that you have something to wear in the morning.”
“That would be great.” She leaned back, bracing her hands to either side of her. “Now if I can only move again.”
“Be right back.” Brady ducked out and not two minutes later he returned. He tossed her a worn faded blue T-shirt, and she caught it in one hand. “After your shower, we’ll get your clothes into the washer.”
“Perfect.” She gingerly eased up off the bed and in one step he had her by the shoulders and helped her stand. “Thanks.” She grasped his arm and held onto him as they walked to the bathroom in the hallway.
“Have a seat and I’ll be back with shampoo and body wash.”
She closed the toilet seat lid and sat on it as she waited and he returned with the items, plus a new toothbrush package and a tube of toothpaste.
She looked up at him with appreciation. “My whole body thanks you.”
“Call me if you need anything,” he said as he stepped out of the doorway. “I’ll take a quick shower and be out in less than ten minutes.”
He closed the door behind him, and she turned on the shower to heat the water and stripped out of her filthy clothing.
The shower felt wonderful. It was precarious trying to keep her weight off her knee, but she managed, and felt so much better when she finished.
Now she smelled of the same shampoo that Brady used, and she smiled. She loved his scent. She toweled off then pulled his comfortable old T-shirt over her head and breathed in his scent.
She didn’t have anything to wear underneath, and she felt very aware of her bareness beneath the T-shirt as she gathered her dirty clothes. She balanced herself and opened the door, steam rolling out into the cool hallway.
“I’m done, Brady,” she called out.
He walked through the kitchen archway and took her clothes from her and held them under one arm. “I’ll take care of these, but we’re getting you into bed, first.”
“I’m so tired I’m not going to argue.” She held onto him and limped back toward the guest bedroom.
He set the clothes on a chair by the door and helped her to the bed, where a small lamp dimly illuminated the room. He helped her under the covers, and she sat back against the headboard and looked up at him.
“Thank you again.” She smiled. “I’m going to sleep very well tonight in Hotel McLeod.”
Brady gave a soft laugh. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” He backed out of the doorway, winked, and closed the door behind him.
Abby sat staring at the door. He said sweetheart so easily, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Had he called Elena that when they’d been together?
She frowned at herself. Hell, if she was going to compare herself to his ex. It didn’t matter what he’d called Elena. She wasn’t a jealous person, and she wasn’t going to think that way.
What mattered to Abby was how he made her feel, and truthfully, he made her feel happy and alive. She was so tired of all this emotional back and forth of “should I or should I not?” She needed to get off the fence and make a decision and go from there.
For now, she needed to sleep. She’d make up her mind tomorrow in the bright of day.
She slid down the headboard and beneath the covers before she switched off the light. Her limbs felt heavy with exhaustion as she drifted toward sleep.