Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“The big deal is that if you’re just going through the motions, then that can be dangerous to the rest of us.” He softened his stare, the deep lines around his eyes crinkling slightly.
“I would never put any of us in danger,” I insisted.
He held up a hand. “I know, Mads. That’s why I think you just need to take some time to get your head on straight.”
I loved Beamer. If he was saying this to me, I knew it was coming from a place of care and concern, which is why I bit my tongue and just nodded.
He squeezed my shoulder then turned away, heading out of the gym, calling over his shoulder.
“Lunch is ready, ladies!”
Just as we were sitting down to eat in the small dining room, our secretary Janine came in.
“Sorry, I know you’re about to eat but we’ve had a non-urgent call come through.”
“What is it?” I asked, eager to jump into more action and distract from my thoughts.
“There’s a wild bison blocking the road in the center of town. Apparently, he won’t move.”
Beamer laughed, his voice gruff. “What do they want us to do about it? Blast him with a water cannon?”
“They want you to do your job, Beam,” Janine fixed him with a sharp look.
His laughter subsided under her disapproval. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll go,” I said, standing and putting my plate back.
“You need backup?” Maggie asked, expression eager. She was desperate to prove herself. It was irritating but I remembered I was exactly the same when I was a rookie. If anything, I was worse.
“Nah.”
“You sure?” Len asked.
“Yeah, how much trouble can he be? Gives me a chance to get some air.” I gave Beamer a knowing look and he nodded.
He tossed me the keys. “Take the truck.”
“I’ll call if I need anything,” I replied and then I was off, driving through town. I found the traffic jam and parked, jogging past the cars to where one of the local police officers was waving me over.
The bison stood in the middle of the road, making it impossible for anyone to pass him on either side. I recognized that bison though. He loved causing mischief.
“I can’t get him to move,” Officer Davies said, gesturing to the thousand-pound beast. “Not sure what you’ll be able to do.”
“Well, I do like a challenge,” I replied and turned towards the bison. I approached slowly and he turned his head to face me but didn’t move.
“Bert, are you causing mischief again?” I called, creeping closer.
I swear he nodded.
“Okay but all these people need to go about their day and you’re stopping them from doing that.”
He grunted at me and if anything, his stance seemed to firm up, like he knew I was trying to move him. I was two feet from him now; I folded my arms across my chest.
“Bert, move.” My voice deepened to a warning tone, and he might as well have rolled his eyes at me.
The asshole didn’t move.
“Bert, I am not in the mood for this, at all. I’ve had a shitty few days and I need you to move your stubborn bisony-ass.”
He grunted again and shook his head.
“Cute.”
We stared off at each other, and I think Beamer was right about me. My temper was flaring much quicker than usual and my patience was already low as hell, even without this douchebag pushing my buttons.
“Come on, move your butt,” I demanded, planting my hands on my hips, trying to look authoritative. I swear he narrowed his eyes at me. His back legs began to lower.
“No, Bert. Do not sit down right now.”
He paused for a moment, locked his stare with mine and then plonked his backside down on the road.
“BERT! Get up, right now!” I shouted and he lowered his front hooves and laid. I stared at him, my eyes wide in shock. “You asshole! I cannot believe you just did that.”
Someone in a vehicle behind me beeped their horn which riled me up. “Do you think that’s helpful right now, sir!” I turned, yelling at the car and the driver looked sheepish, holding up his hands in apology.
I took a step forward. I had plenty of experience being around wild animals and Bert was legendary in these parts.
He was as dangerous as a wild, thousand-pound animal could be, but he wasn’t malicious.
As far as we were aware, he hadn’t harmed a human before.
If anything, we suspected he actually liked being around us.
I think he was lonely without a herd so liked to cause chaos to get our attention.
“Bert Marie Bison, get your hooves up this instant!” I commanded. He huffed and looked away, dismissing me which for some reason made me even madder. I stepped towards him until I was looking down at him, which wasn’t far, he was still huge even laying down.
“Excuse you, do not ignore me!” I choked out, for some reason my throat began to close. Bert had unknowingly pricked at a wound. He was ignoring me just like Leo was and I was not here for it.
Unfortunately, my bluster was all gone and left in its place was frustration.
“Bert, please,” I pleaded, sinking to my knees beside him. The heat radiating off him was nice, his fur looked a little tangled and wiry. He turned his head back to me and I stared into his eyes. Fathomless, dark depths that still somehow managed to emote.
“Bert, don’t make me get the rope. Please move?” My voice broke. God, I wanted to cry. What the hell had this bison done to me? Bert had broken me. I didn’t even care that we had an audience. Everything I’d been bottling up the last few weeks came tumbling out and tears began to fall.
“Look what you’ve done,” I whispered, gesturing to my face, swiping away my tears angrily.
He snuffled next to me and shifted to the side slightly. He was leaning into me.
“Don’t be nice to me now,” I grumbled.
We sat there, my tears falling and I let them. Maybe I just needed to cry it out and Bert was giving me the opportunity that I didn’t know I needed. My fingers dared to touch his fur, and he let me stroke him, just shifted closer to me, like he wanted to protect me.
Dammit, the wild bison is not trying to comfort you! What was wrong with me?
Eventually my tears stopped and I felt a little better having let it all out.
I got to my feet and tried one last time. “Come on, you terror. You need to move, time to go home.”
With a great sigh, he slowly heaved to his feet and let me lead him to the side of the road. Like he had caused the incident just to get me here and now that I’d had a big cry, he was happy to move.
Officer Davies waved the traffic through while I led Bert down the road and into the brush that connected to the woods backing the ranches.
“Stay out of trouble, Bert. No more traffic stops, you hear?” I scolded. He just glanced at me over his shoulder before he lolloped off.
“That was…strange?” Officer Davies said when I made my way back.
“He just wanted some attention, clearly,” I replied and waved goodbye, getting back in the truck. I drove back to the station, and the sun was beginning to set. I didn’t realize how long I’d been out with Bert.
“I was about to come and look for you,” Beamer said when I walked into the station. “Everything okay?” His concerned stare ran over my face.
“Yeah,” I said, looking away. “I think I might take off, if that’s okay? I know I’m only halfway through shift but—”
“It’s fine, Maddy. It’s been quiet and there’s plenty of us here. Whatever you need,” he said.
I nibbled my lip, trying to stop a fresh wave of tears. “Thanks.” I handed him the keys to the truck and waved goodbye.
I’d never ducked out of a shift before, but I wasn’t okay and Beamer was right, I could be a liability right now. I just needed to get my head on straight.
It was a warm late spring evening, so I didn’t drive back, I walked. It was completely dark by the time I made it to Main Street, my legs automatically taking me to Leo’s apartment above the bakery. But I came to a stop when I saw the lights on in the upstairs window.
My heart pounded, I hadn’t left them on. Was he home? Hope and excitement had me running across the street and pounding up the stairs to his front door. I tried the handle, but it was locked so I fumbled in my bag for his spare key.
Then I heard it.
Light, tinkling laughter from inside.
That wasn’t Leo. That was a woman.
My heart twisted in my chest and had my hand stalling at the lock. He hadn’t even told me he was coming home. He had come home and brought her with him.
He didn’t want to see me.
The laughter inside continued, his deep rumble joining hers in a way that shattered my heart.
Suddenly I felt like I was intruding in the place that had been my true home for months. Unwelcome and unwanted. So I turned and left, heading back to the ranch.