Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
MADISON
I stood next to a river in Montana, looking at my phone and the checking account that had a $129.36 balance. Two things I sure as hell would not have been able to say just five days ago.
Damn psychic better release some funds or I might just be hitch-hiking once my plane lands in New York. UUUGGGHHH.
“You ready?” My dad laughed, as I must’ve been wearing a freaky face at the moment.
“Let’s do this!”
I tucked my phone in the pocket of my jeans. Well, the jeans from Daisy’s “too small” closet. She was sweet, but they were still a few sizes too big, and with no belts in sight, I used a long pink ribbon from a craft drawer as my makeshift belt. Boom.
My dad handed over a fishing rod with a silver bow on it, wearing the same smile he did when I was a kid.
“I bought you this when I found out you were coming. I thought I’d keep it here, hoping there are other times we may be able to fish.”
It was shiny red, just like the one he’d bought me for my sixth birthday. My heart swelled as I examined it. “I love it. Thank you.”
“I was always glad your mom let me take you and Zoey fishing. It wasn’t anything people did in her circles, well, maybe on a Hampton vacation, but she knew it was my thing.”
“Me too. Do you remember how happy she used to get when the three of us headed out?” We both eyed each other. “Yeah, it’s making a lot more sense now.”
I tossed a worm on my hook as I took a seat on a big rock next to my dad, and memories of my shutting him out for so many years shot around my mind.
“Dad, I, uh, I want to tell you that I think Daisy is a great lady. I’m glad you found each other and are getting married. You deserve to be as happy as possible.”
Maybe it was the bright morning or the reflection of the water, but when he looked at me, his eyes appeared a bit glossy. “The good Lord blessed me with her, that’s for sure.” His eyes stayed on mine. “To have you and Zoey back in my life makes me about as happy as an old guy can get.”
There was a knot in my throat while we sat quietly. I cast my line and settled onto the hard rock beneath my ass.
“I wonder if Grant has fished before. I’m sure Jax will get him into the groove quickly if not.” He adjusted the fishing hat on his head.
“It’s great Jax wants to be there for him. Kind of unexpected for a young, single man.”
He chuckled. “I would’ve agreed with you a few years back, but not now.”
“Really?”
“He and Austin had way too much fun in college, with liquor and ladies being their main course of study. But he came back here and took on a big role in the business side of the ranch. He’s tweaked some things and really pushed forward our training of horses, and the results have been pretty amazing.”
I nodded while Jax’s big brain and other things sent a little ping to my stomach.
“He’s grown very responsible, and that’s when the discussions of adoption started. He had Abby, and I thought they were on the way to the whole marriage thing, but it didn’t work out. She was too different. They both knew it. I think she hoped he would change and leave here, and that’s what broke them. I’m proud he’s taking on Grant by himself. I think this is the Lord’s plan for him.”
Grant popped up beside me, and I nearly fell off my rock.
“Hi! Daisy said you were fishing, and here you are!” He held up his little hand, and I gave him a high-five.
“Hello, Grant. Why don’t you take my fishing pole and see what you can get?”
“Are you sure?” Those eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Absolutely.”
A second later, Jax walked up beside my dad. “Morning.”
I looked over and instantly felt heat swirl up the back of my neck recalling those hands doing some magical things to me on his couch.
“Your ears must be burning.” My dad stood up.
Jax’s baby blues cut to me, a cocky grin crawling across his lips. “So, y’all were talking about me. Interesting.”
Grant pointed just off the shore. “Jax, can I stand on that big rock and fish?”
“Sure, be careful.”
My dad followed Grant. “I think that looks like a great spot. Can I join you, Grant?”
“Okay! I like this river. The water goes so fast!”
I went over by my dad’s tackle box and grabbed the other pole that lay on the ground, the sound of leaves crunching behind me.
“You don’t strike me as a fishing kind of gal.”
I turned around and took in the hottie in front of me. Jeans, a Minnesota Wild sweatshirt, and hair still damp from a shower. Again, visions of water beading up and rolling down those abs in a steamy shower played like a dirty movie in my mind. An instant later, the warm fall breeze sent a hint of his manly-man, orgasmic cologne in my direction. I wanted to get back to the cabin, rip his sweatshirt off, and run my tongue along his abs. Get rid of that dorky smile, or he’ll read your freaking mind again! Damn it, be cool!
“Well, it’s the one outdoorsy thing me and Zoey did with my father. It’s been a hot minute, but I’m kind of loving it.”
I grabbed a worm from my dad’s bait bucket.
He crossed his arms over that magnificent chest of his. “Do you want some help with that?”
“I’ve got it.” I weaved the worm onto the hook before proudly looking up at him. “That bad bitch ain’t going anywhere.”
“Impressive and surprising.” His eyes traveled down my body, jump starting the little flame in my tummy. “Is that a ribbon holding up your pants?”
“Uh, yeah. Apparently, Daisy doesn’t wear belts.”
He raised his brows. “That’s a little too tempting, Miss Madison. Perhaps we should let Jim show Grant the ropes while we take a little walk back to the cabin.”
His look brought on a hot spell, and my armpits suddenly felt sticky. Gross.
I narrowed my eyes. “You steer clear of my ribbon, understand?”
“I can’t promise anything.”
I walked over towards my dad just when Grant let out a yell. “I dropped the fishing pole!”
I scanned the water and saw the pole moving down the river. I dropped the one in my hand and started running along the shore, keeping up with it.
“Madison! Let it go!” My dad hollered after me.
No, I wasn’t going to let it go . It was from my father . He went to the fishing store and picked out a shiny, new rod for me. Determination shot through me as I hopped over a log, running like the track champion I was.
Well, the one year I ran track at La Vista Junior High, that is. I did place third in a meet before I quit altogether because I didn’t care for sweating. Still true, but I NEEDED to get the precious gift my father had given me before it was gone forever.
After running further downstream, a miracle happened. Ahead was an area where some branches were stuck, blocked from floating down the river by a large boulder sitting in the water. Sure enough, my rod stopped, stuck in a branch. Whew!
I climbed on the rock, dropped to my stomach, and leaned forward, but the pole was just out of reach. I searched for something to help my arm gain a few inches in length when my eyes landed on my ribbon.
I yanked it from my belt loops and tied the ends together so it made a circle. Once on my tummy again, I was trying to get the ribbon around the end of the pole to pull it to me. I was only slightly aware that as I scooted forward on the rock, my jeans were sliding down my rear.
Shit, I almost had it. I scooched forward a little more as I teetered over the water, with only my legs and hips left on the rock. I stretched one more inch, ribbon in hand, when I felt myself teetering too far forward.
Just as I was about to fall in, a hand grabbed the back of my jeans, preventing my plunge into the river.
“Madison, there are currents. You’re going to fall?—”
I peered over my shoulder to see my knight and shining armor. “My pole is right there. I have to get it!”
A smile snuck across his face while shaking his head at me. Yanking me upright by my belt loops, he then dropped to his stomach and scooted forward until his fingers finally reached my fishing rod. When he got to his feet, I threw my arms in the air and then pulled him in for a ginormous hug.
“Thank you, Jax. You have no idea how much this rod means to me.”
I felt his breath on my cheek. “I think I do.”
He pulled back and gave me a slow, smoldering kiss.
His ringing cell phone pierced the air, his fingers fumbling to grab it from his pocket. “Yes, we got it. Be back in a few minutes.” He disconnected the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket before pushing a piece of hair out of my face. He waggled the pink ribbon he had somehow managed to hold onto in the air between us.
I tried to yank it away from him, but he held it just out of reach. “I should have”—jump—“known that my ribbon”—jump—“would end up in your hands”—jump—“one way or another.”
Recognizing it was futile to try to wrestle the ribbon away from him, I leaned forward with my hands on my knees, taking a moment to catch my breath. Recovered, I turned my indignant gaze on him as my ribbon was handed back to me.
He chuckled before opening his arms, inviting me into the space where I fit perfectly. We stood silently while I rested my cheek on his amazingly perfect chest with the sound of rushing water surrounding us. Was it possible to freeze time forever and ever and ever?
“This is nice.”
“It is. But we should get back to my dad and Grant.” And with that, I hiked my pants up with as much dignity as I could muster and walked away while weaving the ribbon through my belt loops.
Grant saw us heading his way when he ran over and hugged me.
“I’m so sorry, Madison.”
“Don’t be.” I bent down to his eye level and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “It’s all good.” I held up the rod. “And now we can use it together.”
My dad stood up and pulled me aside. “Madison, you shouldn’t of?—”
I shushed him and spoke from the corner of my mouth, making sure Grant couldn’t hear. “I was not going to let that gift float down the damn river.” I flexed my muscles. “I’m a little tougher than you think.”
Looking back and seeing me flexing my muscles, Grant giggled. “Jax, Madison has some big muscles. Show us your muscles.”
He gave him a wink before flexing his arms. Nice! I wanted those muscles to rip off my shirt and hold me against a wall somewhere. Or, just maybe, we could do that “Dirty Dancing” run and jump move, and I could be lifted and twirled in the air. Oh, yes indeedy, I definitely wanted to be all wrapped up in those later. No, stay out of those arms! They’re making your brain and heart all mushy. Departure day is getting closer and closer.
Jax and Grant joined us just as my dad was saying, “Hey, you guys should check out the Sarpy County Fair today.”
My ears perked up. “Sarpy County Fair?”
A gasp from Grant. “I looove the fair!” Grant grabbed my hand. “Do you like the deep-fried Oreos at the fair? And the funnel cakes? Or maybe the deep-fried pickles?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t had deep-fried Oreos and never even knew there was such a thing as deep-fried pickles. Is that really a thing?” I looked around to the three people who may have the answer.
“In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a fair.”
Jax shook his head in disbelief. “Really?”
I looked at my dad, whose mouth dropped open. “You’re right. There’s no county fair in New York.”
“Well, is the Sarpy County Fair like Disneyland? I’ve been there.” I pointed to my dad. “Do you remember how Zoey puked all over the little boat in It’s a Small World ? Hilarious!” I heard myself giggle-snort and quickly covered my mouth.
Laughter shot from all three of them.
Jax wagged a finger at me. “Nope. Big difference. “Disney is Disney. The county fair consists of awesome food that will likely cause artery cloggage and possibly a stroke on the way out. The rides are assembled at lightning speed by questionable characters. I literally saw a screw fly through the air while I was riding the Zipper last year.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You in?”
“Let me get this straight. The fair is full of death-defying rides, with flying screws and bolts, along with fried foods that apparently can kill you right there in the parking lot?”
My dad and Jax looked at each other while nodding in unison.
My hands flew into the air. “Heck yeah, I’m in.”
Jim laughed. “Jax, if you have any work you need to do before the fair, Grant can hang with me for a bit.”
“Actually, my little buddy was up at the crack of dawn.” He flashed a sarcastic smile. “He was such a help, I’m about done with most I had to do this morning.”
“When do we haul those four horses to Oklahoma?” My dad grabbed Grant’s fishing line.
“The fourteenth. Austin and I can do it.” Jax clapped his hands. “Grant, looks like you caught something.”
Grant started cranking on the reel, and sure enough, a fish popped out of the water while his laughter filled the air.
“Look! My fish! I’m naming him Eddie!”
“That’s a nice looking one, Grant!” My dad patted him on the back. “I bet Jax will cook that up for your dinner tonight.”
Grant’s eyes widened. “No, I don’t want him to be dead.”
“No problem. Why don’t we get a picture of you and Eddie, and you can set him free, okay?” Jax pulled his phone from his pocket. “Everybody, get close!”
After we hammed it up for the camera, my dad took the hook out of Eddie’s mouth and held him out to Grant. “Okay, say farewell.”
Grant looked at the fish and gave him a quick peck before my dad set him free. Grant spun around and wiped his lips. “He tasted gross!”
Jax threw his hand in the air. “I told you not to be making out with any fish, man!”
Grant’s amazing giggle flew through the trees, and I swore I saw it land somewhere in Jax’s heart.
An hour later, we were at Jax’s house, getting into his truck, when Austin pulled up and hopped out. He wore a teasing grin when his eyes spotted Grant.
“Where you all off to?”
“The fair.”
“I’m meeting Lilly there later.”
“What happened to Liz?” Jax crossed his arms.
“She’s decided to move back to Nebraska for college. No sense in getting close again when she’ll be long gone soon. Hey, we should meet at the Beer Garden.”
A garden of beer? Were my ears deceiving me? The fair was starting to sound like a truly magical event.
“Looks like Pipsqueak is back.” Austin chuckled.
Grant’s hands popped onto his hips. “You can’t call me a pipsqueak. I am a big second-grader, for your information.”
“Tell you what, if you can push me hard enough to move my big old feet, I’ll never call you pipsqueak again.”
Jax leaned against his truck and shook his head in amusement. Grant took a run at Austin, who didn’t budge an inch.
“There you go!” Austin clapped his hands. “It’s Pipsqueak.”
Grant waved his fist in a sign that Austin would one day get his comeuppance. Jax stepped in front of Austin. “If I can take you down and pin you, you call the little dude by his name.” He cracked his knuckles. “Challenge extended.”
Grant protested further. “I’m not a little dude, either.”
“Quiet, kid.” Jax waved his hand at Grant in a signal to back off “I’m on your side here.”
The shit-ass grin on Jax’s face made my stomach do a little thing between pride and bubbling laughter.
Austin let out a whoop and clapped his hands enthusiastically. “Challenge accepted.” He looked down at Grant. “Stand back. You’re in for a real treat, there, Pipper.”
Jax and Austin were both built and about the same height. They looked like two muscley dudes who should be doing a TikTok dance or strip tease thing. So much testosterone in one place. Whoa.
I watched them eye and circle each other, and to be honest, I couldn’t wait to see how this thing was going to go down.
In an instant, Jax dove at Austin’s legs, and he hit the ground with a poof of dust from the gravel driveway, which probably did not feel good.
Austin’s laughter echoed off the house as he grabbed Jax, and they rolled around for a long minute. It was a bit difficult to tell who was winning, as there was so much action going on. And cursing. I quickly covered Grant’s ears as several muffled fucks, pussies, and shitheads flew through the air. In Jax’s defense, he was fighting for Pipsqueak’s honor, so there you go.
Austin got Jax on his back, and I thought it was done. When Austin looked over at me to gloat, Jax got loose and, in a split-second, flipped Austin and held him to the ground. Austin struggled but was stuck like a roly-poly bug on its back.
“Say it!” Jax shouted with laughter.
Austin continued to push at Jax. “What?”
“That you’re a pussy and will never call Grant a pipsqueak again.”
Austin groaned. “Come on. Ever? How about a year?”
Jax laughed. “Say it!”
“Fine!” Austin was still trying to get loose, failing miserably. “I’m a pussy! I’ll never call the boy pipsqueak again.”
Jax let him go, and they popped to their feet, both dusty, with their hair shooting in all directions.
Austin walked over and stopped in front of Grant. “Looks like your old buddy Jax over there got lucky today.” He extended his hand, and Grant shook it. “I’ll call you Grant, and maybe you can call me Awesome Austin?”
Grant’s chest puffed out. “Ain’t happenin’.”
Austin stepped towards his truck. “I’ll see you at the fair later.”
Grant yelled out. “Hey, Austin, I bet you a dollar I can eat more fried pickles than you.”
Austin smiled over his shoulder. “I’ll take that bet, Buddy.”
Jax was beaming, and I felt lighthearted after witnessing the sweetest wrestling match in the whole damn world.
Grant ran ahead of us, giving me the opportunity to grab Jax’s ass surreptitiously. WTF kind of game was I playing? I needed to check myself. I was sending all the wrong signals. But as I looked back at the sexy man, leaning against his sexy truck, running his sexy eyes down my body, I decided I really didn’t give a shit about being smart anymore. Nope, maybe it was okay to be a visitor and embark on the whole Jax treatment . A shiver cartwheeled up my spine at the thought.