Tackling Summer Part 19

"You okay there, son?"

Despite the cool night, he was sweating. He should have taken a swig of that whiskey. "Yeah, I will be. Just a little shock, I think."

"What happened?" Mitch glanced over at him for a moment.

Maddox told the older man about the wolves, and how Vivi spooked and dumped Chanel. "She must've landed just right."

Mitch shook his head. "I knew those SOBs were eyeing those cattle. Thanks for takin' care of my girl. You were great."

Running a hand through his hair, Maddox replayed the events of the last hour in his head. Never in a million years would he have imagined himself getting a broken woman, two horses, and a dog to safety. Yet, everything had come so naturally, right down to making sure Malcolm didn't run off at the start.

"You know, you adapted pretty quick out here. I think you're a natural country boy," Mitch said.

Maddox felt his chest swell at the compliment. He respected Mitch and not just because he was in love with his daughter. Not sure what to say, Maddox laughed. "Well, don't go spreading it around."

The truck bounced through a deep ditch. Maddox recognized it as the one he'd been trapped in back in May.

"Can you two stop making out up there and pay attention to the road?" Chanel snapped from the backseat.

The two men looked at each other and smiled. The whiskey must've been kicking in.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.

The whole crew was settled in lawn chairs in Christine's backyard except for David. He'd kept to himself for the most part since he'd come back to the ranch. Maddox had noticed Mitch had given him solo a.s.signments each day. Chanel said he'd gone over to his mother's house for dinner once. Gentle efforts were being made by everyone, but things couldn't heal overnight. There were too many years of damage.

Maddox gently stroked Chanel's thigh with his thumb. It had been two days since Vivi had thrown her, and she'd broken her tibia. She'd been cranky with pain and frustration. He knew Chanel had plans for his final days at the Double O, and none of them included sitting around with a broken leg.

"Can I grab you a beer, Maddox?" Mitch called as he headed for the back porch.

Maddox shook his head. "No thanks. Gotta keep my system clear-headed into the season. I'd take a c.o.ke, though."

"No problem. Chel? You want something?"

"Water's fine," she replied. Her eyes were closed as she lay back in the lounger, her leg propped on pillows.

"C'mon, Chel, you're acting like you're boyfriend's leaving tomorrow, and you have a broken leg," Seth said giving her a little shove on the shoulder.

Chanel opened one eye to glower at him.

"Seriously, though," Seth said. "Maybe try to give the guy a reason to think about you while you're apart."

Maddox laughed. "I'll be thinking about her. Worrying is more like it. I hate leaving things like this. s.h.i.t, Coach may end up kicking me off the team after all because my head won't be in the game."

"Well, you can always fall back on ranching if football fails you," Mitch said handing a cold can of soda and Chanel's gla.s.s of water to Maddox.

"Here, here!" Fritz lifted his beer bottle in the air, and the others followed.

"Jessi, come help me bring the food out," Christine said, and her daughter popped up from the gra.s.s where she'd been leaning against Brad Wilkins' leg. She'd announced in the past week that she'd be applying to Doumit in the fall.

Gravel crunched in the driveway on the far side of the house, and the dogs all raced out of the yard barking. A couple of minutes later, David rounded the corner.

"There he is!" Seth said with a grin. Of everyone, he'd been the most accepting of David's return. Once again, Maddox thought what a h.e.l.l of a guy his new friend was.

"Sorry I'm late. I was working on a little something for Maddox," David said with a sheepish grin.

"Oh yeah?" Maddox asked.

"Wanted to make sure you got a clean getaway. Filled in that wash out on Hayfield Road."

Maddox guffawed but inside breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been wondering if he could coax his low-slung car back through that ditch. It was something he'd avoided trying all summer. "Thanks, man."

Fritz lifted the lid on the barbeque and started pulling steaks off the grill. Mitch hovered awkwardly nearby. That used to be his job, but things had shifted since Fritz moved in with Christine. Maddox hoped Mitch found someone soon. He was going to be really lonely when Chanel headed back to school in a few weeks.

Jessi and Christine emerged from the house with giant bowls full of fresh produce from the garden and a potato salad. Christine knew her potato salad was Maddox's new favorite food, and his mouth watered when he saw it hit the wooden picnic table.

"Before we all dig in, I'd just like to thank Maddox for all his hard work this summer," Mitch said stepping into the center of the circle of chairs. "I know it wasn't easy learning to live with us, some more than others." He shot a pointed look at his daughter, who just rolled her eyes. Maddox wished she'd perk up, at least for tonight.

"For a city boy, you adjusted to ranch life like a duck to water. Not every man can come in with nothing and learn to drive a tractor and a horse almost over night," Mitch continued.

This made Chanel snort and smile. Good, Maddox thought, she's remembering how all of this came together.

"Not every many would've stepped in to defend someone he barely knew. You've become a part of this family, Maddox, and you are welcome back here anytime." Mitch lifted his beer, and the rest of the crew joined him with a few yeehaws before taking deep swallows from their beverages.

Feeling Chanel squeezing his hand, Maddox turned to find her beaming at him with those shimmering golden green eyes. It was the first smile she'd given him since Tuesday. Maddox leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.

They feasted on steak and salads, and Maddox felt his appet.i.te start all over when Christine brought out a couple of huckleberry pies. Chanel had taken him picking on Monday, and he was smitten with the sweet, purple berries. The pie was like nothing he had ever tasted with a vanilla pudding filling and graham cracker crust.

"There's a whole one hidden under a dish towel on the counter for you to take with you," Christine whispered when she served him a second piece. Maddox set down his plate and gave her a bear hug.

"Thank you for everything." Christine had given him a taste of what it was like to have a real mother.

"Like Mitch said, you're one of the family now. I'm looking forward to seeing you here again and on campus. With two of my kids up there this year, I have a feeling I'll be making more trips. Plus, Jessi will want a tour this fall."

"And of course, there will be football games to come to," Maddox said.

Christine sighed and pressed the back of a hand to her forehead. "It'll be a hardship, for sure."

"Excuse me, everybody," Jerry called over all the chatty voices.

All eyes turned his way in surprise. The gruff, rotund cowboy rarely made himself the center of attention.

Jerry cleared his throat and pulled a flat, square package from under his chair. Maddox was impressed with the glittery gift-wrap. Jerry's girlfriend had to have had a hand in that.

"Well, I was worried this kid might forget what it's really like out here once he goes back to town. He'll have Chanel, but that's just the pretty side of things. Kid, you got some grit this summer, and you ain't a bad bunkmate either."

Jerry thrust the package into Maddox's hands.

"Thanks," Maddox said.

Jerry waved him off. "Don't thank me till you open it."

Maddox tore through the paper to expose the largest pile of cow manure he'd ever seen. It had been sealed, sprinkled with glitter, and framed with a barn board frame.

"Made the frame myself," Jerry said sticking out his chest and rocking on his heels. "Had a little help with the rest, though."

"This is so going up in my room. It'll freak out my housemates," Maddox managed to say around his laughter. "Thank, Jer." Knowing the older man wouldn't appreciate a hug, Maddox extended a hand for a firm shake.

Maddox sat back down in his chair, tucking the sparkly t.u.r.d underneath. People didn't get much better than this.

"While we're all here, I guess I have somethin' to say too," Fritz said walking over to where Christine sat at the picnic table. Her dark eyes shined as her man stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders. "Christine has finally agreed to marry this old cowboy."

The yard blew up with whistles and shouts of congratulations. Mitch hugged Christine and clapped Fritz on the back, but Maddox could tell his heart wasn't fully in it. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Seth hurried over to the couple, bending to kiss his mother and giving Fritz a hug. Maddox winced as Fritz hugged him back hoping he didn't squeeze Seth's tender ribs too hard. Though he'd never been hugged by the man, Chanel had mentioned how powerful his hugs were. David hovered on the fringe of the activity until Christine reached out and squeezed his hand.

"I hope you two will be very happy," David said.

"Thank you. I'm glad you're here," Christine said. "There's a spot in my heart that will always belong to your father, but he would never have wanted me to spend my life lonely."

David's Adam's apple bobbed as he gave his mother a quick nod.

"d.a.m.n it!" Chanel's curse drew Maddox's attention away from the celebration.

"Here, babe." Maddox set down his empty plate and hoisted Chanel from the lounger, handing her the set of crutches. He started to walk beside her as she hobbled toward her family.

"Stop. I can do it," Chanel snapped. The love in her eyes from earlier was gone, replaced with flashing anger.

Confused, Maddox backed off to a corner with Mitch.

"Not our moment, I guess," Mitch said.

"Guess not. I'm almost feeling she'll be glad to be rid of me tomorrow."

"Don't think that's it. Chanel's never been this serious about someone before. She's also never been this banged up. It's killin' her to be so reliant on others. Hang with her."

Maddox tried to let the wisdom soak in, but his stomach was still knotted with leaving her behind the next morning. It was bad enough when all was right in the world, but with her like this, it was making him sick.

"Man, you should have seen Margo when I brought her out here," Mitch said, his eyes on his daughter. "She didn't know how to do much of anything when it came to the animals and farming. p.i.s.sed her off to no end to have to rely on my mom and Christine. Of course, she took it out on me."

"Awesome," Maddox muttered.

Chanel turned from the group to face Mitch and Maddox. He could see how tired she was.

"Maddox, I'm ready to go."

"And she turned to me too," Mitch said in a low voice. A little louder he said, "Go on and help her home. I'll bring your pie."

"How'd you know about my pie?"

Mitch grinned. "Bachelors always know where the extra pie is."

Maddox circulated the group with farewell hugs and handshakes. His plan was to leave midmorning the next day. He helped Chanel into her Ford Ranger, thankful it was closer to the ground than any of the other rigs on the place aside from his and Seth's cars.

"I thought tonight would be so romantic," Chanel said when he climbed behind the wheel.

"It still can be. I just want to be with you."

She tipped her head to one side, eyes full. "I was going to take you on moonlit ride, then make love to you under the stars..."

Maddox backed up the little truck enough to turn it around. It took a little maneuvering with all the other vehicles crammed in the lot. Guess those cowboys were too tired to walk over for dinner after a day's work.

"There'll be plenty of time for that when you're feeling better. You act like I'm leaving for good."

When she didn't answer he looked over to see her staring out the open pa.s.senger window, the breeze blowing her hair back from her face. She looked beautiful, but despite the scenery, a familiar surge of anger bubbled inside him.

"You still don't trust me!"

"I want to, Maddox."

"Then do it! Have I given you any reason not to?" He slammed the heel of his hand against the steering wheel.

Chanel's delicate tanned features crumpled, and a sob tore from her throat. Instead of turning left toward headquarters, Maddox took a right and headed to a little spot he'd discovered down the road a couple of miles. A little side road meandered off and graded up a steep incline. He wasn't totally sure her truck could hack it, but he was determined and shoved it into low gear. Darkness was falling, so he flicked on the headlights.

"What are you doing?" Chanel said through her tears. "You're going to get us stuck!"

"I am not. Trust me."

"This is not the kind of trust I'm talking about, Maddox."

Needing to concentrate, Maddox held his tongue until they crested the hill. Then he angled the truck so it looked out over the valley. With the headlights off, he could see the lights of headquarters twinkling in the distance. Stars lit the clear sky with a perfect moon illuminating the tree-lined meadows that stretched out along the creek. He still couldn't remember the name of it. There were special names for everything out here, and he'd given up trying to memorize them all.

Chanel's breath caught. Tears rested on her cheeks, but she wasn't crying anymore.

"Guess I found a spot you didn't know about."

"I've been here, but never at night. This is beautiful."

Maddox reached over and took her by the shoulders and turned her back toward him, gently pulling her across the bench seat. He was careful with her casted leg and finally got her settled against his chest.

"Noticed it when I was putting out salt with Jerry one day. I could picture what it would look like in the dark. Figured if the four-wheeler could climb that little road, this thing could too." Maddox kissed the top of Chanel's head, enjoying the scent combination of shampoo and something uniquely her. "Actually, I had no idea if we'd make it. I kinda willed it to happen."

Chanel laughed, and Maddox squeezed her harder.

"Chanel Eber, I love you. I've never had any desire to take care of anyone besides me in my entire life. You have to be able to see that."