Tackling Summer Part 5

"If you're smart you will." Today would be a giant lesson in teamwork and humility for the hotshot. Chanel had a feeling Coach Talbot would approve. She headed to where Vivi was tied.

"What're you going to do?" Maddox called after her.

Chanel looked over her shoulder and put a little wiggle in her step. "Rope me a football player if he doesn't watch himself."

Vivi pranced anxious hooves into the dust. Chanel reached down and gave her a quick pet on the neck and then adjusted the loop in her rope. She noted Maddox in conversation with the twins. He wore a dubious expression as the boys gestured toward the milling calves, miming how to dive and grab a front and back leg in order to flip the calf and get it tied down to rope attached to the stake in the ground, so the rider could stretch the animal out, exposing it for the tasks that needed to be done.

Mitch pulled up beside his daughter on his bay gelding and followed her gaze. "How's he gonna do?"

"He's about to get a lesson in following directions," Chanel said, her lips a thin line. For as attracted to Maddox as she was, he sure could p.i.s.s her off, and she had a feeling he was about to push her over the edge.

"He's a quick learner."

Chanel looked at her father. "Once he decides to."

Mitch smiled and nodded. "Exactly. That's why Talbot sent him out here. The kid's limited until he learns to back down and realize his way isn't always best."

"We're hot and ready, boss!" Jerry called holding up the branding iron with two sizzling interlocking O's at the end.

"Let's do it!" Mitch hollered.

The first round of ropers-Chanel, Mitch, David, and Fritz-began to move their horses slowly through the milling calves, keeping their eyes open for an easy shot at either a calf's head or heels. Chanel missed with her first swing, but her father and Fritz caught right away. She watched them drag their calves over to the ground crew, curious to see how Maddox would do when it came to subduing a thrashing two hundred pound animal. He lunged pa.s.sed the twins and lowered his shoulder. Chanel cringed as he collided with the kicking calf at the end of Fritz's rope. Fritz had caught it by the head, leaving all four legs free. The calf bucked just as Maddox was about to make contact. He hit the dirt and skidded, the calf jumping on top of him.

Chanel heard him yell, "Son of a b.i.t.c.h!" as he tried to escape the trampling hooves. Craig Wilkins rushed over to help as Fritz released his dally allowing slack in the rope. Craig swung an arm around the calf's neck successfully collaring it and then removed the rope. The calf continued to buck back into the herd.

Gritting her teeth, Chanel swung from her saddle and stomped over to where Maddox was spitting dirt.

"You okay?" Craig asked, placing a hand on Maddox's shoulder.

"What the h.e.l.l was that?" Chanel yelled, stepping between the two men. "Did you not hear one word Ryan and Brad said?"

Craig stepped back from the two of them and joined the rest of the crew, which was busy working on the two calves stretched out at the stations. Maddox wasn't going to get much sympathy around here. There were no standing ovations when someone heaved himself up from the dirt after being stupid.

"They're little kids," Maddox grumbled as he got to his feet. Several locks of blond hair had escaped the elastic band, and he shoved them back from his face.

Chanel stepped closer until she was right up against his chest. "They're younger, but they've been doing this stuff since they could walk. We all have. You're lucky you didn't get some of those pretty teeth knocked out or worse. You want to get hurt out here and miss next season?" When she stopped for breath, she realized her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were brushing against him and took a hasty step backward. Meeting his stormy blue eyes, Chanel saw anger and something else simmering there.

"You can do better?" Maddox said, his jaw tight.

Chanel's nostrils flared, and she handed Vivi's lead rope to Maddox. "Take her over by the fence and watch." Pulling the Doumit baseball cap down tighter over her braid, Chanel turned back toward the action in time to see David snag a brockle face calf by the neck. He dallied and pulled it fighting toward the ground crew. The twins stepped forward to take it down, but Chanel waved them back. David drew the calf to the empty station, and Chanel ran forward to grab the rope and work her way down it to the calf. With a quick lunge, she grabbed a front leg, and in the same moment, s.n.a.t.c.hed a back leg, throwing the calf off balance and flipping it onto its back. Ryan was ready with the ground rope for the back feet. Chanel pinned the animal and moved the rope from its neck to its front feet. David backed up his horse stretching the calf into position. It all happened in less than thirty seconds.

Wiping her arm across her forehead, Chanel stood and looked over at Maddox while the rest of the crew swarmed in to give the calf its shots and brand. She was a heifer, so no need for Theo's services this time. Maddox's mouth was slightly ajar, and his blue eyes had darkened even more. Chanel longed to know what was going through his thick skull right now.

She marched over and took Vivi's lead rope. "And that's how it's done." She swung up into her saddle and waded back into the herd, her loop at the ready.

Tents were pitched at the edge of a stand of trees. Sagebrush and sticker bushes stretched out for several miles on the flat in the other direction, only to be met with a steep outcropping of rock surrounded by aspen trees. The herd had been moved to a new location a couple of miles away, but their voices could still be heard on the evening breeze. A fire crackled in the ring some of the guys had constructed of large rocks. Christine had everyone settled with bowls of beef stew and corn bread. Maddox ached from head to toe from being kicked countless times throughout the day. Taking down a baby cow was more complicated and painful than anything he'd done on the football field. Thick pads, no, armor should be required for this job. His skin was sunburned, and he couldn't remember when food had tasted so good.

"Good work out there today," David said taking a seat on the ground next to him.

"Thanks," Maddox replied. "I have dirt in places I didn't know it could reach."

David laughed. "Yeah, that happens. There's a creek through those trees over there. You can rinse off some, but it's going to be pretty d.a.m.n cold. It's still running snow melt from the high country."

Maddox thought they were in the high country. He was still trying to adjust to the chilly mornings.

"I've got some ibuprofen in my saddlebag. You'll want some, so you can move in the morning. We're gonna do this all over again tomorrow." David grinned and tucked into his stew.

Maddox stifled a groan at the idea just as Christine made her way over to settle beside the two men. David immediately stiffened.

"How's the stew?" she asked.

"The best I've ever had," Maddox said, shoveling in another spoonful.

David ignored his mother's question, continuing to eat. Maddox saw the brief pleading look Christine gave him.

"Glad you like it," Christine said to Maddox.

Maddox nodded and swallowed. "Don't know when I've been so hungry."

She laughed and took a bite from her own bowl.

Without a word, David stood and left. Christine followed him with her eyes. Maddox had only known these people for a couple of weeks, but even after that short of time, he could tell some things weren't right. "You okay?"

"Of course," Christine said shifting her gaze away from her son.

"My mom's not much of a cook," Maddox said trying to ease the tension.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, we hire someone to do it. Mom and Dad work a lot."

She nodded. "Every family is different."

"Think I'll hit the creek, see if I can get some of the dirt off," Maddox said as he stood. Fritz came along at the same time.

"Good work today," the older man said.

"Thanks," Maddox said. The praise felt good. For the first time in a long time, he felt appreciated. "Going to loosen some of the dirt."

Fritz laughed and Maddox wondered at his enormous mustache. He didn't know many guys who could pull that off but couldn't imagine Fritz's face without it. It would be too small. The thought made him bite his cheek. It wasn't cool to laugh at another man's face.

Before he embarra.s.sed himself, Maddox ran his dishes through the soapy pan of water Christine had left outside the canvas cook tent. These folks were efficient, that's for sure. Then he grabbed the towel he'd stashed in his duffle bag and headed through the trees. Within minutes he could hear running water and his tired muscles sagged with relief at the idea of being submerged in it. They tensed up again the moment he hit the creek bank and spotted Chanel knee deep in the swift current. Back to him, jeans rolled up, she was bent over scrubbing at her face with both hands. He couldn't help but admire her fine body and think about how she'd looked as she'd both roped and wrestled calves throughout the day. Her arms and shoulders were defined without being bulky, and she moved with a natural grace like no other woman he'd encountered. Maddox spent a lot of time with physically strong women, but Chanel was in a cla.s.s of her own. She had a toughness about her that made them look like wimps. And after his own experience today, he knew this work was a lot more intense than what they were a.s.signed in the gym. Aside from all that, there was a jagged edge to Chanel he couldn't quite lay his finger on. It annoyed him that he wasted any time at all trying to figure it out. It didn't matter. At the end of July, he was out of here. He'd dodge her on campus. He just needed to stay neutral and focused until then.

She went from washing her face to splashing water up her arms. Maddox spotted the longneck she'd placed on a flat rock near the water. A drink was what he needed. He s.n.a.t.c.hed it up and pressed it to his lips just as she turned around.

"What the h.e.l.l?" Chanel shouted over the roaring water. The front of her tank top was wet, bringing his attention to her perky b.r.e.a.s.t.s. They weren't as large as Lila's, but they still called to him.

"Stop looking at my b.o.o.bs!" Her screech jerked his gaze back to her face.

Chagrined at being caught, he forced himself to take a couple slow swallows from the bottle. The sun was setting over the trees behind her, setting her hair aglow in the pink and orange light.

"I've been looking forward to that beer all day!" She started to slosh through the current toward him, a glint in her eyes.

Maddox tipped the bottle a little higher, pouring more into his mouth. The closer she got, the harder he chugged, until she was close enough to splash a sheet of icy water over him.

He held up the empty bottle like a trophy as her dog bounced out of nowhere into the water, barking her head off.

"You jerk!" Chanel bent to scoop up more water.

It was on. Forgetting his bruised body, Maddox tugged off his dirty sneakers and rammed his pant legs up above his knees. He charged into the water and paused only a moment to cringe at the bitter cold. And to think he'd considered sitting down in it to wash the grunge and soreness from his muscles. He would've frozen his b.a.l.l.s right off.

Chanel yelped in surprise when he hit the water and skittered backward a couple of steps. He reached out and hooked her with one arm dragging her close. Then he swept her off her feet. They were nose to nose.

"Put me down," she squealed, kicking her legs.

"Okay." Maddox released her and she plunged fully clothed into the water.

She spluttered and fought her way back to her feet. "That's not what I meant!"

Maddox laughed. It was nice to see her unhinged for a change. They stood face-to-face the sound of the creek filling the air.

"You were amazing out there today." The dorky words were out before he had a chance to censor them. He sounded like a dude from a lame chick flick.

Chanel let out a sharp laugh and took a step away from him.

"No, seriously. I've never seen a chick do things like that."

"Yeah, well, most chicks can't do things like that," Chanel said.

A loud splash and barking broke the tension. They both turned to see Mitch's dogs crashing into the creek to join Chanel's four-legged friend. Taking advantage of the distraction, Chanel slipped away from him and headed toward sh.o.r.e.

An unfamiliar pang of guilt twinged in his gut, and Maddox caught her by the elbow. "You okay?"

"You drank my beer." Her words were accusing, but when she looked over her shoulder, there was a twinkle in her eyes he hadn't seen before.

"There you are," Mitch called to them when he emerged from the trees at the creek's edge.

"Just rinsing off some of the grime," Chanel said slogging over to her father and taking a seat on the rock next to her boots.

"Looks like you fell in." Mitch nodded at his daughter's soaked clothes.

"I might have had some help." Chanel sent a pointed look at Maddox who widened his eyes in innocence and went about scrubbing his arms. The icy water felt good on his scorched skin. After that water fight, his whole body needed submerged to cool off. If Mitch hadn't appeared, where would things have gone? The look she'd just given him had him burning up.

Mitch chuckled, and Maddox saw him say something to her that he couldn't hear. Whatever it was made Chanel arch a brow at her father before returning to tugging on her boots. Maddox reminded himself what a brat she was, and that she had zero interest in him or anything fun. He'd just caught her off guard, that's all. To drive the thought home, he took a deep breath and dunked his head in the cold water.

The sun was down, and the edge of the sky glowed pink and orange. Chanel took a deep breath as she scooped dog food into Soda's bowl. She was going to have to get a hold of herself when it came to Maddox. There was a lot of summer left. His c.o.c.ky demeanor made her nuts, but over the last few weeks, she'd seen cracks in it, which made room for other feelings to creep in. He's still a jock. He'll go right back to his usual self the minute he puts one toe on that campus. Convinced for the moment, Chanel rubbed Soda's head and made her way across the campsite to the large canvas tent that had been erected to serve as a kitchen. Christine would have stored any dinner leftovers in a cooler.

A soft giggle stopped her as she reached for the door flap. Pulling back her hand, Chanel leaned forward directing an ear to the tent wall.

"Mmm, it's going to be hard to sleep knowing you're right outside my tent," she heard Christine murmur. It was followed with silence and then the distinct popping sound of lips separating.

"Meet me down by the creek once everyone's settled." Fritz's deep voice startled her.

Chanel's hand flew to her mouth. A flashback of running into Rufus that Sunday afternoon up the hill from Christine's house zipped through her mind. She'd heard Fritz whistle for his dog from the trees behind her aunt's place. Christine's face had been flushed when she came downstairs, and she'd acted weird when Chanel asked about missing Fritz. Her stomach tightened at the realization of what was really happening that day. She scuttled as fast as she could away from the tent, without making a sound. Dinner could wait. Chanel bee-lined it to the gra.s.sy area where they'd picketed the horses for the night.

"Everything okay?"

The male voice stopped her in her tracks. Chanel looked over to her left to see David feeding grain to his big sorrel roping horse. Her mouth was dry, and her tongue felt thick. David was the last person she wanted to see. He would not be cool with his mother's affair. It wasn't an affair, she reminded herself. Fritz and Christine were both single. It was a relationship. Chanel knew her cousin, though. He wouldn't like it, no matter what it was called.

"Um, yeah."

David smiled. For some reason he made an effort to get along with her, but since he'd turned his back on his own brother and his mom, she had a hard time playing along.

"Just gotta pee," Chanel said with a shrug and took off in a stiff legged walk for emphasis. She and her cousins had never been shy with one another. They were in late grade school when Christine began to urge the boys to do more than just turn their backs to urinate when they were outside with Chanel and Jessi.

David laughed and then called after her. "Have you seen Fritz?"

Chanel shook her head, not slowing down.

"If you do, let him know I grained Stubby for him. I gave Vivi some too."

"Thanks, will do!" Chanel said holding a thumbs up over her head, breaking into a run. She didn't slow down until she was well past the branding corral and behind a thicket of wild roses.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Chanel tightened her ponytail and stepped out the front door. Reviewing her route in her head, she walked toward the barn. It was late Sunday morning, and the place was quiet. Jerry and David were probably still in town after going in the night before to see their girlfriends. Her father liked to go on long quiet rides with his dogs on his days off, but she thought he might be back by now and wanted to let him know she was going for a run. It was always a good idea to let someone know if you were going out on foot these days. The wolves were getting fearless.

She glanced over at the still bunkhouses and wondered where Fritz had slept last night. Her stomach clenched at the memory of Christine and his murmurs at branding camp. How were they keeping it from Jessi? Surely her cousin would have mentioned it if she knew about the affair. There was no way Christine would risk her telling David, or Mitch.

"Dad?" Chanel called into the dim barn.

A grunted response came from the hayloft. There was no sign of Mitch's horse, and the tack room door was closed. Frowning, she made her way to the loft stairs and moved as quietly as possible up them. Her breath caught when she reached the top and saw Maddox shirtless using one of the ceiling beams as a pull-up bar. Ear buds were buried in his ears, and he grunted again as his muscles flexed to carry his chin over the beam. He'd been at it a while as sweat gleamed on his perfect chest. Chanel bit her lip, knowing she should turn around and get out of there, but she couldn't move. Heat swept through her, and she longed to trace those sweat rivulets down that torso to...

"Hey!" Maddox's voice ripped through her fantasy.

Chanel jumped, snapping her eyes up from where they'd drifted. "Hey," she said hating how feeble her voice sounded.