Tackling Summer Part 6

"What's up?" He grabbed his t-shirt from the stack of hay beside him and wiped down his face and chest before jumping from the pile.

"Um." She'd completely forgotten why she'd come to the barn in the first place.

A devilish grin lit up his handsome face. "Were you spying on me?"

"No!" Heat radiated from her cheeks. "I was looking for my dad. I wanted to tell him I was going on a run."

She watched his eyes slide over her hot pink sports bra and running shorts and on down to her trail running shoes. "I'll go with you."

"You will?" Chanel couldn't believe her heart could beat any harder than it already was.

"Sure. I'm in workout mode, could use some cardio."

"Um, kay." Chanel turned and headed back down the stairs. She'd been looking forward to clearing her head as she raced over familiar trails through the woods. That certainly wouldn't happen with Maddox at her side adding to the tangled thoughts.

They exited the barn, and Chanel turned toward the road. "We'll start on the road. I have a five-mile loop. Just so you know, I don't stay on the road for long. Most of it is trail."

Maddox shrugged and tucked his shirt into the waistband of his shorts. "I'm game." He coiled up the cord between his ear buds and iPod, sticking them on a shelf beside some currycombs. Apparently, he was settling in, realizing no one was around to swipe his stuff.

Chanel took off at a brisk pace, Maddox falling in step beside her. After a half a mile, she peeled off the dirt road and up the hill toward Christine's house. They pa.s.sed it and followed a deer trail deeper into the woods, grading upward as they went. Even though she knew the route well, Chanel paid close attention to where her feet were falling. The forest wasn't static. New obstacles like brush, rocks, sticks, and holes appeared all the time. The trail was skinny, so Maddox dropped behind her. She could hear his even breath, and he stayed right on her heels.

They crested the hill, and Chanel paused to take in the view. Before her sloped a valley full of aspen trees. She loved how the little leaves quaked in the slightest breeze. The rustling sound never failed to soothe her jangled nerves-on a normal day, anyway. Too bad someone had tagged along. She had some sorting to do. Should she approach Christine about Fritz? Why did Maddox drive her so crazy, and even more frustratingly, why was she so attracted to him?

"What's in the f.a.n.n.y pack?"

Deep in her thoughts, Chanel jumped at the sound of Maddox's voice. He stood sweating beside her, close enough to feel the heat radiating off his big body. Chanel glanced down at the black bag cinched around her waist. For the last several years, she'd worn it on every run and never noticed it anymore. Of course, he'd been on her tail for the last three miles, and f.a.n.n.y packs weren't things many people wore these days.

Keeping her face neutral, she said, "Smith and Wesson .38 special, five shot."

Maddox's eyebrows reached his hairline, and his draw dropped a bit. After a beat, he said, "No way."

Without a word, Chanel circled the pouch to the front and unzipped it. She pulled out the gun and grinned.

"What the h.e.l.l is that for? s.h.i.t, a person's more likely to need that running in the city than out here."

"For the wolves," Chanel said tucking the revolver back into the f.a.n.n.y pack.

"Wolves." Maddox looked around, his brow furrowed in thought. "Seriously. I thought they were extinct."

"Not so much. They've become a bit of a problem the last few years. They manage to take a few of our calves every year. They got one of Theo's dogs last summer. They're fearless. Dad's had them follow him on his horse before. I'm an easy target for a pack if they're so inclined."

Maddox shook his head as he processed her words. "So what you said about a horse dumping a person and leaving them to the wolves. That could happen?"

"You never know," Chanel said running an index finger along the barrel. The prospect made her plenty nervous, but she'd never let him see it. That's why she packed. There was a lot of confidence stored in that black f.a.n.n.y pack.

"Could you really shoot one?"

"If it came after me, yes. I don't intend to be wolf food." Chanel tucked the gun back into the bag and readjusted it on her waist. Then she turned and continued to run along the ridge. When she didn't hear his footsteps behind her, she stopped to look over her shoulder. Maddox was still standing where she'd left him. His expression was incredulous.

"You coming?" His presence agitated her. Normally, her runs were a time to work out her anxiety and think, but that wasn't going to happen with him along, so she just wanted to get it over with.

Finally, he strode over to her and grabbed her around the waist. His lips were on hers before she could protest. Surprised, Chanel's lips parted and Maddox's tongue darted between them. She caught her arms moving to circle his neck, but feeling his bare biceps under her fingers brought her back to herself. Running her hands over the contours of his muscles made her reluctant to let go, but she had to stop this. It was getting ridiculous. They had to work together, and this fall they'd be back on campus. He'd go back to his role as football star, and she'd disappear back into the student body.

Wrenching her swollen lips from his, Chanel said, "No, this is not okay," She pushed him away, hating her sharp tone, but figuring it necessary to separate herself from these confusing feelings.

"I've wanted to do that since the branding," Maddox replied tucking a strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail behind her ear.

"Right, only because I'm the only single female for thirty miles who isn't jailbait or old enough to be your mother," Chanel said giving him a doubtful look. His eyes were intense as they bored into hers. She couldn't read them. Was he looking just to get laid, to have a summer fling, or was there more to it? Giving herself a mental shake, Chanel took another step back from that tempting bare chest. He was used to getting whatever he wanted, and she was nave to think she was any different from the coeds he seduced during the school year. "Look, we have to work together for the rest of the summer. I think it's probably best if we keep our hands to ourselves."

"C'mon, Chanel, this isn't some uppity corporation. h.e.l.l, your dad owns the place," Maddox said tossing his hands in the air.

Chanel told herself he was just frustrated at being turned down. There was a good chance this was the first time, which amused her. That was one notch she was happy to claim.

"Maybe so, but our work here is just as important and probably takes more attention to keep people from getting hurt." It felt good to fight with him, helped chase away the other feelings. "Especially people who are unfamiliar with ranch work. It's not like an office where your biggest danger is a paper cut."

"I think I'm doing pretty d.a.m.n well," Maddox snapped. "I got your hay planted. The fields are staying irrigated. n.o.body shot me in the a.s.s or roped me at the branding."

"You're lucking you didn't get your teeth kicked out the way you took after that first calf."

Maddox put his hands on his hips. "Once, little miss perfect. I screwed up one time."

Chanel hated that he was right. She had to get away from him. "Out here sometimes you only get one chance."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"My Uncle Gerald? Christine's husband? He was killed when the tractor tipped over on him. He turned a little too tight when he was circling around for another pa.s.s in that steep section in Lonely Hollow. One of the neighbor family's kids didn't listen when her parents told her not to run through the barn when horses were tied in there. She got kicked in the head and died. She was only five."

Maddox worked his jaw and looked into the distance. Chanel continued. "You're here because you think you're so smart you don't need to listen to anyone else. Maybe you can get away with that on the football field. The worst that will happen is your team will lose. No one will die. So, who really cares, right? Well, out here it's for real. This isn't a game."

She turned and picked up speed as she ran back the way they'd come. If he was smart, he'd follow and keep up, but at least if he didn't she wasn't leading him into uncharted territory.

"I just don't know what to do about him!" Chanel fumed into the phone.

"Shhh, c'mon, calm down," her cousin and best friend, Seth Eber, soothed from his end. "I don't think it's as bad as you think."

"You're kidding me, right?" Chanel had bee-lined it for the phone the moment she came in the door. She couldn't take this anymore, and she was sure Seth would have the answer. Bert would just encourage her to sleep with Maddox and get it out of her system.

"No. You know why?"

"No." Chanel pressed a gla.s.s under the refrigerator water tap and watched it fill.

"Because a guy has never riled you up like this before." Seth sounded smug, and Chanel had no reply. He let the words hang for a moment before continuing. "James Emmerit, Farley Cole, Tyler Maze." The names of her high school crushes.

"What about them?"

"You were sure you were in love with them, fawned all over them. But they never irritated you. They could do no wrong."

"They were also competent cowboys," Chanel said before taking a deep drink of water. Sweat was still running down her neck and back from her hard run back to the house. She wondered if Maddox had made it home yet.

"Oh, they weren't that special. Well, Farley was..." Seth's voice trailed off.

Chanel giggled. Turned out her soph.o.m.ore crush was more into her cousin than her.

"Then there was Jared," Seth said referring to the guy Chanel had dated her first year at Doumit.

She chewed her lip. She and Jared had never fought. In fact, to her embarra.s.sment, she realized whenever she disagreed with him, or he did something inconsiderate, she just clamped her mouth closed for the sake of maintaining peace-at least until she caught him with someone else. Chanel had gone on a dating sabbatical after breaking up with Jared. She'd thrown herself into her schoolwork and found fault with every guy Bert or anyone else tried to introduce to her. She especially avoided jocks.

"So, I didn't know myself back then. I'm looking for someone I can be me with. No more silly chameleon girl stuff."

"Good for you," Seth said. "But you also need someone who will stand up to you, or you'll get bored. I'm looking forward to meeting this guy. He might be good for you. I'm going to be there in a week. I'll be able to gauge the situation better after I've observed it."

Rolling her eyes, Chanel opened her mouth to protest, but Seth was one step ahead of her. "Hey, you gonna head for me at the rodeo?"

Chanel grinned at the new topic. The pair had been unbeatable in high school, and she missed roping with him. "I could use a new buckle. I'm pretty out of practice, though. Threw okay at the branding last week but need some more work to be rodeo ready."

Seth laughed. "I haven't even sat on a horse since my last visit. I'll be lucky not to fall off."

"We've got plenty of time to practice once you get here. Riding and roping are like riding a bike. You never really forget. You just have to regain your balance," Chanel said.

"Let's hope. I'm sure excited to see you, Chel."

"I've missed you," Chanel said softly, wishing things were different and it was easier for him to be home. She couldn't believe he was planning to spend a good chunk of the summer at the ranch this year. "What made you decide to come home this summer?"

A sigh came over the line. "I miss my family, the ranch. I need a break from Eugene."

"What happened?" Seth loved that town, and though she knew he enjoyed being out in nature and was a good cowboy, he didn't fit in at the Double O or in Clifford's Bend. He'd found his niche when he moved to Eugene. He'd also found love. "Is it Von?"

He was slow to reply. "Yeah. He asked for a break about a month ago. Said he needed some s.p.a.ce to think."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She heard a sniff on Seth's end. "I couldn't bring myself to say the words. It was like if I told someone it would make it real, and I was so sure he'd come around after a week or so. We're soul mates, Chel. We were talking about moving in together this summer. I guess that spooked him. I'm still holding out hope that some time and s.p.a.ce will bring him back."

"I'm sorry, Seth," Chanel said, and she meant it. "It'll be good for you to get out here and clear your head."

"How's David?" Seth asked.

"Fine. He's still seeing Faith. Spends most of his time off on the weekend in town with her. Your mom wishes he'd come around the house more." Mentioning Christine made Chanel think back to seeing Fritz leaving her house and their whispers in the cook tent. The words were on the tip of her tongue. She was sure Seth would be fine with it. He understood lonely and would be pleased to know his mother was finding some happiness, especially with Jessi about to leave the nest, but Mitch came in through the mudroom door.

"What do you think he'll think about me being home?"

Chanel had to take a moment to bring her brain back to the conversation. "Don't expect too much."

"I figured," Seth said, and Chanel could hear the sadness in his voice. He and David had been so close before David knew the truth. Chanel just couldn't figure out how her older cousin could just flip a switch on how he felt about his own brother.

"Wish I had a different answer. Hey, Dad just got back in. I should probably scrounge up some lunch for us."

"I'll see you next week."

"Drive safe. Love you," Chanel said.

"Love you too."

She heard the click signaling he'd hung up. They never said goodbye. Even as kids returning to their respective homes after a long day of playing, they'd always hugged and scampered off with a "See you tomorrow!" called over their shoulders.

"Who was that?" Mitch asked with a wink at his daughter. He pulled out a pitcher of iced tea and held it up to her. "Want some?"

"Sure, and that was Seth, so don't go getting excited," Chanel replied. Mitch was a great dad when it came to her dating. He had the right mix of protectiveness and acceptance. Though she knew it would break his heart when she finally found the one and stopped using the ranch as home base, but she also knew he wanted her to experience the loved he'd shared with her mother.

"What's Seth up to?" Mitch asked taking Chanel's empty water gla.s.s from her and filling it with iced tea.

"Getting ready for a trip home. He'll be here next Wednesday."

Mitch's eyebrows were raised when he pa.s.sed a gla.s.s to Chanel. "Really. It's been a while."

Chanel nodded. Mitch had always been supportive of Seth, and for that she was grateful.

"Christine sure misses him. She wishes she could get to Eugene more often," Mitch said.

"Yeah. Same here. I haven't seen him in over a year," Chanel said wandering over to the sliding gla.s.s door on the other side of the great room.

"Have you seen Maddox today?"

Her father's words had her spinning around, almost spilling her drink. "Why?"

Mitch eyed her suspiciously. "He wasn't at the bunkhouse. His car's here. I was going to invite him to dinner over at Christine's. No doubt he hasn't been eating much real food since he got here. Can't have him losing weight. Talbot will kill me."

"Oh," Chanel said turning back to the view of the horse pasture and the mountains beyond. "We went for a run this morning. He must've decided to keep going after I headed back."

"You left him out there?"

Chanel cringed at her father's tone. "He's a big boy. He could have followed me home if he wanted."

"I better go look for him," Mitch said with a sigh. "Where'd you leave him?"

Chanel told him and turned to head to the bathroom for a shower.

"Chanel, one more thing."

She paused and looked over her shoulder.

"We're going to need all hands on deck in July for the yearling drive. I need you to teach Maddox how to ride."

It was all she could do not to slap her hand to her forehead. As if they didn't already spend enough time together during the day, now their evenings would be full of horsemanship lessons. Given Maddox's stubborn, pushy nature, Chanel didn't see him getting along with a horse very well.

Mitch must have read her mind. "You're a great teacher. You've got more patience than anyone else around here."