Page 66 of Blame It On Midnight

“How long will you be gone?”

“I’m not sure.”

A wail cut through the quiet, and he flinched. “I need to go up. She only settles if I’m there.” He took the stairs but paused at the top and glanced over her shoulder. “Are you coming back to Montana?”

Shock was the first thing she felt. Then anger. And hurt. Was this thing between them so casual that he thought she would just up and leave and not come back?

“I was planning on it,” she admitted roughly. “Unless you don’t want me to.”

“Shit, Collins, I’m not saying things right.” He angled his head away, and she heard Rosie’s voice. “I’ve got to…”

“Go. Help Daisy Mae. We’ll talk next week.”

The wolf watched in silence, gave a small whine, before settling in a corner by the front door. Her legs were wooden, but they worked well enough and carried her out to the truck. She hopped inside, started the engine, and stared ahead, seeing nothing. When she woke up this morning, this was not how she’d envisioned her evening. She looked through the windshield up at the bedroom window, which she knew was Benton’s. She’d stood not far from that very window a few nights ago, naked, with him inside her.

The thought of flying to New York didn’t fill her with joy. But the idea of staying in Montana made her feel worse. And that told her that maybe she needed to put some distance between herself and this cowboy who’d corralled her heart. She loved him. She knew this before she’d stepped foot in Montana. Time had made the connection stronger, and while she knew exactly where she stood, his feelings for her weren’t clear.

Benton desired her. Wanted her in his bed. They made each other laugh and loved the same movies and music. Could pass hours in each other’s arms. At first glance, anyone would think they were perfect for each other. And yet she had doubts. Was she setting herself up for an epic fail? One, her heart wouldn’t survive?

She put the truck in reverse and headed out into the night. Maybe it was time for a little clarity.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Benton stayed by Daisy Mae’s side for over seventy-two hours. He sat through the shakes. The convulsions and body pain. Held her hair when she vomited and cleaned her up after. He kept her cool while she sweated it out and didn’t react when she swore and hit at him. When she begged him to go to the south side and hit up Johnny Boy for some of the good stuff.

He made a mental note to visit Johnny Boy real soon.

By the time she was able to sleep through a couple of hours peacefully, he was dog ass tired. He hopped in the shower, then pulled on a pair of boxers, and collapsed on the floor beside the bed. He was out cold for hours, and when he woke up, momentarily confused. It was dark. The bed was empty.

He jumped to his feet and took the stairs two at a time, then slid to a halt when he found Daisy Mae bundled up in a blanket, sitting at the kitchen table, sipping some broth that Manley had brought over.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” Manley said softly. He got up and hugged Daisy Mae. “You hang tough, girl, you hear? It’s a war and it’s a marathon that never ends. Picture that little girl and hold her close.”

“Thank you,” Daisy Mae whispered. Her voice was hoarse. No doubt from the crying and screaming.

He followed his father outside and took that fresh, cool air deep into his lungs. He felt like he’d been breathing in sweat and darkness for days.

“Ryland staying with you?”

His dad nodded. “Figured you needed some space to deal with all of this. Cole set out yesterday with the colt. Should be back in Texas by now.”

“Good.” He figured there was a lot he needed to attend to, but he’d catch up with his foreman in the morning.

“I’m sorry,” Manley spoke quietly. His eyes were on the big Montana Sky. “Sorry you had to deal with that sort of thing when you were not yet a man. Sorry that my weakness made your lives so damn difficult. Sorry that Daisy Mae is struggling.”

Benton’s throat constricted. He cleared it. “Your weakness made us all strong, Dad. You don’t need to be sorry for past mistakes. Not anymore. I know the man you were before you fell down that hole, and he’s the same man standing here now. We’re good. You just face that beast every day and tell him to go fuck himself.”

“I will.” Manley took a step down, then paused. “I don’t know that she’s as strong as she needs to be, son.” His words were quiet, but they held some weight.

“She might surprise us.”

“I suppose she might.” He took another step down. “Don’t let Collins slip away. That one is a keeper.”

The comment was out of left field. Benton didn’t quite know how to react. “You barely know her.”

“That might be true, but I saw the way she looked at you with her whole heart in her eyes. With that soft smile that kind of turns up her mouth. She loves you, and if you’re smart, you’ll make sure she knows you feel the same.”

“I don’t…” The denial was hot on his tongue, but his father laughed in his face.

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