Page 55 of Wyoming Bodyguard
“Okay. How could anything be good with us after you stole my dream?”
The anger in Dax’s voice hit him like a hailstorm. “I didn’t steal anything from you.”
“You agreed to sell the ranch,” Dax yelled, throwing his arms wide. “This land, this place, it’s in our blood. In our bones. I grew up idolizing you and knowing I’d always have a place here. Working this ranch like Pops had. Knowing every night I’d go to bed sore and tired and satisfied. You took all of that away from me.”
Anxious energy swirled through Madden. He tapped his toe against the floorboard, needing to get it out of his system before he exploded. “I came home, injured and traumatized, and couldn’t do the job anymore. Pops and I didn’t have any other option but to get the money we could so he could survive.”
“Icould have done the work.Icould have kept this legacy going.”
“You were just a teenager, Dax. We couldn’t put that pressure on you.”
Dax shot to his feet and paced. “I’m not a damn kid. Haven’t been in a long time. Hell, who do you think took care of this place while you were gone? Who kept an eye on Pops? I did.”
A lump lodged in Madden’s throat. He hadn’t thought about the years he’d been gone. He’d assumed his father had kept a steady hand on running the ranch in his absence while Dax ran around, enjoying his youth.
But none of that was the real reason for selling the property.
“I’m sure you helped Dad a lot while I was gone, but that’s different from taking on the responsibility of this whole place. Dad wasn’t in a position to help. He needed to off-load things on someone else. It might seem selfish, but he didn’t have a choice.”
Dax stopped, his broad shoulders drooping. “We always have a choice. You two just chose to leave me out in the cold.”
“No, we chose to give you a chance to make your own mark while preserving Dad’s dignity.”
“What do you mean?” Dax frowned.
“Dad has Parkinson’s. He found out right around the time I came home with a bum shoulder. He didn’t want to live on a ranch he couldn’t run, and I couldn’t take over a ranch that was always supposed to be mine. You aren’t the only person who had something stolen. We all did. Just in different ways, by different circumstances.”
Silence struck Dax, and he sank back in his chair. “Parkinson’s? You sure?”
Emotion tightened Madden’s chest. His dad had always been larger than life. Picturing what was to come—what had already begun—tore his heart in two. “We’re sure.”
“I’ve seen the tremors. I told myself it was normal. It was just an age thing. I never imagined it was something more serious.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, and when he dropped it to his lap, tears shone in his eyes. “You should have told me.”
“You’re right.”
Shock registered on Dax’s face. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that before.”
“Don’t get used to it. But you have a point. You haven’t been a kid in a long time. I need to stop treating you like one. Should have stopped a long time ago and brought you into decisions that affected your life. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
Dax rubbed at his eyes. “Appreciate that. Well, damn. Who am I supposed to aim all my pent-up anger at now?”
“Ha!” Madden said, grateful to steer the conversation into less tumultuous territory. “How about using it to whip that stallion into gear. Did you bring him out here?”
“Yeah. I didn’t really need to. Just gave me an excuse to be closer to Dad during the day. He gets lonely out here by himself.”
Guilt hit Madden like a slap in the face. He’d avoided being out here because he didn’t want to run into Dax. Not only had he let their bad feelings color the way he saw his brother, but they’d also kept him away from the place he’d called home most of his life—and the man he’d admired forever.
“I’m sure he likes that.”
Nodding, Dax sipped his beer. “So why are you and Lily here? She still in danger?”
“I had a question about cattle tags then figured we should stay the night. It’s tough to keep her safe at her place. Too much space, not enough manpower or technology.”
“I know a little about cattle tags. I could know something useful.” Dax focused on the beer label as he peeled it back with his thumb.
Maybe it was the fact his eyes had been opened to the man Dax had become or maybe it was the shy way his brother casually mentioned helping, but he decided it may be time to take a chance on him.
Something he should have done a long time ago.
