Page 7 of Wyoming Bodyguard
The lump in her throat grew. Her breath hitched higher until her lungs refused to take in more air. She squeezed her clasped hands tighter as her vision wobbled and the buzzing of the overhead lights morphed into panicked cries.
Madden appeared in front of her and gently placed his hands on top of hers. “Lily, you’re safe. Take a few minutes. Look at me, okay? Focus on me while you catch your breath. Just inhale slowly then let it out.”
She stared at the green in his eyes and mimicked his actions. She pulled in a large, steady breath through her nose then blew it back into the air. Her muscles relaxed. Her hands unclenched. The feel of his rough palms on her knuckles grounded her, centered her.
“You’ve got this,” Madden whispered. “Take all the time you need.”
She took a few more seconds to calm the frantic beat of her heart before continuing. “Dad pushed me out of the way. I was so scared, so confused, and when I finally looked around, I saw him on the ground. I started screaming. The rest is a little murky.”
Deputy Sanders cleared his throat. “What about you, Madden?”
Madden stayed crouched in front of Lily with his hands wrapped around hers, but he shifted his attention to the deputy. “I was in Tilly’s with Reid and Eve. I heard gunshots then the window shattered. I heard Lily screaming, people yelling. I ran outside and found Lily and Mr. Tremont. I stayed with them until you came.”
“And the truck?”
“Already gone by the time I made it outside. I did notice a flash of black when it sped around the corner, but that’s about it.”
Deputy Sanders nodded. “Most everyone has the same story. Lily, is there anyone you know who’d want to hurt your father?”
She reared back her head as if slapped. “Are you serious?”
He nodded.
“Sir, you know my dad. He’s never hurt a fly—never would. He doesn’t have trouble with anyone. This has to be one of those freak accidents. Another random shooting where we were at the wrong place at the wrong time.” Her voice caught as the whole horrible event played on repeat again in her mind.
“You may be right.” On a heavy sigh, Deputy Sanders pushed to his feet. “I wish your dad luck, and if there’s anything else you remember, give me a call.”
Unable to speak, she nodded.
“You okay to get yourself home tonight?” the deputy asked.
“My truck’s still in town, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll be here with Dad. He won’t want to be alone.”
“You’ll need to get some rest,” Madden said. “Not to mention a change of clothes. Toiletries. Once you’re ready, I can drive you home to grab some things for both you and your dad. He’ll probably want some personal items as well.”
Madden might be right, but she’d have to be peeled off this chair and carted away before willingly leaving her father.
A wave of exhaustion slapped her on the face, and she leaned back in her chair. “My mind can’t even go to what happens next. Right now, I just need to think about this surgery and Dad surviving.”
“No problem. We’ll wait and when you’re ready, we’ll figure it out.”
“You’re still a good kid, Madden,” Deputy Sanders said. “Thanks for sticking with Lily through all this.”
A sudden jolt of realization struck Lily like a bolt of lightning. Madden wasn’t supporting her out of the goodness of his heart. He was using her tragedy as his next stop on the campaign trail to make himself look good.
Yanking back her hands, she jutted her chin and pressed her lips in a firm line. “I don’t need Madden to sit with me. I’m fine on my own, and when the time comes that I need to go home, I’ll figure it out. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
She jumped to her feet so fast, Madden almost fell to the floor before righting himself and standing, a frown turning down his full lips.
She ignored the hurt in his eyes and confusion from the deputy, but she couldn’t quite ignore the feeling of loneliness as she walked away, leaving behind the man who’d brought her nothing but comfort in one of the hardest times of her life.
But that comfort was an act. A farce. A way to manipulate people into forgetting the sins of his family. And no matter how she yearned for the sturdy touch of his hand, she refused to be used.
Especially by Madden McKay.
* * *
Anger boiled in Madden’s gut as he stormed out of the hospital and drove to his father’s ranch. He blasted the air conditioner, but the cold temperature did nothing to cool him. Damn it, he’d spent hours by Lily’s side, supporting and comforting her while she waited in fear for news of her father. Her sudden change of attitude gave him whiplash.
