Page 10 of Talon
“I won’t make a practice of it, but I need to fix something for myself, and it will give me something to do while you read those.”She tilted her head toward the table.
“In that case, what do you have?”
“Food or drink?”
“Either.Both.”
She listed off several foods and a few more drinks.He chose what sounded like it would be the easiest for her and waited until she disappeared into the kitchen to open the folder and start reading.
8
Madison’shandsshookasshe pulled out the ingredients, then a skillet and got busy.The grilled cheese and soup he’d requested wouldn’t take long, she just hoped it was long enough for him to finish with the notes.She didn’t want to see them again if she could help it.
She hated that she’d been shaken enough that she’d agreed to him coming over, but now that he was here, she had to admit, at least to herself, that she felt better not being alone.She could have handled it if Billy showed up for some reason, but she was glad she wouldn’t have to do it alone.
She had just flipped the two sandwiches in the skillet and was checking the temperature of the soup that had started out in a can but after she’d finished adding extras didn’t resemble it’s original form much, when Talon appeared in the doorway.He watched her for a moment, then leaned against the door frame.
“What more can you tell me about this Billy?”he asked.
She tried to remember what she’d already told him and told him the rest of what she could remember.
“He knows all the things your dad taught you growing up?How to shoot, how to farm, that kind of thing?”
Madison nodded.“He does.He was there for most of it.”
“And not that it matters, but you don’t recall anything about your dad wanting to pair you off with him?No where this nutter could have gotten the idea that you were his?”
She glanced over at him, but quickly back to the stove where she picked up the edge of one sandwich to check how browned it was.
“Nothing.Not a word of anything like that.Not in front of Billy or when it was just the two of us.I never overheard Dad talking to Billy about anything like that either.”She lifted the sandwiches out of the skillet with a spatula and set them on plates she’d already set out.Then served the soup into the two bowls she’d pulled down at the same time.
She got out spoons and set one on each plate.Before she had a chance to pick up both plates, Talon stepped closer and did it instead.
“Where do you want to go?”
“I usually eat at the coffee tables, but we can eat here if you’ve got the notes spread out there.”
Talon shook his head then turned and carried both plates into the other room.Madison followed, wondering what he was up to.When they got back to the sofa, she didn’t see the folder anywhere.
“Where is it?”
“I put it back in the drawer for you.I know it made you uncomfortable and I didn’t want you to have to deal with it anymore.”He set both plates on the coffee table and turned to face her.“Which one do you want?”
“I don’t care, they’re both the same.Oh, that reminds me.”She turned on her heel and went back into the kitchen, fetching the two glasses of iced tea she’d poured earlier and taking them back into the living room with her.“I forgot these.”She set one in front of him and carried the other with her to the other side of the sofa, but instead of sitting on the couch, she sat on the floor, putting her food at a better height for eating.
“Oh, that’s smart.”Talon looked at her a moment with wide eyes then he shifted, sliding off the couch to sit on the floor beside her.“I don’t know why this never occurred to me.Though I think if I did it at the bunkhouse, the guys would laugh at me.”He lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug and picked up his sandwich.
“Want to watch something?”Madison offered.
“Only if you do.I don’t want to disturb your routine.Other than answering questions for me and my making sure you’re safe, I want you to go about your life like you usually would.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Talon pushed his plate to the far side of the table and leaned back against the couch.
“That was really good.Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”Madison finished the last bite of her sandwich, and the last little bit of soup left in her bowl, then leaned back herself trying to decide if she was full or if she wanted something more.
Before she’d decided, Talon stood and picked up both plates and bowls, stacking them together before he carried them into the kitchen.She heard water running and got up to go see what he was doing.Madison stumbled as she made it to her feet and could only be glad that Talon was in the other room and hadn’t witnessed her moment of clumsiness.Though, if he stuck around for long he was sure to find out.Still, she’d rather that not happen too soon, if she could help it.
