Page 21 of Every Single Wildflower
The silence hangs as my light shines down on her ankle that’s already swelling. Without waiting for the response that I’m most likely going to ignore, I scoop her up in my arms and haul her back to my cabin.
Chapter fifteen
Ivy
I would protest, but at this point what good would it do? Maddox deposits me on the kitchen counter, then snags a bandana from a small drawer. I watch him pull open the top door to the fridge, removing a handful of ice cubes before he wraps them up in the cloth.
“Here.” He motions his hand for me to lift my foot.
I do, bracing my hands under my knee to keep it steady. His skilled hands remove my sandal, unhooking the clasp with ease. It spikes an irrational pang of jealousy.I’m sure he’s removed countless sandals off of women from the neighboring three counties.He cups my heel and places the ice on the portion ofmy ankle that already looks bruised. I ignore the way his hands feel on my skin. The way he pretends to care. He doesn’t. He was very clear on that the last time we were in a room alone together, so I don’t really understand the reason for these theatrics.
“Thanks. I can take it from here.” I clear my throat.
He ignores me. The opposite hand bracing on the countertop as he glances up at me.
“I’m sorry about the big house.”
I blink as the unexpected lump in my throat forms. I didn’t want this Maddox. The one in the white hat. The one who swoops in and wipes my tears. The one who makes everythingbetter.No. I wanted the scowl. The rejection. It was easier to hate him that way. It was easier to be angry than hurt, and right now, I’m fragile. My world has been turned upside down in a matter of days, and now I’m sitting on his counter while he tends to my injury like some cowboy savior. Two days ago, he was the man who I vowed to never even speak to again if I didn’t have to. But here we are, a breath apart, and he wants to act like he didn’t use me and dispose me in the same breath all those years ago.
“Yeah, me too.” Sliding his hand away; I maneuver myself down from the counter. “Thanks for the ice.”
He steps back, his eyes still holding onto my every move. I can tell by his posture that he’s not ready to cut this conversation short, but I am.
“Look Ivy, about what happened...” he starts, but I hold up a hand.
“Maddox, we don’t have to hash out the past.” I shrug a shoulder, doing my absolute best to give the illusion that what I’m saying is the God’s honest truth.
“And if I want to?” He lifts a brow.
“There would be no point.” I swipe my sandal from the counter. “What happened, happened. It’s been years. Honestly, Ihaven’t thought much about that night in a long time. I’ve been kind of busy.”
He crosses his arms, the tic in his sharp jaw visible.
“It’s not like I’m here for long anyway. We don’t need to waste any time making things weird. I’ve moved on. So did you.”
After my speech, I lift my chin, trying to control my breathing. If it wasn’t for my pride I would fall flat on this dirty floor and cry.
He takes a slow step, his boots dragging across the wood, making the only sound in the cabin besides the warning bells going off inside of my head. His arms stay crossed, his eyes zeroed in on mine, as the final step brings him to stand directly in front of me. I hold my breath, my neck tilting back a fraction as he peers down at me. When he leans in, I inhale as his scent hits me with vengeance. His warmth fans across the junction of my shoulder, where my neck is bare from the spaghetti strap of my dress.
“You’re a bad liar, Goldie.” I squeeze my eyes shut, as he brushes past me, and I don’t open them until I hear the click of his bedroom door.
Chapter sixteen
Maddox
My hands rest in my pockets as I let my eyes trail over the bull pens. At one point in my life, I thought I’d be the man riding these machines. The one to make that glorious eight second ride, have my name displayed across the jumbotron with the crowd going wild. But it wasn’t in the cards for me. I couldn’t travel from rodeo to rodeo after dad died. My siblings needed me. My mom needed me, and so that dream was pushed aside, and it led to me dropping an idea in Emmett’s ear. Instead of being the man on the bull, maybe I could be the one to provide the bull. Seeing as Ivy’s cousin Parker Stillwater was becoming one of the top bull riders in the PBR, Emmett took interest in thebusiness proposition and that interest led to the purchase of the Mayson Ranch’s first bucking bull and its only grown from there. Emmett entrusted me with this portion of the ranch, and I’ve never had more pride than when I look out over these magnificent creatures. We were lucky enough to start with a prime bull who could not only perform, but his bloodline gave us the ability to expand. To get into the breeding industry which is what has been the main source of income for the ranch the last couple of years. But even with the revenue from the contracts and the rodeos, the ranch is suffering, and Emmett’s too fucking hardheaded to admit it.
I’ve already made notes on the white board of what the bulls need to be fed. Feeding these animals isn’t just some oats dumped in a bucket. It’s precise. It’s specific to the bull, especially to the ones we use for breeding. This last year has been slower in terms of events, but we have a couple of places to hit later this season, and I have someone coming tomorrow to pay top dollar for some Havoc DNA.
Aiden and Hoss help me with the feeding, and they typically do most of it after I’ve laid out the diet. At first, I only allowed myself to do it. I didn’t trust any of the ranch hands to not fuck up my operation. Even Ryder and Cooper want no part, but if I happen to be out of town, or for some reason can’t be here, I need someone else who knows how to handle them correctly. Aiden has proved he’s just as invested in these animals as Emmett and me. He’s a hard worker and a damn good horseman. Hoss is just a kid, but he’s eager to learn.
After I’ve made the notes for them, I head out of the bull barn and amble straight to the horse barn to begin my morning routine. Keeping a norm will help me sort shit out in my head. The main topic being the petite blonde who’s sleeping under the same roof as me. The woman I haven’t been able to rid from my psyche no matter how many beers I drink or how hard Iwork myself to the bone. She stays there.Everywhere.It’s not my domain, it’s Cooper’s, but I have my reasons for my daily visits, and he doesn’t ask any questions. I’m not sure whether he doesn’t care, or he already knows the answer. Either way I appreciate his turning of a blind eye.
An hour later I’m about to retreat to my office when my phone rings. It’s just after sunup now, barely seven o’clock.
“Hey ma,” I answer.
“Morning.” I can hear the yawn in her voice. “How’s my boy?”
