Page 77 of Every Single Wildflower
Chapter fifty-seven
Maddox
I hold Ivy’s hand as we sit in Penelope’s living room. Ruthie smirks, but Emmett stares at our clasped hands before he rubs his forehead. Cooper is propped up against the kitchen counter, a casserole dish in one hand and a fork in the other. Ryder is at the dining table. His dirty cowboy hat resting in the middle while he fiddles with his pocketknife.
“Anyone like any tea?” Penelope calls out.
“I’ll take one,” Cooper calls over his shoulder.
Ivy squeezes my hand, and I smooth my thumb over her knuckles.
“Can someone please let me in on what’s happening?” She asks.
Emmett reaches for Ruthie’s hand and smiles. “Sam called with some news.”
“What news?” She scoots forward on the couch, her full attention on her father.
“Warren made a confession,” Ruthie inserts.
“Confession?” Cooper questions.
Emmett shakes his head in disbelief. “Warren Nixon confessed to accepting a bribe from Rocky Bernard to falsify the report. Rule it as an arson so we couldn’t collect the insurance money and be forced to sell.”
“Holy shit,” Cooper blanches.
“Language," Penelope scolds, popping him with a dish rag.
“I’m so confused.” Ivy lets go of my hand to place her fingers at her temples. “He just decided to make a confession out of nowhere?”
I glance over at Ryder who still holds an emotionless expression. I’m smiling inside as I scan over his knuckles again. The battered skin is telling.
“Maybe he had a change of heart.” Ryder shrugs. “Maybe some self-reflection had his eyes opening.”
We all stare at him, well aware he played a part, but no one daring enough to ask the details.
“So, what now?” Ivy questions.
“Now we make our claim. Get the insurance pay out and save our ranch. Warren admitted it was an electrical problem in the attic that caused the fire.”
Ivy leans her head back, relief flashing over her face.
“I told you,” I whisper. I tilt my chin at Emmett. “I’m sorry for what you lost. But I’m glad you can rebuild even better than before.”
“I owe you a big thanks. You pulled me from those flames. Saved my life.” He glances at our hands again. “With that being said, I guess I need to address the elephant in the room. Are you dating my daughter?”
I chuckle and nod my head. “Yes sir.”
He points at Ivy. “Please don’t run him off. He’s a hell of a bucking bull breeder.”
Ivy rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry, dad. I think I’ll keep this one.”
Running my hand over her back, she smiles at me, and it’s the first time since she’s been here, I see complete joy on her face.
Chapter fifty-eight
Ivy
“So, you and Maddox, huh?” Mom snickers as she places a shirt on a wire hanger.
