by Dana Wayne
But there was one glaring difference. The eyes. While the same color, Logan’s exuded the wide-open honesty of youth. Cade’s showed only contempt.
“You’re Anna Sue’s kid.” Cade’s voice was cold and clear as ice water.
Logan nodded. “Yeah.”
“I don’t know what kind of crap she’s feeding you, but I can tell you it’s a bunch of lies.”
“If you don’t know what she said, how do you know it’s lies?”
Cade glared at Logan’s quick comeback.
Sky mentally gave the kid a high five.
But Cade rallied. “I just know the kind of woman she was then.” He paused. “And some things never change.”
Logan flinched, and Sky grabbed his arm. “Enough, Cade,” she snapped. “Come on, Logan.” She tugged again and glanced up to find Max right behind Cade.
If she thought he looked angry before, it was ten times worse now. His fingers flexed at his side, his nostrils flared, and she could almost hear his teeth grinding together. The vein in his temple doubled in size and pulsed with each beat of his heart.
Oh crap.
Cade didn’t look at Sky; instead, he focused on Logan. “She claims I’m your daddy.” He studied the face that was a younger version of himself and shook his head. “I wonder how she can be so sure.”
The weasel had the audacity to wink at Logan.
Sky sucked in a breath. The proverbial shit was about to hit the fan.
Logan lunged at Cade a split second too late.
Max already had him spun around. It took every ounce of restraint not to plant a fist in his face right then and there.
Undaunted, Cade continued to feed the fire. “Ain’t that right, Lover Boy? You tell him you and his—”
Hands fisted in his shirt, Max jerked Cade close to his face. “So help me God, Cade. You finish that sentence, and you’ll regret it the rest of your life.” Flames of rage shot through him, clouding his judgement. He saw each rapid beat of his heart as a dark spot before his eyes. Control. Don’t let him get to you.
“Hey, I’m just trying to protect my reputation here.” He took a step back and pushed Max’s hands away. “Anna Sue is spreading lies about me and—”
“The only person spreading lies,” barked Max, “is you. And it stops. Now.”
“Or what?” Cade looked around at the crowd gathering, obviously enjoying the precarious situation he’d put Max in. “You gonna go all postal on me again like you did in high school? Prove what I been saying about you all this time is right?” He looked at the throng again and smirked. “Ever ‘one knows all that killing and shit messed you up. You’re nothin’ but a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.”
Every muscle in his body tensed with anger. He read the taunt in Cade’s eyes as clearly as if he had spoken out loud. Max wanted to put the past behind him. Cade wanted to use it to intimidate and humiliate.
The entitled bully from high school was now the entitled adult who still derived pleasure from hurting anyone he considered weak or vulnerable.
Or a threat to the power he craved. Like Max.
He would push until Max pushed back, then he would play the innocent, place all the blame on Max while he walked off scot free.
Not this time.
He took a deep breath and looked at Sky. Her face had lost most of its color, but she managed a weak smile.
Maddie stood beside her, eyes wide, bottom lip trembling.
When Max didn’t react to his last remark, Cade sneered. “Loser Logan. You still can’t get over the fact that I had her first.”
Max heard Sky’s quick intake of breath, before he blocked everything except the man in front of him.
He saw Logan lunge for Cade again, but Sky pulled him back.
“And you know what?” He grinned. “All I gotta do is this.” He snapped his fingers for emphasis. “And I’d have her again.” Cade smiled and looked around. “Cause that’s all a woman like her needs.”
Logan roared and lunged at Cade. Hampered by Sky’s grip on his arm, he only succeeded in driving the man off balance. Surprised by the sudden attack, Cade stumbled and ran into Maddie, knocking her to the ground, where she cried out when her head hit the compact earth.
White-hot anger erupted through Max in a single heartbeat. Hurting Maddie was the last straw. He grabbed Cade’s arm and spun him around. Every hurt, every injustice, every slight he had ever endured because of him exploded in the fist that connected with Cade’s face. The blow knocked him to the ground, and Max jerked him up and hit him again.
Cade fought back, landing some punches. Max tasted the blood in his mouth but never felt the blow that put it there. Driven by an anger more intense than anything he’d ever experienced, he hit and hit again.
Shouts from the crowd penetrated the ringing in his ears, but they fought on, rolling around on the ground, punching and kicking, grunting as they flailed about.
Hands tugged at his arms, trying to pull him off Cade, whom he now had pinned to the ground.
“That’s enough,” shouted someone behind him. “Dammit, Max, that’s enough!”
Strong arms jerked him back, and he fell to his knees, muscles quivering as the anger-induced surge of adrenaline raced through his body.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Max turned his head toward the familiar voice.
Sheriff Cooper Delaney stood beside him, hands fisted on his hips, as he glared between the two men.
Someone helped Cade stand, and he pointed an unsteady finger at Max. “I want him arrested for assault,” he shouted. “I’m pressing charges.”
“Cade started it,” said a voice Max didn’t recognize.
“He hit me first!”
“You had it coming and then some,” said another.
“Max?” asked the Sheriff, “What happened?”
Max remained bent over, hands on his thighs, striving to get his breathing under control, fortifying himself for what was sure to happen next.
It was over.
Sky witnessed the part of him he feared and hated the most. Anger. Loss of control. She would never look at him the same way again.
He’d ruined any chance they had of being together. He let Cade goad him into a fight. Again. It didn’t matter what provoked it, who said or did what. All that mattered was Loser Logan threw a punch at the Cade Jackson.
And this time, there were more than enough witnesses to make the charges stick.
He swallowed hard to quell the hurt burning the back of his throat. He was so close to having it all. So close to realizing the dream that kept him alive through the darkest of days…the hope of a future that included a real home. A wife. A family. Gone in the blink of an eye.
A chilled gust of air washed over him, matching the coldness that coursed through his body. This is what death feels like, he thought numbly, cold and dark and alone.
He vowed not to look at anyone as he struggled to stand, shaking off the arms that attempted to help. He didn’t need anyone. Not now. Not ever again. Need brought pain.
And he’d had enough.
“I threw the first punch, Coop,” he said hoarsely. “Do what you got to do.”
“I told you,” blurted Cade, “the crazy bastard assaulted me for no reason. I want him arrested.”
Unsteady, Max spread his legs to maintain balance and put his hands behind his back, waiting for the cuffs to seal his fate.
“No need for that,” said Coop. “Let’s go see if we can straighten this out.”
Max dug his keys from his pocket and passed them to Coop. “Give these to Sky so they can get home. Tell her to get the damn tree first.”
“Keep the keys,” snapped Coop. “Until we get this sorted out.”
He staggered over to Coop’s Bronco and leaned against the hood. Against his better judgment, he looked toward the crowd around Coop and found Maddie’s tear-stained face staring at him as she clung to her mother’s hand.
The fear in her eyes
broke his heart.
She’s afraid. Of me.
Sky poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table with Anna. Strange as it may seem, she enjoyed her company. Maybe it was her connection to Max, or maybe it was just having another woman to talk to; Sky didn’t know. Nor did she waste time trying to figure it out. It is what it is.
Anna spent the last half hour sitting in Logan’s truck while they talked. Judging by the smile when she came in a few minutes ago, things were better between mother and son.
“I can’t believe it came to that again,” whispered Anna. “All because of me.”
“I don’t think that was all of it,” offered Sky. “Like you said, there’s a lot of bad blood between them.” She sipped her coffee. “I honestly think Cade accidently knocking Maddie down was the match that started the fire.”
Anna sat up straighter. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah. It scared her, of course, but she wasn’t hurt.”
Anna’s voice cracked, and she inhaled deeply. “Seems all I do is apologize, Sky, but I am so very sorry my problems ended up on your doorstep.”
Sky shrugged. “It was bound to come to a head. There’s too much history between them. Maybe now they can get past it and move forward.”
“Have you talked with him? Max?”
She shook her head. “No. He left without saying anything to me. Or Maddie.” She paused. “He asked Logan to bring us home while he stayed and talked with Coop.”
“I’m sure the fight was upsetting for him, too.”
She considered her earlier conversation with Max about his PTSD. He’d feared he would say or do something that might scare them, even hurt them. Is that why he left? Did he think she blamed him? That she feared him?
“Far as I’m concerned,” said Sky, “Cade didn’t get near what he deserved.”
“Logan told me what he said—”
“Don’t pay any attention to what Cade said. He was only trying to get a reaction out of someone. Mainly Max.”
Anna hesitated. “Logan and I had a long talk.” She heaved a deep, satisfying sigh. “He apologized for coming here. Said he understands now why I didn’t want him to know.”
Sky nodded. What else was there to say about that?
“At least Max wasn’t arrested,” offered Anna.
“There is that,” said Sky. “Coop insisted Cade sleep on it and come in tomorrow to talk about it.” She smiled as she remembered how flustered Cade became when Coop told him. “You should have seen his face when Coop said he had a good mind to arrest him for disturbing the peace.”
“Bet he didn’t like that.”
“No. And when everyone there said Cade instigated the fight with his nasty remarks, he shut up and left.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get a tree.”
“Wouldn’t be the same without Max.” She stared into the depths of her cup.
“Max has a good heart,” Anna said at last. “Always standing up for the underdog.”
“Knight in shining armor rides again, huh?”
“Something like that.” Anna shook her head. “The same thing that makes him that, means he’s beating himself up over the fact that he fought in front of you and Maddie. And all those other people.”
“I know. I want to talk to him, but I’m afraid he won’t see me.” She shook her head. “Maybe I just need to let things cool down a bit.”
“Maybe.” Anna pushed her cup aside. “Max is a great guy, Sky. You two belong together. Don’t let him push you away.”
Sky smiled. “Thank you. I’m not giving in that easy.”
“I called Max to say goodbye, but it went to voicemail.” She shook her head. “I knocked on his door when I saw him come home earlier, but he didn’t answer. I understand why now.” She exhaled slowly. “I’ll be headed home shortly. My stuff’s already in the car.” She sat up straighter. “I think Logan wants to talk to Max before he leaves, so he’ll come home tomorrow.”
Sky shook her head. “Don’t be silly. It’s too late to drive back tonight.”
Anna stood and put her cup in the sink. “You’re too kind, Sky. I’ve been nothing but trouble since I got here. It’s time you got your life back.”
The two women faced each other in the kitchen.
Anna spoke first. “Once again, I really appreciate all your hospitality. I doubt I’d be so accommodating if the roles were reversed.”
Sky ducked her head, then smiled. “Well, I will admit I wasn’t all that thrilled with things in the beginning, but I’m glad we met.” She paused. “And I hope if you come back to town, we’ll have a chance to get better acquainted.”
Anna’s cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “Well, Bill did ask if we might see each other again.”
“That’s wonderful,” said Sky. “He’s a great guy.”
“He seems like it.”
“And you’re really not that far away.”
Anna paused. “Logan will graduate this spring. I never thought I’d say this, but maybe I’ll give some thought to coming back. Cade notwithstanding, this is a nice town with nice people.”
The silence continued for several moments, then Sky stepped forward and pulled Anna into a gentle embrace. “You’re welcome here anytime. Please be careful going home.”
Ten minutes after Anna left, a soft knock on the back door had Sky’s heart skipping a beat. Max.
She jerked open the door to find Logan on the step, hands thrust in his front pockets. “May I come in a minute?”
“Of course.” She stepped aside, glancing next door to the darkened house. Poor Max. How he must be hurting. “Your mom gone?”
He nodded. “I, um, just wanted to check on Maddie. Is she okay?”
Touched by his concern, she smiled. “Yeah. She’s in the living room watching television.” Sky shut the door. “I was about to make some hot chocolate and popcorn. Care to join us?”
He nodded. “That would be nice.”
“Go on in and say hello. I’ll bring the goodies shortly.”
Max lay on his bed in the dark and ignored Anna’s knock on the door as well as her earlier phone call. He listened to her message without emotion. She was sorry. She hoped he’d forgive her. Logan was staying one more night. She wished him and Sky the best.
Well, thanks, friend, but that ship has sailed.
He heard the boy’s truck when he stopped outside but didn’t bother to get up. The kid knew where the couch was and could take care of himself.
Besides, he glanced at the bedside clock, he still had ten minutes left in his personal pity-party allotment. He debated giving Dr. Bellamy a call. But in the end, Max was the only one who could pull his ass out of the shithole he found himself sinking into.
He groaned against the injustice of it all and turned on his side. He still wore the same clothes, though he’d cleaned up the worst of the cuts and abrasions.
Damn, he hurt all over. You’d think after sixteen months of rehab he’d be in better shape.
One eye was swollen shut, his bottom lip was split, and his battered body was covered in scrapes and bruises. None of the pain associated with his injuries compared to the pain of losing Sky. And Maddie. The look on her face at the end would haunt him forever.
He’d put it there. He’d put the fear in her eyes. Destroyed her faith in him. Some hero he turned out to be.
It’s over. They’re gone. Move on.
Even as the dire thoughts materialized, that tiny voice inside his head that refused to admit defeat shouted loud and clear…never give up hope.
He wanted to hang on to the idea but couldn’t.
He rolled onto his back, arms spread out to the sides, replaying his last conversation with Coop after he’d sent Sky and Maddie home with Logan. He didn’t want them to see his injuries, certain they would hate him for his actions.
Coop disagreed and wasted no time telling him so. “How do you know that? Did they say so?”
“Well, no, but—”
�
��No, they didn’t, jackass, because you turned tail and ran without even talking to them.”
“They deserve better.”
Coop took off his Stetson and slapped it against his knee. “The first time I met Sam I knew I was in deep shit.” He slapped his hat against his leg again. “She was everything I never knew I needed. And that scared the hell out of me. By the time I got my head out of my ass and realized I loved her, it was almost too late.”
Max knew the story of the crazed killer who nearly succeeded in making Doc his victim and how happy Coop and Sam were now. Was there a message there?
Coop wasn’t done preaching. “Hell, everyone who’s seen y’all together know Sky and Maddie think you hung the moon. You really believe they’re gonna think less of you for standing up to Jackson?”
When Max didn’t reply, Coop got in his face. Again.
“You know better than most that there comes a time when a man has to fight to protect what’s his. To stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves. It ain’t pretty, Max, but sometimes it’s necessary.”
Coop’s words had the ability to do what Max couldn’t do for himself at the moment. Keep the faintly glowing ember of hope alive.
“What do I do?” he said to the darkness. “What do I do?”
Like whispers on the wind came the answer. You got a choice, Marine. You fight back. Or Cade wins.
“My daddy didn’t want me, either.”
Sky stopped in the hallway, nearly dropping the tray of hot chocolate and popcorn when she heard Maddie’s softly spoken statement.
“No shit? I mean, really?” came Logan’s reply.
“Uh-huh. Mama never said so, but I figured it out.”
“Figured what out?”
“He didn’t want me. If he did, he would have stayed.”
There was a short pause, and Sky choked back a sob as she listened to her precious, wise-beyond-her-years daughter try and ease Logan’s pain by sharing her own.
“How do you know he didn’t want you?”
“I was really sick when I was little. And he had to go away a lot with his work and stuff. One day, he didn’t come back.”