“Flint?” Mac’s voice yanked him out of his thoughts.
He stared at his friend. “I’m sorry, did you say something to me?”
“Yeah, I asked you three times why you were so quiet,” Mac replied.
“Uh...just thinking of that chicken-fried steak,” he replied.
“And speaking of...” Madison said as Carlee arrived with the food.
The meal was pleasant despite the occasional glowers that friends of the Ainsworth family cast in their direction. Thankfully, Madison appeared oblivious to the glares. Besides, much to Madison’s amusement, Mac and Jerod provided comic relief by reminding Flint of every dumb-ass thing he’d ever done while growing up.
After the meal they stepped out of the café and nearly bumped into Margery Martin, the president of the Bitterroot Bank. Margery’s thin upper lip rose at one corner as she gazed at Madison.
“Maddy, why are you saying such terrible things about that nice young man Brad Ainsworth? What is wrong with you, young lady?” Her beady brown eyes glared at Madison.
Before Flint could move closer to Madison in an effort to somehow shield her, Mac flung his arm around her shoulder. “Come on, Maddy.”
“Answer me, Maddy. It’s disgraceful. Why are you lying about all this?” Margery pressed.
“I’m not lying. Brad beat me and then he raped me, and that’s the truth,” Madison replied, her voice trembling.
“You will burn in hell for your lying, young lady,” Margery exclaimed as Mac guided Madison away from the vicious old woman.
“Don’t mind her,” Jerod said when they reached Flint’s truck. “She’s nothing but an old biddy.”
“Yeah, maybe we could start a little rumor about her,” Jerod said. “We could whisper to people that she has a secret sex cave in her basement and she whips men’s butts for money.”
Flint had never loved his friends as much as he did now, when he heard Madison giggle. She sobered once they were all loaded back into the truck and headed back to the Holiday Ranch.
“I knew there would be people who didn’t believe me,” Madison said. “But I never thought about another woman coming after me like that.”
“Keep in mind Margery has always been uptight and judgmental and she’s also very close friends with the Ainsworths,” Flint said.
“Even with all the stares and the whispering, I’m glad we got out,” she replied.
Flint wondered how she might have handled it if they had run into Brad? And how would Brad handle seeing her? Would the man be civil? Somehow, Flint thought so. There was no way Brad would let his mask of being a good, upstanding man slip so that anyone else might see the monster beneath.
It took only minutes for Jerod and Mac to get out of the truck and then Flint and Madison were alone as they drove back to the cabin.
As he drove, he kept an eye on the rearview mirror. He knew Brad drove a big white Cadillac, a car that would be easy to spot if it was following them. Flint saw no vehicle behind them that gave him any pause.
Now all he had to do was keep his distance from Madison and make sure she didn’t wind up in his bed again.
* * *
Brad stood in the front window of his insurance agency and stared out at Main Street. People ambled up and down the sidewalks, smiling as they went about their daily business.
He knew people were talking about him since that bitch Maddy had come forward, but he was satisfied by the fact that the rumble on the streets was that he was the victim of a vindictive woman.
He had plenty of support. Still, he couldn’t take the chance that charges would be brought and he’d have to stand trial. Something had to happen before a trial ensued.
He was confident that he would win a court case, but he’d be damned if he wanted to pay for a good defense lawyer and go through all the hassle that a trial would bring.
Thank God he had friends in low places, friends he kept on a secret payroll, friends who would do his dirty work for him. And Brad had dirty work to do.
Fred Gunner, one of those friends, had seen Flint leaving the Holiday Ranch with Maddy in his truck. Fred had followed and discovered a cozy little cabin in the woods.
Brad needed this criminal investigation and the accusations to go away, and the way to do that was to make Maddy go away. If Flint became collateral damage, then so be it.
He smiled and turned away from the window. Now he knew where she was and all he had to do was come up with a plan that assured his own survival.
Chapter 9
Hands pushed her onto the floor and she landed hard. Frantically, she skittered backward like a crab as he advanced on her. She couldn’t breathe...the panic inside her stole her ability to draw air into her lungs.
No...no...no! Her brain screamed in horrified protest. What was happening? Why was he doing this to her? He reared back with his leg and then kicked her, the blow to her ribs torching a white-hot pain through her.
She’d always thought he was nice, that he was a good guy. All she’d wanted was a ride home. She’d never dreamed this could happen.
He laughed, a loud, barking noise. The sound was so at odds with what was happening to her that she realized in that moment he was utterly mad. His evil gleefully echoed within the walls of her small trailer and she was alone...so alone with his madness.
His voice was thunder and his eyes flashed with the lightning of a thousand storms. She kicked at him, but he managed to capture her ankles in his hands.
“That’s it, fight me, Maddy. I love it when you fight me,” he said.
He laughed once again and then he fell on her, his breath hot pants of excitement against her face. It was only then that a scream released from her, a scream that went on and on and...
“Madison. Madison...honey. Wake up, you’re having a nightmare.”
The deep, familiar voice pierced through the horror and Madison awakened with a gasp. She jolted straight up and into Flint’s arms. A deep sob ripped from the very depths of her as she hid her face in the sleepy warmth of the crook of his neck.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” he murmured into her hair as his hand caressed up and down her back. “It’s okay, honey. You’re safe here with me, Madison.”
As her sobs began to subside, she realized it was storming outside. Apparently, the thunder and lightning of the storm overhead had invaded her nightmare about Brad.
Even though she had stopped crying, she continued to cling to Flint. He smelled of sweet familiarity and of safety. He warmed away the icy chill not only of her body, but also in the depths of her soul.
It was finally he who dropped his arms from around her. Gently, he ran his fingers across her cheeks to dry her tears. “You okay now?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I don’t like the storm. Spend the rest of the night here with me?”
He hesitated. “The storm has almost passed. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep again.” He patted the pillow. “Now, get comfortable.”
She lay back, disappointed that he wasn’t going to crawl beneath the sheets with her and snuggle through the rest of the night. “Tell me a story, Flint. At least talk to me until I fall back asleep.” She needed to fill her head with something...with anything other than her nightmare images about the monster who had violated her.
Flint started talking about big Cass and when he’d first arrived on the Holiday Ranch as a frightened thirteen-year-old with no real future. He told her about Cass welcoming them to her home, to a different kind of stable lifestyle that none of them had had before.
She wanted to hear all the things he had to say, but his low, smooth voice was so hypnotic and within minutes she knew no more.
Madison awoke to the scent of fresh coffee and frying bacon. She jerked up in alarm and then remembered that Flint was here. She wasn’t accustomed to him being in the cabin in the mornings.
> She relaxed back into the bed and stared up at the ceiling. She fought against a shiver as she remembered the nightmare that had stolen her peaceful sleep. Thank God Flint had been here to awaken her when he had. She hadn’t wanted to relive what else had happened to her at Brad’s hands.
However, she wished Flint would have crawled into bed with her. She wished he would have spooned around her with his warm skin and his scent that smelled of home.
She suspected why he hadn’t. He’d probably been afraid that if they had shared the same bed for any length of time they would have made love again. And he’d been right to be afraid.
Oh, she wanted him again. She wanted to feel his tender touches on her, to hear the sound of her name as he whispered it. With a sigh of frustration she pulled herself up and out of bed.
After a brief shower she tried to pull on a pair of jeans only to discover she could no longer fasten them over her growing baby bump.
Sooner rather than later she needed to get in and see a doctor. But she still was reluctant for anyone in town to know she was pregnant with Brad’s child. At least she had gotten the prenatal vitamins and was now taking them regularly.
She opted for one of her long, flowy dresses and then went out into the kitchen where Flint stood in front of the stove. He turned and greeted her with a smile that warmed her from head to toe.
“Good morning,” he said and then turned back to where he was taking bacon out of a skillet.
“And a good morning to you,” she replied. She went to the cabinet with the cups and pulled one out for herself. She then grabbed a tea bag and heated water in the microwave.
“Are you hungry?”
The sight of him in his worn, low-riding jeans and the white T-shirt that looked so breathtakingly sexy as it tugged across his broad shoulders definitely made her hungry, but not for anything he was cooking.
“I can always eat bacon,” she replied as she carried the hot water and the tea bag to the table.
“How about some scrambled eggs to go with the bacon?”
“Sounds good.”
She sipped her tea and watched as he grabbed the eggs and milk from the refrigerator. He broke the eggs into a bowl, added milk and then mixed them together.
Her gaze went to his biceps, then across the broadness of his back and downward to his tight butt. He turned and looked at her expectantly.
Her cheeks warmed as she realized he must have said something that she didn’t hear because she’d been too busy admiring his physical attributes. “I’m sorry?”
“I need to get some groceries so I’ll probably leave right after we have breakfast,” he said. He placed bread slices in the toaster and then poured the egg mixture into the awaiting skillet. “I shouldn’t be gone long. We just need a few things.”
“I’ll go with you,” she replied.
He turned from the stove to look at her once again. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“I think the more I’m seen in town, maybe the faster the gossip will die down.”
He frowned. “Maybe, but have you considered that in coming and going from here Brad will know about this cabin sooner rather than later?”
Madison’s chest tightened with tension. She drew in a deep breath and nodded. “I know, but I trust we can remain safe here no matter what.” What she really meant was she had complete trust in his ability to protect her from the bogeyman.
She thought about her nightmare the night before. “Thank you for comforting me last night.”
“No problem.” He buttered the toast, put the bacon and scrambled eggs on plates and then joined her at the table. “Do you have nightmares often?”
“Way too often,” she admitted. “And they’re always pretty much the same. They’re always me reliving what Brad did to me.”
“I’m sorry, Madison.” His eyes held such tenderness. “I’m so damned sorry that happened to you.” Their gazes remained locked for a long, breathless moment. He cleared his throat and gestured toward the plate in front of her. “Now eat, I’m sure Baby Madison is hungry.”
It was the first time he’d made such a definite reference to the baby she carried, and a reminder of why Flint probably wouldn’t want to be with her. What man would want to take on the burden of a baby who wasn’t his?
“Baby Madison is getting bigger and bigger every day,” she said, shoving aside any sad thoughts that tried to intrude.
“You really should see a doctor to make sure everything is okay. If you make an appointment I’ll be more than happy to take you.”
“I’m so afraid Brad will find out, and if he does I know he’ll fight me for custody just to hurt me.” She couldn’t imagine any baby, especially hers, being raised by Brad with his twisted, sick brain.
“Hopefully, he’s going to jail soon, but there is no reason why we couldn’t have a confidential talk with one of the doctors in town and make an appointment for late at night. There are several doctors I would trust with this secret. The law prevents a doctor from talking about anyone’s medical condition without permission.”
Madison’s hand fell over her tummy. Flint was right. She needed to see a doctor. She loved the baby growing inside her and therefore wanted to get the best possible medical attention she could. She was almost four months pregnant now and it was time to see a doctor.
She hoped that Flint was right and whatever doctor she chose to see would keep her condition a secret. There would come a time when she wouldn’t be able to hide her pregnancy any longer, but she prayed that Brad would be arrested well before then.
“Maybe when we get back from grocery shopping we can decide on which doctor I should see.”
He grinned at her. “Good. All I want is for you and the baby to be healthy.”
While they ate breakfast they talked about the different doctors in town and who would be the best choice. When they finished eating they cleaned up the kitchen and got ready to leave for the grocery store in town.
Once again over her sleeveless dress she pulled on the blue sweater that hid her baby bump from view. Eventually, the sweater wouldn’t be able to cover her pregnancy. And certainly pretty soon she was going to have to buy some maternity clothes. Oh, the gossip that would start then.
She didn’t want to think of any of that right now. All she wanted to do was go out with Flint. Even if it was only for a trip to the grocery store, she looked forward to doing something normal like food shopping with him.
“Ready?” Flint asked.
She looked at him in surprise. He had on a shoulder holster with a gun nestled inside. “That both scares me and comforts me,” she said.
“I doubt if I ever need to use it,” he replied. “But cowboys are like Boy Scouts...always prepared.”
“You didn’t wear it when we went to the café,” she replied.
“True, but if you remember both Mac and Jerod were armed.”
“Well, I like that being prepared part about you,” she replied with a grin. Together they left the cabin and got into his truck. She buckled in and they took off.
“What the hell...” He slowed the truck. Ahead of them, in the middle of the narrow lane, several large branches blocked their path.
“Maybe the storm last night blew down the branches,” she said.
“Maybe...” he replied. He pulled the truck up closer to the obstruction in their path. Several loud popping noises suddenly broke the silence. Madison screamed as her window exploded inward.
* * *
“Get down! Get down!” Flint yelled to Madison. The bullets were coming from somebody hiding in the woods on the right side of the road, but there was no way Flint could return fire, not with Madison between him and the shooter. As Madison curled into the seat he threw the truck into Reverse and gunned the engine.
He sped backward and screeched to a halt at the cabin’s front door.
He jumped out of the driver side, drew his gun and then went around to the passenger side.
He helped Madison out of the truck and shielded her as they raced for the front door. He unlocked the door and pushed her inside. “Get in the bathroom and lock the door. Don’t come out until I tell you to.”
He turned back around and stood at the door, gun ready for anyone who might approach. Nobody was going to get through him to hurt Madison...nobody! He listened for any rustling in the woods and narrowed his gaze as he surveyed the area.
Dammit, his words to Madison about being prepared ran through his mind as if to mock him. He certainly hadn’t been prepared for this attack. Even when he’d seen the branches in the middle of the road, initially he’d had no thought of impending danger.
Dammit, he should have been prepared for anything and he hadn’t been. Thank God the bullet that had blown through Madison’s window hadn’t hit her. His chest tightened at the very thought of her being hurt in any way.
He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, like a sentry guarding the princess. He finally went into the cabin and directly to his phone in his bedroom. His cell phone was fairly worthless out here in the woods, but with his landline he called Dillon and told him what happened.
When he hung up he hurried back to the front door and resumed his position on the porch. At least he knew that in the windowless bathroom Madison would be safe from any flying bullets that might come.
He had no idea if the shooter had been alone or if there were others. But no matter who came out of the woods to approach the cabin, Flint would shoot first and ask questions later.
As time ticked by he suspected whoever had attacked them was gone. He didn’t sense anyone lurking in the woods as birds resumed singing in the treetops.
Within minutes the sound of an approaching siren pierced the air. The siren stopped and Flint knew Dillon had probably reached the blockade of branches.
Several minutes later Dillon’s patrol car drove up and parked next to Flint’s truck. Dillon got out, as well as officers David Cook and Clint Graham.
Cowboy's Vow to Protect Page 12