Wild Rugged Daddy_A Single Daddy Mountain Man Romance

by Sienna Parks

  She wriggles and squirms, anxious to stay with her newfound friend. “Go to Daddy, Rae. I better go find some rainbow colors. Pink, blue, purple, green, red, and yellow. Will those make for a good rainbow?”

  “Yes!” She lurches into my arms, pulling A.B. with her, forgetting to untangle her legs. “You got new colors!”

  “I ordered every color I could last week… so you could choose.” She looks up into my eyes as she ensures Rae is safe in my grip. The soft scent of her perfume surrounds me, intoxicating me like a drug. Seconds feel like hours—my eyes are fixed on her lips, slightly parted… inviting.

  “Daddy, you’re crushing me.” Rae is sandwiched between us, her tiny fingers tracing the line of my jaw.

  I take a few steps back, my brow furrowing in anger. Not directed at Rae, or Annabeth, but at myself. “Sorry, sunshine. I forgot myself for a minute.” I look to Annabeth. “How stupid of me.” There’s just enough bite in my voice to send her rushing for the door.

  Rae scrambles out of my arms, down onto the exam table. “You okay to sit here like a big girl? Daddy will sit over there so as not to get in the doctor’s way?”

  “Okay. Don’t want you dis… dis-tacking her from my rainbow!”

  As I slump into the chair, I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t think I could stand being so close to A.B. again while she wraps Rae’s arm. Resting my elbows on my knees, I grasp my head in my hands, taking a moment to regroup. The door handle clicks, and my stomach begins to churn. I fucking hate this.

  “Let’s get you sorted, little lady. Then you can go see those nice horses you were telling me about last week.”

  I try for civility, but I can’t control the venom lacing every word I speak. “Are you going to tell me how her fracture is healing? Or do I just have to guess? Maybe read your mind? Although, we all know I clearly never possessed that skill.”

  “Mad… I…”

  “Unless you are about to say something related to the medical care of my daughter, I suggest you save it for someone who gives a damn. I don’t want to hear it.”

  “Sally Rae’s fracture is healing well. There was no movement this week, so we don’t have to worry about resetting it. She needs to keep this cast on for five weeks, and then come back to get it removed. The nurse can do a straightforward removal.” Her tone is cold and detached, exactly what I need. Civility is too much to ask with our history. Tolerance for a doctor’s visit for Rae is the most I can manage. I’ll have Jax bring her back to get the cast taken off. I’m not setting foot in the same room as A.B. again, not on purpose.

  When Rae has her rainbow cast and we’re all set to leave, A.B. tells her to run on ahead to the receptionist and get a lollipop. I feel a burning sensation on my bicep—the sting of Annabeth’s touch, a physical pain. “Please, Maddox. Can we talk?”

  I glare at her hand, willing her to stop. “I’ve got a business to run, and a kid to get home.”

  “It doesn’t have to be now. Anytime that suits you. Please, if we’re going to live in the same town, you should at least let me explain.”

  My blood boils. The audacity. “At least? Are you fucking kidding me? First of all, take your damn hand off me. And, second of all, I don’t owe you shit, Annabeth. The time to explain yourself is long gone. I don’t want to hear it. In fact, I don’t even want to set eyes on you. You should have stayed away. This is my home now, not yours.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  Every word she says is like fuel to the flame. “Yeah, I’m aware you don’t know shit about me and my life. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?” I stride into the waiting room, scooping Rae up into my arms, and out the door.

  Sunlight warms my skin, my lungs dragging in a deep, calming breath. “You okay, Daddy? You need Docor A.B.?”

  The sweet smell of her hair restores my mood. “I’m fine, baby girl. Just enjoying the fresh air. You ready to go home and get to work? Those horses ain’t gonna take care of themselves, are they?”

  “No, sir! I’m checking for baby chicks today with Uncle Jax. He says maybe they will be hatched-ed.”

  “Now that’s something to smile about.” I hold her in my arms until we get to the truck. She is my strength, and my weakness—an angel in all the chaos.

  Sweat drips from his brow, evidence of his overexertion. “Hey, Dad.”

  “You took your precious time. You forget we got work to do?”

  “I’m not in the mood for your shit today, Dad.”

  “Boy…”

  “You look like you’re about to pop a vein. Go inside and watch over Rae for a while. She needs a nap. I’ve got it from here.”

  I can see from his red, clammy skin, he needs a break. He starts to make a fuss, but is obviously too tired to fight me. “I guess I can help you out if you need me to sit with Rae.”

  “Sure. I’m eternally grateful. I’m desperate to do ten hours of backbreaking manual labor.”

  “You got a smart mouth on you today. Gonna be like this every time you see A.B.?”

  “I’m not discussing this with you. That was a long time ago. I’ve moved on. Why can’t this town do the same?”

  He offers me no more than a grunt as he heads inside, and his is pace slower than normal. It’s strange when you feel that moment—the one where someone visibly ages before your eyes. I remember it with Pops. I must have been about twenty at the time. I came back to visit, and the second I laid eyes on him, I knew. It was as if he aged ten years right there in front of me. My dad, he has always been the strongest guy I know. Working a ranch, day in day out for almost forty years will do that to you. Today, he seems older. His movements sluggish. Maybe it’s just the heat getting to him, and I know he’ll take time out to hang with Rae whenever it’s on offer.

  Jax and I put in a good day’s work, and he stays true to his word, sitting for hours with Rae, waiting for a chick to hatch. By the time it finally happens, it’s way past her bedtime, and she just about passes out in his arms. When she’s down for the night, Jax is intent on getting me out of the house.

  “Let’s go to Cardinals and have a few beers.”

  “Really? Last time didn’t work out so well for me.” I balled out Annabeth in front of half the town. Not my finest hour.

  “You can’t hide here for the rest of your life. You gonna let her drive you out of your own bar? Fuck that, Mad.”

  “I’m just not up for it.”

  “I’m not taking no for an answer. Don’t be such a girl.”

  He knows I can’t refuse when he says that—it’s like a trigger. “Fine. One drink.” I’ve gotten into trouble so many times in my life, because I hate that phrase.

  The bar is quiet tonight, just the way I like it. I have control of the jukebox, and Kirby takes a break to hang with us for a beer… or five.

  “So, amigo. What the fuck happened with you and A.B. last month? You were out of here faster than Usain Bolt.”

  I drain my glass, and signal the barmaid for another round. “Don’t be acting like you ain’t already heard the entire conversation from half the town. I pitched a fit, and vowed never to set eyes on her again, until genius over here took Rae to her when she broke her arm.”

  “Where was I supposed to take her? You wanted me to drive twenty miles to the nearest doctor? She was crying, and in pain.”

  “Obviously not. I’m not a complete selfish asshole. I’d rip off my left nut to stop Rae hurting, which I think would have been more enjoyable than seeing Annabeth.”

  Kirby seems surprised. “Since when do you call her Annabeth? You been calling her A.B. since kindergarten.”

  “Since fourteen years ago, when the A.B. I knew, upped and left me. Can we not talk about her?”

  “Fuck. She really did a number on you.” He looks around the bar, as if some new face will magically appear. “We need to find you a woman. Sometimes a good ride is just what a man needs to clear the mind. Actually… it’s a cure-all.” He and Jax start listing available women, who could scratch my itc
h. Nothing sounds less appealing than Jax’s sloppy seconds. I do not want to put my dick where my best friend’s been. Maybe they have a point, though—it’s been a while since I let loose and had a hot girl riding me.

  “Friday night. We can get out of Kingsbury Falls… drinks, music, and women. You guys in?”

  In unison, they agree. Jax’s attention quickly shifts to the barmaid who’s going to warm his bed tonight. She’s practically creaming for him right there on the bar. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen. I have some… business to attend to. I’ll see y’all later.” He disappears with a smug grin and a sly wink.

  “One for the road?” Kirby is already three sheets to the wind, but I’m happy to hang for a little longer. It’s last call by the time I leave, and I know I’m going to regret this in the morning.

  My eyelashes hurt. Just blinking feels like a huge task, but I force myself to look at the alarm clock. What the fuck? It’s 8.00 a.m. I don’t think I’ve slept this late since I was on the circuit. Rae? I throw the covers back and run to her room. She always wakes me in the morning. I stumble into her room, smacking off the door, and just as I slide on her rug, falling to the floor, I hear her sweet laugh echoing down the hall. The moment my head hits the ground, the true hangover penance kicks in. My brain feels like it’s swimming in my skull—my ears ringing with a resounding, Gong! Gong! Gong!

  “Daddy!” Rae is on me like a spider monkey, shouting in my ear, crawling all over me. Her knee connects with my groin, a searing agony, blinding me. I reckon it’s worse than childbirth—if women felt this kind of pain, they’d only have one kid.

  “Oh, my God!”

  She scrambles off me, her eyes welling with tears. “Sorry, Daddy.”

  I feel like the biggest asshole in the world, watching her lip quiver at the thought of hurting me. “It’s…” I think I’m going to puke. “It’s okay, sunshine. You didn’t… do anything… wrong.” I roll over into the fetal position, willing the pain to subside. Death would seem like sweet relief right now.

  Pops appears in the doorway. “What in the blue blazes is going on in here?”

  Rae grabs hold of his leg. “I hurted Daddy. I didn’t mean it.”

  He stares at me with a disapproving glare. “Hangover? I got no sympathy for you. You brought that on yourself.”

  “She kneed me in the junk.”

  “Well dang, son. That would bring a tear to a glass eye.”

  He herds Rae out of the room, leaving me to my misery. “Come on, sunshine. Let’s go into town. Your dad needs some peace and quiet today.”

  When the house falls silent, I don’t even attempt to move. I clutch the edge of Rae’s comforter and pull it with pitiful energy until it’s half-covering me. I can’t manage any more. As I drift in an out of my hangover from hell, I think about what Pops said—you brought it on yourself. He’s right. I’m my own worst enemy. I need to put Annabeth behind me and get on with my life… when the room stops spinning.

  ANNABETH

  I haven’t slept properly in weeks. Being back in Kingsbury Falls is more difficult than I thought it would be. Short of becoming a hermit, I can’t avoid the prying eyes of this town on me 24/7. Since my run-in with Maddox outside of Cardinal’s, the whispers are incessant. I feel like half my patients only come in to glean the latest gossip. God, you could have heard a pin drop the last time he was in my office with Rae. By the time I picked up my to-go order at Ellen’s that day, everyone was talking about him storming out. I’m sure my face was the color of crawfish by the time I got out the door. If Lottie hadn’t talked me off the ledge, I would’ve been on the first plane out of here.

  The moment I got back, she welcomed me as if no time had passed. I don’t know what I would do without her. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend who wasn’t a doctor—who wasn’t competing with me, ultimately focused on furthering their career. Lottie is the opposite, in the best possible way. She has lived in Kingsbury Falls her whole life, and is happily married to Kirby, with two kids.

  Last night I turned up on their doorstep, a bottle of wine in hand, and a serious case of self-pity. Thankfully, Kirby was working. I don’t like putting him in an uncomfortable position… either of them. I know they’ve gotten close to Maddox since he moved back to town, Lottie has told me as much. Their daughter and Rae are friends, and I don’t want them, or Maddox, to feel like I’m getting in the way. Lottie has been so good to me, and she hasn’t pushed me for details. She must be the only person in this town who isn’t desperate to know why I’m back, why I left in the first place, what my plans are going forward.

  We drank wine, laughed about old times, and Lottie jumped right into dissecting every interaction I’ve had with Maddox since returning. She’s convinced we can find a way to be friends. Her assurance doesn’t do much to assuage my concerns. I’m not even sure if we can manage civility, but she did convince me of one thing—I need to talk to him, one-on-one. Before I lose my nerve, I’m going to head over to the ranch today and attempt to make peace. It’s a long shot, but the longer I stay, and keep accepting this kind of treatment, the less chance I’ll have of making him understand.

  I’ve been procrastinating all day—telling myself he’s probably busy. Rae’s mom might be there, and I don’t want to cause any friction. I haven’t probed Lottie for information about his life, or family, and I get the impression she’s relieved. He’s her friend, and she shouldn’t feel obliged to betray his trust in any way. I’m worried no one wants to tell me because this woman is or was his epic love. Or that she died tragically, and I’m just the asshole making his life harder. I hate that a small part of me wishes he were a widower. I’m a doctor for God’s sake—I’m supposed to want to save people, not wish them dead.

  I told Lottie last night, Maddox was my epic love, and I threw him away out of guilt, fear, and selfishness. My mantra is, as I toss and turn staring at my ceiling fan watching the hours’ tick by, this—You were only eighteen. You’ve saved so many lives because you left. Maddox made a life and a child. It was meant to happen this way. As much as I try to convince myself, it doesn’t stop my stomach from falling into my feet every time I think of him. Of how he looks at me now, and the memory of how he once did.

  It’s 8.00 p.m. by the time I pluck up the courage to jump in my truck and head for the ranch. Dusk descends on Kingsbury Falls, and any flicker of hope I had driving over here, disappears with the sun. It’s been fourteen years since I set eyes on the gates of Mustang Ranch. Whenever I came home to visit, I would avoid this side of town like the plague. I couldn’t bear the thought of reliving old memories. Most of my childhood days were spent on the ranch.

  My heart lurches into my throat, making it impossible for me to swallow or to breathe as I pull into the driveway. I feel like I just travelled through time, back to the night before I left town. Maddox and I had gone skinny dipping in the lake, made love under the stars, and much to my shame, we made plans to meet for lunch the following day at Ellen’s. I knew when I left him that night, he would be sitting there alone, wondering why I never showed. I’ve gone over our last night together so many times in my mind, and contemplated how he must have felt when he realized I was gone.

  From a childhood of experience, I know the moment the gravel crunches beneath the wheels, they know someone is here. My legs are numb, and I can’t bring myself to cut the engine and step out of the truck. I sit for what feels like an eternity, gripping the steering wheel so tight it hurts. Closing my eyes, I try to calm the riotous tornado of emotion constricting my lungs with every twist and turn.

  A fist raps against the window, scaring me half to death.

  “What the heck, Annabeth? Why are you loitering out here?” Mad’s dad is glaring through the glass, with the same frown he’s been wearing his whole life.

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Hale. I didn’t mean to…”

  “I think you’re old enough to call me Bobby now, Dr. Clark. Now are you getting out the damn car or what?”
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br />   “I…”

  “I ain’t gonna bite you, girl. You came here for a reason. Is it about Rae? Is her arm healing alright?”

  I slowly switch off the engine and open the door. At this point, I’m just being rude if I don’t get out. Guess the decision is made—I’m having this conversation tonight.

  “She’s fine, Mr.… Bobby. I came to talk to Maddox. Is he here?”

  “I don’t think that’s wise, Annabeth. He’s not in the right frame of mind to be dealing with you.” It breaks my heart to see the disappointment in his eyes. “You best go home, before you cause trouble.”

  “I understand. But, I really need to talk to him. We live in the same town now, and that isn’t going to change any time soon. Please… is he here?”

  My heart skips a beat, as I hear the familiar sigh of resignation. “You hurt my boy again and I won’t be responsible for my actions. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir. That’s the last thing I want. You have my word.”

  “I don’t like being rude to a lady, but your word isn’t worth a dime on this ranch anymore.” He reluctantly concedes. “He’s in the stables.”

  “Thank you.”

  With a slow nod, he leaves me standing in the evening air, unable to catch my breath. I know this is a mistake, but my feet have other ideas. My mind races with thoughts of what I’m going to say. I had it all worked out, until I got here. Now my grand speech is a garbled mess of random statements that make no sense. The closer I get to the stables, the quicker my brain spins. It’s impossible to be stealthy on a ranch. The ground crunches and pops underfoot, a cacophony of sound, as I creep towards the light.

  Maddox is hard at work—I can hear him from outside. My first thought is how sexy his grunting murmurs of effort sound, as they echo through the stables. His voice carries a whole different tone now—low and raspy, causing my insides to flip flop more than a snapper on a hook. He was eighteen the last time I was able to enjoy the warmth of his drawl. Now, every word is laced with vitriol, his disdain evident in the staccato rhythm.