Chase moved closer, wanting to do something. “Has this happened before?”
“Not for months,” she said, a quaver in her voice. “Wake up, Riley.”
“It’s going to eat him,” Riley wailed.
Maddy gave her son a little shake. “It’s only a dream. You can wake up now.”
Riley looked at Maddy. This time, he seemed to be conscious. He swallowed.
“The bull was eating Daddy,” he said.
Chase sat down on the end of the bed, his heart contracting at the fear in Riley’s voice. He struggled to think of how to help.
“Bulls only eat grass,” he offered calmly.
Riley’s attention flew to him. In an instant, he was launching himself at Chase.
Chase turned just in time to protect his injured left side. He wrapped his right arm around Riley to hold him steady.
“You’re not dead,” Riley said.
Chase’s stomach turned to a block of cement. He met Maddy’s horrified gaze, and it took him a moment to find his voice.
“It was just a bad dream,” he told Riley, hoping it was the right thing to say.
“He was big and black, and snot was running out of his nose. He had horns. And his eyes were red, red like the Devil.”
“Riley.” Chase drew back. “It’s over now. There’s no bull.”
Riley’s lower lip quivered. “He was eating you.”
Chase was at a loss. He knew he should give Riley back to his mother. But he couldn’t bring himself to push the frightened, clinging boy away. But he also couldn’t perpetuate Riley’s delusion that he was his father.
“I hope I was delicious,” he said.
Maddy looked stunned.
But Riley drew back, blinking up at Chase.
Chase gave him a grin and ruffled his hair. “The bull must have been awfully hungry. Because I’m a tough old thing. I bet some tasty, tender blue grass would have been way better.”
“That’s silly,” said Riley, but his tears were drying.
“What’s silly is a bull wanting to snack on a cowboy. Your dream was just as crazy as mine.”
“You had a dream?” Riley asked.
“I did.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.” Chase was making this up as he went along.
“Did it have a bull?”
“No. It had a pretty little heifer. She was black and white, and she was eating marshmallows.”
Riley grinned, and even Maddy seemed to be fighting a smile.
“Big, gooey marshmallows.” Chase was making it up on the fly.
“I like marshmallows.”
“So do I,” Chase said. “I toast ’em over an open fire until they’re crispy brown on the outside and warm and runny on the inside.”
Riley looked at Maddy. “Mommy, I’m hungry.”
“You can’t have marshmallows in the middle of the night,” Maddy said, surreptitiously wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. “You’ll get a stomach ache.”
“Can I have a glass of water?”
“Yes, you can have a glass of water.”
“I’ll get it,” Chase said.
Riley seemed to hesitate.
“You let your mommy tuck you back into bed.”
It took a moment, but then Riley nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Good man,” Chase said, easing Riley back into his mother’s arms.
“Can I have marshmallows tomorrow?”
“We’ll see,” Maddy said.
Chase rose from the bed, feeling strangely shaken. As he moved, his pain came back in force. He struggled to walk straight until he was out of Maddy’s sight. And then he bent protectively over his ribs, making his way slowly to the kitchen sink.
When he returned, Riley was already asleep.
“He went back to sleep easier than I expected,” Chase said, setting the glass of water on the bedside table.
“Thank you for that,” Maddy said, stroking her hand over Riley’s forehead.
“I’m not sure I helped.” It probably would have been better overall if he’d stayed outside in the hallway. “I’m afraid I’ve made things worse.”
“Right after my husband… Right after Riley’s father died, Riley used to have nightmares.”
“Was there always a bull in them?” Chase wondered if anyone had told Riley that a bull killed his father. But he didn’t want to ask.
“It used to be random monsters, sometimes wolves or bears.”
“So he doesn’t know?”
“That his father was killed by a bull? No, he doesn’t know that.”
“Then this is probably about last night.”
Maddy gave a nod as she rose to her feet. “I expect it was.”
“Understandable. And likely temporary.” Chase couldn’t help but feel relieved. If the nightmare was connected to Riley falling into the ring, it was likely temporary.
Chase would hate to think his presence had brought back something more deeply seated in Riley’s psyche related to his father’s death. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Riley. Or hurt Maddy. He’d hate it if he hurt Maddy.
Chapter Four
Maddy had no idea what to make of Chase Garrett. It was morning now, and she knew things had to get back to normal. Riley had to stop pretending Chase was his father, and Maddy had to stop fantasizing about the man.
The kiss on the porch had stuck with her. If not for Riley’s nightmare, she wasn’t sure what she might have done in the middle of the night. Chase had looked rumpled and sexy on her sofa. She’d be lying to pretend her fantasies hadn’t gone beyond kissing. She was a normal, healthy woman, and her husband had been gone now for months.
Truth be told, her husband had checked out of their relationship long before that fateful night. In fact, if not for her pregnancy with Riley, they might never have gotten married at all. But they had gotten married, and she at least had been faithful.
The front door opened, and Zane appeared, looking hungover and sheepish.
“Mornin’,” he offered.
“Long night?” she asked.
“I meant to come home.”
“You always mean to come home.”
Of her four brothers, Zane was the most prone to partying.
“Everything go okay here?” he asked.
“Mostly.” She didn’t want to rehash the nightmare. There was no point. “Chase got pretty cramped sleeping on the sofa.”
A flash of guilt crossed Zane’s face. “Why didn’t he use the guest bed?”
“He did, once we figured out you must have had a better offer.”
“It was a better offer. Got any coffee?”
“On the counter.”
He headed for the kitchen, pausing as he passed her. “Sorry, little sister.”
“You should apologize to Chase. He’s the one you co-opted and then abandoned.”
“Morning, Zane.” Chase ambled into the living room.
His hair was damp from a shower, and he looked more relaxed than he had the middle of the night. His painkillers were obviously working.
“Sorry I left you stranded,” Zane said.
Chase gave an unconcerned shrug. “No problem. I can heal up here, as well as I can in that motel room.” He gave Maddy an offhanded smile. “Company’s better anyway.”
There was nothing intimate about the look, but her stomach fluttered anyway. Her cheeks grew warm and she worried Zane would see her reaction. She quickly turned toward the kitchen.
“You both want coffee?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Please,” Chase said. “Black is fine.”
Riley came running down the hall, full of exuberance and enthusiasm. “Can we ride a horse today?”
Maddy turned back to tell Riley that Chase couldn’t stay any longer.
“My ribs are pretty sore,” Chase said, bending down on one knee to talk to Riley.
“I’ll take you riding,” Zane offered.
Given what looked like a wicked headac
he, Maddy could only conclude Zane was feeling more guilty than usual. She appreciated his offer. Hopefully, his presence would distract Riley.
Riley frowned. “I want to go with Daddy.”
“Riley, that’s enough,” Maddy said. “Chase is hurt, and Uncle Zane is being very generous with you.”
She met her twin brother’s gaze.
“Still?” Zane asked in an undertone.
Chase looked up at Zane. “I haven’t been able to figure out what to say.”
“You better say something,” Zane said.
“I know,” Chase agreed.
“It’s up to me,” Maddy said.
No matter how difficult, she’d have to find the words to make Riley understand. This wasn’t Chase’s problem, and it wasn’t Zane’s problem.
She sat down on the closest chair to be eye level with her son. “Riley, Chase has to leave soon. I know you’ve liked—”
“No!” Riley shouted.
He instantly pushed tighter against Chase, who sucked in a breath of obvious pain.
“Riley,” Maddy admonished, rising to get him. “You’re hurting him.”
“It’s okay,” Chase said.
“You can’t leave,” Riley wailed. “You just got here.”
“There’s a bull ride coming up in Billings,” Zane said, obviously trying to help by giving Chase an excuse to leave.
“Daddy’s hurt,” Riley said, with an unexpected level of perception. “He can’t ride bulls if he’s hurt.”
“He’s got you there,” Chase said to Zane, a glimmer of what could have been admiration or amusement in his gray eyes.
Maddy couldn’t believe he was taking this so casually.
“Hurt or not,” she said. “Chase has to leave us.”
Riley held on tighter.
“There’s no rush,” Chase said.
“We can’t keep this up.” She wasn’t an expert in psychology, but she knew as a mother this couldn’t be good for Riley.
“We won’t,” Chase said. “But it doesn’t have to be instantaneous.”
“That’s not fair to you.” And she was a long way from thinking it was the best solution.
“Let me worry about me. There’s not much I can do but sit around for the next couple of days.”
“You’re not coming to watch in Billings?” Zane asked, seeming surprised.
Whether or not a bull rider was riding, they were passionately interested in how the other competitors fared. And there were always opportunities to learn more about specific bulls and consider future techniques to use when riding them.
Before Chase could respond, Maddy’s phone rang.
She reluctantly left the conversation to answer.
“Hello?”
“Maddy? It’s Jessica Staples calling from the casino.”
The greeting got Maddy’s attention. She moved a little ways down the hall, and Chase and Zane’s low voices seemed to disappear.
“Hi,” she said. “Hello. It’s nice to hear from you.”
“I’m glad I caught you,” Jessica said. “I know it’s been a few weeks, but I’ve been reviewing your resume.”
Maddy held her breath.
“One of our dealers had a family emergency. And, well, with your experience, I realize it’s very short notice, but could you start tonight?”
“Tonight?” Maddy’s glance went automatically through the doorway to Riley. This was nowhere near the ideal time to leave him.
“I’m afraid we need someone right away.”
“Sure. Yes.” Maddy would work it out.
Somehow she’d work it out. She desperately needed the money.
“It would only be temporary to start. But”—Jessica gave a light laugh—“you know how these things go.”
Maddy was grateful to get her foot in the door. Jobs were scarce. She didn’t have that many skills. And card dealers made good money at the local casino complex. Plus, she’d applied for late shifts, so Riley would be sleeping most of the time she was away.
“I understand,” she said. “I’d be happy for the opportunity.”
“Fantastic,” Jessica said. “Start time is normally eight, but you’ll need an hour or so to get back up to speed.”
“I can be there at seven.”
“We’ll see you then.”
Jessica signed off and Maddy hung up the phone.
She took a moment to breathe then walked back into the living room.
“Everything okay?” Chase asked, still on the floor with Riley.
She gave him a nod. “Zane?”
“Yeah?”
“Any chance you can curtail the partying tonight and take care of Riley?”
Babysitting wasn’t her brother’s favorite activity, and she’d find a permanent sitter as soon as she could. But she didn’t want to leave Riley with a stranger right now.
“You got a hot date or something?”
“I got a job.”
Chase looked sharply up at her.
Zane’s brows knit together. “What do you mean you got a job?”
“At the casino. Dealing cards.”
Zane shook his head. “No, Maddy. I’m not going to let you do that.”
She’d expected some pushback and she wasn’t about to let his attitude rattle her. “This isn’t about you letting me do anything.”
“Riley needs you.”
“It’s the late shift. He’ll be asleep.”
“And you’ll exhaust yourself.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’m calling Lucas.”
She took a step toward Zane, ready to stop him if he pulled out his phone. “Don’t you dare.”
“If it’s about money.”
“You know it’s about money, and I’m not taking money from Lucas. I’m standing on my own two feet.”
Zane’s voice grew louder. “So this is about pride?”
Maddy became aware that Riley, and for that matter Chase, was hanging on their every word.
“Can you do it or not?” she asked Zane.
“Not,” he said.
“Fine,” she barked back, trying not to let his lack of support hurt her feelings.
“Because I can’t,” he said. “Skeeter and I are leaving for Billings this afternoon.”
“You don’t have to explain.”
“Don’t do that,” Zane said.
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re getting that hurt little puppy dog expression on your face. I want to take care of you.”
“No, you want to strong-arm Lucas into taking care of me.”
When she saw his expression, she knew how much her words had hurt him.
She immediately backtracked. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
Like all of her brothers, Zane felt acutely the loss of their family’s land. After their parents had been killed, they’d struggled to keep the cattle ranch going, but they’d failed. If they’d kept it going, Maddy could have made a contribution to running it while still staying home with her son. They all knew that.
In the silence, Chase came to his feet. “I think the answer’s pretty obvious.”
Maddy and Zane looked at him.
“I’m not going to Billings.”
She was both touched and unsettled by the offer. Riley would obviously love for Chase to stay. But how could she take such a generous offer? And how could she let Riley continue with his fantasy?
Chase’s tone went low. “I don’t think you’ll get an argument from Riley.”
Maddy didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to impose on him any more than she wanted to impose on her brother Lucas.
“It’ll save me paying for a motel,” Chase said.
“This isn’t about today or tomorrow,” Zane said. “Let me call Lucas.”
“Lucas is off the table.” There was no way Maddy was going to take an allowance from her oldest brother.
Her brother made good money in the New York financial sector, bu
t that money was his. It didn’t belong to the family, and it wasn’t up to her or to Zane to put a call on it.
“This shouldn’t be so hard to decide.” Chase’s voice was kind, but at the same time firm. “If you need to work, you need to work. This is the best short-term solution for Riley. I’m assuming this is all about Riley.”
It was all about Riley. And it was all about her, about what kind of mother she’d be, and what kind of woman she’d be. Her husband’s life insurance hadn’t been enough. It hadn’t been nearly enough for her to run a house and raise a son. Dealing cards at the casino might not be the perfect solution, and it didn’t have to be forever. But at least she’d be able to fix the carpets and pay for preschool.
“Okay,” she said to Chase. “I’ll take your offer. I’d rather do that than call Lucas.”
Zane heaved an exaggerated sigh, raking a hand through his dark hair. “You’re going to regret this.”
“She’s taking a job,” Chase said to Zane in a reasonable tone. “Not getting a tattoo.”
“A tattoo?” Maddy wasn’t following Chase’s logic.
“I was trying to think of something permanent that you might regret.”
“What’s wrong with a tattoo?”
“Do you have a tattoo?”
“A vine. It’s pretty and very discreet.”
“Where—” he seemed to stop himself.
“I’m tagging out,” Zane said, taking a few backward steps toward the door.
Chase gave her a grin. There was a twinkle in his eyes that she desperately hoped Zane would miss.
“Can you drop me at the motel?” Chase asked Zane, moving for the door himself. “I’ll grab my stuff and come back with my truck.”
“Are you sure about this?” she asked.
She wanted to give him one final out. Not that she knew what she’d do if he took it.
He turned back to look at her with an intensity that made her knees go weak.
“I am absolutely sure.”
*
The next morning, Chase discovered how difficult it was to keep a three-year-old quiet. He was trying to let Maddy sleep in after her late shift. He’d heard her arrive home around two-thirty.
He’d thought about getting up to say hello but decided against it. He liked Maddy. He liked her a lot, and he wasn’t sure he could trust himself in the wee hours of the morning not to make a pass at her.
Chase (American Extreme Bull Riders Tour Book 2) Page 6