Texas Orchids (The Devil's Horn Ranch Series)

by Samantha Christy

  He stands. “I like it here. Once I get my life back, I might even go to college. What I’m saying is I’ll be around, Andie.”

  “Good luck, Matt. I wish you all the best.”

  “You too.”

  I lean against my pillow thinking the next one might not be so easy. I stare out the window, thinking about what Granddad said. A lot has happened. Maybe it would be easier if I went to Wyoming with Bobby.

  He’s standing in the doorway, looking at me, and suddenly I know my answer.

  “Hey,” Bobby says.

  “Hey yourself.”

  He takes the seat Matt vacated. “You’ve had an exciting few days.”

  “I thought you were flying home.”

  “I was, but when I heard what happened to you, I left the airport. I’m not leaving you again if there’s any chance…” He studies my face. “Is there?”

  “Maddox is leaving soon,” I say. “He’ll be returning to New York.”

  “I know. All the more reason for you to move to Wyoming, don’t you think?”

  My lower lip quivers. “I love him.”

  “So it’s us all over again.” He takes my hand. “Except it’s not, because I love you. I love you now, and I loved you then. If I had it to do all over again, I’d beg you to come to Wyoming. Or maybe I would have followed you to Texas. I was stupid, and I don’t want to make the same mistake twice. You loved me once. I know we could get back what we had. He’s leaving, Andie, and I’m right in front of you. I haven’t even seen Maddox since yesterday, and he’s the one you want?”

  Everything he’s saying is true. Tears flood my eyes. “I can’t help how I feel.”

  “You’re going to let him trample your heart?”

  “Says the guy who trampled my heart.”

  “I can give you a good life. You know I can. We were good together.”

  “You really want someone who chose you second?”

  “Well, when you put it that way.” He stands and paces. “Yes, actually, I do. Come with me anyway.”

  “It wouldn’t be fair to you or me.”

  “You’d rather be alone, and possibly lose a huge part of your income when the ranch sells?”

  “I have to be true to my heart.”

  The nurse walks in. “Ms. Shaw, I’ll need to go over wound care with you before you’re discharged. We should have you out of here by sundown.”

  “So that’s it?” Bobby says.

  I swallow the lump in my throat, knowing exactly how he feels at this moment. I know, because I lived through it eighteen months ago.

  “If I leave, I’m not coming back,” he says.

  “I know.”

  He crosses to the door. “Goodbye, Andie.”

  I put on the clothes Granddad brought me, still watching the door as if Maddox will magically appear. He hasn’t been to see me since yesterday. Maybe seeing me injured was too much for him. Could be that visiting me in the hospital was too far across the line of casual.

  Granddad pulls my makeup bag out of a satchel. “I didn’t know what you’d need, so I brought whatever was sitting on your vanity.”

  “Thanks, but I’m not sure I need makeup.”

  “Thought you’d want to look pretty when you get released. You know, show everyone you’re a trooper.”

  I take the bag, not feeling up to putting on makeup but unwilling to disappoint him.

  He holds out a hairbrush. “Might want to run this through your hair, too.”

  “Do I look that bad?”

  He cups my chin. “You’re always beautiful. I thought sprucing up a bit might make you feel better.”

  I carefully run the brush through my hair, making sure not to touch the huge goose egg on my head. My concealer covers up the bruise from the slap, but nothing will hide the gash under my eye. I put on a little eyeshadow to appease him.

  “Don’t you feel better now?” Granddad asks.

  I nod, even though it’s a lie.

  “Hey, now. Chin up, pumpkin.”

  I give him a sad smile.

  Nurse Janice comes in. “You’re all set to go. The doctor has signed off. You just take it easy, young lady. Someone will be by in a few minutes to escort you out.”

  As I’m wheeled out of the hospital, I wonder if Maddox will surprise me by pulling up in his truck to drive us home. Granddad doesn’t have a car. But when we reach the exit, Maddox is nowhere in sight.

  Granddad looks at his phone and then at the approaching car. “Ah, here’s our ride, right on time.”

  “You’re taking me home in an Uber?”

  He smirks. “You expected a limousine?”

  “No, I just… forget it.” I get in the back and he sits next to me.

  He takes my hand. “I’m proud of you, Andie. Your mom would be proud, too. You’ve grown up to be everything a mother—or grandfather—could ever hope for.”

  “I wish everyone felt that way,” I mumble at the window.

  “What’s that?”

  “Nothing.” I squeeze his hand. “Thank you. I love you, Granddad.”

  I must have dozed off, because when I look up, I see we’ve driven past the main entrance to Devil’s Horn Ranch.

  I tap the driver’s shoulder. “Excuse me, you missed the turn.”

  “No he didn’t,” Granddad says.

  “I’m not up to going out for supper. I’ll make a sandwich at home.”

  “We’re not going for supper.” He smiles when the car turns onto a back road along the west edge of the ranch.

  “What’s going on?”

  “You’ll see.”

  We pass the hunting grounds and drive up to the lodge. When I see Maddox standing on the front porch with a bouquet of orchids, my heart soars. Has he been here the whole time, fixing it up? But what’s the point? He said it would most likely be torn down.

  Maddox leaps off the porch and opens my door.

  “What’s all this?” I ask.

  He holds out a hand. “Come inside, and I’ll show you.”

  I take his hand and step out of the car. It pulls away with Granddad and leaves us alone. “You didn’t come back. I thought maybe—”

  “Whatever you thought was wrong. I apologize for not making it back, but I had a few things to take care of. Things that couldn’t wait. I figured you were in good hands.” He walks me to the front steps and holds onto my elbow as we ascend. “Careful.”

  When we walk into the lodge, I’m stunned. Lights are on, though they are dimmed and candles burn throughout the grand hall. It’s been furnished with couches, tables, and chairs. Pictures hanging on the walls have been dusted and polished. A large area rug is in the center of the room.

  “This is what you’ve been doing?”

  “Actually, no. Aaron and the guys did this. I had other projects to work on.”

  I eye him curiously. “Projects?”

  “Come.” He leads me to the adjacent room, the one where we made love the first time. It’s been furnished and decorated as wonderfully as the grand hall. More orchids in vases are placed on every surface. Candles burn even though the electricity has been turned on.

  A bottle of champagne waits in a bucket of ice. “What are we celebrating?”

  “A lot of things.” He walks me to the couch and has me sit down. “One—you’re safe, and the Thompsons won’t be able to hurt you or this ranch any longer.”

  “Unless Karen tries something.”

  He gives me a sour look. “You’re ruining my mojo here.”

  I laugh lightly. “Can I say something? You saved me, Maddox. When you kept texting my phone, I was told to call you and make excuses. They were holding a gun on me.”

  His eyes become glassy. “I’m amazed at how brave you were and smart to use the code word.”

  “I was hoping you’d remember. I didn’t know if the ring was working. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

  “Of course I remembered. You don’t have to be scared anymore. Now, where was I?” He pops
the cork. It drops to the floor. He kneels down to get it, then pours us each a glass. Still on his knees, he says, “I have a very important question to ask you, Andie.”

  My eyes bug out. “I… uh…”

  He sees my reaction and chokes. He quickly gets up off the floor and sits next to me. “Oh, no. No, no, no. I mean not that I won’t ever, but we haven’t even gone on a real date.” He shoves a glass at me. “Looks like you need this.”

  I sip, my heart rate slowing back to normal. “What was it you wanted to ask then?”

  He seems nervous. Why is he so nervous?

  “I know Bobby and Matt were at the hospital, so you have options. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to leave, considering everything that’s gone on here. It would be easier for you to start over in a new place, where you feel safe and the memories aren’t horrible. Gerald told me Bobby slept in the waiting room last night. That’s hard core, so he must really love you. But here’s the thing, I think I love you too, so while I’m not exactly proposing—” He gazes longingly into my eyes, and my heart thunders again. “Andie Shaw, will you be my girlfriend?”

  I try not to giggle. I’m about ready to say yes when it occurs to me we still have an issue. “Maddox—”

  “Before you say anything, I want to show you something. It’s one of the things I had to do yesterday.”

  He takes off his shirt. There’s plastic wrap covering what I assume is a tattoo. “Please tell me you didn’t tattoo my name on your back.”

  He removes the wrap and leans close so I can examine it. My breath hitches. It’s a tattoo of the Devil’s Horn Ranch brand. “You once told me this tattoo was a way to pledge yourself to the ranch.”

  I trace the edges. “I’m confused. Are you going to work here? How do you even know it will still be called Devil’s Horn Ranch?”

  He puts our glasses on the table, then he takes my hands in his. “Because that’s the other project I was working on. We’re not selling, Andie. My dad agreed that as long as the ranch stays in the black, we’ll keep it. I spent the better part of the last twenty-four hours on the phone. Some of the undeveloped land will be leased to the same company that already has wind turbines on the east acreage. That alone will cover the mortgage, property taxes, and insurance. I’m going to expand the cattle business and maybe even put in another stable when we’ve saved up enough capital. I have a lot of ideas I’ve been thinking about for a long time. Gerald can live in the guesthouse. He loves the horses, and I know he’d be happy there. You could live with me in the main house, if you wanted. It would be great, Andie. We could be great.”

  I finally wrap my mind around everything he’s said. “You’re… staying?”

  He chuckles. “The tattoo is permanent, Andie, so yes, I’m staying. Now would you mind answering the question?”

  “What question?”

  He frowns.

  I laugh and climb on his lap. “I’m only kidding. Yes, Connecticut, I’d love to be your girlfriend.”

  His lips crash onto mine. He holds my head gingerly as his tongue swipes across my lower lip and into my mouth. It’s a sweet kiss. A sensuous one. One that tells me he’ll always protect me and keep me safe.

  I pull back and look into his eyes. Those gorgeous eyes had caught my attention when I was fifteen. I run my finger across the small scar on his temple. I hope one day he’ll be down on one knee again, asking me a different question, because I know I’ll say yes. I’ve known it since the day we met.

  He cups my face. “I lied earlier. I don’t think I love you. I know I do.”

  Epilogue

  Maddox

  Six years later

  Mom raises a glass. “To family and Sunday brunch. May they always go hand in hand.”

  “Hear, hear!” Dad says.

  “It’s been so nice having you visit,” Andie says. She smiles at Jordan and Caitlyn. “You have no idea how much I’m enjoying having sisters around.”

  I catch Andie’s eye and raise my brows. She gives me a subtle nod. “We’re glad you’re here,” I say. “Because we have news.”

  Mom can hardly suppress her smile. Tears are flowing before Andie gets out the words. “We’re pregnant!”

  Andie gets pulled into a hug. “The perfect ending to a perfect story,” Mom says.

  I laugh. “Must you always be thinking in terms of books?”

  “Just you wait. I’ll write your story one day.”

  Dad holds out his hand, palm up. “Pay up, darlin’.”

  “You bet on this?”

  “It’s been five years since you married, son. We’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for this day for a long time. Your mom usually wins the bet, but not this time.”

  Mom gets out her wallet and melodramatically throws a twenty at him.

  Caitlyn laughs. “Don’t you share a bank account?”

  “You’re missing the point, sweetie,” Dad says.

  “Which is?”

  “I won.”

  We all laugh.

  “When are you due?” Mom asks.

  “September.”

  “Will you find out if it’s a boy or girl before then?”

  Andie glances at me. “We haven’t decided yet.”

  “Says you,” I say. “We need to plan, babe. I don’t want our newborn having a bunch of yellow clothes. Yellow looks bad on everyone. And then there’s the baby’s room. What color will we paint it? I’m not painting it green and then re-painting it blue or pink.”

  Andie rolls her eyes. “Oh please, like there’s not a dozen guys around here who would paint it for you. Aaron would do it in a heartbeat. He loves that kind of stuff.”

  “Where is he staying these days?” Mom asks.

  “When he’s not at Texas A&M, he stays in the cabin he built near the ridge.”

  “Aaron built a cabin?” Dad says. “Aaron, the delinquent kid who came down here kicking and screaming?”

  “He’s a good worker. He’ll make a great ranch manager someday. He’s even written up a business plan to start renting out the hunting lodge for small weddings, company trips, and bachelor parties.”

  Dad nods. “We’ll work something out, like I did with you. Give him some equity in the ranch for each year he works here.”

  “He’d love that.”

  “Consider it done. When does he graduate?”

  “Next year.”

  “I still think he should have gone to Baylor University,” Mom says. “Plus, it’s not far from here.”

  Caitlyn giggles. “That’s just because it’s where you got your name.”

  “Maybe so, but someone in this family should go there.” She pats Andie’s stomach. “Perhaps this little one.”

  “Don’t forget I went there.” Andie rubs her barely-there belly. “I’m all for keeping this one close to home.”

  Mom gets up to clear the table. “Come on, you three, let’s put ourselves to good use.”

  Andie stands to help. “Don’t make a fuss. I can clear the table.”

  Mom makes her sit. “You’ll do no such thing. Not while I’m visiting.”

  I pick up plates and lean over to kiss my wife. “You should learn to accept help, babe. In a few months, you’re going to need it.”

  Andie stays put, but calls out, “Don’t forget to throw Beau some scraps.”

  Mom leans against the counter. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but I can’t tell you how nice it was to have family around when Maddox came into my life. I don’t know what I would have done without my mother. If you need me, I’ll come and stay on the ranch for as long as you like. I can write my books anywhere. And I promise not to butt in where I’m not needed or overstep my bounds with parenting advice. I have no doubt you two will be incredible parents. I’ll stay in the guesthouse if you don’t want me in your hair.” She goes over and touches Andie’s shoulder. “Speaking of the guesthouse, I was real sorry to hear about Gerald. You must miss him.”

  “It was time,” Andie says. “Thanks to
you all and this ranch, his last five years were very special. I can’t speak for Maddox, but I would love to have another pair of hands when this little one makes an appearance.”

  “It’s settled then,” Mom says. “It will give us plenty of time for me to interview you for your book.”

  “You’re not serious,” I say.

  Dad laughs. “Son, when have you ever known your mother not to be serious about her writin’?”

  “I’ve read your books,” I say to her. “You are not getting details about our sex life.”

  “That’s why they call it fiction, dear.” She taps her temple. “I have all kinds of ways to fill in the blanks.”

  “Gross,” Caitlyn says. “You want to write sex scenes about your son?”

  Mom waves off her comments. “We’ll all be laughing about this one day.” She gives Caitlyn the evil eye. “We’ll laugh about yours, too.”

  “Mom, stop it.”

  Dad pulls me aside. “What about that other issue? The parole hearing you went to? Is everything okay?”

  “For another year anyway. He was denied.” I glance at my beautiful wife. “Don’t worry. I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. To keep them both safe.”

  “How’s Jon’s wife doing?”

  “Ex-wife,” I say. “After more than four years and three different lawyers, they finally found a loophole in the prenup he made her sign. If she plays it smart, she’ll be set for life.”

  “And Karen, does she bother you?”

  “Karen bothers everyone. Did you know Aaron is friends with her son? When Aaron got his act together, so did Quinn. Whenever Aaron’s in town, they’re inseparable. Quinn even helps around the ranch from time to time, much to Karen’s dismay.”

  He puts a proud hand on my shoulder. “Well, then. Sounds like you have everything in order. I sure made the right choice trusting you with this place.” He heads to the back door. “I’m ready for a ride. Anyone else?”

  Caitlyn, Jordan, and Mom follow him. On his way out, he touches Nana’s old hat, a constant reminder of how Devil’s Horn Ranch started way back in 1972.

  I hold Andie back, wanting a moment to ourselves before we join the others. They are the first people we’ve told about the baby. If this didn’t seem real before, it sure does now. I pull her to me. “They seem pretty excited.”